Things I Love by Megan Morton

I'll admit my attention span leaves a lot to be desired, which does me no real favours when I'm staring down a challenge of finishing a novel. Great news on the book-finishing-front, for me and anyone else who's eyes dart off to any sort of visually delicious thing, is the gem I've stumbled across in Australian publishing land. Sydney stylist Megan Morton's book Things I Love is all about the spirit of aesthetic enquiry, pulling together a messy mish mash of reference material, house (interior) pervs, creative ideas and all sorts of useful info to build an eclectic encyclopedic tome. Megan set out to create an interior book unlike any other - with her tips and stylist tricks, she's delivered us this gorgeous read with that infectious energy of hers, minus the snooty design nonsense. I'd say she's bang on her game plan.

images via

Things I Love isn't designed to be read cover to cover, either. Hurrah! Retailing at $49.00, published by Lantern / Penguin, the book will be available from all good bookshops Australia-wide from this Thursday. Or you can buy online like me, here.

Spring baking

Baking is high on my to-do list whenever I have a little extra time to swan about doing not too much at all. Thanks to a weekend filled with these extra minutes it seems I've finally cracked the code on baking a perfectly risen, most delicious of country loaves. In fact I threw my own little spin on things and transformed this beauty into an Olive Loaf. Here's how...

The wet ingredients:
To make the yeast combine 7g dry yeast in 1/2 cup warm water with 1 teaspoon of soft brown sugar. Put this aside to work its magic for 10 minutes or so. I spent a good few minutes soaking up the spring sun whilst I waited...




Reading a little Bach, soaking some UV and sipping back a coffee while I wait. Absolute perfection in my books.

 The dry ingredients:
Incorporate 2 cups plain flour, 2 cups wholemeal flour, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon sugar before adding 1 more cup of water and the yeast mixture. This is where I added some chopped olives. Give this a little mix with a wooden spoon until you can start kneading it on a floured surface.
Once combined, place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl and set aside for 20-40 minutes covered with a damp tea towel, or until doubled in size. Again, the perfect excuse to soak up a little UV! Once the time is up, knock back the dough and kneed again for only a few minutes. Shape it however you wish (round is generally the go), and place on a lightly dusted (with flour) baking tray. Cover with the tea towel and set aside for another 20-40 minutes. Then you're ready to place it in a preheated 180degree oven for 20 or so minutes. I like to lightly oil the loaf and dust with a little flour before baking.

The perfect accompaniment to our Sunday roast, enjoyed in the most beautifully still night amongst our spring garden blooms.

//all pictures via my iphone

It's black and white

via

The talent that screams through Lina Arvidsson's lens had me stuck in my tracks when I came across collection after collection of her brilliant photography. I thought this image was by far the best to reflect a little of the giddiness I'm feeling and finding in the things that fill my days. Sometimes all that's needed to plant my feet firmly on this ground and centre every sense of my being is to don the old black and white approach. Finding that simplicity and calm gravitates my energy to the treasures that fuel me - my love, my family, my friends.

Design file

via

I'm a sucker for brand I.D, for those who didn't know and this beauty is no exception. In a serious state of kid-and-cake heaven, I've been stuck, giddy in my tracks, gawking over my latest find at SeptemberIndustry, and with good reason...

As part of the State of Design Festival the pop-up Micro Kitchen was standing around Melbourne-town for a week in its lofty space. The plywood furniture, hand painted branding and tongue-in-cheek design concept of designer 'spooning' chef was the result of these clever cookies. Even if you have no design-love-bone in your body, the snaps are worth a peep!

Friday's Finds

via 73 Letterpress

Bring on the weekend! Here's a sneaky three links to help us through the last few work-day-hours...

1. As part of a 'homemade instruments' submission, this smarty pants has taken things to a new level. Sit back and enjoy...Fast Food in C Major.

via

2. Having stumbled his way across the globe, this whisky pro presents us with the 101 WorldWhiskies to Try Before You Die. I'm not supporting any drunken silliness...in fact, I'm just a tad swooned by the catalog design!

3. If your lost with nothing to do, I suggest you click your way over to 73 Letterpress and flick through a set of time-passers! Brilliant.

I'll see you on the other side of this wonderful weekend! Welcome to my lovely new followers too. x

27 candles

via

I've never really taken to posting too many "What I've Been Up To's" on this blog, but the bug's got me and I think, for as long as this lasts, I might just have to share a little more about my days than I have been. Here's 3 things I've been up to...

Peanut butter and ice cream coated in caramel and choc. As I'm ready to knock mine back in one bite, I don't need to explain just how heavenly this mini-treat was!

all iphone snaps

1. Last Friday saw me sip back sangria with the most beautiful ladies I'll know to mark my 27th year of (my) birthday celebrations. After eating our way through Grace Establishment's gorgeously grilled wagu burgers, tacos and croquettes, we devoured the best birthday-cake-replacement you could hope for - chocolate and caramel coated vanilla ice cream with a lip-smacking chunk of peanut butter hidden inside! Sweets and sangria aside, I was mighty spoilt and blushing with the thoughtfulness and love shown by my nearest and dearest.
*Happy B'day to my twin brother too. Nothing beats having a brilliant brother to share old age with!



my iphone working its magic again

2. I've ditched the gym sessions and jumped right into these glorious spring days by taking to the soft sand and striding through some beach power-walk sessions. Not only are they killer workouts for the thighs and derriere, there's something to be said about the therapeutic qualities of getting down to the salty air and crystal-like waters. Even though I pace along the coastline huffing and sweating like a mad-woman for 60 minutes, I end up leaving feeling totally rejuvenated, relaxed and like my heaviest thoughts have been magically swept away.

via pinterest

3. If you get the impression that I've been floating away to some kind of happy land all week, you'd be half right. I've also managed to squeeze in a bit of thinking when I haven't been busy pinching myself for being so damn lucky. I came across the quote above and laughed; you see, before I hit my 20somethings, my Grandma would always tell me the old "show me your friends and I'll tell you exactly who you are". Now, in my closer-to-30's, I'm looking at the people around me and realising the deepest and greatest respect I have for each and every one of them and their own unique light they shine in my life. If I'm anything like what I see in them, I'm quite the happy camper indeed. x