Blog Revamp and Launch

I am relaunching my blog.

Currently scoping for designers to rebrand and set up a fresh, new look and feel.

Why?

Because I have seen a missing link in the blogging market. Both in Melbourne and Brisbane where I spend much of my time.

I met some very passionate people last week in Melbourne, well I do every time I am here, but this time was different.

What if instead of reading long blog posts about places, you could watch a video which only goes for a few minutes from the propriator of a venue about what they are passionate about?

Include a few photos and a short blurb about why I love it and not only recommend it, but want to visit it all the time! Complete it with all the required stats of how to get there and when to go and we are done!

So stay tuned shortly. I have to get this youtube thing sorted and we are ready to roll.

To keep you entertained here are some of my adventures the past week.

International Women's Day

Yesterday was a wonderful day for women.

It marked the 100th Anniversary of International Women's Day.

I received a special invitation to attend the Premier's Event at Parliament House.

Ten women were presented with an award. I was one of them. It was amazing. I cried. I cried a lot. These other women were truly inspirational.

When all these wonderful women were being acknowledged, I turned to the lady beside me and said "I shouldn't be here, all I did was bake some cupcakes!" hehehe

But really, we have achieved so much with Baked Relief.

• We have fed at least 10,000 people during sandbagging, flood clean up and those affected by flooding.
• We have provided 100 families with essentials kitchen kits to start their life again. (Lockyer Valley and Tully Heads)
• We have provided thousands of dollars of vouchers for Coles, IGA and Kitchen stores in local areas. The importance of this is three fold. 1. The families make their own choices and this empowers them. 2. We are generating local economy 3. We are support the store owners (many of them affected too) 
• We have provided home cooked meals to families in the Lockyer Valley. 
• We have provided power tools and assistance to rebuild the Lockyer Valley. 
• Parkview Aged Care worked with us and provided at least 100 families set back up in bed with new linen, pillows and towels all by donations by lovely staff and residents.
• We have launched and provided support to Baked Relief NZ.

We have so many projects underway. One which is really exciting me is the Cookbook Drive to have those lovely men and women who love to cook back in the kitchen with books to drool over. Check back on http://www.bakedrelief.org/ to see more.

Sorry this has been yet another Baked Relief post, for the moment it is my life!

Me with the Honorable Anna Bligh, Queensland Premier and woman of the day!

A note from the Premier last night on twitter! I cried :)

Honouring my Pink Kitchenaid. She must be a woman too!

This weekend I have a very BIG surprise to post about. But its underwraps for now!

I am off to the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival and to eat myself around Melbourne generally with people I love and people I am yet to meet! EXCITEMENT PLUS!

Nigella + Digella {match made in Melbourne} MK2

Tickets came on sale at 9am this morning. And some sessions were sold out when I phoned at 9:15am!

After some re-jigging it is set. And I am saving the very best until last.

Melbourne Food and Wine Festival

On Saturday I will be seeing:

Chris Salans, Mozaic, Bali 'Jungle Boy'

Alexa Johnston, New Zealand. 'Home Baking Revival'

Roy Choi, Kogi BBQ, USA. 'LA Takeaway'

Stephanie Alexander and Maggie Beer 'National Treasures: Queens of the Kitchen'

For dinner we might duck over to Waterfront for a chowder or Kew Grill on the Hill for a steak. When in Melbourne I always do those things!

My Sunday's sessions are as follows:

Zakary Pelaccio, Fatty Crab, USA. 'Tale of the Fatty Crab'
Cath Claringbold and Jude Blereau, Australia. 'Seasonal Salvation'
Anna Gare, Australia. 'Food for Now'
Nigella Lawson, UK. 'Food for the Women I love'

I am so excited! Who else will be there?

Nigella + Digella {match made in Melbourne}

Quick post to let you know that I am booking to see Nigella IN REAL LIFE!

Melbourne Food and Wine Festival

March 12 & 13 2011

(my birthday weekend!)

See HERE for more information. And let me know if you are going too!

So many exclamation marks I know, but I cant help myself!!!

~ Vintage Melbourne ~

No words today. Im out of words. Dont snigger, it is possible!
So I few photos of what I like to call Vintage Melbourne.

Vists to the following places
Empire Vintage
Izzi & Popo
Little Cupcakes

Empire Vintage

A Shepherd's Oven (well thats what the tag said) and I sooo wanted to buy it. If you know anything more about them I would love to hear from you!

Some of the many interesting bits on offer at Izzy & Popo

Little Cupcakes - Very Sweet

~ Melbourne Sojourn ~

Its Melbourne Spring Fashion Week

How Excitement!

Have a fantastic weekend all :)