Jikana Damaru: 12/20/10

Santa Puppy

My sister bought Roxy this hat so of course I had to take a few pictures of her wearing it :)

Really mom?!

Can I get those goodies in my stocking now?

Please? I've been so good!

Let me tell you, having her sit as still as possible with that hat on so I could get a picture was NOT easy!! Oh and, treats...a lot of treats was how I managed to get these!

And this is my entry for The Paper Mama's Photo Challenge: Winter

A Pink and White Wedding Candy Table

Last week I had the pleasure of creating a candy table at Wendy and Lester's wedding. This candy table was a surprise gift for the couple from their bridesmaids. Wendy's wonderful bridesmaids knew how much she wanted a candy table at her wedding but time would not allow her to put it together so they surprised her at her kitchen tea with this lovely and thoughtful gift.

The colour theme was pink and white and I had great fun choosing the correct candy for this table which included personalised lollipops and mini chocolate bars, sugar sticks, milk bottles, marshmallows, candy pigs, rock candy, jelly beans, chunky sour pigs, chocolate hearts, milk chocolate hearts, musk sticks and cool mints. Here are my snaps from the day!

Congratulations Wendy and Lester on your marriage - I hope you and your guests enjoyed your candy.

Last Minute Handmade Xmas GIft Idea... a Personalised Towel!

Last night, I finished a little sewing project I've had lying around for a few weeks ... it's a personalised bathtowel!

To make, I bought a good quality white Egyptian towel for each of the kids, and some spotty fabric (pink for Fern, green for Elliott) with coordinating ribbon and thread to match. The tricky bit was pinning the ribbon into a cursive script onto the towel (I still haven't tackled Elliott's!) and don't even get me started on how long it took me to negotiate all those twists and turns on the sewing machine! I made a mistake in cutting the fabric for the base of the towel, so Fern's has stitching halfway down where I ran out on the back. And it's kind of wonky because I can't seem to sew in a straight line. Still. I reckon it turned out ok considering my elementary sewing prowess, and once I finish Elliott's I reckon they'll look cute hanging together on the towel rail!

I got the idea from The Crafty Kids by Kelly Doust... this book has some super cute projects and is the sister title to The Crafty Minx, which I also own. I am kind of a craft book addict at the mo (Ive got 2 other titles on order from Santa!). I highly recommend these books to you if you are relatively new to sewing and want to tackle some cute... but relatively easy... projects!

Don't you think this would make a great gift idea? I would have made a few more to offer as gifts if this one hadn't taken me 1700 hours to make! ;) What gifts have you handmade this Xmas?

More Bokeh?

Why not?! Tis the season!
I could take a million bokeh pictures, they're just so pretty and there's so much you can do with it!

Below is my entry for Paper Heart Camera: Show and Tell: Bokeh. It's my favorite hot chocolate mug. I should have done the whole whipped cream on top..but it was just a quick shot. I love the tree and presents stacked up in the background.

And this is a little puppy Hubby's grandmother gave me because she said it looks like Roxy :)

She's so sweet.

Had enough bokeh yet?
No? Then head over to Paper Heart Camera for more!

Happy Monday! How was your weekend?! Mine was pretty laid back and I didn't take any pictures besides these. But I did the rest of my Christmas shopping, cleaned the house, and relaxed! It was nice. Hubby is off this week so I'll be enjoying time with him! 5 days until Christmas!!

Christmas Details by Mary Norden

This month I'm reviewing three Christmas books from illustrated lifestyle publishers, Ryland Peters & Small and CICO Books. Today I am reviewing Christmas Details by Mary Norden. Mary Norden is an author and stylist of home and craft books and magazines, as well as Interiors Editor of Red Magazine.

In my opinion this is a sweet little soft cover book full of wonderful photographs of an array of Christmas styles and themes. Each theme has about a dozen creative ideas on how to create the look and all are charmingly photographed by Sandra Lane.

This is a delightful book to leaf through to give you very good ideas for a white, traditional, exotic, contemporary or, my favourite, country styled Christmas. It presents a wealth of ideas on setting the table, wrapping presents, making small gifts and decorating the home. From decadent white feathers and glamorous sequins for your White Christmas to the rich berry red, opulent shades of maroon and purplish black to inject drama into the reassuringly traditional Christmas theme of Holly and Ivy. From sparkling votives and spicy pomanders for your exotic Christmas to the cool metallic, textured paper and frosty glass of the contemporary Christmas. The country Christmas is a relaxed family affair with pearly snow berries, ivy wrapped candle lit jars and cream glazed earthenware filled with decorative foliage. The book finishes with gift ideas like spiced nuts, rustic beeswax and colourful hand made stockings.

However, this is not a particularly practical book. The instructions are brief and don't contain enough detail for the more complicated crafts and there are no patterns or templates to help you, either. At a recommended price of £8.99, I think it is a good coffee table book but I wouldn't buy it for instructional purposes.

