dessert buffet heaven (pt 2)...

Because I found so many delicious images when I was searching for Tuesday's post...

Because I love a good sweet treat...

Because it's flipping freezing and that makes me want dessert, like, all the time...

Because macaroons are delightful...

Because flower frosted wedding cakes are doubly delightful...

Because I have to pack and have not and leave tomorrow*...

*This has no relevance to the post whatsoever but is a vital piece of information nonetheless.

first image via greenweddingshoes

third image via AmyAtlas

fourth image via stylemepretty

Guest Blog :: ice ice baby

Stop. Collaborate. And listen… If this doesn’t add frost to your windscreen I don’t know what will. I think that works? No? Maybe? In any case, if you’re enjoying the current winter wonderland, perhaps you will enjoy these fine ensembles, pictured above. FYI.. My scarf, hat, beret and beenie collection is growing as we speak. Gloves are also on the list. Pretty sure certain body parts are also growing due to increased consumption of hot chocolate and other fine and well deserved treats. Oh wells!

On a more serious and political note.. we should give honorable mention to Australia's first female Prime Minister Ms Julia Gillard. What up..
Secondly, having the privillege and honor of access to millions of potential (notice the use of the word potential) readers, I would like to take full advantage of my favoured position and make a request.

Dear Julia...I would very much appreciate it if, as our new Prime Minister you would kindly introduce a new work place agreement. That is, we agree to all wear uggboots to work during the cooler months. My toes would be mighty grateful.


Also, Nicola...can't believe I'm about to ask this...but when you go to Scotland, could you be oh so kind and return with the gift of some summer?



Thank you Ladies.

Happy Wednesday!

Luce

xxx

images via :: fleur wood

dessert buffet heaven...

My sweet tooth is out of control. It may have something to do with the fact that I made jelly this morning, and having not made it in approximately 14 years, it was a touch exciting. Or it may have something to do with the bucket loads of sweets left here after a girls night in on Saturday night (all demolished). Or I may just need to cut the sweet tooth out. Which although being a little drastic might solve the problem. Not knowing which tooth IS my sweet tooth however, I have come to the very important conclusion that I cannot cut it out and shall therefore continue eating sweets.

I bet sometimes you wonder why you bother reading this blog.

Now for some wedding fun! Dessert style...

first image via AmyAtlas

second image (on right) via MarthaStewart

third and fourth image via eatdrinkchic

fifth image via MarthaStewart

not long now!

4 sleeps 4 sleeps 4 sleeps 4 sleeps 4 sleeps...

Image via lelove

Friday (because it's almost the weekend) beauty post!

I am about to be seasonally confused. I leave to head to bonny Scotland in approximately 7 days, 7 hours and 13 minutes (but who's counting), and apparently it's Summer there. I have been told on many an occasion that it is toasty, warm, and a roasting 18 degrees, and that I MUST bring all manner of Summer clothing. This confuses me. For many reasons, the main being that it is 18 degrees here and I have my uggboots on, a big woolly jumper and am huddled in front of my heater. I would like to think that due to me being Australian and all I am permanently bronzed and glowing but as I spend little time sunbaking and it's WINTER unfortunately I am quite the pasty pie. So what's a girl to do?

This here Dallas bronzer from Benefit is for 'an outdoor glow for an indoor gal'. I have never truly considered myself indoorsy or a 'gal' BUT! If wearing this means I resemble a bronzed Scarlett O'Hara bring it on.

Palmers Cocoa Butter fake tan. OH how I love thee. The only gradual tanner to not make me look like an oversized human tangelo and the only one that smells like chocolate cream. And honestly? If it made me look like an oversized human tangelo, I'd probably use it anyway. Did I mention it smells like chocolate cream? Also. Their face gradual tanner is rather swell too. No mandarin head on the tangelo. Nice and natural. And chocolate creamish.

And then we have the delightful 3 in 1 The Multiple from Nars. As far as using it for eyeshadow we've been through pink eye before, and tis something I would shy away from. However! As a lip and cheek colourant (?) it's smashing. Doesn't smell like chocolate cream, but this is something we can work on.

