we have had fun playing at the park
swinging all day long
in spotty legs
& red shoes
what about you? join in too
@ my house
we have had fun playing at the park
swinging all day long
in spotty legs
& red shoes
what about you? join in too
lOVE it
it's a rainy day here in Melbourne
cold
& wet outside
so I am
loving a warm cup
of hot chocolate
it brightens
up my day!
image from here
Read More...
cold
& wet outside
so I am
loving a warm cup
of hot chocolate
it brightens
up my day!
image from here
A touch of Fall
I'm a sucker for Fall decorations so I had to have this wreath ($8.99 on sale at AC Moore) and I love it. It gives a nice touch to the outside since we're still waiting on new shutters (take a look at the new siding though!). So homey, it just shouts Hello Autumn.
We bought this house, our first house, in October 2007 from an older couple. They had a wreath on the door at the time that felt so inviting to me that it had already felt like home.
a snapshot of the day we bought our home.
We bought this house, our first house, in October 2007 from an older couple. They had a wreath on the door at the time that felt so inviting to me that it had already felt like home.
Seed Child Wardrobe Inspriation
know my girls are constantly growing but I still get a shock each new season when they have grown out of last years wardrobe - when you see they every day you don't notice it as much, but when the weather changes and it is time to put those winter clothes on the higher shelf and pull out some lighter clothes you really see the difference.
As it is trickier to get to the shops these days I pop onto the Seed Child website to have a look at some of the new season goodies and get some inspiration before I really hit the shops to buy Sienna some new things - as you can see I found a few lovely things for all of my girls! Hope they provide some inspiration for you as well.
Inspiration for Sienna
Inspiration for Sofia
Inspiration for Indiana
Sister's Baby Shower
Saturday was my sisters baby shower. She is due on Halloween with a little girl.
Her name is Bailey.
We're all excited to add another family member!
This is the banner that I and Lori handmade. Three strenuous hours :)
"Welcome Bailey"
The favors (m&m's and hershey's kisses) surrounded her maternity pictures for centerpieces.
And here she is.. the preggo sis!
Bailey's nursery decor, bear ballerinas
Everything turned out great; though we could have done without the late September heat wave!
This is her second baby.
My nephew Hayden was born July 2007.
Where does time go? Sounds cliche but it really does feel like yesterday when I heard his heartwarming first cry in the hospital. Amazing. I was so excited to meet him.
This calls for a couple photos of that night.
And now I can not wait to meet his little sister. Five weeks! Time to start the countdown.
Clutter bygod begone
I don't like clutter. Ignore the fact that I seem to have developed a rampant bird ornament collection. I don't like clutter.
Contrary to appearances (frizzy, bit rough around the edges), I'm a very organised individual (super smooth, no edges). Having too much mess around me just makes me feel a bit psycho. Order = peace. Order = easy. Order = good.
That said, I can't stand a 'minimalist' approach to life either. I like lived in, I like things around me that make me feel happy. I'm a little bit messy and a tad suspicious of those that aren't. And I'm nowhere near as neat as I'd like to be.
But in Maxabellaland everything has a container to return home to at night. I can't wax lyrical enough about good storage space and good storage containers. Not that you need to fill every available storage surface. My favourite place in my house is an empty drawer. A drawer. Empty. Makes me feel at peace with the world every time I look at it.*
You see, I try very hard not to buy clutter in the first place, but it's difficult to keep it totally at bay and allow the tsunamis to have a life at the same time. You know what I'm talking about: the stuff. So many artworks you could paper your house both inside and out. Lots and lots and lots of little bits that are supposed to go with other little bits but have been orphaned. A zoo of stuffed animals that you're pretty sure are breeding like they're all rabbits. You just know you will be picking up that same stuffed pink fluffy bear and green giraffe with the smug smile on its face** when you're child is doing their final exams.
Every now and then*** I have a total clear-out. I get rid of all the bits and the pieces and the stuff and the nonsense. I put it either back in its rightful place or in the bin if its past its useful date or in the bag for children who will love it more than you do by packing it away after they've played with it instead of leaving it in the middle of the hallway for your mother to trip over when she comes in the door with five bags of groceries in each hand.
I love my clear outs. That wonderful sensation you get when everything is in its spot, where everything just works. Lasts about five minutes at my place (and god knows I've never successfully found a solution to the 'third drawer down' problem or the 'random basket of stuff on the bench' problem) but I live (and plan!) in hope.
* I know this makes me borderline weird, but you have no idea how relaxing an empty drawer can be.
** I hate that giraffe.
*** Ok, practically weekly but I'm not, like, obsessive or anything.
[Image from Run with Scissors - a really fab blog of a gal who judging by this pic is presumably living the life I so desire.]
Home-made Vintage
Last month a lovely lady from illustrated lifestyle publishers, Ryland Peters &
Small and CICO Books, contacted me to ask if I would be interested in receiving review copies of their books. So, I headed over to their site where I was greeted with titles like The Hummingbird Bakery Cookbook and Romantic Style by Selina Lake. How exciting!
I will be reading and reviewing a book a month from amongst their titles. Please note that my opinions are my own and I am not paid for these reviews (apart from receiving a free book, of course!).
This month I am reviewing Home-made Vintage by Christina Strutt. The author is the founder of country-chic lifestyle store, Cabbages & Roses, started in 2008, and Christina worked in interior design and styling before that. I chose this craft book as I love Cabbage & Roses' style, which is nostalgic, romantic and subtly eccentric.
In my opinion this is a charming book adorned with a wealth of fabulous inspirational photographs. From using scraps of fabrics to beads and ribbons, it inspires you to create an individual country cottage style home with a mix of modern and vintage.
It contains over 40 quick and easy sewing projects. Each item is beautifully styled by Christina Strutt and photographed by Lucinda Symons, with dedicated home sections for making beautiful accessories for your living room, bedroom, bathroom and kitchen which will brighten up any dull space and add some vintage chic. There are also clothes and accessories and a section for gifts, including stylish kitchen aprons, darling rabbit dolls, kitsch bunting and treasured pencil cups.
Not only is it a gorgeous looking book, but it is filled with great original ideas you'll want to make. The adorable hand illustrated instructions by Kate Simunek are clear and easy to understand and with sewing instructions by Jane Bolsover you can't go wrong! In addition to the illustrations and instructions the back is filled with useful templates and stockists.
If you, like myself, are a hoarder of fabrics and trims there are also creative ways to display your delicious collections.
At a recommended retail price of £12.99, it is good value for money as it contains so many great ideas. A perfect gift for those who are taking their first steps into the world of sewing.
Some of the delightful projects I'd like to have a go at are:
Seat Pillow - I would like to make a pretty duck egg blue seat pillow for my office chair, and I'm loving the big bows that secure it in place.
Cutlery roll - With some of the fabric I have left from my outdoor cushions, I think it would be super cute to make a cutlery roll to hold my pink and blue cutlery for summertime picnics.
Garden tool apron - I have some scraps of stone and white spot oilcloth that would be great for the garden tool apron. It would also match my garden shed curtains! The book suggests using the eyelets from the straps to hang it up.
Hot water bottle cover - As the nights draw in and the temperature drops, I will be giving a warm welcome to my hot water bottle by giving it a new sage green cover to match my bedroom.
Tied pillow cover - I wish I had seen this earlier, as I would have done my outdoor cushions with ties instead of buttons.
To summarise, Home-made Vintage by Christina Strutt is a beautiful book full of quick and easy ways to transform your home and delight your friends with a touch of vintage charm. You will want to pick up a needle and thread and get started, even if you have never given it a go before!
Have a sweet day!
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