G'day sweet friends and no-longer-lurking-lurkers! (though there are still a heap of you out there for sure)
Righto, don't normally blog on the weekends, I reserve the weekends for getting out and about, normally down the beach, or I like to fulfill my taxi-driving duties…
However, today here on the beaches we have had a severe weather warning…and by that I mean one that means "people it is very very hot, stay inside" and it's been like that for a few days here so I thought I'd show you the kinda lifestyle my kids have come to expect as part of their 'regular' ole days in the school hols…errrm looking pretty good to me..whaddya think?
So I find myself cocooned in the Beach Cottage this evening after a very hot day, the mercury tipping well over 40C, thanks goodness we could go for a swim…certainly was much needed.
Thankfully the Southerly (that's what those in the know call it anyway – a strong cool wind to me) came in about a half hour ago, and a cool coastal breeze is whipping that forty plus heavy air outta this old cottage…what seems like a very big storm is brewing and I looove those…it'll be lovely if it's pouring with rain as we sit on the deck with friends tonight and a few beers…
So, anyway thanks VERY much for the salad recipes, for this evening I'm going on the strawberry theme I think, suggested by many…to be honest I have never tried strawberries in a salad, tonight I will, firstly because I think it sounds a little bit Bill Granger to toss in a few strawberries and secondly they are in season here and kinda go with the weather.
Though if you're from England, shivering in the chills of winter like my folks in the Old Country are, you will be pleased to know that it might be warm and wonderful here but no-one, I repeat no-one grows a strawberry like they do in the Garden of England (spoken by a true conoisseur who spent one whole summer in the Sixth Form picking strawberries, in the fields of Kent, from dawn to dusk, and probably consuming about the same amount as I produced).
I am going to try and put the recipes together into one place with a link because I dunno about you but there is nothing better than real people, chatting, recommending and sharing when it comes to most things in life…oh so much better than pulling it from a book or the internet, even if it does have a totally unrealistic picture tantalisingly styled beside it…
And how about next we chat about Anthro? I see there are a lot of competitors for the new Women's Sport of Anthropologie Shopping then? And a lot of gals who think they might be able to contest me for that Gold. I don't think so baby. I am the Master of Anthropologie stalking.
What was interesting about that little post though, was a few very pertinent titbits left temptingly in my Inbox for me to share with you. Oh the power of Social Media. Mind-boggling.
and secondly it goes on online too…(confirmed by Danielle from BabyMaeCouture who stalked a bedskirt, checking in weekly and got it down from $118 to $30, that's some decent markdown in my humble little opinion!).
Good points to remember for you girls who are lucky enough to truly shop Anthropologie…
*winner of the Anthro Giftcard is Wendy from Shabby Nest 'cos she's about to shop a makeover…
*and seeing as there were so many entries and because I praise the job our underpaid nurses do every day, I decided to throw another one in for Amanda (mandylwarren@gmail.com) & the nurses at Christmas who didn't get any recognition for their Anthro-winter-window-style-night-shift-snowflake-making-sessions (thank you to our nurses people)
(let me know your addresses so I can go shop Anthro!)
and that's it from us here, another long, hot Australian day on the beaches…one with some shabbying this morning where I drove home alone witha coffee and a smile…and not one but five new big pieces of furniture to show you girls…you are gonna love it all!
…as I always say, in this sport, you never know just what you will find where.
And today boy did I score!
ok, I have a chicken with a lemon up it's bottom, dribbled with oil and stuffed with herbs, a strawberry and spinach salad with feta, roast potatoes and a mint, parsley and lentil salad…both from your recommendations…I'll try to take a photo but domestic goddess duties and photography don't usually go too well together
and as I heard an old Aussie guy mumble out the side of his mouth to his wife this arvo "I'm so having a beer tonight"
ahhhh…isn’t that southerly a blessing…..although it’s get a bit toooooo breezy here , but a lovely break from the heat of today……love your images…fabulous summer holidays !
Hi Sarah you seem to have survived the heat in true Aussie style:)I’m so pleased you are going with my salad, well truthfully it is a chain of restaurants in America called Bubba Gump’s salad. Don’t forget to add the toasted pecans. Bubba Gump use toasted walnuts but we prefer pecans.
