A marriage milestone

Last week we took a spur of the moment trip to Auckland. My Grandmother has been unwell and had to spend a few weeks in hospital, so we thought a visit might cheer her up. She loves her grandchildren, and particularly her great grandchildren. It's so lovely that Miss TikiBoo gets to spend time with her Great grandparents. It's quite rare these days so very special. For some silly reason I didn't take any photos, but here is one of my sweet little Baby Boo with Nana and Grandad.

My Grandparents have been married for 65 years. They celebrated this amazing milestone while Nana was in hospital. They are the sweetest couple and are still very much in love. A young Edith saw the cheeky grin of a young Mac on a train and it was love at first sight. They have been inseparable ever since.
One of the highlights of their anniversary was receiving cards not just from the Prime Minister and Governor General, but Queen Elizabeth. They were really rather chuffed about this, so thanks, Lizzie! You really made their day, and Grandad was so proud to show me the cards which they have displayed in the lounge room, amongst 65 years worth of photos of children, grandchildren and their 4 great grandchildren.

How many of you still have Grandparents around?


If you have stopped by, it would be lovely if you could leave a comment or just say hello so I know that you've been here. Thank you!

So...that was a rather extended break!

All those good intentions, all that trying to figure out how to blog via ipad. It all got a bit overwhelming and just didn't happen.

Our trip was awesome, amazing, fabulous. New York is all that and more.

We returned home to the last week of school, ballet concert, school holidays, Christmas...and all of a sudden it's been a very long time since I have blogged, or even read another blog. These days, with Miss TikiBoo home, I've been checking email and Facebook a few times a day (usually via phone) and that's about it. I downloaded our New York photos, but haven't even looked at them.

So. Let's just say that some time in early Feb, I hope to get back to regular blogging, including a proper travel report.


If you have stopped by, it would be lovely if you could leave a comment or just say hello so I know that you've been here. Thank you!

A typical week around here

Hello friends!  I hope you all had a wonderful weekend.

I've been playing around with some applications to work out how I can best blog when we go away. I won't have a computer, just an iPad. The blogger iPhone application is pretty awful for iPad, and the blogpress app has some errors and keeps crashing - hopefully they will sort that out soon.

These photos were all taken on my iPhone using Hipstamatic, and composed on the iPad.

It's a quick view of a typical week around here!





Have you ever successfully blogged (and added decent sized images) with a mobile device? Do you have any other hints and tips for photo manipulation with an IPad? Any favourite applications? I'd love to hear about them!

btw: Don't forget about the GIVEAWAY!


If you have stopped by, it would be lovely if you could leave a comment or just say hello so I know that you've been here. Thank you!

{Home on Wednesday} - Potted Daisies

Way back in 2009, we travelled to the south of France, along the French Riviera.  Somewhere along the way, by a shop doorway in one of the many villages we wandered through, I saw a daisy plant in a galvanised iron tub.  It's been an image that stayed with me the past few years, so I finally decided it was time I had my pot of daisies.

The Queenslander split front staircase at our home starts with two not particularly attractive concrete slabs.  Completely uninspiring, and just begging for some attention and some sort of makeover.  It was here I decided my potted daisy should go.

But, hey, why stop at one!  I now have eight tubs and pots in various sizes, evoking those memories every time I walk up the stairs.

And what's the best thing about daisies?  According to Miss TikiBoo, they are perfect for picking!

Here are some tips if you like this idea:

• Look around for different sized pots and buckets.  I visited several different nurseries and hardware stores to source mine.  They cost $9 - $15 each. My large tubs are actually designed to be tubs to hold ice and drinks, the medium pots are actually buckets and the smaller pots are from Ikea, similar to this.
• Make sure you drill holes for drainage in the base of each pot or bucket prior to planting.
• I selected Federation Daisies (Yellow - "Surfer Girl"; Pink - "Summer Pink" and a traditional white).  I also have a potted lavender in the arrangement.  Herbs would suit as well, and would add to the "cottage garden" feel.
• Daisies like a sunny spot, but will dry out quickly so don't forget to water regularly.
• If you "dead-head" (ie: cut off the withering flowers) your daisy plants regularly, it encourages your plant to continue blooming.

What have you done in your garden recently?

This post is the first in a new series I'm introducing to my blog "Home on Wednesday". Look out for my At Home posts each week to see how things are progressing around our home and garden!

If you have stopped by, it would be lovely if you could leave a comment or just say hello so I know that you've been here. Thank you!

Me - 10 things you may or may not want to know!

Yesterday was an electricity free day here, thanks to eleventy-billion new powerpoints being put in.  Somehow it managed to take all day, with the power being turned on briefly twice to make cups of tea!
Therefore I haven't managed to blog any pretty photos for you to view, you'll simply have to find out a little more about ME!

