I heart books

why hello there!
I do hope you are well...

I've had a little blogging break...it wasn't planned but it was nice to relax a little after the festivities.  We've been having lots of family time and outings here and there...life is good!

Have you bought anything awesome in the sales?
I bought a new Summer Dress two days ago ..its light and airy and a pretty blue shade.
I also bought a stack of books online the other night - I heart books, yes I do!...
plus its my birthday in two days so this is a little gift for me (from me!)

This what i ordered
*Decorate workshop by Holly Becker.
I love Decor books and Holly has great taste and aesthetic!
*Grace: A Memoir she's so inspiring and I cant wait to read this...
I also bought another memoir, * What Remains by Carole Radziwill ...okay Im a RHONY fan (hides face) and Carole seems  super cool plus her life story seems so interesting...
*The $100 startup - love his newsletter and the book's title just grabs you right?!...
plus '6 ways to Keep the 'Good' in your boy' - I like reading parenting books, we all need some guidance and direction!
so a real mix of books on their way to me!
If you have any book recommendations, any great reads you absolutely love ...please share!

Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas......

Wishing you and your loved ones a Joyful and Merry Christmas

Vintage Style Icon:
Goldie Hawn

Baby doll Blonde
how adorable was Goldie in the 60's...she's still sassy and vibrant
but I'm loving the soft bouffant  and  wide eye sweet girl look....bring out the mascara girls!

*image via my 'Vintage Life' pinterest board

Christmas Inspiration: Hearts

Hearts...lots of Hearts,
Hugs and Love during Christmas...

Friday's horrific massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School has had me glued to the News channels.
Even though the tragedy happened so far away from here, the whole world has reacted and our hearts, prayers and thoughts go to the families who lost their loved ones and their beautiful innocent children....heartbreaking.
May they be at Peace.

Christmas inspiration: White Decor

How about some pure white Decor for Christmas, what a gorgeous idea?

I don't know about you but I'm so glad my Christmas shopping has been done and thank god for the internet & online shopping, its getting busy and a little crazy out there...
I'd be happy to stay home the next 10 days and bake, read and craft!...Im such a homebody!

*image via That Inspirational Girl tumblr

Christmas Inspiration: 
Handmade Christmas card swap

As you know I love a creative challenge,  so I joined in on Amanda's 'Handmade Christmas card swap'.
 ...the loveliest thing about December is all the happy snail mail we receive and its happening almost daily - who doesnt love some happy mail when they get home??

Here are the handmade cards I made...on their way to my swap partners!

Christmas Inspiration: 
A Natural Christmas...

hello sweet friends!
I'ts been a while since I've blogged...I do hope you're having a great December so far!

Is your home ready for Christmas?
Im loving these simple, natural decorating styles and Im craving some simplicity in my life right now...
but we have our glitzy tree up and our home is starting to look a little more festive - we were actually running late this year - normally the tree is up by now I've been a busy gal!

I've also been spending my evenings (and any spare time) crafting, making and getting things ready for the Christmas market - I shared a stall with Melinda who organised the whole event, she's so creative!!  It was a fun night and a great experience!...looking forward to doing more craft markets next year.

*images 1/2

 Nuts about Nuts....
My sister gave me the recipe for these crunchy crinkle biscuits - I've made them twice now because they are so easy to make and really delicious in taste!

Totally Wheat free but sadly they are not sugar free but hey if you like nuts, these are the biscuits for you!!

Recipe
1/2 cup hazelnuts
1/2 cup almonds
1 cup brown sugar
20g butter
1 egg (beaten)
Icing Sugar

Preheat your oven to 160 degrees celsius

Pulse ALL the ingredients except the icing sugar in your food processor.  Roll heaped teaspoons of mixture into small balls and roll in your icing sugar and bake for 15 -20 minutes.  Cool a little, Eat and Enjoy!

A Crafty Mess
I get SO messy when crafting - I like to have my papers and crafty 'stuff' within reach and the images below of my recent 'work in progress' show just a sliver of crafty supplies that I have.
Most of the time I craft on our family dining table, only because its large and I can spread everything out as I please....okay the TV is nearby as is my family!
This is my messy time and the way I like to create!
I just need to remember to clean it all up and store it all away when I'm complete....

Its always a great relief to finish an order - some new paper goodies have been delivered to the loveliest girl, Justine - the owner of Retrospections in Cammeray.  Justine is a great supporter of handmade, local crafters and also stocks a variety of cool vintge pieces - go say hello if you are nearby!!

