A Fashionable Entrance

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Isn't this staircase/chandelier fabulous not to mention what lies beneath?

Speaking of making an entrance, do you like my little blog makeover? (sorry for anyone catching me mid-way through) I'm attempting to go a little more sophisticated while also incorporating one of my lovely thrift buys...

Let me know what you think, your feedback is completely appreciated! I may still make some changes...

x

Our party

Here are some pics from our party on Saturday. We had a great time although a bit of r and r was needed yesterday!

I used the Indonesian flags I bought in Bali last year. My lanterns and fairy lights I wrapped around our balcony, ahem, excuse the glass of beer!

Flowers everywhere and candles (although those photos didn't really come out very well).

A really lovely evening. Hope everyone's weekend was equally full of colour!
x

Beach party

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Given this time of year we weren't able to do the above, nice isn't it? But we did have a colourful time :-) Pictures to come very soon!

I have some award duties today. I have to say at this point all the blogs that I've come across on my travels have been utterly inspiring and so creative. It's so great to be back in a creative community (I used to work full time in the arts and part time for BBC radio - busy days!)

Anyway some special mentions as I'd like to pass on the 101 Award to:

Shawna from Poppies and Sunshine
Joyce at I love Pretty Little Things
Clare from Little Bear Stories
Daniëlle from Paris Pastry

I'd also like to award the Your Blog is Over the Top to:

Shari from Little Blue Deer
Saskia from Join My Joy
Janette from My Sweet Prints
Zaira from Little Emma English Home
Pam from Bayside Moments

Just as I write this I've been awarded the Blog Lovin' award! Thanks so much Shawna from Poppies and Sunshine. Just to be different and to spread the love a bit more, I'm passing this award this to everyone who leaves a comment on this post!

Hope you're all having a good weekend, I'm in need of a good Sunday roast!
x

My Friday Pretty

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This is my Friday pretty. I just think it's an adorable scene! I have a young cousin, Olivia who is currently the same age as this little girl and actually looks quite like her. Livvy is in line to be one of my bridesmaids one day, this picture makes me think of that! :-)

Now Cornflake has been the lucky recipient of two new awards, yay! They are sitting proudly in my award page :-)

Thank you so, so much to Debby from Inspired Design who has given me the 101 Award and Bren from Chasing Beauty who has awarded me Your Blog is Over the Top. If you haven't already, please run on over and check out these great blogs.

How can I choose who to pass these awards to when there are so many great bloggers out there? Really hard. I'm going to have a little think about it and come back to you!

With the 101 Award you have to list 10 things you love, here goes...

Aside from the obvious (family, friends) I love

1.) My food but vegetarian only! Italian is my favourite followed by Indian, Thai, Mexican and Indonesian! :-)
2.) Followed by...chocolate, cupcakes, gelato, meringue, muffins, cookies....
3.) Living in Australia and checking out new beaches
4.) Having fresh flowers in my home
5.) Exploring new countries
6.) Thrift and sale shopping (I'm addicted)
7.) Classical music
8.) Being surrounded by beautiful things
9.) Dancing up a storm on the dance floor!
10.) Laughing so hard I cry - heehee

And now there's an 11th, blogging!

Have a super weekend everyone!! xx

Party planning

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I already have a fair idea of what I'm going to do in terms of decorating for our party this Saturday. Just thinking about it gets me so excited! :-)

Lanterns and candles are definitely on the agenda and I really like the idea of putting a single flower in a vase (however I'd use old sauce and wine bottles) and lining it up with others.

Do you have any favourite decoration ideas for parties? I'd love to hear them.

Oh, guess what? Your wishes worked! Beating the forecast, we have clear blue skies and lots of sun today in Sydney, yay!! :-D

Mixing it up

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Coming to terms with the prospect of non stop rain for the next fortnight ;-) I found another great example of mixing it up. Pinks with reds, different shades of green, flowers with polka dots. I love it!

My guy has been invited to go to see State of Origin live (big annual Aussie rugby competition, as much as I know...tut tut so sports illiterate) so I have license to hog the laptop heyhey and look for inspiration for our upcoming party :-)

I love your sunshine wishes, I feel much happier, thank you!

A little sunshine

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The rain is unrelenting at the moment so I need some fun summery pictures to lift my spirits! Walking with beautiful flowers in a meadow and bright colourful summer clothes :-)

It still amazes me after 5 years living in Australia that it can get cold and rain so much! I think us Brits are victims of false marketing or perhaps only north Queensland is being featured! ;-)

Sorry for those who couldn't see yesterday's post, so annoying! Not sure how some of us could see it while others couldn't but I've reloaded it so hopefully it works now!

Hope you're having a lovely morning/evening! x

Thrifty Tuesday

I can't believe I got this gilt mirror for $8! Yup, it's from my local charity shop.

