Yes, I quit sugar (mostly)

For quite some time, I've known that sugar is a bit of an evil substance. It lures you when feeling in need, takes you to a fun buzzy place and then leaves you high and dry, feeling shaky and weird. I know not everyone has this relationship with it, but with a low tolerance to anything with a high GI, I'm so much better without it.

When I was living in Sydney, I started to read the lovely Sarah Wilson's blog (don't even get me started on my girl crush, she's awesome) and I've been following her journey as she quit sugar and ended up writing about it. A lot. She now has a few books, all beautifully shot and written, about how to make the right changes to cut out the white stuff for good. I'm trying. It's SO hard at first, but as a friend said to me the other day, it's all in the preparation.

I was so excited when Sarah's book, "I Quit Sugar For Life" landed on my doorstep and I've been reading, changing and preparing myself since. It's brilliant. Really imaginative and actually not that difficult to adapt to. It's really exciting to read how food can be the answer to so many ills and how thinking differently can transform your relationship with it. Breakfast is absolutely the hardest thing for me. Especially when you're gluten, lactose, most grains and oats intolerant. Grrrr. So, this Paleo inside out bread from Sarah's book looked like a perfect solution. Courgettes, eggs, ham, parsley and cooking with arrowroot and almond meal to make bread was a first for me. But I like firsts and this one tastes pretty good too. I'm actually looking forward to brekky this week.

*by the way, the cheese picture is Arla's lactose free cheese. It's a poor imitation of the real stuff but for someone that misses cheese like crazy (like me), it's good enough :)

Back to baking

It's taken me a little while to find spare time in amongst a whirlwind of new things, not to mention the daily fun with the bundle of energy, otherwise known as 6-month old Maisy. So, some of the things I love to do have taken a back seat for a bit, but as things gradually fall into place, I'm finding time and space for them again, which feels great. To celebrate this, getting back to basics and to remember my brother, Josh, on what would have been his 17th birthday, I baked a cake and throughly enjoyed it. The dusting of flour, messy egg cracking, sprinkling of coconut and sticky cherry chopping. Even Maisy wanted in!

What made this even more soul nourishing was that I had my camera along for the ride too, snapping as I went (which, with my messy baking habits, is harder than it sounds). It's reawakened my love of food photography, nothing flash, nothing pro, just me messing about with food, utensils and my camera. Like this - just baking, snapping and hoping I don't get vanilla essence too close to the Canon. More food adventures to come, I think.

*thanks to Ju for the lovely recent additions to my baking collection :)

31 days: nine

One of the Sydneysiders I am going to miss hugely is the beautiful Martha of Martha B fame. Somewhat of an urban legend, Martha is the secret to hundreds of women sporting perfectly groomed eyebrows along the east coast. Introduced by bestie, Kate, I have been trekking from the northern beaches to the east's Surry Hills for the past year and a half to see Martha - and it was always worth every commuting minute. Martha is not only ridiculously talented with a pair of tweezers or make up brush, she is also the biggest sweetheart you'll ever meet and my 30 minutes with her were always full of chatting goodness.

Testament to Marfie's skills and due to the excited whispers amongst ladies at the bar, she rarely has a slot in her diary. But if, on the rare occasion she does, I highly recommend you snaffle that appointment. You'll find her in vibrant hair salon, Fringe on Crown with the lovely Tommy & crew. Martha, I miss you and your lovely face (and tweezers).

31 days: eight

A few weeks before I was due to leave Sydney, I had arranged to meet Suzy Reading at North Curl Curl, in one of my favourite spots. Suzy and I had been introduced by a mutual friend, the lovely Dan, creative genius at Shoebox. Suzy is a Sydney-based qualified psychologist, yoga teacher and health & fitness coach and was in need of some fresh shots of her in action. I adore yoga and alternative therapy and don't need to be asked twice to get snaptastic, so our skills and talents were a perfect match. 

We spent a few blissful hours in the glorious October sunshine as the waves crashed and Suzy and I talked and giggled our way through our photo session. I was amazed at the skillful poses Suzy could hold, while I snapped and got the perfect angle on some pretty rugged terrain, all the while Suzy smiling, looking serene and peaceful. This is one balanced (in both senses!), calm and happy lady! 

I was just so thankful to be able to work with Suzy on that day, in one of the most beautiful places on earth. A new friendship was made. Thank you Suzy, for a lasting memory that will always remind me to be grateful, soak up the simple things and take the opportunity to meet new people - you never know who you will meet or how they will change your life.

xxx

Focus

Life has been quite unconventional of late. Resignations, saying goodbye, moving country, unemployment, adjusting to very different weather, meeting new people and settling in. A lot to take in and absorb - it's easy to feel overwhelmed. But in those heady moments, what always brings me focus and clarity is to see the amazing things around me. The burst of orange and flame red in the autumn trees. A stranger holding a door open for you. A puppy bouncing along, enjoying the best walk he's ever had. Freak hail storms. Big bold rainbows. These things are everywhere - to see and be uplifted by them is a choice.

I'm choosing to soak up the beautiful things, and in the meantime, trust that everything else will eventually fall into place.

31 days: seven

When it came to date night with two of my dearest friends, I knew I had to find somewhere really special. A few months before, I had been taken to a fantastic place tucked away on Sydney's Clarence Street for a working lunch by the lovely Brent & Laurie at Designer Rice. And what a find it was. I knew I had to bring Sam and Hank here for a bit of indulgence. 

So to Arras we went. We were welcomed by slick design, quiet ambience and a very hospitable maitre d' called Michael. And so we spent the next 4 hours eating the most incredible food and enjoying beautiful wine - and laughing raucously, as we often do. We tucked into amuse bouche that looked like works of art and a starter of savoury porridge, chestnuts and almond cheese - yes, almond cheese. Amazing. Chicken, bones and stones - braised poussin, celtuce, black garlic, pear, followed by very swanky rhubarb 'crumble' with pears, lemon, hazelnut, caramel. 

And if that wasn't enough, once desert was chosen and ordered, we were surprised with 'pre-desert'. After desert, complimentary petit fours were brought out on the most extravagant bright orange tasting platter you've ever seen. Willy Wonka would be so very jealous. Just before we thought we would burst, Michael unveiled a special sweet congratulatory treat, written in chocolate, to celebrate Sam & Hank's recent engagement. We were over the moon when we were invited to personally thank Adam, the lovely Head Chef, in the kitchen (especially Sam, being a passionate and talented chef). 

It was such a brilliant night, and oh my goodness, Arras is just amazing. If you haven't gone yet, go. Yes, a little indulgent, but the quality of food and unique experience far outweighs the price tag.

31 days: six

I remember my very first experience of Sydney CBD. I was deeply impressed and fell in love with the big wide streets (so much space), the cleanliness of the streets (everything seemed to sparkle), the new but somewhat stately architecture and the well heeled office workers. It was clear that I was 'fresh off the boat' from London and used to the rubbish lined streets and raw edginess of the city I lived in for 5 years. But nonetheless, 6 years on from stepping off the boat (read: plane), Sydney still has all those qualities for me and is still such a joy to wander around - particularly when you're not running from bus stop to sushi train to shoe shop to bus stop on a crammed lunch break, and have time to soak up all the shiny, grand city goodness.

I feel very lucky that on one of my last days in Sydney, I was able to see it with the wide eyed appreciation of someone sill in love with the place while preparing to shortly board that plane that brought me here 6 years earlier.