All of which shall leave me looking like this when I bounce of the plane after approximately 28 hours in transit! Yes siree!

Any tips for an upgrade? I feel my time has come!

xx

first image from Benefit, third image from Nars, fourth image from instyle

Some wedding themed fun...

...as we haven't had any for a while!

A few favourite shots from some of the pro's.

Also.

I'm feeling the need for a new nail colour. I say as if I wear nail polish often. I don't. But I had you going, right? Nice mauve-y purple? Minty green? Raspberry pink? My gosh my life can be difficult.

Top image from Tec Petaja

2nd image via Martha Stewart

3rd image via Rosa Clara

4th image from Michelle Fiona Photography

Guest Blog :: Reasons to shop

Greetings!
It's rather freezing outside.
Thank goodness for my trench coat.
But seriously, one needs new fandangle threads to beat the winter blues sometimes.
Besides.
Shopping is healthy.
It's pretty much up there with exercise.
Think about it.
Trawling from one end of the street or shopping centre, to the other, bags in tow, fighting off helpful sales assistants...the need to be constantly taking ones clothes off and putting them back on -- IN THE CHANGE ROOM I might add, this is quite a work out. Think of all those different muscles you must be using.
Besides, my handbag has seen better days, the sales are on and it's time.
And like a woman with a fabulous shoe collection once said, "I like my money right where I can see it: hanging in my closet"

Happy Wednesday

Luce

xxx

images via collette dinnigan

Be mine!

This is Florence the Fox. And I think what she's really trying to say is, 'I'm yours'.

Darling Clementine Woodland 'Florence the Fox' card from Lark

***** GIVEAWAY WINNERS *****

In a brilliantly tied together cross over, Doris Day in 'The Winning Team' will be announcing our winner's today. Why? Because she was in 'The Winning Team'! Quite simple really.

And you are in this superb winning team (I do hope wearing a smashing hat) if you are Annanotherthing (for wonderfully promoting sun safety) or Sazzle-Bedazzle (for sheer length - even if not in lymerick form!). Highly commended to Jojo (so good!), and those awesome 'if we had more prizes you'd get them too' ribbons to Paperklip, Ms anonymous and Jillian.

If the two lovely winner's could email their contact details to info@rubyandjoy.com.au we'll get your vouchers out to you quick smart so you can buy yourself something pretty!

Much love to all (super cool) participants! For our first giveaway, I think that went quite well!

xx

ps - did anyone else notice a man called Frank Lovejoy was in 'The Winning Team'? What a wonderful name...


image via dorisday.net

Cake of the Week!

I have begun to cook again! I use an exclamation as this is incredbly exciting for us all.

I used to cook a lot (my mother might/will disagree), it soothed me. Then I stopped. I don't know why. And then last Thursday I had the strongest need to bake cupcakes. Which is odd as I'm not a huge fan of the humble cupcake. They're tasty, don't get me wrong. And if offered a freebie I'd be pushing aside young and old to get my patty treat. But in my mind they're at their best when raw or fresh out of the oven. And usually because I've eaten so much raw cupcake even the freshly baked, whilst being yummy and warm when first eaten, can make me feel a little ill approximately 2.7 minutes later.

But! In my househould over the weekend this has led to a roast chicken dinner, a roast pork dinner, a pie, chocolate dipped strawberries (why not eh?), and this here cake! I love this cookbook. Apples For Jam by Tessa Kiros. It's too pretty to use, but too good not to. It's pretty, and did I mention it's pretty?

Now, I won't lie to you. I'm not a massive foodie. The idea of a honey cake had me very excited. It sounded so homely and yummy and lip lickingly tasty! The idea of rosemary in this cake had me confused. Like, chips and beeswax? Lamb and Winnie the Pooh? And then the lemon!? I was CONFUSED! I acted totally cool. 'Yeah, mum, making a honey cake. Yep, has rosemary in it. What? You don't know how those flavours will match? Pfft. Obviously AWESOMELY. Yeah.' Outside moi, cool as a cucumber (which just by the by falls apart if your cucumber has been taking a break in the sun), inside moi, hoping not to serve weird-flavour-confused cake to the lovely Elise coming over for tea and weird-flavour-confused cake.