I can’t wait to see your latest finds. Have a lovely night.
Aloha,
really enjoyed you post…fabulous photos!!It is a wonderful blessing to be able to enjoy the ocean…I know I am ….
Aloha wished from across the sea
Brandi
Yet another great post Sarah, sounds like a perfect day in your neck of the woods.
Don’t you have any strawberry farms near you. We have a great one here on the Mornington Peninsula called Sunny Ridge they have the sweetest most yummy strawberries. If you ever come down to Victoria be sure to check them out.
Alison
Hi Sarah, It’s been a scorcher here as well, but I love it, and a swim here and there to break the heat up worked a treat! Our ‘breeze’ over here on the WA coast is a south/westerly and blows like the clappers! It’s super refreshing after one of our 40+’s. Your dinner sounds delish…. you made me hungry!!
Hello Miss Sarah !
Looking soooo forward to beach days myself…
We’re supposed to get into the 80′s tomorrow…I really need some warm weather to lift my spirits these days…
The beach looks so inviting, too bad it was so hot you couldn’t go!
Congrats to both the winners and thanks for the inside scoop on how Anthro discounts! With this new knowledge I may just be able to arm wrestle the gold medal from you!
I hope you have a lovely dinner, and strawberries are always yummy with spinach and feta! Try mandarin oranges sometimes too, also very yummy!
I love your beach photos.
Your dinner sounds divine! I love salads. A couple of years ago I had a salad with strawberries from this little coffee/sandwich shop called Panera Bread, and it was quite yummy.
Just found your lovely blog…so so fun. This post reminds me of our Summer at long beach{Canada}…I am craving those moments back. Off to see what I have been missing by reading some past posts. xo
Oh lucky one to win an Anthro gift …see I missed that too..shucks.
Severe weather warning here is Southern California has meant torrential rainfall, flooding, mudslides, and even tornado warnings! Not what most people think of when they think of this part of the world. It’s an El Nino year and after years of very little rain we will get slammed this season. Wishing I was there in Australia!
Hi Sarah, weren’t those seas wild? That southerly was very welcome. I think the big strawberries that are sold nowadays are nothing like the smaller ones, however, we found wonderfully sweet strawberries last time we were in Queensland.
Hi Sarah! I finally started my blog and I’m still getting used to it!
I just loved your pictures….they can make my day just by looking at them, specialy because where I live now is quite cold!!!!
I have a few projects to finish, but soon they be there on my blog.
Hope to hear from you soon and enjoy the weather!
Love, Lidice
Spinach, strawberries and feta? Wow! Sounds great! and while I don;t live ON the beach, I am just 4 miles away her in Naples, Florida, so maybe a sunset walk is in order! Enjoy!
Right, thank you, dear Sarah for making me browse some crazy website and wanting a bunch of deliriously hot mugs while shipping them to my village would cost 40 stupid euros. Good job, keep writing!
Sounds like you have got this summer living sorted with a strawberry and spinach salad for dinner, along with the long awaited cold beer, what could be finer on a warm summer evening.
great photos.. i really like the one with the 3 kids holding on the edge of the ocean pool!
my teenager spends most of his spare time in summer jumping of the rocks into waves with friends at our local beach and i love swimming in ocean pools when the waves are crashing over the side.so refreshing..
look forward to seeing the new furniture finds.
Sarah~ Always Fab! Great info passed onto us.Thanks! A Gal who likes her beer, Great minds do think alike.I always hear wine…..wine….wine but I have to say: I love a good Beer.I am a Beer kind of Gal and Berry Beers are the best.Enjoy~Kim
these pictures are jawdropping! so gorgeous. I am a blurker I will admit, but I do visit! often in fact. Thanks for the anthro tip and for all the inspiration you provide. There is so much to be inspired by here, that I often have to save your posts for when I can really focus. I like to soak in all the beach cottage goodness.
