A spooky but adorable gift

During the heyday of May Give-away, I stumbled across the very talented Crafty Tokyo Mama and her black flaming skulls Eco bag! To enter, Janine asked for a scary ghost story in return.

My story went a little like this:

2 years ago I won a dare on a radio show to sleep a night at the very haunted Old Melbourne Goal in Victoria, Australia. This was during the middle of winter with of course, no heating to speak of. When I arrived I was told I wouldn’t be sleeping at all – in fact, I’d be helping a team of ghost busters track down para normal activity. It was easily the scariest thing I’ve ever done in my life – and that’s saying something for a woman who gave birth to a 9.5 pound child! I’d use the bag for my grocery shopping because it would terrify the local aged pensioners in our small coastal town. Nothing like putting a spring in their step!

Low and behold I won the bag and received it this week in the post. It is as scary in real life as it was on her blog. The oldies in my town are certainly going to get a kick out of this one when they see me doing my grocery shopping. I just love it!

Thanks Janine. For anyone wanting a Japanese inspired tote bag, you must look up Janine's Etsy Store.. It's gorgeous.

Delightful ambience

It's been a bit of a hard slog today, but nothing cheers me up more than a bit of romantic lighting. So as the sun starts to go down and the grey skies begin to roll in, I'm arranging candles around our home for a cosy night in cuddled up with my gorgeous family.

For more delightful ambience, these are my favorites...

{images}

My creative space

My creative space is all about adding new life to some old vintage bottles. I picked them up yesterday when scouting around a small country town about 1 hour from home where I came across a treasure trove of antique and second hand stores.

My husband was quite concerned about the bottles, wondering what on earth I was going to do with them. I think I've managed to convince him that they add a little fun to the living room side table.

For more creative spaces, head over to the 'oh so clever' blog that is Kirsty at Kootoyoo

Suitcase fetish

I've noticed a rather alarming increase in suitcase purchases and unfortunately none are mine. Fellow bloggers have been hunting high and low, snapping up some amazing vintage suitcase bargains. I have the lust bug but alas no suitcase to share it with. So until such time that I find a pretty little number that I can call my own, I will flirt with these virtual ones instead.

Fess up, how many suitcases do you have?

Ooooh, a crafty suitcase

a suitcase for fugitives on the run with a penchant for fluffy towels and fragrant soap!

 old suitcases masquerading as french shabby chic

old buggers that sit around gathering dust but look fabulous darling darling!

and my fav, the vintage pink suitcase that our mum's probably used for their honeymoons!

Can't wait to hear what lusty little suitcase number you have...

Shadow Shot Sunday

This mornings rock pool discovery

For more shadow shots, head over to Hey Harriet

Flea Market Find

I was pleasantly surprised this week with a number of items including two of these gorgeous stools. I have added them to the increasing number of pieces of furniture that I intend to recover.

I have a Christmas project in mind and have started scouting the Op shops for my supplies. My Christmas project will include this wonderful collection of vintage lace and ribbons I found. I also spied a lovely glass jar to put the lace in. The scales are from a previous Op shop find. My collection of Knicky Knacks is growing!

My favourite though is this cute little vintage dish and lemon tinged doily.

Head over to Sophie's at Her Library Adventures for more Op Shop goodies.

A picture tells a thousand words...but with what camera?

This is a community announcement to all and sundry who know how to take photos - I'm in the market for a new camera and I need some helpful advice and guidance.

Critical to this purchase are a few things to note:

#1: I need something practical that's happy to travel around with me, in bags that share the same space with hair ties, sand, wet ones and Barbie band aids. I will endeavour to keep sand to a minimum as I know it doesn't mix well with state of the art, precision made lenses!

#2: It can't be too pretentious and flashy as I'll never learn how to use it. I don't need lenses that can take shots of Brittany Spears topless on a boat in the Maldives from 8 kilometres away...and let's be perfectly honest, who on earth wants to see that anyway!

#3: Whilst I'm under no illusion that a camera is only as good as the joker holding it, I'd like one versatile enough to take landscape images so I can capture the beautiful scenery that I am blessed to wake up to every day whilst also taking...

#4: Run of the mill action shots of my kids (who are not these ones in the photo but are bound to grow up doing this) so I can look back and say "where on earth did the time go"

#5: And just for good measure, a few nature shots wouldn't be bad either.

So, hopefully this isn't too tall an order. Look forward to hearing all your suggestions and I will keep you updated on my progress in buying this new camera (or pestering my husband enough so he buys it for my upcoming birthday).

{images}

My Creative Space

My creative space this week is my sweet little love chair in the Autumn sun. It was a great day today and although I reclined on this chair for all of about 20 minutes, it was long enough for a nice cup of tea with an Anzac biscuit pouring over my favourite design books and putting some draft plans together of what I'll tackle next in my house.

Of course, no sooner do I sit down that I look around at my garden and realise it needs weeding, so I donned on the gumboots and tendered to the flower beds.

