Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Love for Nicola





a few days ago i was joking to a friend back home that i would make her a mix tape full of beautiful tunes from she & him so she could fall further in love with the sweet sweet band. just moment after i stumbled across this blog raspberry-pancakes found myself inspired to actually put something together to send to her,

after a few moments after putting a playlist together i got to work, and now im finding this playlist is my favorite and so have decided to share it with you too,

- First Day of my life- Bright Eyes
- Home- She & Him
- Paolo Nutini
- I Will Never Love You- Soko
- I Will Try Anything Once- The Strokes
- Skinny Love- Bon Iver
-In the airplane of the sea- Netural Milk Hotel
- Land Locked Blues- Bright Eyes
- July! July!- The Decemberists
- Brand New Shoes- She & Him
- Clementine
-The Lucky Ones- Au Revoir Simone
- Thieves- She & Him
- Young Pilgrims- The Shins
- I Must Belong Somewhere- Bright Eyes
- Los Angeles Waltz- Razorlight
- Oxford Comma- Vampire Weekend
- Gonna Get Along Without You- She & Him
- My Enemy- Soko
- The No Seatbelt Song- Brand New
- Golden Touch- Razorlight

Enjoy :)

Monday, July 26, 2010

Old Greenwich

this is my favorite little town. so beachy and cute...see...







i had been there a handful of times but kept forgetting my camera, so last sunday i set aside the afternoon to go there with just my camera and press pause on the busy little village... pity come sunday afternoon it was pouring with rain, but determined i went anyway and ended up loving the place even when it was empty and i was wet through....





Sunday, July 25, 2010

Pineapple fields

Dont you think those two words are so beautiful together? it reminds me of "Cellar Door", the love that the english teacher (drew barrymore) had on Donny Darko. two words ordinary alone that can be put together and are somehow so beautiful that it gives you a little fuzz saying it. like "mufasa". do words sometimes make you feel like that too?

Last night i watched the movie Riding Giants. I watched it like my life depended on it, unable to silence the amazement and running commentary on my feelings and thoughts that zapped around my body like wild fire.
Riding giants is a surfing documentary directed by pro skater Stacy Peralta. It followed the different and progressive decades of surfing culture starting from the very beginning in the 50’s. For starters that culture to me is the ultimate of cool. So fucking cool that I cant even get the words out to explain. The surfers life, talent, morals, commitments and personality amazes, intrigues and captures me. I often stalk some past friends from the coromandel that i had like Luke Reily and Adam Henderson to see where in the world the big surf has taken them this time. They live on the edge, completely devoted and with such passion that it rules their lives. These groups of guys give themselves to mother earth and show her respect in order for her to do the same. I love it. I love them. And I love the 50’s! the outfits, the style, the barefeet, relaxed naivety and ignorance. The sex and pot, the music and crazy antics to avoid boredom, the adorable flirty girls. The native jungle before life became what it is. The freedom. I wish I could visit there so much!

These men, old men, the first and inventors of big wave riding sat and talked us through their youth. The power and adrenaline and tried to justify to us, mere materialistic imbecile’s, what it was like before. Before we came to ruin it. Firstly they spoke with love and passion. And I mean love and passion. Whether is was because I was wasted and so could really see or whether is was because it was right in front of all of us, but they seemed to ooze or drip with this saturating love of mother earth. She killed some of them which were hard hitting times for the surfing culture, but they loved and respected her and her power. They lived for her, by her. They literally lived for this thrill and chase.
I sat there absorbing this love excited and moved for them, thinking writing is my wave. I know its not as wild, its not a culture or movement, its not dangerous or thrill seeking, but its something that consumes my soul with passion. its something that makes me feel more comfortable, happy, at home and right then anything else in this world.

After time went on in the surfing establishment humans began to destroy it. Again we watched these old men who have lived the dream, well and truly, talk about the change. And I can see how angry they get. And I do too. its why I get angry at humans all the time! We destroy beauty, simplicity, mother earth and all for our own selfish needs and wants. These men lived the hay day. They had it all to themselves and they used it accordingly but with respect. It must be utterly heartbreaking to know what it was, having experienced it, and see what it is today. I think this would hurt me every single day and I worry that in 30 years when I sit back and look at the world I will see it too. right now I can imagine it and hate it but having actually lived it, well, that would truly break my heart.

overall this movie about how surfing came to be captured my soul and a whole heap of emotions within me. it was an experience. something that will now play on my mind for weeks. now thats a good film! i take my hat of to you, again, Stacy Peralta!!!




