Taking a break

I'm going to take a little mini-break from blogging until the new year. Mr B, Miss L and I are going to relax and enjoy our time at the beach with the extended family. We're even going to fit in a trip up to Rockhampton and Yeppoon to visit some good friends. I will be sure to tell you of our adventures when I return. I hope you have a great end of the year and that you get to chill out and do the things that you love doing.

C xo

Merry Christmas

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas. Enjoy the day with your loved ones. Be thankful for the small things that mean a lot. Health. Happiness. Love.

C xo

Birthdays

Today is the birthday of my sweet baby sister and my gorgeous hubby. My sister H turns 26 (that makes me feel old) and Mr B turns the ripe old age of 30.

Happy Birthday to both of you!

Mr B, the 6 weeks of 'same age' begins! Hooray!

C xo

p.s. Is it cake o'clock yet?

Last minute gift ideas (that are super cool)

I found these ideas on the Real Living website... Holy wow! Those peeps over at Real Living magazine really know how to make the basics look amazing.


I thought it appropriate to post these ideas today, with only 2 days left of Christmas shopping... And the most awesome thing is, you can get all of these from the supermarket which is open until 9pm most nights. Bonus! I think these are the sweetest gift ideas and would make any recipient very happy. You can check more ideas out here.

A Kitchen Garden gift:

Shopping List:

Diced Tomatoes 800g, $1.55 Herbs in Pot, $4.79; Paper Roll 10m, $2.45; Gardener Fork, $4.99; Trimmer Line, $3.98; Fun Stuff Super Craft Pack, $4.99; Super Glue, $2 for 2 tubes; Ansell Green Thumb Garden Gloves, $4.99

Kitchen garden gift how-to

Open the tinned tomatoes and transfer contents to another container. Clean the tin thoroughly, remove label and let dry. Drill holes in bottom of tin to allow water to drain through. Replant herb plant into tin. Wrap tin with a neat piece of brown paper and tie garden fork in place with green whipper-snipper line. Stick a small popsicle stick (from the craft pack) to tin with glue. Print a label for the planter on paper, cut to size and glue to the popsicle stick. Make a "lawn" for the tin with the gardening gloves.

i-Tween Gift

Shopping List

Three Threes Pickled Onions 800g, $2.89; WT Demineralised Water 2L, $1.99; Faulding Remedies Glycerine 200ml, $8.14; iTunes Gift Card, $20; Christmas Collection Star Scatters in Silver 25g, $2.15; Christmas Collection 25-piece Ornament Packs in Blue and Magenta, $4.99 each; Home Living Muffin Cases, $2.99 for 50; Home Living Balls Of String, $3.38 for 2-pack

i-Tween Gift How-to

Transfer pickled onions to another container. Wash and dry jar. Fill with demineralised water and a dash of glycerine (this helps the glittery star scatters fall to the bottom slowly). Stir well. Add giftcard, star scatters and baubles (allow baubles to fill with water if you want them to sink). You may need to tape a little bit of bubble wrap or something buoyant to the back of the giftcard to help it float. Top up jar with demineralised water and close with lid tightly. Pop a muffin case on lid and tie with string.

The Picnic Gift:

Shopping List:

Homebrand Stuffed Green Olives 450g, $1.85; Tuckers Natural Four Cheese & Chives Crackers 100g, $2.99; Home Living Muffin Cases, $2.99 for 50; Home Essentials Cooking Twine 100m, $4.99; Maggie Beer Extra Virgin Olive Oil 375mL, $8.99; Rye & Currant Sourdough Bread 315g, $3.25; Brown Paper Roll 10m, $2.45; Home Essentials Chopping Board Bamboo 37cm x 14cm, $7.99; John Sands Thick Striped Ribbon, $2.50

Picnic Gift how-to

Transfer the olives to another container, and wash the jar and lid in hot soapy water. Let dry. Fill jar with crackers. Add lid and place a muffin case on top and tie with cooking twine. Cover the bakery label on the bread by wrapping a strip of brown paper around the centre. Secure with string. Arrange jar, bread and olive oil on chopping board and tie with thick ribbon

I hope you have all of your Christmas shopping sorted.

C xo

Pink

I love pink. It makes me feel super happy and girly when I wear it. I might whip out my hot pink Leona Edmiston 'party' dress for Christmas day.

What colour instantly brightens your day?

C xo

Denim shirt + pretty skirt

I am loving the whole denim shirt look, especially when paired with a bright patterned skirt. Here's a few inspirational pics I've been lusting over...

The look just screams casual glamour!

C xo

Monday + (Damn) Shopping Ban + Work

This morning I was up at the crack of dawn with Miss L... This photo does not do the sunrise justice. It was a beautiful bright orange and purple sky.

After giving Miss L a very early morning bottle, I put her back to bed and got a good couple of hours shut eye myself. I slept in until 7am. It was heavenly. While Miss L still slept, I made a cup of tea, put a load of washing on, and sat down to some avocado on toast. She promptly woke up at 7:30am, but it was nice to have a bit of 'me' time.

Tomorrow Miss L and I are heading up to Bundaberg with my Mum and sister J, so I'm madly trying to pack (can I take 10 dresses????!!!!), clean the house, and use up all of the fruit and vegies we have lying around because I just know that Mr B won't finish them in the few days he's at home by himself before he comes up north. I made this greek salad for lunch. Delicious!

Miss L is wearing her bib sideways. She is a trend setter.

In other news, this damn shopping ban (I have started adding the word 'damn' to the front of it because I'm getting so sick of it) is annoying. I'm kind of over it. I've survived 3 months on it (nearly 4 months!). I made it halfway. Is that enough? Can I give it up already? I feel like I've cheated along the way anyway, with the op shopping and spending my birthday money... I know Mr B already thinks I've blown the ban with the op shopping, but he's glad that I'm spending less on clothes. Plus I've learnt a lot. I've learnt to not go spending money I don't have (goodbye credit card), and I've learnt to think more carefully about what I want and not just buy things on a whim.

That being said, I'm so coveting a Red Phoenix Emporium necklace. Specifically the Gelato necklace and the Everyone's a Wintour necklace. Might drop a few big hints to Mr B for my birthday.

The RPE Gelato necklace

And work is sorted for next year. 3 days a week. Starting early February. God help me, I don't know how we're going to cope with the new routine, but I know we will... eventually.

So, I'm going to be away for the next 2 to 3 weeks with limited internet access... I've scheduled a few posts up until Christmas, but after that, I'm taking a bloggy break. I'm going to relax, go for long walks on the beach, eat my weight in rum balls, and do lots of swimming. Can't wait. I'll be back in the new year to tell you all about our little holiday and Miss L's first Christmas. I hope you all have a fab Christmas and New Years wherever you may be...

C xo