Piggy

My Grandmother Boo died a few months a go and she left a little gift for each grandchild. I decided that I would go for this Piggy bank in memory of her! Odd I know, I don't think she had any interest in pigs (apart from the eating of them)? but she was amazing with money and very generous. This pig is made from the mold of a real piglet that died of natural causes and it's one I have seen in countless house magazines over the last year or so. I contacted House and Home to find out how to get one and they pointed me in the right direction. So this life size piggy now has pride of place in our living room and can be filled with up to 1000 coins if we so desire or are able to fill it. That will be a challenge.

Bud Vase

I've been looking on eBay for bud vases but haven't had much success. The other day I went across the border to mardens out let and found these vodka coolers (not sure how that works?) anyway for just $5.99 I got six. They aren't as pretty as some bud vases I've seen but there not bad.
One idea was to group them all together...



but this time I've opted for a more traditional lay out with each person having their own vase of flowers.

Summer Fest

I know I keep taking ridiculous breaks from blogging but having two have defiantly affected my creative energy, however this weekend I managed to rev the engines and thoroughly enjoyed decking out the garden for our summer fest, I put in three days of work just for the pure pleasure of it and through that it has confirmed to me that my weakness (or maybe strength) is that I absolutely love creating environments for my own and other people pleasure and hosting parties is the most rewarding way of expressing that. For me the party starts with the preparation and I get the same amount of enjoyment from the prep as I do from the party itself.
I've also fallen in love with Bossanova music which we played all evening until the dancing started.
I got the most enjoyment from doing up the chocolate fountain tent. I put fairy lights up and underlite the glass table so as the evening got dark it had a warm glow.

Fashion bibs

I got inspired the other day to make fashion bibs. These are so easy just a simple triangle with Velcro or snaps at the top edges.One cool looking baby. Here is just a few examples of ones I've made.

Sisterhood

I finally got the chance to watch the first 'Sex and the city' and loved it. I then got inspired to host a 'sisterhood' evening (fire pit, wine, girls) so last night I lite the fire and candles and had a lovely evening relaxing with some girly friends and enjoyed my new lanterns too!

Front door

I know it's been weeks since I last posted and all sorts has been going on but not much creative stuff. However after living here 2.5 years we finally got round to fixing up our awful entrance on a shoe string ($20). We already owned the paint so that was easy. Then I bought two metal buckets from dollar store and put $4.00 cedar tree's in them and in the middle of the plants a $14 door matt. It was that cheap! oh yeah and $5 for the lattice (which still needs some work to finish it). The entrance was so bad before we worked on it that I have no photos of 'Before' other than this one, get the idea?

Gold

We finally got the mirror painted and shock of all shocks it's not White!! We decided to put it back to it's original Gold colour and it cost all of 99 cents! so this is probably the cheapest but most valuable piece furniture in our house!

Food Inc

If you haven't watched 'Food Inc' it's imperative that you do. The movie needs to be watched by anyone who shops at a supermarket. here is a click to get you started and you can watch the rest on YouTube.

Picnic

Our first picnic of the year what a delight to sit in the sun and soak up vitamin D.

Belle

Missy is crazy about 'Beauty and the Beast' she watches it every day on youtube. The other day I found some yellow satin and decided to make her a Belle dress. Disney princess has only just began her reign in our home but I can foresee many years of her dwelling here.

For free

Joseph was walking to work the other day and saw this mirror by the side of the road he asked the owners if he could take it and they were happy for him to! it's extremely heavy and huge and extremely wonderful. we haven't decided where to put it but I love it to bits.

clippers

Dollar store flower, my own button and a curl clip 30 seconds later it's a pretty hair piece.




Ok, so I need to work on Indi's hair length.

Easter weekend

Easter weekend has been great (apart from my stinker cold) we've had amazing weather +25 temps (last year it was -3 and snowing!)
We invited two families for Easter roast (which I couldn't taste) and I decorated the table in bright spring colours, racing green and white. Each place setting had a vile of flowers and an Easter chick. I really enjoyed this table. I think Joseph and I have realised that we work really well together then it comes to entertaining it's coming our thing. He loves to cook and I love to set the scene so between us we love the experience of prepartion as well as when the company arrives!

yummy

I found this lovely velvet dress in a charity shop age 7-8, Missy was swimming in it do here is a shot of it (inside out) before I did a number on it and sized it down to fit her. what a gorgeous colour (I wish it fit me).

Little chicks

Easter! Another reason to do something. And here is my something.
I managed to find enough ingredients to make a batch of little chicks cookies and got them wrapped this afternoon in mauve and purple paper and ribbon. still need to deliver them but at least they are done!

Cheap fun

When it comes to night clothes I always end up wearing an old top that's not good enough to wear in the day. But a few months ago I saw a friend wearing a lovely Ralph Lauren pajama set and it looked so nice I got me looking out for something nicer. What would I do without e-bay? I found this lilac Ralph Lauren pj set new with tags for $30 and I wore it for the first time last night. What a delight! Just so you know E-bay has pages of Ralph's PJ's for around $30 and most of them are new, not a bad deal if you ask me.

Other scenes from yesterday.

Book

It feels like a long time since I took on a creative project. But this birthday present is sure inspire me to do something. The book full of projects and templates from Cath Kidston and I just love the idea's but most of all the fact that I can finally get my hands on her designs instead of trying to do that free hand.

Ice baby

I've never been very imaginative with our home made ice lollies, I just pour in fruit juice and leave it at that but the other day I made a delicious smoothie with blueberries, strawberries, banana, almond milk, Greek yogurt...you get the picture?
So I used the smoothie for filling the molds and they are going down a treat. Not only are they really tasty but very healthy. Missy usually losses interested after the first few sips of a smoothie drink but she can't get enough of these ice lollies that have the exact same ingredient's in. I thinking next time I could put in some more supper foods like spiralina or omega 3? anything to get the goodness in!

31

Birthday events are as follows...
First I managed to pull off baking my own coffee cake and it actually turned out good (apart from the fact that I remembered to double all ingredient's except the baking powder whoops! so it was kind of dense).
In the morning we went off to Red Rooster for a slice of carrot cake which Indianna was determined to sample.
Then a spot of shopping, I managed to find these three marble apples and this lovely lantern in the sale.
We then came home and made preparations for our little curry party.
I decorated the table in my two favorite colours, apple green and hot pink.
We enjoyed a wonderful dinner with friends which confirmed to us that curry is the best food on the planet (and so is coffee cake).