Winter is coming: the pros and cons of winter spent at home

Before we roll out that extra fluffy blanket, it's important to remember the pros and cons of winter and they go something like this …

PRO V CON #1

PRO: The thought of bed during any mundane day is tempting enough, let alone the thought of bed when it’s freezing outside. Sleeping suddenly upgrades from being this thing you try and get at least eight hours of every night, to a full-blown nightly snuggle party. 

CON: Get ready to use and abuse that snooze button like never before. That’s great that you enjoyed your snuggle party last night, but good luck getting out of bed this morning, and getting to work on time.

PRO V CON #2

PRO: Good news… you get to turn your clock back and treat yourself to what feels like an extra hour of sleep.

CON: But here’s the bad news … whatever plans you had after work or study you need to go ahead and cancel it. It’s far too dark by 5pm, so just go on home, there’s nothing out there for you. 

PRO V CON #3

PRO: An array of activities become that little bit more enjoyable during winter. Sipping on your morning coffee becomes more of a delight, inviting friends over for a dinner party feels much more intimate, and the world can suddenly feel like a better place just by slipping on some fluffy socks before bed. 

CON: Winter makes the easiest tasks seem that much harder – like, you know, walking outside.

PRO V CON #4

PRO: If you’re more of a stay-in person, rather than a go-out type – there’s less guilt and FOMO involved during winter.

CON: You stay home so much you begin to forget what your friends, or other humans in general, look like.

PRO V CON #5

PRO: There’s no better feeling than cranking up the heating and getting cosy for a night in catching up on all those TV shows you’ve been meaning to watch.

CON: Opening up your next heating bill.

PRO V CON #6

PRO: Summer feels like a lifetime away, this means you have more time to work on that beach body.

CON: But then you think to yourself – how could I possibly workout? It’s too cold in the morning, it’s too dark at night. I think I’m catching a cold from these freezing, inhumane temperatures. I can’t find matching socks … now onto a more important topic – what’s for dinner?

Article Source:www.domain.com.au 

Pauline MorrisseyEditorial Producer

Clock Tower Home

The clock tower home with panoramic views

At first glance, this San Francisco clock tower looks like any other clock tower. But if you take a look inside, it contains a bell-ringer’s dream home.

It’s the last place you would expect to find a penthouse . Picture: Realtor

Located between the South Park and South Beach neighbourhoods, the 278 sqm two-bedroom penthouse has been built in and around the mechanisms.

The idea was conceived more than two decades ago by architect David Baker and the McKenzie, Rose & Halliday development firm.

After extensive renovations in 1993, the tower was remodelled into a fully habitable home.

It was then purchased by Tom and Carol Burkhart in 2013, who lived across the road from the property at the time.

The idea of living inside a clock made the sale attractive to the couple.

Play a game of pool with a view. Picture: Realtor

“We’d just sit there in our living room, salivating thinking it would be amazing to live in that tower,” Tom Burkhart tells the SF Gate.

“And then it went on the market and we went to the open house.”

The fully-equipped kitchen. Picture: Realtor

After the couple revamped the property even further, they decided to relist it earlier this month.

The building, which offers exclusive 360 degree views, contains three levels including the fully-refurbished clock tower room.

The clock’s mechanisms are now a centrepiece. Picture: Realtor

The interior offers an open-space living arrangement. Exposed steel structural beams, original brick and concrete walls and cathedral ceilings give the home a modern-industrial appeal.

Exposed steel beams and original brick walls give it an industrial feel. Picture: Realtor

High ceilings, skylights and the huge arched-windows take advantage of sheer height the sunlit building, giving the home access to plenty of natural sunlight.

The homes various skylights and windows take advantage of the sunlight. Picture: Realtor

The wrap-around deck – which gives panoramic views – contains an outdoor patio, providing the ultimate party spot in the region.

The outdoor patio area might make the perfect scene for a soiree. Picture:Realtor

Listed as a “once in a lifetime opportunity” by Sothesby’s International Realty, Sky News Real Estate’s Prue Miller reports the property is listed for $US 8.5 million.

Article Source: www.realestate.com.au

                                                                                               by Phirin Ha

Roasted pumpkin, rocket and fetta frittata

Roasted pumpkin, rocket and fetta frittata Source: www.taste.com.au 

Make this frittata for a quick & easy week night dinner.  With warming roast pumpkin and yummy feta cheese, this dish is sure to please all! 

Ingredients:

• 1/2 quantity Smoky roast pumpkin (see related recipe)
•  100g baby rocket
•  1 small red onion, thinly sliced
•  100g Lemnos Full Cream Fetta, crumbled
•  1/3 cup grated pizza cheese
•  8 eggs
•  3/4 cup pure cream
•  100g mixed salad leaves
•  250g cherry tomatoes, halved
•  1 Lebanese cucumber, cut into thin ribbons
•  1/4 cup balsamic dressing

Method:

Preheat oven to 180C/160C fan-forced. Grease a 20cm square (base) cake pan. Line base and sides with baking paper.

Layer pumpkin, rocket, onion and fetta in pan. Sprinkle top with pizza cheese

Whisk eggs and cream together in a large jug. Season with salt and pepper. Pour into pan. Place pan on a baking tray. Bake for 55 minutes or until browned and just set.

Meanwhile, combine salad leaves, tomato, cucumber and dressing in a large bowl. Toss to combine.

