Thursday, December 29, 2011

Winding up

It's the second last day of the year an i thought it was time to reflect. There is always so much hype about New years eve and New year's resolutions but when watching the movie New Year's eve earlier this week I loved Hillary Swanks speech about the dropping ball in NYC it wen't something like this:

It's suspended there to remind us before we pop the champagne and celebrate the new year, to stop and reflect on the year that has gone by. To  remember both our triumphs and  our missteps, our promises made and broken. The times we opened ourselves up to great adventures or closed ourselves down for fear of getting hurt coz that is what new years is all about- getting another chance. A chance to forgive, to do better, to do more, to give more, to love more. And stop worrying about what if and start embracing what would be. So when that ball drops at midnight and it will drop, let's remember to be nice to each other, kind to each other. And not just tonight but all year long

I thought it was beautiful even brought a tear to my eye. I have had the most amazing 2011. It has been a good year work wise, and personal life wise. Today I also enjoyed reading Holly Becker's blog post on decor8 about her end of year ritual. She says rather than thinking about what you didn’t accomplish in 2011, make a list of all that you managed to do this year that you are proud of. You can also leave your list on her blog. So Today instead of worrying about what i'll be doing tomorrow night i'm going to dedicate an art journal page about the year gone by. If you are wanting to start your New year's resolution head over to Dandee for a new years resolution printable kit. What are you proud of from 2011?

Current Etsy Favourites

I got so spoilt for Christmas but during the lead up I added a lot of Etsy items to my favourites when I was searching for presents. I would like to buy all of these....

Earings from NicoleClare7

Perfect Twist poster from debbiecarlos

Abstract Print from twoems

Giclee print, at home by marlaelina


Miss joan bright pink headband from sunshineandcarousels

hot pink geo earrings by amerrymishap

Feather necklace by theblueballoon

Whats everyone doing for New Years Eve?

Wedding Wednesday (on a Thursday)

Well well well, clearly I'm relaxing a little too much, loosing track of days!
How was your Christmas? Mine was wonderful.
Today I want to share a Sydney Wedding which was featured on Style me pretty earlier this week. It was a wedding in Bondi and was styled by Scout and Charm


I love the brides and bridesmaids dresses. The brides dress is from Rose and Rudy and the bridesmaids from forever new. Isn't the bridesmaids hair lovely to? I have actually been wearing my hair like this of late. Head over to style me pretty for more pictures, the wedding had lots of daisies and pretty bunting. It was just generally really really pretty!


Ohh Those dresses.....

Friday, December 23, 2011

May your Christmas be Merry & Bright

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and happy 2012. 
Thank you for taking the time to read my little blog I've enjoyed having you here.


(This is my eldest niece Millie, We made her a letter to Santa) 

May your Holidays be safe and Happy
xoxoxox
Amy

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Loft Love

So my first day of holidays have been spent hanging on the lounge as I feel a little under the weather. So I decided to check out this months holiday issue of Rue magazine. In the magazine they feature Bri Emery's loft (who is the creative director of the magazine) and I am inlove with this space. I haven't felt so 'home' inspired in ages. You need to check this out. 


I seriously need the scarf hanging over the couch from here
There isn't one thing I would change about this space and there are a few things I will be purchasing for my home from this shoot. Like the garland below. I have the design sponge book on my xmas wish list as well (I saw it in Typo last week)


you can see all the images on the photographers blog too. So after reading Rue i followed the link over to Bri's blog and have honestly spent a few hours going back through it and its sooo amazing. Iv'e read all the way back to July and am still reading! I'm loving everything about it! I love finding new blog to treasure! enjoy


Wedding Wednesday

Yesterday I came across this beautiful Snowy Winter wedding over at Green wedding shoes (one of my fave wedding blogs). Toby and I love going to the snow and it'd be a real dream to get married there. Completely unrealistic for us as the snow is 8 hours away from our house and I wouldn't expect my guests to fork out that much money to attend our wedding but it would be ever so magical. 


I love that it snowed during Kezia and Ashton's wedding ceremony (how romantic) 


Kezia also sent her bridesmaids an email of 20 cream dresses from asos and urban outfitters all in similar shades that they could choose themselves (I love love this idea as mentioned in this post) head over to Green wedding shoes for some lovely wedding inspriation.


