New Year... clean slate!


Image from Etsy

Whatever you did, wherever you were, whoever you were with... I hope you sang in the new year with joy! Did you make any resolutions? I must admit I gave up on that years ago; about the most successful I have ever been is the year I attempted to address my hot-chip addiction by resolving to give them up cold turkey . I think I managed to abstain until about mid-February which for me was like some kind of world record! This year, I just want to focus on appreciating and loving my life and my family and friends. Oh, and if I could but learn to think before I speak that would be an added bonus...

Thankyou new year for already knocking my socks off. I wonder what the next year will deliver?

~ Holiday Time ~


The new year has been welcomed so we are off on an 8 day vacation to our family holiday house up the coast. See you on my return.

*Happy New Year*

Happy New Year graphic by Torie Jayne
"Wishing you and your loved ones a Happy New Year".

Thank you to all of you for your wonderful love and support this year! I have loved getting to know you.

Have a sweet year!

~ Farewell 2009 ~

It is just over an hour to midnight here in Sydney as I write this post.

We have just farewelled the family after the spectacular 9pm fireworks. The kids are in bed, the washing up is done and we can now sit back and watch the awesome midnight fireworks display over Sydney Harbour from our living room.

2009 has been a big year for us - a new baby and a new house.

Here is to 2010 when I hope to be able to finally sit back and enjoy my new house and watch my beautiful family blossom as we start new schools, new pre-schools and new routines.

I can't wait - 2010 is going to be wonderful.

I hope 2010 is all you hope it to be as well.

Leanne
xxxxx

Happy New Year



Happy New Year

May 2010 bring you nothing but happiness, love and laughter
May the goals you set be easy to achieve
May you find more reasons to smile in each and every day

No matter when midnight strikes for you
May the following dawn be full of promise

Many hugs from Perth
xxx

Christmas baking

Pretty baking
Christmas tree cookie cutters
Christmas cake tin
Flavoured sugar
Christmas tea towels
Ever since I was little it has been a Christmas tradition of mine to cook with my Mum. When I was much younger I would make the candies, from chocolate truffles to filling dates with marzipan. As I got older I would make the snowball pudding, covering it in whipped cream. Then later I was allowed to decorate the Christmas cake.

This year was no exception. Several weeks ago my Mum and me made our Christmas cakes together, and we also made over 100 mince pies one night last week!

Hope you had fun baking for the holidays!




This is the year - for not sweating the small stuff, starting the house renovations, meeting a number of special babies due - (2 in Jan, 4 in Feb, plus many more),  dancing more, seeing Lou enjoy her day at her new early learning center, watching my brother and his beautiful fiance get hitched, nurturing my friendships, getting pregnant (hopefully), renewing my gym membership knowing I didn't waste it last year (yay), building my little business, getting to know my new madeit and blogging friends better, calling on a babysitter more often,  celebrating 10 years with my hubby, learning to sew, giving more, loving more and living life more........

                                         



Holiday Projects..



I love this time of year, when everyone is relaxed and happy to go at a slower pace. I finally got some motivation to sew some cubby house curtains for Lou's little house and I am so pleased with the result. Be gentle with me ladies its like the 3rd thing I have ever sewn. My lovely friend (who has also lent me the sewing machine) gave me a while back, a box of vintage trims and lace which I have been dying to use as well.  They really make it a home now and I love listening to her chatter away in there pouring tea for her teddies. So Cute! I have a few more things I want to attempt - anyone else working on something special...?



Fern's Birthday Bunting

I'm baaaaack! But did you even notice I was gone? This last week has been Chris-crazy and I feel like I am only JUST surfacing for air. It's been a whirlwind of family and friends, the (odd) shopping jaunt, pressies, waaaay too much Christmas cake and pud, and planning Fern's first birthday party which is now a mere 4 days away.

Whilst everyone else is madly planning their NYE celebrations, I am gluing, sewing, labelling, cooking, wrapping and generally flapping about like a woman possessed. I am supposed to be going to a party tomorrow night (I found a babysitter! What were the chances?!) and I am wondering when I will decide on a costume; normally I would have decided weeks ago and bought something special for the occasion. No time now!

Anyway, I am very proud of myself because we managed to finish Fern's birthday bunting! Here it is, strung quickly outside so you get a preview:


and a closeup of Fern's name:

I also did a practice run on Fern's cake today... and just as well. Let's just say there are a few small details I will need to get my head around prior to the day. No sneaky previews; you'll just have to wait and see!

Have a great NYE, how will you celebrate it?

xo

~ The Table ~

My Christmas Day table turned out lovely.

Black, white and silver was the theme. I used some lovely card stock for the place cards -
I used Seleta's lovely idea of listing three traits about each person on the inside of each place card.

My jars looked great and I filled one with red lollies and the other with silver balls and black and white ribbon.


Candles and a new silver reath at each end.

