Hip Hip!

August has definitely been the month of birthdays! It's been one celebration after the next and last weekend was no exception.  Three birthday's in two days meant for lots of festive eats and fun filled days leading into joyous nights.

Saturday afternoon was one of my favorite little girls first birthday's and her talented mama knew just how to fill her day with all the sweet love her little body could handle! Apart from the adorable petting zoo, it was the first day that she'd ever tasted sugar,  a day that I'm sure she won't be forgetting any time soon!

Can't believe it was a year ago that I was waiting anxiously in the waiting room for your arrival! Happy Birthday my little munch, I love you!

xoxo your auntie tash

color me happy

I, like most girls out there, love getting my nails done. There's nothing like leaving the salon feeling a little more put together than when you walked in. I'd even go so far as to say that it's mood altering, it makes me sit a little straighter and feel a little brighter.  Turns out Elle Woods {Legally Blonde} didn't have it so wrong!

Here's a fun nail polish that will actually predict your mood! Distant relative of famed mood ring, this nail polish aptly named "in the mood" switches hues when your temperature fluctuates! Super fun right?

If I'm feeling like a change from one of my usual nail colors, I spend a fair amount of time standing at the front of the salon testing polishes on whatever polish free space I can find! OPI has just released a free app for your iPhone that allows you to virtually try on different all the colors you like!

Happy painting!

xo tash

Happy Hump Day!

How on Earth have I not seen this???



Couldn't you just eat him up?!

xo tash

get the look

After enduring two scorching days in San Francisco, I'm just beckoning Fall and all things crisp and cool...

I stumbled across this amazing ensemble from one of my fav bloggers {check out her amazing wedding dress and beautifully avant garde vail} and have been researching ways to recreate it.



Asos is pretty much the answer to most fashion questions these days and here's what they offered as an answer to Alix's pricey alternative

1.  Ace Leather Brogue Cleated Sole Boot

2.  Contrast Trim Cape $134

3.  Aged Vintage Peg Leg Jeans $53
4.  Leather Twist lock Satchel $117

Happy shopping my loves!

xo tash

ho hum...

We slipped away to San Francisco to escape some LA heat.... or so we thought! Looks like the LA heat came along for the ride! Yesterday was an absolute scorcher here in the Bay area so it was a day about keeping as cool as possible. I caught up with my fav floggers {a term I've recently coined, friend + blogger = flogger!!} and spent the afternoon on the deck with my two loves, my pooch and my man..

Today is looking to be as warm {sigh} if not warmer {double sigh}... I'm thinking I'll be compiling my dream wardrobe and getting some inspiration from my fav street style blogs...

So stay tuned pretties!

xo tash

back in business!

well.... last week was a complete wright off! After having those pesky internet problems post Vegas, the week seemed to just fly past. There were bridal showers, birthdays, shopping excursions {zara, you're becoming a serious problem}, late night catch ups with one of my closest girlfriends and lots of road trips {I'm writing to you from San Francisco as we speak}... phew! This does seem to be the current trend of my life right now and I am completely grateful to be celebrating my closest friends and family's benchmarks, but I have to admit, I have missed you my dear floggers {friends + bloggers = floggers?haha}.  I've missed out on sharing these fun moments with you and sharing in all the fun moments of your lives.... You guys inspire me more than you know!

Okay okay enough sap... Here's some pics from last week :)

white peach sangria 

mama to be

little brothers...

even little-r brothers

As the sun set on last week's brilliant chaos, here's to a week of catch ups!
xoxox tash

Crash

Yesterday my computer decided that the internet just wasn't important.... So it crashed.....

This is me after hours of trying to negotiate.... After taking this picture in photo booth I decided to let it have it's way for the day

I went over to my girlfriends house to make some delicious cucumber mint cocktails

and play a few rounds of Scattegories...

The perfect way to escape the frustrations of technology and just enjoy the day!

Thank you everyone for stopping by and showing your love. Your kind words and support give me that extra spring in my step :)

I'll be back a little later!

xo tash

in full bloom!

Well... firstly, I survived....but barely! The entire weekend was sponsored by The Palazzo in Vegas, meaning everything from beautiful suites to pool side cabana's, dinner and dancing at Tao were all taken care of {we were all super spoiled!}.  There was enough dancing, dining and drinking to celebrate the bride and groom 'to be's' upcoming nuptials and our group of friends are certainly the bunch who know how to let the good times roll! I will absolutely be sharing some pictures with you as soon as I get my hands on them!

After coming home from our fabulous trip and spending the first night in our bed, we were greeted with our neighbors sun flowers that just came into bloom! It was almost as though they were greeting us with "Good Morning and Welcome Home!" Hope that you had a fabulous weekend and look forward to sharing more of the good times with you soon.

xo tash

vegas or bust!

Fabulous readers!

