BEDHEAD HEAVEN

Is your bedroom missing something? If you're anything like me, you might be contemplating a beautiful fabric covered bedhead to add some warmth to your room. The hardest part is finding a company that will custom make at a reasonable price. Voila http://www.bednest.com.au/

They have a simple 3 step process: 1. Choose style of bedhead 2. Select fabric and 3. Select size - fantastic. Have a favourite fabric you want to use? Don't despair they custom make as well (POA). Sis - are you thinking a velvet purple bedhead?? I am ;)

RUBY STAR TRADERS

Ruby Star Traders are located on Bridge Rd in Glebe. Manufacturers of gorgeous home furnishings and gifts. My favourite is the Kantha stitched three drawer cabinet below, the colours are so beautiful, a statement piece for any home visit them at http://www.rubystar.com for more information

GARDEN LIFE SYDNEY

Too cute! When I asked about this giant astro turf bunny I was told - it's an essential garden piece - how can you resist not smiling when you come across this, and he was so right! It's soft and cuddly completely useless but certainly makes you smile. I love it and it will make an appearance in our home ;)

Garden Life is located at 357 Cleveland St in Surry Hills. They specialise in unique garden design as well as a retail store for their unique garden products. In addition to this, there is a gorgeous cafe located in the same building. It is such a great place to wander around and have a cup of hot chocolate whilst you dream of the adventures you can create in your garden. Visit http://www.gardenlife.com.au

BEST ITALIAN IN SYDNEY

If you had a close family member ask for your opinion on the best Italian dining in Sydney, how would you decide or recommend? There are so many places, so many options – but for me, the list below was all about a combination of best food + amazing experience overall (including ambience & service). So here you go, hope you agree ;)

Pizza E Birra: Located at 500 Crown Street, Surry Hills. This place has the authentic Naples style pizza and pastas. The food is fresh, vibrant and full of flavour. You can’t book so early birds get the best table and don’t get left out in the cold on Crown Street

Christos Pizza: Located Glenmore Road, Paddington I’ve reviewed this place recently, left an amazing impression (see below) visit http://www.christospizza.com.au/


Fratelli Fresh Café Sopra: 3 locations Walsh Bay, Danks St Depot & Potts Point – Top 10 for me!. The menu choice is out of this world; it’s seasonal and based on ingredients they stock in their farmers market. http://www.fratellifresh.com.au/ (thanks to NotQuiteNigella.blogspot.com for image)


Love Supreme: Located on Oxford Street in Paddington. The ambience of this place is very cool, there is definitely a lot of love in the place http://lovesupreme.com.au/


North Bondi Italian: On the beach South Bondi. If you can bare the crowds the food here is sensational. It gets SO busy and you can’t book so again early birds only or night owls http://www.idrb.com/northbondi/


Machiavelli’s: Located on Clarence Street Sydney CBD. This is old school at its best. The waiters have so much class, the food is fresh and exactly like you’d expect your Italian mother to make http://www.machiavelli.com.au/articles/dinner/


Fratelli Paradiso: Located in Challis St Potts Point. My all time top 5 favourite. It has consistently over the years delivered excellent food, service with an outstanding experience. Don’t want to talk about this too much, you can’t book so I have to be able to get a seat J http://www.fratelliparadiso.com/

Bar Reggio: Cheap great pasta and pizza!! http://www.barreggio.com.au/

Enjoy!

DESIGN*LIFE*SHOP

I’m always on the look out for unique products. Items that stand out from the crowd and really do one simple thing – make you smile ;). Design, Life, Shop is a great website for all things quirky and cool. They are based in Sydney so supporting a local retailer is a good way to go. I just ordered (sorry Hubond) the Desk Bunny Scissors!! So cute but yet so functional!! Get your daily inspiration and visit them today at http://www.designlifeshop.com.au

JAMIE OLIVER IN SYDNEY

I LOVE Jamie Oliver, and now I can love him in Sydney. Late August Jamie Oliver is due to open his first restaurant at 107 Pitt Street in Sydney CBD with a capacity of 200+ diners. The restaurant will be called Jamie’s Italian with a concept of fantastic food & service at a really good price! Love it already. Stay tuned or visit http://www.jamieoliver.com/italian/sydney for more information

VIVID SYDNEY 2011

Vivid Sydney is on from 27 May – 13 June 2011 which really brings the city to life when it needs it the most. I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but Sydney folk really don’t like the cold, we really need events like this during the cold months to show us that Sydney is just as amazing in Winter as it is in Summer. There is so much to see and do during Vivid including workshops, light displays throughout the city and music events at the Sydney Opera House.


