Monday, January 11, 2016

All rugged up

Hello friends!

Happy new year and all that jazz. I'm back, and I'm excited and I've got a spring in my step that's been missing for a while.

I have lots of plans for 2016 but am not going all gun-ho and OTT with my new years resolutions. I have some realistic goals to keep my motivated and on track, but nothing too life changing.

In the last few weeks of 2015, I started a new job in the city and I moved into a little place of my own. Life is good and I'm just focusing on things that make me happy. My little flat is gorgeous, I feel so at peace there - lots of natural light, a great kitchen, white walls and big windows. So now it's all about adding the Kate factor to it! 


I'll share some pics with you shortly as I'll be needing some support on my decorating journey, but in the meantime, I just had to post this image as I'm OBSESSED with the rug. I NEED one just like this. Like, urgently. And rugs are so expensive!


Anyone have a clue where I can get my hands on something similar? I have lino/fake floor board looking floors in my lounge room and it really needs a rug to anchor the couches.


Any pointers would be greatly appreciated!





Monday, November 23, 2015

She's making a list, and checking it twice . . .

Is it that time already?

You'd better believe it, Christmas season has well and truly arrived.

In Adelaide, my family always kicked off the festivities with the Christmas Pageant. Only then were we allowed to start talking about the big man in red and the upcoming holidays. Mum put a stop to decorations though - we had to wait until 1 December to put the tree up and then of course, there was the opening of the first advent calendar door that was always a special occasion.

I'm going home this weekend for the cricket (my favourite time of the year) and can't wait to put up the Christmas tree with my niece and nephew at Mum and Dad's house. Then I have to come home and work out how I'll deck out my new little pad - I move into a new flat in two weeks and can't wait to style it up. Pink as far as the eye can see . . . and noone to complain :)

Moving house is always a good excuse to ditch the old and invest in the new. I am sick of living like a uni student in a share house and want to start enjoying the finer things in life. I'll be dusting off my Kate Spade plates and Laguiole cutlery and start living like a grown up for a change! The timing is also perfect to put in some sneaky requests for some home related Christmas presents from the fam.

And so we begin Kate's annual Christmas wishlist. As self indulged and spoilt as it must seem, it's so nice to pretend that money grows on trees!

I'd love a cool new doormat for my new flat. I'm up on the first floor and there are two other doorways in my little alcove so I want to make sure mine is the best dressed! The Woodsfolk have a great range, but there are so many cutesie ones out there.




I've been coveting these Celine sunglasses for a while now and am trying to get Mum to cave and buy them for me before Christmas so I can wear them to the cricket this weekend. She's adamant I need to wait until Christmas #firstworldproblems

Market shopping is one of my favourite things to do in the world. If I could swan around all day with a baguette and bunch of fresh flowers in my basket, I'd be the happiest girl on the planet. Lady Chatterley's Affair has just brought out the most fun Portobello Road Baskets that would make market shopping such an adventure. I've got my eye on the pink and green one (aka 'Watermelon Fizz') #hinthint


Food is always a safe bet with me as a gift. I love to give it and I love to receive it. I'm desperate to try out a famous Lune croissant and am psyching myself up to battle the early morning crowds over Summer. I'm trying to work out the best way to get around the queues and think maybe I've struck gold - a Lune Lab experience. Did someone say three courses of croissants? Yes please!


I'm all out of perfume and I feel like a half human. Dramatic, yes. Time to restock my Jo Malone English Pear and Freesia - let's go for the big bottle this time!


I am desperate for some new champagne flutes. Now that I'll be out on my own and it will be so much easier to entertain, I'll need some nice flutes for all that cheersing! I adore the stemless variety they use at Ombra. Can someone kindly track them down for me, please? And the recipe for the eggplant fritte while you're at it!




I'm loving my Spotify beats like noone's business and am struggling with the playback through my handset. Time to invest in some proper speakers - my old ones were for an ancient iPad and my new phone doesn't fit. Apple is infuriating like that. These Bose ones will do just nicely!
My current laundry bag is . . . my bedroom floor so it's time to get my grown up on and invest in some proper storage solutions. I'm open to suggestions, but I want it to look pretty in my room. Not like the blue, white and red striped bogan bag I use when Mum and Dad come to visit (because surely that's a step up from the floor?).

