merry weekends

happy Sunday everyone!! And also happy lunar new year!!

My dad was back for the Chinese New Year and of course this meant lots of yummy adventures and me having to do absolutely nothing. This week, we went to the extremely famous (and extremely infamous for long times) The Grounds of Alexandria.

To be honest, I don't like this place. The foods not entirely great and really, the wait is not worth it. But my dad wanted to go so here we were, waiting in the sun for a table at this oh so famous cafe. Wow I sound quite bitter.

But the smell of intense meat really does put me off.



But I finally tried the strawberry tart which many do recommend. And yeah meh smeh. #notevensorry.

But this, ughhh I do recommend.

Hello the strawberry melon cake from Black Star Pastry! I don't even know. Simply amaze. And the hazelnut torte gave a nice sense of heaviness to balance the fresh from the watermelon.. Mmm maybe I should order this cake for my birthday.. mm



What did you get up to this weekend? What yummy things did you eat this new year?

sending you love, 

Coby.

PS. do you like my birkenstocks? A lot of people hate them. But they are comfy so y010 ya kn0w

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just a few current favourites

01/ I'm turning 21 soon (in two months to be exact). So maybe it's time to think about what I want to do for my 21st. I'm not really a big party person so I would like to have just something small, close and intimate. Just a few friends and some food. Perhaps a few pillows and a movie? This outdoor movie night from Antropologie looks just amazing though.



02/ I have many phases - with both things and relationships with the others around me. But the one phase that I keep coming back to is yoga. Around and around, I'll always come back to yoga. Not only as a workout but also as my place of peace. And for a while now, I've been loving the idea of going on hikes. Seeing how Australia has so many bushes, why have I never thought about this?

Whatever it is, it is never too late to start right? And just see how amazing are these shots by jyslakay; practising yoga in the complete stillness of this scenery. Ugh love.



03/ Look at these pictures and nothing needs to be said. Paperbark Camp at Jervis Bay and Wollemi Wilderness Retreat in the Blue Mountains are both so amazing. Look at these pictures and tell me you don't want to get married there.



Happy Friday everyone!

sending you love, 

Coby.

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welcome 2014

Good things:
it's a new year.

Have you made any resolutions? To be honest, I haven't made any this year because they will be exactly the same as last years. But maybe my most important one this year will be to allow myself some time to myself but also to allow myself time to spend with friends. Sometimes I find that I prefer being alone a bit too much and I neglect my social life. So this year, I will say yes to grabbing lunch over another episode of Grey's Anatomy.

Today, we just got back from our three day trip to Hunter Valley. It was a rather spontaneous trip. By spontaneous, I mean finding out we were going on new years eve, 2pm and leaving at 6pm sort of spontaneous.



But I'm glad it happened. The cottage we stayed in was super cute and there were rows and rows of grape vines (durh it was a vineyard but still). And on our first night, we went on an adventure and walked to the lake/swamp/large pool of water.




Overall, my new years was spent with friends, the new year's sunrise, confusing card games and lots and lots of food. Hope your new year was just as great as mine. And hope your year will be filled with lovely new adventures and may all your wishes come true for 2014!

sending you love as always, 

Coby.

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goodbye 2013, hello future.

first view of 2014 ~ Hunter Valley

For years now, I've always kept a schedule book where I use it as a diary and scrapbook at the same time. And flicking back through 2013's diary, I had written 'let 2013 be the best year yet' and ugh that could not have been more true at all.

What a year it has been.

it's always bittersweet to look back into the past and realise how fast time goes by and how much change. But the future is always so exciting. But 2013, thank you. For letting me keep my promise and being the best year yet. Thank you for giving me hope for a better future.

so perhaps maybe I should go through a list of my top memories of the year 2013.

In 2013 I...
began the year making friends and memories never to be forgotten
starting working out and loving it.
      had my first green smoothie
became an ABA therapist.
went to my first music festival.
ups and downs with William
     but I believe we are in this together for a really really long time
went clubbing for the first time
     ultimately decided to never drink again
The Power of Now became my life
     sleeping at 10:30pm, wake up 6am became my life
relationship with my parents became the strongest it's ever been
     they are my rock
picked up pole dancing
fell in love with puppies after puppies
but i know Charlie is (and always will be) our love
picked up my dslr again and blogging too
discovered my perfect macaron recipe
went to my first Boxing Day sales
     spent my life savings
creating stronger ties with Will's family
     and that makes us so much stronger

sending you love and best of luck for the year 2014, 

Coby.