Okay, I admit, it's not carved wood but moulded plastic, not that you can tell until you touch or hold it. What attracted me to it most is it's shape and it's super light which makes it really easy to hang. For these photos I hung it above my bargain $30 side table which I sourced on Gumtree but I know it won't be able to stay because its 'way too ornate and girly for our living room'!

I haven't decided whether to keep it this slightly brash gold or touch it up with a soft old gold or paint it white.

Hmmm...decisions, decisions.

I've thrown in some extra photos of my sweetpeas and lilies. I can't go through a weekend without buying fresh flowers, they are my little treat after all my great thrifting! :-)

Button Garlands

Did everyone have a good weekend? It rained cats and dogs in Sydney, boo!

I thought I’d show you what I’ve been doing with my other buttons.

I’ve made little chains by simply weaving beading wire through the holes and flattening each one down as I’ve gone along. Again, super simple, super easy and super quick. This looks like a bracelet and indeed it can be worn as one but this is not my intention. I’ve made these as decorations as we’re hosting a party next Saturday and as you can imagine it’s going to be a bright and colourful affair to be sure!

These button garlands are going to decorate some of my vintage apothecary glass bottles that I’ve been collecting (for a song of course). I can’t wait to put everything together, I love a good party! :-)

Thanks for all your sweet comments on my napkin rings!
xx

Mixing it up

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Don't you just love this bed? Not only is it bright and vibrant, it's a feast for the eyes. Where to look first? So many colours, textures, patterns. I think the lamp is an absolute winner and of course I love the touches of turquoise: the headboard, the sidetable!

I'm keeping this on file as I find it inspiring how interesting and wonderful a bed or even a room can look by mixing it up!

What do you think: to mix or not to mix?

Wednesday's wish list ♥

I’m currently on the look out for some new cushions covers but there is a new pre-requisite coming from a certain quarter that shall remain unnamed but we all know who he is!

That pre-requisite is that they can’t be too girlie!!

So I think something along these lines from Warm N Fuzzies might be acceptable, what do you think? The middle one naturally has my name all over it!

x

Thrifty Tuesday

My new turquoise cuff (can you tell I love this colour!). Again, total thrift at $3 from my local charity shop.

For this picture it asked to be photographed on my Cath Kidston wash bag with one of my roses ;-)

My tips for great finds? Keep frequenting your local thrift stores and don't be embarrased to do so, after all, it's for a great cause and I'm not just talking about the extra pennies you will save!

Happy Thrifty Tuesday!

In the Navy

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I don't actually have much navy in my home, if at all (racking my brain) but these images are thoroughly selling the idea to me. I especially love the second one of the kitchen tiles and gingham skirt!

Wow, what a busy weekend! My one moment of relaxation was seeing the Waratahs play the Hurricanes (Aussie rugby match) on Friday night in the main sponsors box (courtesy of my other half's work). Matches aren't really my thing though (lol) so I'm glad to be back in beautiful blog land :-)

Speaking of which... I now pass The Beautiful Blogger award to:

Debby Lee from Inspired Design

Bre from The Red Bungalow

and...Madelief from Madelief

I hope you all had a great weekend! x

Splashes of Turquoise

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Aren't these rooms wonderful? I love how vibrant and refreshing turquoise can be. If you look closely in the conservatory you can see lanterns hanging between the windows - how gorgeous!

I'm a super duper busy girl at the moment and haven't had the time I thought I would this week to take any photos of anything I've been making or doing but I hope to be back like an easy, breezy, beautiful blogger girl (I've been watching way too much America's Next Top Model, lol) on Monday!! :-)

Have a lovely weekend everyone!
A xx

p.s. announcing the Beautiful Blogger award on Monday!

A favourite shop of mine

Some snaps I took on the weekend so I could share my weakness with you!

This is one of my favourite shops without a doubt. Beautiful things everywhere: on the floor, walls, ceilings, behind me, in front of me, to the side of me!! Sometimes when I'm in here I don't know which way to look first!

I could spend hours in here (if it weren't for the cupcake shop calling my name down the street), this is shop so full of delightful inspiration.

The cherry? It always has items on sale which makes the whole experience even more seductive.

Do you have a shop like this near you?

Wednesday's wish list ♥

I unintentionally seem to be having a bit of a floral fix this week! These earrings remind me of some pansy ones my Mum had in the 80's! All these lovelies can be found at Stranded Treasures!

For anyone new to Wednesday's wish list, it's simply a collection of pretty finds (so far fairly jewellery centric) from Etsy (thus available for all to buy) that I wish were available in my local thrift stores, lol! However none of these are expensive and they're all handmade making them so much better than... (I don't really think I need to sell Etsy to anyone reading here)!

I hope everyone is having an enjoyable week so far :-)

Thrifty Tuesday

My little pale pink jug I bought for $2.50 with roses that I bought on the weekend from my local florist!