A chaotic enterprise. Part One

For a while now, I've been toying with the idea of embarking on a project. Part DIY, part business venture, but mostly a project that I want to work on and feel purposeful. Time, as always, is usually the biggest barrier to achieving such projects. Recently though, I've decided to make time my friend and not an enemy I'm constantly battling against.

So I bought a vintage caravan.

Random huh? Not really, because I've been on the hunt for ages, got lucky and found one! (Funny story: on the long drive home from city to country, Max and I stopped at a caravan/ transportable homes/ salvage yard in the middle of the highway, just for a mosey. Sure enough, there was a beautiful 70s Franklin caravan perched happily in the middle of the lot. Being a Sunday, the yard was closed but I rang the number just in case. Turned out the owner, John, was on site and let us in. Got to chatting, asked about the caravan and was told that he was only a caretaker and what did I want it for? Explained my ideas which John didn't think were too crazy, having had similar businesses. Next thing, he's on the phone to the owner and YES he was willing to sell. Bought it on the spot. Got along with John so well, ended up spending several hours with him, met his family and discovered that he is an uncle of two of my beautiful friends. It was meant to be).

Destiny comes in a Franklin caravan

Like with most large scale projects, a solid plan is an excellent foundation for success. But I'm not much of a planner and tend to wing it, hoping for the best. It took two months to get the damn thing home. Two major issues: 1. Owner clearing caravan of possessions. 2. I don't own a car with a towbar that can tow a 500kg caravan. By this I mean, I have a car with a towbar that shouldn't tow a 500kg caravan. But I got desperate and did it anyway. Needless to say, that is a story in itself and will be saved for another post.

A sneak peak - the destruction beginning

So that's the start of what will be a long and prosperous *buzzword* journey.

Stayed tuned for more adventures in caravan renovations (including what I actually plan to do with this caravan). Would love to hear your DIY/ renovation stories! Also, any tips you want to throw my way - I'm accepting advice.

Much love
Elouise x

Food Love - Vietnamese Chicken Salad

I just love Asian food and I've tried lots of different Vietnamese chicken salad recipes at restaurants and take away shops but I'd never made my own at home...until last night!

It all came about a few weeks ago when I was styling a beautiful client and making over her wardrobe. Her lovely partner came home when we were about half way through her styling session and he brought with him a delicious Vietnamese chicken salad for us to share (what a legend!) - styling or being styled can make you hungry you know! :)

I absolutely devoured it! It was delicious and ever since then I've been wanting to replicate it!

Then last week as I was flicking through the channels on the TV, Julie Goodwin appeared on one of my favourites programs, Everyday Gourmet...and what was she making? VIETNAMESE CHICKEN SALAD! Needless to say, I just had to watch it!

So fast forward a few days with a trip to the local markets and the supermarket to last night when I finally whipped up this delicious concoction. Might I add that salads are just perfect for dinner as the weather heats up and if they're healthy, delicious and quick to whip up then I'm sold!

This recipe calls for a lot of sugar so next time I make it I think I'll halve the quantity and just reduce the dressing for longer on the stove to try and obtain the same amount of sweetness. I also doubled the dressing recipe so that we can have the salad again for lunch or dinner tonight but this time we'll fry up some green prawns to replace the chicken.

I should also let you know that I made the dressing about an hour before so that it had plenty of time to cool down in the fridge.

Anyway, give it a go and let me know what you think! My husband gave it the big thumbs up!! (phew!)....you known what they say, "Happy husband, happy life"...hang on, I know its something like that! Lol!

Megan x

Vietnamese Chicken Salad - By Julie Goodwin for Everyday Gourmet

½ cup white vinegar

½ cup white sugar

1 tablespoon fish sauce (more to taste if necessary)

1 small red chilli, sliced

1 clove garlic, sliced

½ packet dried vermicelli noodles

1/3 cup salted peanuts, roughly chopped

1 tablespoon vegetable or peanut oil

4 small or 3 large chicken thigh fillets, trimmed of fat and cut into thin strips

2 Lebanese cucumber, sliced with a peeler

12 green beans, sliced thinly on the diagonal

½ bunch mint leaves, roughly chopped

½ bunch coriander leaves

2 tablespoons crispy fried garlic (or crispy fried shallots if garlic isn’t available)

Method

1.  In a pot over high heat, place the vinegar and sugar with ¼ cup water. Bring to the boil and boil for about 3 minutes until starting to thicken. Remove from the pot to a bowl, and add the fish sauce, chilli and garlic.

2.  Leave to cool.

3.  Pour boiling water over the noodles and leave to stand for two minutes. Drain and set aside to cool.

4.  In a frypan over medium-high heat, toast the peanuts until golden with some little blackened bits.

5.  Remove from the pan. Add the oil to the pan and stir-fry the chicken until golden and cooked through. Remove from the pan.

6.  In a bowl mix the Lebanese cucumber, green beans, noodles, and most of the mint and coriander leaves.

7.  Toss with a little of the fish sauce dressing. Place the saladin a bowl and top with the chicken, fried garlic and peanuts.

8.  Drizzle a little more dressing over and top with some extra

9.  Coriander and mint leaves. Serve immediately.

 

 

Style Crush - Margot Robbie

Margot Robbie is an Australian actress absolutely killing it in Hollywood at the moment! You might remember the 24 year old from Neighbours or perhaps you've seen her more recently in The Wolf of Wall Street.

Fashion magazines are watching Margot's every move as she steps out time and time again with flawless ensembles. It doesn't matter what she wears, whether its red carpet ready or she's keeping it casual Margot can do no wrong. Plus, anyone that can completely pull off being a blonde and a brunette gets the thumbs up from me.

Megan x

 

Images sourced from Google

Accessorising with a purpose - Necklaces

Hello! It's Megan here, your personal stylist!

Today I wanted to talk about accessorising and in particular necklaces. Many of my clients struggle with accessorising as they think you need to be "fashionable" or know what's "on trend" to be able to pull it off but guess what, you don't!

Accessorising can be a great way for you to update your outfit season to season and it can also be a fantastic way to get your creative juices flowing but if you just want a quick go-to guide to make getting ready in the morning quick and easy then here's my 3 tips.

Numero uno - Use a necklace to create balance when wearing a high neckline. This is particularly key at the moment because you'll find tops and dresses with high necklines everywhere. They can be halter-neck or just plain round neck so to give the illusion that the neckline is lower and more balanced wear a short necklace over the top of the garment.

 

Yep, that's me!

 

Number 2 - If you're wearing a scoop neckline you just can't go wrong if you use a necklace to "fill in the gap".

 

I'm beginning to detect a green theme here!

And lastly, use a pendant necklace to create a "visual waist" when wearing a top that's flowy, loose or doesn't have much structure to it. The other option is to wear a belt around your waist but belting it isn't always the answer and you can have so much more fun if you play with necklaces! Pendant necklaces are a strategic way to say, "Yes, there's still a waist under all this fabric!" Be very careful when choosing your pendant necklaces though as the length is crucial! Rib cage length draws the eye exactly where we want it, to the waist...any longer and the pendant will be hanging by your tummy and you'll have everyone looking at you belly (not ideal).

So next time you're putting an outfit together and you're wondering what necklace is best just ask yourself, "do you need to balance a high neckline, fill in the gap or create a visual waist" and you'll have your answer x

meganpotter.com.au