things i'm loving . . . 'home life'

Greetings all,

So many totally-into-&-loving-things this week with PaisleyJade, starting off a fabulous Beef Ragu recipe from my children's cookbook My Grandma's Kitchen by Louise Fulton Keats (yes, as in the offspring of Margaret Fulton, cooking master) & yes, i cook from children's cookbooks as they are my level of culinary adventure & children LOVE every meal, win win.  

 My new Mac desk top arrived, after i killed my 5th laptop computer - my husband suggested i might be more reliable with a desk top & swears by Mac, so yes folks, i'm never going back!!  I love the multi view - i reckon i could launch a space ship from here!!

 I picked up a copy of the May Home Beautiful with Simone from Beach Vintage blog & Just Plain Gorgeous shop & Fabric Traders on line . . . to read about her fresh & fabulous beachside home.  I studied every image, if i was ever a guest, i'd know where the bathroom was (it was a huge feature) congratulations Simone & family!!

 The children are being thoroughly entertained by the chickens, i love finding shots like this when i download the camera.  This is apparently what alien chickens look like!!

 The chicken coop arrived.  Seeing they are only 10 days old & it's getting to 0C at night here, they are very much indoor-baby-chicks, so i constructed the coop in the lounge room (nothing a vacuum can't fix) & it's basically like having the world's most bizarre lamp!!

 Our German Shepherd is containing himself, he chases birds all day in the garden, so to have chickens is a challenge for him.  He's really being VERY good.  Can you feel the energy in this picture - like he is absolutely ready to pounce at any second.

 It was going to happen sooner than later, the chickens now have a coop & disco!!

 Is it just me or are they lying in the shape of a love heart??  Please be hens!!  Looks like we'll be getting new baby chicks from the next batch of incubated magic in a few weeks, so excited!!

Sorry i'm still a little over the top with chicken fever but they really are just so much fun.  School resumes on Monday so it will be me & the chickens.  My sister recommended ducks, similar to raise but more friendly as they follow you around, like pets.  I agree, they're on the list!!  Love Posie

things i'm loving . . . 'goodies with my husband'

Greetings all,
Things I'm Loving, yay, i'm the luckiest girl in the world . . . my husband may have missed a dozen wedding anniversaries but look at this special piece of hard core jewellery i got for our 15th!!  As if his charm, dimples & all round gorgeousness weren't enough . . . he went shopping at Tiffany's on the way home from Afghanistan & i absolutely love it, i mean him!!  EDIT: Tiffany's Dubai, there isn't a Tiffany's in Kandahar.

 We have a fantastic French patisserie hidden away in Fyshwick (industrial area) with glorious treats, like this sampler for $6.50, mmmm, love The Flute!!  We sat in the car in the rain & shared these, outside a hardware store, glamorous i know, but it's all about the company you keep.  EDIT: so glad The Flute is famous for my readers. 

 My darling patient husband knows not to question when i squeal & find a silver pineapple - it's made friends with my pears already.

 Da dah, bilateral carpal tunnel decompression surgery, 2 weeks on, talk about key hole!!  Still swollen & tender, my palms are precious this week & you can see the numb left thumb here, sporting a purple hue.  The Third Bird heat pack is just the right size for my thumb to warm up & rest on.

 Do you ever use your 4c/L fuel discount to buy magazines when you fill up your car??  You should - it halves the price of the big glossy magazines.  I used to absorb Marie Claire, Vogue & Elle as a high school & uni student, i love fashion, accessories, decor . . .  tripping around Europe on my honeymoon was such an eye boggling experience, Via Condotti Roma anyone??  My parents would take us children into all the designer stores we'd read about, it was magic.  I haven't bought a Marie Claire magazine for ages, i'm excited, Claudia is so beautiful.  It will take me back to my teen years reading by the pool or on the train, tucked into my chemistry folder, tee hee.  EDIT: use your 4c/L for fuel & the 'spend $5 at the service station for an additional 4c/L' for magazines, much better than spending it on junk food & very handy for me who has an 85L tank & 65L reserve tank, magazines are practically free!!

 I flick through these magazines now, gathering ideas for my daughters.  I have hired most seasons of The Hills & The City while resting my hands, what brilliant reality shows to give young folk a taste inside the fashion, magazine & PR industries, not to mention dating, room mates & parties for those young, free & single girls in their early 20s.  My husband doesn't watch . . . but his favourite is Lauren.  

 Have to say, most of our lovely relaxing plans while my husband was home on war leave, did include picnics, walks & general things which required sunshine, alas we got rain. 

 Mmmm . . . fruit flan, my local little bakery does a delicious one.

