Serialstyler

Australia Day 2012

2012-01-30T16:18:00.000+10:00

Source: google.com.au via Serialstyler on Pinterest

I hope you all enjoyed your Australia Day. It has been very wet around here of late so many Australia Day events were cancelled but the sun came out for lots of people enjoying bbq's and a few drinks.

I for one had to work but I didn't mind too much. Lots of people were out shopping & supporting our economy which is all for the better! Most of them were very polite & wishing us a Happy Australia Day too, which was nice. My boys went for a nice horse ride while I was at work, taking advantage of the first sunny day after persistant rain for a week. It just made for quite a muddy ride.

Regardless, it is always a good opportunity to appreciate that we were so lucky to be born into such a beautiful, peaceful & laid-back country.

Source: google.com.au via Serialstyler on Pinterest

The City Has Me Envious!

2012-01-23T15:12:00.000+10:00

Source: tumblr.com via Leslie on Pinterest

So I know that my heart has been whisked away by the idea of the country. The warm but fresh air hugging my body & filling my lungs, the way the light of a sunset makes even the bugs glow. But yesterday I had news from my sister that she has secured her own slice of heaven, a lovely apartment in Sydney. For her & hubby it's just what they need. Walk to work, only a few minutes from Bondi beach & everything imaginable so conveniently on your door step. It will make life so much easier for them. As simple as the country seems, could you imagine the possibilities of inner city living? No car, catch the bus to Bondi Beach, walk only minutes to catch up with friends for lunch or go out for a few drinks, no need to stress about how your getting home. Come home to a balcony overlooking what most of us only see when we are on holiday, a cityscape of lights & the cool evening breeze. The country has my heart but the city has me envious!!

Visual Merchandising

2012-01-15T19:26:00.001+10:00

Sharing some visual merchandising for the month of January 2012. Feels good to get back into it.

Have started to do some yoga lately. Some beautiful foggy mornings to enjoy while I'm there.

Festivities of Raj

2012-01-10T12:41:00.000+10:00

Raj has had a very exciting & busy festive season. Christmas, New Years Eve & his birthday all in a matter of a week. He has been spoilt & he always suprises us with his best behaviour with guests (except the initial excited greeting). Below are a couple of pictures from Raj's Festivities of 2011.

Posing with the christmas tree.

After ripping open all his presents, a very happy puppy!

The shack with our fantastic christmas lights.

Raj's first birthday January 1st, 2012.

It was a butter cake...we are ALL on diets this year.

Testing...testing...

2012-01-09T12:18:00.001+10:00

I am very excited. I just successfully uploaded some pictures using my mobile internet. Looks like I may be able to blog from home after all! It's a REAL summers day today, sitting here our thermometer reads 38 degrees C (that's 100 degrees F if that makes more sense). So thought I might as well give this another crack. My new years resolutions have not exactly been on track. Nine days in & I have not exactly started to diet, or even watch what I eat. I am eating more salad but only because it's so hot. Tried to get some wireless broadband but the truth is A: It's expensive B: The reception here is bad. So I'm going to continue to use my mobile phone internet instead & see how far that gets me. Gardening, my herbs are slowly dying in the heat, I must remember to WATER them. However we got heaps of pavers given to us by a neighbour. Passers by seem to have been watching our progress & another stopped in recently to offer some old pavers. They are actually really good & will be great for out the front of a future garden shed or for a pathway in a vegetable garden. Amazing how many friendly people there is in our area!

Anyway, enough banter. Below are some piccies from before Christmas. Now I know I can post, I will have to take many more!

Raj with half his fur grown back, just after we moved into the shack.

Our living room, pre-paint. Bad picture but you get the idea.

Some beautiful flowers from a customer, things like this really make your day, month even!

Raj at the local 'off leash' beach.

The Year That Was...2011!

2011-12-31T16:39:00.001+10:00

Well I hope all readers had a plesant christmas.Ours was lovely, everyone came over to our shack & just enjoyed all the food, punch & company. It is New Years Eve & I am glad to see the back end of 2011. I do have a sneaking suspicion that my previous 'end of year' posts have a similar tone. The terrible things we have endured this year can slowly become a distant memory, but it wasn't all bad.

Source: warrengrovegarden.blogspot.com via Serialstyler on Pinterest

We found our baby Raj & moved into the shack. More recently we bought a horse!! His name is Winston & he is a big 17 hands high thoroughbred. Best natured horse I have ever seen, him & Raj both adore each other & it's great to see hubby riding & so happy again. 2012 resolutions are as follows 1. Loose the extra weight I gained (easier said after all the christmas day leftovers) 2. Get wireless broadband so I can BLOG more 3. Save money to get some damn floor coverings 4. Start sewing 5. Start gardening.....guess that will be the content of my my blog in 2012 & hope that 2012 finds us all healthier, wealthier & wiser.

Source: welcomethelight.com via Annie on Pinterest

We Moved In!

2011-11-25T15:17:00.001+10:00

So at last we moved into the shack. It was October 17th to be exact. We are very comfortable all except for one thing...no internet. There are no internet ports available at our exchange so every week I have to call them to see if there are any available. Not good when you are a blogger. So that explains my absence of posts of late.

Source: desiretoinspire.net via Crystal on Pinterest

Our days off have been filled with taking the fur baby to the beach & trying to escape the heat. It has been 30 degrees plus the last couple of weeks so we are ready for some rain...maybe not like January though. Going to spend our holidays finishing the painting as well as preparing for christmas. Buying our first tree is really exciting & already have some lovely lights for the front of the shack. Posts will be minimal until such time as we get internet, but lots of cuddle time with my boys I instead.

Grey Fog Bathroom: Shack Progress...

2011-10-08T20:35:00.000+10:00

We are getting very close to moving in to the shack.

It's quite exciting to see it slowly coming together. The bathroom is almost complete, just need wall tiles & a door might be nice. Here are some updated pictures for you all!

Fourteen Years!

2011-09-28T21:06:00.001+10:00

Yes, yesterday was out fourteenth aniversary of our first kiss. That has always been our anniversary as it was when we knew we were officially together & have never been apart since. This is the first year that we have really been pushed close to some physical & emotional limits, and we have proved to ourselves & each other how strong our love is. Sometimes you need to cry & let it out, and sometimes you need to be strong for the other person. It was the first anniversary where we have not gone away for at least a couple of nights. Instead we had a really nice day at home, mainly spent in the shack except for an afternoon nap (including our baby Raj) all cuddled up on the bed. In fact, I really enjoyed the day. We talked & laughed & even had a spontaneous ~~dance~~ sway/cuddle after breakfast to this beautiful song, I just know that the next few years are going to be full of more beautiful memories.

Mumford & Sons

2011-09-26T23:24:00.001+10:00

Have not been posting much lately. We have been busy working on the shack & not much spare time. But new Mumford tunes are keeping me sane. Love 'Below my feet'. So here's a nice long video of their Glastonbury performance for you all!

Just When We Were Looking On The Bright Side...

