ALBOQ {Snapshot}

Did I tell you we sold our house a few months back?  Yes, we did.  I know, very cool. It all happened very quickly and it was snavelled up at the first home open, which was really very exciting, and also a little bit sad - we actually didn't expect it to happen so quickly.  Anyway, we will be moving out in the next 6 or 7 weeks and so I have been really busy focusing on "the move" and beginning the serious packing process - which actually translates to I stand there, looking around, rubbing my head pondering where on earth to start.  It's a very overwhelming feeling, isn't it, packing up a whole house? And what it also means is those "little bits of quiet" that I rely on each day (for sanity and sneaky crafting time!) don't tend to be as available as they were a few months back and my creative pursuits have had to, rudely, take a back seat, not to mention having zero spare time to write up a blog post. So - instead of writing up one long post for one particular thing, I'm going to be a little Cheater McCheatster and give you a "snapshot" of the little bits and pieces I have done over the past couple of weeks, between packing and my daughter sleeping.  How does that sound?  I hope it sounds okay because I really don't have a Plan B.  Let's play ...

Did I also tell you I gave up coffee 42 days ago? No? Well, I did and what an absolute crazy idea that was.  I know I've mentioned it here before but I LOVE coffee, it is my daily pleasure, my love, my sanity, my pure golden joy ... I LOVE THE STUFF, and I miss it every flippin' day.  But, I am persevering with my break and am really just seeing now how long I can go without caving.  I feel it will be soon.  Anyway, I needed an alternative.  I needed a frothy hot drink to soothe my heart and mind.  I decided my saviour would be Chai Lattes - they are frothy, they are hot and they are yummy, mostly.  I started buying one almost daily, and I was enjoying them, but I found that almost all of them were way too sweet and I never actually knew whether it was "real" Chai or just some pre-mixed, additive-loaded guk.  I had an ingenious idea.  I would make my own Chai.  I Googled for a recipe and I discovered that actually everyone was making their own Chai, it was easy and my idea was not ingenious afterall.  I needed a coffee after that little let-down ... but I stayed strong.  I looked at quite a few recipes but ended up using this one from Tasty-Yummies, I just adapted it to suit me.  I left out the sugar, did everything in a pot because I don't have cheese-cloth laying around, and I added the tea bags towards the end - I thought it might be too strong having the tea bags simmering for 20 minutes.  It really is very basic to make and because you make a big batch at once the leftovers go in an airtight container or bottle in the fridge ready for tomorrow's cup.  I actually made enough for about 5 cups so I was good for the week, plus I have enough left over ingredients to make it again, and again.  But the very best thing is, it tasted great, like real Chai, not too sweet and I know exactly what's gone into making it.  I am still missing coffee but I have found Chai to be a very close second.

 

 

One of my favourite things to do is make up necklaces for my little girl - they don't always work out but I just find the process fun, cutesy and soothing.  I had ordered some little crocheted wood beads to make flower necklaces for my daughter's birthday party, as favours for her friends, but the beads were coming all the way from Latvia (I know that sounds dumb but you know what Etsy's like, you just get carried away and end up buying beads from Latvia!) and didn't arrive in time for her party.  I decided to make one for her and, lo and behold, it turned out.  I actually love it, and did I say it turned out?  The beads are held together with hot glue which gives the flower a bit of flexibility - always important when a 3 year old is tearing wearing it - and I sewed a jump ring (I think that's what they are called, a little metal circle) on the back and threaded through some satin string.  I think it's so pretty.  What do you think?

 

 

I also participated in a really fun little challenge called "The Creative Exchange", where I was partnered up with a fellow creative on Instagram, and after stalking them on Insta and Facebook, I packaged up a little box of treasures for them, suited to their likes and interests.  Someone will be doing the same for me.  Do you get it?  Basically it's love in a box, from a stranger.  How cool is that? 

 

I'd better not say who my exchangee is, in case she's still stalking me, but she has an obvious love affair with cookies and so my love box was made up of a handmade tea towel apron (oh my goodness, this is such an easy pattern, and so cute!), a pink spatula, a heart cookie cutter, a star cookie cutter, "You're One Smart Cookie" stickers (to be added to gifts), some pretty recipe cards and a cookie tin.  I really hope she likes it.  The Creative Exchange was hosted by the lovely and super talented Sam at Dunne with Style.  Thanks Sam - it was a whole lot of crafty fun!

 

The crappy looking wooden spoon and the pink spatula were not part of the gift - they were just for modelling purposes!