However, dear reader, there is a happy ending to this somewhat convoluted story! It tastes delish! Which OBVIOUSLY dear Tess knew when she put in in her pretty cookbook. It would be a little awkward if it did not. And not only is it quite the tasty little morsel, it's fun to bake! The raw cake is goooood.

So bake, bake away my lovelies! It's nicely soothing.

Ingredients...

150g butter

115g dark brown sugar

175g honey

200g plain flour

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1 tablespoon finely chopped rosemary leaves

2 eggs, beaten

Lemon icing

250g icing sugar

100g butter, softened

1 teaspoon grated lemon zest

2 tablespoons lemon juice

Grease and line a 22cm springform tin. Put the butter, brown sugar and honey in a small saucepan and add 1 tablespoon of water. Heat gently, stirring once or twice, until the butter melts and the sugar dissolves. Leave to cool for 15 minutes. Preheat the over to 180 degrees.

Sift the flour, baking powder and cinnamon into a bowl and add the rosemary. Add the honey mixture and eggs and beat until smooth.

Pour into the tin and bake for 35-40 minutes, or until a skewer comes out clean when you poke it through the centre. Leave in the tin to cool completely.

To make the lemon icing, sift the icing sugar into a bowl. Add the butter, lemon zest and juice and 1 tablespoon of water and beat until smooth. You might like to add a few more drops of lemon juice after tasting it. Spread over the top and side of the cake. The cake softens as it sits and will keep for well up to a week in a cake tin.

Recipe from Apples for Jam by Tessa Kiros (Murdoch Books)

Friday (because it's almost the weekend) beauty post! ***** GIVEAWAY *****

Goooood morning lovely readers! I hope you manage to enjoy the sunshine at some point today. I myself have woken to very sore knees. What does one do with sore knees, you might ask? That is an excellent question. I do not know. Apparently though, wearing jeans makes it worse.

Anyhoodle, EXCITING NEWS (in capitals, of course)!!! We have our first giveaway! Tis exciting, no? The gorgeous ladies at RY. have sent over two $20 vouchers to use on their haircare and skincare site (go and have a peek, it's quite the distraction) on whatsoever your sweet heart desires. How do you win, you ask? You're on fire with the questions today! We'll get to that. But first! A lymerick...

There once was a girl named Liz,

Her hair was a bundle of frizz.

She discovered Polishing Serum,

Her frizz came down to a minimum,

She thought to herself, 'gee-whiz! ...This serum is the best I've ever used! Those Good Hair Day ladies sure know what they're talking about'.

True story. It's a famous lymerick too. I'd be surprised if you hadn't heard it before. Safe to say, now it's back in the mainstream, it's pretty much the next Justin Bieber. He does have good hair.

Say hello to Liz...

And the best part? Apart from Liz's brilliant frizz free hair? You can get loads of other beauty-tastic items from the lovely ladies over at RY. Every OPI colour under the sun, your fav Dermalogica skincare, Fudge hairproducts, GHD products and straighteners, Invisible Zinc, Payot, MD Formulations, St Tropez (for all those who are feeling less than stellar about their resemblance to a soft serve ice cream) and stacks more.

So how do you win a $20 voucher to spend at RY.? Comment on this post about your favourite product, lymerick style! Oh yes! Lymerick style. We have a panel of judges awaiting your answers, all experts in their fields (blogger, beauty lover and ball girl, respectively) and are EXCITED (very) to be giving some love back. We'll announce the winners on Monday so get in quick. My ball girl is a touch flighty. Lymerick away, my pretties!

xx

ps - Be sure to pop over to RY. and say hi to Liz, she's always about...

last image from harpers

me and amber...

Good morning my dears! I'm feeling slighly comatose after a long weekend (and MORE rain) BUT did manage to make a new discovery! A super exciting one at that. Probably not on par with discovering a family sized box of Fererro Rochers at the top of the pantry behind the blackout candles and sprinkles, but really, not much is.