2011-09-07T15:15:00.000+10:00

The last paragraph on my last post I wrote about how hubby had his trusty companion Raj by his side to help him through this hard time. Well on Sunday night, Fathers Day, we raced our precious boy down to an emergency vet clinic to treat him for tick paralyisis. After noticing a limp which we thought was from him hurting it when playing that afternoon, we thought we would play it safe & search him for ticks. For over an hour we trawled with a torch through all his fur, in his ears, nostrils, every flap in his mouth, his bum but to no avail. We put it down to a sore leg but thought we should monitor him. An hour later, he was staggering across the house & we knew he had to go straight to the vets! By the time we got there he had a very rapid heart beat, a temperature, no swallowing reflex & lost the ability to stand up.

Removal of a small tick on his chest which WE found while in the consultation room resulted in two nights of monitoring & treatment including sedation, an anti-tick poison serum, a tick bath & a shave. Raj is now at home recovering & has a great new hair do which has him resemble a schnauzer, but both my husband & I are still so terrified of how close we were to loosing him. The local vets said they had 14 tick effected admittances over the weekend which is a warning for all of you who take pets for walks in or around bush in tick effected areas. And we were worried about snakes!

Australian Summer Nights Are On Their Way

2011-08-30T15:39:00.004+10:00

Source: magicalnaturetour.tumblr.com via Serialstyler on Pinterest

Slowly the cold is shifting & it won't be long until the beautiful summer nights are with us, and they couldn't come much sooner. As previously mentioned, my husband has had an accident whilst building our new home. To be more specific he has lost a thumb to a circular saw & it was not reattached. He is healing slowly but the cold breeze of Autumn days make it harder for him to want to leave the comfort of our bedroom. So the bright sunny days of late are a welcoming site.

The shack is progressing slowly. Limited funds & large tradie bills have pushed us to consider moving into the shack before it's completed. Hey, I love rustic living spaces but I'm not sure what style would define unpainted walls & exposed red tounge floors. But we feel like what the heck. We need a bit of excitment in our lives at the moment and as last month proved, worse things can be experienced.

The whole accident flipped our perception & priorities. I was extremeley disheartened & anything to do with building or decorating was wiped from my life for weeks.The fact that that those things were the reason why my husband was experiencing so much pain & suffering made me angry & upset with them & myself. The quest for a beautiful home had harmed the most important person in my life. But as he has been recovering, I have found myself being inspired again, but drawn to the simplicity of modest, simple, rustic & comfortable living.

But on the bright side, hubby is healing well with me & his trusty companion Raj by his side, & in my anticipation of putting these hard times behind us, I can already smell the scent of Aerogaurd, BBQ's, bonfires and a glass of Moscato in my hand, good times once again.

Dreams About Lions

2011-07-31T09:03:00.005+10:00

Sometimes life throws you a curve ball. One that hurts. One that makes you cry. One that you can't control & you are at it's mercy.

Source: flickr.com via Alexandra on Pinterest

My husband just groaned in his sleep. I asked him if he was ok. He said he was trying to work out what to do with the lions. I asked if they were attcking him & he said no. I thought about what this could mean. I hope it symbolises his strength & his courage as he has had a major accident while building. He needs to be strong & I am trying to be strong for him. Emotionally & physically. This will be one of the hardest things for him to get through & I want to be here for him whilst he heals. Two nights he was in hospital, we were without each other & I was so lonely it hurt. We vowed to care for each other, love & cherish in sickness & in health. This is that time.

Grey Matter Inspiration

2011-07-18T17:36:00.006+10:00

grey now esp US, gray [greɪ]
adj
1. (Fine Arts & Visual Arts / Colours) of a neutral tone, intermediate between black and white, that has no hue and reflects and transmits only a little light.

A recent nail colour purchase which I lurve...

Source: nikkisnailcreations.blogspot.com via Serialstyler on Pinterest

Source: tumblr.com via Serialstyler on Pinterest

Source: ginger-ella.tumblr.com via Serialstyler on Pinterest

This reminds me of being a teenager...

Source: gallery.me.com via Serialstyler on Pinterest

Source: fentonandfenton.com.au via Serialstyler on Pinterest

Source: dressdesigndecor.blogspot.com via Serialstyler on Pinterest

Source: artemiszugzwang.tumblr.com via Serialstyler on Pinterest

My Poor Boy & Shack Progression

2011-07-13T19:31:00.002+10:00

Two weeks holidays & they are tainted by issues. Issue 1. Raj has been to the vets & been desexed. A little earlier than expected bacuse he has broken off his canine tooth AGAIN. Accident is this dogs middle name! So now I can't hug my man because he is in a doggy cone, one Lady Gaga would be envious of. He can't swim, he can't chew anything for three weeks. So our work is cut out for us & our social life hs deminished further.

Issue 2. My bathroom retailer underquoted us by 2 weeks. Very peeved indeed. It means we can't get the bathroom installed, which means we can't get the plumber out, which means we don't have any running water inside until after my holidays. It was one of the main projects for my holidays & they knew it. But nothing I can do. So we move on to paint.

Our prefered colour turned out to be very lillac. Hubby's choice was very orange/pink. Far too rich & looks like liquid foundation. So scrap both of those. Next sample pot...

We have both decided to put a feature wall in the kitchen to separate the spaces. We both loved the colour which came from the Dulux colour Peppercorn. It's a winner!! Yay. Now just to find a neautral colour for the rest of the room!

Pale Peach Pintrest

2011-07-10T20:32:00.004+10:00

Yes, I have discovered Pintrest. Loads of inspiration & the account keeps it off my laptop. YAY! One of my first discoveries by using the site is my love of things pale peach in colour, it's a winter warmer. Enjoy!

Source: theglitterguide.tumblr.com via Serialstyler on Pinterest

Source: weheartit.com via Serialstyler on Pinterest

Source: etsy.com via Serialstyler on Pinterest

Source: gallery.apartmenttherapy.com via Serialstyler on Pinterest

Source: oncedailychic.blogspot.com via Serialstyler on Pinterest

Serialstylers Bed Linen Collection

2011-07-07T07:37:00.006+10:00

So as mentioned before, I have quite a few quilt covers which are all very different & so the bedroom decor & colours have to match all of them. Just to show you the difficult job ahead of me, and as a quick reference myself of what we have, here are some of the quilt covers I have to work with. As difficult as it is, I'm gonna be like a kid in a candy store finally unpacking them all from their packaging!

Source: ebay.com.au via Serialstyler on Pinterest

Source: google.com.au via Serialstyler on Pinterest

Source: room4everyoneblog.co.uk via Serialstyler on Pinterest

Source: google.com.au via Serialstyler on Pinterest

Source: tracieellisdesign.blogspot.com via Serialstyler on Pinterest

Source: productreview.com.au via Serialstyler on Pinterest

Source: flickr.com via Serialstyler on Pinterest

Source: google.com.au via Serialstyler on Pinterest

The Final 5

2011-07-06T08:20:00.003+10:00

So the final 5 pictures in my bulk posts are here. Never realised how many different things I like. But I have learned that I like bright, warm colours especially orange. I would say my design style is retro/indian/country

1 & 2. Apartment therapy 3. gap interiors 4 & 5. Shoebox decor

Exteriors

2011-07-06T08:14:00.004+10:00

I have not focused very much on house exteriors so this post is one of what I guess will be many to come, once we have moved in. The first picture is very similar to the lights we have at our front door. They look really good & do a great job of introducing the older feel to the modernity of our exterior.

