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Coffee. Is there anything you can't do?
I've tried to give up coffee many times. That hour is always so miserable.
Sure, when disconnected from my life source my skin would make Cate Blanchett jealous, I look ten years younger and have more energy than a 2 year old on red cordial. But these are trifling sacrifices when compared to the simple joy of that first sip of Joe.
When Mr. K moved to East St Kilda, we had high hopes for the too-cool-for-school Carlisle Street cafes. But my frustration at requesting flat whites and consistently receiving half a cup of foam steadily grew until I stomped home and dragged the dust-coated espresso machine from its corner, muttering about free-pouring baristas impressing no-one and definitions of 'flat'.
Finally, after enduring weeks of supermarket brands, the coffee gods took pity on us and we discovered the Coffee Company.
As you'd expect, the Coffee Company sources beans from all over the coffee-growing world. I just had to try the Yemen Mokha Ismaeli because... well, it's from Yemen. Bugger carbon footprints; sometimes I just want to close my eyes and pretend I'm somewhere exotic for a few minutes on a Saturday morning (Mr. K is so going to use that against me next time I start lecturing him about being green...)
If you can't choose, do what we did and get 100g of the varieties with the most appealing names and descriptions, then scamper home like junkies who've just scored and spend the afternoon sampling them all. Then spend the rest of the night too wired to sleep.
Or you could start with Cafe Bar, our favourite so far. I've converted my sister and, after a frantic caffeine-deprived text from her this morning, I'm off to buy some for her right now.
For non-Melbournites and international readers, they also sell online.
The Coffee Company
260 Carlisle Street
Balaclava VIC 3183
www.coffeecompany.com.au
xx Kiki
Retro Dessert. Who Is Kiki? Part II. Manicure 2.0.
Weekends are wonderful. Not least because Mr K makes me coffee. I don't make coffee. I am the world's worst barista. My last effort would have made coffee Big M taste like triple espresso.
Long weekends are even better because it means I get coffee for three days instead of two. This was my breakfast on Sunday and Monday. I call it my Overweight American Cop Breakfast.
Don't worry about my arteries. These donuts were purchased when I stampeded to the supermarket during a blood sugar dip. A lapse in judgement that has been duly noted.
Don't you love the 'addicted' mugs? So true. So unapologetic.
I may be a carp* coffee maker, but apparently I do good dessert. For dinner at Mr K's parents place last night, I was fashionably vintage with a truly 70s trifle. Check out my totally authentic floral motif made with tinned peaches.
Do you know that a trifle has no natural ingredients at all? Every single one is processed. Nup, I don't care either.
Who is Kiki? Part II
I'm not really keen on posting pictures of myself on the Internet. I've heard of people commenting on bloggers sites, saying Mean things like 'You're ugly/have fat legs/are in love with yourself...' and other equally life affirming opinions they felt compelled to share. Of course, those beautiful sentiments can be easily deleted but I try to limit my exposure to noxious people, so the photos I share of myself will be mostly anonymous for now. Maybe I'll get braver in time.
First off, apologies for the rats nest masquerading as my hair. That's what happens when beauty takes a back seat to a speeding fine and car rego renewal that arrive in the same week.
To dinner last night I wore a dress I bought from Jetty Surf, of all places on earth, when it caught my eye walking past. I'm in love with ruffles and this dress has them on the front and back.
The clear cut glass necklace is from my favourite boutique in Carlisle St, Balaclava - e(L)iana Design. Melbourne girls should definitely pay a visit. The silver leather will-not-die-after-3-summers thongs are Witchery faithfuls. They are my Israelites Wandering in the Wilderness sandals. Naturally, you're dying to know what's on my nails, right? I know I lie awake at night deciding what to wear next... Well, I decided to amp up my existing mani (see previous post) with a couple of coats of Ulta3's Crazy. So this is the jellies all you Vogue girls have been talking about! Instant infatuation. It's completely Russia-behind-the-Iron-Curtain-stuck-in-the-80s and I love it!
xx Kiki
* Not a typo. Credited to LowSelfEsteem on VF - thanks for making me laugh out loud with that, hon! :)
The Colours of Summer
Don't vegetables taste one billion times better in summer? I cooked this last night, one of my favourite meals. Doesn't it look healthy? I feel so balanced every time I make it. The corn, carrots and asparagus were so sweet and tender. I keep telling myself I should only eat food in season, and this is why.
I also try to put as many colours on my plate as possible. Apparently different coloured vegetables and fruits contain unique nutrients, so our bodies get a wider variety of health benefits the more colours we consume.
The marinated lamb is about the size of my palm, also apparently the adequate size for our protein needs. I'm not clever enough to marinate it myself - I am loyal to one butcher at the South Melbourne Market based on this amazing marinated lamb alone.
