Long time, no blog: A recap

It has been a solid few months since my last post and a LOT has changed in the life of Rachel Darling. It feels like my life has been on fast-forward since about September. Let's recap. Since I last blogged I have turned 24, had my boyfriend move over to Adelaide from France (he arrived as a surprise on my birthday, the sweetie!) Since then we have moved out into a new flat (I know I have flown the coop a few times now, but this is the first time in Adelaide!), I have started working back at my old job, I have missed my exchange life in the UK terribly, done some Aussie sight-seeing with the French boyfriend, worked on different blog sites (except my own, obviously) and finished my degree! Yay!

It hasn't been all fun and games these last few months, but I can't deny that I have got a lot done! It has been hard to balance my life, but balance has always been something I struggle with. But there have been some highlights- the first being the new flat! I have moved out of home before, but never in my own city- if only I had known how much easier it is this way (even if less exciting than moving to a new city or country!) It was so much easier because Mum and Dad and lots of friends and family were so helpful- Philippe and I barely had to buy a thing thanks to generous donations from everyone! The few things we did have to buy (a couch, a table etc etc) we scored super cheap from Gumtree or FREE from hard rubbish! My Mum is officially the bargain hunting queen, so we had a lot of help from her!

One of my favourite things about our flat is that it has fruit trees! Something I have never experienced from a place I actually live in! These are my pretty little fuzzy apricots! I look at them adoringly each day as I go to work- soon they will be ready for eating...

Speaking of donations and gifts from lovely friends and family- check out this hand knitted rug that a friend from work made for us! I adore it and shall keep it forever! Too bad it is hot weather at the moment so I can't snuggle up in it.. but it looks really good against our black couch (another bargain-$50!)

To help my French boyfriend feel at home, my auntie bought us this shower curtain for a flat-warming present. I have to admit, I do get pretty nostalgic when I'm showering behind this!

Aaaaand last but not least, my favourite part of the flat- the retro kitchen. It doesn't really show in the photo, but I love that the cupboard windows have frosted diamond detail on them. It is not the prettiest old kitchen, but I think all my red accessories and vintage stuff jazz it up a little!

I'm no longer a Semaphorian (hhmmpph! Sad face!) but we are only 10minutes away at West Lakes. I miss being so close to the beach, and it has taken time to readjust to my surroundings. I have found a new place to walk (around the lake) where I take my new friend Theodore Bear (Teddy Bear for short). He is my neighbour's Golden Retriever puppy and I adore him!

Some things haven't changed though. I'm still drinking green smoothies and I am still going to yoga- even more now that I live a 5 minute walk away! I always find change a hard thing- I'm better at life when I have a routine. So all these changes have been a bit tough for me and things haven't turned out the way I expected (but I guess, when do they ever?)

Once I finished my degree, I was relieved. But that feeling was quickly replaced by panic.- OH.MY.GOD. I'm not a student anymore. Time to make choices and be an adult. Problem is, I have no idea what adult I want to be. I had some plans and some goals, but recent events have changed them and it freaks me out. I feel a bit like I am floundering with no direction. With NYE creeping up, I have already started thinking about New Years resolutions- but I can't even decide between them! I'm feeling a bit lost and indecisive but I'm sure it is normal. I have some plans, just gotta make some decisions. For now I'm just going to roll with it- use my new found spare time for more yoga, reading, painting and appreciating the smaller things in life (some advice from Mum that has really resonated with me- more on that in another post...)

I'm pleased to have more time for painting- this is one I did for Beth recently. I really enjoyed doing the details on this one!

Miss Bailey

Meet Miss Bailey!!! She is my new (old) bike! She is the colour of baileys with a cinnamon seat and handles. I got her from GumTree and she was so cheap- but you wouldn't know it! She enjoys adventures, lusting over scenic views and visiting the markets- so obviously we are now best friends...