And of course white linen and white crockery.
Our new table was the perfect length to seat 11 adults.

christmas day delight











Hand made sugary Christmas tree decorations

Handmade Christmas cookie decorations
Handmade Christmas cookie decorations
Handmade Christmas cookie decorations
Handmade Christmas cookie decorations
Fimo cookie stars
To go with my bought Christmas tree decorations I made some Fimo cookie shaped ones using cookie cutters. I baked them, varnished them and added a sprinkling of white glitter!

Have a sweet day!

Apartment Therapy "Homies" blog contest

Homie Awards at Apartment Therapy
Baking
Apartment Therapy is having a top "Homies" blog contest and the voting ends today (until noon EST).

"There are awards for all sorts of blogs, but no one ever pays enough attention to the shelter blogs, so we started The Homies. It's our way of surveying the blogosphere each year for the best new home design blogs and sharing what we find. It's not so much a competition as a celebration of the richness and awesomeness of shelter bloggers around the world. Join us, share your favorites and check out the ones you don't know." from Apartment Therapy.

The sweet Cristina at Fabulous finds Gal nominated me in the "Home Cooking" section. Thank you!

You can cast your votes here! (Click link to go to website). Enjoy the list of wonderful blogs!

Have a sweet day!

Christmas candy jars

Candy Christmas tree jar
Christmas candy jar
Glass Christmas tree
Candy Christmas tree
As a regular reader of my blog you will know I love Candy jars! Christmas is no exception and I now have four glass Christmas jars to fill. I bought my first one in 2006 from House of Fraser, the two smaller ones are from Crate & Barrel from 2007/2008, and my newest one is the very large one at the top from Busy Bee. I filled the two smaller ones with M&M's, the oldest one with foil wrapped chocolates and for my newest one I took a trip to Mrs Kibbles.


Candy shopping
I looked all over the internet for Christmas tree glass jars to add to my collection and could not find any! Then just moments ago I found these.


Milkhouse Creamery Set of 2 Festive Tree Shaped Candles from QVC
Milkhouse Creamery Set of 2 Festive Tree Shaped Candles

Have a sweet day!

~ Excited and Happy Girls ~

I know it is a few days since Santa made his visit but I had to post a few photos of my very excited and happy girls after opening their gifts from the man in red. The sound of Sofia coming down the stairs and announcing with great excitment "He's been, he's been" is the most wonderful sound a mum can hear on Christmas morning ...






Entering the New Decade

So only a few more days and another new decade begins, having been born right in the middle of the 50s there are quite a few already under my belt, I hope that I have many more to come.

I am not one to make New Year's resolutions, but way back in early December I decided that 2010 was my year, the year I turn my health issues around. I will lose weight in 2010 - I am not setting myself a goal, but weight will be lost. I will exercise more and eat well and stop drinking coke (my one weakness). This is the year my life change starts.

Have you decided to make some life changes in 2010? Are there things you are going to do that make your life better, happier, more fulfilled. Is this the year you are going to look at life as 'glass half full'? Let me know, for if I can encourage you in any way during the year I would love to do so.

Roll on 2010 - it is going to be a great year!!

Flickr Faves 2009

My Favourite Flickr faves
For the last Flickr Faves Sunday of the year I wanted to share with you some of my favourite mosaics that I have featured this year.

Some beautiful shots from my Flickr favourites (each row across from left to right):
Have a sweet day!


Wishing you a Merry Christmas
May 2010 bring you peace, love, laughter and happiness

Hugs from Perth xxx

merry christmas

to
YOU
thank you
for all
your
support
emails
comments
& purchases
over the past year
I hope you have an
enjoyable
Christmas
time
with
lots
of
love
&
fun



grab a handful of M&M's on your way out!!



Thank you for your support and love this year.

Have a great day!



~ Twas the Night Before Christmas ~

The kids are in bed ....

They have left out a cookie and milk for Santa ...

and a carrot for the reindeers ...

I think I here him coming now ....

Goodnight and Merry Christmas everyone, sweet dreams ......

The 12th Day of Christmas

2009 - the year that was, good, bad, painful, happy, sometimes joyous, often filled with laughter, sometimes with loss, new beginnings, sad goodbyes, days when my glass ran over, days when it was dry. But always filled with love - both given and received. So I don't think I could ask for anything more.

Bring on 2010 - a new decade, the year I turn 55, the year I lose weight (yes I am determined it will happen).

Wishing everyone a year ahead filled with love, laughter and happiness.

Hugs from Perth xxx

Christmas cakes

Village Christmas cake
My Christmas cake
Christmas cake close up
Star Christmas cake
Close up of Star cake
This Christmas I made two gluten free Christmas cakes: the top one for my family and me and the second as a gift for a very dear friend of mine.

I loved the print on my Cath Kidston Christmas cards of a snowy pastel coloured village and used it as inspiration for my cake. I made the houses out of coloured roll-on icing using square and triangle cutters. The tree was made using star cutters.

Happy Holidays!
x
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