DREAM CATCHER

 

I am a daydreamer. I always have been. I like to dream big and I like to dream of alternative scenarios. Growing up, daydreaming was never a habit that was graced by my parents. It was viewed as wafty and the type of thing that a scatterbrain would run away with. Lately I have been embracing my habits and rather than trying to squash them (I love food, so I have been cooking more of it from scratch; I love beautiful imagery so I have been taking photographs daily; I love being able to photograph handmade things, so I have been learning new skills), I have been dissceting and thinking....daydreaming....about their strengths and where they might take me one day. I have a love for food, travel, fashion and photography. Along with a billion other people, my dream way of living would involve being paid to photograph food and fashion around the world. So what am I doing to achieve that? Slowly, but surely I am chipping away. Practicing my skills, refining and sharing and surrounding myself with likeminded creative and motivated people. Lately I have been surrounded by even more creative people than ever (even when I worked in the creative field of advertising) and I am astounded by the limitations that we all seem to cap on ourselves. Maybe it's because we are parents, or maybe it's because we are no longer in our 20s...whatever it may be, I want to shake it off.

I had an amazingly uplifting conversation with a beautiful friend of mine today and we both have so many ideas, plans, abilities, connections and friendships yet the things that we want to achieve seem to be happening at snails pace. We made a pact to keep on encouraging each other and to remind each other of our abilities. I am so thankful for the people in my life who support my ideas and dreams. Another major push occurred after reading through the Collective Magazine, oh my gosh. The inspiring stories are literally brimming off of the pages and made me realise that people are doing the sh*t they love and making a living out of it. From illustrators, to weavers, programmers, designers and photographers....and just like me, they aren't academically trained in the area of interest, but their passion and love for their interests and hobbies has led them down an amazing journey and growth - both personally and financially.

Here is my calling to the Universe, I am ready!

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Images taken using Canon 5D Markiii//50mm 1.4

Please do not use my images without permission.

PINK OR BLUE AT THE LAKEHOUSE

 

The weekend hosted the perfect weather to be sitting by the large bay windows at The Lakehouse with a room bursting with beautiful ladies and an assortment of delicious bite sized treats and hot pots of tea. We were here to celebrate the welcoming of baby number three for a very dear friend of mine. She has two handsome and healthy young boys and we were all there to share the excitement of finding out the gender of baby number three. 

The table was spread with towering tiers of assorted macarons, mini slices of orange and chocolate cake, cute little cups of chocolate and orange mousse, scones, freshly whipped cream and shallow dishes of blackberry jam. Long sandwich plates were delicately topped with sandwiches and mini quiches, exactly the type of food you hope to fill up on at an afternoon tea. The tea menu itself boasted an impressive assortment of deluxe tea leaves which would satisfy even the most pickiest of tea drinkers and perhaps even lure in the most die-hard coffee fans with the availability of the such distinct and diverse flavours.

The real jewel of the crown was the cute and unassuming little cake which sailed high above the tiers of sweets and plates of sandwiches. We were all so eager to see whether the cake was bestowing a pink or blue filling. You can only imagine the excitement and disbelief at seeing a pink sponge cake hiding underneath the white buttercream frosting. It looks like they used a different recipe this time around and I am just so beyond happy for my darling friend and her beautiful family. This pink little sponge cake is the first of lots and lots of all things sweet and pink. By far, this is the best way to welcome in new life is with an abundance of sweet treats, friendship and love.

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Images taken using Canon 5D Markiii//50mm 1.4

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ONE OF THOSE DAYS

This afternoon I was at the end of one of those days where you arrive home and you just take your shoes off, make yourself a cup of tea and you just sit. When I need to find a way to relax, a cup of tea seems to be the best remedy. The forced waiting for the mug of tea to cool  is a small space where I can just close my eyes and let my body and mind focus on the warmth emanating from the mug which is cupped in both of my hands. This small gesture does wonders with melting away tension and bringing space back into my lungs. Within ten minutes, I'm zenned and ready to get right back up and at 'em.