Ok- so that doesn't even come close to expressing how much I love my new bike. I was going to buy this exact bike brand new and unassembled for more than double the price I got Miss Bailey for! So I am super pleased (thanks to Mum for that find!). The weather in Adelaide is really starting to change. That bone-chilling cold has gone and it is actually safe to sit outside and eat my breakfast in the mornings- or go for a bike ride! I love that time of year when you know summer is coming- I think you can feel it in the air....

I have wanted a bike for a while now, but have only recently started to make some money, so I started to look on GumTree. But what REALLY made me want a bike was visiting the Old Mill markets in Port Adelaide a few weeks ago. Mum and I drove down there to have a look around and the place was buzzing! I always get a warm fuzzy feeling when I see success in the Port- it has so much potential and just needs some trendy people to spruce it up!

We enjoyed a hot mulled apple juice which was to DIE for. We carried them to keep us warm because despite the sunshine, there was a chilly wind coming off the water.

But don't worry Adelaide Central Markets- you are still my favourite. Mum and I have done a couple of shops there since my last blog post, and I have made some yummy things in the kitchen as a result!

Cashew and pine nut pesto

My latest obsession (besides Miss Bailey)= Salads with fancy cheese and rice crackers. I have been living off this combo for about a month now and I am still not tired of it! I think it is the cheese...mmmm, cheese.

When I am not munching on a salad, I have been popping these into my mouth! I am working pretty much full time again now, so preparation is key! These are hazelnut and chocolate sugar-free balls. I also made some coconut and lemon flavoured ones which were a nice change- they tasted like lemon cheesecake! My next project will be some coffee ones, for those days when coffee is a necessity. Whenever I have these in the house, my sweet tooth is always satisfied! Which is good, because they are secretly sugar free!

Miss Bailey and I have been on a few adventures, but there will be more to come- every time the sun is out I can't wait to go for a ride!

On a side note, I recently finished my 28 Day Hot Yoga challenge! It was a good experience- even if it was a bit hard! The first week was utterly exhausting but the weeks after that were pretty breezy- I think I just got used to it. Anyway- mega flexible, clear skin, more strength, calmer mind and 3kg lighter (Miss Bailey will be pleased to hear that!). Not bad! It looks like hot yoga is here to stay... 

:D

Hellos, Goodbyes and how I got drunk on soup....

With everything that has been going on in the life of Rachel Darling lately, by the time my shift came to an end at 2pm on Friday, I was totally ready for a quiet night in! On top of Uni, work, learning French (I have to write a post about this soon!) swimming and the ol' social life, I have also been doing a 28 day Hot Yoga challenge! By Friday I was a week into it and I will admit- I was tired! I have been keeping up with my running and swimming during the challenge, and while I feel ok now, the first week was pretty exhausting! 

I couldn't wait to have a quiet Friday night in- I had a French soup recipe I wanted to try (yes I know I am a French try-hard) and also wanted to cook something for Hannah's going away party (more on that later!)

So, after putting some bread mix into the bread machine, I went for a run to soak up some vitamin D and fresh air after being inside at work all day. The weather has FINALLY improved, and although it is still cold, we are getting some sunny days that are perfect for running and walking in my hooooood :)

The best part of cooking- when the onion meets the pan! Love that smell!

So, as I was saying, I had a French Soup recipe I wanted to try, and I had all the ingredients ready to go...including a bottle of white wine- which also topped up a couple of glasses as I cooked! Nothing better than cooking with a glass of wine while listening to the sweet croons of Etta James! Perfect Friday night in...

Fresh flavours are the best flavours- and I always overload them. When it comes to spices I usually ignore the recipe- I like intense tastes, and this soup was no exception- full of fresh bay leaves and thyme.

I ended up making vegetarian 'sausages' for Hannah's party. The recipe came from one of Mum's cook books and they were mainly pumpkin and lentils. Pretty tasty!

White wine- some for the soup, some for me!

I was craving some warm crusty bread to go with my soup- it was cold outside and had started to rain, so I honestly couldn't think of anything better! But it took a little longer that I thought..and that is where the problem started.