A Warm Christmas

As a little girl I always longed for a white Christmas (just like in the movies….) but the festive season in Australia can be and always ends up being, just as wonderful.

Christmas in a warm climate gives us the option to change things around as we please.

If the weather channel predicts a hot day many opt out of the traditional Christmas dinner or lunch and hang out at the beach all day …its perfect and always a popular choice!

Christmas for us is always a  BBQ lunch spent with family - we always love to serve Christmas ham as well,

and of course I have to make  fruit mince pies, it just wouldnt feel like Christmas without some baking...this year Im planning to make lots of biscuits & cookies for loved one ones because Christmas should be all about giving....

Beautiful images by 

Sharyn Cairns for 

Country Style magazine - December 12 issue.  

A Girl called Carin 
Hello lovely friends, it feels like ages since I've been here.  I've been busy finishing orders and crafting, and sometimes the only way to finish things off is to switch off from the distractions and focus focus focus on what needs to be done...

...but today I'm here with a new creative girl - Id like you to meet the lovely Carin.
Carin is a Swedish girl who left her job and family and moved to Paris to learn the language, explore the city and experience what many of us only dream of - to live in Paris!!  
Her love of Paris is showcased on her gorgeous blog 'Paris in Four Months' - stunning photographs and wonderful details of Parisian life...

Welcome Carin!
Can you tell us what is currently inspiring you?
Paris is what currently inspires me. I can't get enough of this absolutely beautiful city. It has so many different sides to it and you can discover something new each and every day. Both the people and the city itself feeds me inspiration on a daily basis. And then I have to say that it doesn't hurt when fashion week comes to Paris. It's like a fashion overload during these weeks! Which I absolutely love.

Name 3 things you couldn't live without right now?
My iPhone (sadly), my camera and my little pug, Nixon.

Can you define to us, your personal style?
I always like to dress with a little bit of a feminine touch. I've always been a girly girl since I was a little kid so I think that's still in me somewhere.
Otherwise I think I dress pretty classic if I must put a name on my style but I certainly want to spice things up though, a little bit more colour towards the spring would be great.

 Do you have a favourite colour (or colour combinations)?
 I love light and powdery colours. Some people find this boring but I love beige, white and light pinks. I also love bright colours, such as popping yellow or orange for example. These colours just make me happy and I think that's important!

What about your favourite Smell or Fragrance?
Right now I'm in love with the perfume "Jardin sur le toit" by Hermès but I also adore the scent of lilacs in the spring. Or well, perhaps the scent of spring period. Spring and summer are my two favourite seasons of the year and the scents that come with them are just wonderful. All the flowers, the sun... Mmm.

What do you love about your City/Town?
I think an easier question would be "what do you not love about your city?" because I'm pretty much in love with most things that you'll in the French capital. The people (yes, Parisians are great), the architecture, the food, the sweets, the Seine, the tiny little streets — all of these things have managed to capture my heart. I love strolling around in Le Marais or in Saint Germain just to get lost all by myself (and camera of course). You can find new little cafés, restaurants and markets wherever you look.

Do you have a favourite quote you'd like to share with us?
 "Do what you love". I think this is so important and I've made a promised to myself that I will live by this quote from now on.
 I really think it makes a difference.

Thanks so much Carin!!  Goodluck with your move back to Paris!
For all of you who want to follow Carin and her Parisian adventures,
make sure you bookmark her blog
Instagram and Pinterest

*all images by Carin Olsson*

Greek Island Home
I really enjoyed the article about Australian photographer Claire Lloyd and her Greek island home in last month's 'Inside Out' magazine - what beautiful light filled interiors.
What an amazing lifestyle...

"Its quite a simple life.  There is no typical weekend here.  To be honest, we don't even know when the weekends are half the time' 

Having visited Greece a few times I can see how Claire could fall SO in love with her new home, the island of Lesvos, and its people.

Its the Greek way.  They take you in and make you feel so welcome smiling and nodding and not letting the lack of  language get in the way of friendship.  They'll offer food from their table, a seat to relax and a sweet Greek coffee before you head on your way....

I'm looking forward to flicking through Claire's new book, 'My Greek Island Life' - it looks wonderful!
Booktopia has a great interview with Claire and includes a delightful video from the village.

