Four years on

I know life is a dream for me these days. We are settling into some sort of new normalcy of what our life could be. We wake on a Sunday morning and the four year old requests birthday pancakes. Being a queen of my domain again I whip us up a batch and Daddy wakes in time to help crack the eggs and keep baby occupied enough for me to cook the batch. I even hand the girls each a plate with a pancake on it and watch them toddle off to set the table with their breakfast. This is sheer bliss. I love the new family life. The full kitchen table. The appreciative noms as my meals made are consumed.

I admit I am a lousy cook and I will need more practice to get back up to scratch again but bless my little family’s cotton socks. With a little bit of imagination; meals with bad food are forgiven. I made dark green muffins yesterday thanks to the amount of kale I dished into the TMX. Then I lied to my four year old in a stroke of genius when she teetered on making a scene about the green. “It’s Bogey-man cupcakes”. What does that even mean? But she makes up the stories as she goes. It turns little girls into monsters. It’s the food monsters eat. This morning for breakfast she demands a bogey man muffin and eats up my baked goods.

I cannot believe how lucky we are with our beautiful home. Our perfect lives with healthy children and a lovely group of people that surrounds us. I cannot allow myself to take this for granted. It’s been years in the making. It’s worth it. We’re worthy of it. We must keep on making sure we are worthy of it.

I love my cuddles with my girls and the chat from an excited four year old that remembers everything but makes up half of it anyways. It’s such an amazing mind that she’s developed. I know she knows the rules now and that she knows she’s not allowed to push certain boundaries. I trust her. Still, I find myself nagging all the time to remind them, “ Listening ears and gentle hands” is all I seem to be saying these days.

My four year old counts, sings, climbs, rides a bike and reads. Yesterday when I had had a rough night she served herself some breakfast to let me have a lie in. She’s independent, resourceful and thoughtful. Could I have asked for more? Growing up I thought I wanted boys, but now I can see the Lord’s plans are better. I needed my girls to teach me more about life that I didn’t even know I didn’t know.

On Friday I clicked Buy on four trees. I am doing that. Purchasing dwarf fruit trees for our backyard and a bay tree for our front porch. That’s the kind of life I find exciting these days. In my dream come autumn my little ones will be plucking apples from our own backyard orchard and I will be drying bay leaves and harvesting Sunflowers from the garden. Hah. I just know in reality it will likely be brown and shrivelled up shrubs that are overcrowded with weeds with my non- green thumbs. Stay tuned.

Another bit of news, I am doing things for myself again. At least it’s been planned. A solo trip to Sydney for a girly weekend for my Bestie’s wedding. And a 12 hour hike to Trolltunga on the horizon after that. It will be two bucket lists ticked. A yummy mummy’s getaway and completing one of
the world’s most beautiful nature trails. Whilst it isn’t quite my nature to be an outdoorsy person, I do enjoy solitude with Mother Nature and remember the rare moments fondly. Flashback to the cool soothing breeze in my hair as I cycled amongst the idyllic rice fields in Narita humming softly to myself, no soul,anger or anxiety in sight. Nowhere to go and nowhere else I’d rather be.

When the girls are older I’d like to take them out to the country and get them associated with that too. Until then, we conform, we abide, and try not to appear too unruly or out of place.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

To my 2 year old

You woke up this morning and decided to let me have a lie in. I woke to find you in the lounge entertaining yourself with your books.

Another year. What a journey it's been. We went from fighting and disagreeing on the crying it out method to really now enjoying our time with you. You made the parenthood thing seem all that much more worthwhile this year now that you talk and express yourself and exude self confidence.

Of course your skill set has improved by leaps and bounds in the last year and I know you and your friends are aware of each other now and they look forward to seeing you each day (they even made you a card for your bday which I am keeping to hopefully show you one day)as much as you look forward to being there with them in nursery. Your educators report that you are such a book lover, that you are caring and will readily give cuddles and say hi and bye to everyone you see at the nursery, that you help give out the water bottles at meal times, that you are really quite the tall poppy with yelling out the right answer when it comes to categories you know, that you are everyday a pleasure for them to be with. You are now branching too from books into exploring drawing, play dough, dancing and singing. For all of that I am ever so grateful and thankful because i just want you be happy and well-fulfilled.

Your daddy is so proud of you. Of how brave you are and your high threshold for pain. Indeed you are fearless poking at spiders and throwing yourself into swimming pools dive after dive, you will pick yourself up again after a fall and hobble along with just kisses to make you feel better. I hope I never project my own phobias onto you in our lifetime together.

