The Art of Packing

With less than 24 hours to go before I fly away home for the summer, I decide that now is probably the perfect time to start to think about actually packing. Don't get me wrong, I did have a brilliant brainwave three weeks ago to pack, but my beautifully crazy London life managed to get in the way. 

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My open suitcase has been in my room for the past week, in the hope that it would give me some inspiration of the packing variety. Each time I walk past, or should I say trip over it, I am reminded that I am indeed going on holidays, and that I eventually must pack.

My first thought was to just throw in a couple of dresses, my Gucci sunglasses and a pair of flip flops. After examining the contents of my mostly empty bag, I thought this was taking the whole minimalist ideal way too far. Subsequently, my second theory of just throwing things in my suitcase when I think of them has also proven quite problematic. I seem to have only 'thought of' five pairs of shoes, twelve bikinis and an eyelash curler. Therein lies the problem.

The self-confessed control freak in me is silently celebrating at this point as I know that it is time to write a list. I didn't want to resort to this, but drastic times call for drastic measures.

And so I start.

Lipgloss - check
Passport - check
Flight friendly little 100 mL bottles - check
Ridiculous travel pillow - check
Nice clothes to inspire upgrade - check
And the list continues...

An hour later, I have the most comprehensive list known to man. You will be pleased to note that I did refrain from having it laminated - a little plastic envelope with a 'My Packing List' label on it is ok, right?

So, I guess I have to embrace that i'm a list girl. I mean, where would I be without my list? Well, probably I would be out for dinner in my bikini & shoes with perfectly curled eyelashes.


I do think I knew it all along but once, just once, I wondered if I could throw caution to the wind and pack like any other free spirited human being. Nope - not me. I'm a list girl, through and through.

Now, the other packing dilemma... to roll or fold?

I need a wine! 

Loved Beyond Measure

Just thought you should know...

Photo  Link

Little Lost Bag

So, last week, en route to a night out, I accidentally got myself into Christmas present buying mode. Two hours and several beautifully festive and overflowing shopping bags later, I decided to check my bags into the cloak room for me to collect later that evening. Well that was the plan anyway.

In typical Amy style, the night ended and I happily went on my way merry little way, with the cloak room ticket silently sitting in my back pocket. Mid transit home I jumped up, shrieked, froze and then sat back down. And despite being particularly comical for the fellow passengers, I was one sad little shopper girl.

I made some calls (actually my beautiful friends made some calls) and discovered that all unclaimed items in the cloak room were packed away in road cases until the following weekend. 

So what's a girl to do? Wait a whole week in the hope that her lovely little Christmas presents are still in the cloak room or count the cost and enter into, once again, a Christmas shopping frenzy? 

I waited in hope.

Unfortunately, I waited in vain.

My little Christmas parcels were Absent Without Official Leave.

So, with only 4 days before I fly home for Christmas, I have got some serious shopping to do. I tried to replicate most of the items that I had bought, but some were just impossible to find again. I even resorted to good old Mr Google to help me out. To my absolute joy, I discovered the most precious little online company. They stock some of the sweetest gift ideas ever. (I know, quite strong of a sentiment, but stay with me on this one).

These cutesy personalised bags are simply adorable. Perfect for storing your knitting all you fabulous Sisterhood girls out there.

Now, I am not entirely sure what a 'shirt collar stiffener' actually does, but I'm pretty sure that if I was a dad, I would love one of these.

Little munchkins are certainly not forgotten on this site. There are so many toys and gifts for the little ones including this darling Bunny in a Box.

And one more gift just for fun. 

Ah, my shopping dilemmas now resolved and maybe, just maybe, I might have even been converted to the ways of the savvy online shopper. So, if you are time poor this Christmas, or like some people we know, unable to hold onto their purchases, get online and see what's out there.

And you never know, my lovely little shopping bags may turn up one of these days and there will be more gifts to give. 

Oh, how I love Christmas Time x 

Advent Calendars

The countdown to Christmas is officially on. Each year around this time, I start to shop around for an Advent Calendar to help me on my merry way to Christmas goodness and seasonal cheer. 

