Good Food & Wine Show in Melbourne 2015

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So, last Saturday, Mr. C and I trotted along to the Good Food & Wine Show (GWFS) at Melbourne Exhibition & Convention Centre. He is forever scouting for deals on OZ Bargain with our fellow colleagues and came across free entrance tickets to the GWFS.

I've been wanting to check out GWFS that occurs every year and throughout the year. We saw a line of people at the booth queuing to pay for entrance tickets. If I am not wrong it was about $30+. Definitely not worth it in my opinion if you had to pay to enter.

Ok. My take on GWFS:

1. Too many people and layout of booth made it harder to maneuver around.

2. Had to pay if you wanted to eat/ drink or attend masterclasses/ classes and it's not necessarily cheap.

3. More or all shops should offer samples or sell at a discounted price from their usual to promote awareness

4. The Aussies were jovial and a happy bunch with their drinking and drink holders around their necks! They sure know how to have a good time!

5. We won't be going back anytime soon unless to bring friends/ family and if entrance tickets are FREE!

Masters Knoxfield Free Sample Pot !!

With Project Paint No.52 underway, a free sample pot is always welcomed! That was why I was giddy with excitement when hubby showed me the above Masters brochure early on in the week. 

Masters was giving out Valspar Diamond 500ml sample pot of paint on Saturday and a Crescent 8m tape measure on Sunday.

The catch - be the first 500 customers to present the voucher!

Despite wanting a sample pot that is free, I wasn't kiasu enough to wake up at 6am and head to Masters although the thought did cross my mind. Only for a second though. But hubby and I decided we wanted to sleep in (it is after all the start of our long weekend holiday, lol, 3 day weekend) and head to Good Food & Wine Show.

After the Show, we had plenty of time on hand with nothing else to do. Guess what? We decided to head on to Masters near home and try our 'luck' to score a sample pot. Suffice to say, we made it just in time as there were only a few more left.

Besides purchasing a vase and two plants, we bought three $30 shelves each to better organise our garden shed! Definitely a bargain. I know because I have been eyeing shelves for the past few months. Also have a few more items on my mind to look out for with the upcoming EOFY (End of Financial Year) sales.

And this is why I love this awesome part of Aussie - the specials!

The only setback - we were told the sample pot was more suited for indoor use AFTER we picked a colour, dark grey! I would have picked a lighter, prettier colour had I known it was for indoor usage.

Anyhow, I am still going to try painting the fence under the carport with our free sampel pot and see how it goes. Fingers crossed!!

Homecooked : Soup for the soul

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Potato, Leek and Bacon Soup

Ever since Mr. C and I bought a Phillips Hand Blender (Phillips Avance 740w), we've been happily utilising it to make Avocado Shakes and soups! 

I had been researching for awhile now on blenders and food processors. Friends recommended Spectablend and even Thermomix, both a bit pricey in my opinion. Hence, the hesitancy and the lag in obtaining a desired appliance. I did not want to buy these appliances (as most ladies who cook in the kitchen do, true life story of a few friends!) only to use them a couple of times in the first few months and subsequently collect dust at the back of my cupboard from neglect. 

When Catch of The Day had this Phillips hand blender on special for about $70, it was a deal I just couldn't say no to and the rest they say is history!

Thus, began a wonderful journey between us, The Clemsters (I know, lame of me to combine our names but oh well... or you rather The Esments) with our Phillipie, the hand blender!

Stay tune for more Phillipie adventures...