Joy

dans-30th-2We recently hosted the surprise birthday party of one of my absolute best of friends. I can barely remember a time that I didn’t know Dan, she always lived just a few streets away from me when we were growing up. We did many a sleepover, were choir nerds together, threw smoke bombs at Chinese school together, survived private girls’ schooling together, and then survived most of med school together. Our lives have essentially been the amalgamation of Glee, Ja’mie: Private School Girl (we weren’t Ja’mie), and Grey’s Anatomy with a splash of Karate Kid. (C’mon, you know you wanna watch that crane kick scene.)

Things have led me of late to pull apart and really evaluate the things I truly value. And it really boils down to one thing. Relationships.

More than ever, I appreciate and treasure these lifelong and genuine friendships. I could shave my head, pick my nose, share the highest of highs and most recently, the lowest of lows, and these girls will never desert me. Some friends come and go, but these ones stay a while. A long, long while. And I love them for it.

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And so it was…

jinn-bday-4So Jinn has finally joined the elite three-oh club, where one becomes instantly more knowledgeable and wiser in the ways of the world, and yet is still youthful enough to be able to wear skinny jeans and play soccer three times a week. I kind of freaked out when Jinn mentioned FIFTY people were rocking up to our house for his party, but I have to say that with a little (read a lot) of help from my Mumsy, mum-in-law and sis-in-law, a wonderful Moroccan themed dinner was laid out and heartily consumed by all our guests. I also may or may not have ordered five cakes from Boucla, my fave cafe of all time…

We wish there were more photos to share of this special evening, but we were both too busy running around like crazy chooks setting tables and chatting to guests to take very many! Hopefully these pictures give you a hint of what a lovely and charming night we all had, enjoying the perfect balmy evening in the presence of many loved ones.

Happy bee-day, bozo!

Text by Sarah

Photos by Jinn, Gwen and YW

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A little mid-week inspiration

011113_ryanjane_bouquet_bul3 011112_ryanjane_bouquet_bul1 011113_ryanjane_bouquet_bul2Well actually for me it’s the end of my week (I’ve been working the last six days) and hence maybe why I’ve been feeling the need for a little pick-me-up lately. I’m a sucker for heart-wrenchingly beautiful flowers, particularly the kinds of arrangements that still have a “wild” feel to them. Somehow I feel that they just have more life and an undeniable character about them that needs no audible voice to express it – soft and beautiful, yet feisty with a sharp-witted reply always ready on the tip of its tongue. (Yes, I get all that from flowers, I do.) These beauties are the perfect example and combined with the citrus-y, sunny colours I just couldn’t help but feel inspired and that wee bit cheerier. If I got married all over again (but I hope and pray not so!) I imagine my bouquet would look a little something like this. And maybe paired with my new dream wedding dress – with long sleeves made of the most exquisite lace, a little like this one. Funny how our tastes change over the years – my actual wedding dress was totally different! But one thing will never change – I’ll always love lace.

***Photos courtesy of Terrain.

Bits and bobs + Happy Weekend!

parents rosesIf last week has hectic, this week has been just as crazy in the aftermath of last weekend’s wedding festivities. Things haven’t exactly quietened down, what with all thirty or so relatives from abroad (aged 7 to 83) descending upon our cosy little abode for dinner one night! However, we have had time to smell the proverbial and not-so-proverbial roses as well as gorge ourselves on the best fruit that summer has to offer…Can’t complain!
backyardplucking beansbeanssa-soupstrawberriescherries1. Beautiful blooms at Jinn’s parents’ house…just in time for the wedding!

2. Roses and pompoms make the perfect combination in their backyard.

3 & 4. The bean bushes have certainly been amongst the most successful of our vegie plants!

5. A rare moment of quiet to myself. Calm before the storm I tell ya…

6 & 7. One of the reasons I love summer…And no these did not come from our garden – but hopefully someday they will! (Chance of this happening? Around 2%…)

Have a lovely weekend everyone! Be good! Anyone done their Christmas shopping yet?

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