2. tranquiltownhouse.blogspot.com 3. myhomeideas.com 4. apartment therapy

Indian Inspiration

2011-07-06T07:59:00.003+10:00

Rolling on from my new bedside cabinet purchase, it seems fitting that the next post should be my collection of indian inspirations. The bright colours are so much fun!!

1 & 2. anindiansummer.blogspot.com 3 &4. celebrationsdecor.blogspot.com

5 & 6. gap interiors 7 & 8. Indian Accent 9. small space style 10. the lux home

Coming Together Nicely

2011-07-05T18:27:00.004+10:00

So our little owner builder project is finally coming together. Slowly, all of the tedious tasks are deminishing & the more exciting ones are coming up. In the past couple of weeks we have made some purchases for the interior. Our first purchase were these two bedside cabinets. In reconfiguring the bedroom plan, we realised we needed really small bedsides. These work great with our love of indian decorator accessories & were a steal at $65 AUD each!!

Above is the proposed paint colour for the bedroom against the bedside colour & white which we will do architraves, skirtings, doors & door jambs in. Below is the same colour in the afternoon sun, which both bedrooms get plenty of.
Ah, the deck. AKA The viewing platform. For the height of this platform you can see most things on the property. Very nice view for wine time.

Wahlah! The kitchen. Small, maybe however practical for us. We don't use a dishwasher & could possibly put in an island bench later. We are awaiting our Omega cooktop & oven as well as needing to cut out the back of the double door cabinet sticking out for plumbing. Kickboards can go in after the flooring.
Benchtop, cabinets & proposed wall colour for main living/dining/kitchen area. The benchtop has a slight taupe to it & so does the paint, photo does not do paint colour justice.

Inspirational Bedrooms

2011-07-05T14:57:00.002+10:00

You may have noticed that I have very broad taste when it comes to interiors. The pictures below are of bedrooms which either bright colours or a mix of textures inspire me. I am really struggling to see our bedroom coming together in my head but slowly I see things which will work well with my multitude of quilt covers & cushions, which are put away awaiting the new house.

1.smalltownrevelations.wordpress 2. myhomeideas.com

3 & 4. Decorpad 5. alkemie.blogspot.com

Living Room Lurve!

2011-07-02T19:31:00.004+10:00

Living rooms are the hub of many homes. It's where you can relax & put your feet up after a long day. It's where you can snuggle up & watch a movie on a cold night. It's where you can blanket yourself with a quilt, eat a bowl of soup & get better when your sick. These are some of my favourite living rooms I hav collected over the last 6 months.

1. missvintagehouseofpain.blogspot.com 2. housetohome 3. decorpad

4 & 5. apartment therapy

Laying Around

2011-07-02T08:05:00.003+10:00

Well it's the weekend & although I'm working, I do hav holidays coming up next week so I'm getting excited about having a couple of weekends up my sleeve. This pictures are an ode to laying around outside in the winter sun!

1. theardentsparrow.blogspot.com 2. apartment therapy

3. gap interiors

Simplistic Bedrooms

2011-07-01T21:15:00.003+10:00

Of course when you sell bed linen & accessories you can be a little obsessed with bedroom decor. The ones I like the most seem to fall under two categories, one being romantic & two being simplistic. I am posting my five favourites from my Simple Bedroom folder. The first one I love but obviously you see a pattern emerging with my like for buddhist touches like the giant statue in this first one. Also lurve the elephant print!!

1. tranquiltownhouse.blogspot.com 2. decorpad 3. decorology

4 & 5. apartment therapy

White Home Office

2011-07-01T20:56:00.002+10:00

Recently I posted about my questions for our home office decor. Unsure if we should go white or timber in the room. Timber=warm homely feel but also a bit dark. White=clean & fresh but can also be warm. Here are some pictures which inspire me to go with the white decision, but still very unsure, but this first picture I have always LOVED. Will sit here & contemplate over the pictures.

1. whmsoft.net 2. White gables pavillions 3. Restyledhome.blogspot.com 4. oninteriordesign.blogspot.com 5. inspirationforhome.blogspot.com

Kitchen/Living/Dining Room Combos

2011-07-01T07:53:00.004+10:00

These combos are some new examples I have found of how to utilise open plan living in a small space.

1. The lux home 2. The kitchen ideas 3. White vacation homes 4. Alchemy interiors

Bathrooms with Statues

2011-06-30T09:53:00.004+10:00

Bulk postings in the next few days. I try to delete all pictures from my laptop every 6 months so hopefully I find the time to post most of what I have. These statues in the bathroom, however impractical, look great & for me create the serenity a bathroom needs.

1. Gap Interiors 2. Homelife 3. Gap Interiors

Halfway Point for 2011

2011-06-30T09:15:00.003+10:00

We have reached the halfway point for 2011. It has been, and I will here & in this context use the word, EPIC year. Firstly I have this year spoken to for the first time, my biological father, a half sister I didn't know I had & a whole lot of other aunties & cousins, all of which are lovely. Secondly we got a new addition to the family, Mr Raj (I call him that in the same accent as the old 'Mr Hart' ads because of the mess he makes). He makes you smile when your down, he licks the tears rolling down your face when you cry, he licks your face & attacks you until you laugh so histerically you are on the ground & have tears rolling down your face.

More recently we have seen Walking with Dinosaurs & Miley Cyrus live. All while building our little home aka The Shack or The Little House on The Prairie. This week we have pushed our limits. The power is on! We have built the frame for the back deck, sanded the floors, built the kitchen cabinets, ordered the stove, cooktop, timber for door jambs, door & window architraves, back decking & railing for front & back decking. It's exhausting but I am determined chook & just can't wait to move in, fingers crossed in the next 3 weeks!!

Miley Cyrus Gypsy Heart Tour 2011

2011-06-26T18:23:00.002+10:00

As previously mentioned hubby & I were attending the Miley Cyrus, Gypsy Heart Tour at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre. We absolutley loved it. The atmosphere was great & she played so many great songs, a couple of my standouts were Liberty Walk & the big suprise Smells Like Teen Spirit.

Unfortunatley when Miley hit Melbourne she was ambushed on stage a little by a crazy fan. The crowd was very lucky she did her encore performance after the mishap as it seemed to shake her up a bit, after all, it could have been anyone, just lucky it was a friendly crazed fan! Here's the shortest version I found:

Inspiration for The Shack: Spicers Tamarind

2011-06-22T19:13:00.006+10:00

I always keep my eye out for our external colour scheme when I'm on the net. I am a huge fan of Spicers resorts & this local one at Maleny is a newbie & it looks very much like our external colorbond deep ocean on the shack. The restaurant looks to die for...Thai, YUM YUM!!

