Going, going...gone! Singles Auction for charity

You all know how much I love a charity event with a twist, and tonight's Singles Auction at Charlie's Bar looks set to promise just that.  

A group of volunteer singles will be auctioned off for a dinner date with the highest bidder from the crowd (and you thought dating was putting yourself out there).  All funds raised from the night will be dedicated to children's charity, Very Special Kids. 

The philanthropist lot behind the event is Hi-Life Raisers - a group of social people raising funds for a selected charity each year.  This will be the biggest event they've done to date.

Entry is $10 and rumour has it that Charlie's will be offering drink specials including a unique cocktail created just for the night.  Raffle tickets and prizes will also be going around, all with the aim of raising as much money as possible for Very Special Kids. 

Of course, you don't have to be single to come along - and be rest assured you wont be up for auction as part of the crowd.  Grab some mates, throw in a tenner and support Hi-Life Raisers as they do their thing for charity.

Singles Auction
Wednesday, 31 July 2013 - 6.30pm
Charlie's Bar
Hardware Lane, Melbourne 
$10 entry (all funds to charity)

Yours, 

Little Miss Melbourne xoxo

Special thanks to lovely Sarah Kempson who brought this to my attention. 



GAZI: Modern Greek with a bit of cheek

Today's late lunch catch up was at the somewhat new Gazi on the corner of Exhibition and Flinders Streets in the city.  I took an instant liking to the place when the waitress made a point of running through the cocktail menu as a matter of priority.  Winner.
Duck & chips and soft shell crab souvlakis (GF)

Alas, cocktails weren't on the agenda today so instead we went straight onto foodies and opted to share a couple of souvlakis (duck and crab), plus what we coined the 'meat salad' (baked Jerusalem artichoke, pancetta, tyrokafteri pistachio dressing) and roast bull horn peppers with chargrilled cuttlefish, witlof and garlic dressing dish from the "dirty food" items.

Baked Jerusalem artichoke and pancetta salad
The souvas were a good size and came with a gluten free option; a little tricky to share which our waitress did warn us about but we stubbornly persisted and apparently didn't have too much trouble seeing as we left nothing behind.  The duck was very good although I personally wasn't a fan of the soft shell crab; not so much a reflection of the food but more my ridiculous aversion for eating meat which resembles its original form...it was the crabs  legs that did it.


With them removed (and rapidly devoured) by my lunch companion, I did try the crab souva and it was nice; crispy, salty - crab-like.  Much preferred the duck - tender, not dry, a well balanced dressing WITH CHIPS.  Yum.  The meat salad was a tasty addition, nothing hearty but a good accompaniment.  And our "dirty food" dish was littered with evenly cooked cuttlefish (not rubbery) and delicately populated with witlof.  Nothing dirty or street food about it.


Greek wine and a "dirty food" dish
We had a couple of Greek wines to swish it down (with help from our waitress - Greek wines are confusing) and couldn't resist the impressionable Turkish delight, carved off something like a gyro.  We were told it took 2 months just for Gazi to get it in the country.  No chocolate on this
baby.  Our whole meal with a wine each came to just shy of $80.  

I did like the creative, suggestive menu - who doesn't love a good innuendo?  The Bend Over Box offers a quick lunch option, 'savoury to sweet', for $27.50pp available Monday to Friday from lunch til 3.  If you have a larger appetite you may be more up for 'Doing It Greek Style'; 10 dish sharing menu for $69pp.  Cheeky.

Turkish delight! So many pistachios and chestnuts.
With terracotta pots that hang from the ceiling, food that matches your drinks, and a good play on words, this just seems like a fun kind of place to enjoy good company and soak up an afternoon or evening (or both).

  • Gluten free friendly
  • Take away menu 
  • Bookings available - but not required 



GAZI
2 Exhibition Street
Melbourne 
(03) 9207 7444
http://gazirestaurant.com.au/














Aging gracefully (with a little bit of help...)


One thing that’s absolutely certain in this crazy life is that we are all, inevitably, getting older.  Yes, that is the harsh reality my friends.  And as a single, 30-something, self-employed city girl who rents her apartment and holds higher equity in handbags than in her share portfolio, society might say that I’m doing it all wrong.  But that’s the great thing about being in your 30’s; more confident in who you are, where you’re at and what you want.  Less likely to actually care about what life is “supposed” to look like.  And a great deal more stubborn.

In saying this, one of the things I do care about with getting older, is aging gracefully on the outside.  Actually, I just want to be mistaken for being in my 30s, when I’m really well into my 40s (wish me luck...).  I love nutrition and fitness so as far as self-preservation goes from the inside out, I feel pretty clued up.  That’s a good start, right?  However, seeing as I can probably count on two hands the number of facials I’ve had in my life, I feel more clue-less when it comes to knowing what salon treatments are available for self-preservation from the outside; something which has been bugging me for a while and without being quite sure of exactly where to start.

So when I was invited to a beauty clinic in central Melbourne for a skin assessment and treatment, it felt like the universe had listened to my cries of vanity and delivered in kind.  How lucky for little me!  What followed was an insightful and beneficial experience at Minoos Beauty Clinic in central Melbourne.    