And there we have it. Kate's epic wish list for Christmas 2015.

I might add a few more down the track but it's a start (are you reading this, Mum?)

xx


Thursday, November 12, 2015

Career girl by accident


Do you hear that?

The sound of high heels clipping on the footpath, the ding ding of the tram, the steam going off on the espresso machine and the buzz of very busy and important suits pacing the streets.

I've got a new job in the city, girls. And I'm stoked.

Okay, so it's early days. Day two, in fact. But I haven't cried yet so that's a good start.

Everyone is nice, there's a coffee machine in the kitchen and I have a window desk. There are plane trees to look out over (my hayfever will be interesting!) and I can wear lipstick and high heels every day without being looked up and down by the frumpy grumps at my old work. 

I'm excited about this next chapter, there's anticipation in the air and hope in my heart.

Next, I just have to try and hunt down 'Keith'!

#careergirlbyaccident

Wednesday, October 28, 2015

Barbie is back


Well done Mattel, this is brilliant.

It's clever, smart and still girly.

Nailed it!

Monday, October 12, 2015

Maximon Leather | Bags for big weekends

I love entrepreneurship. I really do.

I wish I had the guts for it, the courage to put my balls on the line. But I'm just a big puppy dog who dreams of leaving the front yard but actually loves the security of the picket fence blocking me off from the unknowns of the busy street.

But it's nice to look through the pickets and dream sometimes.

I take my hat off to those who jump the fence and go exploring. One such brave dog is my dear friend's brother Henry. He's an adventurer, a go-getter, a mover and shaker. He had an idea and he ran with it.

He followed his heart to Guatemala and saw potential in a business venture: maximon leather.

We are a luxury leather brand that makes bags for big weekends. We're inspired by Maximón, a loose living bad boy from Guatemalan folklore and Latin America's flair for a good night out. 


 Check out his kickstarter video below. I've made a pledge and would totally invest in a big weekend bag for that boy in my life ... but like Bubes says ... "I just haven't met you yet"



Monday, July 13, 2015

Aussie influence

We've just signed up to Netflix at home and the whole personalised profile thing has me very excited. Nashville and Orange is the New Black are top of the list - and I haven't even  got to the movies list yet!

I just love a night at the movies and have seen two chick flicks advertised in the last week that have me leaping off the couch and rushing to the box office.

And the best bit? The Australian influence in each!




xx

Tuesday, July 7, 2015

Investing in me





2015 has been a year of ups and downs. But to turn it around, I've decided to focus on me and invest in what makes me happy. And I'm having a ball.

In the last four months, I have taken conversational Italian classes, learnt how to marinate cheese, become obsessed with fit barre, started practising mindfulness, holidayed in Sydney, changed my hair colour, committed to running, adopted a new perfume and started colouring in.

Busy hey?!

But the activity I'm most excited about is coming up this weekend. I've booked in for the Georgeous Classroom and I'm like a kid before Christmas! I've long had a girl crush on the team from Georgeous and can't wait to meet the minds behind the creative.

Im posting from my phone and have no idea how to embed a link so here's the address: http://www.georgeousclassroom.com

A CLASSROOM FOR DREAMERS,

THINKERS AND CREATORS...

GEORGEOUS CLASSROOM has been a little dream of the Georgeous team for far too long now. We have decided 2015 is the year to open up our doors and to share our world with you...


I can't wait to get my creative on and perhaps take the next step in working out what I want to do with my life. Georgie is an inspiration in terms of building a small business from the ground up and it is this business nouse that I need to nurture and develop. I'm going to be like sponge and soak it all up!

Most importantly, I'm really keen to meet more likeminded friends. I sometimes feel like such a leper and don't know anyone on the same page as me, especially as I get older.  Can't wait to see who my fellow students will be and what possible friendships will form.

Stay tuned for a recap. I've got my groove back - I think - and hope my blogging mojo will follow.