Sunday, September 25, 2011

Day 274 Updates and Sunday's Stuff

I have good news and bad news. Well actually it's more like great news and annoying news.

The wonderful great exciting (for me) news is that not only is our new feature wall painted and finished in the front lounge room but we have finished painting the new study too!

Lewy and I worked hard all day. Putting the cornices up in the study, painting, painting, painting, painting and more painting... finally we are done!  It has only taken, what? 5 years?!  Okay I'm exaggerating, but it may as well have been!

It looks so good though and worth that hard work. All that's left in the lounge room is for Lewy to put some nails in the wall, so I can hang the frames I have prepared (I've tried to be all arty and crafty here but I have a feeling I may have failed!? You can be the judge when I post the photos tomorrow!). And then Lewy will wire up the study with the new data points etc etc (stuff I don't understand :), put the furniture back in .. oh and put the door on. :) Almost, almost.

Tomorrow, I will be very very excited to post the before and after photos!

Now for the annoying news. Sam has been sick, and now I'm sick too. I should have just rested today, instead of coughing and spluttering all over the rooms while painting, but let's face it - how much rest can you get with kids anyway! So I figured I may as well be sick in a newly finished room! Thankfully Sam is now on the mend, my little trooper (he complains way less than I do). On the plus side for my family though, I've almost lost my voice...I'm sure they are enjoying the break!

Onwards and upwards!

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Time for Sunday's Stuff!

Favourite Photo


Favourite Shoes


Favourite 'Wish List' Travel Destination
Venice

Favourite Outfit


Favourite Jewellery


Favourite DIY


Favourite Saying


Favourite Photo Frame
I also love the coffee table...totally my style!

Favourite Food 
www.justataste.com


Goodnight all and sweet sweet dreams xxx

Saturday, September 24, 2011

Day 268 - 273

Well ... I'm back! Hello! I was going to wait until I had some newly finished renovations to show you guys... but I missed you all and I missed the blog.. so here I am :)

At some stage, I plan on enlarging and framing this picture for our bedroom... then decorate the room with this as the base.

It's been a pretty busy week.


1. More work done on the front lounge room (it's a bit of a understatement that I'm getting pretty sick of having things incomplete!) I'm really looking forward to showing you the new pictures very very very soon! Things are moving along and with luck, I'll be able to show you my newly decorated 'sitting room/reading room/having coffee and chatting with the candles and lamp producing a beautiful relaxing vibe room' :)

2. I was so happy to have TWO very enjoyable nights out at dinner with two of my lovely friends.

Lisa and I enjoyed a fantastic night out at Chatters Restaurant in Midland, then when the staff decided they wanted to go home and kicked us out, we continued on at The Principal Bar where we indulged in a champagne sitting outside under the heaters and chatting the night away.

Val and I had a great time at Penny Gardens Restaurant in the Swan Valley. I'd never been there before, so it was a real treat to try a new place, and dig in to some delicious food. The vibe in the restaurant was great, so relaxed and up beat.... a fantastic spot I'll definitely be visiting again! To say that Val and I can talk the place under the table is a bit of a under-statement. It's amazing that we even take the time to breathe with out non-stop chatting! A wonderful, relaxing night out.


3. I had a lovely outing by myself on Tuesday when the boys were at daycare. I wanted to get out of the house, so me and my camera went driving. I ended up just driving to Caversham and then trekking through a bush I found. I was in heaven with all the different plants and nature to photograph. The peace and quiet was pretty wonderful too. (Apart from my squeals every now and then when I heard rustling in a near by shrub or saw an insect run past my feet).


4. Wednesday's power off day, had us going to the park bright and early (and I mean early!) where we were not only rained out and ended up seeking shelter under a small rest area, but we met two elderly men with their dogs who they told us that they were friends and met every single morning, 7 days a week at 6.30am at the same park bench, to walk their dogs and chat. Isn't that gorgeous?! What a way to start the day :) It was a pleasure to meet them and Sam and Jacob were very happy to meet the doggies.


It has been a good week.

Kangaroo Paws are pretty special aren't they?






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Some very random Hipstamatic photos taken throughout the week!











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Drum roll please! It's time for .......

The Giveaway!

So, I bought a little something for myself the other day and while I was at it, I bought another one so that I could share a little love with one of you! 

Here's a little hint... it's pretty, it's silver (plated hehe), and you can wear it.....around your neck :) Good hint or what!

So all you have to do if you want to have the chance to get this little beauty, is simply leave a comment on this post and tell me what the best part of your week has been. Easy right?! That way I can be totally fair and generate a random number from the good old http://www.random.org/

Even if you've never commented before, or you've come across this blog along your travels and I don't know you (introduce yourself, I'd love to meet you!), or you haven't commented for ages.... doesn't matter! You ALL have to comment - don't be shy! Everyone welcome!

