I WANT IT NOW: IKEA KITCHEN ISLAND

I want it!! Breakfast bar/extra storage/extra bench space and pretty, but I'm finding it hard to justify the price tag from Ikea...Keep your fingers crossed their is a second hand one out there with my name on it

HANDMADE BUY OF THE DAY : A SNUGGLY DESIGN

How loveable are theses bread boards from Etsy store Snug? and only US$27 each! the hardest part would be deciding between designs.

DONNA HAY'S BACON & EGG PIES

A friend recently gifted me a copy of Donna Hay's Fast, Fresh, Simple cookbook and last Sunday the boyfriend and I indulged in our first recipe; the egg & bacon pies. Check out my results below - pretty impressive for a quick and easy breaky! the perfect fluffy eggs...and I know its only Tuesday but I'm already looking forward to another weekend's breakfasts a-la Donna Hay!

3 Rashers of Bacon

3 eggs

1/2 cup of sour cream

1tblsp of parsley leaves ( I used fresh chives instead)

Preheat oven to 180˚c. Grease 2 ramekins/pie tins and line each with 1 1/2 rashers of bacon (next time I'm going to cook the bacon a little in a pan first for maximum crispiness). In a bowl whisk together the eggs, cream and herbs. Pour the mix evenly into the ramekins and bake for 25mins or until the egg is set. Serve with hot buttered toast.

EYE CANDY : HOUSE & GARDEN

Posting up some early morning eye candy from the Ninemsn House & Garden site.

A little bit of pretty to get you through Monday morning blues

wish I could see more of that painting hanging on the left

Great La Cravat vintage poster

EYE CANDY : RUE ISSUE 3

Its that time again - Rue Jan/Feb has hit the virtual news stands and is once again an aspirational treat filled with great spaces and stories from the great people who occupy them! Here are some of my faves to take you to the weekend, head over to Ruemag.com for more. Happy Friday!

Have had this idea on my to do list for a while now, kitchen blackboard with black frame

not a very kid friendly print, or maybe it is... pretty cool

love the spray of patterned light from those lamps

I WANT IT NOW : CERAMIC SURPRISE

If I drank coffee Id want to be drinking it from a cup like this, so that even when its all finished I still have something to look forward to! Happy Friday! (stumbled up via Izismile.com)

EYE CANDY : REAL LIVING

For the past 3 months I have picked up an issue of Real Living Magazine and really enjoyed flicking through for home inspiration. I think it will become a regular read for me ; here is some eye candy from the latest August issue. Check out their online store , it seems to have some cool finds

Things to steal from this kitchen : the fridge, the table and chairs, the mat, the vintage print, the Hydrangeas...well ok I just like the whole thing

love all the frames leaning around the fireplace

EYE CANDY : COLOUR AND WHITE

Some random Friday inspirations for you. Super jealous of that creative 'spice-rack', I do believe Ikea have similar magnetic containers, which could look just as cool on the fridge or in the office holding paper clips and pins. And how comfy does the couch below look?! I wish I was spending tonight lying there watching DVDs with the boyfriend (or blu-rays on our new blu-ray player: very fancy)

Office and kitchen of interior designerLauren Nelson via Design Sponge

from Micasarevista via Coco + Kelly

EYE CANDY : YELLOW! HOW ARE YOU?

Yellow facts : According to SensationalColour.com 75% of the pencils sold in the US were yellow, yellow is psychologically the happiest colour in the spectrum, it encourages communication and stimulates mental processes and memory and also apparently yellow cars have fewer accidents.I have a bit of a yellow craze going on at the moment, to wear it and to live in it is a big yes please! But I have definitely been hoarding quite the collection of lemon splashed interiors that I had to share, hopefully all this bright hue saturation will make your week a little brighter too!

via Patricia Gray

Love the striped pillows and the white chairs with that golden timber table. Image by Ray Main via DesireToInspire

Photographed by Damian Russel via Abigail Ahern

Another gorgeous abstract painting. Via SarahWhiteBlossom

Carrie and Big's apartment in the latest SATC movie via The Goodie Life I love this painting!

I love the idea of yellow accent chairs and I would like that quilt too please! Via Blissful Home

Gorgeous flowers via The Goodie Life

FRENCH CARAFE VIA BUYSTER

I am a huge fan of snail mail, the anticipation and excitement of waiting for a letter or parcel is such a buzz...Hence why I could be seen peeking out from the curtains all this week just waiting for a special delivery; and its finally here! My beautiful French Carafe Set from Buyster.com.au by Royal VKB. (made in France =Trés fancy pants!)

Take a look at the shots I snapped yesterday, can't you just imagine this 'centre table' at a summer BBQ? or full of nice winter wine at a dinner party? I can! and am looking forward to any excuse to bring it out.

And the best part? the 4 glasses that come with are all stackable within the neck so it will only take one hand to tote this bit of fancy around the next soirée! leaving the other hand free to do whatever a party host should do. (Suggestions include: waving, high-five-ing, blowing obnoixious air kisses, thumbs up or peace signs)

Jealous?...well luckily you can buy your very own on Buyster, here, for just $41!

buyster.com.au

BREAKFAST BARS & BUYSTER BAR STOOLS

Check out these eye candy breakfast bars. This past weekend the boyfriend and I helped some very good friends move into their new house (which is super gorgeous and envy inspiring!). Their new kitchen has a great set of serving windows through to the lounge room, that I thought would be a perfect excuse for a breakfast bar! (yes I am allowed to live vicariously through them) Growing up we had one and they are perfect if you're a little short on space or just love breakfast like me (hah it is the most important meal of the day after all). Plus it is added seating and always a great space to stay and chat while -if you are lucky- someone else cooks :)

So yesterday I did a little "window" shopping and remembered that I was recently introduced to the world of Buyster.com.au its an online Aussie company based in Sydney and they have a huge range! everything from rugs, toasters and lighting, to pots & pans and bar stools (the most integral part to any good breakfast nook so I got a little distracted). The site is easy to use and affordable, and its a great place to visit if you're sprucing up your home or even starting from scratch. Here's the link to Buyster's Melbourne bar stools section where there are more seating options than I thought possible, providing the perfect way to start building that breakfast nook!

(all 3 breakfast bar pics from Ideal Home Magazine)

D.I.Y - POTTING HERBS : WEEK FOUR

Well its been one month now since I first potted my herbs, and with all my herby experience (fairly close to zero) I'd say they are doing well! My Basil is growing like a trooper - a fact I hope the other two are noticing. Im still hunting for the perfect spot with full sun throughout the day but Im keeping up with the watering and there aren't any signs of plant death on the horizon so all in all things are looking up! lets just keep our fingers crossed the recent cold weather won't slow them down too much...

EYE CANDY: KITCHEN TIMER

How I would love such an organised and stylish kitchen! Plus adore the huge clock for which I hope I can find an Ikea cousin. Pic is from a styling book by Anita Kaushal

(seen via decor8)