Sometimes you just require it...

Brad and I took a week off and headed down to a spot along Lake Eildon for a fantastic and relaxing get away. Some times you just require a week away. It does the mind wonders to take a step back and see things from a new perspective. The weather has been magical and I'm so grateful for this week away.

Styling

Trying to organize my office and make chaotic books and paper work seem some what... stylish?

Christmas in July...delayed post.

Back in July, we hosted a Christmas in July festivity. I just stumbled across some of the pics I took of the night. It was so much fun and it really felt like Christmas. Looking at them makes me want Christmas to come around fast. I baked whilst listening to carols and we drunk mulled wine and egg nog. A must do every year I think!

Home made mince pies.

Delish table filled with food, with help from friends of coarse.

Some lovely friends...

Pink chair

I want this chair for my new study. Its from ikea and only $39.95. I think it would add the perfect something to my new study/sewing room. Don't you think?

A few must do's

I love thinking of new ways to be creative. I saw these few ideas a while ago and think I'll have to have a go soon.

Simply get some glass bottles/jars, put your fave colour paint inside, swirl around to coat, let dry and wala - beautiful vases!

Clump together or have individually.

Image: Lolalina

Love the idea of hanging these clip boards to the wall in the study to clip inspiring pics to or bills or what ever you fancy.

image: Ich and Chi

Must do soon!

Recipe Share

It's always good to share a good and tasty recipe with friends. I love successful baking so I will share this recipe with you. Its a delicious and healthy snack and I have enjoyed every single bite. Its a date and carrot loaf. Super healthy and so easy - could it get any better than that.

Enjoy!

Carrot and Date Loaf

PREP TIME: 10 mins COOKING TIME: 40 mins SERVINGS: 10 slices Nutritional Information: Good source of fibre, vitamin A. Source of magnesium, folate, niacin, thiamin, iron. Per serve (when serves 10): 812 kJ (194 cals) 4g protein 5g fat 34g carbohydrate Ingredients: 1 cup of dates, chopped 1 cup water 1/2 cup brown sugar 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda 1 cup grated carrot 1/2 cup walnuts * 1-1/2 cups wholemeal self - raising flour (I got a good consistency with just over 1 cup) 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon 1/2 tsp nutmeg
Instructions: Place dates, water, sugar and bicarbonate of soda in a saucepan, bring to the boil, simmer 5 minutes. Cool Preheat oven to 180 C. Add carrot, walnuts and flour and spices stirring well. Spoon into a greased, paper-lined loaf tin and bake for 40 minutes. Turn out, cool thoroughly before slicing. * I didn't have walnuts so just added some almonds and chia seeds which tasted great! Recipe used from here

Cakes with style

Don't you just adore a lovely looking cake...and of coarse eat a slice or two!


Images complementary of www.pinterest.com and www.bellamumma.com

So far...

We have been at our Laundry renovations for a couple of months now. We soon came to terms that it wasn't meant to be a "done in one week end" job and so Mum and Dad have been coming over once a week for a little bit of reno and then dinner. It has been enjoyable and we are slowly getting there. Here is some pics of the journey so far. I think in a couple of weeks, we will be through stage one! Then onto turning the old laundry into a study. Eeek could be a while!

There are a few pics here so hope they don't bore you too much. I am looking forward to posting the finished product!

The existing walk through wardrobe from spare room to bathroom.

Getting started. Ripping out carpet and shelving.

Knocking down walls. Brad wore my swimming goggles to protect his eyes. He had a ball!

Demo complete now to re build it. Plumbing too!

I have a go drilling on the plaster board.

Look at him go, he still has it! He has a tool for everything.

So...this is where we are up to. Brad has plastered the walls and they look fantastic. They should be ready to paint in a day or so. Then its just the bench, sink, power points, bi fold doors and a few finishing touches, then our European laundry will be in full swing.

This is the old existing door through to the wardrobe. Mum and I have wallpapered it and will be putting some recessed shelving in.

Home made

Its been a while since my last post. I can put this down to a busy few weeks. I have however been quite busy around the home. So with my iphone in hand I went around and snapped a few pics of what has been taking place in our little home. Enjoy!

A lamp I picked up from an op shop - Of coarse painted base white and covered the shade in a beautiful wall paper! Super easy and looks lovely I think.

This is the before look at the funny shade of green shade.

Mum picked up this chest from hard rubbish for me last year and I had it outside as a chest to keep bits and pieces in on the deck. A neighbourhood cat made it her bed and so I brought it in, gave it a fresh splash of white paint, recovered the top in stripes and bought this amazing mustard cushion from freedom and there you have it!

Who could have known a few different sized jars, clumped together, some pink flowers popped in a few and then candles in the remaining could look so delectable.

Celebrated my beautiful sisters 22nd birthday over a brunch! It was lovely.

This was a batch of mince pies I made for a 'Christmas in July' party we hosted. I am a little bit proud of them for a first attempt. Yes that's right, I made the short crust pastry from scratch!

Also a first for me was the baking of a sponge cake for the Christmas do. Well it worked and tasted delish!

I got bored with a boring white sliding door in our kitchen, so i bought some black board paint ($15 for a small pot) and went a bit crazy painting my door. I do need a proper duster though as a wet cloth is just not cutting it.

Home Reno's

Well the time has finally come and we are doing a few little home renos DYI style to our place. We are turning our walk in robe in the guest room into a European laundry which enters from the main bathroom. In turn we are turning the original, rather large laundry, into a study...phew. It could be a little while but we will be taking it step by step and hopefully it will all come together. I am taking pictures along the way and doing a bit of a spread sheet so I will be very pleased when I can present the finished product to you.

I am just so thankful for my wonderful parents who have been here all week end helping us get started and are in it for the long haul. Also my wonderful hubby is learning all the tricks of the trade and impressing me with his tradey skills.

I am excited as I purchased some wall paper today, YAY!

Here are some inspiration pics...just a few.

Pictures complements of Pinterest

Song

A song
A song can move
A song can dance
A song can cry
A song can laugh
A song can remember
A song can forget
A song can sooth the soul and bring peace to the mind
A song

Peg me pretty

Hello friends,

Thanks for contributing to the little bit of fun 'give away'...I drew a name out of a hat and the lucky give away winner is...Bec!!! Yay!

I will send you these 'peg me pretty' magnets for you to peg all those important things to your fridge. Hand made by yours truly. I will get them to you by mail just email/facebook me your address.

You can find some more hand made products designed by the lovely Nim and I on madeit.com. Let us know what you think.

So...my perfect Saturday consists of...

Rise and shine when ever it suits me

Breakfast on the back deck with the sun shining and a good mag

Potter around the house and do as I please (only fun jobs though, not cleaning)

A market trip with a good friend

Go for an afternoon stroll with my handsome husband

A night out at a lovely location for tea with my precious friends

Perfecto!

I hope your tomorrow turns out to be a perfect one! x

Giveaway

I have noticed that a lot of other blogs do give aways. I don't know if this is to attract people to their blog or whether they are just generous people but I like giving things away and so I too am doing a give away. All you have to do is write me a comment describing your perfect Saturday and I will announce the winner by the end of the week.

Oh...by the way the giveaway is one of my hand made products, I think the suspense will entice more comments so please join in!

Dark

Dark mood

Dark film

Dark gown

Dark Alley way

Dark room

Is Dark

Is dark in my room is dark in the clouds is dark outside is dark is dark is dark amin ali