I have been tagged by Adalita from Fatty Fin to Skinny Minnie, to join in on 10 things you don't want to know about me.

1. I love gardening
I completed a short horticulture course when I was about 21, and then enrolled in a diploma but was offered a job that I didn't want to turn down so never started.  I've been vaguely thinking that one day I'd like to revisit the idea.

2. I have a huge desire to go and live in France for 6 months 
Not Paris, somewhere smaller.  I'd dearly love for my daughter to attend school there and to immerse ourselves in the culture.  Maybe a village, or a smaller town.

3. I was a writer, of sorts
Before I fell pregnant, I was a pretty good writer, in fact, part of my job was writing.  I'm not sure what happened, but I am only now slowly regaining the ability, but it can be a struggle to get the words down.

4. I love lollies
Not so much chocolate, but give me a bag of party mix and I'll easily eat it all.

5. Fitness and I aren't good friends
Earlier this year I joined a gym for the first time in my life.  I was going 3 times and week, and also at the point of running 5km.  I was the fittest I've been in my life and I felt amazing.  I got sick in the June school holidays and it lingered for too long...I haven't exercised since.  Every day I say "this week...".  Sigh.

6. I am deaf in my right ear
It happened when I was 12, and was probably the most life changing thing that has happened to me.  I struggle socially in crowds or noisy places, but love to catch up in smaller groups.

7. I hate mess and untidiness
I'm not naturally a tidy person.  It's something I have to work on constantly.  I'm always leaving things on tables, chairs, the kitchen bench etc instead of putting them away, then racing around madly tidying up if people are coming over.

8. I have a dryer phobia
I refuse to put my clothes in the dryer, unless they are old things I wear in the garden.  When I was about 14 I accidentally shrunk a brand new sweatshirt, and have been a dryer-phobe ever since.

9. I love old things
I'm still sad that my Grandmother gave away all her lovely old books.  GAVE away, to some random charity person who knocked on the door.

10. I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up!
Any suggestions?!

I haven't tagged anyone, but if you want to play along, leave a comment linking to your post.

If you have stopped by, it would be lovely if you could leave a comment or just say hello so I know that you've been here. Thank you!

Start where you are

Today I wish I were here...

or here...

or here...

However, I'm at home all day watching tradespeople work, and cooking for the school fete this weekend, so I'll have to take this advice instead!

What have you got planned for the day?



If you have stopped by, it would be lovely if you could leave a comment or just say hello so I know that you've been here. Thank you!

The week in review

I don't usually blog during the weekend, but thought I'd start a Saturday recap of what has happened each week.

- Most importantly - The GIVEAWAY, which is open until Thursday. You don't have to join anything or link anything and run around with your underpants on your head - just leave a comment. New things have been added since I took the photo.

- I signed up to the decor8 "Blogging Your Way" e-course. Would love to hear from anyone else who is participating?

- Sewing - I made Miss TikiBoo a nightie, started sewing some pretty liberty blouses for the shop, and some ladies skirts. Coming soon, stay tuned!

- I've interviewed a couple of lovely ladies about blogging, these will be featured on the blog soon.

- Mum and I had coffee at Riverbend Books in Bulimba yesterday, and happened to sit at a table next to an author who was signing his children's book I Grow in Grandad's Garden. As a coincidence, the book is set at their home, about 500 metres from our new place.

- Some of the packing has been done, but there is so much more to go. The removalists turn up in a week...yikes! I'd better get back to it.

What have you been up to the past week?

If you have stopped by, it would be lovely if you could leave a comment or just say hello so I know that you've been here. Thank you!

Nightie-nights or PJ girl?

At the risk of asking a "too personal" question, what do you wear to bed?!

I'm a pyjama girl from way back, but they can't be just any PJs, they pretty much need to be Peter Alexander. Or at least the bottom half does. Happy to match the pants to a K-mart top. In winter I wear the brushed cotton long pants (love the new wide leg style) and in winter It's the 3/4 length. I can't wear the button up tops, I wear either a t-shirt or singlet, depending on the temperature. I have a couple of summer nightdresses that I'll wear if it's super hot, but I find them a bit annoying.
Oh, and everything must be cotton! I can't stand satiny or synthetic fabrics at night, they make my skin crawl.

Miss TikiBoo, however, is currently obsessed with the nightie. Grandma made her one, and at her request, I made her another yesterday, when she pointed out a pink floral lawn fabric in my collection (of which she already has a blouse) and mentioned that it would make a pretty nightie. It's going to be perfect for our warm summer nights. And brunch on the verandah at the new house.

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So, what's your preference?  Nightie, PJ's...or nothing at all?!


