A Bastille Day Party

A Bastille Day Party

Jetting to Paris for the honeymoon?
Get in the mood early, enjoy French bliss at the wedding shower.
Pop real champagne, forget calories and think melt in the mouth pastries and the creamiest brie.



Get the Look
Going French at a bridal shower is the next best thing to getting on the Air France jet.
Luckily talented French style pastry chefs have opened pâtiss'eries far and wide so it’s one stop shopping for the most delightful nibbles.



Made in France
Search for inexpensive gifts that were Made in France, they are easy to find in cookware specialists, cosmetics stores and wine shops.



Faire un tabac
(be successful, go over well, be a hit)
Although those girls in Ab Fab knew a thing or two about delicious Bollinger, you don’t have to turn into Patsy to get into the mood; just a flute of pricey real French bubbles is worth every penny.
For the Parisian mood, invest in French music, the superstars like Edith Piaf, Charles Aznevour and Vanessa Paradis will set the scene. Run a Jacques Tati classic film on your plasma with the sound turned down as wallpaper.



Enjoy the Day - Eat Lean Tomorrow
Fromage is French for cheese and the French have cheese all sorted. A collection of delightful creaminess will be a treat to turn into a memory.



We have reduced the price of our archived 2007 magazines. You can download 2007 Issue 1 to Issue 4 (instant access) for $1.95 each or purchase the printed magazines Issue 1 and 4 only (2 and 3 are sold out) for $4.95 each plus postage (Australia Only). Click here for more information.


HOW TO BUILD A FRENCH CHEESEBOARD

•Go to a specialised cheese shop or deli, always buy from a round, not pre cut.

•Allow about 60g of cheese per guest.

•Offer contrasting tastes and textures, soft cheese, hard cheese and blue vein.

•Take the cheese out of the fridge a couple of hours before serving so that it’s at room temperature.

•Put a knife out for each cheese so the flavours don’t mix.

•Add nuts or fruit (fresh or dried) to complement the cheeses.

•Serve with a variety of breads and crackers.

Thailand Getaway

I was lucky enough to go on a beautiful trip to Thailand over the Christmas break with my husband. We flew in to Bangkok and stayed at The Peninsula then went to the Six Senses Hideaway resort in Hua Hin (3 hrs drive south of Bangkok). I thought I would share the details for anyone interested in Thailand for their honeymoon. I can highly recommend the Peninsula, they really think of everything and the service was absolutely amazing. The Six Senses Hideaway resort was gorgeous but a word of warning - you don't go to this resort for the beach - there is no beach! Some of the pictures on their website are a bit misleading as it is just rocks and then the sea. This didn't bother us as all villas have their own private pool surrounded by perfectly kept gardens. Next door at the partner Evason resort there is a large swimming pool that overlooks the sea and more restaurants/bars that you can access if you feel the need to leave your own oasis.


The swimming pool overlooking the Chao Phraya river at the Peninsula in Bangkok


The Peninsula has its own boats that take you across the river to access the Sky Train


Inside the pool villa at the Six Senses Hideaway in Hua Hin, complete with outdoor bath


The pool villa suite


The outdoor lounge


A relaxing breakfast is served by the lotus ponds

Posted by Emma Henderson

Under The Tuscan Sun

Ever dreamed of having your destination wedding in Tuscany but not sure how to organise everything? Weddings in Tuscany are an event planning business based in Tuscany that take care of everything - they assist with all the official documentation and paperwork needed to get married in Italy and help liaise with vendors to organise your ceremony and reception. They can also help with arranging accomodation and tours for your guests. So, for a stress free destination wedding be sure to check out their website and blog!











Posted by Emma Henderson

Island Dreaming

As the year comes to an end I always find myself daydreaming about holidays and places I would love to visit. One of those places is Santorini - especially if I could stay somewhere like this! Perivolas is a world-class small luxury inn perched on the cliffs high above the Aegean Sea. It is only a short walk from Oia, one of the most charming villages on the island, and offers a tranquil oasis far removed from the stresses of everyday life. Sounds perfect for the ultimate honeymoon! The accomodation, pool, location and view are all amazing - but I think the best bit is the breakfast which includes apple pie, cookies, pastires, fruit and greek yogurt - wouldn't it be lovely to start every day with apple pie!!









For more information visit their website here.