How do you relax after one of those days?

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Images taken using Canon 5D Markiii//50mm 1.4

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WEEKEND TREATS

Brunching with someone who loves food as much as you do is fun, but in my case it sometimes means that you don't get to eat a lot. So we went out for brunch today and we ate in the following order; a chocolate brownie with a raspberry surprise, chai latte with full cream milk and a lentil dahl with a poached egg and fresh roti. He had a chicken and leek pie with a quinoa, beetroot and avacado salad with fetta cheese, yet he still managed to eat half of my meal. So after bickering about picking at each other's plates, we made peace and decide to 'share' our plates, but sharing meant that everytime I cut off a slice of pie, he would evil-eye me sizing up the slice on my fork to the millimeter. Perhaps this is karma for all of those times I did that to my parents.

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Images taken using Canon 5D Markiii//50mm 1.4

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MY CHOOKIES EGGS

 

Although it was a bit of a stop-start kind of a feast due to our babes waking and fussing, the conversation, story-telling and laughter smoothly kept us connected as we seemingly took turns in leaving the table to tend to our babes who were playing on the floor around us. The food was an inspired mish mash of my favourite local cafe foods and it was lovely to enjoy the comfort foods at home with friends.

In the Pan: Sauteed kale, mushroom, onion with crumbled fetta and fresh lemon.

Accompaniments: Fresh berries, sourdough bread, avacado, fresh ham, Green Goddess dressing from Healthy Everyday by Pete Evans, fried shallots, gooey raspberry and white chocolate muffins plus chocolate and peanut butter muffins from Oomph Cafe, fresh berries, sauteed mushrooms and freshly laid eggs from my chookies which were softly poached and my gorgeous friend introduced me to the wonderful 'Duffin', a cross between a Donut and a Muffin.

Drinks: Fresh orange juice, tea, and fresh locally ground coffee.

Music: NYC SKA/JAZZ playlist on Spotify.

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Images taken using Canon 5D Markiii//50mm 1.4

Kodak Portra 400

Please do not use my images without permission.

SUNDAY: MY PHOTOGRAPHIC FOOD DIARY

After eating a burnt pancake for breakfast this morning, I decided to go a bit silly at the bakery. I stocked up on enough for lunch and afternoon tea, which was accompanied by a  few cups of fresh hot Honey and Calamansi Tea. Perfect food for the cold front which has left everyone in my home shivering since Friday night.

 

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Images taken using Canon 5D Markiii//50mm 1.4

Kodak Portra 400

Please do not use my images without permission.

WHAT DO YOU SHARE?

She has two kids and so do I, but today I came over with just one. She was smiling generously in the sunshine as I pulled up outside the front of their home. Her home was flush with light and we made our way straight to the lounge room to finish our conversation sitting on the comfort of the lounges. Before long, she was sharing a kettle of boiled water amongst three mugs and searching for spoons and the sugar, all with one arm while bubs sat happily scrunched up agaist her waist with her little legs dangling over her other arm.

Sitting outside in the sunshine we sipped at our tea and watched the boys gather the winter leaves into piles, they were working harmoniously together and as we talked I watched his dad silently smile at him with an open grin as he counted to three before throwing a bunch of dried leaves up and into the sunlight.

We all made our way back inside with empty mugs and I watched them share the space in their home harmoniously with a silent contentment between them. Home is truly where the heart is, and sometimes I find that notion easy to forget especially when I am busying myself with how our home looks and fine tuning the practicality of it. Today my friend shared more than a conversation and a cup of tea inside of her home with me, she made me feel at home with the love, patience, thoughtfulness and kindness that I saw between each of them. What is it that you share inside of your home?

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Images taken using Canon 5D Markiii//50mm 1.4

Kodak Portra 400 & Ilford HP5

Please do not use my images without permission.