Minoos has been established for nearly 30 years and is a sophisticated hidden gem in the Manchester Unity Building – I have walked past this building hundreds of times completely unawares of what was waiting above. As for aging gracefully, the clinic itself holds classic charm with a reception area that portrays a timeless beauty in itself.  Most importantly, it’s a warm, welcoming space which will put any salon novice (or pro) at ease.  From the outset, Minoos gives you the reassurance you need that they know exactly what they are talking about when it comes to self-preservation.
First up was my skin assessment and consult with the lovely (and health-science degree qualified) Rebeccah.   Rebeccah used the Visia Digital Skin Analysis System to photograph my skin and assess it for a range of things from pigmentation to collagen levels.  This is compared against a database of other people from a similar demographic, which can make you feel great if you’re doing well, or relieved that you’re in the clinic if not.

For my skin, Rebeccah felt the best treatment would be a microdermabrasion, using fine crystals to work on removing layers of dead and damaged skin cells. It wasn’t harsh or uncomfortable and I actually found it quite relaxing.  It’s like an advanced form of exfoliating scrub concentrated at a round broad tip, leaving behind delicate crystals which are progressively removed by your consultant.

After my microdermabrasion came the refreshing Jetpeel;  concentrated fluids jetted onto your skin through a very fine nozzle and in a cooling, sweeping spray of air and liquid.  It would be divine to have this done on a hot summer’s day.  Essentially what it does is exfoliate the outer layer of your skin and allow for better penetration of the treatment into your skin.  It’s resurfacing and hydration without any scary needle-wielding cosmetic surgery (eep). 

As for the results (the important bit), my skin looked plumped, smooth and fresh immediately after the treatment, with a soft glow and even reduced pigmentation.  Some basic mineral make up was applied so I could carry on with my day and whatever it had in store (although make up was far from necessary).  I was in and out within hour, fresh faced and ready to take on the world.

It’s worth noting that a week or so after the treatment I did have some breakout as a result of impurities making their inevitably ugly way to the surface, so perhaps book your treatment at a time which doesn’t see an important event coming up in the next week or so.

I loved that Minoos Beauty Clinic were accommodating, professional, and very patient with all of my questions.  Their level of knowledge and experience was very reassuring and I felt confident about being in their capable hands and the advice they had to give.  There are other treatments available too, plus skin care products which I completely succumbed to, in aid of my aging gracefully vision ‘n all ;)

You can find Minoos online or visit them at Level 2 of the Manchester Unity Building in Melbourne.

Gracefully yours,

Little Miss Melbourne xoxo  

Top 10 tips for getting your sleep back

Some ideas for getting a better night's sleep and a better you the next day. xoxo

 

Today is a good day. 
 
Last night, I slept.

It may not sound like much, but for an insomniac, it is huge.  For the first time in nearly a week, there was slumber before 3am.  There were more than four hours sleep.  And, finally, there were dreams (yippee!).

A night of no sleep is not so bad - actually, it's great to be 'one of those people' who can bounce through the day on only a few hours shut-eye and no caffeine.  But a whole week?  Killer. 

Today there is no need to hold my eyes open with toothpicks.  Or hold fear of retribution from drinking a coffee at ten o'clock in the morning.  Energy and motivation are back.  Things are happening.

Today is a good day.  Here's how I got my sleep back:

My top 10 tips for a better you the next day

1. Turn everything off.  Phone, laptop, bedroom TV, bedroom stereo, anything emitting electricity in your room: die.   If you need your alarm, leave your phone on silent outside your room.  I list this as number one as it's my biggest weakness.

2. Don't drink coffee.  I love coffee.  LOVE.  But I know that if I need a good night's sleep, I need to kill the caffeine.  Sob!  I'm not suggesting permanently (god forbid) - maybe just give it a rest for a day, or choose decaf (I know, I know). 

3.  Exercise lightly in the afternoon.  Not a few hours before bed.  Not strenuously.  The point is to get the blood moving but without messing with your cortisol levels too much (the stress hormone that comes out to play when we exercise).

4. Turn to the Dark Side.  Make your room as dark as possible.  If it's still light, wear an eye mask.  
Wear an eye mask if your eyes just hate staying closed.

5. Breathe.  Besides the obvious, I mean deep breathing just as you settle into bed (not of the sexy kind...although this also has its benefits!).  Breathe down into your stomach, hold it for a second, then exhale slowly.  Clear your mind completely and push out thoughts with your breath.  Use that time to do some meditation.  Then switch to light, diaphragm breathing and drift off to sleep.  Mmm.    

6. Pop a pill.  I hate sleeping tablets.  I'm convinced they are going to give me cancer, and only take them when absolutely necessary.  Instead, I'm talking about supplements.  Specifically, calcium, magnesium and vitamin D.  Calcium helps with relaxing your bod and magnesium helps absorb the calcium.  Vit D helps with regulation of both, and god knows we are all deficient in that.  Read more about this here.