**Edited to add - I've been informed that today is Pyjama Day.  So, I have decided that for every response to the post question before Monday, I will donate $1 to The Pyjama Foundation.  One comment per poster will be counted**

Hello, September!

I forgot to do my "Just a minute..." post yesterday. So, here's to Spring, farewell August, take winter with you. (It has been the coldest winter in Brisbane for 10 years!).



Here's a summary of my August...

Watching... Body of Proof. It makes Monday nights easier. Vaguely still watching The Renovators.

Listening... to Tina Arena. I found some CDs while I was packing, that was the top one, so I packed while singing along to Tina belting out her greatest hits, while Miss TikiBoo dances around getting in my way!

Reading... Sophie's Choice. This is our current book club pick. I'm not finding it easy to get into, especially as I have an idea of what's to come, and "the choice". It's going to be harrowing.

Making... Miss TikiBoo's costume for the Book Week parade tomorrow. Included sewing and spraypainting. Photos to come...

Loving... The fact that today is the FIRST DAY OF SPRING!

Completing... Packing...and more packing...

Planning... My garden, my house decor, all those fun things. Pinterest has been a great help!

Tell me about your August! The good, the bad and the ugly.

I love my tape gun

While I am really starting to enjoying getting back into regular blogging, I may not be around that often over the next couple of weeks. There are boxes to be packed and a million things to be organised.

Moving isn't much fun, but the end result will be worth the hassle!

I can't wait!

Still not sure how Samson, the cat, will cope. He's been an indoor cat his entire life, however the new place has no screens or way to keep him contained, other than leaving all the windows and doors closed. It could be time for him to learn about the big wide world, or maybe a cat enclosure. Undecided at this point. Any suggestions?

Friday evening gratitude

~ Everyone who made it possible for us to get our lovely new home. Our agent, the bank, and of course, my husband.

~ The new people I have encountered this week in blogland. I've been following more and commenting more, and have discovered some lovely new blogs and lovely ladies.

~ My parents and Miss TikiBoo's Friday night sleepover ritual. It means a Saturday sleep in for me, and she loves her Grandparents so much.

~ My girlfriends and our monthly dinner catchup. See you tomorrow night lovelies!

What are you grateful for? Link up at Maxabella Loves.

Remembering Daniel

Today a nation is remembering a little boy, stolen from his family 8 years ago.

In support of his family, we are all wearing red. I am wearing a red scarf, and Miss TikiBoo, while in her navy uniform, is wearing a red ribbon in her hair.

Drinking tea from my favourite poppy mug, I can't even begin to imagine what his parents are going through. If a body is found, if a murderer is charged, it may bring closure, but with it, the loss of hope. I am certain that every day his parents pray that their son will walk back through their door.

Walk a mile...

The August Break, Day 2.

In my Shoes


Recently, a couple of different friends have mentioned they were thinking of buying a pair of converse shoes, but wondered if they were too old to wear them. The thought had never crossed my mind!
I bought my first pair when I was 16. Red chuck taylor high tops. I wore them with everything. Jeans, shorts, even a white lacy dress. I'm not sure what happened to them, living in the tropics at the time they probably went mouldy.

Many years later I bought another pair. This is going to sound particularly ridiculous, but I bought a pair of pink baby cons and decided to get a matching pair for myself. My baby outgrew hers but I still have mine. I now own 4 pairs and wear them frequently...but not with lacy white dresses!



Is there an age limit on converse sneakers? I imagine I'll still be wearing mine when I'm 60!

What are your favourite shoes...are you a Louboutin heels type of girl or more of a Hush Puppy?

A pinch and a punch

Welcome to a new month...how did it get to August already?

First of all, hello and welcome to my new blog followers - lovely to meet you.

I've decided to participate in Susannah Conway's The August Break, which I discovered via The House of Hearts.



From Susannah Conway's blog:

Okay, here’s the plan for the August Break: you simply share one photo (or more!) per day on your blog – Monday to Friday, or every day. Or whenever you feel moved to share. Using any camera – DSLR, compact, Polaroid, Holga, iPhone (my choice), Instax, film or digital – with or without words – anything goes! – for the whole of August. No pressure – just looking at August through your camera lens as a way to be more present this summer. And to have a little break from the pressures and expectations of regular blogging.

There are NO RULES, people! Just sunshine (hopefully) and a bit of fun. And lots of lovely photos to look at.

So if you have any type of camera and a blog, why don't you join in?!

Just a minute in... JULY

Over the past few weeks I've been cleaning up my blogger following list. Apparently you can only follow 300 blogs, so I've been deleting those I'm no longer interested in, and finding some new blogs to follow. While bopping around from blog to blog, I found this meme over at Kitty Litter and thought I'd join in.



