Summer Holidays....

I Love ...

Christmas - New Year Summer Holidays -

Often best spent at the beach...

Here's a few pics of my little slice of heaven [two people included!].

Where's your fave summer holiday spot?

Enjoy,

 

images via Sarah Verity - Verandah Home & Garden Living Solutions

enjoying summer time...

Blood Orange Cosmopolitan - Cocktail
Ingredients - 45ml vodka |15ml Cointreau |10ml fresh lime juice
2 drops bitters| 30ml cranberry juice| 30ml 'Schweppes Agrum Collection' Blood Orange -
Or - use 2 Juiced Fresh Blood Ornageswith 30mls Tonic water

Method - Add all ingredients into a Boston glass

Add ice, shake and strain into a cocktail glass
Top with Schweppes Agrum Blood Orange

Garnish with Burnt orange zest

Couldn't think of any better ways through these delicious fresh and opalescent blood orange, strawberry, lime colours to celebrate summer [here in 'Oz'] . I have included a couple of little favourite recipes of mine... Here in Australia - we say Cheers!

Cheers to Summer!

Enjoy,

Sarah x

Guava Margaritas

Ingredients - 1 3/4 cups freshly squeezed lime juice, plus wedges for serving

2 3/4 cups [your favourite] tequila |1 1/3 cups Grand Marnier

2 3/4 cups guava puree | Coarse salt, for rims

Directions - Stir together lime juice, tequila, Grand Marnier, and guava puree in a large pitcher;

stir to combine. Refrigerate until chilled.

                                 Just before serving, rub a cut lime around the rim of each glass. Fill a saucer with

salt, and dip each glass, upside down, into the salt. Pour margaritas into glasses, garnish with

 lime wedges, and serve immediately.

images via crush cul de sac, pretty stuff, miss wallflower, diet coke and smoke

Palatial House Snoop... Beachside Hinterland.

There aren't too many homes that are featured on Palatial Living's House Snoop that I wouldn't want to live in - gosh they are all stunning in their own way, and often when we look for a home they are not only aesthetic drivers such as style, finishes, colours and overall look but we also fit for purpose - is it spacious enough, can we grow in it and with it, is it a great location?

This home featured this week on Palatial Living's House Snoop - has some many of these checked boxes it's hard not to want to keep the floor plans and put it into the 'dream home' folder, well in fact with this home I did just that - I thought the overall space & style  [Australian coastal meets Hampton's style] was phenomenally perfect - for me! I always keep a little folder of images with colours, floor plans and ideas so that one day when I have that 'forever home' to renovate or build I can revisit the folder and see what I still love and what might still be applicable.

Take a little look at this home located in Sydney's Central Coast suburb of Avoca Beach, perched in the hinterland of the beach - the surrounding lush hillside and is approx. 1 1/2hr drive from Sydney [in good traffic!] but I think once you snoop around you'll understand why it would be worth a commute or being able to telecommute and work from home when possible!

Enjoy,

Agent's Blurb... McGrath Real Estate.

A Brand New 750m2 Home on 1894m2 of North Facing Land

Upon inspection you may find yourself overwhelmed by the sheer size and beauty of this gorgeous and secluded Avoca Beach residence. The proportions are as functional as they are generous; the finishes, top shelf and there's just that little bit left for you to personalise the home to suit your own taste. This is a surprising home - for all the right reasons.

- Enormous bedrooms with walk-in robes; large,well appointed bathrooms

- Dream kitchen with walk in pantry, island bench; top of the line appliances

- Spacious undercover entertaining deck flowing from the kitchen and lliving

- Separate music and rumpus room; study that could be another bedroom

- 12 foot ceilings; massive storage plus 30,000L of water harvesting in addition to mains
Property ID: 2008852263

images via domain.com.au - agent mcgrath.com.au



Mid-Week House Snoop...A Real Fave Spot!