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An Advent calendar is a special calendar which is used to count or celebrate the days of Advent in anticipation of Christmas. Most calendars have 24 windows or boxes that open to reveal an image, a part of a story, and often a treat or chocolate. This year, I think it's time to expand my Advent Calendar horizons and make my own. There are so many sweet ideas. Here are a few that I found. 

For all you as 'challenged' as me in the sewing department, here is a non-sew Advent Calendar. Loving the whole baking tray as a base :) Very environmentally friendly.

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I particularly love the little birds. Just hang them from a branch and voilà, you have your very own Advent Calendar.

If you have little people in your world, this personalised Advent tree is so precious. 

So be inspired and get creative. Go out and grab some special little personalised treats and gifts to fill your Advent Calendar & enjoy this very special season xx

I am Thankful

Thanksgiving is a relatively new concept for me. Since moving to London, I have been surrounded by a group of festive and fabulous Americans and Canadians who have certainly taught me a thing or two.

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Each year around this time, they begin to explain once again, the whole notion of Thanksgiving. The turkey, the pilgrims, the traditions, the celebrations.

I love the whole idea of Thanksgiving. I love that we are reminded to not only think about the things that we are thankful for, but indeed, we are to celebrate.

So this year, Thanksgiving is at our place and we are set for a feast. The fabulous Americans and the lovely Canadian are busily planning and preparing for an unforgettable time of Thanksgiving.

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Apparently, during Thanksgiving dinner, each person shares one thing that they are thankful for. I have so many things to be thankful for, so much so that I cannot even begin to contain them here. I truly have been blessed beyond measure.

One of my friends has even started her own '30 Days of Thankfulness'. Each day for a month, she is making a note of one thing that she is thankful for. I may just have to do the same.

What are you thankful for today?

There's No Place Like Home

It is certainly true when they say that there's no place like home. 

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I have been thinking a lot about home lately. I have been meticulously counting down the days until I fly to my gorgeous homeland once again. There is nothing sweeter than landing in your home town. Every time I fly into Sydney, I start singing (to myself, you'll be pleased to note) I still call Australia home. And as the Harbour Bridge and Opera House come into view, I can't help but smile. Walking through Kingsford Smith Airport, I always love hearing the thick, lovely Australian accents over the pa system and then I say to myself 'Oh, how I miss this place'. I miss the familiarity, I miss the bronzed faces, I miss the sweet sunshiny days and most of all, I miss my beautiful, ever expanding family and lovely friends.

But what happens when you have made another country 'home' for the past 7 years? What happens then? Where is home?

For the first few years, each time I left Sydney, I pretty much burst into tears post customs and then generally cried all the way until Singapore. I know, I felt sorry for those blessed with seats next to mine too. They often offered me a Kleenex and patted me on the back and told me it was going to be ok. Bless those sweet, random travelling friends. One flight, I was even offered a children's colouring book and snack box. This amuses me to no end now.

Now, thankfully so, I have mastered the art of composure. Well mostly. The tears certainly don't flow as profusely as years ago, but I must admit, they do still flow - now I cry when I leave London as well. Over the past few years, London has become my home too. I now get that same excitement flying into London as I do when I fly into Sydney 〜  I am however yet to find an English theme song to sing though, so all suggestions welcome;)

So truth be told, I have 2 homes. Both so tender to my heart in so many ways. London and Sydney will always be a part of who I am. Sydney, I will love you forever. My dear, sweet family and friends will always mean that Sydney is home for me. But London, you have somehow, without me knowing it, stolen my heart. I have learnt to adore the wintertime in this place and even, dare I say, love the magic that is a white Christmas. I do believe however, that this love for London is predominately indebted to my faithful, beautiful, amazing friends. Friends from all over the world who have also made London their home. Friends who have made this city come alive and friends who have become like family, in my little home away from home. 

How blessed am I to have two homes. I am one lucky little lady xx 

Just a little thought

Men should be like coffee - hot, sweet & strong {Dutch Proverb}

Photo Flickr

That is all.

