#modernmumblog

[lifeinthedollhouseblog-blog]

Uber Etsy...

One thing I love about Etsy is finding individual, independent products! Here are just a few uber cool products available on Etsy right now

[lifeinthedollhouseblog-blog]

Let me be Frank Cafe - South Melbourne Commons

This is by far one of my favourite cafes in all of Melbourne.  Why? It has everything you need for brekkie on the weekend.

Let me be Frank is at South Melbourne Commons which in itself is a little gem with a little market, venue hire, children's classes (great facilities - NOT naff!) and a big old room that is used for a cafe. The cafe has the biggest table you have ever seen to hang out with friends and fam. I recently had my birthday there with about 30 people coming and going. Food...food is tasty, fresh and has a South American flair to it. If by chance you feel like eggs benedict, which is standard for me and my bff, the guys are always happy to cater. There are also big old couches, a children's corner and books everywhere which you can read at your leisure. Coffee = excellent! Oh, I nearly forgot to mentioned...my sister-in-law said the gluten free bread was one of the best she has tried!

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The vending machine said ‘Can I take your order?’…huh.

One of my most remembered trips ever was our visit to Japan. If you have ever seen ‘Lost in Translation’ with Scarlett Johanson and Bill Murray it seriously is a place of neon lights, fashion, gadgets and huge originality.

You can find clean vending machines on every corner with fresh sandwiches, drinks, beers and sushi. There are thousands of restaurants and small cafés with vending machines for waitresses. You walk in, find the machine, locate your meal by picture and pay, sit down and your fresh food is served within minutes. Don’t let this mislead you into thinking the food is anything but quality either! As good as you would find in any place in Melbourne or London. There are manners everywhere you go. Service is something the Japanese do with serious style and respect. Whether it’s girls handing out free tissues to promote products or hundreds, and I mean everyone, waiting at Shibuya crossing for the green gumby to come on before crossing the road!

We were privileged enough to visit Hiroshima for obvious reasons. A definite must whilst in Japan. One night we went out for dinner we stumbled across a V cool teppanyaki bar which was 4 secret levels up – lots of places are in Japan so you have to go with your gut feeling of ‘feeling easy breezy’. Upstairs was a tucked away bar where we drank plum wine (try it if you haven’t!!!!!!), ordered with smiles and sign language and made friends with two young uni grads. Both parties could only speak a few words of the other language but we laughed and chatted for hours on end! Forgot to mention as well I made my entrance into the small, busy restaurant by exiting the lift, tripping up a small step into the main room and sliding across the floor with a big thud. I ripped my dress and was helped up by a number of generous people. Embarrassing but memorable!

Oh yes – when we were in Kyoto I caught a glimpse through a restaurant window of a beautiful and graceful geisha. Dressed in yellow, pale faced, she looked right back at me ♥

Put Japan on your list of places to visit!

[lifeinthedollhouseblog-blog]

Runway 1 :: Melbourne Spring Fashion Week…and friends!

Last night I was more than pleased to hang out with one of my oldest and truest friends, Leafy. Friends for 10 years and have now seen each other through to the other side of becoming a mama we were more than happy to revisit two of our favourite things – Fashion and Food! Spring Fashion Week is at Melbourne Town Hall from 31 Aug – 8 Sep. A great prelude to Spring Racing Carnival which of course us girls will make it along to. My fave of the night would have to be Aurelio Costarella. We started with dinner at Fed Square and after the show had a late coffee at Chocolate Buddha! Great night out…thanks Leafy ♥

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Melbourne Laneways…

If you have spent any time exploring Melbourne’s laneways you will know there are all sorts of hidden gems to find. As a Melburnian, I have been obsessed with going out for breakfast for as long as I can remember. One of the most frequented spots in the city is Degraves street across from Flinders street station. Summer or winter, it doesn’t matter. Heaters galore in winter keep you warm whilst catching up or umbrellas unfolded in the warmer months. It’s hard to find a place with a mediocre coffee!   

A short walk towards Swanston street you will find Cocker Alley which has Banksy’s ‘Little Diver’ – V cool! This is now a remnant of what it used to be however interesting and original street art is found all over the city.

China town – need I say more?! With family friendly restaurants open for yum cha (dim sum) to places that only serve dumplings, dumplings and more dumplings – I seriously don’t know anyone who doesn’t love these little parcels of flavour!

