Niagara print

"It's Not You, It's Me" by Niagara

This was one of my Christmas presents, just in time to replace the 2009 New York Calendar on my wall. I love it!

>> More like this available at Outre Gallery (249 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne).

Google holiday logos

I have a habit of taking screenshots whenever the Google logo changes - I have a picture folder on my computer full of them! The latest "Happy Holidays" set are quite cool cause they're building on it each time. There's a comprehensive history of Google holiday logos here.

>> 11.15pm on Christmas eve and I'm blogging about internet search engines. Yep, this is my true nerd coming out. Again.

Christmas presents!

Last year's Christmas presents were stamped on brown paper, but this year we've gone with festive bows thanks to some $3.99 ribbon from Australia Post! The trick will be remembering which present is for who...

Merry Christmas everyone! x

Vintage furniture

I have serious house envy for this place, and here's just one of the many reasons why: a vintage red couch and armchairs! I wonder if Santa will bring me some just like it? I fear not. Better start saving some pennies instead.

Inspiration board

I see people blogging about inspiration boards all the time and finally decided to make one for myself. I think I should've got a bigger size though... like cork to cover a whole wall.

What: Quartet Espresso Corkboard (430x580mm)
From: Officeworks
Cost: $29.92

Banana Choc Chip Muffins

I did a little baking tonight in preparation for Meredith Music Festival this weekend (hopefully it's not as wet as last year, but I'm packing gumboots just in case). Anyway, they're Banana Choc Chip Muffins... yum!

Ingredients:
~ 2 ripe bananas (mashed)
~ 2 cups self raising flour
~ 1/2 cup castor sugar
~ 1/2 cup milk
~ 2 eggs
~ 60g butter
~ 1/2 cup dark choc bits

What to do:
1. Preheat over to 200 Celsius.
2. Prepare your muffin trays (I used two 6-hole trays).
3. Sift flour in a large bowl then stir in castor sugar and choc bits.
4. Melt the butter, then beat in milk and eggs.
5. Add the wet ingredients to the dry mix, and incorporate the mashed banana (don't overmix).
6. Spoon the mixture into the muffin trays and bake for 20 minutes or until golden.

>> Recipe courtesy of Taste.com.au

Tumblr Mosaic Viewer

I'm loving Tumblr, and feel like I'm developing themes with the things I reblog (NYC, Paris and girly photos... among others). I made a collage of all the things I've posted to date with the Tumblr Mosaic Viewer. Nerdy fun.

Photo booth fun

My little Macbook is so clever - it has a built in camera that's opened me up to the world of Skype video chatting to friends all over the globe! It also has a nifty little program called Photo Booth, where you can either take regular photos or use a preset effect like this one, which has turned my kitchen into a comic! I'm easily amused.

Stuffit

These Stuffit bags are so useful - I keep at least one in my handbag at all times, and tend to get complimented at the supermarket checkout for it! As the website says, they're:
~ Strong
~ Compact
~ Child safe
~ Eco-friendly
~ Machine washable
~ Australian owned and designed
~ Made from 100% polyester

What: Stuffit Swing Bag (this one is Leopard, but there are other colours/designs)
From: Ingenie
Where: The Greenstore (385 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy)
Cost: $20

>> I've seen these for sale all over the place, and the price will vary depending on the type/size of Stuffit bag you're buying. Also available online at Biome.

Gin & Titonic

I had an early Christmas this weekend - it was a whole day in the kitchen, followed by a feast of antipasto, roast vegetables, salads and gourmet deserts. Now I've given away some of the presents, I can post them here! This one is a Gin & Titonic novelty ice tray, which creates sinking ship and iceberg shaped ice blocks... genius.

What: Gin & Titonic
From: Fred
Where: Kleen Design (296 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy)
Cost: $15

iTunes Genius Mixes

I am constantly amazed by modern technology - most things created by Google, the iPhone, planes, even wireless internet! How does data get sent through the air? I'll never get my head around that one.

Anyway, my latest discovery are the new Genius playlists in iTunes. Somehow it decides what songs will work together, and it's usually pretty right! It's like having your own personal radio station. JesskaFM.

What: iTunes Cards (on sale)
From: Apple
Where: Myer (til 11 Dec) and Big W (til 9 Dec)
Cost: 2x $20 iTunes Cards for $30 (Myer), or $45 iTunes Cards for $36 (Big W)

Guacabowle!

The "guacabowle" is pretty much the coolest item in my kitchen (although it's neck and neck with the Bamix). It's encouraged me to make guacamole more often, which is great! For my version of the recipe you'll need:
~ two ripe avocados
~ one tomato, finely diced
~ half a red onion, finely diced
~ a squeeze of lemon juice
~ a few drops of tabasco sauce
~ salt and pepper to taste

Mash the avocados in a bowl, then add everything else and mix it through, before transferring to the (now famous) guacabowle!

What: Guacamole Bowl
From: Progressive
Where: Homewares stores everywhere, I'm guessing
Cost: US$13.45 (Amazon price)

Maxihuge Calendars

Maxihuge Calendars are awesome. Okay, I'm a little biased with this one since I work for the company who designed them... but it's true! ThreeThousand likes them too :) I use one in my kitchen to keep track of bills, birthdays, events etc. Mine has been scribbled all over so this photo is just a dummy shot, shhh.

What: Maxihuge Calendars
From: The Internet
Where: Available in Australia now, overseas soon!
Cost: $59 (comes with 12 calendar sheets, month stickers and Magnart)

Finding Colours

Here's something nifty - it's a colour palette generator. I started with a photo found on Tumblr, then went to DeGreave.com and turned it into swatches I could use for my blog. Cool, huh?

frankie ~ issue 32

I'd be pretty happy if I got a frankie subscription for Christmas! That's, err, if I hadn't already renewed it after 12 months of fabulousness. All killer, no filler.

What: frankie magazine
From: frankie
Where: Delivered to your door!
Cost: $51 per year (for us Australians, more if you're overseas)

Oh, Christmas Tree

This little guy is going to be my Christmas tree this year (still a few decorations to be added), and after Christmas he's going outside to (hopefully) be reused again next year, and the year after, and the year after...

What: Christmas Tree
From: Fitzroy Nursery
Where: 390 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy
Cost: $31.95