Sunday, December 18, 2011

Watch Rob Ryan at work

I've been fascinated by the work of Rob Ryan for a few years now. I dream of one day owning one of his originals pieces... (dreaming....) he has a home wares collection that i've seen popping up around the place even at general pants co. He also has an Etsy store. This video has been popping up all over blog land I first saw it on meet me at mikes (I think i'm going to make pips potato curry this week too)


Baking With Millie

I finished up work for the year at the School I have been working at and I'm off to a new school next year. I wanted to make my faculty a little Christmas gift and thought Shortbread would make a nice gift. I love shortbread. I used to make shortbread all the time but haven't made it for a few years. I found this recipe in my mums better homes and gardens magazine and when I brought the western star butter it's actually printed on the butter wrapper. I was looking after Millie and Blair on Thursday night so it was a great activity to keep them occupied. (Blair just played with patty tins while Millie and I cooked)


Ingredients
250g Western Star butter
2/3 cup pure icing sugar
2 cups of plain flour
1 cup rice flour
1 tsp caster sugar, for sprinkling

Method
1. Process all ingredients (except caster sugar) in a food processor (I used my mix master as I don't have a food processor and it worked well)
2. press mixture together until it forms a dough
3. on a lightly floured board roll out dough until 5mm thick
4. using a cookie cutter (i chose stars and xmas trees) cut shapes from dough and transfer to a lightly greased and lined tray sprinkle with caster sugar bake at 160 degrees Celsius for 1/2 an hour (i finally have a new oven and it's fan forced it only took 18 minutes for mine to be cooked) you want them to be dry firm but still pale. Dust with extra icing sugar and serve.


I gifted them in a cello bag with some nice ribbon (forgot to photograph this) I think the faculty liked them! I'm going to miss them next year.

Sunday, December 11, 2011

It's beginning to look a lot like christmas

It has been for a week but I thought I'd share an Instagram of the outside of our house.


toby got up on a very high ladder last weekend to hang the icicle lights. I think it looks pretty spesh. I had my little sister over tonight to watch one of our all time favourite Christmas movies


What's you favourite Christmas movie and Carols? I also watched A Santa Claus today and Family Stone on Thursday. I still have a small pile to get through before christmas. I love this time of year.

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Wedding Wednesday

Have you been on the wedding blog Once Wed? If you haven't you should it's great. I've been a regular visitor for quite some time and it is there that I came across the idea of giving jam or honey as a wedding favour. I really love this idea as I love jam and honey and I also like the idea that you can make it yourself (not that I ever have made jam.... I'll give it a go though and if it fails i'll order some)
You can also jazzy it up with a small piece of fabric and ribbon and put a personalised label on them. All images used here are from Once wed's wedding ideas section link here. They have some other great favours as well. 

My favourite favour I received at a wedding was from my friend Kirra. Her and her husband gave everyone a rosemary plant. She had wrapped the pot in hessian and tied it with ribbon. What a great idea.

My friend Kelly recently did a post on her blog about gifts in jars. Check it out here

Monday, December 5, 2011

Life lately through instagrams





 


The last week has been pretty busy, varying from Ring-a-ring-a-rosy on my sisters trampoline, to homebake in Sydney where we got to see some great Aussie (and kiwi) bands (and catch up with a few friends), to xmas decorating and card making, to chilling out under our Apple tree. Life has been busy busy. I haven't worked the last two days as school is starting to wind down so I have tried to get into some Christmas crafts. I think December is busy for everyone but that's one of the reasons I love it so. 





Thursday, December 1, 2011

Happy 1st of December

Yay! only 24 more sleeps till Christmas! 
We actually put our christmas tree up early (much to Toby's disgust) only by 4 days but I thought I'd wait till today to share a picture. I love our tree! 


Katie.Cupcake put up a great DIY felt polaroid Ornament this morning on Instagram. When I didn't get called in to work today I headed out to print some photos and buy some felt and set to work. I actually didn't follow her tutorial  just winged it but I think it would have been way easier if i read it first). I highly recommend using her tutorial. Thanks for sharing Katie. I am going to use mine as gift tags so the recipient gets an extra little gift to hang on their Christmas tree the following year.


Please share any Christmas DIY's in my comments :)

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