Ok, as i said last post, i'm guilty of wishing time away so my husband is home with us this Winter, ahhh, snuggling up at night.  Can you imagine 9 months in a war zone, trying to get a good night's rest in an IKEA bunk with your boss sleeping above you??  Ok, so he's not sleeping in the dirt or under a vehicle these days, but at home, we bought a new mattress for our king size bed, it's so high (Sealy Tranquility Plush, half price, you know how i shop!!) with our glorious wool underlay & new crisp cotton sheets . . . even the children refer to our bed as 'the cloud' & they're not allowed to go near it, after using our last mattress for gymnastic floor routines!!  Giggles, love Posie
PS final days for this giveaway to win books from the National Library of Australia. 

things i'm loving . . . 'fashion & fun'

Greetings all,
Anyone else's blog, email & internet messing up??  Me too!!  So i'll make this a quick trip around my week of Things I'm Loving with PaisleyJade . . .

my middle girl brushed her brother's longest ever hair into a Lego man look for back to school silliness.  We scored fantastic teachers, very happy & my son has gained a more intelligent expression on his face after weeks in the pool.  Next stop: a hair cut, the boy has sideburns!!

 Pleasant surprise in the letterbox, a comprehensive David Jones catalogue, with this delicious trench coat . . . the Perri Cutten staff have been clients of mine, tee hee.

 Now this Flannel dress is so beautiful, it just cascades (Flannel is the label, not the material!!)

 So fashion repeats itself - comes around every 20 years or so??  I truly thought snake skin jeans & skin tight animal print were dead & gone forever, buried, torched, entombed.  So few can wear these off the cat walk, i'm a bit scared.

 Found a little perch for this tea pot which makes me smile.  Trying to keep up my new interest in iced tea (hot tea still tastes awful) but the cool weather is messing with Summer flavours.

 My Christmas gifted Pandas have been played with at length, thanks Tania!!

 So on top of school fees & a high school lap top programme, my eldest still needed A4 spiral books & stationery (??) so while i was in Big W, i realised The Help had just been released (i was sorry i missed it at the cinema & no, i didn't read the book).  Great movie.  I loathe it when people say "it's only human nature to be unkind" - there is no excuse, these white ladies are downright bitchy, in one maid's words "mean like it's a sport".  Milly was my favourite maid, strong, hilarious & so clever!!  Great movie to watch with your children, Social Psychology 101 - bullying, bystander & mob mentality all wrapped up into one brilliant story, where courage wins against the odds.  What goes around people, watch out!!   

No idea how the weekend will pan out, athletics is off at the first hint of rain.  My hands are very sore but great news, surgery on the horizon, i should to 'things i'm loving' . . . my orthopaedic hand surgeon (& the yacht i must be funding him) more on my hands later, i'm SO happy, love Posie

things i'm loving . . . 'treats & goodness'

Greetings all,

I've possibly cried more this week than ever, i really miss my husband.  All this festive  'family' orientated vibe only reminds me of who will be absent at the Christmas table this year - my Mummy's Alzheimer's has stolen her away & my husband will be overseas.  I'm just focussing on the children & riding their new shiney bikes!!  If you get the chance to see the New Year's Eve movie, it's great, but think of me when you follow Halle Berry's story (to the end)!! 

I'm taking time to treat myself, facials, massages, walking away from passive aggressive mums . . . stop messing with me, i know better!!  My hands are sore but i'm stocking up on fabrics for future projects - Lotta Jansdotter - you are about to be quilted, hexagons i think, later this Summer.

 I needed new tongs (read: i loathe our tongs, they jam closed) & was thrilled to pick up these beauties for $3 at the supermarket!!  Little things make me happy. 

 While my car is having a major service, it was cheaper to hire a car than get a cab home, so i've been enjoying this new Mitsubishi Outlander, i like it!!

 Loving the extra pretty stationery at Kikki-K & their 25% off days . . .

 & 15% off at Peter Alexander, come on, Babushka pyjamas, as if i could resist!!

 It's official, i'm collecting pears.

 Reading in bed, using her glasses just like she's meant to.

 Ending my evenings with candles & calm.

So PaisleyJade, that is what I'm Loving this week.  You can find those candle paper bags here & if you're into IKEA toys or love baking with Donna Hay, check out my current giveaways below.  Love Posie

things i'm loving . . . 'the stocking fillers of my week'

Greetings all,

'twas a week filled with pockets of joy, the stocking fillers of my life, so for PaisleyJade's Things I'm Loving this week, it's lots of things!!
My little fella has been doing the old 'can i just fall asleep in your room' routine, why yes almost 8 year old, while i'm still your hero, you can spend as much time with me as you wish (his Peter Alexander eye mask is new, he said girlie would be Ok) . . . 

 our school did a fundraiser with mangoes, gosh they smell great . . .

 goodness this is cute, my son has a collection of felt acorns & wanted to put them in a basket, we found a mini trolley - note the tiny baby felt acorns (navy & brown) in the child seat!! 

 We have our fair share of sulphur crested cockatoos in Canberra (they changed the spelling to sulfur when i was at Uni, but i'm still confused!!)

 Oh how lovely is this clip on glass mushroom, perfect for my toadstool loving 3rd girl.

 Treated myself to a new white ceramic love heart (large one) for about $3 . . .

 moment of weakness at the supermarket, these two DVDs for $30, after what seemed like 40 days & nights of rain . . . not a Jim Carrey fan but this was a really sweet family movie - penguins, what's not to love??  Ice Age 400 or something, who cares, it was practically free & it's a bit Christmassy.

