This Saturday I'm grateful for... solitude


Here in Maxabellaland, Saturday is traditionally a sport, shop, sort the clothes, sweep the floors, strangle the Tsunamis (insert other 's' words here - no pun intended) kinda day. But on Maxabella loves... I thought it would be grounding to make Saturday my 'grateful' day.



This Saturday I'm grateful for...


Solitude. Time spent alone to just listen is a precious gift.
 
Freesias. The many bulbs in my front garden are scenting the air with Spring and promise and grandmothers.
 
Music. The food of love.
 
 
What's brightening your world today?

BTW, I'm thinking of making Saturday Grateful a linky so we can all do our own grateful posts on our own blogs and link them together. I have a sad history with my lonely fridge linky, so before I hang myself out there I just want to suss out if anyone would join up if I started next week ... x
 

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Finally Friday!

It has been quite the NON-normal week. I was so thankful Monday was a holiday after coming back from New York. I did nearly nothing all day and was still exhausted by 8pm. Tuesday and Wednesday I trudged through while my work partner in crime, sister, was sunbathing on the beach...can you sense some jealousy? ;) Thursday I, unfortunately, had a friend's fathers funeral to attend. Afterwards a large group of friends that also attended had a lunch outing where margaritas were enjoyed. It was a nice time (the after part). Later that evening we went over my sister in laws for her birthday, my mother in laws birthday, and nephews first birthday! We had a little cookout and watched the little one tear apart his birthday cupcake (he LOVES food). There were only crumbs left over. Chocolate was everywhere. It was the cutest sight. 


(Sorry for the terrible pictures! My settings were way wrong then I realized I didn't have my memory card, so I couldn't re-try) 

And, that brings me to Five Question Friday! {My first one!}




1. Do you feel guilty spending money on yourself?
If I go overboard- which is rare- but happens then yes, I do feel guilty.

2. How well do you know your neighbors?
To the front and side of us- we pretty much just wave Hello.
Behind us we know a little better- He's about our age and Hub knew him from soccer or something growing up. And, we've gone to one of his many parties.

3. What age are you looking forward to being? 
24 in five days. I'm actually not very happy about it. I'd like to stay 23 forever!  

4. Do you get excited when the mail comes? Why?
If I'm expecting something. I do like getting the mail though- there's always a chance of a surprise inside. Like you never know what you're going to get. Usually it's just bills and junk mail though :/  With the occasional Netflix movie.

5. What is your earliest childhood memory?
I *think* this would be our family Disney World vacation when I was about three. I remember going on this scary boat ride and holding on tight to my Dad. :)


This weekend will be a busy one with my parents annual crazy party, the nephews birthday party, and the first Redskin game of the season vs. the Cowboys! Should be a good one.




Have a great weekend!

Candy buffet supplies

Vintage dessert table for Brides Magazine by Amy Atlas



Candy buffet supplies by Torie Jayne
  1. Large candy jar with lid; Candy jar with lid
  2. Aluminium sweet scoop 5oz
  3. Candy stripe paper bags
  4. Decor Bon square cake stand; Decor Bon round cake stand; Lisbeth Dahl white ceramic cake stand
  5. Maxwell Williams platters
  6. Box of gorgeous ribbons

This week in my series of posts, "Fridays Finds", I bring you a selection of items for a candy buffet.

Don't forget you can click on any blue lettering in any of my posts to link through to the relevant store website or blog post for more info!

Have a sweet day!

Friday Favourites - More from Sienna's Circus

The end to another busy but exciting week and I have just received all the photos from Sienna's Vintage Circus themed party we held here three weeks ago so here are some of my favourites - so lovely to see the kids with such wonderful smiles on their faces.

If you missed my original post with all the details you can find it here.



















Have a wonderful weekend everyone.

Leanne

Things I learned this week including that you should at least know what you're procrastinating about


My head is spinning from new stuff this week. I've had to cull lots of things too keep it short(ish). Hope you stick with me...

1. The wedding photo booth created by Sasha Souza Events and featured above is easily the cleverest, cutest, covetest thing I've seen all week. Guests could pose in vintage frames surrounded by the wedding photos of the bride and groom's families. Unique and special.


2. “The more you have; the more you have to worry about what you have.” I learned this food for thought on Eastlyn's thoughtful site Wilburn-White News.


