Pear, chocolate and pistachio tart

How amazing does this tart from 'Cannelle et Vanille' look?
This is going to the top of my to do list!

Image from 'Cannelle et Vanille'

I could not have said it better

'Lighter things will happen to you, birds will steal your husband's sandwich on the beach, and your child will still be dead, and your husband's shock will still be funny, and you will spend your life trying to resolve this.'

Except from 'An exact replica of a figment of my imagination' by Elizabeth McCracken

News + shoes

Want to hear a funny story? The winner of my lark giveaway was a woman who lives in WA, when she gave me her address I asked her (as a joke) if she knew some friends of ours who lived in the same town. Not only did she know our friends, but we realised (after several emails) that her husband went to primary school with Tom and used to live across the road from where we live now. Tom had not spoken to him in years, but remembers spending school holidays at his parents holiday house! Seriously, how small is the world!

I have to go to the hospital every few days for blood tests at the moment as part of my fertility treatment. I look like a human pincushion.. my poor arms are full of holes!

You may have noticed my new blog design. I am so, so happy with the re-design by the very talented Mervi from 'My Best Friend Jules'. If you are thinking about a new design for your blog I can highly recommend Mervi. She was such a pleasure to deal with!

And in other news, Sophie likes to dress like me. Sometimes she even gets changed just so she can wear "the same as mummy". Its a little embarrassing. Hence the matching shoes (luckily not the same colour)!

Party time

It has taken us 4 years to realise that no one wants to go to a party the day after boxing day (Sophie's birthday). So this year we are having her party a month early.

I bought these gorgeous invitations and party bags from Poppies for Grace.

How cute are the lolly bags! I really love this brand, even if the name makes me sad.

A to Z

A. Age: Almost 29.
B. Bed size: Queen, (but dreaming of owning a king).
C. Chore that you hate: Cleaning the compost bin.
D. Dogs: One day.. when we buy a house with a backyard.
E. Essential start to your day: Usually I can't even open my eyes without a pot of english breakfast tea, but lately I have been drinking fresh vegetable juice instead (as part of my 'fertility diet').
F. Favorite color: Teal blue.. but wearing lots of olive green and coral at the moment (not at the same time!)
G. Gold or Silver: Silver.
H. Height: 170cm
I. Instruments you play: I used to play the clarinet but Tom actually thinks I am tone deaf, so maybe I should stay away from instruments (and singing!)
J. Job title: Hmm.. full time mum for now, soon to be small business owner and one day a nutritionist.
K. Kids: Sophie. (I hate this question!)
L. Live: Perth, Western Australia.
M. Mother’s name: Dianne.
N. Nicknames: I don't have one.. I'll think of one by the end of the day and insist people call me that from now on.
O. Overnight hospital stays: I had glandular fever when I was a teenager and ended up in hospital for a few nights and then I spent 3 nights in hospital after Grace was born/died. Sob.
P. Pet peeves: I can't think of any at the moment.. I'll get back to you on this one. EDIT: Smoking. I hate smoking. I think it is disgusting and I can't understand why anyone would do it.
Q. Quote from a movie: 'Idiot' from Napoleon Dynamite is the only one I can think of. We quote '30 rock' quite a bit.
R. Right or left handed: Right.
S. Siblings: 3 half brothers and 3 half sisters (who are all at least 20 years older than me) and 5 sisters-in-law (Tom's younger sisters).
T. Time you wake up: Anywhere between 6am and 9am depending on what I am doing that day. But, the later the better.. I am not a morning person, but I wish I was.
U. Underwear: Yes thanks.
V. Vegetable you hate: Hmm.. I'm not a fan of cooked carrots but love them raw.
W. What makes you run late: Everything, Anything.. I'm late almost everywhere I go. Always late.. no matter how hard I try not to be. Sorry!
X. X-Rays you’ve had: A few.
Y. Yummy food that you make: Well, Tom makes much better food than me, but my rice pudding is pretty yummy.
Z. Zoo animal: Elephants are quite good.

Thanks for the idea Mervi!

Spaghetti

Tom made this pasta for lunch the other day in about 10 minutes. Bacon, spaghetti, mixed lettuce, lemon juice, olive oil, cracked pepper and parmesan. Yum!

Fun, Not so fun, Fun.

We went to a fairy birthday on the weekend. Sophie thought it was the best thing ever.

Today I had a Hysterosalpingograph. (Yep!) It is where they inject radioactive dye into your uterus to make sure your fallopian tubes are working. It hurt. ALOT.

Last night Tom and I went and saw 'Midnight in Paris'. I thought it was brilliant.

The Winner!!

Here we go..



The winner of the Lark giveaway is.. (drum roll please)..



Congratulations Tea with Lucy!

Woo hoo!

The production line..

Busy, busy.

And yes, I have calmed down since yesterday.
Onwards and upwards I guess..

Bruschetta

Tom has been making bruschetta quite a bit lately.
Such a great dish for warm (almost) summer nights.

The F word.

I am so friggin sick of seeing this stupid friggin single pink line.
For F sake, what the hell is going on?!

Month after month of disappointment.
It's killing me.

All I want is to be pregnant again.
Having to deal with infertility on top of the pain of losing Grace is unbearable.

Completely unbearable.
(Insert F word here).

Husband of the year..

Exhibit A.

This is my husband. (In France. Ooh la la.)
This morning in the time between getting up and going to work, he..
-made a pot of tea, took his dad a cup of tea in bed (like he does every morning.. so cute!)
-showered, dressed, dressed Sophie.
-cleaned Sophie's room and packed away all her toys, folded all her clean clothes
-made her bed
-hung out the wet washing that I forgot about yesterday
-Put on and hung another load of washing
-did the dishes
-made Sophie's lunch for school
-made Sophie pancakes and then..
-brought me pancakes IN BED!!!!!

He did this all before I had even opened my eyes, and this is actually what he does almost every morning before I wake up! Sometimes he even fits in a run too.

I know. You hate me.
P.s Did I mention that Tom speaks fluent French too?

Orange

I'm having an orange moment. Any shade will do.

Maybe it's my Dutch blood?

It's almost here..

Summer, that is.



One of my favourite things about Perth is that the sun sets over the ocean.
It's such a novelty for someone who grew up on the east coast.

Pear

Is this the most perfect pear you have ever seen?
Yep.

Rosie's

A few months ago we spent the day at our friend Rosie's place in the country.
It was the most adorable little cottage I have ever seen..















Can you believe that it is actually one of the oldest buildings in Western Australia? It was built around 1830.
Amazballs.

The tag

I have been very busy working on my little project.
(Oh boy it is hard work starting your own business.. Especially one where everything is handmade by you only!)

This is what I have come up with for my swing tag (maybe without the rip in the linen!?).

Like?

Bling, bling

When I met Tom I told him that if we got married I did not want a diamond engagement ring (I know.. crazy right?)
Luckily when we got engaged (a few months later!!) Tom decided that what I meant was "I would probably love a diamond ring, thanks very much!"

Tom chose the stones for this ring and then designed the ring himself and had it made. He did this all without me knowing a thing, so that when he proposed it was a complete surprise (the proposal and the ring).

Sometimes I still just sit and stare at it.