7. Warm milk.  Not just an old wives' tale!  Milk contains tryptophan, and if turkey at Christmas time has taught us anything, it's that tryptophan makes us sleepy.  The warm part is just a bit more soothing and comforting - make it a slow process that makes you relaxed and feeling cosy.

9.  Bed is for sleeping...and...  Make the time you spend in your bed for sleeping and sexy time only.  Not for reading, laptop or TV time.

10. Get up.  If sleep just aint happening, get up and do something else.  Something light, just for a while, and try bed again when you feel sleepy.

zzz

In addition to the above (I'm going to be a complete hypocrite here because I've never done it) I'd suggest that if you're not sleeping for a period of time, go and see your doc.

Also, I'm not a health practitioner (yet!) - all of the above is some of what I've accumulated over 32 fun years of insomnia, crazy cortisol activity, and what has helped me personally.  Use them of your own accord.  Disclaimer complete.

Sweet dreams, 

Little Miss Melbourne xoxo




OMIGOD! Legally Blonde The Musical - ends 14 July

This week I had the pleasure of breaking out my hot-pink clutch and attending a matinee performance of Legally Blonde The Musical.


Drinks and chats were with the cast before hand; I discovered Cameron Daddo (Professor Callahan) is even taller and more charming in real life, and it's easy to have a laugh with David Harris (Emmett), despite his shock horror at my first ever visit to Princess Theatre (which is gorgeous, if you haven't been).  Well, there's a first time for everything and this was certainly a fabulous way to get started.

As a fan of the movie I was intrigued to see how it was going to come to life as a musical.  The production follows the same plot as the big screen and features many favourites such as the plentiful use of "omigod you guys!", essential handbag pet pooch, and the "bend...and snap!".  What would it be without these?  But it really came to life with the use of clever lyrics, creative set design, adorable canines, and a talented cast.  There is definitely new found respect for anyone who can sing and dance that well in a pair of heels.

The show was funny, warm and inspiring like the movie but with that fresh edge that comes with theatre. I left Legally Blonde The Musical feeling considerably perky with the reminder that women can wear pink and enjoy success, at the same time.  Like, seriously.
 

Legally Blonde The Musical is finishing its Australian Tour on July 14 so get yourself to the Princess Theatre in Melbourne stat.  Bookings are through Ticketmaster or on 1300 111 011.



High tea Waiting at Crown


An afternoon of sophisticated yum and bubbles at The Waiting Room: high tea at Crown.


  
Pretty petite treats.

A few weeks ago when I was invited to the launch of Crown's new high tea at The Waiting Room, I jumped at the chance. 

Not only do I LOVE high tea, it also fell on a Friday afternoon making it the perfect Freelancer Friday outing; a new tradition to account for the overtime and weekend work that accompanies freelance life.
100% gluten free amazingness.

 Aptly named with its location just adjacent to the lobby of the Crown Towers hotel, The Waiting Room offers a decadent yet chic venue for high tea in Melbourne. We enjoyed a glass (or more) of Chandon with our delicious afternoon tea which catered blissfully for gluten free.    
Gin tonic jelly with sweet cucumber.

 With new high tea offerings emerging all across Melbourne, what sets The Waiting Room apart from the rest?  The intricate detail of its petite treats designed by Executive Pastry Chef, Roberto Molleman, the glittering 1940's inspired surroundings, and (for the anti-gluten amongst us) amazing gluten free sandwiches and sweets.   

 We thought for a moment that we hadn’t received gluten free but were assured that it was, indeed, free of the gluten.  That’s the level of amazing I’m talking about.      

My personal favourite though was the gin tonic jelly with sweet cucumber; refreshing with a bit of a kick and a fantastic modern twist to cucumber at high tea.  Not just for sandwiches, kids!  


The info:


High tea at The Waiting Room runs daily from 12pm to 5pm and bookings are a must.  

  • $49 for a tiered stand with Jing Tea and Vittoria coffee
  • $59 with a flute of Chandon Brut
  • If champagne is a must (I empathise with this completely), $69 with a flute of Louis Roederer Champagne.  Yumness.
Frock up and fill out, Melbourne.  I feel confident saying you won’t be disappointed by high tea at The Waiting Room.  

 Delightful and delicious.


Yours,

Fresh, detailed and very delicious.
Little Miss Melbourne








The Waiting Room

 Crown Towers lobby

 Southbank, Melbourne

 03 9292 5545 





All images by Little Miss Melbourne. Also at www.instagram.com/littlemissmelbourne  

Find the time - just for you

Normally, my days are filled with rushing, pushing, noise, pace, stress, working, writing, tweeting.  Every day.  Including weekends.  And I love it.  Although seldom do I find the time to just sit and read a book or watch a movie, and even when I’m traveling the laptop is out and I’m putting together a strategy, working on client content, or hatching some grand master plan in line with my latest light bulb moment idea.  I’m also usually running late (to everything). 

But today is different. 

