27.

I have just enjoyed the most amazing weekend! This youngen here turned 27 on Saturday, and in usual style I celebrated as much as possible. I have always loved birthday's, and try & promise myself every year that I will continue to love a birthday celebration and never grow old and cynical of that special day of the year. Okay well I WILL grow old, but stay young at heart I hope!
We started with a dinner on Friday night, enjoying the best tapas and sangria in town @ El Toro with some of my closest friends! Followed by a few vokda, lime & soda's at the beachside Palais (and some perfect DJ tunes for me to reminisce my early years with all the hits of 90's, naughties, and today, most especially the DJ's love for TLC )!
I awoke the next morning (my birthday!) to Simon cooking banana-pancakes for breakfast, & flowers from my bestie Janice (all the way from Sun Peaks!) - spoilt! I also decided to hit my new local gym with my friend Ruth (aka fitness queen), which my friends would tell you is the last thing I would be known to do! "Gym" does not exactly exist in my vocabulary, but now that I'm living closer to one I figured might as well! We then headed into the city & met up with my sister Bec to get prepped for our big night out for her 30th (something she had been planning for months, and even better that it fell on my birthday as well!). We had the most amazing night out with Bec and her friends, who were all SO lovely! I took Bec to Clinique to get our makeup for the night .... probably not somewhere I would go back to in a hurray. We enjoyed the most amazing meal at Red Salt Restaurant, followed by Adelaide's best cocktails at Fumo Blu, and then danced our little hearts out at a local pub - which hasn't changed in 10 years which is great haha!
It truly was the most memorable weekend, and a great birthday! Thanks to all the lovely people who shared it with me xx

FRUITILICIOUS

Extremely proud of myself for choosing nectarines and apples over potato chips at the supermarket today! My biggest weakness is chips, not chocolate or cake or red velvet cupcakes, but chips. Fruit is not only much healthier, but I love how the bright colours light up your shopping basket. And in your fruit bowl if they last that long! I just saw this great little inspiration board from Magnolia Rouge, one of my fav blogs from a designer in NZ, and I wanted to dedicate this photo to the nectarine and apple that inspired me today!

TAKE-ME-AWAY

Today was Day 4 of my new daily coffee-run to The Mill, my new local coffee hub. I am just in love with this place, it may just be the excitement of having moved back to the area, or the way the girl's always say "Thanks Jess" when my latte is ready (yes only after 4 visits, impressed!!), but in either case it's been a great start to my days! Probably one of the biggest things I missed when we were living in Mallala was having a nearby cafe, not to say I can't make a mean coffee myself, but there's nothing like cupping the hot take-away coffee in my hands & knowing that drinking this delicious drink is all the effort that is expected of me! Anyway the whole coffee buzz has got me thinking about investing in a new take-away coffee cup, I've brought them several times over the years for gifts, but never invested myself...

a) "I know you're busy, but"
b) Reversable heart print
c) Granny cosy
d) Matching crochet
e) Stylish cermanic

FREE PEOPLE

Just discovered this new look book by Free People this morning, and I'm completely in love! Although I've never blogged about fashion before, when something is as amazing as this you can't help but admire & talk about it! It's a pity we're coming into Autumn here, althought I could move to the other side of the world for these summer fabrics and colours. And the location in Vietnam has just made for the perfect setting...

MAD MARCH

This all looks familiar. This blank white box to write words in. Those tabs to insert pictures. That bright orange button that says "Publish". I remember it all, which is strange considering how long it has been since I've posted on here. Not to say I have forgotten about old-mate-Blog all together, there have been times when I'm on the computer and have discovered something spectacular and I automatically think "I must blog and share this!". Suddenly 30 seconds later I find myself in the middle of replying to an email, or amending a design, or anything that is not blogging. Fast forward two days later and I suddenly realise, "oh f**k, I forgot to blog, oh too late now!"... Yes I agree this attitude needs to change, I need to put old-mate-Blog first in my life, who knows how the world has been getting by since I've been gone.... *rolling around in laughter* I wish!

So we are in the middle of Mad March right now, which happens to fall in the middle of my Mad Summer. In between studying, working, and moving house, there has also been the need to attend very important events such as weddings, engagements, birthday's, oh and the Fringe. Yes, it's Fringe time here in Adelaide, so we've been busy "Fringing". In terms of my favourite time to live in Adelaide, I would have to say this is my most favourite. The Adelaide Fringe brings the city alive, you can't escape it even if you tried (take a moment for those who hate laughing, excitement, experiencing new art, frolicking with friends, street performers, bright signs and meeting amazing strangers. There is no hope for them during Fringe-time!). If I could, I would spend every night in the Garden (Garden of Unearthly Delights) during the month of it's existence. It is by far the most exciting place to be during Fringe. And I've managed to drag my friends or Simon there every few days (much to Simon's dismay when I book a 10pm show when he has to work at 6am the next morning, but hey, it's worth the sleep deprivation!). I also promise myself each year that I'll see a theatre show at least once, as it can be easy to get carried away with comedy, cabaret & live music, and forget about poor old theatre. This I did. This weekend sees the end of Fringe, but I've got so many amazing memories to look back on the 2012 Fringe season!

Fun in the Garden & some post-Fringe drinks!

How cute is my Nephew Ash @ his first Fringe show! And the Germein Sisters amazed at their sold-out show in the Speigeltent

Got my one theatre show ... happy face!

Life and times in the Garden

P.s. I hope you like the new look blog :)

SAVE THE DATE

What's more exciting than sending your wedding invites out? Sending your save-the-dates! It's the official wedding introduction for your friends and family, and the first look at your wedding style and theme! Or just a good opportunity to brag that you've set a date (brag in a good way!).
With my past few wedding clients, they only wanted invites and the reception decor. But I finally have my first save-the-dates to design, and have had so much fun researching all the unique ideas! Here are some of my favourites...

HAPPY NEW YEAR

I just love this new years video from Zooey Deschanel and Joseph Gordon-Levitt.... hope you had a great new years eve, and hoping you have an even better 2012!