Thursday, July 22, 2010

mother earth love

today we took the babies to a cute little park and farm for a picnic breakfast. the babies cracked up laughing with excitement when the farm animals approached them, completely delighted. it was adorable! a little similar to the way i acted when i found this amazing vegetable garden in the middle of the farm. this is kind of what i picture as heaven. i had to use all my strength not to go curl up under a tree with a book and live there. theres just something about the stillness, smell, colour and growth of a vegetable garden that makes me take a deep breath, close my eyes and smile. the instant gratification and reminder of simpler things that really bring you back down to earth. mmmmmmm even now just thinking about it makes me want to curl up in bed and drift off into a happy sleep dreaming of my one day vegetable garden and orchard. love!







its so much fun to take the babies out now kendall has found her feet. i cant wait until fall when they are all up and running around!
this is a barn located on the same farm, i love the materials used and dream of building a house the with the same feel and rustic features, beautiful :)

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

summer fun

This weekend was pretty low key. went to the private greenwich beach island on Friday,










another beach nearby with some friends for a picnic on saturday and then came home for a beautiful dinner with my darling friend Kika out on the deck. it was such a beautiful afternoon and after a few wines we really bounced back from the sun stroke which had hit us earlier




today we took the babies over to the nextdoor neighbours to steal some vegetables from their beautiful dreamy vege garden. im so excited to cook them tonight and appreciate the fact they are straight from the soil....


hope you had a great weekend too :)

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Family Love

this weekend is mikes birthday but the family are going to visit the babies great grandmother in Chicago so we celebrated as a little pretend family tonight. but i gotta admit it didnt feel like a pretend family. it was filled with warmth and care, good stories, good wine, amazing food and the best company. i love our family dinners here. we never really ate at the table back home and it never bothered me but these are now the cherished moment of my day. its the perfect way to wind up a long day of work. reflecting and reporting back to mum and dad on the kids laughable moments for the day. there is always good food and drink to be shared. but i think more then anything its a time to bond and go up to your lonely room at the end of the night feeling not so alone but apart of a very special loving and warm family. of course my family back home is my all and everything but its a pretty special feeling been apart in this one too.

i picked mikes mum up from the airport this morning and Hanka slaved all day in the kitchen making hand made traditional Czech dumplings and pudding. i cheated making some packet cookies, little did we know that mike was bring home two huge cases of amazing cupcakes. so we sat around making ourselves sick sure to try every type...




Wednesday, July 14, 2010

scrummy yummy treats

Asparagus Gruyere Tart
Flour work space
1 sheet of frozen puff pastry ( from a 17.3 ounce package) thawed accordingly to instructions
5 ½ ounces of gruyere cheese shredded (2 cups)
1 ½ pounds of medium or thick asparagus
1 TBS olive oil
salt and pepper
method:
1) preheat oven to 400 F. on a lightly floured surfaced roll pastry into a 16-10 inch rectangle. Trim edges. Place pastry on baking sheet. With sharp knife lightly score the dough 1 inch in from the edges to make a rectangle. Using a fork pierce the dough inside making at half inch intervals. Bake until golden. About 15 mins.
2) Remove pastry shell from oven and sprinkle with cheese. Trim the bottoms of the asparagus spears to fit crosswise inside the tart shell; arrange in a single layer over the cheese, alternate ends with tips. Brush with oil and season with salt and pepper. Bake until spears are tender, 20-50 mins.

*its a lot easier then this extremely detailed recipe lets on and is so very tasty definitely recommend you give this one a try!!!!

Monday, July 12, 2010

a good day


i had a great weekend around New York city with the girls, went out for a beautiful dinner with the creamiest gnocchi you can imagine and then had an interesting adventure on a dodgy bus to get to Warped Tour in Hartford with my new nz buddy Greer. after walking the streets looking out for any signs of the concert we were searching, but had no address and were four hours late for, we hitched a ride with a helpful lady to our destination, which was an entirely new adventure. after wandering aimlessly around the venue for a few hours getting a wee sloshed we set ourselves up at one of the bands set ups and continued to blur reality with these babes. the band is called Lacerda and they are some very stylish kids from Toronto- quite enjoyed their company and today quite enjoying bed. how was your weekend?

heres some (obviously) self taken pics of some thrifting outfits from the other day too :)