one month to go...

 
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Last year we celebrated my little boys first birthday with family and friends. I just adore a party and the thrill of researching and styling little events such as his birthday parties, first Christmas, Christening, Easter etc etc makes my head spin with ideas and anticipation. I love to match, theme and create right down to the last detail. This of course can cause a slight headache at times....but it is all worth it in the end!
So I have one month to put the thinking cap on...we are celebrating with family this year in our garden. I have to admit a vintage style...sporting carnival may just be on the cards...my little one can't get enough of ball/running/jumping games. Whatever we decide I can't believe my baby is turning two, with mixed emotions I know it will be a beautiful day.

Aqua Glass

Aqua Glass
This week on Flickr Faves Sunday, I bring you the wonderful colour Aqua with these gorgeous pics. Check back soon for some more of the most inspirational photographers on Flickr.

Some beautiful shots from my Flickr favourites (clockwise from top left):

Have a sweet day!
fresh is best...

Time spent with family before my sister leaves for her trip...picking limes, passion fruit, oranges and pale pink roses all from the grandparent's garden is such a treat for this little boy. Lot's of laughs and good food made for a special weekend!



blog love

A big thank you to my friend Melinda @ Here we go Loopy Lou who has passed this blog award on to me. (Make sure you are a follower of her blog to keep up to date with her amazing range of fabric cards.)


As part of this blog award fun I need to let you all know 7 things you may not know about me:


1: I have green eyes
2: When I eat cheese I like it sliced really thin
3: I have lived in 3 different countries
4: My dream car was once a VW beetle convertible!
5: I shop online for almost everything        
6: I would love to own a beach box one day & turn it into my photography studio where people could buy my work & book photo sessions 
   7: I love fresh sheets on all the beds in the house sprinkled with lavender oil


Now it is my turn to pass this award on to

Cathie @ M.E
Fiona @ Squirt baby




Sunday Citar - Rainbows




It is a wet Winter's day here in Perth, which made me think of rainbows, those beautiful things that remind you that sunshine does exist even on the wettest and grayest day.



The soul would have no rainbow had the eyes no tears ... John Vance Cheney

The work will wait while you show the child the rainbow, but the rainbow won't wait while you do the work ... anonymous

The true harvest of my life is intangible - a little star dust caught, a portion of the rainbow I have clutched ... Henry David Thoreau

and finally the one that I live my life by

Life is like a rainbow. You need both the sun and the rain to make it's colours appear.

And of course my favourite rainbow song - enjoy.

May your week have lots of rainbow coloured moments - for even in the darkest times, there is the possibility of a rainbow - you just have to look. xxx

Easy Sunday: Beyond Beautiful Banana Bread

I don't know when the baking thing snuck up on me. I used to admire my clever sister who could whip up friands and brownies at a moment's notice and think "I could never do that". Packet cakes I could manage, anything "from scratch" I thought was beyond me.

Which is why I was surprised that my answer to Capper's question of "What's your 3 favourite things to do besides play with me?" was "writing and gardening... and baking". Baking, really? Well... yes!  I've been a happy little baker for well over a year now. There's this thing called a recipe, you see. And if you follow it religiously (and then get to know the particular foibles of your oven...), out come the baked goods, yum, yum, yum. I love trying out different recipes for classics, finding my very favourite and sticking with it (hence my previous postings for the ultimate apple teacake, ultimate scones and ultimate muesli bars...)

Try this one from delicious. magazine on for size...


Beyond Beautiful Banana Bread



1 1/2 cups (225g) plain flour

1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 cup (110g) caster sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1 egg
1/3 cup (80ml) sunflower oil
1 tsp vanilla extract
4 ripe bananas, mashed  (if your children are anything like the Tsunamis and detest 'bits' you'll want to spend a fair bit of time going over the banana with a fork...)
65g pecans or walnuts, roughly chopped


• Preheat the oven to 180°C. Grease and line the base of a 900ml loaf pan (test the size by filling the pan with water and then pouring it into a measuring jug.)

• Sift the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, sugar and salt into a large bowl. In a separate bowl, combine the egg, oil and vanilla.

• Add to the dry ingredients with banana and pecan and fold until just combined - do not overmix.

• Place into the loaf pan and bake for 50 minutes or until golden. Allow to cool for 10 minutes, then remove, and slice thickly. Serve spread with butter and drizzled with honey.


[Image by Mark Roper]

shadow shot

hey harriet







Foot step shadows. 
My Dad walking in the city with my girl!