More importantly, though, what's on my nails?
As summer in Melbourne starts to slowly fade, I decided to crack out one of my brightest orange nailpolishes to make the most of summer colours while I can. Check out this exact dupe of OPIs Atomic Orange. I'm not kidding, Modelista's On Location - Hawaii is completely indistinguishable. I know because I bought this when I was wearing Atomic Orange.
Not for wallflowers - this is definitely a head turning colour. I'm loving it on my tips and toes. I may even leave it on for more than a day.
My Sister and the Family Gift
Opshopping (or thrift/goodwill shopping for my international readers) is in my family's blood. My grandmother was The Original opshopper, back when they were dim, dusty and slightly smelly stores run by little old ladies who thought they were ripping you off if they asked 20c for a tshirt.
How times have changed.
But there are still bargains to be found, particularly if you are lucky enough to have The Eye. My grandmother had The Eye. My sister inherited it. I think the Family Gift may have passed me by, but I do my best.
Look what my sister's Eye found when we were opshopping the other day.
I bet you're looking at that and wrinkling your nose, thinking "Poor Kiki. She has no taste." Me too. But that's because we don't have The Eye.
When my sister brought it up to me and said, "You really should get this and put a plant in it", I tried to smile benignly while thinking, "Bronze and blue? Hello 1974."
She kept telling me how great it would look with a Peace Lily or "One of those plants with bronze underneath the leaves", so when she told me it was only $3.99, it was easier to buy it than let her think I thought her taste was... wanting. Well, behold the transformation with the Calathea I bought for it yesterday! That's the power of The Eye, I tell you. I weep for my genetic deficiency.
How beautiful are Calatheas? That is purple underneath those leaves - I would love a nailpolish in that colour. But best of all, the leaves on this crazy plant are shiny on top and fuzzy underneath. Just delightful!
xx Kiki
To market, to market
Melbourne has alot of markets but I think the South Melbourne market surpasses them all in terms of atmosphere, cleanliness and quality of stalls enticing you to part with your money. I always find the atmosphere fills me with a sense of childish excitement and eagerness to have a look at everything!
Markets always bring out my inner Parisienne and I just have to buy flowers and pretend I'm in Paris, wandering the aisles and stalls soaking up the buzz of market day with a bunch of blooms tucked in my elbow. It's quite tragic.
Today I bought Snap Dragons and vegetables. What do you think of my food styling? I know, I missed my calling.
See that orange shopping bag? It is the most wonderful enviro bag I have ever used.
They're hand made by a woman in Melbourne from super stretchy mesh and defy belief in the amount of weight they can hold. I have one in hot pink and vibrant orange and if I had $1 for every time a sales assistant said, "I love your bag!" I'd be raking it in. I really should become a rep.
They come in a huge range of colours and sizes and squish down to a tiny ball to fit in any pocket or handbag. You really should buy one at www.econetbags.com
Today I bought Snap Dragons and vegetables. What do you think of my food styling? I know, I missed my calling.
See that orange shopping bag? It is the most wonderful enviro bag I have ever used.
They're hand made by a woman in Melbourne from super stretchy mesh and defy belief in the amount of weight they can hold. I have one in hot pink and vibrant orange and if I had $1 for every time a sales assistant said, "I love your bag!" I'd be raking it in. I really should become a rep.
They come in a huge range of colours and sizes and squish down to a tiny ball to fit in any pocket or handbag. You really should buy one at www.econetbags.com Snap dragons are excessively pretty but I won't be buying them again. This is about half the blooms I bought. All the heads fell off when I unwrapped the bunch. Don't you hate it when flowers do that?
I always strip all the leaves off the stalks so the water doesn't go moldy and stinky. There's nothing worse than the look or whiff of slimy, submerged leaves spoiling the beauty of the flowers.
Next time, roses.
xx Kiki
Three little piccolos all in a row...
What's a girl who loves to drink sparkling wine for no reason to do when she's dating someone who only drinks reds? Luckily, it seems I'm not the only person who faces the quandary of wasting half a bottle. Or not and getting wasted themselves.
I found the perfect way to indulge my preference for sparkles over tannins with the gorgeous little piccolo.
I know they're not new, that they enjoyed a brief moment as the height of fashionable party beverages a couple of years ago, but the Henkell Trocken piccolos only made themselves onto my list of pantry staples when Aldi began periodically stocking a 3-pack for the pleasing price of $9.99. I always stock up when I see them and keep a few in the cupboard and at least one pack in the fridge.
Tonight, however, I do have a reason to drink a celebratory glass. I now have readers in America, Italy, Malaysia and the Netherlands. So to you guys I raise my glass, thank you for dropping by and say Hi, Ciao, Halo and Hoi. Hope to see you again!
xx Kiki
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