 

 

I also made some chocolate on Valentine's Day - y'know to show my love 'n all - but only 50% of my family liked it.  Both the males in my family thought it was "disgusting", but us females scoffed the lot.  I used the Natural New Age Mum's recipe which has been very slightly adapted from Sarah Wilson's "I Quit Sugar" book.  The Natural New Aged Mum said to give it to your Valentine and then "prepare for smooches" ... but that didn't happen in my house.  Perhaps it will in yours. :)

 

 

And last but not least (well, actually, it probably is least), I was so very excited when my gorgeous little furry felt balls arrived on my doorstep that I dived into making something for my daughter's bedroom.  I wanted to make a felt ball covered heart to hang above her bed, it was going to be adorable, it was going to be charming, it was going to be made with love ... well, it was at least one of those things.  It didn't turn out as I imagined and if I could've been bothered I would've pulled it all apart and kept the balls for another rainy day.  Instead, I showed my daughter, she said it was "coot" so I hung it on her wall and left it at that.  It is made with love and she calls it "her love" so that's enough for me.

  

 

 

 

And that, my friends, is my "Snapshot" - a rather lengthy snapshot but once I get started it's hard to stop.  Now, I really MUST get back to packing!  Catcha soon, I hope. x

 

 

Floral Friday - "Something Romantic"

I can't believe a month has gone by since my last Floral Friday post.  Wow, that four weeks certainly flew by.  This month's Floral Friday theme is "Something Romantic", as set by Trishie of Under Lock & Key, and while the reason for my flower this month isn't exactly what you would call "romantic" (a 3 year old's birthday party!), the flower itself fits the romantic tag perfectly and in fact is a big favourite for wedding bouquets - the most romantic moment of all!  So what did I choose this month?  Say Hello to the oh-so-delicate, oh-so-delightful ...

Lisianthus

What is the name of this flower?

Lisianthus but also known as Prairie Gentians or Texas  Bluebells (commonly referred to as "Lizzies")

What is its Botanical name?

Eustoma

Where did I find them?

At my local florist - love that place!

What was I doing when I found them?

Looking for peonies for my daughter's garden tea party

Do they remind me of anything?

Yes! They remind me of a Hamptons-style country home, an old-fashioned high tea or a beautiful, romantic wedding

How do they make me feel?

Lighter, softer, feminine.  They are so pretty and delicate and are a joy to have in the home

Do they have a scent?

They look like they would have a beautiful scent but sadly, no fragrance

Where do they grow?

They grow natively in warm regions of southern United States, Mexico, the Caribbean and northern South America.  I wish they grew in my backyard (like last month's post)!
 

How ADORABLE are those buds?

 

 

 

 

Doing the perfect job at the tea party!

 

So, although my first choice for my daughter's party would have been Peonies (I missed the season by one week), the "Lizzies" did not disappoint and were the absolute perfect complement to my daughter's very girly, very pretty, very feminine little party.  And, I have found a new favourite flower!

There are quite a few other bloggers joining Under Lock & Key's Floral Friday challenge so please do take a moment to check out the links below to see what the other lovely bloggers in this series had to say about their "something romantic" flower.

Floral Fridays is a monthly photography project with different themes each month. This series is about fun and taking time out to smell the flowers. To play along, please email Trishie for next month's theme.

A Garden Tea Party

We celebrated my daughter's 3rd birthday last week and the theme was "A Garden Tea Party".  Her last "big birthday bash" was when she turned one so I thought it might be the right time for another little celebration, something small, sweet and focused on her.  We don't do big birthday parties every year (which I've blogged about before, here and here) and even when we do have a party, it's usually a small affair with just a handful of kids.  This year, for my daughter, I wanted it to be just her little friends, not siblings of friends, not older kids and not her brother's friends.  Just a small few that she sees on a regular basis.  There were 5 gorgeous little ones in total - and it was the perfect amount.

 

They drank "tea" together, from real tea cups, they played together and they crafted together, making themselves a very flash garden tea party hat out of a paper plate and a paper bowl.  Such clever little beans.  And at the end of the party their little party favour was their very own, super-girly, super-cute, super-special tea cup.  It was the perfect morning and a really lovely setting for a little girl's party.  Here's a little look at her special day ...

 

 

 

 

Sneaking in a bit of drinking practice

 

Even big brother wanted in on the action

 

Our very own Alice in Wonderland

 

Let the hat-making begin!

 

 

 

 

 

Not quite how it should be worn

 

The perfectly floral and girly teacup party favour

 



Adorable teapot and teacup cupcakes.  Sooooo cute.



 

 

 

The End.

What special party theme's have you done for your kids? And have you enjoyed the day as much as them?  I certainly did and would say it was my favourite theme yet ... but who knows what future birthdays will hold!  Any suggestions?

