Running Part Deux

Mount Eden
   * there is sound with the video

Budgie xo

Five things

1.   technically two favourite things but I'm killing two budgies with one stone... tee hee

  budgie key ring

  nailpolish- Planks A lot by O.P.I.  dirty purply love.

2.  pinterest- late on this band wagon I know.. 

3.  autumnal knits of cosy woollen textures

4.  homemade muesli {recipe link!}

5. favourite words thus far..

    autumnal

    baubles

    clove

I have a sneaky suspicion that I may be purchasing a waffle maker to make these Healthy Protein Waffles. I love the Malibooty workout Karena and Katrina have. link!

Budgie xo

Autumnal Reading II

Completed the second book of Fifty Shades now.. I read that the prospect lead roles in the possibly created movie may just be Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson from Twilight (which is fitting as the author is a fan). However, I really would've rather have seen Anne Hathaway in the lead role (think young budding careerist in The Devil Wears Prada combined with her sexuality in Love and Other Drugs)..  and the other lead Christen Grey to an actor like Patrick Bateman in American Psycho or Ryan Phillipe in Cruel Intentions ( probably both too old to play these roles now).

It is such a long time til November for the second Breaking Dawn movie so I'm looking forward to Kristen Stewart in Snow White and the Huntsman coming out next week. 

Budgie xo

Op-shopping

Or "charity shopping" as it is called in the UK thank you to my English flattie Charlotte :)

{Collectable second hand soup mugs I'm on the hunt for}

Soup of the root vege variety 

...and anything and everything skulking around in the bottom of the refrigerator.

(recipe).

one potato

1/3 packet of minestrone soup

3 garlic cloves

one bak choy

can of tomatoes

handful of dried gnocchi pasta

one diced onion

handful of pearl barley- god's gift to my healthy bowel, yum.

sprinkles of brown lentils

chicken stock and a bay leaf

dash of chili, ripped basil leaves from the garden and cracked pepper...

Budgie xo

I look like I make homemade muesli...

{Outfit of the day photo}

Turquoise knit dress purchased in St Paddy's Markets Sydney last month.

Baby alpaca green scarf with baubles kindly on loan from my sister.

Muesli

Sick of the crap in the cereal aisle at the supermarket, I thought it time to make my own muesli..

My cousin in London made this muesli for me whilst I stayed with her, and I inhaled it.

Dabble with the quantities as much to your liking as you like (:

(recipe)

2 cups of rolled oats

1/3 cup chopped pumpkin seeds

1/4 cup chopped sunflower seeds

1/4 cup smashed almonds

1/4 cup of shredded coconut

1/2 cup diced apricots

1/4 cup sultanas

1/4 cup rice bran oil

3 tablespoons runny honey

1 tablespoon cinnamon 

Heat oven to 180c. Use a roasting pan to bake oats, add each dry ingredient (except the fruit and coconut) as you smash, chop and hack at them. Turn the muesli each time you add a new ingredient. 

Melt honey, cinnamon and oil together in a saucepan. Add the warm honey mixture in quantities alternating each time you add a new dry ingredient. 

Once all the dry ingredients have been added and turned, add the coconut for the last five minutes of cooking so it doesn't' burn. Remove from oven and add diced apricots and sultanas.

Makes 2 litres.

Budgie xo

Comfy couches and late autumn reading...

Home Décor

New edition to the couch: Knitted cream pillows with wooden buttons (on sale at Briscoes $19 ea.)
Fresh potted daisies.

The bed throw was a bargain... I saw it at Bed, Bath and Table for $169, but couldn't quite justify the price for a bed cosy. Until I spotted it at Easter for $89. It is actually a single bed duvet cover with a gorgeous burgandy trim and patchwork fabric. The underside is a paisley pattern (see below) 

Pillow from Spotlight.

Autumn Reading

Wicked- Pretty Little Liars                                              Fifty Shade of Grey-  by E.L. James

TV2 Sunday 5:30pm                                                (with paisley underside of bed throw)

Pretty Little Liars is the teen drama of my thirties... honestly, will I ever grow up?

But it draws you into its mysterious plot line, and even though I know who 'A' is through the book series, the pretty cast, teen angst and edgy/pretty American teen makeup and wardrobes draw me in.  Perfect Sunday afternoon hangover tv watching.

The 'Fifty Shades'  trilogy book series by E.L. James couldn't be further from the innocence of PLL.  This is the new 'it' book on the bookshelves, but reading it, you wouldn't believe it. It is seriously kinky. The S & M theme is very detailed and blushingly descriptive to read. However, the plot line is strong enough to carry you through the Seattle setting with a young female antagonist who is also a recent graduate and budding publisher. Slight pangs of career envy tug at me and that post-grad feeling of the open world unknown, is nostalgic. 

Are you nose deep in any good reads at the moment?

Budgie xo

Vera Wang Princess Night

The bottle I love. 

The texture I hate. 

The heart shape and crown on top is typical Wang of the Princess editions, but the dark chunky purpley glitter is nasty to hold.

But I do love Vera Wang's girly perfume bottles. I tried to love Lovestruck, but just couldn't purchase it... as mentioned in my Perfumerie link!

Vera Wang's Princess Night has been described as "an exotic blend of flowers, fruits and woody tones" (Fragrantica).  Perfect for the depths of winter..No wonder I love it: rose and jasmine. 

The notes are:


Wild berries, watermelon and raspberry are the top notes- which fade quickly unfortunately. The core is jasmine (yum), spiced orange, rose, vanilla and musk. 

The bottle is $79 Limited Edition at Farmers for 30mls.

Budgie xo