I'm so sorry about the lack of post yesterday... After picking up one of my dearest friends from the airport I got caught up spray tanning {no carrot shades allowed}, getting nails done {party pink}, waxing, lunching, girly dinners and amongst all of that, perhaps a finding a sneaky drink or two! All of this is in preparation {yes, my liver is in preparation too} for a combined Bachelor/Bachelorette party in Vegas! This morning we have a party bus, complete with pole {oh dear}, picking us up for our party ride to the city that literally never sleeps.. The thing is it is picking us up at 7 am and there's a list of things that I need to make happen before then {good luck}!

I hope that you'll all have a fabulous weekend and  I can't wait to share all of the ridiculous happenings that take place over this mini vacay! You, my friends, will be hearing it all! So in this case, whatever happens in Vegas won't be staying in Vegas!

xo tash

yummy things

Today was filled with yumminess. 

I made some Australian cookies {recipe here...}

melted butter and golden syrup

baking soda bubbles

the magic begins...

...and ends with a hot cuppa

the joy that comes from watching these little guys grow and develop in my garden is like Christmas morning every day!

my flourishing basil plant that's waiting to meet my cherry tomatoes!

Lovely readers, my other blog is offering a wonderful giveaway today! All you have to do is visit, become a follower and leave us a comment! You know what they say, ya gotta be in it to win it! Hope you're having a glorious day and gearing up for a wonderful weekend!

xo tash

The Clingstone

I was scoring my way through the New York Times this morning {hence this mornings post based on this article} and found myself lost in the Home and Garden section {I know, completely shocking ;)}. I found this breath taking 103 year old home in Rhode Island and just had to share it with you! 

The 'Clingstone' was purchased in 1961 for {get ready} $3 600 after being empty for two decades. 

Talk about focussing on your relationships! You better like who you're sharing this space with!

Although the many windows through out appear to boast some of the most breath taking views.. There's no way in the world that I could ever stay here by myself... There's something about this property that's either super magical or the perfect setting for a Stephen King thriller... with no one to hear my screams!

haha...okay perhaps a little dramatic! What do you think? Dreamy or Dungeony?

xo tash

all images and info via New York Times

the 'stuff' of happiness

On the heels of books and films such as 'up and away', 'eat, pray, love' and a recession that I lovingly refer to as 'the flu', it's no wonder that people have taken a step back to reconsider what is truly important. In my opinion when you can turn something that could be potentially devastating into an opportunity to reevaluate your life, then there's nothing more empowering than that.  I stumbled across this article in the New York Times today and it made me think about all of the 'stuff' I'm constantly lusting after {hello}. It's totally fun to feel pretty and channel your inner Kardashian and Carrie Bradshaw, but it's also important to understand that the 'stuff' will never bring you the long lasting happiness that we're trying to buy and the distraction that this stuff brings, can get us further away from what we're seeking.

Feeling trapped in the work-spend cycle, this Californian couple started reading inspirational blogs about living simply and decided to made a change. They found a blog that challenges readers to live with up to 100 personal items, which for them ultimately looks something like this:a 400 sq foot apartment in Portland, Oregan, no cars, four plates, three pairs of shoes, two pots, and bags and bags of 'stuff' that were donated to charity. Not only do they no longer have over $30 000 worth of debt, they're happier than they've ever been.  Coincidence? I don't think so!

The same can be said for this guy who moved from San Francisco and now lives in a trailer park in Malibu. He surfs almost every day travelled the world making a documentary entitled 'Happy' and found that the one common element amongst happy people, were their strong relationships.

Whilst I know that the chances of you and I ultimately rewriting our lives in such an extreme way are slim, there is something to look at here. Let's make sure that we're focussing on the values that really bring us joy, not the stuff the distracts us from each other.

Love life, not stuff! - Tammy Strobel

love tash xo

Picnics, please!

picture via davidzimmerman

Summer days are all about enjoying as much of the outdoors as you can and it just doesn't get much better than a picnic for me! Yummy food, fresh air, good company or a good book and voila, 'Bob's your uncle', as we say in Australia!

Here's some of the best picnics I've seen around...

The photography alone from this blog will have you lost in it's archive's for hours!

Australian Christmas' are always stinking hot as December is smack bang in the middle of Summer! So this Christmas in July picnic found via this beautiful blogger made me feel nostalgic for warm summer festive days. However, I must admit cold Christmas' are becoming my fave, it's easier to eat more :)

Okay, there's no doubt in my mind that I just worship these two girls. It's true I've dabbled in some party planning in my time {enjoying every minute} and I've learned there's definitely an art to throwing the perfect party.  For me, most of that comes down the the details and these two girls are some of the best around! They have combined their talents and started bash, please, an event and party planning company and boy oh boy is it fabulous!  

{you had me at Lavender Jelly, if you know me, you know I have a serious love for Lavender.}

How are you planning on enjoying the rest of Summer my sweet readers?

xo tash