Happy Friday, lovely people xx

A New Book

Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counsellors, and the most patient of teachers. ~Charles W. Eliot (1834 - 1926), The Happy Life, 1896

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I don't know about you, but I love to read. There is nothing quite as calming to my soul than to sit and read a while. Whether it is fiction or non-fiction, summer or winter, I always love a good book.

During the balmy evenings of summer, I often take time to grab a patch of grass and a good book. This summer I loved One Day by David Nicholls. It is the loveliest book I have read in a long time. It is heartbreaking and wonderful all at the same time. I would love to be able to write something like this one day.

And as winter approaches, nothing pleases me more than cosying up on the couch with a duvet and a hot cup of tea. Total bliss. I have just finished reading The Time Traveler's Wife. I loved every minute of this book. The sentiment was beautiful and so powerfully written.

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So now to find a new book to love. I often check out The Guardian if I am short of inspiration. Otherwise, I happily head off to my local bookstore and spend the afternoon browsing the shelves to find something delicious to read.

And once I'm done, I will add it to my ever growing bookshelf and head off to the bookstore once again. I'm caught in a vicious cycle...and i love it!

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Much love & happy reading xx

Mighty Movember

So it's officially that time of year again folks. The annual moustache cultivating month, commonly referred to as Movember.

According to the Foundation, Movember challenges men to change their appearance and the face of men’s health by growing a moustache. The rules are simple, start Movember 1st clean shaven and then grow a moustache for the entire month. The moustache becomes the ribbon for men’s health, the means by which awareness and funds are raised for cancers that affect men. Much like the commitment to run or walk for charity, the men of Movember commit to growing a moustache for 30 days.

So boys, get cultivating and girls, don't be too scared of the increased upper lip growth - it's all for a worthy cause.

And finally, to all you distinguished, tashe wearing gentlemen out there, here is a gentle reminder of the general moustache keeping etiquette. If your moustache in any way makes you bear resemblance to likes of Clark Gable or Tom Selleck, feel free to keep your razor at bay for a little longer.

However, if your lip growth is more comparable to these special varieties, may I encourage you to make friends with your razor on December 1. 

Just a thought x

Happy Movember lovely people! 

Birthday Love

I don't know about you, but in my house, we love celebrating birthdays. We love everything there is about birthdays but probably the best thing about birthdays is that it's pretty much the only day that it's ok to eat cake before 7am.

Speaking of cake, this year we decided to enlist some help in this department. We had heard that a friend of ours, Heather Louise, had started making cute little cupcakes. They were honestly the sweetest cupcakes I have ever seen and by the looks of the empty box, pretty delicious as well.

So with our cupcakes all sorted, we decided that the run of the day should be a treasure hunt for the birthday girl to help her find all her presents. 

By the end of the day, all presents were found and we had one very happy little birthday girl. I love how much fun it is to spoil someone else and I love that her beautiful smile was shining all day long.

We had so much fun that day. Actually, even the planning for the treasure hunt & sneaking around was super fun. We will all remember this day and it makes me realise that it doesn't take much to make someone's day special. I guess it's just a little bit of thought and a lot of love. 

And now, to start thinking about the next birthday in the house... happy days xx

Author's note: All photos on this post were taken by the delightful Katie Swain. Check out her other work here.

Time to Sparkle

To Sparkle: to give off or reflect flashes of light; to glitter; to be brilliant in performance; to shine with animation; to flash with wit; to effervesce.

Photo: Flickr

Firework season started early in our communal garden. Last night  was the annual neighbourhood fireworks display - complete with hundreds of glow sticks & sparklers and plenty of wine and merriment. 

I particularly loved the ingenuity of a few little girls in the garden. They pretty much bought up the entire stock of glowsticks and created glasses, mickey ears, necklaces and bracelets - and then proceeded to sell them at double the price to everyone else. They were super cute and might I add, particularly business savvy.

So what is it exactly about a combination of explosives and combustibles, set off to generate colored lights, smoke, and noise that is so entertaining? And why do we find watching fireworks so therapeutic?

