And I'm not saying that I have demands, just elaborate plans in far-off lands...

So a life update for y'all. This luggage situation is a joke. If I could count the amount of airports I have struggled by myself with 2 suitcases through over the past 6months, well it would at least be 5.  Right now the only thing tying me down is my hair bobble.

But what I mean to say with that is that I have moved once more. And I am currently writing this basking in Melbourne 35 degree heat. I know I wished for summer whilst I was in New Zealand but this is dare I say it, a bit too hot! Fried egg on pavement kind of weather. My rash decision to move to Melbourne was urged by some bad news that left me wanting to be around good friends and the calling of two short film projects. And the life I have at the moment means I can make the decision and be on the plane two days later. A freedom like this is something I treasure, and certainly something I will miss in future years. 

But I'm back in Oz, and I never have felt so happy to be somewhere - Melbourne in the summer has to be one of the best places in the world. If you have never been to Melbourne before, well your missing out. I'm currently debating a shotgun Aussie wedding, so much is my love for the city! (I'm not really...don't panic mum!) 

I will be in Melbourne for Christmas, and will be here until at least the end of January. And then February...who knows? I certainly don't. And right now I don't care. I'm enjoying life, and I will figure that one out in due course. Maybe in a blindfolded pin the tail on a map of the world kinda way. 

Attached are pictures of some of the last few days Melbourne shenanigans. 

Emily x

old places and faces...

So the month of May has gone past and I have neglected the blog. Again. I honestly cannot believe how fast time has flown, days turn to weeks which turn to months far too quickly!

This time last year I was out in Peru up a Mountain suffering from altitude sickness, having just finished my final year at University. 

 

Now I'm living in Melbourne with friends, and working my first proper job at Neighbours. The last year has been monumental and life changing. Life is what you make of it and that is what I am doing. Whether I stay or leave Australia in July is a decision that is wholly out of my hands, and I am at piece with the idea that if I don't stay in Oz fate only intends better things for me than I could get out of being here.

I took a walk down memory lane last weekend, going to visit one of my best friends Jenna at her hometown of Toowoomba. Jenna is a gorgeous soul, who lives her life with the mantra 'there is no such thing as luck, only preparation meeting opportunity'. And Jenna appears to be one of the luckiest people you could meet. I met Jenna when I studied in Brisbane for the year.

She picked me up at Brisbane airport and on the drive to her house we passed the bus route that I used to take back from Uni to my house. I love Brisbane SO much. Its a different vibe to Melbourne, a lot more relaxed, tropical and carefree.

Toowoomba is a small town about an hour out of Brisbane. I ate and shopped my way around the town. The best beef chilli pizza is there, as well as the most insane opshops. I bought a furcoat for 30 dollars and several other items which I do not need but I could not resist! All in all a lovely weekend, thank you to the Holmes for your hospitality!!

Emily x

nah nah my friends sweetcorn pattys are better than yours...Three Bags Full review.

Sunday morning/afternoon and brunch is on the menu at Three Bags Full in Abbotsford. We pull up and it looks popular...people lining the sidewalk for a seat. But we catch a glimpse of the food coming out and make the decision to wait on the street with the rest. And wait we do...

But finally we are seated, and after much deliberation myself and my sister decide to share the Beetroot cured salmon, with corn, pea and feta fritter, avocado, rocket and dill sour cream, and the Roasted pumpkin and sage fritters with grilled haloumi and a parsley, pinenut, Parmesan and pomegranate salad. We added eggs, as what is a breakfast without eggs?! and had a fresh juice of apple, pear and mint - (cannot recommend this enough!)

The food came out - literally a picture of perfection, an artists dream on a plate....yet unfortunately the taste did not quite live up to the delightful presentation. Both the corn, pea and feta fritter and the pumpkin and sage fritters needed a little extra zing, and were only helped out by their toppings, leaving me wishing I was eating my friends home cooked sweetcorn cakes instead. The long wait and huge crowds had just made my expectations rather too high, and unfortunately Three Bags Full did not quite deliver on the palate. 7/10.

Visit Three Bags Full at http://www.threebagsfullcafe.com.au  

                                                               Emily x

a TINY surprise...

Meeting Michael Pham at a Art Opening he invited myself and my friend Robyn to visit his cafe in Fitzroy.

'Tiny' is a little establishment under the stairs of a designers serving coffee, breakfast, sandwiches, lunch and cakes.

Thanks to Robyn's Aubergine enthusiasm Michael had added an aubergine dish to his menu for us that day. 'Eggplant and Pomegranate salad' with chilli, soba noodles, coriander and basil was delicious...prompting Robyn to take the recipe home.

I had the baked eggs with bacon and tomato on sourdough bread which too was delicious.

We left with a big smiles and a bag full of of complimentary pastries to take home - the almond croissant is to DIE for.

So thank you Michael for your tasty food!

Emily x

Everybody needs good neiiiighbours!!!

So in the past week not only have I got a house, but I have also got a job. ON NEIGHBOURS NONE THE LESS! Im a production assistant/runner, which means I'm the bitch. Perks of the job : the free buffet food each day and the Nissan x trail I get. Cons of the job : getting fat off all the free food and the stress of driving around Carl Kennedy and trying not to crash. But all in all Neighbours + Emily = a very happy Emily!

Love Emily x

Christmas is coming...

REINDEER CUPCAKES

INGREDIENTS
125g unsalted butter, softened
1 cup caster sugar
3 eggs

4 spoons of cocoa powder
1 ½ cups plain flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
¾ cup (185mL) milk

Put remaining Jaffa's in mixture 

ICING 

50g butter
 2 cups icing sugar
2 tablespoons milk
1pkt Jaffas for nose

  Smarties for eyes

Chocolate as eye dot
1 pkt pretzels

HOW TO…
1. Preheat oven to 180°C. Place cupcake papers in tray. Cream butter and sugar together before adding all the other ingredients.
2. Fill cupcake papers ¾ full. Bake cupcakes for 15-25 minutes and small cupcakes (until a skewer inserted into the middle of a cupcake comes out clean).
3. Allow to cool before icing
4. Cream butter until pale and smooth. Add the milk and half the sifted icing sugar. Beat until well combined. Add the remaining icing sugar and beat until mixture is light and fluffy. The mixture should be a spreadable paste; if it is too dry add some more milk, if too wet add more icing sugar.
5. Decorate
6. EAT AND ENJOY!!!

The sunshine and hot weather makes it easy to forget that its actually the run-up to Christmas. So nothing like a bit of baking to get you in the Christmassy spirit!
 
Slaved away over these last night...don't want to blow my own trumpet, but they are bladdy delicious! Feeling rather sick this morning however as half of the batter didn't make it into the oven, somehow ending up in my stomach instead!

Hope everyone is starting to feel festive! 

Emily x