Happy Spring!

Bleary eyed and soggy toed* as the sun still slept this morning, hundreds of equally bleary eyed and soggy toed florists waited eagerly at the big rolling doors for the 5am call to open the market. As this one little bleary eyed and soggy toed florist was carried along to her favourite grower, she was suddenly overcome with happiness (as much as one can be at that time of the morning)! Her lovely little Ranunculus were back! Short little stems that will get longer throughout the season, and not too many colours, but they were most definitely back! And as is tradition, this happy little** florist eagerly snavelled a bunch of peach and raspberry and apricot coloured goodness for her bedside table, where they now happily sit and cheer her on. Inaudibly. Otherwise that would be a bit weird.

Happy Spring my lovelies! xx

* My wellies aren't waterproof. Kind of defeating the purpose, I hear you say. Valid point. Very valid point.

** I am of normal size.

Springtime weekends...

Filled with sunshine, markets days, fresh flowers, yummy food, cool breezes and warm sunlight, long afternoons, enchanting conversations, home baked treats, pretty dresses, windows flung open wide...and some pretty market bags to be filled with all your lovely new treats!

bags via applegreenduck

just. so. beautiful.

More very, very happy people captured by the incredibly talented Ryan Ahern. And as Tuesday's lesson, frollicking on the beach can only do you good. Yes siree.

images from Ryan Ahern

Sneak peek!

One of my favourite brands, the lovely Little Jane St, is very excitedly preparing for their store opening in early September and I am EXCITED! Yes! Excited! This travel journal has me wanting to travel, simply so I can whisk it out and look at how pretty it is, and you know, maybe write a few things down. Check out the facebook page, the website, and get ready to pop into the gorgeous new store to see the abundance of beautiful products created by the incredibly lovely Alarna. She's one talented lady. Yes siree!

i carry your heart with me...

i carry your heart with me

(i carry it in my heart)

i am never without it

(anywhere i go, you go, my dear; and whatever is done by only me, is your doing, my darling)

i fear no fate

(for you are my fate, my sweet)

i want no world

(for beautiful, you are my world, my true)

and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant

and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows

(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud and the sky of a sky of a tree called life, which grows higher than the soul can hope or the mind can hide)

and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart (i carry it in my heart)

Edward Estlin Cummings

*****WINNERS!!!*****

As my physie* teacher used to always say, you're ALL winners! Except here some of you aren't. But that's ok, because I loved reading everyone's stories, so so much! And we have some more brilliant giveaways coming up, so stay tuned like an old 1960's radio for updates.

And so here are the winners!!! Clear earrings - Melissa (from Kiwi land), tea rose earrings - Bespoke Letterpress Boutique, and quartz earrings - Kate W...congratulations!!! Honourable mentions to Michelle (those tea parties sound wonderful!), Polly Mae, Miss M (seriously brilliant story...these stories always end up happily ever after, you'll see), Beach Tropic, Alicia Grace, Paperklip, Polkadot Bride (I am wearing this uniform today...huzzah for uggies!)...so basically everyone. AND special congratulations to all the lovely brides! Because I love you all.

So if our lovely winners could please send me an email at nicola@rubyandjoy.com.au with your mailing address I will get your lovely treats in the post pronto!

Thanks for taking part, this was fun! And stick around for next week, there'll be some more lovely treats up for grabs. Happy weekend my sweets, enjoy the sunshine! x


* Yes. I did physie. But only until I was 8 so really I had no control over the situation. And I loved how big and curly my hair could get. And the big ribbons. And wearing lipstick. Ok so I loved it. Have you seen how pretty and frilly the leotards are??

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

To fringe or not to fringe. This is the question. And a tricky one at that. Let's ask Sienna to help us out. Sienna? Will you help us out? Yes? Splendid! Will you ask someone else to slap together two photos of you, one fringeless and one fringy, because I'm a shocker with all things computery? Yes? Even more splendid! Will you pay for me to fly over and have a session with your personal hairstylist so he/she can tell me what to do (as I pretty much always make the wrong decision) and then perhaps shout me some topshop? No? Worth a try...