My sweet friend Lynn came along, and just as the first shower of glittery wonder exploded, she sighed and said something in the vicinity of the fact that watching fireworks makes her forget about the tears, traumas and tribulations of her life, even if for just an hour. How true. As I pondered this, I looked around to see faces full of hope and anticipation. Faces that shined with joy and contentment. There wasn't a face without a smile nor a hand without another to hold. Dads were hiking their children up on their shoulders, families were standing close and memories were being made. Ah, how I LOVE fireworks! 

So, all you Londoners out there, wrap up warm this weekend and go find yourself some sparkles!

Damsel in Distress

If chivalry can be described as the qualities idealised by knighthood, such as bravery, courtesy, honour, valour, and dexterity in arms, then I certainly hope chivalry is not dead.

Photo: Flickr

Now, I am pretty sure I've lost all my male readers at this point, however, boys, if you are still with me, in the words of the British Government, Keep Calm and Carry on.

Now let me picture this for you. Enter one damsel of the distressed kind -  trapped in the tower of the horrid emperor's castle. Her only hope for survival is her handsome prince, her knight in shining armour who will climb up the tower to rescue his princess and carry her off into the sunset. And drum roll, please, here he comes, in true Cinderella style, gallivanting his way to the castle . He jumps effortlessly over the moat, swiftly climbs the tower, and gracefully lifts her up over his shoulder, and props her onto the horse. He slays the dragon and the happy couple are whisked away into the sparkly night sky. 

Now before we all let our minds run off with the whole 'damsel in distress' saga, let us unpack that whole thing. First of all, even if men had the physical prowess and agility as our fictional handsome prince, how are they supposed to find us? Us girls are pretty good at giving mixed signals and the whole 'i'm fine' scenario, when in fact, we are not fine and we do generally want help - we just hate admitting it. We want them to 'just know'. No doubt, if this scene was ever replicated us girls would complain about the fact that he was late, he didn't bring the right wine, he's all sweaty and needs to have a shower, he's got dirt under his fingernails and he forgot your 8¾ month anniversary. And unfortunately, the list goes on.

Just the other day, I saw a man get off the bus first and then turn around and offer his lady his hand to help her make the step, all while placing another hand on the bus door to ensure that it didn't close on her. Ahhhhh, so sweet. Totally made my day. And in this very same hour, whilst in the hardware store (I know, I can't believe it either) I witnessed a young man help a lady with some paint tins that she was having difficulty carrying. Just a little glimpse of chivarly at it's finest.

So, what I am saying is that chivalry is not dead, it has just changed a bit. Perhaps it doesn't manifest itself in the same way as years past, but look a little closer, and my guess is that you will find pure examples of it all around. 

And a little note for the girls, when a guy offers  to help us do something, be a little gracious. He is not saying he is superior, he is just saying he wants to help. 

And seriously girls, who wants to change their own tyre anyway?

Time for Tea

Nothing is considered as quintessentially English as tea. Every little English village or town I have visited has never failed me in my quest to find a quaint and cosy tea house to ponder away the afternoon.

So, what is it about drinking tea that is so endearing, so comforting and so refreshing? And why is it that drinking tea from an old, vintage, china tea cup, that your Gran would own, is so much tastier and appealing than the striped ikea mug you bought for £1?


On Saturday afternoons, my girls and I often go in search of a sweet little tea house to have some good old fashioned tea & scones, not to mention a well needed catch up. What more can a girl want than a good cup of tea and good conversation to discuss the loves, lessons and lullabies of our crazy London lives.  


Just the other day, we were so very excited to be heading to a new, super cute tea house. The mere mention of the name The Chelsea Teapot made a dull, grey Saturday afternoon shine incandescent. Despite the lack of scones (which I am sure was an oversight) the tea and conversation was perfect. Jane quickly claimed the pretty pink rose patterned tea cup - a cup that immediately awakened memories and smiles from good times shared before.


If nothing else, taking time for tea brings much therapy to the soul. With each story brings comfort, encouragement, laughter and sometimes tears. Each of us knowing that we are loved and that we can entrust our often treasured stories of wonder and woe to one another. 