3. A fantabulous site for anyone into party planning (me! me!). I could get lost here for days... and did. Please send aesthetically pleasing nibbles immediately.


4. While combating a virus, your white cells create mucus in the lining of your nose; the more active the white cells, the more likely you are to get green snot. So green snot is actually a sign of good health (in a weird, roundabout kind of way). It doesn't mean that a child is more contagious or has an infection. {Ref}


5. You should plant herbs according to whether they are 'Wet and Hungry' (basil, dill, coriander, parsley and chives) or 'Dry and Miserly' (marjoram, oregano, rosemary, thyme, sage and French tarragon). Keep mint on its own in a pot (poor old invasive mint). Feed and water the 'Hungries' regularly and very occasionally for the 'Miserlies'.


6. Some parents are just determined to wallow in their child's lack of discipline. "We tried everything to get X to do Y, but he's too independent / challenging / stubborn / amazing," they say somewhat smugly.  Smug away, people. Feel free to continue to boast that your child is too clever for discipline that works on just about every other child all you like. But don't complain about your child's unruly behaviour when really it's your own inability to set the boundaries and really follow through, okay?*


7. It's not okay to use the 'f' word, but apparently it seems to be okay to be a gloating, smug winner. A poor example of sportsmanship from a top sportswoman, whatever you call it.


8. If you read my post last night, you'll know that I found myself in quite a pickle for not knowing exactly what it was that I was putting off until the last minute. While I'd be kidding myself if I told you I'd learnt not to procrastinate, I can definitely assure you that I've learnt to find out all I can about something before I decide to put it off until the last minute. Thanks for all your support... I managed to pull something out of my ample arse and emailed it off with a laugh last night.

9. Clearly I am very late to this one, but Yarn bombing caught my eye. I'd heard whispers of people decorating the landscape with their crafty stuff, but I didn't know it was a full-on movement called a cute thing like 'yarn bombing' until this week. Go clever clogs!

10. Sourcebottle is the go-to place if you're a journo or researcher and you want to find sources for articles. Life in a Pink Fibro who is actually a journalist who could use such a thing taught me this.


That's it for the week for me. How about you - did you learn anything new this week?


*  My first class of the Positive Parenting Programme (Triple P) going well then. The only thing more irritating than OPC (Other People's Chidlren) are OCP (Other Children's People)...

PS - I'm flogging, yeah flogging, with Lori,  I'm flogging, come join in, for flogging....

Birthday Girl


Today was Miss 7 Miss 8's birthday!

Celebrations all round at work today! I didn't get to see her before she went to school and I told her to ring me if she had a spare minute, but didn't get the call so she was obviously very busy with special pancakes for brekkie and opening up all of her birthday presents! Thursday's all the kids are at school so it was my job day so I had a little bit of extra time to set up a hunt for her birthday present and make her favourite afternoon tea - avocado dip with crackers! 


The 'crystal mining' present was a HUGE HIT! Miss 7 Miss 8 is totally obsessed with crystals and gems at the moment and has a big collection. This pack has a big large rock and they get archeological tools and they have to chip and cut away at the rock to reveal the gems! Awesome! She loved it and sat for an hour playing it after school! I searched through toy stores and the toy aisles at the big stores but all of the toys these days are so generic and just didn't grab my attention! She is very mature for a 8 year old and barbie just didn't cut it this year! So after searching through the usual shops I went straight to the Australian Geographic Store. I don't know why I didn't go there first! Whenever I need a present this will be my first stop! The 'toys' and presents in there are so much more educational and fun! I enjoyed shopping for the kids there! I also got Mr 5 who is turning 6 in 2 weeks a similar present except instead of gems they are dinosaur bones and at the end they make a dinosaur! Perfect!

Being the birthday girl Miss 8 got to choose where she wanted to go for dinner! of course she chose the most amazing restaurant SONO which is a Japanese restaurant down at the port side. She asked me especially if I would join them for dinner as part of the family! How could I say no! oh my goodness the restaurant was so divine. I wish I could have taken photos for you all! The table and decor and atmosphere was amazing and the food was to die for! We had Teppanyaki and it was so much fun! A wonderful night was had by all...especially the birthday girl! 

Tomorrow I am off to her school to make pizzas with 40 grade 2's for 4 hours! Can't wait! I have my apron and kneading hands ready :) 

~ Have a lovely Friday everyone ~

x S.K.K x

Mint packaging