* all images by Claire LLoyd

Colour Combination:
Coral + Cream + White

From Fashion layout to greeting card, I love these little challenges I set myself...I made this on Monday when I was at home relaxing.
Crafting and creating is one of my favourite ways to wind down, how about you? What really gets your heart and mind relaxed?
I actually have a lot on right now - November and December always fly by for me.
Ive booked in to do a Christmas market with Melinda - Im grateful to be sharing a stall with her as Ive never done a market before and Im trying to build up enough stock - wish me luck!
Im also working on two orders - when it rains it pours!! but I love it anyway so bring it on!!
I also hope to have some Christmas goodies up in my shop real soon!

* image by Carlotta Moye

My Melbourne weekend in pictures...
We had such a wonderful time in Melbourne!
Its taken me two days to get back to normal...and I'm still exhausted!
I also have blisters on my poor feet so guess next time I will have to add sneakers to my packing list- I never wear sneakers (only when excercising...) but my feet have suffered as we walked and walked some more...I never learn!

we ate a lot of good food and drank endless cups of good coffee...the little lanes were a delight to discover!!
such a wonderful city!!

I will be back soon Melbourne...until we meet again... thanks for an awesome weekend!

Pics by me
* Hardware Lane
* Hellenic Republic
* Queen Victoria Markets
and a few more on Instagram

a city escape...

Tomorrow morning I will be heading down south to Melbourne with my sister and my mum for a bit of a girly weekend and to celebrate my mum's 60th birthday!

I've been wanting a getaway for a while now...
its a chance to escape the everyday, a chance to walk around and explore the urban landscape of a different city, to be an observer and watch the locals as they go about their day.
We've booked in to have lunch at Hellenic Republic and will be catching up with our cousins!  I hope to discover some nice cafes along the way and a little retail therapy is part of the plan too!
oh and I will be taking lots of photos and trying to pos on instagram  too....

Im going to try really hard to not over pack - I always do and always regret it!

this is what I plan to pack.
* Blue Skirt
* Print dress
* Casual navy dress
* Black Jeans
* Black Blazer
* Cardigan
* Gray Top
* Black Top
* Wedges
* Flats
* Accessories - sunnies, scraf, necklace, bangles, cross over bag.

 Ciao, ciao my lovely friends - I will see you all on Monday!...
in the meantime here are some great links

* Blog Brunch is on  Nov. 3rd - 'Finding your blog's voice'

* Want to find your Life Passion? Start by simplifying your life

* The Organised Housewife has a new series starting up - Organise yourself a Merry Little Christmas 

* If you are in Sydney, the abcd Meetup is on this Saturday!


* images via my style inspiration board on Pinterest 

Happy Halloween!!
hope you have a spooky night...
trick or treat?
* images by Nick Scott

Crafting with my little Neo ...
I love kids crafts...Neo always comes home with fun arty, crafty creations that they made at school.  A couple of weeks ago they made some great cards using a simple 'bubble' technique that he told me was SO messy but that everyone enjoyed.
I wanted to give it a go,  so got my little Neo to show me how it was done!

In a bowl add some water, a little food colouring ( or paint)  - I used Rose Pink and Blue, a couple of drops of dish washing detergent and with a straw start bubbling away in your bowl.
Gently put your paper - I used watercolour paper but plain cardboard is fine too - over the bowl and see what bubble patterns you get!
So easy!
So pretty and yep Neo was right! So much fun!
I cut mine into strips and will make into tags.  I think they will also be great to use when making Greeting cards or as gift wrap!

....here's to a great week ahead!

(image via Pinterest)

Two months until Christmas!!
... yes dear friends...its just around the corner.
Are you a planner? do you have your lists ready or are you one of those last minute types who head to the shops which are open at all crazy hours anyway.
It really is the most wonderful time of the year....or is it?

What to buy, what to cook and bake, who will be hosting Christmas lunch, how to decorate the house, untangle the Christmas lights, wrap presents, hide presents, office parties, visiting friends...I always get a little excited,  I like everything to look perfect just as it is in my mind and I'm trying to create my own traditions so my boys have fond memories but by the time its Christmas Eve I'm so over the crowds, the traffic, the hectic days and this is not what its all about is it....
still, here we are again with two months to go and we'll do it all over because yes, it really is the most wonderful time of the year....

* loving this colour scheme for gift wrap.
Red + White + Kraft brown
image via Leslie of 'A Creative Mint'
Bottom image via Pinterest

Loving right now - The Chambray shirt....

(Its been a while since I've illustrated something...)

the Chambray Shirt - I think its  perfect with
* a flowly white skirt
* a denim skirt
* dark denim skinny jeans
* a floral pencil skirt
....the list goes on.... or just check out 
the Chambray shirt Project for more inspiration!