So girls*, go and find some sweet friends and a quaint little tea house and let the memories and traditions begin x


*Boys, i'm sure a pub and a couple of beers are equally as medicinal. 

One for Another

I have heard it said before that the things that stir your spirit, that make your heart swell, that make your skin shiver and that bring tears to your eyes, are in fact the things that you are most passionate about. This made me ponder on the things that cause me such reactions.


Just the other day I was reminded once again of this. I was watching My Name is Orphan. It is a short film documentary that presents a touching, up-close-and-personal account of the plight of street kids and orphans in Mumbai, India and grassroots efforts to rescue them. As the tears streamed down my face I knew that this was something I can not ignore. In the soul penetrating words of Brooke Fraser, "now that I have seen, I am responsible". And with that, I knew I had a part to play.

Some of my dearest friends are actually en route to India as we speak. Ready to get involved any way they can to help these sweet little children. Children who had no say in where they were born, children who had no choice but to live on the streets and in the gutters, children who had nothing to do with the cards they were dealt.


These precious friends of mine, are working alongside the vision of Pastor Biju Thampy in Mumbai, India. They are working with the team from Vision Rescue. No doubt, their lives will never be the same.


To be irrevocably changed means that one can't sit still knowing that there are orphans to rescue and nations to bring hope to.

Looking forward to the bittersweet return of my friends from Mumbai. Knowing that their hearts would have broken a million times over after looking into the eyes of these children and knowing that their fate is indeed in our hands. 


As I search my own heart to see what is in my hand, I pray that you too would do the same. The outworking of this will indeed be different for each and every one of you. For some it's financial - for some it's practical - for some it's creative - and for others, it means stepping on a plane and getting involved.


Biju Thampy started his whole mission in Mumbai after seeing this injustice and saying 'God, someone needs to do something here' And he felt like God responded 'Why don't you do something?'


I sit here and ask myself that same question.

Snuggle up

My flatmate Lisa had great delight the other night, in telling me that an airline is now making 'snuggle' seats for the often forgotten & always overlooked Economy Class. And as much as I trust this precious girl, I just had to check it out for myself. And look what I found...

The Skycouch is a row of three seats that can fold out to create a flat space all the way to the next seat back in front, "providing a place for the kids to play, or the holy grail of economy travel - a flat surface for adults to relax and sleep," Air New Zealand said.

Two adults traveling together can buy the third seat, allowing the Skycouch, at approximately half price, the airline said, adding that it would announces full airfare details when tickets go on sale in late April 2011.

So keep checking in with Air New Zealand to keep up to date. I know I will. Now, to find a snuggle buddy...

Many thanks, Air New Zealand, from the bottom of my Economy Heart! x

Sweet Lavender

We have an innate ability to use our senses to take us back to memories, good or bad, of places, people or events. I find the sense of smell to be one of the most vivid and intense. One waft of camphor and I am right there with my Nana cuddling up to her and her cashmere cardigan - The hint of tar and I recall the trauma of having pine tar baths to soothe an angry case of chicken pox - The sweetness of dewberry reminds me of my sister. It was her first perfume, one that I wished for longingly.

And then there is lavender. That fresh, sweet smell that I have grown to adore. It has to be one of my most favourite. I am not certain whether my Mum loves it as much as I do, but one thing is for certain, it reminds me of her. Growing up, we had dried lavender in bowls, freshly picked lavender in vases and a small patch of sweet aromatic lavender growing in the garden. For me, lavender will always be sweet, homely & comforting - and hence, the reason behind this blog being affectionately named Lavender Blue.  

Winter Wellies

It's that time of year folks. Time to get our feet ready for those cold & rainy days.

Evercreatures has a sweet little range of bright & happy wellies, guaranteed to put a spring back into your winter step! 

True Love

"True love stories never have endings." Richard Bach, American Writer.

This is one of my most favourite photographs of all time. It is a picture of my gorgeous Grandparents, taken in 1945 in Terrigal, Australia. I am forever drawn to this picture and remember the tales my Grandma used to tell me of their courtship & marriage. Jean & Jack McBride - An irrefutable legacy of love.