Of course, in my house with young children, when a biscuit is unattended 'finder's keeper's' rules apply. It didn't take long for my youngest to sniff it out and gobble it up.

 Hope you all had a creative day. For more creative space's, head over to Kootoyoo.

My ultimate obsession

If you are a regular in following my posts you will know that I'm slightly obsessed with white interiors but today I really fell in love. It could possibly be the Single White Female love but rest assured, it's her home I'm obsessed with. I hope that doesn't sound too creepy - it's really meant to be a huge compliment. I just love everything about this home including the intent behind the style. I would love to deck my house out like this - perhaps without the ladder (my toddler would base jump from its top step). Very inspiring!

Maria from Dreamy Whites is the mastermind behind this amazing home. She's a mum of 5 living in California. She recently posted an interview on a friend's blog site explaining that her style was "a mix of different styles...vintage beach, French, country farmhouse and shabby...and I mix that up with real living in a real working home, with a budget and all that family life stuff going on all the time".

I just love the practical approach to this home - centering it around the family, valuing the important things in life and not being too precious about sharing the space with a young brood. It's simple yet elegant.

My place or yours

This week's challenge for My Place Or Yours is Yellow! As a first time player, long time reader, I wanted to capture this gorgeous colour with something fitting. I searched and searched and just when I had given up all hope and was becoming quite despondent, I decided to take a load off and pour myself a cuppa and low and behold - I found yellow!

For more yellow hello's pop over to see Danielle at Hello Owl

Shadow Shot Sunday

Horsing Around...

Hello Gorgeous - Come here often?

For more shadow shots, visit Hey Harriet

Flea Market Find

I'm trapped in a sleep deprived state and the best I can offer are these two very modest Op shop finds this week. Whilst I'm sure I was surrounded by treasures just waiting for me to take them home, my discerning shopping approach for all things thrifty had booted off, leaving me stranded with a mind full of mush and eyelids straining to stay open. So, on that note, yawn yawn, I will love you and leave you with my modest little sugar bowl and tea tin. 

Enjoy your week everyone. 

For more Op Shop goodies, visit Sophie at Her Library Adventures

Where did my angel go?

It was inevitable...

I thought I had avoided it... 

I rejoiced too early... 

She is just shy of turning 3 and she's hitting me with both barrels. 

The devil has possessed my body, I am no longer able to be reasoned with, gutteral screaming has begun. 

If I could work out how to tape her screaming and add it to my blog I would - just so you can all say, "Trace, I'm hearing ya and I have one too"! Truly, it enters my eardrums and renders me deaf and mute! To the point that when it subsides I'm left with a dull ring in my ears equal to that of the after affects of a heavy metal concert. 

What's worse is she now looks at me with such disdain and fury that I have to channel the spirit of Buddha just so I can remain cool, calm and collected. 

She has the most amazing personality and is an absolute riot but being so extroverted could only mean that her tantrums would equal in measure. 

Give me strength because I'm about to sell her on e-bay!

Farm House with Sophistication

I just love this house. It's interiors look so simple but are very effective. I love this wicker basket and the lettering on the wall. Interestingly, throughout the house they have painted the floor boards in different designs and colours.

If I had a bed like this I doubt I'd ever make it to work!

I love the fabric on this couch - looks like it has a hesian texture to it. If anyone knows where I can find durable, earthy fabric like this, please let me know. I'm keen to recover my couch in something similar.

I love the light in this picture and the gorgeous table with the dried flower creation. Just goes to show, you don't need fresh flowers to make an impact.

Check floors really stand out. Love the prints on the wall and the simple arrangement of items on the table.

How unique is this coffee table? What a great design idea - have coffee table, will travel!

(images via Morning T via House & Garden)

Shadow Shot Sunday

Life's simple pleasures - my little toddler with a pin wheel.

Celebrating Motherhood

On this special day that celebrates mothers all over the world, I wanted to give thanks for having two beautiful children. It wasn't that long ago that I was pregnant with my second and whilst I certainly wasn't the poster girl for pregnancy, every moment of morning sickness was worth it. Life would be quite insignificant without the love of my children. My life is so enriched and fulfilling with them in it.

When I contemplate the idea of having a third, I remind myself with this image that my body was a trooper housing a 9.5 pounder second time around, so why tempt fate and the stretch marks again!

 Before

 

 After 

(check out the nurse's expression!)

(top image via Mary Ruffle)

Creative mojo

I've been absent for a while trying to re-kindle my creative mojo. I'm confident it's returned with zeal and with a new little spring in it's step. I think the white paint fumes may have dulled my creative senses but with a bit of good ol' hardy ocean air I appear to have cleansed my soul and my nostrils. Before launching into a frenzy of op shopping and re-decorating, I thought I'd ease myself into the day with some inspirational images. 

 

(via Honey suckle and hissy fits)

Have a wonderful weekend!