I never thought I would end up with you. The determined, independent and straightforward little person that you are (which you got from your father), but also how seeking of positive reinforcement, imaginative and emotional you can be, taking after me. Perhaps this means you'd become a stronger woman than I am, rational and decisive like your father but empathetic and strategic like me. I quiver with excitement just imagining the person you could become and the endless possibilities there are for you that I didn't have because your father and I are so determined to give you the cultural and educational best that our worlds can offer you.

My darling daughter, for one, I still cannot forget how you told me in a dream that you are a daughter way before we met you or knew what gender you were. And how despite hoping for a boy, you've proven to me that I needed a girl as my first born and you've been ever so gentle with us as new parents being a good little girl that doesn't test your boundaries in ways that we are ill prepared for. You have in a way made parenting a toddler rather easy so far so I pray that you shall be just as understanding in your older years and dare I hope your teens? I get ahead of myself. Happy birthday darling! Looking forward to another year of joy and chats with you.




























I made the achievement cards a couple of weeks back and pre-empted a few things. In favour of not posting untruths, you haven't mastered the shapes yet but you are definitely better at potty training than I expected you would be.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Birthday post

I'm not going to lie to you, this year's birthday sucked a little bit because Mr HEA, he wasn't around. But my dear friends (bless their soul) they did everything they could to make sure I had a good time.

Celebrations began at work on Wednesday when we went to March into Merivale at Uccello at that Ivy pool bar. The March into Merivale $33 meal deal is a fabulous deal each year, for $33 you get a main and a glass of wine or a beer.

The three courses we could choose from this week included a choice between the
1) grilled pork neck, witlof, parsley, garlic

2) roast hapuka, lemon, capers, anchovy and rosemary

3) pappardelle, duck ragu

All delightful choices. You know I felt like we weren't in the city at all, that lunch we had, it was almost like we were in Florida somehow. Something to do with the Ridiculously tanned people sitting around the pool maybe.

Ivy Pool Bar

Then it was fast forward to Friday Where when I stepped into work in the morning my seat was festooned with balloons and streamers.

A handmade card signed by my team and the words telling me that my birthday present was inside it intrigued me.

Turns out my work colleagues had gotten me the lonely planet PDF guide Europe on a shoestring so that I could download it onto my Samsung tablet for when I next travel with Mr HEA. Handy for when I am planning the glorious summer trip to Spain and Italy. They had hidden a picture of the cover of the book in my card. No one really wants to lug around a huge guide book on their travels.

That wasn't just it, we got cupcakes too. You see my manager also had a birthday this weekend just passed and so the team was celebrating for us both.

I love my team at work.

I also went to the New South Wales Wine Festival Sydney Cellar door on Friday night but that wasn't really for my birthday. It didn't stop me from partying it up and drinking wine like it was though. *wink*

As you might know if you followed me on Twitter I went for a spa treatment Fully paid by Mr HEA for my birthday treat. A full body scrub, a heavenly facial and hot stone back massage for a full hour, that's the stuff we're talking about. It was enough to make up for the shitty weather on the weekend.

Thankfully on Sunday the weather cleared up. My Bestie and I headed down to the city for predinner drinks - cocktails all around for the ladies.

Spiced Pear on the right, Belle de Brillet Pear Cognac, Ginger and Pink Peppercorn Syrup, Fresh Lemon, Brown Sugar

,

On the left Rosarita: Don Julio Blanco, Rose Syrup, Crème de Violette, Fresh Lime, Rose Petals

Dinner was at Gowing's Bar and Grill. A spectacular venue for its eccentric Decor.

Their steaks were cooked to perfection, and the alcohol selection was fabulous.

I even found they stocked a Pedro Ximenez to have with our Cheese platter! Love!

I am really blessed to have such great friends to keep me company whilst my husband is away. God knows how many of my birthdays will be without him, but I know this, as long as my friends are still around I will be okay. If you are one of those friends that helped make my day so special I thank you from the bottom of my heart for making the day a sunnier one. You know who you are.

Planning my best friend's thirtieth

No amazing feat as I had the help of several close friends to her and the birthday girl supplied a list herself of the 72 guests she wanted to spend the day with.

What's a birthday without balloons?

We decorated the Beresford Hotel at Surry Hills but the venue was so lovely that we didn't really need to add many touches. The organising was an ease as the staff were very professional and we were given an awesome host on the day that made sure the food came out on time and was evenly staggered throughout the day so that everyone had a nibble and no one got too drunk, drinking on an empty stomach.

We would have loved a party in their exotic beer garden, but we really couldn't have fit everyone in. and given the extreme heat and the cool rain that's threatened us since, we didn't really feel like taking a risk by booking the outdoors venue. This corner was ideal for a enclosed feel with the greenery in the dividers providing an outdoor illusion.

  The comfy couches and seating made it really relaxing easy for high heel wearers to rest their soles throughout the party too.