This would have to be one of the most coveted spots & homes on Sydney's Northern Beaches - Pittwater - located on [Palatial] Delecta Avenue, Clareville [Beach]. I just adore this street where the majority of the homes back directly onto Clareville beach and are a short walk to a picnic & bbq facilities. On weekends the kids often exciting splash & swim up to the Water Kiosk Cafe Boat that sails into the beach selling coffee, drinks & ice creams etc. I just love this house, the style, the colouring, the position - the list goes on... And should that money tree decide to sprout a few leaves in my yard I would be calling the agent and moving people right now!

AGENT'S BLURB.... CLAREVILLE NSW - 18 Delecta Avenue
An absolute beachfront location on the sands of Clareville Beach. This exquisite and unique architect designed all seasons beach house is a relaxed haven that leaves nothing to the imagination in the quest for luxurious living and effortless entertaining.
Magnificent Pittwater vistas stretch north to Lion Island
A showcase of understated elegance, style and sophistication
Peacefully placed in the area's premier beachside cul-de-sac
Nestled on 609sqm expertly manicured level gardens
Expansive living and dining spaces warmed by an open fire
Seamless flow to a vast covered beachside entertainers' deck
Two living spaces on the upper level plus deck with views
Timber kitchen with European appliances, stylish bathrooms
Wide hallways, high ceilings, styled in relaxed beach-themes
Double lock-up garage, timber flooring, plantation shutters

Images from McGrath Real Estate - Northern Beaches Listing

Happy Australia Day!

Happy Australia Day!

Hope you have a wonderful day, whether your an Aussie on national soil, or abroad across the seas, or in our wonderful country travelling & visiting - have a fun time over our National holiday! Advance Australia Fair! Enjoy x

Images from Mark Newling

15 Festive Wreaths for Friday!

It's Friday, the weekend is upon us & not 2 weeks from now many of us will be putting our feet up, or chowing down on our Christmas Day lunch & dinner with Family & Friends... Wow the next fortnight will really go quickly!!

I found this fab image to share with you... What a wonderful way to show your Christmas Spirit by creating the 'green' wreath wall, show you don't have jut pop a wreath on your door alone!! You could achieve this look with either live potted plants that are in nestled in stag moss/ peat in a wreath shape - and water them daily to keep moist, or try an artificial variety and purchase faux ivy or box hedge style wreaths.

As you can see here, there's no need for further decoration you can keep it stylish & simple and create the look by putting the wreaths in a gird or shape formation. If you wanted to decorate you could try using just 1 or 2 styles and colours of bauble, or a flower (artificial or real), or why not try a beach theme using some shells, [dried] starfish, or small glittered driftwood pieces. Not forgetting the bush & country you could also bring in some native gum nuts or seeds to add texture... This look could also be a great alternative to a tree if you don't have the space!

What Christmas inspired artwork will you come up with??

Hope you have a wonderful weekend & have a chance to get all your Christmas decorations & shopping done before the chaos catches up! Take care & thank you for visiting Palatial Living this week. Enjoy - S x

Image from My House Ideas

It's Friday & The Weekend Is Here...Take Me to the Beach!

It's Friday - Hope you have a wonderful weekend... It's very, very hot here in Sydney reaching up to 39 degrees Celsius (that's 102.2 F for our friends in the U.S) so Friday Flowers & Fruit may be a little wilted today! So I'm thinking that going to the beach, or getting poolside, or hitting the cool air of the movies will be high on the agenda this weekend! Hope your visits to Palatial Living were inspiring this week - Thank You for stopping by! Have a fun & colourful weekend... Enjoy x S.

Image from Vi.sualize.us - What Anna Loves

Happy Friday - Off to the Beach...

This evening we're off to the beach, to Bilgola on Sydney's Northern Beaches,

to our best friend's place for dinner to celebrate their little girl, Siena's, 2nd birthday & an early Christmas together. And in the spirit of Christmas & their gorgeous beach side location I thought this Shell Wreath image was perfect - not to mention my obsession with Christmas Wreaths!

Happy Friday & Happy Weekend! xxx

Image Courtesy of Coastal Living