The country is calling my name and I’m on a trip away from my city living love for a much overdue visit to see the parents.  I wasn’t running late.  I haven’t brought any work with me.  I even managed breakfast at Federation Square before ducking over to Flinders Street Station to jump on the vline.  And now, I’m going to sit.  And read my book.  All the way there.  It’s time to stop and smell the proverbial roses.  Right after I’ve posted this blog…
 
This weekend, find the time - just for you.

Y

Little Miss Melbourne xoxo
 
 


 

L'heure du The: tea time in French! From Le Style


"Dress up and feel good. Release your inner Parisian." Le Style


I absolutely love events that offer something fun and different while giving something back to others.  It's a concept which resonates beautifully with my own values and morals - a win-win for all using fun vibes to generate a positive outcome.  Add to that a touch of French allure and you have L'heure du Thé.

Well actually, L'heure du Thé is 'tea time' in French.  But this weekend it also means high tea at Sofitel Melbourne.  This will be an afternoon of French delights and entertainment, while also raising funds for the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF). 

The soon-to-be international high tea is the brain child of travel and style mag, Le Style.  I recently caught up with Sha Anderson, Editor of Le Style and founder of L'heure du Thé, to get the low down on high tea and she has promised an amazing afternoon.

Besides getting dressed up in my Sunday best, THIS is why I'm oh-so-excited to be going, and feel very proud to be one of this year's media partners:
  • Buffet-style French-menu afternoon tea  yum
  • Sparkling white wine on arrival   yum part II
  • Complimentary goody bag   yay!
  • Manicures & hand massages   thank god someone thought of this
  • Prize giveaways   I never win these things, so that's more chances for everyone else
  • Entertainment   including ballet and piano performances (j'adore) 
  • Raise money for charity   YES!
I should mention here too that prize sponsors are Le Petit Gateau (I believe Pierrick has been very generous) and The French Organic Company.  Fab.

If this sounds like your cup of tea, tickets are available online.  Last minute tickets have been reduced from $100 to $85 which makes it even easier to have your cake and eat it too.  Plus raise money for charity at the same time.  Win-win.


The low down on high tea:
L'heure du Thé
16th June (Sun) 1-6pm
Tea sessions: 1-3pm and 4-6pm
Sofi's Lounge Level 1
Sofitel Melbourne on Collins
Tickets: $100 $85
A percentage of ticket sales go to NBCF
Dress code: Parisian Chic (of course)







Positivity, generosity and fun!





A little thanks from a Little Miss

Little Miss Melbourne is super excited to be an official media partner of this year's L'heure du The - thank you to the wonderful team at Le Style for inviting me to be a part of this important and inspiring event.

Yours,

Little Miss Melbourne xoxo


Eat Street 2013 for Red Kite

This year's foodie fundraiser for Red Kite.


Phew - what a crazy busy time of year!  Fortunately, none of it's pointless, particularly tonight's very exciting event at the Sofitel Melbourne, Eat Street 2013.

I'm so excited about this event because it involves food, Melbourne's top chefs, signature dishes, wine, socialising - ALL FOR CHARITY!  Food doesn't feel much better than this.

This year's Eat Street will see the Sofitel transformed into a big circus top to house over 800 guests and raise funds for children's cancer charity, Red Kite.

It's kicking off at 6pm TONIGHT so keep your eyes on Twitter and Instagram for vibrant pictorials, and take some time to check out Red Kite and all the awesome work they do.

http://www.redkite.org.au/eat-street-2013




Freelancer Friday: Pizza!



Freelancer Friday is fast becoming a tradition for me (we don't get the customary office based wine-o-clock so have to invent our own...).  After a long week, myself and freelancer friend Sarah Kempson made our way to Pinocchio in South Yarra for Friday, our way.  I'd heard they offered a gluten free friendly menu and Sarah had heard that it was - quote - an "institution".  Despite all that, I'm always keen to try new pizza (who isn't?).

After a few champs at The Lyall we arrived at Pinocchio's, starving and in need of serious indulgence.  We told our waiter about our aversion to wheat and gluten and he seemed very educated about it all. 

To start we opted for the red wine braised baby octopus with Italian style chorizo sausage tossed with roasted peppers and light mint dressing ($12).  Ours came sans-chorizo as our waiter was concerned the sausage might contain gluten.  So we threw in a side of hot chips instead.  The octopus was tender, minus any chewiness, and while octopus heads do somewhat freak me out, the dressing (I would call it a sauce) was thick enough to cover the octopus well; no irkyness at all.  I can imagine it would be a fairly rich dish with the chorizo but it's not overly huge so I wouldn't see this as a problem.

Octopus - and chippies!
Prosecco and entree inhaled and it was onto the pizza and wine.  Many GF pizza bases become soggy, fall apart easily, are too sweet, or simply fail to hold an adequate amount of toppings - for all the above reasons.  As a result, GF pizza can be vastly less enjoyable than eating pizza should ever be (sacrilege).  This was not the case at Pinocchio's.  The base was crisp and firm, but not chewy, and did a good job of holding highly satisfactory amounts of said toppings (as per the images). 