G'day! I'm Sarah, I live in a tatty old cottage, near the sea in Australia with a battered old deck & a big old fig tree out the back...stripped wooden floors, old sash windows & a jumble of vintage furniture. [Read More …]
Beach Cottage ladies, we have some vintage linen and some wood/twig washed up on the beach today here in Beach Cottage Land….don’t say I don’t keep you entertained now will you . Come on in. So, yep I have posted about colanders on this blog, about things sourced from the side of the road, about [...]
G'day ladies, let's have a Too Easy Beach Cottage recipe yeah? The original place for Too Easy Recipes on the web ;-)
So, after my last salad went down a storm in my inbox, that's here if you missed it, I had to do this one seeing as I make it most weeks.
There is a problem with this salad and kiddos though...it looks, well, it looks, kinda yucky...but once they try it, they'll ask if and when they are next having it....at least that's what happens in this ratty old cottage...but I must interject here that my kiddos are 'good eaters'? ...they didn't get a choice in that ;-)
Now, stop, don't start running and hitting that next on your blog reading list, pulses are your best friend in the Too Easy Dump & Go kitchen for the busy mum, or busy anyone for that matter...that reminds me I must blog the garlic canneloni Go To for when you forgot to do dinner, feel like a bath but have three ravenous young Beach Cottage Kiddos on your hands...another day.
I am almost embarrassed to tell you how easy this is, we have it so much that I always have a couple, make that six, cans of lentils around and a jar of goat's cheese in the fridge...the great thing about this is that it's all too easy to get ready in just a few minutes, but it looks, tastes and seems like you did oh so very much more than that.
You can obviously too change it up a bit depending on what you have to hand in your kitchen, and I must say that is how I settled on this version...because one day when I made it I didn't have enough Parsley in the garden and so I chucked in some basil too, and liked the Summer feel it added.
I think of this as being a rather posh salad, not sure why, because it couldn't really be further from the truth...the great thing is that it works so well for an average run of the mill day, (when I did this for this blog post, it was a hot Sydney Sunday and I did it just simply to go with Rosemary & Garlic stuffed pork, you can see that pork here),
...but just as easily it works on a regular old Wednesday night when you have lost all enthusiasm for rustling up yet another meal, or indeed on Saturday night, when your friends are on their way over for dinner and you my friend, are in your new vintage inspired clawfoot bathtub (that's me in a few weeks time, k?) without any clothes on, a tipple and no idea what to cook for dinner...
I have a complicated and ever-changing relationship with goat's cheese...it never fails me in its performance and it never fails to impress me (you can find out a bit more on what I like in food here if you like) and I kinda collect it...because it's very easy to collect and has a fairly long fridge-life, I love trying out different ones and there's not many things I love more than goat's cheese on sourdough...but I think the best thing about it is not thinking about it exclusively in the toast/salad department...I've stuffed it in chicken and all sorts of things as a last minute and it's been fab.
But let's get down to the nitty gritty of this super salad that makes you look like an angel who has been on her knees all day scrubbing the front step when really you are in the digital world and spent most of ...
G'day Beach Cottage ladies, howdy, howdy howdy today for a Beach Cottage Too Easy recipe.
If you like cake, cream, sugar and chocolate, make this.
This is, rather than a recipe, a putting it together...as you know I am no dessert maker, but, I do make quite a few sweet things, because, somehow I have ended up with kiddos, who in their roles as offspring, believe that part of the deal, is that not only do I feed them a home-cooked meal with a few homegrown ingredients in there, yes, they also believe that dessert and not the kind that comes out of a packet is included too in this All-Inclusive Deal they call Parenthood.
So, this, for sure, is no culinary masterpiece, but if you are looking for something that is so very easy, dump-able, uses everyday ingredients and at the same time makes you look like you spent hours pulling things together plus tastes good....well, then this is for you.
Best though, you don't make this for yourself, if you have spent the most part of your week sitting on your derriere reading blogs...this my friend ain't low in the calories department...if, however, you are treating yourself to a delight in a mason jar, this is so for you.
I first had a version of this when at dinner back in Old Blighty with a girl, I once, in another life, caught the train up from our village to London with...she was a funny thing really...I am not quite sure how we got on...she was kinda prissy and a bit bothered by too much...I would run to the train flustered, having got up late, and she would have a spreadsheet on the train times, if you know what I mean.
Anyway, a few years later when we both had bambinos, I bumped into her again and we met up for playdates and dinner sometimes....this particular night, after a lovely meal she served up little bowls of creamy, cakey fruity stuff topped off with chocolate flake...it was delicious!
She didn't serve hers in little jars like this, hers were in a champagne glass and not quite so layered as these ones, plus she used tinned fruit not fresh or frozen.
Years later when said offspring kept requesting dessert, one day I wangled together somehow these from what was around in the fridge and they've been with us ever since.
Most likely, if you ever come here for dinner, and shock horror, you dont' bring the dessert with you, this, if you are lucky, will be what you will get.
Throw it all together, sprinkle a lil bit of chocolate on the top and the blog reading past-time you so rudely left in order to make this, is my friend, your oyster.
Beach Cottage Too Easy Layered Raspberry, Cream & Sponge Dessert
1 small maderia or butter cake or a pack of cupcakes (or of course make your own)
1/2 cup whipping cream
1/2 cup cream cheese
1/4 cup sugar
8 tbsp fruit
1 x chocolate Flake or chocolate bar for grating
1. beat the cream cheese until it is soft
2. whip the cream until soft peaks form
3. combine & add the sugar through
4. cut your cake into portions
& layer into the bottom of your jar
5. add a tablespoon of fruit
6. layer on top the cream combo
7. repeat
8. grate chocolate or Flake on top
*Beach Cottage Recipe Notes : this is just a guide really, you can use any cream that you have on hand...I have made this with clotted cream (don't even go there unless you want to seriously get these babies on your thighs), with double cream and I have even, in desperate times squirted in that, ...
G'day Beach Cottage ladies, well I thought it was time for some blogging tips here today, alongside a few nice flowers and shells ;-)
I was recently part of a blogger discussion group over at Kidspot and a couple of hours later had a few questions from girls who couldn't make it to the live chat, one was on my Facebook page and one via email, the Facebook one I will deal with in another Real Girl Blogging Tips post...the email one asked me what essentials do I think every blog needs?
Well I have been around here for a while now doing the blogging thing, so I should know this, yeah and I mused this on my walk by the sea this morning I thought well what do you only need?
...I think it is really very easy when blogging, whether or not you are blogging up there in the lofty heights of the Super Bloggers or you are just dipping your toe in the water, to get side-tracked by 101 million different things that are 'essential' to your blog and if you are someone like me who actually gets a thrill from reading blogging tips then you are in an even worse place because you will find yourself literally buzzing with these essential things to add/do/implement on your blog.
However, walking along, gulping down that brisk sea air today (no sunshine & clouds) I thought you actually don't need any of that professional blogging stuff to be successful...but there are a few things that are pretty much crucial ...and once I started to think about it I got it down to about 5 - these are the only things that you need to concentrate on...once you have read through take a look at some of the big girl's blogs...you'll see that actually they don't have bundles of stuff on their blogs...but they do have all of these...
So here are my top things that your blog must have
1. About Page
There are all sorts of About Pages out there, and if you search on it there are many different tips and ideas for what to have on yours
Whatever blogging platform you use, adding an About Me Page is easy, quick and simple and will do everything to grow your blog.
I like a long-ish About Page, I am inherently nosy and I like to know a bit more about the person but at the least you should have on it your name and where you are located. I also think a photo is good too...over the last year or so I think this has become more important in blogging - if you are hesitant about that as I was, you can try using sunglasses or a behind shot until you get comfortable.
There is nothing worse than stumbling upon a new blog and going to find out more to only be faced with a piddly little one liner About Me Page...well there is something worse, not having one at all!
2. Contact Page
The chances are someone, somewhere will want to contact you and you will be surprised what lands in your inbox once you put yourself out there on the world wide web with a blog.
Many bloggers also use this page to include details for PR's/brands that may want to contact them and some bloggers put their stats on there too.
A short, to the point and simple Contact Page works really well...whenever I have wanted to contact another blogger I am often very busy and have limited time so I don't want to hang around sifting through information looking for an email address, so concise and clear ...
G'day lovely Beach Cottage lovelies.
So, yeah, so on a roll people, so on a roll.
I feel kinda home accessory wired right now.
I am always telling people, if anyone ever listens, that blogging is all about passion, not that sort of passion, but about passion that makes one tick.
Things like this make me tick tick boom.
I love finding things that suit my budget and let me treat my home but look amazing too.
So without further adieu I introduce you, ladies of the beach, to the blue vintage glasses that I have been stroking for about a week or two now...
These glasses are from a little boutique I sometimes happen upon, this boutique sells also pet accessories, carpet cleaner, bras and compost...it's quite unique though.
And, thanks to my friend Marnie (she blogs over here, go take a look at her praying position, interesting), who just so happens to be one day having me over for a lil' Greek dinner, has let me in on the fact that we call Kmart....The KMart...with an accent ....as in 'I love The KMart'...just like her MIL does. Oh yeah. Love that.
So I have had my eye on reproduction vintage glass blue wine glasses and being trying to find real true vintage blue glasses for like ever.
Oh yes I have spied them in Frenchy boutiques, I have lusted after them in stores that I shouldn't even enter and I have put them back pretty quickly in those shops with the hand-written price tags. C'mon, you know the ones.
And, though all of the above have tempted me, muchly, really, even with my wardrobe stashing skills I just thought that, actually, I'd rather be saving that casherooni for our next trip overseas..
Hello The KMart.
Tick Tick Boom
Vintage style blue wine glasses.
Do not come to my old place and think you might pick up one of these and smile with pleasure at their handblown quality, their weight, and be secretly jealous that my wine glasses cost more than your car...friend, that would not happen...these do not feel like that...indeed these in a funny way reminded me of my baby girl, she was a tiny little thing, with stick legs, the tinsssssssiest ankles and wrists you ever did see, she slept sideways in her cot wedged in between rolled up blankets and would only settle attached to Mr Beach Cottage or I or a (dirty) pj top of mine scrunched up under her nose...the first few times I picked her up to cuddle, being used to Honeymoon Baby who weighed in at 9lbs at birth and has never really stopped growing, I nearly threw her little bird-cum-rat down covered body over my shoulder.
These glasses are like that...be careful or you might lose your wine down the front of your shirt.
But oh baby, we are not talking picking up here, we are not talking quality, we are not talking house accessory snobbery.
Beach Cottage ladies, we are talking aesthetics.
And this is what I need in my cottage.
Blue vintage style glass, paired with coastal / nautical / beach stuff on my deck.
It's The KMart.
Tune in tomorrow, tomorrow, I have more budget foofing for your home, or maybe it will be the dress that wraps me up in supermarket-chic and makes me feel like me again.
Good Day to you my friends, wanna come hang out on my deck, talk house accessories, The KMart and drink some wine from blue glasses?
Sarah
ahhhh…isn’t that southerly a blessing…..although it’s get a bit toooooo breezy here , but a lovely break from the heat of today……love your images…fabulous summer holidays !
Hi Sarah you seem to have survived the heat in true Aussie style:)I’m so pleased you are going with my salad, well truthfully it is a chain of restaurants in America called Bubba Gump’s salad. Don’t forget to add the toasted pecans. Bubba Gump use toasted walnuts but we prefer pecans.
I can’t wait to see your latest finds. Have a lovely night.
Looks like a perfekt day,
all the best from Germany,
Silke
Aloha,
really enjoyed you post…fabulous photos!!It is a wonderful blessing to be able to enjoy the ocean…I know I am ….
Aloha wished from across the sea
Brandi
Yet another great post Sarah, sounds like a perfect day in your neck of the woods.
Don’t you have any strawberry farms near you. We have a great one here on the Mornington Peninsula called Sunny Ridge they have the sweetest most yummy strawberries. If you ever come down to Victoria be sure to check them out.
Alison
Gorgeous photos Sarah, although does sound a little too hot…
Dinner has certainly whetted my appetite, I’m sure everyone would have really enjoyed it.
Looking forward to hearing about your latest scores!
Hi Sarah, It’s been a scorcher here as well, but I love it, and a swim here and there to break the heat up worked a treat! Our ‘breeze’ over here on the WA coast is a south/westerly and blows like the clappers! It’s super refreshing after one of our 40+’s. Your dinner sounds delish…. you made me hungry!!
Hello Miss Sarah !
Looking soooo forward to beach days myself…
We’re supposed to get into the 80′s tomorrow…I really need some warm weather to lift my spirits these days…
Oh…how I love the beach, the colors are so brilliant! Doesn’t sound like you have central air, so I am glad that the cool winds are blowing your way.
The beach looks so inviting, too bad it was so hot you couldn’t go!
Congrats to both the winners and thanks for the inside scoop on how Anthro discounts! With this new knowledge I may just be able to arm wrestle the gold medal from you!
I hope you have a lovely dinner, and strawberries are always yummy with spinach and feta! Try mandarin oranges sometimes too, also very yummy!
Kat
Wow Sarah! Those images just wants me to make a living on the shore… amazing!
What a wonderful day, I love storms in the summer. Good luck with your salad. Sounds like a lovely supper.
I love your beach photos.
Your dinner sounds divine! I love salads. A couple of years ago I had a salad with strawberries from this little coffee/sandwich shop called Panera Bread, and it was quite yummy.
Just found your lovely blog…so so fun. This post reminds me of our Summer at long beach{Canada}…I am craving those moments back. Off to see what I have been missing by reading some past posts. xo
Oh lucky one to win an Anthro gift …see I missed that too..shucks.
Severe weather warning here is Southern California has meant torrential rainfall, flooding, mudslides, and even tornado warnings! Not what most people think of when they think of this part of the world. It’s an El Nino year and after years of very little rain we will get slammed this season. Wishing I was there in Australia!
Hi Sarah, weren’t those seas wild? That southerly was very welcome. I think the big strawberries that are sold nowadays are nothing like the smaller ones, however, we found wonderfully sweet strawberries last time we were in Queensland.
Hi Sarah! I finally started my blog and I’m still getting used to it!
I just loved your pictures….they can make my day just by looking at them, specialy because where I live now is quite cold!!!!
I have a few projects to finish, but soon they be there on my blog.
Hope to hear from you soon and enjoy the weather!
Love, Lidice
Spinach, strawberries and feta? Wow! Sounds great! and while I don;t live ON the beach, I am just 4 miles away her in Naples, Florida, so maybe a sunset walk is in order! Enjoy!
Right, thank you, dear Sarah for making me browse some crazy website and wanting a bunch of deliriously hot mugs while shipping them to my village would cost 40 stupid euros. Good job, keep writing!
Your photos of the beach swept me away to another place…thanks for sharing them!
Sounds like you have got this summer living sorted with a strawberry and spinach salad for dinner, along with the long awaited cold beer, what could be finer on a warm summer evening.
great photos.. i really like the one with the 3 kids holding on the edge of the ocean pool!
my teenager spends most of his spare time in summer jumping of the rocks into waves with friends at our local beach and i love swimming in ocean pools when the waves are crashing over the side.so refreshing..
look forward to seeing the new furniture finds.
Hmm, let’s see, if you are the master of stalking then I may well be the master in training. Oh boo~ The link to my blog goes right back to your blog.
Love the pics! Thanks for sharing. I would love to visit an Australian coastline one day. Keep up the entertaining blogs.
Bella
Hello Sarah,
oh the hot beach days. Lovely crisp salty hair and paper drum tight skin!
Does anthroplogie have an Australian website??
Sarah~ Always Fab! Great info passed onto us.Thanks! A Gal who likes her beer, Great minds do think alike.I always hear wine…..wine….wine but I have to say: I love a good Beer.I am a Beer kind of Gal and Berry Beers are the best.Enjoy~Kim
these pictures are jawdropping! so gorgeous. I am a blurker I will admit, but I do visit! often in fact. Thanks for the anthro tip and for all the inspiration you provide. There is so much to be inspired by here, that I often have to save your posts for when I can really focus. I like to soak in all the beach cottage goodness.
Dinner sounds divine.
Are we not in the lucky country?? How perfect are our beaches!!
Stay cool sweetpea.
Hugs ~ Kerryanne