Watching... The Renovators. I swore I wouldn't get sucked into another nightly reality show, but I'm enjoying this one. Possibly because I'm so desperate to find a house of my own!

Listening... to Simon and Garfunkel. Yes, I'm such a musical dag. S'n'G. Neil Diamond. Barbra Streisand. Love them all. Current number one played song on my iTunes is "Heart in New York".

Reading... Michael Connelly's latest - The Fifth Witness. I'm a bit of a sucker for a police/law thriller type of novel, and Connelly never fails to deliver. Also on the night stand is the Frommers guide to NYC.

Making... Pretty clothes out of pretty fabric. Hoping to get a small summer range in store soon. Lots of lovely Liberty.

Loving... The weather here in Brisbane right now. Crisp, yet sunny. Perfect for getting the washing dry.

Completing... Listing a bunch of stuff on ebay and getting rid of it! A pile of too big clothes, a few handbags, a ski jacket circa 1998. Gone! I wish we didn't have so much stuff in storage, or I'd be listing that too...I'm on a roll here folks!

Planning... the rest of my life! What to do...what to do? This or that? Study or get a job?

Anyway...if you have a really fabulous blog, and you're generous with your comments (there are a lot of people right now getting miffed about the lack of commenting love...so be a sport and leave your mark when you read a blog, ok?) then feel free to drop me a line and I'll see if I can fit you into my 300!

What's making you smile?

It's not often that I blog more than once a day (and I'm only just starting to do that), but I read this post over at Poppy, Bean & Bloss and decided to participate.

What's making me smile at the moment...

- My little girl is being so delightful right now. She is giggly and funny and so sweet. She is also loving being able to read!

- I have a cold and it's a great excuse to drink lots of cups of tea, watch daytime TV and read blogs.

- I'm having lots of creative ideas at the moment. I haven't put them into action, but it does feel like I'm getting my 'sew-jo" back.

- The weather here is beautiful at the moment, so we should get a lovely weekend.

- Miss TikiBoo gets to spend the night with her Grandma tonight and I get to steep in tomorrow...and I'm glad it's not me who has to explain why Hayden is no longer on masterchef!

So, What's making YOU smile?

Daily Tea

We have a trip planned later in the year...and it's going to be rather chilly at our destination.
Given she spends most of the week in a school uniform, I didn't buy Miss TikiBoo many winter clothes this year. She has several pairs of jeans and lots of blouses and long tees, however, I'm not fond of jeans for travelling, they just don't have that comfort factor required for long haul travel.

One of my favourite brands is Daily Tea, so now that the trip is booked, I hopped on over to Where Did You Get That? to see what they had! These dresses are a good quality cotton knit fabric. They are comfortable enough for a long international flight - and still look good at the destination!

I bought size 7, as I doubt a 6 will fit her next winter, but the sleeves are currently far too long, so I may have to see if we can put some elastic on the ends.

Miss TikiBoo was very happy with her new haul!

My Style - wardrobe staples.

I was reading a blog the other day...one of those fashion blogs where they post what they are wearing every day. I would possibly get about two, maybe three posts and then I'd be out of ideas! You could probably say I have more of a uniform than a wardrobe full of fashion, particularly in winter. The staples are jeans and a striped shirt. Converse sneakers - or ankle boots if I'm 'dressing up'. Add a scarf and jacket if it's cool. Sunnies if I'm outside.
Maybe, just maybe, if I'm in a more vibrant mood, I'll add a bright statement piece like my new Kate Spade bag. This baby is bright! It was an online purchase and is rather more of a day-glo pink than the images. Miss TikiBoo claims it's the 'most beautiful handbag in the world'. Bless her little cotton socks!

Do you have a 'uniform', or are you more adventurous and creative and wear something different every day? I'd love you to share!

My Street Style by MissTikiBoo featuring a stripe tee

I feel the need...

To get away from it all.

We sold the house. There is a little bit of money in the bank. Enough to just pack up and travel for a while, a year or two. Heart says "GO!" Head says "it's tempting". Husband says "don't be Ridiculous". Sigh.

Where would I go...what would I do? Buy a mustang and drive across America. Traipse around Europe, stay in a French village for a couple of months and live like locals. Go fruit picking. Work in a bar. Smile lots.

Here are just a few images I found on Pinterest of places I'd love to visit. Just a teeny, tiny glimpse as there are so many more!

Where would you go, if you had a year or two to take off and travel? Drive around Australia perhaps, or would you go overseas?

France...

viaFrench Essence

Norway...

via Pinterest

Prague...

Austria...

via Pinterest

San Francisco...

via Anderson Design Group

Vermont...

via Pinterest

Portugal...

via pinterest

Apologies - I have not correctly credited all these images. If you own one of these images and would like proper credit, please let me know!