Stand frittata in pan for 5 minutes. Carefully remove from pan. Cut into pieces and serve with salad.

Recipe courtesy of: www.taste.com.au 

2016 Royal Bathurst Show

Head to the Royal Bathurst Show this weekend for showbags, rides, entertainment and food! Don't miss out on the fireworks displays on Friday & Saturday night!

SHOWTIMES:

Fri 8th - 9AM - 10PM

Sat 9th - 9AM - 10PM

Sun 10th - 9AM - 4PM

Iconic pub inspires Brisbane home

A Brisbane home has taken its inspiration from one of the city’s most iconic pubs.

This Red Hill home has been inspired by the heritage-listed Normanby Hotel and duplicates its gable fretwork and balcony balustrades.

The facade also owes its bricks to the woodfired kilns at Warwick Brick Works.

Within the home, there are polished concrete and spotted gum timber floors, 3m high ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows.

To one side of the home are vertical gardens and bi-fold doors open to a patio, lawn and saltwater plunge pool.

Builder-owner Aaron Dick bought the block in October 2014 and subdivided it after demolishing an older home on the site.

He and interior designer Libby Sellick took just 12 months to finish the Normanby Home at 137 Arthur Tce and a similar neighbouring home.

“I’ve done work for high end clients before and I’ve been doing jobs (like this) since 2009 but this is an inner city home on a small block,” Dick said.

“We’ve also had to be compliant with the character code in the area.”

He said the “spectacular” Normanby Hotel had given him plenty of inspiration for the two-level home.

“I’ve been driving past it a long time and you only need to stand back and look at it to see it’s a good looking building.”

The popular hotel also inspired Dick to only use hand made wood fired bricks at the home as they resembled those in old buildings.

The stylish bathroom beats a pub’s any day.

The home has multiple living areas with an open-plan area on the lower level including a built-in sitting nook, built-in wine shelves and space for a bar fridge.

The kitchen has a study nook, two-pack cabinetry, a walk-in pantry, a stainless steel and timber island bench and breakfast bar, soft-close drawers, and a Falcon oven and cooktop.

Development: Plans for $75 million shopping village in Cannon Hill

The pantry, along with a study, has a sliding barn-style door.

On the upper level is a third living room and three bedrooms with built-in wardrobes.

Light and airy hallway.

A bathroom has a freestanding bathtub and a separate shower.

The main bedroom at the front of the floorplan opens to the balcony and has a walk-in wardrobe and an ensuite.

The home also has a double garage with internal access and storage space, ducted airconditioning, Back to Base security system, and intercom.

by Charlotte Durut

23 MAR 2016

 

Article Source: www.realestate.com.au

Inside Chris Hemsworth’s Malibu home

Actor Chris Hemsworth is selling his five-bedroom six-bathroom property in Malibu, described as “a home fit for a god” for $US6.5 million. So what kind of lifestyle does Thor’s house offer?

The Victorian style mansion, built in 1992, is situated in the gated community of Point Dume home to the likes of Julia Roberts and Cindy Crawford.

The 631sqm property underwent a renovation in 2012 and it includes a large kitchen with state of the art appliances, vaulted ceilings, and stunning views from the balconies and verandas.

Hemsworth is selling up after buying a property in Byron Bay.  

The property also comes with a library and guesthouse

There is a three-car garage just a short distance from the house and then there’s the home gym.

The star who made his name as the god Thor in the Marvel superheroes movie franchise, has lived with his wife Elsa Pataky and three children at the property since buying it from Crocodile Dundee star Paul Hogan for $US4.8 million.

Article Source: www. realestate.com.au (by Danielle Cahill)

Chocolate Christmas Cookies

• 
• Bake these yummy Christmas cookies that double as decorations for your tree!
• 
  
• 
• Ingredients:  
• 200g butter, softened
• 1/3 cup (75g) brown sugar
•  2 tablespoons golden syrup
•  2 cups (300g) plain flour
•  1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
•  2 tablespoons Nestle Baking Cocoa
•  1 ready-made small piping bag
•  1 1/3 cups (200g) Nestle White Melts, melted
•  Ribbon, to decorate

Method: 

1. Step 1
   Preheat oven to 180C/160C fan forced. Grease and line 2 baking trays with non-stick baking paper.
2. Step 2
   Using an electric mixer, beat butter and sugar until pale and creamy. Add golden syrup; beat until well combined.
3. Step 3
   Stir in flour and cinnamon and Nestle Baking Cocoa and mix until just combined. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead lightly until smooth. Cover and place in the fridge for 30 minutes to rest.
4. Step 4
   Using a lightly floured rolling pin, roll out dough until 4mm thick. Using 8 cm star or snowflake shaped biscuit cutter, cut shapes from the dough. Place on prepared trays. Then using a 4 cm star or snowflake shaped biscuit cutter, cut a smaller shape from the centre of each biscuit.
5. Step 5
   Use a thin drinking straw to cut a small hole in the top corner of each biscuit. Continue cutting biscuits from the dough, re-rolling as necessary. Bake for 12 minutes or until golden Set aside to cool slightly.
6. Step 6
   Spoon Nestle White Melts into a piping bag; drizzle on to biscuits.
7. Step 7
   Thread ribbon through the hole in each biscuit and secure with a knot.

Recipe courtesy of: www.taste.com.au