Feeling Crafty?

{ check out some crafty ideas here }

Just had afternoon with a friend of my Mum's today who is a mad (good mad) quilter. She has some beautiful quilts and my Mum and I have decided to make a joint quilt. I'll pick the fabric (fun), I'll cut the squares (sort of fun) and Mum will hand sew all the squares together (not so fun!). I've been thinking a lot lately about craft ideas. Christmas is fast approaching (i know it's still ages away) but if I'm to make some handmade gifts (like I promise myself I'm going to do every year and don't!) then I've got to get my thinking cap on..... watch this space...

My new bestie xox

{ pic's taken by moi }

Introducing our new member of the family, the beautiful (and extremely photogenic) Gus. We've had him for 1 month today and as far as I'm concerned he's the most adorable creature to have ever walked the planet - along with Arthur (our cat) of course. He has already brought so much joy to our little world and I can't wait for the adventures that lie ahead. Isn't he sooooooo cute!?!!!!

Outdoor Perfection

I have soooooo many ideas when it comes to interior decorating my home and for the most part it comes pretty naturally and I LOVE doing it.... however, when it comes to the garden I'm stumped! No pun intended. So I've been collecting some inspiration of late and getting heaps of ideas. Now it's nearly time to put inspiration into action. I'm thinking I can (easily!!) create something similar to this image... Isn't it just divine? The formal hedges, with a touch of colour, height and scale. And then of course there's the outdoor entertaining area. How I wish this picture showed us a little more... but I get the drift... just make it fabulous!! Do you think if I show this picture to my hubby he'll be as inspired as me and will just make it happen!?!! Mmmmm, me neither..... 

Impossibly Jealous!

{ I could very happily holiday here..... }

{ or here..... }

{ or here..... actually, I think this might be SJP's house. Perfect! }

I stalk many blogs and I even live vicariously through some of the them. The world seems so much shiner in blogland and when sometimes real life can be 'messy' and not as dreamlike as it is in my head the world of blogs, pinterest and tumblr capture it all so perfectly - you know, the way 'it's MEANT to be'.

Earlier this week I found myself checking in to 'the house that a-m built' blog. As with most (ok, all) the blogs I follow I've never met this woman but I feel like I know her. She's an interior decorator and has been featured in some Australian home magazines for her classic Hamptons decorating style. You can see why we're kindered spirits!  Well, this week she is in the states and not only has she attended a blogging conference in NYC (yep, she's pretty much made a career out of blogging!) but she's in THE HAMPTONS....... my favourite place in the entire universe. ever. The pang of jealously I felt did not go unnoticed and it really made me realise that I need to get my a*$se into gear if I want to bring to (real) life some of my long held dreams. I have been to The Hamptons once (but didn't have nearly enough time there) and am  D E S P E R A T E  to go back. Along with Boston where another of my all time favourite blogging "friends" lives.

On a less jealous note it's nice to see people living their dreams and positive things happening in their lives when they follow their hearts. NYC & The Hamptons... here I come!

Real Style

{ found here }

I don't even know what to write. Just came across this quote whilst trawling my favourite tumblr pages and this one "spoke to me"...... It's nice to not have to "try" every now and then...

Pretty on the inside....

{ if you really want to get depressed by other people's perfect interiors, click here }

Having been in my house a few months now things are coming together but there's still a long way to go until the interior is EXACTLY how I want it.... somedays I wonder if I'll ever get there! If only money were no object.... or I could just win lotto! In the meantime I continue to build my 'inspiration' file and wonder if my house will ever be photoshoot ready?!

Productivity

{ found here }

Well, how about that for an idea.... being happy is productive!! Yes, it is..... As I move towards stripping out of my life the stuff that doesn't make me happy I realise how true this is... if only we could really truly take out all the bullshit and just be left with the nice stuff. Who cares about goals and objectives and productivity.... not me - i'm far more productive without them!

Get it Bright...

{ images from my fashion love pinterest page }

After a few dreary days we're finally seeing some sunshine again and i'm looking forward to spring and the wardrobe possibilities!!!! So much brightness. Loving J Crews pink neon pants. I must have them... not to mention some printed floral pants. Hello? They've got my name ALL OVER THEM.

A new member of the family

{ image from here }

Today we are getting a dog.  Another little step in our country experience! We have a (rescue) cat that we love dearly and now that we have a backyard it's time to add to the family. We're resucing a dog from the local animal shelter. He's a black labrador and he's gorgeous. We're naming him Gus. Can't wait for him to arrive this afternoon. I've never owned a dog of my own before so this is a big day. Will post some piccies of our new addition very soon. The one above is just a placeholder for now!! Hope our new addition likes being photographed because I intend to recreate the above with Gus as soon as our jasmine is out in flower!!!