 Oh how neat are these pears - i have a vision for how my house will look when i'm 50 & it will include pears.  Lots of them.  Never too early to start a collection . . .

 blame Brenda from Red Stitch Designs & her delicious linen pears, of which i have many!!

Are you gliding into the Christmas spirit??  I just love this time of year as school wraps up, it's Summer, we're swimming, the shopping + i love wrapping & sending off gifts to those i love, ahhh . . . can you tell i'm well ahead of schedule & can laugh at the chaos??  Love Posie

things i'm loving . . . 'athletics carnival, high school style'

Greetings all,
I have always looked forward to my children starting high school.  I LOVED high school, the friends, the sports, the work, the parties, it was so much fun.  I did 5 sports a year - softball, netball, tennis, cricket + athletics.  My husband was super sporty too - athletics, tennis, swimming, hockey & water polo.  I love that our children are naturally sporty, it's so healthy & great for self confidence. 

I can't believe i'm already attending high school athletics carnivals.  I was SO excited this week.  Handsome soldier took our daughter early to run the 1500m (she came a energy-less 2nd place, after her virus, i'm amazed she could run at all).  

I love the track & field centre at the Australian Institute of Sports, you can move around & watch all the events your children are (like discus way over the other side or triple jump along the edge of the track).

 I am loving my daughter's high school so much, their attitude is amazing.  They are all about participation & encourage girls to dress up (so they turn up), it's a party atmosphere.  While my children are competitive & try their hardest, in high school . . . some girls have no desire to compete in sports . . . so the school offers participation points just for entering.  They run serious races, then non-competitive, where you'll see girls link arms & run together. 

 It's a large school, split into 6 houses.  My daugther's house is the smallest & they don't win anything, not even debating or choir, but they are enthusiastic.  Their dress up theme was 'ninjas' & most were dressed in full black or karate outfits.  The green house were 'terror' so there were lots of zombies & vampires, which looked hilarious as they ran down the track, some with axes attacking fellow racers!!  The blue house were 'toys' so there were Bananas In Pyjamas doing javelin & Cookie Monsters doing long jump.  Not sure why but there were lots of red power rangers too.  EDIT: red house were 'aliens & astronauts'.  Also, the announcer/ teacher wore a scream mask all day & it was so hilarious!!    

 Our sweet daughter is officially the youngest girl in the entire school (she skipped a year) & she amazes me with her petit size that she finishes in the top 5 of most events.  She competed in a dozen jumps, throws & running races, even started off the relay for her house.  The year 12 relays were fantastic, each team included a teacher & the male PE staff stole the show.  Another really cool event was The Flash - where the fastest 100m runner from each age group, ran against each other, to find the fastest girl at school. 

My husband set up a picnic rug on the hill & we had a great view, far away from the screaming cheerleaders.  I tell you, 1100 high school girls can scream, loudly, all day.  Even i left with a headache.  For more Things I'm Loving visit Paisley Jade, love Posie

the super combo post so i can take some time out

Greetings all,

Phew, what a week of feeling lousy.  So this is a combination post to cover my regular blog link ups to wrap up the week . . . plenty of eye candy, enjoy . . .

Our Creative Space this Thursday . . . delicious handmade vintage bias binding by Cinti's mummy over at My Poppet - i can not wait to create with these . . .

Things I'm Loving with Paisley Jade on Friday . . . more from Cinit at My Poppet - her latest offerings from Japan, i'm a sucker for Bento boxes & anything in the cute & quirky category . . .

 Cinti has a cute blog too, with 'postcards' of her latest trip to Japan.

 After all the Tupperware my 4 have lost at school over the years, these will not be going in school bags but for kept special for cute picnics, heavily supervised by me!!

I love this squirrel series, just adorable & a matching spoon cover, glee!!  Check out Poppet in the Post now, lots of goodies on special & more Japanese joy-things-which-make-you-smile being added shortly.  I love that my children can speak Japanese, although, i can not, they plot against me, but they love all these knick knacks.

 For when Saturday rolls around, it's Maxabella Loves' I'm Grateful For . . . my children taking care of me.  So i had the world's most awful migraine ever, which left me home & unable to take the children to school yesterday, i could not stop throwing up, horrible, just the most awful feeling.  I came out of the shower to find my 3rd daughter had made me up a bed on the lounge. 

 The only thing i've been able to keep down for 48 hours, some avocado dip & whatever the hell those green crackers are - they are slime green & i can't even tell you what they taste like!!

 My middle girl here dressed as a waitress (how beautiful is the Em & Ei vintage apron??) & served me (topped up my glass of water) all day.  Such an doll, with a cute French accent.  Then i got her bill, including a $2 tip for every top up.

 It was rainy, gloomy & they should have been in school, but they entertained themselves around me . . . playing dress ups from their wardrobes - my son is pretending to be a ganster, 1940's style.  I think the Peter Alexander jammies make it, non??

 Here he is shooting me with his magic stick thingy my sister bought him.  Nice one.  I'd consider it a bit dark that my son was trying to shoot me, but he said his gun only shoots kisses, crisis of violence averted.

Thanks everyone, wishing you health & happiness this weekend, right back at me too!!  Love Posie