SUNDAYS

It's days like today I'm grateful for Adelaide winters. After our usual Sunday sleep-in, we woke up to the sun shining and a beautiful sea breeze. We had been talking about cruising to the Adelaide Hills for lunch, but decided we couldn't pass up the opportunity of a sunny day down Semaphore Road. For the next few hours we munched on tapas and sipped sangria at El Toro, wondered down the foreshore, and discussed a possible mini-golf game but decided to postpone till an even sunnier day. Another amazing afternoon in our piece of paradise...

GREEN THUMB

We have been in our new home for four months now, although it feels like longer, and I finally feel like we've settled on where our furniture goes, the decor for each room, the bits and bobs you can never find a place for but eventually do, etc. The only thing missing now is some greenery. We are lucky enough to already have a landscaped garden - (and a gardener who comes once a month, spoilt much?!) - but there is nothing that really finishes off the house like a good pot plant or herb garden. Disclaimer - I attempted to start a herb garden in May but apparently pots needs drainage holes - what the! RIP Coriander, Mint/Basil (yes it was a mint and basil combo herb!) and Parsley, you will be missed.

Now that we are one month away from Spring, I figure there is no better time to start planning the greenery. We are looking to have indoor plants for the living area and sunroom/dining, and then some small pot-plants for the two side decks that come off the west and east side of our home. Plus a statement plant for the front door deck, something that makes the daily joggers and dog-walker stop and go "ooooooh nice plant!".

I almost forgot the vege garden. This will also be going in over the next few weeks. We are doing a raised garden with iron beds, however thankfully this is Simon's department, that way I don't feel guilty when I've killed the food for our table!

I have spent the whole week searching for inspiration on the web (anyone who has internet access can be a landscaper/interior designer!), and today I venture out to purchase my goodies. Time will tell if I can achieve anything as good as my fellow green thumbs:

1. feature plants in old crates (A Beautiful Mess):

2. not too over-the-top, but creates a statement. (Old Brand New)

Eclectic Bedroom design by Los Angeles Media And Blogs Dabito

3. assorted coloured pots brings some colour to the space (M.J. Lanphier)

Contemporary Patio design by Los Angeles Interior Designer MJ Lanphier

4. uniform pots, but various plants, could work better with coloured plants (Aloe Designs)

Contemporary Landscape design by Vancouver Lighting Designer Aloe Designs

5. self watering plants - my favourite kind!

6. a killer indoor Fiddle Tree - it certainly is statement worthy!

7. we actually have an empty hook in our kitchen, & I always think "hanging plant!!!" every time I look at it! (Design Sponge)

8. we have the shelving already, but i'm curious as to how the herbs are watered? upside-down? sounds messy (Dornob)

9. i love the simplicity of this, and also incorporating vintage furniture into the design (Oh, Albatross)

10. gotta have some lavender (Buckets of Burlap)

DAILY BITS

So today is the first day, of the first week, of my new at-home working hours. I am officially a full-time at-home employee! My 2 days a week office has closed & the company have moved the positions to their WA Head Office, but lucky me I get to continue as normal from home. (Plus I get a new Mac coming this week, excitement overload!!)...So to celebrate my new office hours, I'm going to share some of my "daily bits" of what keeps me busy day to day. Including the best part of my day - spending my weekday evenings with Simon & the felines! Enjoy x

9:00 (morning smoko)

10:00 (new product labels for my awesome customers)

11:00 (celery & peanut butter snacks)

12:00 (working on some mario invites for a friend)

13:00 (updating my photo frames)

14:00 (deliveries deliveries)

18:00 (my favourite wine + a free wine bag = happy Jess)

19:00 (this one keeps us busy at night, wanting to come in, then go out, in, then out! Drives us crazy!)

20:00 (chicken pot-pie for dinner, with a touch of love)

(perfect winter meal!)

Ciao x

welcome back

Welcome back me, and welcome back blogging.
It's been a little quiet here at Rain or Shine, so where have I been? America. Land of the free. My husband and I took probably one of our last big trips for a while. We had an amazing time, part of it shared with some great friends, and part of it just the two of us. We ventured from Newport (Rhode Island), to Boston, to New York, to LA, to San Francisco, to Vegas, and then a quick detour to Canada on the way home. Not only was it a great travelling experience, but I also discovered some inspiring american design and art. And in true American style, every piece of art was inspired from another part of the world. I tried to capture as much inspiration on camera as possible, and soon I will post my favourites of "American-design". For now, here's a snippet of our travels, captured in one photo for each amazing place:

Newport (in front of the Newport Bridge with the girls!):

Cape Cod (the beautiful scenery of Provincetown):

Boston (the architecture of old and new):

New York (fifth ave):

LA (dining on Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills):

Venice Beach (the most colourful of places, Ocean Front Walk markets):

San Francisco (colourful homes of Haight Ashbury):

Vegas (the Excalibur Casino at sunset):

Grand Canyon (lunch with a view):

Sun Peaks, Canada (with our best friends D & J @ Lake Louise)

invisable winter.

If you're living in Adelaide at the moment, you've probably forgotten it's Winter. The parade of beautiful sunny days continued today, somewhere around the mid-20's, which has never happened in August before (or so the weather man tells me)! I spent the afternoon in the Barossa with my good friend Buzz sprouting the antique stores and munching on delicious scones at the local German cafe (which is a whole new blog on it's own!). But even thought I've been enjoying this amazing weather, it also makes me think of poor little Winter and how it must be feeling so....invisiable! Besides it's horrible weather, the season still has so many reasons to celebrate.

1. The only time you can wear a poncho and mittens and not be mistaken for an extra in the local community theatre show.
2. A great excuse to theme your winter party with a winter themed invitation.
3. Spend time with yourself and a great book in front of the cosy fire.
4. Try out a new hair-do that suits the season
....