Stir-fried Gai Lan

Sometimes nothing will do except for a nice big plate of asian greens.  Especially when you've been eating a lot of cupcakes...  or cookies...  Last night we whipped up stir-fried Gai Lan (chinese broccoli) and it's always so refreshing in this Cantonese style with garlic.  Simple and tasty.

Yummy Choc Chip Cookies

After three years of promising to make Helen chocolate chip cookies I have finally delivered.  As chef du jour I get to taste test, and yes they are yummy!

Daffodil Day

Yesterday was Daffodil Day for the Cancer Council.  It's an annual fundraising event for cancer research and support services.  Walking to work through the inner city every major intersection was set up with beautiful flower stalls abundant with tubs of these bright sunny blooms.  I picked up my bunch and had them at my desk all of yesterday before bringing them home.  It is such a wonderful, simple idea for a worthy cause and it just lifted my spirits to cross paths with the myriad of black and grey clad city workers carrying their bunch of these happy flowers.

Modern Delftware

I came across Marcel Wanders Delft Blue vases for moooi at Space and being a lover of all things blue & white I was immediately intrigued by this modern interpretation of classic Dutch Delftware.  Of course with all things Marcel Wanders there is always a wittiness in the interpretation with new shapes and forms.  I also loved the moooi marketing for the collection in the style of still life paintings by 17th century Dutch masters.

Swan Lake

We attended a Saturday evening performance of Swan Lake by the Queensland Ballet on a recent weekend.  We invited Dad and Leonie to join us for our first ballet experience.  Last year I read Mao's Last Dancer by Li Cunxin and was inspired to see a production.  I was also very keen to see this ballet classic set famously to Tchaikovsky's music.  A number of the dancers were especially charismatic and very enjoyable to watch.  We are now looking forward to seeing The Nutcracker at Christmas.

Aalto Vases

I love this vase designed by Alvar Aalto for it's beautiful fluid shape and I especially covet it in the turquoise and blue colourways.  It's a Scandinavian design classic and fits in well with almost any interior and a piece of art in itself.  They were clustered together on display at the Space showroom for Saturday in Design.  I am contemplating starting a collection.  Now if I can just get to the first one...

Urban Melbourne

More photos from our visit to Melbourne two weeks ago.  I maintain that I have never been in Melbourne for such picture perfect weather.  Sure it was chilly but that just emphasised the winter feel.  Back in Brisbane and this weekend has been equally stunning, cool but sunny.  We're off to a barbeque soon to soak up the last of the day's rays.

Funk This

Some funky music for August.  A couple years back Tom pointed me to a very cool clip of Chaka Khan performing with Rufus in 1974.  Way into this.

Sweet Acland Street

Last weekend we were in Melbourne attending Saturday InDesign.  On Sunday we took advantage of the sunny weather by exploring St Kilda.  Acland Street is renowned for the many cake shops and cafes dotted along the entire stretch.  There were many tempting treats beckoning from every window however we were on the hunt for breakfast and managed to resist eating dessert first.  The cupcake tower in one particular display inspired my fundraising efforts.

RSPCA Cupcake Day

Yesterday we held our first RSPCA Cupcake Party to fundraise for animal welfare and I am happy to say that it was a resounding success!  We served Mocha, Sticky Date Pudding and Coffee Walnut cupcakes.  I think I made 75 all up.  Thanks to the generosity of our friends and family I can claim to be in the current top 10 individual fundraisers. Probably not for too long as RSPCA Cupcake Day is officially today so we'll see.  Thanks to everyone who kindly donated and to those who came for afternoon tea.  Geneve and Joe popped in with baby Jack as did Ron, Leonie and Oi Lai.  Angela, Caroline and I finally caught up together after many years.

For those who are interested in donating please visit the fundraising link below. Thanks!
http://www.fundraise.rspcacupcakeday.com.au/helen_ma

RSPCA Cupcake Party Invite

Today we sent out invites for our upcoming cupcake charity event.  Helen decided that with all the cupcakes that she bakes they might as well go to a good cause.  I can't wait to sample the menu!  We hope to raise a healthy amount for the animals.