We opted for the pumpkin pizza - or eloquently put, the "Zucca": Fior di latte, wood roasted butternut pumpkin, ricotta pesto pancetta vin cotto "(R $19 L $22).  I'd describe this as fresh, buttery and light.  Seeing as the GF pizza only comes in regular size, we felt it more than reasonable to order two. 

Our second pizza was the Prosciutto: San Marzano tomato, fior di latte, San Daniele Prosciutto, rocket, parmesan and balsamic (R $20 L $24) - and we added chicken.  This one had a bit more oomph with the tomato base and sharp flavours of the stronger toppings which worked perfectly together.  The two pizzas balanced each other very nicely and we ate the lot, bar two slices (which we succumbed to taking away).

As far as ambiance goes, it was a comfortably busy Friday.  We could chat without feeling like we needed to yell; a refreshing change to some of the hot spots in town.  The interior is modern and comfortable with the right amount of lighting.  Maybe that's why we stayed until close without realising we were the only ones left...
I liked the Pinocchio figures throughout the venue too, from the walls to the plates - very classic and very cute.  Character.

Whether we caught them on a very good night or whether this is standard fare from the "new" Pinocchio I've heard about, I found it a welcoming, warming space with friendly, helpful service and fresh, wholesome food. 

No word of a lie.

Enjoy - LMM xoxo





Pinocchio
152 Toorak Road, South Yarra
03 9867 2772

http://www.pinocchiopizza.com.au/southyarrahome.html
Twitter: @pinocchiorest
Facebook


Lonely Freelancer Days - and how to fix 'em

 
I have a confession to make.  Today, I felt lonely.  All of my freelancer-business-owning friends were tied up or out of the city and everyone else works full time.  On the days when you just feel like a bit of company, working for yourself can, at times, get a little bleak.

So, like any other right minded individual would do when friends can’t give you an answer, I turned to Google.  When it comes to lonely freelancer days it seems I’m not so alone after all.  There’s a stack of material and tips on what to do when you’re still in love with your business but craving companionship.

If you like the freedom and flexibility of running your own show, but more consumed by lonesome self-pity than doing your job, here’s a collection of tips to get you going again. 

I’ve only listed points which you can still do while also being productive.  Just because you’re feeling a case of the lonelies doesn’t mean you don’t have work to do…
freelanceswitch.com lists some great, practical tips – 11 to be exact.  I found most of them quite relevant – speshly the ‘express it’ one.  Here are my faves:

Microblog. Use Twitter, Plurk, Pownce, or your Facebook status and spend a few minutes sharing your thoughts, a link or whatever. Just don’t let it get too addictive.
Chat via IM. Unlike a phone call that ends as soon as you hang up, IM software allows you a permanent background connectedness to other people. If you need to ask a question or share something, it’s easy to do, get a response, and move on.
Express it. You’re a creative person. Write about it the loneliness of freelancing, draw a funny cartoon, paint “happy” colors, take an inspiring picture or come up with a logo or web design that is uplifting. Find a way to express your feelings first, then counteract that with a positive action.

Get the rest here: http://freelanceswitch.com/working/11-ways-to-banish-lonely-freelancer-syndrome/


onepageonly.net – I loved reading this highly amusing piece written by Jan – excerpts and link below.

You may be home alone, but you’re not the only freelancer out there.  Don’t just stand there in your pyjamas. Network, stupid!
Location, location, location.  …grab your phone and your laptop, find the nearest coffee place and sit on your butt on a cosy sofa, staring at other people.
Get a wife/husband.  Ok, sorry. That’s just bad advice.
Seriously though. This may sound like a trivial thing to say, but you need to remember that you are not alone.

Read the full post (I enjoyed it): http://onepageonly.net/blog/freelancers-are-not-loners-socialize-at-work/

Freelancem.ag had lots of tips, but many of them required getting away from your job which is not always practical.  They did have some good ones though:

Send an email to a friend, client, or colleague. Reach out to someone else with a friendly, newsy email. Chances are good that they’ll appreciate hearing from you.
Connect through social media. There is some evidence that staying in touch with friends through social media can help you to feel less lonely.
Be the first one to say “hello.” One of the biggest obstacles to connecting with others is the fear of the initial action. If you make the first move, others will likely reciprocate.
If you've got more time on your hands, you might like the rest: http://freelancem.ag/freelancing-basics/lonely/


My own personal remedy?  Write, write, write.  Work from a cafe with free wifi, good food and great people watching (like 1000 Pound Bend).  And get yourself a cupcake.  Immediately.

Now: time to get back to being a fabulous freelancer.

Yours,  

Little Miss Melbourne xoxo



Expect nothing but the best

Disappointment is a bitch.
Be it a relationship, friendship or online shopping gone wrong, anything failing to live up to expectation leaves us with that awful lackluster taste of discontent tinged with resentment. 

I once believed that if you don't have any expectations, particularly of people, then you won't be under threat of dissatisfaction later down the track.  “Blessed is he who expects nothing, for he shall never be disappointed”, said poet Alexander Pope.