Because the bread was still another 40mins from being ready, the soup started to get too thick. I turned the stove off, but it was already a bit thick for my liking. I had had initially put about 2 cups of wine into the soup, and had a glass to drink while cooking, but there was still about a cup left in the bottle. So, thinking I would't want it to go to waste, I used it to thin the soup. I don't know if I didn't cook the alcohol off for long enough after that or if there was simply too much wine in the soup- but after a big bowl of it (it was totally scrumptious by the way) I was a tad drunk! Even my brother said he felt the alcohol after having some...whoops! So my quiet night in turned into a slightly drunk one!

I think because I am sweating so much during my daily yoga classes, the alcoholic soup had a bigger effect on me than it should have- especially the next morning! I had to work and I felt like I had been out partying all night! I thought it would only last the morning, but by the afternoon I was feeling dizzy and light-headed! I was so excited to meet Gabi (who has been away for 13 weeks!) for a coffee, but when I got there I decided a veggie juice and some food would be the best thing for my head! I did recover slightly after this, but figured out later that I was lacking in salts and minerals- so I drank lemon and salt water for the rest of the day and felt a lot better!

It was so good to see Gabi again- if only for a short time before she left again- that little jet-setter! We went to a cafe on Queens Street in Croydon.

I was excited by this little painting as I walked towards the cafe...

...and on my way back I was even more pleased by the other side! I miss France :( and one Frenchman in particular...

The amigos- taken on Han's new polaroid camera!

That night it was time for me and my vegetarian sausages to get to the twins house for Hannah's going away party! She is going to Indonesia to study for 6 months and Soph and I will miss her soooooooooooooo much! While I am sad about this, I am also so excited for her (and a tad jealous, even if I only just got back from my own exchange!) because I know what an amazing experience she is about to have! Soph, Han and I have been friends for so many years, and it is never nice to be apart. But being the adventurous, travel-loving three that we are, we have come to realise that it is a thing we will have to get used to and embrace. We know that things never change between us, and that home is when we are together! I wish my little HanBan all the best of luck, and can't wait to see her when Philippe and I go to visit! 

Sunshine in Adelaide and a roadtrip to Western Victoria

Well the sun finally came out in Adelaide...for one day. It may have been short lived- but I was happy to only work until 2.00 that day! I needed a dose of Vitamin D!!! I went for a walk from my house to Largs Bay- a walk I do nearly every day when the weather is warmer, but hardly ever (and if I do it is rarely enjoyed) in the winter. Because of the cold, I have been sticking to swimming and yoga for exercise, so it was refreshing to breathe in natural air instead of the rubbery smell of my yoga mat or the chlorine of the pool.

 The walk put me in such a good mood...it could have been the fresh air or the Vitamin D, or maybe it was just the feeling of stepping outside without feeling utterly irate towards the elements! 

I can't wait to sit here and watch the sunset with a certain someone... (I'm so romantic aren't I?)

But...as I said, it was short lived. And even if it wasn't, I wouldn't have experienced any more of it because after that splendid sunny day, I went to Victoria with my family for the weekend. We drove the nine hours to my Grandparents town of Bacchus Marsh- Mum and Dad in the front, Matt and I in the back. Just like the old days. It was funny to think about the territorial fights my brother and I used to have- 'MUUMMMM- Matt's leg is on MY side!!!!' Or the classic 'Are we therrreeee yeetttttt????'

There was none of that this time...but some old traditions still lived on- Dad always has Clinkers (I swear he is the only person I know who likes those chocolates) and we stopped for lunch in Horsham, one of the towns we usually stop in for a feed.

We stayed in a motel for the first couple of nights, and then in a cabin at a caravan park for the last night. It is funny, when I was younger I always found Bacchus Marsh to be really boring, but since I have visited in more recent years, I have appreciated that it is actually a quaint, buzzing little country town

We had breakfast at this awesome cafe one morning- after eating lots of chocolate and processed stuff on the drive over, I was craving something a bit healthier. This muesli was sooo yummy- I want to make some like it! It had macadamia nuts, which were the stars of the dish!

