A Beautiful Bunfight

Happy Easter Lovelies

 

 

It's been an absolutely gorgeous long weekend here. Stunning sunshiney Autumn days spent hanging out with family and friends.

Yesterday's Egg Hunt and Easter Brunch went down a treat.

 

 

The kids spent the whole morning hunting for eggs in the garden. One egg hunt wasn't nearly enough so they did a dozen, taking turns to hide the eggs.

We scoffed Hot Cross Buns with Sweet Ricotta and Balsamic Strawberries, Bacon, Fetta & Egg Tarts and an amazing Easter Pudding. There was chocolate, lots of chocolate...and copious cups of tea and coffee.

 

 

But the best part of the morning was getting newborn cuddles from the sweetest teeny baby girl.

 

The afternoon was spent drinking wine and playing scrabble with my sister and the Grand Scrabble Master himself (aka Hubby). For the first time in known history, my husband DIDN'T win the game...Katie did....oh it was a beautiful thing to watch. Even better that my SIL and brother witnessed it via Skype. Hubby has ungraciously thrashed Margie and I over the years so it was with great delight that we watched Kate win.

 

The ol' 'spilt wine on the scrabble board' decoy may or may not have helped.

Either way, it was pretty funny.

 

The chill set in as the sun went down so we warmed up with comfort food and cuddles on the couch.

 

 

Today we ventured up to the Arboretum for a play.

 

 

Stunning, stunning day.

 

Simply had to share the fantastic Easter Pudding recipe that Margie gave to me. It's a jazzed up Bread & Butter Pudding with the most divine flavour...easy to make and a huge hit with the hungry hoards.

 

Margie's Easter Pudding.

 

Ingredients:

500g loaf "Rich Fruit Cob" from Woolies (any spiced fruit loaf will do)

3.5 - 4 squares of 70% Lindt chocolate

4 eggs

2 cups milk

300ml cream

1/4 cup caster sugar

1 vanilla bean split & scraped

1/4 tsp mixed spice

40g butter

 

Method:

Preheat oven to 180c or 160c (fan forced)

Whisk eggs, milk, cream, caster sugar, vanilla and mixed spice together.

Slice the bread, butter each side and line dish. I included the top half of three hot cross buns for a bit of Easter flair.

Break up the chocolate and hide pieces amongst the bread.

Pour in egg mixture.

Let the bread soak up the mixture for 20 minutes.

Bake for approx 35 to 40 mins until golden brown and set.

Serve warm as is or with a scoop of vanilla icecream.

Enjoy.

 

So, that was our weekend, how was yours?

xx Em

 

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Thirty Seven

 

Grandparents in town = Date night.

Espresso Martinis...Turkish Tapas...After dinner Affogatos.

 

 

A lazy morning in bed, small boy snuggles, Hubby cuddles, Phryne Fisher & Koko Black.

 

 

Family lunch & birthday cake.

 

 

Heavenly scents from a beloved sister.

 

 

The most delicious Vintage Tea Party How-To Tome.

 

 

And a steady stream of birthday wishes on a new iPhone & iPad Air.

 

Thirty Seven seems mighty fine to me.

 

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Sydney Celebrations

 

Well, she's done it! My baby sister has graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce from UNSW and I am so incredibly proud of her.

It's been three days of celebrating and Sydney didn't fail to deliver.

We stayed in a fantastic serviced apartment at Meriton on Kent, smack bang in the middle of town. I got to Sydney at lunchtime on Tuesday and Katie and I spent the afternoon doing some sisterly retail therapy. I found a beautiful navy linen blazer at Zara, we fawned over Kate Spade handbags in David Jones and picked up some Shiraz, Champagne & Caffe Latte truffles from Haigs in the Queen Victoria Building. Mum & Kathleen flew in from Queensland that night and we dined in Darling Harbour.

 

Wednesday was an early start with breakfast at the Uni and some pre-ceremony photos around the campus.

 

 

Then into the Auditorium for the ceremony.

 

 

Oh yeah baby...we were clapping hard when her name was called.

 

 

Think she was a bit chuffed and deservedly so!

 

 

SO PROUD!!!

 

 

Apparently Kathleen is still on her Gap Year.

 

Formalities over...time to celebrate with lunch at Bondi Icebergs.

 

 

Icebergs is iconic...overlooking beautiful Bondi Beach.

 

 

After bubbly and fish & chips on the balcony we tottered back to the apartment. Kate and Kathleen hit the shops and I took an afternoon kip. After my nap I got to sneak in a quick coffee with a very beloved girlfriend who's office was just a block from the apartment. It was brilliant to see Em and give her a jolly good squeeze.

 

 

Unfortunately not long after that, the ruddy headcold that I thought I'd shaken off earlier in the week hit me again. Kathleen and I opted for a quiet night in, with some Thai takeaway and the Lifestyle channel, leaving Kate and Mum to have dinner with a couple of Kate's friends. Thank goodness for cold & flu medication...it knocked me out for the night and I slept like a rock.

We checked out of the apartment this morning and Katie took us to her favourite cafe in Double Bay for brunch. When she said Indigo do the most amazing breakfast she wasn't kidding.

 

 

We feasted on corn fritters with bacon, avocado salsa & baby spinach.

 

 

It was glorious! Have to say, it was rather entertaining watching the rich & the beautiful in their natural habitat as we brunched. Double Bay = Posh.

 

 

The area is renown for its array of gorgeous boutiques so we had a little look on the way back to the car.

 

 

 

We had just enough time to pop around to see Katie's fab 1920s apartment in Piper's Point.

 

 

Oh my...that is one gorgeous suburb with amazing harbour views.

 

 

Before we knew it, time had slipped away and we had to return home.

 

Katie, you are a kind, beautiful, intelligent and completely marvellous creature. We love you to the moon and back and we are so very proud and happy for you.

Cheers to you Lovely...onwards and upwards!

xx Em

 

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