Camping as a Christmas gift.

Wow. We all know how much I love camping but this takes my love affair to a new level. How amazing are these tents by FieldCandy?

Sarah and Andy are going on a canoeing and camping adventure tomorrow. Guess who isn't? Mmmhmmm...one angry little Frances.

Perhaps I should buy one of these babies and camp on my balcony with my baby tomato?

Wouldn't these make the best Christmas present?

Monday, darling Monday.

Oh, hi. Happy Monday.

Did you have a wonderful weekend?

Mine was marvellously jam-packed.  After my pizza adventures with Sarah, Andy and Whitty on Friday night I had a relatively early night and got up all sparkly for yoga before I visited my newly-married friend Chellis. I was more than slightly jealous as she showed me picture after picture of her beautiful Fiji honeymoon. 

Then on Saturday eve I cooked up a scrumptious soba noodle salad for the MMs before heading out to see Melbourne band The Tiger and Me. It was a bit super-fun.

And yesterday was all about family. We celebrated my darling aunt Maggie's 60th birthday with an all-in lunch extravaganza. It was filled with joy and laughter and WAY too much food. I'm still full.

So. Today I'm going to tinker, of course, and drink tomato juice in backhanded support of my little lone fruity-vegetable babyfriend desperately growing strong on the balcony of my ladypad.

I hope you had a lovely weekend and are having an even lovelier start to your Monday.

Pizza Friday.

Hello frolickers.

Well, in Australia (or at least Melbourne) summer has well and truly arrived. This morning I spied my first baby tomato, peeking out from under its leafy cover as I stumbled out onto the balcony with my morning tea in hand. And boy, is it heating up. It's positively sweltering some days.

So, to celebrate summer and all its deliciousness I'm heading out tonight for homemade pizza and beer at Sarah and Andy's house.

As I'm munching away I'll no doubt be thinking of last Sunday's other pizza adventures: a visit to Ballarat to enjoy a special pizza feast cooked by my mate Ro from Whole Larder Love.

And to continue the theme...if you haven't caught Ro's five-part online cooking series on ABC Online you MUST. STAT! In fact, today's final recipe is a smoked trout pizza...

You can view the videos here.

Go on, hop to it.

Happy Friday, friends.

Osamu Yokonami.

These pictures are just so so wonderful, don't you think? Photographer Osamu Yokonomi has captured the wild openness of childhood so brilliantly.

I would have happily dressed like this all day as a child. When I was very small, two or three, I christened myself Ownself. Ownself was my don't-f**k-with-me alter ego. When I look at these pics I can't help but giggle and remember Ownself fashion moments. 

She would have loved all of these looks. As does the older version...Ownself Mark II is a bit obsessed.

Mixed Prints.

Ooooo I love this look. Mixed prints all the way baby.
(via The Sartoralist)

Spooky Soiree.

Hello little darlings.

Tonight I'm going to visit the MMs in their new pad out in the hills on the outskirts of Melbourne. As I haven't seen it yet I'm imagining it to be like the rad-yet-creepy McPike Mansion in Alton, IL. Sans spooky spirits of course. One can hope, right?

We will wear black tulle and deep burgundy lipstick while we read poetry and drink shiraz out of crystal goblets. 

Have a happy Friday eve, ok?

(source Black Doll via The Wayfarer)

Jessica Tremp.

If I was in Sydney I'd be going to this...

Pick up Sticks exhibition on until 22 December. Definitely worth a visit!