My OOTD: H&M Peplum Jacket, Supre Singlet, Zeitgeist pants, Vincci Sandals and Louis Vuitton Clutch. The Birthday present I gave the lucky girl, was unfortunately not LV, but something else from Paris that she clutched with glee when she opened it.

Did I intentionally match the Birthday cake with my outfit? Orange and Carrot cake was a big hit at the party.

Turns out you can still get the girl who has everything several creative things for her birthday. Every single present she was pleased with and excitedly tore the wrapping off for. Can you spot my gift? A limited edition Longchamp in blue, her covetted colour of the moment.

Happy Birthday my favourite girlfriend! I know it's been tough getting here, but I still can't beleive we have made it this far. I know you enjoyed the day and I am glad. On today, I wish you all the awesomeness Bali has to offer. Including your very own Katut, I hope. *wink*

Petrus

If ever you wanted great food and a busy team of waitstaff that worked wonderfully as an attentive team to ensure you got the best experience, Petrus is an excellent choice. We were treated much like royals from the moment we stepped in, greeted like we were the most important guests there, coats taken away in a flourish and seats pulled out for us in a lovely manner.

We begin with some dainty amuse bouche complimentary of the chef. Cruchcy wafers wrapped around delicious goats' cheese and honey. Very delightful to start with and to wash down with Ayala Champagne.

 We went all out and had the Chef's tasting menu last night.

Pig's head croquettes which were actually quite tasty when you got over yourself with the images of cute pigs.

Our Foie gras, served with thyme bread. In hindsight, I should have sensibly left some foie gras untouched as there were just so many more delights to come, but it was a gorgeous dish and before I knew it, I had polished off everything on my plate yet again.

Thought I'd give you a view of the lovely table settings.

I think we both loved this Lobster and Salmon ravioli, tucking into the flavoursome dumpling ravenously, almost disappointed when it was over and we were left with the puddle of chives cream.

But all disappointment were quickly allayed when the infamous Gordon Ramsey Beef Wellington was brought before us. We had swapped our main course over for this chef's special. Years of my brother lighting up at the mention of beef wellington and telling anyone that would listen about the time he watched Gordon Ramsey make his had incepted into our minds that we MUST HAVE this moment.

Medium rare juicy beef in the midst of flaky pastry. This is the most substantial tasting menu I had ever had and yes I think bro was sufficiently jealous that we got to taste this before him, but the staff were lovely, they promised to make it again if my brother ever came to visit, all we had to do was to ring ahead and let them know of the request.

Orange Jelly and Campari Granita as palate cleansers.

 Passionfruit cream cones as pre-desserts (again complimentary from the chef).

These chocolate and honeycomb desserts were divine. They bring it out in little shiny chocolate domes which melt away as hot dark chocolate sauce is drizzled over it in front of us to reveal a scoop of vanilla ice-cream. What a treat. (NB, I really don't like milk in the UK and thus the ice cream is affected too, the cream content of the dairy here is lacking in comparison to Australian dairy. Just Saying). Still polished off this dessert regardless of how full we were from the meal.

 Wait there is more! For Mr. HEA's bday, they sang a dulcet Happy Bday with a chocolate coconut macaron. Thank goodness he was aware of my love for these french biscuits and halfed his birthday treat with me.

 And final compliments for the night, amidst the dry ice theatrics,

Four dainty white chocolate covered ices to refresh your palate once more before they pull the table from you and reproduce your coats again in a flourish and bade their farewell. By then I felt like we were leaving our friends behind, the service had been that wonderful, we felt like they really cared for us.

I couldn't have picked a better restaurant for Mr. HEA's birthday, and I think this Michelin star is very well deserved for this place.

Dining at Sokyo



Delightful Sokyo dishes from Left to Right
Top Row:
1) Jumbo King Prawn - Scorched onion, flat white dashi
2) Cuttlefish - Chilli de arbol, tarragon ponzu sauce
3) Tsukune Chicken - Shallots, pineapple ginger sauce
4) Kurobuta Pork Belly - Spicy shirodashi, yuzu kosho
5) Sashimi Platter - 24 pieces of mixed traditional sashimi

Middle Row:
1) Spicy Tuna Crispy Rice - Crispy nigiri, truffle salt, spicy mayo
2) Kingfish Furikake - Sokyo furikake, citrus paste, tosazu3) Salmon Belly Aburi - Spicy daikon oroshi

Desserts Row:
1) Donatsu - Pineapple mascarpone filling, crème fraiche ice cream
2) Goma Street - Caramelised white chocolate, sesame ice cream
3) Sokyo “Mochi Ice Cream” - Yatsuhashi kyoto mochi, frozen strawberry milk shake

Large Picture at the end :
Hokkaido Scallop Yuzu Honey

A large space with an abundance of patrons, we were amazingly shrouded away from the public by these large Rope veils. Although not enclosed, there was a sense of privacy. Between eight of us, the restaurant offered up sufficiently gorgeous platters of decadent and vibrant Japanese flavours and we managed to try a fair few things on the menu.