Miley Cyrus Gypsy Heart Tour

2011-06-21T09:27:00.003+10:00

So last Wednesday hubby & I went to the Brissy Entertainment Centre to see 'Walking With Dinosaurs' the BBC documentary like live show with life size mechanical dinosaurs. It was great but truly could have gone for an hour more, it was just too good. Tonight we are going back to the BEC to see Miley Cyrus. We are big fans of Miley & we are really looking forward to hearing all of the songs live. Will be back with my thoughts on the concert later in the week!

Home Office with Timber Desks

2011-06-20T21:29:00.002+10:00

I am having trouble deciding on a timber desk which would create a warm office space or a white one which would look clean & neat. So far these are my inspirations for timber home office furniture.

1. Via apartmenttherapy.com 2, 3 & 4 Via gapinteriors.com 5. Via Officelettering.com

2011-06-19T22:09:00.004+10:00

We are set into our Queensland Winter now & I like to take advantage of any late starts I have at work. Today we went to Bunnings again (I think the staff there might know us on a first name basis soon) to get some clips for our new fence. Since I have been educating myself on what to grow in the clay soil we have been blessed with <----'insert sarcasm here', I have been keen to get into a garden centre to see what I like. Now although I can't recommend all of these for clay soil YET, I am keen to give them all a go. I have to say it was a lovely relaxing way to spend a Sunday morning.

Shack Progress 2011

2011-06-14T23:31:00.005+10:00

There has been lots of progress on the shack this year so I have put together a quick slideshow to give you an idea of where we are at. Today we ordered our kitchen so it wont be long until things really start on the interior side of things.

Playdate!

2011-06-13T23:01:00.002+10:00

Today was Dexters 3rd birthday. For anyone not up to speed, Dexter is one of Raj's best friends. So to celebrate my sister held a playdate & even made a birthday cake for him out of dog roll, dog treats & crushed up kibble. The dogs had a blast!

Kitchen Plan for The Shack

2011-06-13T22:35:00.003+10:00

Planning the kitchen for the Shack is underway & almost final. Although the layout looks simple, there are so many things to take into consideration with a small size kitchen, & we made numerous changes throughout the design process before we made the final decision. Apart from the layout, at the decorative the end, hubby & I compromised on a laminate benchtop called 'Aluminite' which has a fine metallic speckle over the top of the pattern. We both agreed quite easily on a taupe colour for the walls called 'Silkworm'. Team that up with white gloss heritage cabinet fronts & we are confident it will have a warm but fresh look. Give it a few weeks & a post with the kitchen assembled should be up!

Patio by Jamie Durie

2011-06-01T20:38:00.003+10:00

Could there be a better named range of outdoor furniture than Raja? Considering our dog Raj will probably spend more time on this than us, it seems very fitting. Hubby & I are big fans of orange so this outdoor furniture range from Patio is perfect for us. Planning for a table & directors chairs at one end of our verandah & would love a sunlounger at the other end. The furniture consists of kwila timber, the same golden colour as our decking, with orange, white & grey fabric hues, perfect for our shack colour scheme.

The decor range is extremely well priced & perfect for our rural setting. Now I am getting excited!!

Skirt Tutorial

2011-06-01T19:55:00.003+10:00

Making reference to this skirt tutorial by Elle Apparel for future use. It's cute & seems fairly simple & I don't have the room to sew at the moment so really looking forward 'till we move into the shack & I can get into my sewing again. Hopefully I can post my own version of this skirt in the near future!

Avoiding The Winter Blues & Flus

2011-05-31T21:08:00.005+10:00

Winter is one time that really gets to me. Cold, dark, wet mornings. Go to work. Get home, dark once again. It seems everytime I have to go outside it is cold, dark & miserable. As positive as I try to be, once the beauty & crispness of Autumn passes, it's difficult for me to be motivated enough to get out of my PJ's in the mornings. And as it stands both hubby & I are currently not in the best of health. Our bodies are warning us to quit being lazy, get outside into the sun, eat better, get more sleep & drink more water! Here are the best tips I have found on the internet for looking after yourself this winter.

Manage Your Personal Stress
Stress is often cited as a nasty precursor to deflating your immune system and leaving you more vulnerable to sneaky viruses. If you are feeling run down and over stretched it is time to look at your stress management toolkit and strengthen your immunity.

Exercise & Energise
To keep your immune system healthy exercise is one of the best things that you can do. Bundle up and go for a big walk – This is even better than going to the gym. Breathe in lots of fresh air. The cooler weather is great to invigorate and stimulate the senses.

Drink Lots of Water
One of the best things that you can do is to drink lots of fluids and the very best is water as it is vital to all bodily functions. An important part of flushing out the bacteria – is the actual flushing. So keep a bottle with you at all times and keep sipping it throughout the day.

Boost Your Vitamin C
Vitamin C is at the top of the list among natural immune boosters for your body. The research on the immune boosting properties of the vitamin has been extensive. So taking a supplement during the winter is a good idea or eating lots of delicious seasonal satsuma’s is another – A hot water and lemon is also a great way to start the day.

Eat Yourself Healthy
You can really protect your immune system by eating healthy food. Certain foods like garlic, ginger, tomatoes and onions are all great for warding off colds. Plenty of fruit and fresh vegetables will provide you with antioxidants and a whole host of vitamins and minerals.
So let healthy food be your medicine.

Take Echinacea - The Magical Remedy
Taking the herbal remedy Echinacea can more than halve the risk of catching a common cold. It is made from nine species of herbaceous plants in the family Asteraceae which are commonly called purple coneflower. It is available in liquid, tablets and delicious herbal teas. Visit your local health shop for advice.

Reduce Sugar
Eating or drinking 100 grams (8 tbsp) of refined sugar, the equivalent of one 12-ounce can of sugary fizzy drink soda, can reduce the ability of white blood cells to kill germs by 40%. The immune-suppressing effect of refined sugar starts less than thirty minutes after ingestion and may last for five hours!

Drink Alcohol in Moderation
Excessive alcohol intake can harm the body's immune system in two ways. First, it produces an overall nutritional deficiency, depriving the body of valuable immune - boosting nutrients. Secondly alcohol, like sugar, consumed in excess can reduce the ability of white cells to kill germs - So best to enjoy in moderation.

Wash Your Hands
Wash your hands often and well especially before eating as this is one the easiest ways to help prevent the spread of infections. Also, if you have a cold and you use a paper tissue throw it away after each use rather than keep using it as the germs will continue to transfer to your hands.

Sleep Well
A good night’s rest is one the best ways to boost your immune system. The quality of your sleep is very important too so that you feel energised at the start of each day. Cutting out caffeine and alcohol will help. Try a warm bath with lavender oil and a cup of camomile tea - it will work wonders.