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hope you had an awesome christmas!

wow this Christmas week was rather full on. Actually, that's not the truth because I was not absurdly busy yet there was a lot to do and a lot to get done and just, the week went by fast.

on the days leading up to Christmas, Will and I spent the days with Charlie and our friends. Most of our friends have dogs so we had a mega maltese party at Will's house. It was cute watching Charlie interact with other doggies. And we discovered she's super alpha. Despite her tiny size, she is extremely loud and she also has a lot of fun pushing the other dogs around.

Other than playing with dogs, we spent a few days playing monopoly over and over. And I must say, this game really hates me. Or I really hate this game.

on Christmas day, i went to Will's family party and afterwards, to our friend's xmas/21st. Boxing day was incredible. Actually, so incredible. I went shopping with my friend and literally spent my entire paycheck. But I will tell myself that a) it's ok, I need new clothes b) it's Christmas. Then the night was spent eating pods and watching Will's favourite movie 'Nightmare before Christmas'.

ugh Christmas is my favourite holiday ever.

and after a week of fun, here is Charlie bean complete passed out.



sending you love, 

Coby.

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the perfect sugar cookie

yay for summer break. And yay for summer weather finally settling in! And yay for days off and finally getting some Christmas baking done!

These cookies are perfect for flooding decorations and writing messages. Put them in a glass jar, tie it up with a pretty ribbon and off you go with the perfect gift (ㆆᴗㆆ)*✲ﾟ*｡⋆




Recipe adapted from Sweetapolita

Ingredients
6 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon sea salt
300g unsalted butter, left in room temperature
100mL olive oil
1 cup brown sugar (not packed)
2 large eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon almond extract

Instructions
Sift together all-purpose flour and sea salt.
With a mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together butter and sugar until fluffy and pale.
Beat in eggs. Add flour mixture and mix on low speed until thoroughly combined. Add in slowly, one third at a time. Add vanilla, olive oil, and almond extract and blend.
Remove 1/2 of dough from bowl, make a ball, and place on a large piece of plastic wrap on counter. Wrap the sides of wrap over the ball, then press down with the palm of your hand and make a disc about 2" thick. Finish wrapping the disc with the plastic wrap. Repeat with 2nd half of dough. Chill both dough balls for 45 minutes.
Remove one ball and remove plastic wrap. Place on top of a large piece of parchment paper then roll out dough to around 1cm thickness.
Preheat your oven to 180°c. Slide your parchment paper and dough onto a baking tray, then place in refrigerator for about 15 minutes. Remove from fridge, and cut your shapes using the cookie cutters of your choice. As these cookies don't rise, you don't need to leave a lot of space between each cookie.
Place sheet with cookies into freezer for 15 minutes before baking.
Bake 12-14 minutes, or until edges are golden brown.
Gently remove cookies and place on wire racks to cool.

These cookies can be stored at room temperature in an airtight container for 2 weeks or they can be frozen. Perfect for giving as gifts to loved ones :3

sending you love, 

Coby.

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life as we know

Charlie bean's settling in nicely and she's stopped crying at night mostly. We found out that she is quite the daredevil, climbing and jumping on everything and everyone. Last night, she even jumped over the barrier we built for her and that thing is almost three times her height. We even took her to play with William's dog. And Charlie, being her mischievous self, really pushed Lucky's boundaries... (」゜ロ゜)」

Aside from all, everything's been well. Summer is finally making itself at home and the Christmas baking is really on its way! Perhaps it's just that time of year, or it's just me but there's so much to be thankful for. I'm happy that my parents are so loving and accepting and I'm so happy that they now get to spend more time together. I'm thankful for Charlie for loving me although I might not be the best puppy mummy ever and I'm thankful for having my boyfriend's family who are willing to help me out even though they themselves have things to worry about.

and what are you thankful for today?

sending you love, 

Coby.

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