Wedding type fun!

Check out this gorgeous wedding from the super talented Jessica Peterson! They look happy. People should look happy at weddings. Ecstatically happy. Stupidly happy. They should look lovely, pretty and cheery*!

* See what I did there? Subtle advertising works the best. Yep. And I am smooth.

Guest Blog :: Imaginative interiors!

I was a big Roald Dahl fan back in the day…during my youth. It was always a treat to escape into one of the worlds Roald created in his quirky novels. Giant peaches, chocolate factories, pet tortises and such books accompanied by the oh so wonderful Quentin Blake and his unique illustrations.
I happened to stumble across some of Quentin's work. Brought to you by Osborne and Little. A unique way to bring colour and imagination to any kid's bedroom.

Too bad I'm not a kid anymore (on the outside) I'd love to have some of this wallpaper around my place.

some people are very clever...

For example, Sara Carr! If you would like to snuggle with Mabel the hedgehog, Monty the fox, or Hugo the dog, or purchase one for some kind of 'niece' or 'nephew', I think that is a grand idea. I would like the world to be a happier place, and I feel that any addition of a knitted soft toy with the name of Mabel, Monty or Hugo would help us along.

Swing by Sara's place, make your selection, and be sure to say toodle-pip and cheerio as you leave a much happier person in a much happier world.

a markety weekend...

Good Monday morning my friends! I do hope the rainy gloom of today hasn't wiped the sunshine of your faces! It's been a long time since this little miss has had a full weekend to use at her whim, and so it was (after a lovely long lie in!) off to the markets! Paddington in the Wintery blustery sunshine is something to be experienced, and something I have sorely missed. The lovely Deby and I wandered aimlessly by the gorgeous flower stand, past the genius chocolate makers, through the lovely frilly clothes and weaved throughout the beautiful ceramics and herbs. I was absolutely spoiled by said friend as she purchased my new favourite piece of jewellery from the uber friendly Kyle at honeybee. How sweet are these?! Guess which one I got...

And I'm wearing it right now! Which for someone that wears almost no jewellery says something. We also purchased some beautiful Spring blooms, and although I'm quite aware that I'm at the flower markets most mornings and could purchase said blooms at half the price (shoosh!), there's something quite wonderful about buying flowers from the market. I greedily grabbed some beautiful poppies that are now sitting happily on my bedside table, new flowers open every morning in shades of lovely peach and raspberry, and Deby snavelled up the last of the pretty plum blossom (which just by the by, can be rather dangerous in a packed market. Note to self, buy flowers, go home).

I do hope you've all had a splendid weekend and were able to soak up some vitamin D! Or K. Or B? Sunshine.

xx

*****GIVEAWAY FRIDAY*****

**Update** Winner's announced Friday 27th August...congratulations! xx

Its exciting, I know. Whenever any words are surrounded on BOTH sides with little star like thingies, it's bound to be exciting. And more than that, not only is it a *****GIVEAWAY***** today...it's also a *****FRIDAY*****!!! Which means, it's the weekend tomorrow!!! The sunshine is beckoning, the ocean is a sparkly pool of turquoise and sapphires, the bush trails are calling bright with beautiful wildflowers in coral and cream and gold. Or a sleep in sounds pretty nice too.

BUT! Today (*****GIVEAWAY FRIDAY*****, in case you forgot) is brimming with possibilities! How, you ask? Good question. The absolutely lovely Stephanie over at Fletcher & Grace has given us 3 sets of beautiful Antoinette Cushion Cut earrings to hand out willy nilly to whomever we choose. Ha! It's not that easy my lovelies! You'll have to earn it! How, you ask? Again? Excellent questions today, really. It's quite simple. There are 3 different colours (clear, tea rose and quartz) that I have here in my very reluctant hands, so all you need do is leave a comment telling me which colour you would like and why. And to be a little more interesting, the location/date/event you would first wear them on/to (it does not have to be real, just for funsies).