Speaking of which, the Opera House really looks amazing as they light the sails every night in a different theme. My highlight THE CURE - coming back after 4 years and playing in such an intimate venue as the Concert Hall at the Sydney Opera House. I couldn’t believe we scored tickets to this, currently on eBay for $3000!! Stupid hawkers, true fans shouldn’t have to pay that kind of price to experience one of the best bands in the world!

For more information visit http://vividsydney.com/events/music

La Bodeguita Del Medio Sydney

Something new and exciting has just happened to Sydney.
Only a week old, La Bodeguita Del Medio has opened its 9th restaurant on York Street in Sydney, directly opposite the QVB.

It first opened its doors in Havana, Cuba in April 1950 and since then has developed into a global icon. It has played host to numerous celebrities, artists, musicians, writers, journalists and socialites over the years and during the 1950s became a regular venue of choice for high profile guests.

Famous guests over the years included; Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Winston Churchill, Bridget Bardot, Sophia Loren and more.

However it was Ernest Hemingway that brought La B Del M into international prominence after he penned the now famous phrase "My Mojito in La Bodeguita" which can still be read on the wall at the original bar in Havana, Cuba.



We stumbled across the venue whist standing at the bus stop, the energy coming out of the venue was overwhelming, so we had to investigate. What we found was a mix of amazing food, music and cocktails in a beautifully designed yet homely surrounds.


Get down here, before you can't get in and the ques begin! Visit http://lbdm.com.au for more information

CHRISTOS PIZZA PADDINGTON

I think I died and went to thin crust pizza heaven!!

My family and I headed out on Sunday night to enjoy a meal together, we originally made a booking at a French restaurant but that was very disappointing so we left and having traveled from the Northern Beaches, found ourselves stuck with no booking & no where to eat. Standing aimlessly in the middle of the road, we noticed Christos Pizza.

The pizza’s here are sensational. The quality of produce was so fresh and light. The prawns were the best we have had on any pizza in Sydney. I would highly recommend this place, it’s got a very unique vibe (beware the music and their speakers need some attention), but you go there for the food & service!! Don’t miss out on this place 224 Glenmore Road, Paddington.

THE MET BALL 2011 NEW YORK CITY

Anyone that has been to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC will really appreciate these images. One of my favourite places in the world, The Metropolitan Museum of Art was founded in 1870 by a group of American citizens. The founders included businessmen and financiers, as well as leading artists and thinkers of the day. Just as importantly, the Museum of Costume Art was founded by Aline Bernstein and Irene Lewisohn and in 1937 they merged with the Met and became its Costume Institute department.

Today, its collection contains more than 80,000 costumes and accessories. The Costume Institute used to have a permanent gallery space in what was known as the "Basement" of the Met, however, due to the fragile nature of the items in the collection, the Costume Institute does not have a permanent installation. Instead, every year it holds two separate shows in the Met's galleries using costumes from its collection, with each show centering on a specific designer or theme.


The first show from 4 May – 31 July 2011, titled Savage Beauty, is a fitting tribute to Alexander McQueen and is also the lead theme for the annual Costume Institute Gala (known as the Met Ball). The event has been an annual affair at the Met since 1948! It is known as the top social event in New York City, with this year over $9 million being raised towards the Museum and its collections, ensuring historic pieces are kept and maintained for many generations to enjoy.

The annual Benefit Gala co-chaired by Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, the tickets range in price from US$5000 to US$15,000; This years theme “Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty” serves as the inspiration for the romantic décor. Influenced by McQueens Fall 2008 collection “The Girl Who Lived in the Tree” has a striking resemblance to the Royal Wedding décor just passed don’t you think?

Thanks to http://habituallychic.blogspot.com/ and http://www.vogue.com for the images, wish we could have been there.

The Deck Sydney

The Deck Sydney was a real surprise for me. Located just within the gates of the iconic Luna Park in Milson's Point. The view has to be one of the best in Sydney, the atmosphere was friendly, warm and eclectic. The live band was fantastic - and my Margarita was spot on! The ferry pulls up right outside so you can start or end your bar crawl on the most beautiful harbour in the world. Visit http://www.thedecksydney.com.au for more information