Sunshine and celebrations

I went to the baby shower of a friend and colleague of mine over the weekend. It was a lovely afternoon sharing stories about children and childhood and wishing the expecting parents all the best.

While I could easily write a whole post about what a lovely event it was to attend, leavethegrindbehind is about small pleasures that everyone can enjoy, so I decided to focus on something we can all relate to – clothing.

I love retail shopping but I also get a thrill from finding gems in op-shops and rediscovering long-lost pieces in the back of my wardrobe.

So with the sun shining and the warmth giving us a glimpse of the summer to come, I decided it was the perfect time to rediscover some of my colourful summer dresses. A cardigan, scarf and skin-coloured stockings were certainly essential add-ons but it was nice to veer away from the winter dark shades and wear bright cheerful pieces, especially for such an occasion.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The glowing mum-to-be also had her own take on the topic, having found it difficult to adjust her existing wardrobe to her growing baby belly. Second-hand and op-shopping is fantastic for maternity wear, especially when the select specialist shops have extravagant price tags for something you might only wear for 6 months of your life.

Buying larger sized skirts from op-shops to accommodate the bump but not liking how the hanging fabric looked, R gathered the extra fabric and pinned it in place with a brooch – making a feature out of both the gorgeous baby bump and the brooch!

A lovely winter’s morning

“Rain, hail…or 40 degree temperature”

It may be the motto of the Mt Claremont Farmers Market but I picked a beautiful sunny winter’s morning to walk down and explore.

Situated in the grounds of the Mt Claremont Primary School and held every Saturday morning, the markets are a bustling hub where the local community seem to swarm.

Picking a bunch of flowers to brighten the home, getting a bratwurst or perhaps something from the boulangerie, listening to live local music over a cup of coffee, or taste-testing delicious jams and spreads – whatever it may be, it seems the market is a perfect way to make the chore of grocery shopping very, very enjoyable.

Soon after buying an indulgent breakfast of an apricot danish from the La Galette de France stall, my basket was quickly filled with fresh produce and beautiful flowers. Radishes, baby carrots, green beans, rainbow silverbeet, cabbage flowers and a bouquet of silver dollar gum leaves – and I was one happy shopper!

The market is a perfect way to start the weekend – wandering down to experience the sense of community, then coming home and being inspired to cook a lovely meal. For me, this came in the form of a delicious vegetable terrine, which I will share with you soon.

Have a lovely weekend ahead everyone!

Visit the Mt Claremont Farmers Market website.

Eating the vegetable terrine while admiring the cabbage flowers and eucalyptus cinerea leaves