Wishing you a Happy Christmas!

I know this picture is nothing like Moreton Island but it is so Christmassy!

I am off to Moreton Island for Christmas tomorrow and wanted to wish you all a safe and Happy Christmas.  

Thank you for all your lovely, thoughtful comments you have given to me throughout the year, it means so much to me that there is so many caring gorgeous people out there.   The blogging world is an amazing place and I love being part of it.

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Candy Canes....

I like how these Candy Canes are suspended with ribbon from the window!

 Candles in Epsom Salts

Baubles in Glass Domes

Some Christmas ideas from Pinterest.  You have got to love Pinterest, I certainly do!

Enjoy your weekend!

Christmas Lights

Christmas Lights at Bowers Road South, Everton Hills

My favourite!

 Family and friends!

Dorrington Drive, Ashgrove

Last night was a wonderful evening, my sister, a friend and I took our children to see some Christmas lights.  We went to Bowers Road South, Everton Hills first.  Oh my goodness I shrieked with delight when we entered the street, I could not believe this one house which I think would be set on a acre or two of land, had come to life, it was truly spectacular.  The children were really excited, there is so much to see and as Mia said "it is a fairy land of lights".  If you are hungry they even have a sausage sizzle.  We then went to Maundrell Tce, Aspley, there is a church that is spectacular as well, we did not get out of the car as it was getting late and we wanted to go to Dorrington Drive, Ashgrove, another spectacular display of lights.  

I asked my sister "what does this remind you of", she replied Ivanhoe in Melbourne.  When we were young Mum and Dad would take us to this one particular street in Ivanhoe a suburb in Melbourne and all the houses would have gorgeous lights and decorations.  A wonderful cherished memory we will always have.

If you are into Christmas lights, I highly recommend you go!

Thank you for all your beautiful, thoughtful comments over the past few weeks, it really means so much to me!

Happy Wednesday to you!  xxx

Award

I have been extremely lucky the past week and have won another award "The Versatile Blogger" from the gorgeous EZ from Life....Style'n.  Please visit her blog you will enjoy her wonderful and creative posts.

The award requires me to share 7 things about Christmas with you!

Here goes!

"Love Cake"

This is a traditional Sri Lankan cake that my beautiful Dad  (he is Sri Lankan) every Christmas and if I am lucky I get one for my birthday.  He has just informed me last Wednesday night when he was over for dinner,  that it is about time you made it my darling as I am getting too old and you need to practice.  I don't know about him getting too old but I am going to give it ago with his help.  It is a very long process to create this magical cake!

Presents!

Wrapping presents, I absolutely love wrapping presents!  Mum always got me to wrap her presents for her!

Decorations!

Buying decorations, there is not a year that goes by that I don't buy a few decorations for the house or tree.

I bought this gorgeous snowflake on the left of the picture from "Have you met Miss Jones", for Mia's teacher.

Christmas Markets - Frankfurt!

The Christmas Markets in Frankfurt, we visited 5 years ago.  Absolutely magical, my children loved them and of course so did I.

Santa and the Myer Windows

Visiting Santa with Mia, my nieces and my sister.  It brings back so many happy memories of when I was a child.

Going to Kmart with my children to get 3 gift tags off the Wishing tree. We then go shopping and they choose gifts to go under the Wishing Tree.  

I remember when I was young we would always visit my Nana on Christmas Day.  She lived about an hour away from us.  We would have to go through Melbourne City to get to her.  The number of homeless people I would see on Christmas Day would sadden me and has never left me.  I am so very thankful.  I have a roof over my and my children's head.

My family!

I have saved the best for last, I absolutely love spending Christmas with my family they bring me all the joy and happiness I could ever wish for!

The next part of the award is for me to pass it on to four more bloggers!

1.  Linda from - Oeke Design Blog

2. Belle Inspirations

3. Loulou - Here I am Loulou

4. Kylie - Stylish Settings

Enjoy today and all the Christmas Cheer!

Awards

I have been lucky and completely surprised to have received the Liebster Award from a lovely blogger friend Fiona from Just Paint it White Blog!

Liebster is a German word meaning "dearest" and the award is given to bloggers with fewer than 200 followers.  The award has a few stipulations:

1.  Thank the giver and link back to the blogger who gave it you.
2.  Reveal your five blogger picks and let them know by leaving a comment on their blog.
3.  Copy and paste the award on your blog.
4.  Hope that people you have sent the award to forward it on to their favourite bloggers.

Here are my five wonderful blogs I have chosen:

1.  Mrs Tiff Living Creatively - I love Tiff's creativity
2.  Coastal Style - Melissah's blog has the most beautiful images
3.  Down Ruby Lane - Mellissa - I met Mellissa at "Colour Pshchology" and she has created a beautiful blog!
4.  First house on the Right - Nicole's blog offers a whole lot of variety.
5.  Life...Style'n - Ez has a creative and inspiring blog.

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

Shopping

Images from Country Road

Me

 When I chose to do Colour Psychology I did not realise the personal journey it would take me on.  

