The weary travellers return

My parents have finally returned home from an eight week trip to Italy and France.  Just a little bit jealous that we couldn't join them this time!  We missed them terribly, especially Miss TikiBoo.  Quite a few tears were shed over the last weeks.

Thank goodness for email - they borrowed an iPad from us so we could keep in touch easily.  French accommodation tends to frequently offer free wifi, and sometimes free international phone as well, so we had a few chats - in typical six year old fashion, Miss TikiBoo does love to chat on the phone, especially to her Grandma.

Of course they returned bearing gifts, so I thought I'd share a few photos of my goodies.

How gorgeous is this bangle.  Any guesses as to what it is made of?  Here's a clue - Mum bought it in Limoges, home of beautiful porcelain.  I just hope I don't drop it.





Apparently I am meant to share this. Not sure about that, I may have to keep it all for myself!





I have been looking some sort of table cloth for our round table for years.  It has been surprisingly difficult to find a round table cloth in the right size, and with a nice pattern, so it is one thing I asked my parents to look for.  I think they did rather well.  The green ties in well with the house accents.These little tablecloth weighs will also be handy, especially in this crazy windy weather we're having this week.






We are so glad to have them home!

What's the best gift anyone has bought you from an overseas holiday?

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!

How was your weekend?

We are back to a whole lot of dreary weather here in Brisbane. Not a particularly exciting weekend.
Miss TikiBoo is starting soccer, so we raced out to get her kit. Fancy boots and her outfit for training, which has now been cancelled due to rain.
I managed to get a little bit of gardening in, I'm trying out some miniature roses in the front garden. I'm not overly optimistic, but am hoping they surprise me!
As for the house, a few weeks ago I ordered curtains and a cushion for our new windowseat in the front bay window. I finally got around to having a go at painting the window frame. It's only undercoat at the moment, but already the difference is amazing, and I can't wait to share the finished job with you.

I almost forgot to mention the new addition to our family! This is Scout. She is a Welsh Springer Spaniel, and a complete sweetheart. This is about the last decent photo I have of her, taken a few weeks ago. She has grown since then, however every time I get the camera out she runs up to me to play!

What did you get up to this weekend?

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!

Where are all my Bloggy friends...

The other night I managed to accidentally delete my blogroll.
While trying to recall all the blogs I had listed, I thought I'd take the opportunity to categorise it, so if anyone happens to be looking around for other Australian bloggers, for example, they're right there, listed under Aussie Bloggers.

If you're one of my wonderful regular readers and you don't see your blog on the list, please drop me a line letting me know, and which category you thing you'd like to be pigeonholed into! Or if you ARE there, but think a different category would suit you better, then I'm open to that as well.

I'm also fond of those pretty little square banners, so if you happen to have one for your blog - please email me the code and I will add it to the page of pretty banners.



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!

Suger Coat It

While I'm stuck in a purgatory of unpacking boxes and cleaning, I thought I'd introduce a blogger friend or two.  

There has been a lot of talk around recently about blogs needing to have a "niche".  I have to say I'm not sure I agree with this as I much prefer blogs that are varied.  I like to know about people, what they're up to, where they live, what they love.  So, while I'm stuck in a purgatory of unpacking boxes and cleaning, I thought I'd introduce a blogger friend or two, that fit my favourite "non-niche" niche perfectly.

Meet Melissa, aka "Suger".

Who are you?   Melissa Walker Horn.  Blogger, business owner, wife, daughter, sister, friend, wannabe mum, social media addict - not necessarily in that order.

Your blog? Suger Coat It – www.sugercoatit.com

What do you blog about?  I blog about life and the things that make it sweet. Family, fun, health and lifestyle and fashion. I also cover a lot of blogger and blogging type subjects. There is no constant topic on my blog. The only consistent is me.

What has been your most popular blog post?  Hits wise it’s an offhanded one I wrote about My Family Stickers. Just a thought I had one day that I blogged. More recently my post about the phrase ‘real woman’ has been REALLY popular. And I love both for totally different reasons.

Do you read other people's blogs?  Errr, yes. I have 726 currently in my reader. I visit most weekly. I have some favourites I visit daily or for every new post.

What do you like in a blog, and can you share two of your favourites?  Just TWO! I couldn’t. But what makes me go back to a blog time after time is an easy to read layout, upbeat content {If I wanted to read constant complaining I’d stay on facebook} and a real insight into who the author is. Pretty pictures help too.

I asked Melissa for a random photo, and this is what she sent.  Her sister's dog interrupting a photo shoot.

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!

Here's to You, New York.

In around two months, we are heading to New York City. I can not wait. I have wanted to travel there since I was about 8 years old, and finally, I have my chance.

Although it is now September the 12th here, in the USA it is still the 11th.
9/11.
This year makes the 10th anniversary of the twin tower bombings.
I'm sure every one of us remembers where we were and what we were doing when we heard. I was getting ready for work when it came on the radio. We flicked on the television and stood there transfixed, eventually arriving at work around 11am. No work was done that day, most of us crowded into the boardroom to watch over and over in horror.

In the words of one of the city's own, Art Garfunkel, "So here's to you, New York"

Joining in the Pinterest Party with Down that Little Lane.

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!

{Giveaway} Haby Goodness!

If you've been reading this blog for the past month, you would be aware that we are moving next week. To HERE. Right now, I'm trying to pack, and sew at the same time. Making more mess than I tidy.

As I go, I keep finding bits and pieces that probably need a new home. That new home could be yours. This is going to be Giveaway Number One. The next will be once we move and I unpack the storage container.

All you need to do is leave a comment below to be in the random draw for a bunch of haby goodies. The picture is just a sample of what you'll get, I will be adding to the pile as I go!

That sweet little toadstool is a pincushion, I bought it specifically for a blog giveaway from my lovely friend Rachel at Bauble. You'll hear more about Bauble soon as I'm off to check out her new arrivals and take some photos next week.

So, again - leave a comment, telling me what you would really like added to the pile of haberdashery...and if you happen to be the random winner, maybe I'll oblige!  Random winner will be drawn next Thursday evening.

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.

Pinterest Party, week 2

Playing along with Down that Little Lane's Pinterest Party again!

This week I've selected pins from my Colour My World pinboard.

Enjoy some bright moments!

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.

Pinterest Party

Catching up on my blog reading this evening I came across this! A Pinterest Party over at Down that Little Lane. Why not!


Here's a few of my favourite images for this week. I've taken these from my pinboard entitled "Just Pretty".
Enjoy!

To join in, head over to Down that Little Lane.

To see more of my pins, check out my Pinterest Page.

{Lusting after} Luggage

We have a big trip planned for later in the year. Somewhere Miss TikiBoo has been wanting to go for a long time. Actually, it's somewhere I've been wanting to go for a long time too!


There is something wonderful about vintage luggage, although these wouldn't be that suitable to take on a long haul flight!

Home Shabby Home

The Light Fantastic (on Etsy)

cupcakes and cashmere

Dreamhouse

Inspired Design

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