Visual Merchandising

2011-05-31T20:34:00.004+10:00

Few & far between my visual merchandising posts have been. In all honesty I have been feeling a little uninspired. But finally my decorator orders have been coming in. I have had this one planned in my head for a while. I think the picture was made for this bedroom suite. I just love how it all worked out, I think it's elegant but dominant all at the same time.

Animals Australia: The Voice of Animals

2011-05-24T20:08:00.010+10:00

The Animals Australia website is a fantastic website to help highlight animal welfare issues. The organisation is also well known for investigating and exposing animal cruelty. Visiting the website is a great start if you are passionate about animal welfare, it's a wealth of information if you wish to be better informed & a useful tool to take action.

I have changed many of my shopping habits since reading some of the issues. I only buy beauty & cosmetics products which I know are not tested on animals as well as emailed some of my blacklisted brands directly via the website & I now only buy free range ham. These small actions to me are a very small price to pay when it may help to increase the quality of some innocent creatures lives and if we all did it, massive changes could be made!

Spread the word & visit the website.

Small Cool Comp 2011 #7

2011-05-24T20:00:00.000+10:00

Raj now 5 Months Old

2011-05-24T15:40:00.003+10:00

Our beautiful little boy is now over 5 months old! He seems to be halfway between full grown Raj & baby Raj. He gets up to heaps of mischief. Favourite things to do are: come & wake dad up in the morning by jumping all over him & licking him, chew the care labels in ugg boots & run around being a crazy host when his mates Wilson & Dexter come over. He is loving life & making ours richer in the meantime. Love our boy!

Small Cool Comp 2011 #6

2011-05-21T21:33:00.004+10:00

Eurovision Winner for 2011 is...Azerbaijan!

2011-05-17T20:30:00.003+10:00

At last Eurovision is going to Azerbaijan. Would have loved them to win last year but it's fantastic news for the country, it's tourism & economy.

Here is the winning performance:

Overall I thought my pics of the bunch were dissapointing in the performance area but I found myself barracking for Jedward. God love 'em. They we so much fun, the singing might be off a bit but brilliant entertainers! They finished 8th but in all honesty, there were some high scoring songs which were TERRIBLE like Greece. Sometimes Eurovision is a little too political, will be much better when 100% of the scores are from the public.

Small Cool Comp 2011 #5

2011-05-17T20:03:00.003+10:00

Eurovision 2011

2011-05-08T18:54:00.002+10:00

So I have my Eurovision favourites. Hungary & Slovakia. I love Germany using Lena's song but I don't think it has the power to win. I thought I would post some of my favourite videos which would call novelty. Novelty in the way that I don't know if anyone thinks they will win, not fantastic songs, but hell, they are entertaining none the less.

I see Twilight...

I see Retro...

I see bad...

Small Cool Comp 2011 #4

2011-05-08T18:46:00.001+10:00

Strange How The Mind Works

2011-05-04T17:18:00.000+10:00

So as you know, yesterday I posted the single 'Taken by a stranger' by Lena & it got me thinking how much the video reminds me of Audrey Hepburn & her dance in the movie Funny Face. Then that got the song 'Bonjour, Paris!' from the same movie. So I then wondered when Audrey's birthday is & guess what...it's today! Strange. So here are the two clips from my favourite Audrey movie...Funny Face.

Poor old Fred Astair!

Small Cool Comp 2011 #3

2011-05-03T19:42:00.002+10:00

Eurovision 2011

2011-05-03T17:04:00.005+10:00

Posting another music video this time by Lena, the winner of Eurovision 2010. I love this song, it's a mysterious & classy, a really good chill out song. *Edited as I realised she is actually the German entrant for 2011, can they do that?*

Eurovision 2011

2011-05-03T15:23:00.006+10:00

So far these are three of my favourites from the 2011 Eurovision finalists.

Small Cool Comp 2011 #2

2011-04-26T19:55:00.005+10:00

Some more of my favourite entries from Apartment Therapy's Small Cool Contest, 2011.

Anzac Day. Lest We Forget.

2011-04-25T10:59:00.006+10:00

Today we celebrate Anzac Day. A day to remember our war veterans, what they did for us & a day to appreciate the gift of the lives we now live. We live in a country which is peaceful in more ways than one, and for that I am thankful. One of the reasons I try to read buddhist beliefs is because they see many perspectives on things, understanding. I have always been against war to an extent, I appreciate what soldiers do for us, but wonder if it's all worth the lives lost. In the end, buddhism shows me it's about peace in our everyday lives & compassion.

"Without compassion war is a criminal activity. Sometimes it is necessary to take life, but we never take life for granted".

The Libertine song by Patrick Wolf / Bye Bye Blackbird

2011-04-24T19:40:00.002+10:00

An Easter Message From Raj & Co.

2011-04-24T17:03:00.002+10:00

Eurovision 2011

2011-04-22T16:06:00.003+10:00

Oh yeah, it's that time again! Eurovision 2011 is coming. Hosted by the country of last years winner, Germany, the town of Dusseldorf will soon be alive with the sound of music...however strange it may be. One of the countries which automatically goes into the finals is the U.K with a suprising entrant this year, the group 'Blue' who I last heard sing the song 'All Rise' what seems like many moons ago. See the clip for their entry 'I Can'.

Small Cool Comp 2011 #1

2011-04-22T15:59:00.003+10:00

Small Cool is a competition ran by Apartmenttherapy.com every year with 5 categories. Teeny-Tiny, Tiny, Little, Small & International. Our shack size is the equivilent to the 'Little' category so every year I eagerly await the entries & all the inspiration that comes with them. So here is the first post of many showing my favourite aspects from the 2011 entries. Enjoy!

Calm Bedrooms

2011-04-21T22:28:00.003+10:00

As an ode to sleep ins on the eve of the 2011 Easter break, I am posting some very comfy & stylish looking beds. The quilt on the first one looks super cosy **Yawn** Night All!

via Great Interior Design
via Arhdecor.com

via Apartment Therapy

Via Apartment Therapy

Via Arhdecor.com

Raj Now 15 Weeks Old

2011-04-18T22:14:00.005+10:00

Our little man is growing so fast. He was 15 weeks on Saturday. Right before our eyes he is changing from this little puppy into a very handsome dog indeed. Just waiting for all his needles to be completed before we can take him out as Parvo has been on the rise since the floods earlier this year. It will be fantastic to finally introduce him to the rest of the world!

Raj at 8 weeks

Raj at 10 weeks Raj at 12 weeks

Raj at 14 weeks

Visual Merchandising For April

2011-04-12T10:10:00.003+10:00

Charitable Gifts

2011-04-10T20:48:00.005+10:00

Don't get me wrong, I love gift giving. I love to think of something thoughtful. I love it when someone opens a present & it's obvious that I have listened to what they talk about or what they like, or even what they need. Christmas is difficult for me however. I just simply do not have the time to think of thoughtful gifts within budget, source them & purchase all 30 of them whilst still having to do my everyday chores & work full time as well.