Endlessly you will find one off boutiques with funky one off designs. Shops can be as big as city apartment bathrooms, but with people who care what they are selling you are seriously destined to find something that you will see no other wearing. You will of course find those cafes that us locals love such as the Little Mule cafe which is a great place for the bike lover. With a bike shop that caters to the custom piece audience and a minimal design this cool cafe definitely has perfect coffee too.

Whether you are interested in a shoe design course (I did this some years ago), going out for a family brunch, high tea, flagship stores, luxury chocolate or simply a walk around the city this is a top recommendation ♥

[lifeinthedollhouseblog-blog]

Melbourne Laneways…

If you have spent any time exploring Melbourne’s laneways you will know there are all sorts of hidden gems to find. As a Melburnian, I have been obsessed with going out for breakfast for as long as I can remember. One of the most frequented spots in the city is Degraves street across from Flinders street station. Summer or winter, it doesn’t matter. Heaters galore in winter keep you warm whilst catching up or umbrellas unfolded in the warmer months. It’s hard to find a place with a mediocre coffee!   

A short walk towards Swanston street you will find Cocker Alley which has Banksy’s ‘Little Diver’ – V cool! This is now a remnant of what it used to be however interesting and original street art is found all over the city.

China town – need I say more?! With family friendly restaurants open for yum cha (dim sum) to places that only serve dumplings, dumplings and more dumplings – I seriously don’t know anyone who doesn’t love these little parcels of flavour!

Endlessly you will find one off boutiques with funky one off designs. Shops can be as big as city apartment bathrooms, but with people who care what they are selling you are seriously destined to find something that you will see no other wearing. You will of course find those cafes that us locals love such as the Little Mule cafe which is a great place for the bike lover. With a bike shop that caters to the custom piece audience and a minimal design this cool cafe definitely has perfect coffee too.

Whether you are interested in a shoe design course (I did this some years ago), going out for a family brunch, high tea, flagship stores, luxury chocolate or simply a walk around the city this is a top recommendation ♥

[lifeinthedollhouseblog-blog]

Melbourne Laneways…

If you have spent any time exploring Melbourne’s laneways you will know there are all sorts of hidden gems to find. As a Melburnian, I have been obsessed with going out for breakfast for as long as I can remember. One of the most frequented spots in the city is Degraves street across from Flinders street station. Summer or winter, it doesn’t matter. Heaters galore in winter keep you warm whilst catching up or umbrellas unfolded in the warmer months. It’s hard to find a place with a mediocre coffee!   

A short walk towards Swanston street you will find Cocker Alley which has Banksy’s ‘Little Diver’ – V cool! This is now a remnant of what it used to be however interesting and original street art is found all over the city.

China town – need I say more?! With family friendly restaurants open for yum cha (dim sum) to places that only serve dumplings, dumplings and more dumplings – I seriously don’t know anyone who doesn’t love these little parcels of flavour!

Endlessly you will find one off boutiques with funky one off designs. Shops can be as big as city apartment bathrooms, but with people who care what they are selling you are seriously destined to find something that you will see no other wearing. You will of course find those cafes that us locals love such as the Little Mule cafe which is a great place for the bike lover. With a bike shop that caters to the custom piece audience and a minimal design this cool cafe definitely has perfect coffee too.

Whether you are interested in a shoe design course (I did this some years ago), going out for a family brunch, high tea, flagship stores, luxury chocolate or simply a walk around the city this is a top recommendation ♥

[lifeinthedollhouseblog-blog]

Let me be Frank Cafe - South Melbourne Commons

This is by far one of my favourite cafes in all of Melbourne.  Why? It has everything you need for brekkie on the weekend.

Let me be Frank is at South Melbourne Commons which in itself is a little gem with a little market, venue hire, children's classes (great facilities - NOT naff!) and this big old room that is used for a cafe. The cafe has the biggest table you have ever seen to hang out with friends and fam. I recently had my birthday there with about 30 people coming and going. Food...food is tasty, fresh and has a South American flair to it. If by chance you feel like eggs benedict, which is standard for me and by bff, the guys are always happy to cater. There are also big old couches, a children's corner and books everywhere which you can read at your leisure. Coffee = excellent! Oh, I nearly forgot to mentioned...my sister-in-law said the gluten free bread was one of the best she has tried!