My Mum passed away two years ago from Pancreatic Cancer.  Mum was diagnosed with the cancer and died seven weeks later.  Since her passing and only until recently all I was wore was Black.  I love the colour black but I found out that wearing this colour does not really help with grief it actually suppresses your emotions.  

Studying colour has taken me on an amazing journey and has really helped me emotionally deal with my grief.  I can finally embrace wearing colour and it feels amazing.  I feel my life is starting to turn around and there are new beginnings everywhere.  (Yippee)

The pictures above are two dresses  and a pair of shoes I bought.  I thought the Maxi dress would be perfect for the beach and I wore the other with the shoes to a lunch on Saturday.  The pretty little girls pink dress I bought for my gorgeous niece who turns 10 early January.

I highly recommend wearing colour and I will be able to differentiate what is in my wardrobe other than black!

Happy Monday!

Christmas ideas

 Christmas Tree made out of rolls of paper.  A great idea!

 Love this paper tree!

 A gorgeous Christmas themed bedroom!

A Christmas Ball made out of polystyrene and buttons.  Very pretty!

I found these pictures guess where?  Yes Pinterest.  It amazes and inspires me to see such creative and gifted talent around.   Sammy my middle child is one of these gorgeous talented people.  He creates the most amazing pieces of Art.  I will post a picture of what he made for his Art assignment this term.  His teachers wanted to keep it.  I am a very proud Mum!

A very big thank you to Julie-Ann for posting my blogs on her wonderful Decorating Forum site  this week.  I feel very privileged to have been asked.  Thank you xx

We are off to visit Santa this weekend. I love this time of year!

Enjoy today and your weekend!  

Christmas Snowballs

HOW TO MAKE BATH SNOWBALLS

These fragrant spheres for the bath (we scented ours with peppermint oil) are made by packing Epsom salts into a plastic mold. The bath "snowballs" can be tinted any color. You'll need 3 to 4 days to make the bath balls because of the drying time between steps. Makes 2 large or 4 small balls.

Tools and Materials2 cups Epsom salts
2 tablespoons water
A few drops essential oil(s)
1 drop food coloring, plus more if desired
Special equipment: plastic pipette, large or small round bath-ball molds, storage jars

Directions
1. Stir together Epsom salts and water in a mixing bowl. Using pipette, add oil, 1 drop at a time, until strength of scent is to your liking. Add food coloring, 1 drop at a time, until desired shade is achieved; stir until color is even throughout. 

2. Spoon a generous amount of mixture (more than necessary) into 1/2 of a bath-ball mold. Pack firmly. Repeat, packing mixture into second half of mold. Press pieces together until they connect. Remove top half of mold very carefully. Let bath ball stand, mold side down, overnight (set ball on an overturned jar lid to keep it from tipping over). 

3. Remove mold carefully. Invert, and let ball dry completely, 2 to 3 days more. Transfer to jars.

Gift-Packaging Idea
Use a glass kitchen canister to present the bath balls, which the recipient can then display on a vanity. Wrap the jar with ribbon, tying a bow at the top, and add a vellum gift tag threaded with cord in a matching colour.

___________________

I found this lovely gift idea from Martha Stewart's gift idea's .  It looks easy to make, I thought Mia and I could try this on the weekend.  Mia loves creating pretty things and I am sure she would love to give these as gifts for Christmas to her cousins. 

You can find this post and more inspiration and reading at the Decorating Forum

Happy Wednesday to you!

Keep cool

All Images - Pinterest

Summer is here (well not quite) and I am certainly feeling the heat!   Looking at these pictures makes me want to dive and laze around in cool water.

I am starting to feel a little relaxed as the boys have finished their exams and school for the year.  My husband came up with a lovely idea on Saturday night, the three of them are going to go on a surfing trip for a week to Victoria.  I love the idea of them bonding and having boy (men) time together.

We are off to Moreton Island for Christmas with my sister and her family.  I can't wait to spend time with them and to swim in the beautiful clear waters of Moreton.

The lovely Julie-Ann from Decorating Forum has asked me to feature my blog on their forum this week.  You can read it and other beautiful blogs from here.

Enjoy today!

Awnings

Love this awning and the Front Door!

Hooray it is Friday!

A busy week has been had by all the family.  My boys have had exams all week, Mia had a Talent Quest she competed in.  I had an exam for Colour Psychology, I am crossing my fingers that I have passed and more to the point that my beautiful hardworking boys have passed.  It is the last day of school for the boys they are very excited (I don't know if I am).

It was our 20th Wedding Anniversary on Wednesday, we celebrated by going out to dinner with the boys and Mia, we had a lovely evening.

I have exciting news I have picked up some interior work, helping a friend decorate her formal lounge and dining room.  I helped pick paint colours for their exterior of their beautiful home.  They really new what they wanted they just needed reassurance.

My client (hehe) wants an awning on one of her windows, I sent her the above photos and more so she can choose a style.  She would like Black and White (love b & w awnings).  Which would you pick?  I like photo 1 and 4.

I will stop by your posts today and catch up on what my gorgeous. inspiring blog friends have been doing this week.

Take care

and

Happy weekend to you!