Really though - that all sounds a little bit sad.

Why shouldn't we expect good things from people, life and the elements in it?  Expectations are based on what we feel we deserve, and often based around our values and beliefs -  perhaps even our goals.  Surely it's not being unrealistic or over the top to feel entitled to a certain level of fulfillment with our preconceived ideals. 

Of course, as is life, we don't always have control over the external factors which influence our expectations.  When you're hungry, you order something offered to you on the menu.  It's not being unrealistic to expect your meal to be satisfying, but it might end up being anything but.  So while some say that avoiding disappointment is a matter of setting realistic or lower expectations, sometimes it's not that straight forward.

Expectation gives us hope.  It may have the possibility of leading us to discontent, but it makes us believe - in people, in ourselves, in life's future possibilities. 

Maybe, in divine irony, the antidote to disappointment is to set new expectations; don't settle for anything less than you deserve and never shortchange your own values. 

Sure, people and events let us down.  We let ourselves down.  Disappointment can be a bitch - but so can life.  And when life gives us lemons, we should make lemonade - and expect it to taste fantastic. ;)

With love,
LMM xoxo

Westfield's The Festival with Jo and Colette

If you didn’t catch my post over the weekend, let me fill you in on the activities out at Westfield Southland for The Festival.  It all started last Thursday night with a launch that incorporated popcorn, champagne, a Bellabox (love) and a showing of Confessions of a Shopaholic.  Aka LMM heaven. 




It’s ironic how a movie about shopping too much, can make you want to shop even more - but it was an excellent start to four days of retail therapy. 

Lucky for us, The Festival offered prizes, giveaways, makeovers and free style workshops showcasing Autumn/Winter collections from various stores within the walls of Westfield.  Lucky for me, I headed to Westfield Southland on Sunday to co-host the Colette by Colette Hayman accessories workshop with lovely Westfield Stylist, Jo Blankfield.  Jo showed us how it’s done when it comes to colour coding, chunky accessories, necklace length, when more is more, and when more is - well, too much.

Stylist Jo Blankfield mixing it up.

Meanwhile, I had the chance to ask Jo the questions that were on everyone’s lips…can blue and green really be seen?  (Yes) Should the belt width you choose be dependent on the size of your waist?  (Yes - larger waist, use a skinner belt – and visa versa).  Can black accessories work on black evening wear?  (Yes)  Does an oversized tote work on a 5ft tall LMM?  Seemingly not.  The Colette range showed us that vibrant is in and block colours are still doing their thing.  

I had accessories, a microphone and new heels.  I was a happy lady.

The Festival might be over but you can still get fashion tips and insights with Westfield’s Style File.  I must admit, I like the Cost Per Wear calculator which I normally do in my head as I’m trying to justify the purchase of something expensive which I don’t exactly ‘need’. 

The Cost Per Wear calculator not only does the math for you, but also takes into account what investment you need to put back into purchase for maintenance such as drycleaning & repairs.  A little less biased than my inner-brain workings which simultaneously scream “JUST BUY IT, YOU KNOW YOU NEED IT!”. 

I just worked out that a $500 coat which I wear for two months of the year, keep for two years, and have dry cleaned every six months, will cost me $4.83 per wear.  I think I need a new coat.  There’s also a body shape calculator and you can book a session with a stylist if you want to get your look in check.

All in all, everything you need to get your fashionista beautiful self up to speed just in time for winter.  Fab.

Check out the Style File and see this season’s vibrant offerings from Colette by Colette.

Fashionably yours, LMM xoxo

Fashion and Fun at The Festival


Right now I'm in a (slightly erratic but highly friendly) taxi, heading for Westfield Southland to join Stylist Jo Blankfield in the wonderful world of accessories.


Jo's showing us how its done with getting our wardrobe up to date for the Autumn/Winter season - by simply updating our accessories.

She'll be using pieces by Colette by Colette Hayman in the free workshop, while I try to get a few insider tips of my own.

It's all part of Westfield's Fashion Festival; four days of Fashion, Beauty & Lifestyle.  In other words, fun!

Come down and enjoy - and look out for my post on the event later next week! LMM xoxo





A month and a food box later

Close to a month since I got back from overseas, it's also nearly a month since I received my March delivery of the AgendaSelects subscription, with a box of goodies from various suppliers, perdominantly from around Victoria.


This month's selection was the uTaste box; let me tell you that almonds have never tasted so good as when you're sleepless and hungry at 3am after returning home from Paris.  But besides jet lag, almonds and the thrill of getting surprise food delivered to your house, the box  has been handy and fun to have around for the last few weeks.

Here's a snapshot of what it came with:



Where to start?  Ok, let's go with the packet of nuts and seeds from Sami's Kitchen.  As opposed to the likes of your average salted nut mix, eating this actually made me feel quite good - the thyme, sesame seeds, almonds, kri kri and pepitas make for a yummy, healthy snack (or 3am dinner). The only thing about the packet is that it's not re-sealable so you easily make your way through the whole pack in one sitting when you might not actually need to - completely a first world problem, but there you have it.