Up the Garden Path

{ lots of inspiring gardens to be found here }

With so much work to do inside our new house we've neglected the garden although winter in the Southern Highlands does not a garden make. Had a day outside last week but I must say you can't even see where we've been! Soooo much inspiration on Pinterest though. See above. Enchanted garden here I come.

A day late....

{ image via pinterest }

Thought I'd better celebrate my imaginary American heritage by wishing everyone "Happy 4 July". Aaaand, I'm a bit of a sucker for stars and stripes (see pretty picture above!). Now, I must go, I've got to watch the latest episode of my favourite American TV series (Revenge), set in my favourite American location (The Hamptons). God Bless America!!!

So ordering....

{ for more jcrew love click here }

J Crew has offered shipping to Australia for ages and I've exercised some serious restraint. But when this puppy turned up on pinterest a few days ago it just had my name on it..... haven't ordered yet but it's only a matter of time... happy monday xox

Heart Palpitations....

{ for a little more if your heart can stand it, visit here }

OMG, is this not the dreamiest of wedding locations you have ever seen?! I have long followed the Elements of Style blog and now I also stalk this girls life on Instagram where I was first alerted to my dream wedding. As much as I'm happy to be live where I do and be Australian my Mum recently reminded me that I could (should) in fact be American. Hosted by the Grooms parents on their Conneticut estate (I'm sure I'm related somewhere down the line) isn't it the most heavenly thing you've seen. Or is it just me?  ps. LOVING the Bridesmaids and Groomsmens outfits.

The Next Chapter

{ the good life... via here }

Well, I can't believe the month of June has almost passed me by and I have not posted a single blog entry. It's been on the "to do" list for the last 5 weeks and yet nothing! Feeling a tad guilty (but trying not too.... it's not working!).

My new country life is living up to my dreams. It's so good to be away from the stresses of the city and to get back to a more simple way of being. I have wanted to do that for such a long time and needed to do it for even longer. I'm really not missing anything from the city (ok, maybe that the supermarkets are super close) and I can't wait for the exciting adventures in this next chapter.

Watch this space.... good things come to those who wait xox

Last Day!

{ cute image from here }

Well, yesterday was supposed to be my last day in the office but I didn't quite get everything finished. Didn't help that my day started with my car battery being completely dead! So today is my OFFICIAL last day having to be in an office!  Y.A.Y!!! From here on in I will continue my career from the comfort of my home and I'd say for the most part in my trackies!

Vision v. Reality

{ find these and more here }

For as long as I can remember I have been collecting "inspiration" for my dream home. I have scrapbook after scrapbook and a magazine collection to rival any serious hoarder. And now with Pinterest the inspiration just grows on a daily basis. And finally, I am moving into a house where I can bring some of my visions into reality. Although, I have an awful feeling that there may be a fairly significant gap between what I want (ie. need) and what I can actually afford. Damn you $$'s!

1 more sleep....

{ image via pretty stuff tumblr }

Really, I should be a little more excited. You see, tomorrow is my "official" last day in the office. Then it's all about working from home in my new cottage in my new country town. I still feel like I've got soooooooo much to do before I leave that office tomorrow that I don't think it will really hit me until it's finished! In any case, it's an exciting time but mixed with a fair amount of upheaval and change it's also scary, overwhelming and daunting. Fingers (& toes) crossed it all works out for the best!

Ha Ha....

{ who knows where it originated but i found it here }

Can you think of anyone that should have been given this as a youngster? Mmmmmmm, me either!!!

The little things....

{ image from here }

For most of life, nothing wonderful happens. If you don’t enjoy getting up and working and finishing your work and sitting down to a meal with family or friends, then the chances are that you’re not going to be very happy. If someone bases his happiness or unhappiness on major events like a great new job, huge amounts of money, a flawlessly happy marriage or a trip to Paris, that person isn’t going to be happy much of the time. If, on the other hand, happiness depends on a good breakfast, flowers in the yard, a drink or a nap, then we are more likely to live with quite a bit of happiness.

Open House

{ our beautiful home, captured in wide angle to make it look even bigger & better than in real life! }

Well, after 18 years of living in my beautiful sunny apartment it's time for me to move on..... We're moving to our new house in the country in a few weeks and although I'm really excited to be moving to our beautiful cottage in all it's timber panelled glory (and a backyard!) I'm a little sad to be saying goodbye to my city home. I haven't even started packing yet because a) it seems like too massive a task and b) I don't want my home to not look like my home - you know what I mean. As I prepared for our Open House today it's making me even more sad because everything looks so perfect and clean and beautiful when you're preparing to show other people your house. Mmmmmm, time to suck it up and keep moving forward. The only thing to do.