Now, keep in mind, these gorgeous little earrings are worth $65 for a pair, so I shall be judging this like it was Wimbledon 1892 and there was a line call challenged on a championship point and instead of that handy little camera we have now it's all up to the umpire who through the haze of dirt and stench of sweat and heady anticipation of a win has to make the call.

Gosh. Talk about pressure.

The super lucky winner's shall be announced next Friday, so get cracking my sweets!

And I hope you all have a beautifully sunshiny weekend! xx

ps - have a quick look at all the other gorgeous treats Fletcher & Grace have on offer...and be sure to say a quick hello to Stephanie! x

oh so pretty!

Some pretty, whimsical drawings brought to us by the super talented Clare Owens. So clever she's even been featured in Frankie this month...3 cheers for Clare! If you're in an office feel free to commence 3 cheer-ing on the inside. Otherwise...

Take her a lemon cake, some lovely scented tea and chat about all the lovely things in the world. Like sweet smelling Spring flowers and cosy flannel sheets and fresh made brownie with ice cream and discovering a lovely song that you can play on repeat for days on end and falling in love and making photo albums and throwing yourself into this grand adventure called life holding on with grubby fists to good things. And seeing the sunset and just how pretty it is.

They've been so pretty lately x

You thought I was joking about the lemon cake didn't you. Clare's waiting...

Guest Blog :: Craving soup

I've been wanting to make this all week!

Potato and Leek Soup

Preparation Time - 15 minutes, Cooking Time - 35 minutes

Ingredients (serves 4)
• 60ml (1/4 cup) olive oil
• 1 brown onion, halved, chopped
• 1 garlic clove, crushed
• 4 medium (about 700g) peeled desiree, pink eye or pontiac potatoes, cut into 2cm cubes
• 2 leeks, pale section only, washed, dried, thinly sliced
• 1.25L (5 cups) vegetable stock
• 3 thick slices day-old white bread, crusts removed, cut into 2cm cubes
• 125ml (1/2 cup) thickened cream
• Pinch of salt
• 2 tbs finely chopped fresh chives

Method
1.Heat 1 tbs of the oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook, stirring, for 3 minutes or until the onion softens. Add the potato and leek and cook, stirring, for 5 minutes or until leek softens.
2.Add the stock and bring to the boil. Reduce heat to medium and gently boil, uncovered, for 20 minutes or until potato is soft. Remove from heat and set aside for 10 minutes to cool.
3.Meanwhile, preheat oven to 180°C. Place bread in a roasting pan. Drizzle with remaining oil and toss until bread is evenly coated. Toast in preheated oven, shaking pan occasionally, for 10 minutes or until crisp. Remove croutons from oven and set aside.
4.Transfer one-third of the potato mixture to the jug of a blender and blend until smooth. Transfer to a clean saucepan. Repeat in 2 more batches with the remaining potato mixture.
5.Place the soup over medium heat. Add the cream and stir to combine. Cook, stirring, for five minutes or until hot. Taste and season with salt.
6.Ladle the soup among serving bowls. Sprinkle with chives and top with croutons. And serve!

Handy Hint!
•This soup will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

recipe via taste.com.au
image via healing rosacea

Spring is a-coming...

a prayer in Spring

oh, give us pleasure in the flowers today;

and give us not to think so far away

at the uncertain harvest, keep us here

all simply in the springing of the year

oh give us pleasure in the orchard white,
like nothing else by day, like ghosts by night;

and make us happy in the happy bees

the swarm dilating round the perfect trees

and make us happy in the darting bird
that suddenly above the bees is heard

that meteor that thrusts in with needle bill

and of a blossom in mid air stands still

for this is love, and nothing else is love
to which it is reserved for God above

to sanctify to what far ends he will

but which it only needs that we fulfill

Robert Frost