The Farmer Jo burnt fig and cinnamon almond toasted muesli was amazing, I had it with fresh raspberries and strawbs plus a dollop of of vanilla yoghurt - heaven! So glad I only used half the pack because I was seriously full post breakfast and it meant I had more to use for tomorrow's breakfast. Tick.

With the muesli, I also tried the 'popcorn' tea - or genmaicha - from Perfect South.  This is a blend of sencha leaves with roasted brown rice which gives it a slight taste of popcorn - seriously.  It was really warming and quite comforting so it'll be great on these cooler days and as Melbourne moves into Winter.



The green can of "eff"came in handy while I was packing to move house recently. Don't be fooled by the shape of the can also used by a few hideous energy drinks, this refreshing hit is effervescent fruit juice using 99% real fruit and perked me up while I was between boxes. Impressive.

In addition to the above, the gluten free rocky road was sweet and squishy like any good rocky road should be and the chili chocolate sauce is surprisingly nice.  I don't have the biggest sweet tooth in the world, so I imagine I'll use this with a quirky dessert when I have people over for dinner.

Over the Easter long weekend I used the Ausnat dried fruit (with chocolate and yoghurt - yum) on a platter for my visiting parents and it was perfect with a few other nibbles - something sweet and different to balance the plate:


Tomorrow night I'm looking forward to making chicken curry for a few friends using the Mussaman Thai Curry sachet from No Worries Curries which will simmer for about 45 minutes...mmm!  I'll comment on the post and tell you how it tastes.

So the uTaste box lasted me a whole month and has been a life saver in some parts and an added surprise in others.  I'm looking forward to getting the next one and seeing what else I'll discover which I wouldn't normally consider.  I'm definitely hooked on the burnt fig muesli...!

Check it out for yourself.

Thanks for keeping it fresh, AgendaSelects :)

Jus Burger Lovin'

Roo Burger @ Jus on Chapel

It's no big secret that I'm a fan of the odd burger here and there.  Fortunately for little me, this wonderful city we call Melbourne has become home to a mecca of burger joints all over the city.


Always in search for gluten free goodies, my most recent burger visit took me south of the river to Prahran to check out the gluten free offerings from Jus Burgers. The service is laid back and friendly, resonant with its Perth heritage, but it's all Prahran in the vibey restaurant on Chapel (complete with fake grass).

The menu is part conservative, part creative so you can pick and choose depending what mood what you're in.  Rather than my usual fail safe cheeseburger option, I went with the Roo Burger to celebrate being back in Australia for a week, post-Paris.  The burger had subtle flavours of kangaroo rather than being too gamey, and the horseradish slaw & green chili jam balanced it very well.   

The gluten free bun was maybe a bit too chunky but I was told they're in talks with their baker to slim them down a little and reduce the amount of bread.  I never seem to eat the whole bun anyway so this was not about to perturb me from enjoying my roo.

All in all, it was pretty tasty so I'm keen to go back and live out my beloved cheeseburger tradition.  I liked the space.  It's licensed and, despite their name, they also do salads and other items.  If you're stuck at work mid week and hankering for some lunch time burger lovin' I believe Jus Burgers may even deliver.  Champions. 

Jus Burgers are at 364 Chapel Street, Melbourne 
  
www.instagram.com/littlemissmelbourne

“DATING IS DEAD”



The words were printed in large bold font, published in the Herald Sun yesterday.  An article on the current status quo of our global dating culture, the verdict: dead.  The premise of the piece was that, given our technological gadgets and the ease of communication they bring, traditional dating is about as alive and convenient as dial up internet.

Journo, Jessica Brinton, raises several suggestions.  That we no longer need dating as a way of getting to know each other.  That a text conversation can now be considered the equivalent to a date.  That your Facebook profile renders any need for actually getting to know each other in person and over time (bye bye mystery).  That we are so in love with the convenience of communicating via technology that we no longer need to make an effort with each other.  “It’s convenience romancing, made easy by modern technology”, says Brinton.  

So what does this mean for the advocates of boy meets girl “in real life”, or for the more romantic at heart among us?

I, for one, am not in a fan of online dating and while I will admit that, yes, it is a portal to an endless sea of potential matches, I am caught up with the romance of meeting organically rather than joining the online hunt.  Maybe that’s why I’m still single.  Sure, there’s part of me that screams “wake up girlfriend and get with the times!” but it just aint my cup of tea.  

Ok, so it does make life easier.  And technology certain opens the door to other possibilities previously unconsidered or inaccessible.   But isn't love meant to be worth the effort?  Isn't there supposed to be a level of intrigue that makes you want to go back for more?  Shouldn't dating be more than alive and kicking?  

I don’t believe that dating is dead.  

I do believe that traditional dating, in the long run, is actually easier than relationships developed through technology.  You know straight up whether you click (more important than reading what industry they work in) and it’s easier and faster to learn whether or not you can really spend any real time with this person.  The streets are filled with new people to meet every day - yet we still fall back on technology in the search for compatibility.