So being that my husbands family is the most difficult to buy for, I sent an email out asking if anyone would be interested in a Kris Kringle/Secret Santa gift giving this years. I expected a few people may not want to change the way we do christmas but one person was very detailed in their email as to why the idea 'stinks' & is 'disgusting'.

After talking to hubby I politley responded with a new email to everyone telling them that this year hubby & I would be giving charitable gifts for christmas & wish if anyone wants to get us anything, they do the same. After all, if someone said to me that if I give up all my christmas gifts to save this cute rabbit from cosmetics testing, I would do it in a flash. Aparently not all feel this way...

The email I recieved was a shock to say the least. I was accused of only doing this as charity donations are 'tax deductible' & advised to skip Christmas & leave everyone to celebrate it 'properly'. As someone very dear to me said 'clearly she doesn't know you'. If anyone talks to me often enough to warrant a present, they would know I am passionate about many things, including Animal Welfare charities. I love the idea of giving charitable gifts so much, even just googling different gifts available gives you an education on some of the suffering in this world & has you appreciate all the things & people in your life worth appreciating. That's almost gift enough.

Adele-Hometown Glory

2011-04-09T20:39:00.001+10:00

An old favourite of mine that sends shivers down my spine...

Beautiful Bathrooms

2011-04-09T20:30:00.002+10:00

It's coming down to the crunch & very soon we are going to have to choose some finishes & fittings for the shack. I am keen to keep it a neutral pallette of sands & whites so all accessories go with it but grey looks so great in the bathroom. Particually love this first one...

above 3 via apartment therapy

above & below via arhdecor.com

Laura Marling & Mumford & Sons Collaborations

2011-04-05T19:13:00.002+10:00

Progress!

2011-03-31T09:11:00.003+10:00

Yes! The doors are on the shack. We can now lock it up. It's a good feeling knowing we are getting so close. Our little man is growing up so fast-right before our eyes. He loves it out at the shack & definatley knows it's his territory, even if he has to mark it as so :-/ Hubby & Raj spend almost everyday out there when I'm at work. Heres a couple of pics of him in the house, he loves to help out his Dad...

No, Dad. You don't use a chisel, you use teeth!

Kitchen/Living/Dining Room Combos

2011-03-29T09:30:00.005+10:00

Below are some combo rooms I find inspiring for our shack. In a small space, it creates more space & a feeling of open plan living. I have always prefered less walls & hallways & more open space in a family home, which is the idea with the kit home we chose. Enjoy!

2011 Visual Merchandising

2011-03-28T21:45:00.005+10:00

I have been extremely slack with my visual merchandising displays this year. The ones below were from January. Hoping to get more into the bedroom bays in the next month with some beautiful linen pieces coming in & new bedroom suites ready for the floor.

Introducing...Raj

2011-03-13T08:51:00.003+10:00

Yes, he turned 10 weeks yesterday! Our little boy Raj (means king) has been with us officially for over 2 weeks. He is a terror most of the time & an angel the rest. He is an Australian Shepherd & is a herding breed with loads of energy to burn off! Raj loves to chew everything & chase everthing, but we are training him already. He does sit, lay down, beg & 'rub belly' which is really roll over. Raj loves the water & goes for a swim in the water trough about 10 times a day! When he is completley worn out he likes to pass out on the bed, that's the little angel I was talking about. Hehe. Isn't he a cutie?!

Two & A Half Men Home Decor Inspiration

2011-03-13T08:03:00.002+10:00

After many requests from around the world for information in regards to where to find home decor items similar to those on the set of Two & A Half Men, I have put together a selection I have found that remind me of the Miami Beach home.
Hope this helps!

Queensland Floods 2011

2011-02-27T16:38:00.001+10:00

Patrick Wolf - The City

2011-02-23T20:45:00.000+10:00

When Big Things Happen

2011-02-23T20:19:00.005+10:00

I am a pretty determined person. When I want something, really want something, I tend to make it happen. So far 2011 has proven that to me.

A pretty life changing thing happened to me. I never knew my biological father. I have been brought up knowing that, but I have always wondered who he was, what he looked like & do I have any other siblings? All I knew was his name. For many years, since I was sixteen I would have sporadical searches until I would hit a brick wall & give up. Not this time.

I came across a message on the internet, from my biological fathers sister, looking for lost family members. Although she could not help me directly in my search, another aunty did & I finally tracked him down. Trying to make contact failed until I sent him a christmas card with a couple of photographs. I finally got a text & a few photographs of him which was unbelievably life changing. A DNA test is not required. We have some very similar features & attitudes & now talk to each other every week. Can't wait to meet him in person in the near future!

Then my little fur ball is finally a reality & he comes home next week. You & me plus Raj makes three! Below is a very cute photo of him. We are all organised with crate, bed, bowls, toys, food, milk & lots of hugs just waiting for him. Will be posting lots more pictures once he is home. Updates soon!

Queensland Flooding 2011

2011-01-12T22:12:00.005+10:00

I do believe I mentioned the rain. Well it continued...and continued.

After devastating places like Rockhampton, Gympie & Dalby, the rain continued south & yesterday we were it. At roughly lunchtime we all got a phone call with a recorded meassage to evacuate to higher ground. Although we were definatley not in danger I would call life threatening, the rain was about 25% of the way up the footings & to our floorboards of the house at the highest.

We knew we were flooded in, we had been since Monday. On Sunday hubby & I had made sure we had ample supplies so we were set. For a few hours we had no power, no landline, no mobile coverage. Just the good old radio for updates. We were very lucky. Many houses & businesses in our suburb have been lost or have suffered huge amounts of damage.

I have posted some pics of our town from the facebook page which was unbelievably helpful in keeping everybody out of flood waters & communication for family & friends. It has been said that the flood waters have now affected over 1 million square kilometres, or an area the size of France & Germany combined.

The main access to Morayfield from Caboolture

The Same Picture From 1931 Flood

Some Of The Devastated Businesses

The Rivers & Overflow Stores Submerged With The Chemist

End Of The Building

Behind My Work-That Is A 10ft Half Pipe

Morayfield End Of Morayfield Rd

Bridge Behind My Work

Cutting Access On Walkers Rd

Old Gympie Road, A Vital Road For Us

Shopping Centre Northern Entrance

Roads Destroyed At Burpengary

A Normally Busy Intersection In Morayfield

The Same Intersection, Some Learned The Hard Way

The following video is from more up north but it was so disturbing. It was Tuesday morning & Channel 7 helicopter spotted them. The rescue chopper was there & had landed nearby quickly before attempting the rescue. In a matter of minutes, they had vanished...

VIDEO: Mother and child alive, father still missing

There are a lot more pictures & video which are really disturbing & heart wrenching which I won't post. So many people have family missing & it really upsets me to see pets missing. Some things you just don't want to see or remember...

2011 Is Coming Up Milhouse!

2011-01-10T22:42:00.004+10:00

Aside from the torrential rain that has hit us this week, things are really looking up.

