Botticelli House

Instagram has been such a wonderful tool for discovering new places and people and I have absolutely loved finding people who love interiors as much as I do!

I started following Di from French Loving Wretch a while ago, her home was absolutely stunning and I adored every image she posted. It seemed that she had a large following from the beginning and used it to her advantage and entered business buying treasures from UK/France and importing them. The best thing is she only buys things she would be happy to have in her own home and the prices are absolutely reasonable.

Just a small sample!

I am dying over this table for our entryway. 

A little watercolour made it's way home, $20! How sweet.

A small piece for Madeline's room akin to a hamper. To be painted and recovered. Quite sweet also.

She's embarking on another buying trip again soon to source more 'bits and pieces'. I can't wait to visit again!

Madeline's Room - Sneak peek!

A separate post as the picture wasn't included below and I'm working on the iPad! (Read=difficult to add!)

Madeline's Room - A bit of progress!

Good evening!

Another raging Saturday night on the lounge here! Haha! Last time I posted about Madeline's shelves they were yet to be painted and hung, I'm happy to report that both have been done. (With a bit of painting outsourcing to my father-in-law!) Its a terrible picture but you get the general idea below. So my brain was ticking over with ideas as to what to put on the shelves - pictures, trinkets, bunting? Where to start? Possibilities are endless and with my perfectionism it was hard to find a place to start! Haha!

The below image is a very popular pin on Pinterest, I spent a long time looking for the actual source to no avail. If anyone knows please let me know. The image and Madeline's wall swirled together in my mind and I decided to use it as a bit of inspiration.

{Source unknown}

I had a collection of different letter M's, framed photos and other artworks to use. I had the hurdle of trying to plan a layout around the shelves and the letters were already hung, so I traced each of the artifacts and cut them out.

I used sticky tape doubled over to hang them on the wall (no blu-tac nor patience to get some from the shop). I played around with the layout a couple of times remembering that the bedhead would go square underneath the shelves. Excuse the night time photo!

The result is quite lovely, I'm very happy with it. I took a couple of quick photos - I am yet to decide on some bunting and have to move the furniture around so only a sneak peek for now.

I also received the most gorgeous cushion cover this week from Max & Me Homewares - I was yet to put an insert in the cushion but couldn't help myself taking a quick photo!

More photos to come! 

A weighty issue.

Unfortunately these are before and afters, in the wrong direction! After losing the baby weight quite quickly (anxiety and not eating will do that to you) I now found myself feeling mentally well but physically blah. Medications, breastfeeding and poor food choices/portions have meant I have gained a lot of weight and none of my clothes fit. (My jeans are undone in the second shot.)

Quelle horreur.

For me, my weight is my thing. I really don't want it to be an issue, I don't want to obsess about it. I want to model good body image to my kids. I think I have a lot of work to do on my psyche too.

I have decided to take part in the Michelle Bridges 12 week challenge. So many people have had success with it, the meals look delicious and the shopping lists and meal plans seem too easy?! And it's breastfeeding friendly. I love on the website where it says 'many breastfeeding mums will experience intense cravings and hunger pangs, particularly as they struggle through exhausting night feeds. But having healthy snacks in the fridge or nappy bag can help prevent bakery raids and coffee shop stops.' Oh my word that's me. The bakery raid and coffee shop stops. All over.

It starts February and the pre season starts now. Watch this space.

Happy New Year!

What a spectacular year. Feeling so grateful for so much - the arrival of our adorable guy, our girl getting more gorgeous and clever by the day, my mental health, incredible new friendships and being thankful for the friends who showed their strength by meeting me in my darkest times. And a husband who continues to love us all unconditionally. 2013 was full of lessons and I wouldn't change it for anything. Life is pretty amazing after all.

From our family to yours, Happy New Year!

Dining table and weekend happenings!

Hello!

Hope you were able to keep cool on this hot day!

Sooo the dining table - one of Adam's machines broke - so the processing of the timber is going to be outsourced. Adam also severely underestimated the time it requires and with long work hours and two small kids Adam simply doesn't have the time it takes. He's waiting to hear back from a couple of sources, it will allow him to just focus on the building. Why don't we just buy one? The silky oak is a valuable and pretty wood - will be worth it in the long run. Watch this space!

In other news, I picked up two of the silver pendants for the kitchen from Freedom.

I (finally) purchased some linen for our bed. It isn't this exact quilt but very similar from Adairs (the only picture I had on hand).

Adam has another idea for Project 23,435 haha! He would like to build some permanent seating like the picture below for our front deck. The benefits would be more space to sit and a custom look. We would get cushion bases made.

This is where it would go - along the blank wall and along where the current daybed is.

I was originally against the idea as it wasn't even on my list! Haha! But I'm coming around to the idea. It's a great spot to sit and admire the view.

A spot of Boxing Day shopping!

I received some cash for Christmas and it's burning a hole in my pocket. I have a long list of things that I would like to buy and it included a couple of baskets for storage. Like I have previously mentioned, our bathroom has no storage and I wanted somewhere to store the loo paper! 

The kids have toy storage in their rooms but there is always a collection of rattles and paraphernalia that get used everyday so I embraced the chaos and bought a basket for the living room. Both baskets are from Freedom (both reduced).

Recollections (or Early Settler) have 25% off accessories so I indulged in more blue and white and some bits for the kitchen. Never fails to impress me with cheap prices and lovely finds!

I already had some canisters but they were just 'make do' ones. These are quite pretty (would love to get one more, my local has no more).

And who could resist the other items in the set?! Or the little cloche. (Mortar and pestle is an old one).