I am not hesitating if there is another opportunity to visit again sometime.

Saturday in Manic May

Writing this in the sun rays streaming into my writing nook, reflecting flecks of crystal light onto the wall behind the whiskey trolley that bears my Husband's antique crystal decanter, listening to the boppy strains of Bic Runga's latest album Belle while recovering from Saturday.

Aside from the routine loads of laundry I had to run yesterday morning, I pulled together a brunch pizza for my beloved which we waffled down because he's looked up The Avengers Gold Class schedule and we are aiming to make it to the 12.15pm sesh.



Tomatoes, sausage, bacon, eggs and mozarella on a pizza, If that's not the perfect cure to Hubby's Baxter Inn hangover, then what is?



Events Cinema's Gold class in Bondi Junction is quite something, walking through the frosted sliding doors to a private lounge where the fully stocked bar and cosy couches make it difficult to remind yourself that you are here to watch a movie. The Avengers is a really good movie with a great hilarious script which takes time building rapport between the characters of the movie so that you can take in the teamwork that goes into the fight scenes. Everyone performs well except for the Robin-Scherbatsky chick who really should stick to How I Met Your Mother. We laid back in our reclining couches and are brought our frozen cokes when the movie starts and it was an intimate experience with all of only thirty pax in the theatre. It almost seems rude to laugh out loud in the movie.

We went home with plenty of time for a Grocery run and a fantastic dinner. I set a lamb rack in the oven and made a few random sides based on what else was in the pantry and the Cinco de Mayo forces must have been at play because I made a salsa of sorts and a mean jalapeno mince with El Paso nacho dip unknowingly to go with the lamb. A rather beserk combination but Mr.HEA laps it up anyways.

 

Then it was time to stick on the falsies and smouldering eyes, a fresh slick of lipstick and some cute Charles & Keith black party ankle boots and head out to The Beresford Hotel in Surry Hills for some serious partying. In my hazy, tipsy stupour I remembered I hadn't taken a proper shot of my OOTD all day so I did this in the bar. Does this make me a loo blogger? Why else do they put full length mirrors in cubicles? Oh to let you check you haven't got your skirt tucked into your hose. Why else?

Rules by Mary dress, Leona Edmiston stockings, LV epi electric Iena clutch



  Hmmm... it's time now for another day and I am a little worse for wear having knocked back a few vodka cranberries last night because it was so warm in the bar. The Birthday girl wore a goegeous peplum dress which makes me make a mental note to self that I will need to check out this style on me if it is as hot as all the Mercedes Benz Fashionistas during fashion week imply. The Beresford Hotel is a place for Hawt people seriously. At least last night it appeared to be like that. Just tons of beautiful people all having a great time, present company included of course.

Oh yeah, I was meant to wrap up in the start of the last paragraph, I do ramble on. Have a great day everyone! I most certainly intend to!



Happy Friday!

It is always a good day to wake up to. And this week has been particularly big so sleep has been secondary in order to try and juggle and fit everything in.

I'm saying caught up with the girls and finding out one of them got married impromptu.
Over this dinner.

Or orchestrating the perfect office birthday celebration for the girl who put in every effort to organize my birthday this year:

Check out the balloon:






And organizing this kobe jones lunch with eleven of her closest and dearest at work:

I had the katsu tofu. A first time dish but certainly won't be my last.

She got a lot more gifts on the day too. We kid that her desk was a pop-up florist's

Just goes to show that it is worthwhile being nice and developing real friendships at work.

Who can forget it was fashion week too? I purposely tried out ombré nails in recognition of the fact:



 

Perhaps not quite ombré but certainly very attention grabbing.

Have been following many fabulous fashion bloggers' instagram's and tweets whilst mentally noting that peplums, neon colours, prints and sparkles seem to be the next season's choices. Gold eye makeup too according to Nikki from Styling You. A week ago i might have huffed at it, but i have fallen in love with the Hunger Games' characters this week, having devoured every page of the first book already of this Monday delivery:

So channeling Cinna's gold eyeliner seems to be understated chic to me now and i approve.

It wasn't just the fashion world that was celebrating in Sydney this week. TimTams had gone to town too with this Timtams-should-grow-on-trees get up:






I watched them set up late the night before and was pleased to see the final results:

But the week hasn't ended yet, no the weekend is yet to come where there are birthday drinks, reunion lunch and housewarming high tea.

Have a happy Friday my readers, and let today not be a hectic one!

-Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone