What's in your trolley?

Well it's been a horrid weekend over here - all four of the boys have come down with the flu, and to top it off, hubby has contracted "man flu"- which is apparently much worse than any flu I ever get! His usual request for chicken soup was granted, but first I had to go to the supermarket to grab some ingredients.

I don't know about you but while I'm out doing the groceries, I always seem to be checking out what's in other people's trolleys. Maybe it's because I am genuinely interested to see what other people are eating, but in reality I think it's because I am a food Nazi (which my children will either love or hate me for when they get older.)

My trolley is generally packed with heaps of fresh produce. However everyone else's seems to be loaded with packets of processed or convenience foods, soft drinks, chips, etc, etc and it really disgusts me. You see, I have this thing about food additives (particularly the really nasty ones). I am forever reading labels to see what is actually in a certain item, and when I'm unsure of something, I have an App on my iphone which tells me if an additive is safe to consume. I once saw a woman putting a certain popular brand of peanut butter into her trolley (a brand that contains a chemical that is a known carcinogenic), and I had to stop myself from saying to her "Don't buy that!" But I figured it was none of my business, so I continued on my way. But maybe she didn't know. Maybe she doesn't read the list of ingredients the same way I do.

Is it just me? Am I the only one that reads labels or cares about what my family are actually eating?

Proud as punch

Can you believe there's only 6 weeks left until Spring?

I know it's still a little cold to be contemplating BBQ's and outdoor dining however I came across this beautiful beverage dispenser from Dunlin Home and that's exactly what sprung to mind. How cute is this?

Montauk Beverage Dispenser

I can just picture it - balmy summer evenings, kicking back on the verandah with some old friends and this urn filled with all my favourite flavours: lime and mint and not to mention, a good glug of vodka! Oh, I'm in heaven just thinking about it...

These one's are also available from the same store.

Antibes Glass Beverage Dispenser

Rivington Glass & Steel Beverage Dispinser

Roll on summer.....

Kitchen Stools

I'm not really one for sitting at a breakfast bar, but in saying that I spent almost 12 months eating my meals whilst standing at a kitchen bench in a kitchen which was the size of a postage stamp. We were renting a house -  there was no room for a dining table, pantry non-existent and wardrobes, what wardrobes? (Lesson - never let a man choose a rental property. They tend to overlook these important minor details.) Did I forget to mention I was pregnant at the time?

Anyway, we will have a breakfast bar at the new house and I suspect it will be used on a daily basis, particularly by the kids. So I've been searching high and low for some nice stools and here are a few options I've found.

This bar stool, designed by Erik Buch, comes in a variety of different upholstery colours.

Erik Buch Bar Stool

Then there's these angle leg timber stools from Mark Tuckey which also come in a variety of different colours.

Angle leg, tall and short

But I personally like this one:

These wicker stools are from also from Mark Tuckey. But as the kids will be using them, I don't think they would be very practical (my children are messy eaters!)

Wicker, white and natural

These ones feature on the latest cover of Houses Kitchens & Bathrooms, but unfortunately I have no idea where they are sourced from - if anyone knows, can you please tell me. 

UPDATE:  OK I finally found them, phew. The Steelwood Stool is by French design team Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec.

Steelwood Stool

I really like these beautiful birch stools (in natural or stained black) with built-in backrests:

Artek Alvar Aalto K65 - low back stool

But I think my personal favourite is this one:

Artek Alvar Aalto 64 - kitchen/bar stool

Can you believe this stool was designed back in 1933, which is about the same time our house was built. And it still looks great today... (the stool, not the house.)

Antiques - Vintage - Retro

Next time you're stuck for something to do, how about going for a drive to Eumundi - on a non-market day. Yes, there are still things to see and do in this quaint little town - without battling the crowds on a Saturday morning. Gourmet eateries, art galleries, craft shops and historical pubs line the wide main street, so there's a little something for everyone.

Dick Caplick Park, situated right in the middle of town, is a great place for a picnic underneath the towering heritage-listed fig trees and is a great place for the kids to play.

Berkelouw Books has a fantastic range of both new and secondhand books, and the cafe next door makes the best coffee and muffins in town.

But my favourite shop is Continuum, where they sell a great range of genuine antiques, vintage and retro pieces at reasonable prices. Doug and Debra travel to France and England twice a year to source a wide range of beautiful and affordable pieces and their latest shipment has just arrived from Europe. Just check out some of what's on offer:

Chinese Shipwreck Salvage Plate c1728

Tales from Shakespeare c1915

English Boxed Set of Tea Knives c1930

French Hermes Scarf Advertisement c1955

Victorian Cake Stand c1860

French Art Deco Bracelet c1920

French Pale Blue Enamel Bucket c1920

Chinese Ginger Jar c1800

But it you can't make the trip to Eumundi it's OK, as they have just started up their on-line store. Visit them at www.chequeredpastantiquevintageretro.com to view their latest items. Debra also has a blog going here. They have quite an extensive range of products and new stock is added each week. Enjoy shopping!

Australian House Renovation Blogs

Where are they all, and why can't I find them? I'm still on my blogging "L-plates" so perhaps I'm not looking in the right places.

I'm particularly interested in blogs about renovations to Queenslanders. Thanks to Anita from Fun and VJs I've managed to link up with Mel from Bungalow Bliss and Amber from Spots and Stripes, but surely there are more out there.

I seriously love seeing what other people are doing out there, and I'm always on the hunt for first hand accounts, inspiration and new ideas. So please if you have a house reno blog, or know where I can find one, let me know about it.