I get a bit carried away with stationery. I love it. When I buy cards I buy two, one to give away and one to stick on my wall. I have a wall full of cards I can't bring myself to give away. You'd think I'd never run out of stationery, but do. ALL. THE. TIME. Because I can't use those cards on the wall. They're much too pretty. And old! How would I replace them?! It's making me upset just thinking about it.

SO! Please let me introduce to you my latest stationery crush! Drumroll please...! Me and Amber!

These sweet cards are handmade (by the very lovely ladies at Me and Amber) on 100% recycled paper, so are not only beautiful and super lovely to hand out with gay abandon, but they help the environment too! And there are loads more! Take a look-see at the pretty heart trees and pretty heart hearts (you're intrigued. That's intentional. Go and look...) and pretty vases with pretty flowers. Who knew recycling could be so flipping pretty!? I guess Me and Amber. Smart chickies.

Available at swell stores such as the MCA, The Gallery Shop and Funkis City, you've really no excuse to not let your sweetie know that they're your sweetie. None. At. All.

For all stockists see me and amber

Guest Blog :: love, honour and you're still okay with me

And a glorious Wednesday to you! Well, it will be between the hours of ten and two. Sunshine people. Need the sunshine. (Feeling an overwhelming need to burst into song here...despite not being gifted in this area)

So Monday night I caught the last film of the Sydney Film Festival. And what an exciting evening it was. To see an array of talented folk be presented with awards that express honour and gratitude for their creations. Dinosaur Designs were behind the actual creation of the awards. Makes sense. Australian designers honouring creatives at an Australian festival. I like it.

It so fun to be back at the state theatre as well. Its such a unique space one can't help but be swept away by the grand features and old fashioned details which remain plentiful. (Really wanted to munch down on some popcorn to complete the experience, but was too full from dinner! Note to self...next time - leave room!) My last visit to the state theatre was some time ago. Sufjan Stevens concert with angel wings and white pants during Sydney Festival. AND hoola hoops spinning. That concert was one of the most amazing concert going experiences of my life. My Brightest Diamond made me want to rush out and buy a glowing hoola hoop straight away. So much so I researched my new fascination to find that I would have to part with a decent $100 plus for one with flashing lights. AND it would have to have flashing lights.

Nevermind I thought. If this dream is worth pursuing, I'll hang on to it. File it away with the other dreams and save it for a rainy day. The point is, hopefully there will be one...Sufjan wore white pants. White pants my friends. With sneakers. And I still like the guy. I know. Right? Love covers a multitude of fashion woopsies. If there's inspiration to be drawn from this? Draw it from the wings, the banjo. not the pants. Leave them to Sufjan. Also, heard the other day, Sufjan is working on a new album. Smiles.


Happy Wednesday : )

Luce
xxx

Ye Olde Classics...

I can not watch While You Were Sleeping without falling head over heels for Bill Pullman. One Fine Day is my ultimate sick day/sad day movie. And When Harry Met Sally needs to be watched simply for the fashion, if not for the love story.

Three of my favourite classics. But you know what? Lately, real life is proving to be even better. Lucy, Melanie and Sally have got NOTHIN on me!

I'm just wondering when I get all the free clothes.

That'll happen soon. Right?

every band has one...

Good Friday and I'm miles away/and missing you already/from a backyard in Balmain/To the postoffice and back again/I bought a postcard/ I'm getting close/But I haven't got around to it yet/I know I'd said I'd write/and maybe I might

You know I'm thinking of you/In the bookstore, in the laundromat/Guess how much I love you/Much more/More than that, more than that

Better Saturday/It's been that way since I spoke to you this morning/From a payphone in a pub/Here's the rock'n'roll, and here's the rub/And when I spoke to you you said 'I'll see you soon'/But I won't see you for ages/And your voice sounded so small/The loneliness of the long distance phone call

You know I'm thinking of you/In the bookstore, in the laundromat/Guess how much I love you/Much more/More than that, more than that/Guess how much I love you/Much more/More than that

Here's me/Here's you/Draw a line between the two/This is cartography for beginners/On a map the gap's three fingers/But it's more than that/More than that

The Lucksmiths - Guess How Much I Love You

image via weheartit

Friday (because it's almost the weekend) beauty post!

