Love Letters

I knew my week was off to a good start when my doorbell rang on Monday and I heard those two magical words...

Delivery please!

If someone is ringing my doorbell, it means said delivery cannot fit in my letterbox, therefore it's even all the more exciting (even though my brain knows full well that the best things very often DO come in the small packages too!)


But still, I was excited, and the delivery was indeed worth getting excited about...but I'll tell you about that later in the week, because that's not the point of this post. The point is, getting mail is a lovely feeling, and I was reminded of this even moreso this evening. I crawled out of bed after feeling particularly under the weather all day, found my phone (which my cat had conveniently relocated under the bed) and opened my emails.

Just seeing the number of responses to Monday's post was enough to make me smile, but as I sat down a little later and read and replied to each comment, it was so enjoyable and fun and touching.

And then I realised why I hadn't felt like that in so long. I've been terrible in replying to comments and emails, I'm months behind in my blog reader, and I've been very, very slow to visit the many amazing blogs of people who are kind enough to leave comments, let alone leaving any comments of my own.

I'm not sure if it's cool to admit this or not, but I adore getting comments. I try not to worry when some posts remain commentless, but secretly (not so secretly now!) I wonder if I missed the mark, if perhaps I just don't have the knack anymore. So every time I hear the little ding on my phone that tells me I have mail, my heart speeds up just the tiniest bit. I read every comment as soon as it arrives, and it's a lovely feeling knowing that someone took time out of their day to say hello and share a little bit of themselves and their story. I truly appreciate every single comment, not to mention every single visitor.

So it's high time that I returned the favour. I'm going to catch up on blogs, emails, comments, the whole lot. Starting now....Okay, starting tomorrow. I'm still feeling a bit average and could do with a little more sleep. But tomorrow, it's happening!

After all, who doesn't love letters?

xx Kit

P.S. If you have a blog that you think I should add to my reading list, whether it be yours or someone else's, please let me know in the comments <3

P.P.S. Click for cuteness!

[Please click on images for original sources]

Bad Days and Cute Solutions

I had a horrible day last Friday. Not for any especially terrible reason, things just didn't go right from the moment I got up. As a very non-confrontational person, the idea of disagreeing with someone makes me uneasy. The idea of disagreeing with multiple people in front of a shop full of people? To be honest, I'd never really thought about it until there I was on Friday, my hands in the air and my voice quivering as I held back tears.

There's nothing quite like being faced with "customer service" that lies to your face and blames you for their mistake. There's definitely nothing like a so-called manager telling you "Well you should have used common sense," especially when she's advising against the direct instructions that her store supervisor had been given not 5 minutes earlier. And there is nothing worse than the tightening feeling in your chest, the wobbling of your bottom lip, the uncontrollable shaking of your hands, the infuriating welling in your eyes and the desperate inability to breathe.

So I had a panic attack.

In the middle of a packed store, with 4 unsympathetic "customer service officers" looking on with disapproving frowns and raised eyebrows. With customers who had no idea what was going on except that there was a girl in line who could barely stand up, could barely breath, and no doubt looked a little unhinged.

And you know what they made me do, tears still in my eyes, hands still shaking? They made me fill out a form. A form for a cash refund to rectify their mistake. A form for cash I had handed over 10 minutes earlier.

No explanation. No apology. Just a form, and my cash shoved back at me across the counter.

Needless to say, I was a little flustered by the time I got home. As soon as my front door latch clicked closed, I burst into tears all over again.

Then I got my breath back, wiped away the tears, put the kettle on and let the powers of Google cheer me up. First by searching for baby hedgehogs. Then for French bulldog puppies. And then spent an hour trawling through Cute Overload and FU Penguin.

And it worked. An hour (or two) later, I felt better. Actually, I'd go so far as to say that I felt great. So I've decided, through 2 hours of extremely vigorous scientific research, that baby hedgehogs are the solution to just about everything, and when they don't work (which is extremely rare, of course) then there are other cute animals that might just help out too.

The moral of the story:

HEDGEHOGS = THE SOLUTION!

If only it didn't take a very public, very embarrassing panic attack to help me stumble upon my groundbreaking hypothesis. The things I'll do for science!

So tell me, what cheers you up when nothing else will?


xx Kit

Matryoshkas Made to Measure

Oh. My. Matryoshka. How flippin' adorable are these Russian nesting doll measuring cups from Fred? As if I wasn't having enough trouble keeping out of the kitchen (no really, I've been on a scone rampage and my waistline is living proof!)

[M-Cups]

You'd be crazy to hide these little guys away in a drawer somewhere (or 3 separate drawers...my measuring cups don't seem to get along!) so I LOVE that an item that has always been notoriously functional is now utterly adorable too.

And and and...there's even measuring spoons too. You'd have to be a bit more creative in how to display these, but where there's a will, there's a way!

[M-Spoons]

I'm told that perfect measurements and very precise timing are the secret behind making your very own macarons. Yes, I'm talking macarons. So far, I've eaten more than my fair share but I've never delved into the secret French Baking Underworld* of making these pretties myself.

[Soda inspecting my *coughBOUGHTcough* strawberry, passionfruit and lavender violet macarons]

This weekend, I think I just might. I've got my imaginary beret and I'm ready to roll bake. Scones will just have to wait...probably not long though, if my macaron adventure turns out just as disasterous as I expect. Anyway, wish me luck!