(Don't leave me hanging otherwise I'm going to feel like a total loser..... seriously hehe)

I'll announce the lucky winner early next week. 

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I'm happy to be back! x

Sunday, September 18, 2011

Day 267 Sunday's Stuff

Favourite Photo


Favourite Shoes

Favourite 'Wish List' Travel Destination
Matternhorn from Zermatt, Switzerland




Favourite Outfit

Favourite Jewellery 

Favourite DIY

Favourite Saying
If this is true, I should probably try to become a professional photographer and photo editor!



Favourite Photo Frame




Favourite Food
 Pizza with Caramelised Onions, Gorgonzola and Avocado


Favourite Motivation



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I'm going to have a tiny break from the blog, but Don't Worry, I am completely, 110%, absolutely fine! Just feel like a short break is in order! I'll be back in the blink of an eye, not only that, when I return there will also be a little Blog Giveaway! A special little gift for one of my lovely readers so stay tuned on what it is and how you can get it!

Happy days my friends, I'll be back before you know it :) xxx

Saturday, September 17, 2011

Day 266 Op Shopping


The Op Shop is my new favourite Bookstore. I feel lost at the moment when I don't have a book to read, so I headed out to try get some bargains..


I could be wrong... but I'm pretty sure Eclipse isn't an Auto-Biography :)

Bargains galore!


I managed to walk away with 4 books for only $17. Considering one new book usually costs between $20 - $30 odd dollars, I think I did pretty well!


1. The After Life Auto-Biography of Kathleen Stewart, a writer of short stories and poetry, who during her life dealt with drug addiction, two suicide attempts, time in a psychiatric hospital and the suicide of her father.

2. How Shall We Sing? by Aline P'Nina Tayar. The journey of a Jewish family.

3. Almost Heaven by Marianne Wiggins. A man trying to forget the experiences of war, a woman suffering amnesia after her family were killed in a freak act of nature... one fighting to remember, one fighting to forget.

4. Blurred Boundaries by Lee Smith. True Story of a Probation and Parole Officer who falls in love with an inmate.

So as you can see, just some nice light reading. Ha!



Happy Saturday xx

Friday, September 16, 2011

Day 265 Carilley Estate

If there is one thing Lewy and I enjoy more than anything... it's going out for a meal to a gorgeous restaurant and experiencing new and delicious food. So, after Lewy taking an RDO and the boys being dropped off at daycare, we found ourselves in the very rare position of having a whole day together!


After a quick google search.. we decided to try Carilley Estate Restaurant in the Swan Valley. We'd never heard of this place before so it was a gamble... but one, we found, was well worth the risk :)


First up, the beautiful view from our table. As they were preparing for a wedding reception tonight, the place was pretty dead.. but we sat in the 'Mediterranean section' which meant we had a stunning view, and lots of privacy.



Next, the drinks. I'm actually supposed to be having a 'no drinking' few weeks.. but I accidentally ordered a Rose... oooops. It was delish, and Lewy enjoyed his London Ale.


Entrées - seriously, SERIOUSLY tasty! I had the Grilled Haloumi Salad (grilled goats and ewe cheese folded through a mesculin salad with semi-sundried tomatoes & a light mustard dressing). Oh boy.



Lewy had the Warm Turkish Bread with dukkah, Carilley home-made dip and olives with Macadamia oil.


Hello blue eyes :)


As it was a little (a lot) chilly out, the staff put on the heater for us... so warm and toasty.

Mains - I had the Pumpkin Risotto (with asparagus, sage, cherry tomatoes, spinach, parmesan and water chestnuts). Come on... this dish, wow. The parmesan melts into the hot risotto.. and every bite just melts in your mouth with amazing flavours. Oh love!


Lewy had the Grilled Beef Fillet (with broccollini and sautéed Portabello mushrooms served with preserved truffle potato gallete). He gave it a big thumbs up.


Overall, a fantastic location, attentive and friendly service mixed with delicious food.... perfecto!

Photography while driving..

and ... stopped at a traffic light!

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And look what I picked up this morning ....


When I took Sam and Jacob to the Flight Centre yesterday to finalise the booking, I showed Sam on a map where we live and where America is. He said "Can we go to America today?" :) I actually feel a bit bad, as Sam keeps asking if he can go to America with me, if it wasn't such a long flight I might just consider it. Poor little chicken. I'll have to make sure I bring back a good pressie :)

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You've got to love the age of technology.  I had to snap this photo of me updating my blog on the laptop, Lewy showing me something on the iPad, while I'm watching TV. (Points to the person who can guess what I'm watching!)


Happy Friday! x