Since Sydney seems to be swimming in gourmet burger joints these days I'm making burgers for dinner, as I wrote that I realised we have no cheese in the house, a trip to the shops may be in order! My secret ingredient is a teaspoon of Tabasco sauce, otherwise known as one of the greatest condiments known to man_ it's on an equal footing with Hot English Mustard and Chilli sauce. Here's what I'm taking for inspiration from Jamie Oliver

[Jamie Oliver]

Mish

I'm loving Goldie Hawn, who doesn't love classics like 'Overboard'?

The mascara in the next two photos is amazing, so 1960s! Something to aim to replicate!

[Kitty Stampede]

[Amybella Designs' Photostream]

The following photo captures a really lovely moment with her daughter Kate Hudson

[Instyle]

Mish

Sunday sleep in

Dog tired. Cocktails and Vietnamese food till late in shoreditch last night.

Fi

Spontaneous City

'The Spontaneous City in the Tree of Heaven', The Secret Garden, Islington, North London.

With over 300 boxes of varying sizes, they hope to bring birds and bugs back into London.

Fi

Greasy Spoon

A greasy spoon cafe - these were 1950s staples, before Costa and Starbucks ripped up the high streets. This one in Old Street was delightfully rough around the edges and no frills in style. We wandered in because it was packed with people tucking into lunch. Clearly they liked this cafe, as the wall behind the counter was earmarked with over a hundred pictures of customers grinning from beneath bowl haircuts, 60's bobs and 80's perms.

We squeezed into a freshly vacated booth, with neon yellow walls and mint green trim, a well worn formica tabletop, peeling lino floors and chatted over large mugs of piping hot tea and chunky chips doused in salt and vinegar. Grinning all the while.

Fi

Dulce de Leche

I was at the deli this morning buying prosciutto and cheese, inspired by French Food Safari to make a Jamon Croque Monsieur while there I happened upon a jar of Dulce de Leche which accompanied me home. I've heard much about this apparently addictive Latin American spread, which inspires many to eat it straight from the jar. I've been camping with friends who've feasted on condensed milk straight from the tube, I thought them slightly crazy, though I could certainly treat myself to a spoonful of this.

I've been on an ice cream making frenzy with my new ice cream machine so I'm thinking of making some caramel ice cream out of it. Though there are so many options of what to do with it...

Maybe some brownies, like these amazing beauties by David Lebovitz featured on his blog

[David Lebovitz]

Or some Carrot Cake Cupcakes with Dulce de Leche Buttercream, I do so love carrot cake. Joy the Baker featured these drool-worthy cupcakes

[Joy the Baker]

Or a delightful looking cheesecake perhaps?

[Poires Au Chocolate]

Or a delicious and slightly naughty Dulce de Leche coffee, reminiscent of Irish coffee posted by Ree over at The Pioneer Woman Cooks

[The Pioneer Woman Cooks]

Whatever I make with it, I know that its not exactly a health food and so it'll surely be shared, unless I crack and start eating it straight from the jar.

Mish

Dreamboats and petticoats

Like Mish, I'm a massive fan of 1960's music - 'The Boat that Rocked' is a firm favourite. So I was more than delighted when I found out about 'Dreamboats and Petticoats', in fact I was practically in raptures watching the musical and wore the carpet threadbare with my toe tapping!

The storyline is a cutesy tale of teenage love, set in a British youth club over the summer. While it's not the most original premise, it didn't matter, as it was all about the musical score. It is in the genre of 'jukebox musical', as the score is comprised of previously released pop songs. Which are all played by live musicans during the show.

What made the night even more enjoyable, was the audience, who were mostly made up of baby boomer rockers - who crooned and bopped along to all the hit songs of their youth. One particular highlight was when a man, who would have been no younger than 75, was one of the first to leap up and unself-consciously jive along to the encore, despite his fragile appearence and stiff-legged gait.

I had such a good time, I'm tempted to go again....