What Secret Weekend Adventures do you have planned?

*I like to think that everyone wears berets in the French Baking Underworld. And frou frou skirts and heels. And there's a secret membership handshake. It's like a cult, but cooler. And much, much tastier.

Indulgent Interiors

It's been quite a while since I've indulged my love of interiors, so what better way to get back into the swing of things than with some luxe spaces as photographed by Mel Yates. From bold and crisp through to outrageously lavish, and straight on back to refined yet quirky, this man knows how to capture great interiors.

[Mel Yates for House & Garden, Heal's]

[Mel Yates for The Orangery at Aynhoe Park, Oxfordshire]

[Mel Yates for Elle Decoration]

With clients like House & Garden, Living Etc and Elle Decoration, Mel's aesthetic is quite varied on the surface, but on closer inspection there's a fun, humourous undercurrent that ties much of his work together, from purple neon lighting through to full-sized stuffed giraffes.

Yes. Giraffes. And if stuffed giraffes happen to tickle your fancy, check out the rest of the delightfully over the top interiors of Aynhoe Park.

[via desire to inspire again!]

Wednesday Wisdom - Cheer

A cheerful mind
is a vigorous mind.

- Jean De la Fontaine (1621 - 1695)

P.S. If you need an extra dose of cheer today, have a looksee at my new favourite website...Cute Boys with Cats. I love you, internet!


[Image via here - original source appreciated!]

Dandy Dinnerware

Just about anything that's described as 'dandy' is an instant winner in my books, but these Superior Servers by Ladies & Gentlemen more than live up to my favourite adjective.

Available in three colours that can be mixed and matched to your fancy, there's something subtle and subversive about this idea that makes me smile. Perhaps it's because I grew up with suspiciously similar looking cutlery...and I love the idea of diving into the top drawer and DIYing my own set (though my mother would be far from pleased, no doubt!)

Love love love the Megadoily too. Ladies & Gentlemen are definitely a design studio to watch!

[via desire to inspire]

Happy Monday - Seriously Joyful

Holy waffles, where did that weekend go?! Oh well, time to kick off a new week with a bang. A colourful, crazy beautiful bang, courtesy of You Can't Be Serious photography.

I love everything about this engagement shoot; it gives me shivers and goosebumps and makes me smile from ear to ear, all at once. What a gorgeous couple, too!

The work of Brisbane-based power duo Hailey and Andrew Bartholomew, aka You Can't Be Serious, this is about as close to pure joy as I've ever seen photographed. Be sure to check out the rest of the shoot here!

Happy Monday!

Many thanks to mysweetmuse for delivering this slice of joy to my inbox!

Wednesday Wisdom - Breathe

Live each season as it passes;

breathe the air,

drink the drink,

taste the fruit,

and resign yourself

to the influences of each.

- Henry David Thoreau (1817 - 1862)

Wednesday Wisdom - Friendship

In prosperity

our friends know us;

in adversity

we know our friends.

- John Churton Collins

Dedicated to all my wonderful friends, from those who've had the misfortune to grow up with me, to those who've snuck into my life (and my heart) via the interwebs. I adore you all, and I couldn't do this without you.

xx Kit

Wednesday Wisdom - Memory

The advantage of a bad memory


is that one enjoys several times


the same good things


for the first time.

- Friedrich Nietzsche (1844 - 1900)

Fabulous Friday Photography

Happy Friday everyone! I thought I'd celebrate the end of the week with some beautiful fashion photography courtesy of crazy talented Chilean art student, Pilar Castro Evenson, aka Nebulaskin.

Flicking through a beautifully diverse portfolio with wine in hand - what better way to finish the week?!

What's planned for your weekend? I think I might have a quiet DIY weekend at home, restoring some old furniture and possibly even sewing a few cushions - it's been a long time since I've touched a sewing machine though, so wish me luck!


xx Kit

Snow vs Spring

On the way to the snow, one thing that really struck me about the Australian landscape was just how exquisitely vibrant it can be. From the rust reds of the clay and bark through to the dark olive of the foliage, and on to the bright yellow of the wattles and blushing pinks of the cherry blossoms.

That's not even taking into account the occasional bursts of purple and blue wildflowers, or the crisp white snow and icy blue skies at the end of the journey. Early springtime in this part of the world is like nothing I've ever experienced.

I will confess to being a little disappointed that my accommodation for the weekend (Alpine Habitats) wasn't coated in a manageable layer of snow, but despite the picturesque Australiana-type views from the balcony, the temperature still dropped heavily come nightfall, and the fireplace was an utter godsend...and the nearby schnapps distillery (Wildbrumby) also came in handy too!

The last stop on the way home was by the banks of Lake Jindabyne, and once more the clear blue skies were deceiving. Make no mistake, even my multiple Michelin-Man-esque layers, cosy gloves, oversized scarf and giant mocha weren't quite enough to keep me as toasty as I would have liked, but the stunning views made it all worthwhile.

It's been a while since I've had a holiday, let alone one as lovely, relaxing and exciting as this one. So a huuuuuuuuge thank you once more to my sneaky Mr. Unreliable for such an amazing surprise and a great weekend...and of course for finally letting me tick off that last item on my list of New Year's Resolutions.