Hepburn Springs

We also went on a day trip to Daylesford. I had never heard of it before, but Mum told me it is a really trendy 'spa town' due to all the Hepburn natural mineral springs nearby. We went and walked down the main street, had a totally healthy lunch of baked goods...and by healthy I mean extremely fat and sugar-filled, and by baked goods I mean a veggie pie and a custard tart...I have no regrets. 

Dad and Mum trying the natural springs

It was a nice little get away for the Darlings. I got to see my Grandparents and my family who I have not seen in over a year due to being away overseas. I did eat a lot of crap- but whatever, I applied my 'I-don't-care-I'm-on-holidays' rule, plus I am starting a 28 Day Hot Yoga Challenge next week! So of course I will be going on a little health-kick with that!

It was a long drive, and I got to see my family as well as some new sights. And, if nothing else, we got some updated classic family travel shots. We are dorks :)

Writing allllllllllll the blogs! (except my own)

Hello! 

Yes, I am still here! I promise I have still been writing and posting- just not on my own blog! I am happy to say that I have actually landed a couple of blogging positions which have been a great experience for me so far! I am now blogging for Peak Physique Hot Yoga and Wyld Orchids: Wedding Flowers.

If anyone wants to have a look, here are the links:

http://www.wyldorchids.com.au/lee-blog/

http://www.peakphysique.net.au/index.php?mact=News,cntnt01,detail,0&cntnt01articleid=5&cntnt01returnid=52

So far I have loved the feeling of writing about something other than my own life! It is nice to have more direction and focus with what I write about, and it is a good feeling to see things published. My documenting ways are starting to pay off! One of the main reasons I write this blog is to keep myself writing and gain any experience I can in the publishing/blogging world. I would like to keep moving forward with it and see where it takes me!

But writing hasn't been the only creative outlet keeping my octopus arms busy recently- I have also been focusing on my art work again! To be honest I have not created many new pieces, but I have been busy framing and completing older works ready to hang in one of my favourite vintage fashion shops!

Fox On The Run Vintage is the perfect little vintage/retro shop. Not only is it situated in gorgeous Jetty Street (one of my favourite Adelaide streets!) in Largs Bay, all of its vintage delights are set out in a quaint old building complete with old wooden floorboards and a basement full of racks and racks of vintage and retro clothing! So I was very happy with the opportunity to hang some of my paintings in such a cool space!

I found it soooooo hard to hang up my works without looking too closely at the racks! Maybe if I sell a couple of paintings I will be able to afford a little splurge!

The best part about all these projects is that I have been able to support and be involved in local Adelaide Businesses- Peak Physique Hot Yoga, Wyld Orchids and Fox On The Run Vintage are all really awesome examples of people's passions coming to life here in Adelaide- something I hope to achieve in my own life.

So yes I have been a busy bee lately. But I am grateful for these distractions- it has taken me weeks to get back to feeling like myself again! I mentioned in my last post that I have been feeling sluggish, unmotivated and tired. I think it was a mix of a few things...post-travel blues, the freezing temperatures in Adelaide lately, and missing my boyfriend very much! But there is nothing to do but stay busy! I have been eating healthy, focusing on my yoga and walking/running whenever I can.

Oats are like HEAVEN in winter. Says me.

Sky Blue and Floral...a new friend to clash with the usual red lipstick! 

Oh, and I also went on a wine tour in McLaren Vale, which is always a good day- especially when you do it with an awesome bunch of friends! We had a really fun day full of delicious wine and food (and slightly drunken antics!)

I bought a new skirt for the occasion- pencil skirts are my latest love and this pale blue floral one was just what I wanted... although not the most comfortable thing to be wearing with a belly full of cheese, olives, wine, bread...and whatever other yummy things I ate that day!

Ladieesssssss