Some of the fun and easy projects I'd like to have a go at are:

Tea lights wrapped in pretty ribbon

This one is for my sweet friend who loves spicy pomanders

A great idea for old glass jars

To summarize, Christmas Details is a delightful coffee table style book. Mary Norden's contemporary eye for detail and Sandra Lane's beautiful photography make this a darling book to leaf though and fire up your imagination.

Please note that my opinions are my own and I am not paid for these reviews (apart from receiving a free book, of course!).

Have a sweet day!

Our Special Adventure

I am very very very excited to share with you all that Rob and I are going to Ayers Rock!!!!

I have been researching, dreaming and planning this trip for a month now and it was going to be a surprise for Rob for his Christmas present! I knew that this was one place he has wanted to visit as an adult so I thought I would surprise him and book our special adventure! My plan was to book the holiday and then buy him a 'fly hat' and put a card on it and leave it under the tree! I couldn't do it though! I had to tell him on Saturday! I wanted to share the excitement and the butterflies and my plans with him so we could share the experience together! I think the best part about a holiday is the weeks leading up to it and the anxious waiting! I think I did pretty well keeping it from him this long hehe He was over the moon and is so super excited about going!

We have had a tough year and Rob has had an even tougher one! I wanted this trip to be special for him. I wanted to thank him and show him that everything that he does for me, our family and our future never goes un-noticed! He works so hard my Rob. He is one of those special people that you come across every now and then who always puts a smile on your face with his genuine, outgoing and passionate view on life. He puts in 200% into everything he does and loves, supports and protects everyone he knows! He has such a special and unique soul and words can't describe how much I am thankful for having him in my life and for loving and protecting and creating a future for me and our family.

No words or presents could thank him but hopefully this adventure will allow him to have a break, get out in his element, explore the beautiful outback, unwind from a crappy year and celebrate the next!

A few special adventures we are goign on...

KATA TJUTA VALLEY OF THE WINDS TOUR

From Uluru to Kata Tjuta (Olgas).

This afternoon your guide will escort you on a 2 to 3 hours walk through the Kata Tjuta domes to the Valley of the Winds lookout. The walking path is rocky, and requires a good level of fitness. After the walk, take in a magnificent “outback” sunset over Kata Tjuta. Refresh yourself with a glass of sparkling wine and nibbles.

ONE DAY KINGS CANYON TOUR

Travel from Ayers Rock Resort to Kings Canyon Resort, stopping for breakfast at Kings Creek Station (own expense). Make the rocky climb to the rim of the canyon for marvelous views of Watarrka National Park. The climb may take up to three hours and is recommended for those with a good level of fitness. After lunch (own expense), we make our way back to Ayers Rock Resort.

Note: During the hotter months of the year temperatures can reach and exceed 36C. In this drier desert climate, heat exhaustion is a very high possibility. There is the alternative to take the guided walk along the Kings Canyon creek-bed as an alternative if it is too hot to climb.

ULURU SUNRISE & CLIMB TOUR

From Ayers Rock Resort to Uluru. Travel to the sunrise viewing area and watch the first sunlight of the day creep across the desert plains and Uluru whilst enjoying a warming cup of tea, coffee or milo and biscuits. Commence the climb to the top of the monolith, for spectacular views. The climb takes about two hours and is recommended for those with a good level of fitness. Please wear sturdy walking shoes, a sun hat and carry plenty of water. Alternatively, non-climbers can choose to take a peaceful stroll along the Mala walk. The Mala Walk winds itself among the bloodwood trees alongside Uluru. It leads to the magnificent Kantju Gorge, a 90 metre drop that becomes an amazing sight when there is enough rain to create a waterfall.

SOUNDS OF SILENCE DINNER

From Ayers Rock Resort to Sounds of Silence Site, entered into the Australian Tourism Hall of Fame, Sounds of Silence offers the best of the Red Centre distilled into four magical hours. This is an unforgettable evening, eating beautifully prepared food under the sparkling outback sky. Your journey begins on a lone sand dune. A meandering path takes you to an uninterrupted, three hundred and sixty degree view of this vast landscape. In front of you is the fabled Uluru; behind you are the domes of Kata Tjuta and, possibly the most spectacular sunset you have ever seen. Here you enjoy sparkling wine and a selection of delectable canapés. As the sun sets in a blaze of reds and oranges, and well into the starlit night, you feast on a gourmet barbecue buffet of authentic Australian delicacies including barramundi, kangaroo, emu, crocodile, bush salads and classic desserts, complemented by some of Australia’s finest wines. Attention then turns to some of the world’s best stargazing, as our resident astronomer takes you on an unforgettable tour of the spectacular southern night sky. As you wind down after a delicious dinner, you are offered a choice of tea, coffee or port.

I am so excited about experiencing and exploring these wonderful places with my love and I know that this will be a holiday that we will never forget!

x S.K.K x

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