Our shack is on track! Standing outside in the rain & mud, trying to put up some of the outside panels of Colorbond is not the easiest of tasks, but it's getting there bit by bit. The picture below from the colorbond website is a house with the same Colorbond cladding as we have. The colour is Deep Ocean. Our front decking is a hardwood timber species called Merbau or more commonly known as Kwila. Kwilla is used a lot in outdoor furniture so I'm thinking that the little bench in the picture is probably the same timber. We are also having timber floors like the picture & we have looked at pavers very similar for the lead up to the front stairs. All in all it is a good glimpse into what the completed shack will resemble.

This week we are cramming the work in extra hard, and for good reason.

Late last year, we were on our way home from work & discovered a dog show at our local showgrounds. I have always wanted an Aussie Shepherd but thought I would have to go interstate to get one as I never see puppy Queensland puppy listings. We dropped in there & I came across two local breeders, one which had just had two Aussies (one brought up from South Australia specifcally for the littler) on their 'honeymoon' & they were waiting for confirmation of pregnancy. Well on 01.01.11 the littler was born & I have my name on the 'wish/waiting' list for a pup. It's a registered purebred with papers, DNA testing etc so it is the choice of the owner which homes they go to. They are ready to go at 8 weeks so we are working extra hard in hope that we are chosen for a pup. The litter seems to have pups similar colourings to the dog on the right of this photograph.

Keep your fingers crossed for us!

Welcome To Anthropologie

2011-01-10T22:22:00.003+10:00

Anthropologie is one of those stores that I wish we had in Australia. Beautifully unique, I imagine it would be like a quick little holiday as soon as you walk in the door. Somtimes shops can do that. Magically whisk you away somewhere different.

Here are just a few of my fave pics from Anthropologie's 2010/2011 catalogues.

This brick work takes me back in time...

Hotels For Small Space Inspiration: Oakwood

2011-01-08T17:39:00.005+10:00

What's a girl to do? It is raining non stop. I think half the state of Queensland is in flood crisis. So with nothing to do today I have found some new inspiration in hotels. The rooms are usually on the smaller side but many super stylish. This one for instance is called Oakwood in Manila. The interior has been styled so well & I'm taking a lot of inspiration from the furniture. All pictures from skyscrapercity.com.

Yes, that bar will do. Thanks.

Aside from that green glow, all very nice.

Loving the charcoal carpet!

Kitchen/Laundry

Bathroom complete with LCD TV

Happy New Year For 2011! Plus my 200th Post!!

2011-01-01T13:14:00.004+10:00

I had to make my 200th post a special one! HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
2011 is upon us & I'm really looking forward to all the good stuff to come. 2010 was tough for us & many people I know. It definatley had highlights but they were in stark contrast to the many losses suffered.

Not dwelling on 2010 is part of my New Years Resolution. I must try to think positive & enjoy the moment, obviously looking forward to the future but not always waiting on it for a good time. When I was in my most positive head space last year was when I was reading some Buddhist ideas & spiritual blogs. They teach you to appreciate & absorb the moment. It's more a state of mind, putting things into perspective & being content. I won't be wanting all of the time. I will enjoy all of the time. I will also get a bit more creative, particularly sewing & photography. Photography helps me appreciate my surroundings & sewing is the creative outlet I need & it makes me feel productive.

So that & going to bed earlier is all part of my resolution. Let's sit back & enjoy what 2011 has to offer!

Visual Merchandising For December

2011-01-01T13:02:00.003+10:00

So after all the Santa photo's were finished & the kiddies had put in their orders for christmas we had a big blank room to fill again. The first suite is called the Settler & I was so proud when a customer took the lot. Linen, lamps, print, furniture...everything. To think that it was someones christmas present & I put it together really made me proud.

This second one is called the Chelsea & it is very popular. This suite is made by Nova Hollandia, the same Australian manufacturer as the last suite.

Teenage Agnst & Alternative Music

2010-12-11T19:54:00.003+10:00

Yeah. I was a teenager once. Yeah. I thought no one understood me. Yeah. I liked listening to depressing music. Yeah. I'm now an adult & still like it.

Placebo-Every you Every Me

Garbage- Only Happy When It Rains

Nirvana- Polly

The story behind this song is truly scary...

Awkward Family Photo's For Christmas

2010-12-11T19:23:00.003+10:00

So when your flooded in at home, what else is left to do but drink alcoholic beverages & laugh at stupid things on the internet? Keeping with the Christmas spirit, here are some amusing pictures I found on AwkwardFamilyPhotos.com. God this dog makes me laugh!!

Piano Cover-Behind These Hazel Eyes

2010-12-10T20:54:00.001+10:00

I really love this version...

Oh Christmas Tree!!

2010-12-04T21:12:00.007+10:00

So it's December & Christmas at last! We may not have a white Christmas here in Australia but it looks as though 2010 may have a wet one this year. I love the festive season, decorations, giving gifts, celebrations, the works! So to start off December, here are some of the prettiest trees & decorated tables I have seen on the web thus far. Anyone who knows me knows I'm a sucker for anything retro & the tree from Rue Magazine & Apartment Therapy are both awsome examples of how mid-century style can be introduced at christmas time. This first one however is my overall favourite!

I love the bright red & citrus green from arhzine.com

digdigs.com

ruemagazine.com

citified.blogspot.com

apartmenttherapy.com

alkemie.blogspot.com

Mumford & Sons: Gentlemen Of The Road Pt 3

2010-11-05T22:31:00.003+10:00

Yessums! It's part 3 of the amazing adventures of Mumford & Sons. Documenting touring experiences & thoughts including Glastonbury & yes, Australia!! I love the introduction to Australia & the use of the song 'Dustbowl Dance', as it seems a little that way here sometimes. Enjoy!

Boom Crash Opera-Dancing In The Storm

2010-11-03T20:46:00.002+10:00

Two Versions- Original by Boom Crash Opera

New Version- Advertising For Mount Franklin Water, an acoustic version

Great Aussie Music!

The Hooters-And We Danced

2010-11-03T20:42:00.000+10:00

An 80's Classic!

October Visual Merchandising

2010-10-21T22:56:00.003+10:00

The smell of fresh paint has accompanied me all week as our walls were given a much needed update. Although they are not the greatest colours, after 6 years I am happy to work with something different. After all, a change is as good as a holiday, right? These pics are of this weeks visual merchandising, and I also had a play with Rollip, which I mentioned in a previous post. However I do think Rollip works better with landscape & outdoors photographs.

Photos From The Yard

2010-10-15T23:24:00.002+10:00

I have recently come across a really good website for vintage photo replication called Rollip. It is a fantastic website which gives you 40 different retro & vintage image effects. I pulled out some photos I took back in may, just playing around with the macro on my camera & they were perfect to display a couple of the effects. Upload some piccies to the website & see how great they turn out!