Posted by Emma Henderson

Girls Guide
I have just found out about Girls' Guide to the World which is a bit like trip advisor but for stylish women who want to know where to shop, eat, drink, sleep, pamper, and play. Girls’ Guide has done all the research for you and provides unbiased and insightful tips for women, by women with high expectations and a craving for fashionably experiencing the world. It features over 3,000 venues in over 100 hand-picked cities around the globe. Girls’ Guide to the World was thought up by 28 year old Carey Schuster, an American interior designer living and working in Sydney. Schuster has a craving for outstanding design, cuisine, service, entertainment, fashion, and architecture, especially when she’s travelling. “When I choose to spend the money and time to travel, I don’t want to be disappointed. I want to eat at the tasty restaurant off of Main Street that the locals are trying to keep secret. I want to stay at the hippest hotels, which doesn’t always mean the most publicized or most expensive. And when I hit the shops, I want to know about up and coming local designers and where to find their labels. That’s where Girls’ Guide delivers. There is no better advice than a discerning woman’s first hand account.”



Posted by Emma Henderson

In the Bag
I'm a traveller - love it. Nothing satisfies me more than an orderly, beautifully organised suitcase with compartments and vessels for every little thing. These divine linen bags from Plane Tree Farm's new online shop are just the thing I need to complement my travelling ensemble. How thoroughly fabulous would you feel embarking on your honeymoon knowing these gorgeous bags were onboard too!


Italian Linen Bags from $40.00 each.

Posted by Jane Cameron.

Apple of my eye
Whilst on the look out for a new cosmetic bag for my upcoming trip to London in December I found these gorgeous Apple & Bee bags. Their website is just beautiful and you can buy some of their range from Ciao Bella Travel. I picked up the fold out bath bag in blue!


fold out bath bag


bowling bag


small make-up bag

Posted by Emma Henderson

Ciao Bella
Whilst researching the Gift Registry article on overnight bags for our current issue I found the fab Ciao Bella online shop which is a travel accessories shop dedicated to women. There are so many gorgeous products there you hardly know what to choose. Its the perfect place to start when looking for all your travel needs for your honeymoon. I have already purchased the silver travel wallet for an upcoming overseas holiday which I love, below are some more of my faves.









Posted by Emma Henderson

First Class all the Way
Last week I took a little trip away to stay at Royal Mail Hotel in Dunkeld, Victoria. The restaurant there has received great reviews, won prestigious awards and weekend bookings are filled until next year so I was looking forward to visiting. Travelling from Adelaide, it was a 6 hour drive, which is a jolly long way to go for dinner, but believe me when I say the journey was as good as the destination. With the recent rains, and spring burgeoning, the scenery was absolutely spectacular. Sweeping plains and gum-studded paddocks - it was green and lush, just breathtaking.


The wattles were in full bloom right across the countryside



We dined at the bistro on our first night which was relaxed and casual, but it was on our second night where we dined at the fine dining restaurant, we truly understood what all the fuss was about. We choose a 10 course degustation menu which, despite sounding overwhelming, was just right. The serves were small allowing each one to be savoured. The combination of flavours was inspiring. My favourite course was Spring Vegetables - a delicate salad of shoots, leaves and flowers. No, I lie, my favourite was one (of the 3!) dessert courses - pistachio, hazelnut and honeycomb that actually tasted of honey. The wine list (read BOOK) was enormous with something to satisfy even the most knowledgeable wine buff. It really was a fabulous night.


The view from atop Mount Sturgeon

Although Dunkeld is a very small town, there is plenty to do in the way of nature walks, history walks and general relaxation - we saw lots of kangaroos, kookaburras and other interesting birds not to mention the stunning native flora. Three hours drive from Melbourne it is an idyllic spot to be married, and a perfect way to make a weekend of it for guests who haven't seen the glorious Grampians or Australian countryside.


A beautiful native flower arrangement at the restaurant

The Royal Mail Hotel offers many different accommodation options to suit varying budgets, just be sure to make your plans well in advance for this popular destination. Definitely worth a visit.

Posted by Jane Cameron.

Just a Little More...
How can I NOT show you these sweet little luggage tags? What a charming way to adorn your bags as you head off into the wild blue yonder as a married couple! US$25.00 + postage for a set of 2 from See Jane Work.



Posted by Jane Cameron