When it’s so easy to form and break connections online, without the need to even see or speak to each other, have we become as inhuman as the devices we use?  Maybe the traditional, organic dating rituals of getting to know each other through real life catch ups - instead of online or over text - could actually save us from becoming desensitised to how we behave towards and communicate with others.

When broadband internet goes down, we revert back to the safety of reliable dial up. It might seem slow - but it comes to the rescue when more modern technology fails.

L'Amour (or less) - real dating stories on film

If you're interested in the topics of dating and romantic interludes with the French, or enjoy a good laugh at someone else’s previous expense, you’ll love L’Amour (or less)... 



Lately I had the pleasure of meeting and chatting with Jennifer Geraghty for Paris Undressed with My French Life.  Jennifer is a New Yorker in Paris and the creator and producer of a new series of short web films, L'Amour (or less).  

 As the name suggests, the series has more (or less) to do with love, in particular, dating.  In fact, dating in Paris, between expats and the French.  L'Amour (or less) is set to re-enact real-life stories of actual romantic interludes, filmed on location in Paris with talented actors and professional equipment.  Tres pro.  

This is going to be a fun series (their web promo below is hilarious) but they need some extra help to bring it to life.  They've turned to Kickstarter to raise at least $60,000 before the 17th of March but without hitting this goal, they don't receive any funding at all.

If you'd like to see more and you can spare a donation, L'Amour (or less) will love you forever.  Pledges start from just $5 and each level comes with its own incentive to say *thanks* for your support.   

Find L'Amour (or less) online, back them on Kickstarter, and follow them on Twitter.  They'll love you for it. 


Valentine's Day My Way


So all of a sudden it's Valentine’s Day.  Sure, as if I haven’t known that it's coming for several weeks already.  I've written about it for My French Life, I've been interviewed about it with SBS French Radio, but I must confess that this year I am single and dateless *gasp!*

I have to also admit that, in the past, I wasn't the biggest fan of Valentine’s Day.  I think largely in part due to the implied obligation, especially on the man’s part, to woo and impress on only one particular day of the year.  But my perspective around this has changed.

Despite extensively talking about Valentine’s Day over the last week or so, I’m not bothered that I’ll be date free this Valentine's Day.  Instead, I’m choosing to feel the love for all the good things that I have going on in my life, and appreciate all the people who I love surrounding myself with.

I love my friends, I love my job, I love that I’m going to Paris on Saturday, I love this wonderful city we live in and, of course, I love champagne.  The thing that I personally like about this perspective is that there's no implied obligation whatsoever - just recognition and gratitude.  And while we could practice this every day, Valentine’s Day seems the perfect reminder to reflect on all the things we do have, rather than focus on what we don't.

So, coupled up duo, or dateless singleton, enjoy Valentine’s Day in your own way.  Have fun.  Snort when you laugh.  Do whatever you want, and love it.

With LOVE!
Little Miss Melbourne xoxo



Picnic, Anyone?

Easy Picnicking In Melbourne...


This summer, I've been in love with picnicking in Melbourne.  Friends, food and fun in the sun; it's one of life's simple pleasures to lounge around for the afternoon on a highly unfashionable plaid picnic blanket.

They can take a bit of organising though, so after a particularly full on week with energy at an all time low, myself and a friend enjoyed a picnic prepared by someone else.  Melbourne independent, Bird and Plane, flew to the rescue with a pre-packed ready-to-go picnic hamper; ideal for when, like us, you don't have the time or energy to DIY - or you're looking to impress *wink*   
 
For our boxed up hamper, Bird and Plane went to the effort of accommodating a pair of gluten haters.  Our gluten free picnic box came with Just Yummy GF Herb Focaccia, Thomas Chipman GF crisps, some Love Nuts (they're cashews btw), Milawa River Gold cheese (amaze), the tastiest strawbs I've had in a long time, delicious vanilla bean fudge and some eco friendly plastic cutlery, disposable plates and wine cups.  

For $40 with delivery (in and around the CBD) we felt it was pretty good value for money.  For everyone else who doesn't have a problem with wheat, you might like The Baguette Bird, with drool worthy baguettes from Melbourne institution, Earl Canteen.

If you are looking at a picnic for romantic purposes, I think this is a nice idea.  Everyone's in a good mood, your date can protect you from AWOL footballs and a prepared hamper means the only thing you need to worry about is looking good (and not losing your keys in the park). 

For Valentine's Day, Bird and Plane have got The Valentine Bird which you can pre-order online.  You'll also find them at this year's Harvest Picnic at Hanging Rock on the 24th of February - get a pre-order discount on their Bird and Reyne Picnic Hamper then just pick it up at Harvest on the day; easy. 

 As far as location goes, we have some beautiful picnic spots in Melbourne.  Only Melbourne have listed a few of them here but my personal fave is Carlton Gardens; it's close and convenient for city dwellers and I love how relaxed the park makes me feel.  Throw in a game of pink scrabble and a bottle of champs and LMM is in picnic heaven. xoxo
 Picnic lovers, share your favourite spot in Melbourne.