Grey & White Bathrooms

2010-10-12T17:19:00.004+10:00

When I think of our bathroom I have always thought it would be beige & white. Now I'm really liking the idea of grey & white. I have come across these photographs recently & just love the use of the grey. Grey seems to be fast becoming the new neutral tone & I know I am planning to use it at least in our bedroom, so maybe I could have it trickle into the bathroom as well.

all above via decorpad.com

via hgtv.com

Kitchen, Dining & Living Room Combos

2010-10-12T16:56:00.004+10:00

Just sharing some pictures I have collected which illustrate the use of combining one space & utilising it for the combination of kitchen, dining & living area. Keeping it all as one open space is flexible & I think it really suits an australian lifestyle where we really are much more relaxed & casual with our everyday lives. I especially like the first one. The open doors allow for airflow & sunlight as well as being fantastic for entertaining.

via timstewartarchitects.com.au

via timstewartarchitects.com.au

via oekedesignblog.blogspot.com

via myhomeideas.com

Mama's Chicken Pot Pie

2010-09-27T15:26:00.004+10:00

Now go back & read the title of this post with a southern accent. That's better! Since our little getaway consisted of a whole lot of junk food (also known in our house as 'sometimes food' courtesy of Elmo), we have been feeling like really homely food full of sustinance & vitamins. So last night having not done a food shop in over 2 weeks, I had 2 chicken breasts & a few odds & ends of vegetables, so I was having one of those moments where I was missing a vital ingredient for anything I wanted to make. For example Sweet & Sour Chicken=no pineapple. Finally I came across Chicken & Mushroom Pot Pie!

Chicken & Mushroom Pot Pie Via Taste.com.au

I made 4 in ramekins. They worked out perfectly! but I tweaked the recipe. I used sweet sherry to dissolve chicken stock instead of water. Added extra cornflour. Added rosemary. Added frozen vegies like peas, carrot, brocolli & beans. And I had to make pastry. I used this shortcrust recipe but halved it for 4 pie tops. Not as easy as it sounds, you try to halve an egg!

Now the grocery shop is done & we bought really good meat & lots of fresh ingredients ready to make some noms in the kitchen...and probably a couple of not so noms. Failures are unfortunatley the best lessons in the kitchen.

Second Anniversary Celebrations

2010-09-25T17:43:00.005+10:00

This week hubby & I celebrated our 2nd wedding anniversary with a stay at a b&b called Remingtons. Situated at Montville (our favourite place for R & R) at a place called Remingtons Shute, which was used to roll giant logs down the mountain in the early 1900's. They have cabins with a rustic warmth & charm that just lets you relax & be comfortable. We really didn't want to leave our cabin, only ever for supplies (if you can call gourmet fudge, cheese & port 'supplies'), & also for a bit of adventuring around Montville/Maleny. It was a cloudy & misty Autumn like few days but it also had the life of spring. Just after I saw this beautiful horse I saw a hare hopping around an orchard. I felt like I was a world away, which is exactly what I needed.

Keeping It Simple: Dramatisation

2010-09-18T22:41:00.003+10:00

Recently I had the divine pleasure of being on the tail end of some over dramatisation. Of course this is something we have all dealt with in our lives. Someone who has no respect for others & in a blink of an eye will put someone in their apparent place. In my case it was someone who did not want to believe the truth. The old 'shoot the messenger' scenario. It got me thinking about how I dealt with this person. Thanks to years of frustrating customer service experience, I have learned a couple of things which I can pass on to maybe help someone in the future:

1. Remain calm & at their worst it will catch them off guard & confuse them.

2. Keep responses neutral. Don't feed the angry person with negative comments. Say things like "I understand" instead.

3. Don't try to win the argument, try to work through each others rationale to the situation, better understanding may have a quick & peaceful resolve.

4. Stay away from the dramatic people or minimise contact with them, it's for your own good.

5. If all else fails, try this...

Subtle Blues

2010-09-18T22:30:00.003+10:00

I have to be honest & say I have never been a fan of blue. It has always seemed much too boring to me. These are some pictures from apartment therapy which have a touch of blue to them yet I find it inspirational. The sophistication of the black in the rooms seems to take away from the quiet of the blues because it all seems to work together. Have to say I am a fan.

Calm Abodes

2010-09-18T22:20:00.003+10:00

Bedrooms are a place of relaxation & rejuvenation, but like any room in the house it shouldn't lack style & personality. Here are a few of my recent favourite bedrooms I have stumbled upon.

via cococozy

via hgtv

via myhomeideas.com

via vermont cottage

Autumn Colours

2010-09-16T10:26:00.002+10:00

Spring has sprung but I thought I would post some Autumn colours I am inspired by...

via apartment therapy

via John Robshaw

via philbee

via ikea

Picnic Time!

2010-09-16T09:57:00.002+10:00

On Monday it was such beautiful day that I decided to take our lunch & eat it under the shade of a tree. Knowing that the best picnics are spontaneous, I didn't want to go to too much fuss so hubby & I just made some quick & easy chicken burgers & oven baked chips to eat. It was so nice & relaxing until our dog came down with her ball & painted our picnic rug with her drool. I thought I would reasearch some food & items to take on a picnic so next time the day blesses us with beautiful weather we can quickly get some things together.

via this is glamorous

Thoughts on food: Sandwiches, wraps & rolls are best with salad & cold meat & are all pretty standard for a picnic. Some other food items may be savoury muffins, tarts, cold quiche or cold pizza. Cake & muffins are always a favourite for a sweet tootch but how about pikelets or a slice? A cold chicken is a classic but green salads on the side can be a little boring so how about a noodle or cous cous salad & throw in some precooked beef or chicken slices?

Drinks can vary on the situation. Obviously wine & champagne can be great but not when someone has to drive. Grabbing a bottle of softdrink instead is so much easier but maybe instead of the regular softdrinks, grab a bottle of iced tea or a new fruit juice you have not tried.

Other things to remember to take on a picnic other than the regulars include: binocculars for wildlife watching, insect repelent & cinnamon. The cinnamon is important to stop the ants. Sprinkle the cinnamon around your picnic blanket, the ants hate the little cinnamon particles sticking to their legs & is non harmful to other animals & wildlife.

Compact Bathrooms

2010-09-06T22:30:00.003+10:00

The smallest room in our building project is our bathroom. A compact bathroom is not uncommon especially in ensuites, apartments & flats. The advice online always stipulates how to make the room appear larger. For example the recommendation to use a pedestal sink. While it will make your bathroom appear larger, you would be eliminating a valuable source for storage. And we all know how important storage is in a smaller living space. Below are some of my favourite small bathrooms. Although many feature a pedestal sink, you could easily fit an under sink cabinet instead.

via myhomeideas.com

via vermontcottage.com

Outdoor Antics

2010-09-06T09:06:00.003+10:00

With Spring here we now have so many bbq's & parties to attend & it has me thinking about our own outdoor area. Our plan is to have a small retaining wall like the one below with a nice paved area containing an outdoor setting & a chimnea or some sort of fire stand or pit. Below are some pictures I have collected which inspire my future outdoor antics.

via myhomeideas.com

via inter1or.com

via myhomeideas.com

via apartmenttherapy.com

Loving an outdoor metal bath! via apartmenttherapy.com