DIY : Painted Keys

 

When I was pregnant with my son and on maternity leave, and with new-found time on my hands, I spent way too much time on E-bay purchasing all sorts of random things (like a second-hand Abercrombie & Fitch sweater, complete with second hand strands of hair, when I could've bought one direct for less, and without said hair!).  One of the other random things I purchased and kept packed away in a drawer, was a set of antique and antique-style keys.  I loved them but was never quite sure what to do with them.  I thought I may frame them or use them as decorative pieces but none of that happened and they just sat - and sat.  Until of course, Pinterest, got involved!  I came across a lot of painted keys - mainly house keys painted for identification - but there was also the odd painted key as a fashion accessory.  Aha!  What a fun idea.  And I had just the keys.  They were about to get a little makeover!

 

 

 

 

It's a really easy project.  All you need is:

 

Keys

Nail Polish

Ribbon or Chain etc

 

And paint away!  All three keys took about 4 or 5 coats of nail polish so you do use a fair bit.  I didn't use expensive nail polish so I didn't mind using a large amount.  The yellow key, which I made for my daughter, was actually painted with "Fiddly Bits" spray paint because it was the first one I attempted and I had the paint in the shed already - plus I loved the brightness of it.  The other two were just plain old nail polish.  Once the paint has dried, add your choice of ribbon (and beads, or any other decorative element, if you want) and that's it. For my daughter's one, I added a piece of fabric and made a little bow and then sewed on a heart-shaped button.  I wanted hers to be a bit more on the whimsical side. I did try and get a photo of her wearing it but she was more interested in pulling funny faces and jumping around, so purely for the cuteness factor, here she is:

 

 

So if, like me, you've got some random keys sitting in a drawer somewhere not being admired or used, whip out your nail polish and give them a new life as a necklace and add a bit of individuality to your accessories.  Give it a whirl - it's fun!

Floral Friday - "A New Bloom"

 

Before I get into today's post ... HAPPY NEW YEAR, everyone, and welcome to my very first post for 2014. I hope you all had a rockingly fabulous year and that this year brings more of the same.  Today's post is very apt, actually, being that's it's about "new" blooms and "new" beginnings - what a perfect start to the NEW year! 

About a month ago I was asked by the very lovely Trishie from Under Lock & Key if I would be interested in participating in a new monthly photographic series called "Floral Fridays" where I would photograph something floral with a specific theme set by Trishie. I wasn't sure at first if it was the right fit for my blog but then about two seconds after I had that thought I realised I had photographed and talked about flowers on my FB page at least four times that month alone. I was in. Afterall, who doesn't love a great flower and how many of us actually take the time to stop and "smell the roses"? It was a fabulous idea - yes, I was up for Trishie's wonderfully floral challenge.

 

I would head out each month on a mission to find the requested flower, to photograph it, to talk about it and to report back here with my findings. It sounds fun, don't you think? And the best thing? It will force me to get outside, in the fresh summer air, almost-3-year-old daughter in tow and discover new and pretty things that look and smell fabulous. Why wouldn't I want to do this?

 

So, my first project was "A New Bloom", signifying the start of a New Year, new beginnings and fresh starts. I found the perfect specimen, right in my back yard. Please welcome ...

 

The New Zealand Christmas Tree

 

The butterfly was the perfect model!

  

 

 

What is the name of this flower?
Its name is Crimson Glory and it's from the New Zealand Christmas Tree

What is its Botanical name?
Metrosideros

Where did I find it?
In my Australian backyard

What was I doing when I found it?
Looking for something with a "new bloom"!

Does it remind me of anything?
It will always remind me of this house, the one we have just sold.  The one we built over 10 years ago and the one where both our kids were born.  The first house we ever owned/built together.

How does it make me feel?
Joyful when the flowers are blossoming.   Joyful and proud when it is hedged to perfection!

Does it have a scent?
No - although my daughter's answer was "bootiful" (see the pic below that melts my heart).

Where does it grow?
In the South Pacific. They are especially important in New Zealand where several varieties yield rata - the hard, dark red timber prized by Maoris for sculpture.

Heart be still! Those pudgy, gloriously soft little hands kill me every time! :)

So, there you have it.  My first Floral Friday challenge completed. It was alot of fun and I'm looking forward to whatever challenge Trishie has instore for us next month!  I might even be forced to buy a Peony or two ... purely in the name of study, you understand!

And please do take a moment to check out the links below to see what the other lovely bloggers in this series had to say about their "new bloom".

  

Floral Fridays is a monthly photography project with different themes each month. This series is about fun and taking time out to smell the flowers. To play along, please email Trishie for next month's theme.