High Line in NYC

courtest of http://www.thehighline.org/about/park-information

We are heading to NYC next week. No kids, just Stu and I. I have been to New York a couple of time and have a huge love affair with this city. I just love it. Everything about it. 

I have only ever been in the summer so this is our first time visiting in Spring. I keep checking the temps on my phone and it is similar weather to what we are experiencing here in Sydney at the moment so perfect really as New York is best seen on foot.

One place I am really looking forward to visiting again is the High Line. It is so amazing and there is always something on there and of course something to eat as well. This year’s food vendors include Blue Bottle Coffee, Delaney Barbecue’s SmokeLine, La Newyorkina, L’Arte del Gelato, Melt Bakery, People’s Pops, Sigmund’s Pretzels, and The Taco Truck, as well as Terroir at The Porch, an open-air, full-service café with wine, beer, and small plates. Click here to find out more...


"....The High Line is a public park built on an historic freight rail line elevated above the streets on Manhattan’s West Side. It is owned by the City of New York, and maintained and operated by Friends of the High Line. Founded in 1999 by community residents, Friends of the High Line fought for the High Line’s preservation and transformation at a time when the historic structure was under the threat of demolition. It is now the non-profit conservancy working with the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation to make sure the High Line is maintained as an extraordinary public space for all visitors to enjoy. In addition to overseeing maintenance, operations, and public programming for the park, Friends of the High Line works to raise the essential private funds to support more than 90 percent of the park’s annual operating budget, and to advocate for the preservation and transformation of the High Line at the Rail Yards, the third and final section of the historic structure, which runs between West 30th and West 34th Streets...."

loopylu summer collection - sneak peak

bow tie dress

summer days dress

jumpsuit

the perfect kaftan

Sneak peak of what will be on sale coming this summer. I took Olivia down to Gordon's Bay for a practice session. I think the pics turned out really well and will upload them to my site soon. She was a reluctant model but in the end we got there. I asked her to play and have fun exploring on the rock and in the water looking for crabs. While she did that I snapped away.

Love to hear your thoughts.

I have most of the goods in my possession now. My new contact in Bali has been great. I have received samples and have made amendments which she is now working on. Once these are done then she will send the board shorts, more summer days dresses and some merino wool pants which will not go online for a while but I would prefer to have them with me than in Bali.

Pea, broad bean and curd cheese salad

Recipe of the week

Image courtesy food.ninemsn.com.au

So this is on tonights menu

200g peas, podded, blanched and refreshed
200g baby broad beans as above
1 spring onion shredded and finely sliced
1 large tbs grape seed oil
juice and zest of a large lemon
large handful of fresh herbs. Mint, coriander, parsley and basil
200g curd cheese like goats cheese
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

1. In a large bowl mix the peas, broad beans, spring onion, grape seed oil and the juice and zest of one lemon. Season.
2. Transfer to a serving plate. Drop spoonfuls of the curd cheese onto the salad mixture and scatter over the remaining herbs.

Give it a try and let me know how you go. I am going to have mine with some salmon.

Recipe courtesy of The Simple Things magazine.

Pizza, salad and figs

How yummy does this look? This was taken at a recent visit to Lil' Darlin in The Spot Randwick. The pizza's are truly amazing. We also ate delicious cocktails which I did take photo's of but didn't turn out very well. One that I had the pleasure of devouring had vanilla fairy floss hanging over the edge. Amazing just to look at.

Home made salad at home. Figs came fresh from food week in Orange (courtesy of my neighbour and good friend). Simple yet completely delicious.
Seared asapagus, figs, baby spinach, blue cheese and procuttio. Drizzle with a little very good quality cold pressed extra virgin olive oil... perfecto!

Saying no to Sugar

Well like many of you I have over dosed on sugar!!!! and I am officially over the stuff. I had anxious feeling every time I saw my children put a piece of chocolate into their mouths. I have hidden all the chocolate and lollies.. and will probably throw them int he bin or bring them into work and let other people poison the bodies.

We are having a super healthy week. Back to basic eating and wholesome stuff. I am not sure how long it will last but we need some de-toxing for sure.

I came across this site a while are. http://www.sarahwilson.com.au and just went in for another look. She is very inspiring. Take a look and even if you can't do it all you can at least start on a no sugar diet.

Not easy to do as you will learn that nearly everything that is commercially purchased has sugar in it.

I'll keep you updates on my quest. So far I am 1 day with out sugar. The biggest test for me is after dinner... that seems to be when I crave something sweet.

Easter - Hope it is a dry one.

With Easter just around the corner I have squeezed in an extra couple of runs to cater for the chocolate consumption over the next 4 days.In addition to Easter it is my birthday on Saturday so I am in for a very indulgent weekend. Bring it on!

What do you do over Easter? How do you celebrate?

We are planning on doing Easter show, maybe apple picking in Bilpin, BBQ's, breakfasts, lunches dinners and of course chocolate eating.

Design - House design

Most of you know that we bought a new house with the view of building. I am always adding to my Pinterest board with inspirations. Here a couple of my latest additions.
We need to design a flat roof... well we don't need to but if we want to maximise on height to gain better water views then this is what we need to do. I did have my heart set on interesting roof lines but it would also be criminal not to design a home that captures its amazing surrounds and its water views.

Beautiful Bali finds

Bali is full of amazing things. Clothing and homewards a plenty.
here a couple of lovely pieces I spotted on my recent trip. As always I felt like a bought so much while I was there and when I got home thought... 'why didn't I buy that?'

Next time... always a next time.

Bali - Take Two

This is one of the many fabric stores that I visited on this last trip. I was like a kid in a candy store.
Minimum purchase was 5 yards for plain and 10 yard for print. I only purchased one kind for sample making.

So much too choose from.

And I love this chair. This was in a shop window of a salon near where we stayed. I got my hair cut at the salon on my last day. $25 total cost... Call me last of the big spenders.

I can get hold of one for $100. A far sight cheaper than what they sell them for here.

I'll keep you posted as things develop but fingers crossed all is on the right track.

Also I did receive everything from the dishonest Linda. So that is being shipped back to me as we speak.

Some recent pic of my family

As you know we moved house and are now living about 5 minutes walk to one of the nicer places on Sydney's shoreline. We are making the most of it. Looking for crabs, jumping into bogey holes, swimming, boating and just generally having fun in the sun by the sea. I am the luckiest person going at the moment. Don't get me wrong life can be tough. Very tough. But I am not one to dwell on negative thoughts and actions.
Welcome to my new backyard.

Resent purchases from Ikea and Anthropologie

Two recent purchases: one from Ikea and one from Anthropolgie.
As mentioned in a previous post I am into white at the moment. So no surprise that two of my recent buys are white.
The white orchard is from Ikea. I know who goes to buy Orchards from Ikea. I didn't plan as I went to buy curtain rods.
The owl is from Anthropologie. I LOVE LOVE LOVE this store. We are heading to NYC later this year so I can't wait to visit and buy and save on postage.

What have you bought recently?

The Simple Things Magazine

I am loving this new magazine. It is great. Although in Australia we are experiencing a different season to what's being mentioned in the magazine as it is a UK based publication. Regardless there are loads of great and inspiring ideas.

http://www.thesimplethings.com/

As a graphic designer the layout of the stories and recipes is superb. I take my hat off to the designer and creative director.

The photography is gorgeous, recipes delicious and stories interesting.

So if you are in need of a new magazine to subscribe to then this is a good one.

Happy reading.