It's time. Change is afoot. And not just because I particularly enjoy using the word 'afoot', but because change actually IS afoot. You're excited. I can tell. But WHY?! Because it has sprung upon me in the most inconvenient of moments that I must change my hair colour and I must change it NOW! The difficulty of this being my hair is currently dark brown. Who's idea THAT was we'll never know, but some advice? Only go chocolate brown if you NEVER WANT TO GO BACK. Just saying.
So in the interests of blog material, lets take a look at my options, shall we?

Make like Dout's here and go a lovely shimmering gold-y blonde. This is sort of kind of a little bit where we're headed, except with much less lash extensions and pouting. It does concern me in part however, that to make this hairstyle look good I would have to a) recreate this hairstyle, and b) shimmy about in a silvery frock on some kind of fur looking very surprised. Constantly.

Follow my biggest hair crush and go ranga. I wish I could, one day I might, but the maintenance...my GOSH the maintenance. The reason I went brunette was to cut down on maintenance. Little did I realise that reversing that procedure would cost every penny I saved (someone should really explain that better at the salon. Just saying). But in my wildest of dreams I do wish for hair as bright as the sun. I know. I dream big.

Platinum. Er, we did just cover maintenance, no? And besides. My eyebrows already almost don't exist. I might not exist if I went this bright. I'd be a headless woman. A platinum headless woman. Total wash out. The mind boggles. Do you remember boggle? Good game.

Some sort of reddy, brunetty, I rather enjoy standing in front of fierce fans style which suits fur (again! I sense a theme...) and casually relaxing on uncomfortable lounges. Unfortunately as my hair fades from my Garnier deep frosted brown it is actually turning red. And not in a good way. So that's a no. Sorry dear lady, you can turn your fan off.

Or I could quite simply punch myself in the eyes a couple of times and wear large birds on my head forever more.

Have a lovely weekend my dear readers, let's hope it stays sunny! xx

third and fifth image from marieclaire

fourth image from harpers

there is not a theme to this week...

But if there was, it would have something to do with those big dangly things.

I can just image living in a place like this. Cold and dusty concrete floors, musty smelling vintage cases, creepy wedding photos of people I don't know, draughty windows, smacking my head on horrifically low hanging chandeliers, and plaster hitting me as it falls of the walls in the middle of the night.

Cripes.
It would be romantic.
One might even say, romantically rustic.

Might.

Guest Blog :: Will should know

"There's a few things I've learned in life: always throw salt over your left shoulder, keep rosemary by your garden gate, plant lavender for good luck, and fall in love whenever you can"

William Shakespeare



Do chips over shoulder count?
Na. That would be a waste.


Happy Wednesday.
Luce
xx

image via de vetpan studios

lights of fancy...

Chandeliers are funny things. Sometimes a mention of them makes me shudder in a pretentious manner like one who has just heard the words 'Crocs' and 'cool' in the same sentence. While in London and apartment shopping (for the big brother, not moi), I took to paying attention to the light fittings. It seems in the 70's loads of people quite liked their crystal rose coloured chandeliers. Which, to be fair, did match in a lovely manner the frosted pink glass in the bathroom and thick rose carpet underfoot*.

But at other times, when in my 'what my dream house would look like' mindset (comes around about the same time my 'I need to clean my room' mindset foolishly sets up camp) it turns out I'm rather fond of a good dangling light fixture. Wandering through the hallways in the Palacio Real de Madrid (a HUGE palace in Madrid...good translation eh?) I also became quite partial to the ginormous chandeliers there, but hanging one of those in what I affectionately term my 'cave' might pull the house down. And then there's the whole "money" thing. And, er, space.

Anyhoodle!

Here are a few I like. A lot. Some of them could even be made. If your 'I can be a crafty cat' mindset comes on. Stick them on walls, paint them pink. The ceiling's your limit!!

Heh.

Geddit?

*They didn't take that apartment. Shame really. Pink is quite soothing.

first image via pottery barn
fourth image via designsponge