Happy New Year

The end of 2010, onwards to 2011 in which more memories will be created, more laughter will be shared, and more fun times will be had.  While 2010 has had it's trials and tribulations, really life is pretty good.  Yes there is always the inevitable "life would be so much better if..."  but I have decided that my motto for 2011 is "enjoy the now - be grateful for what you have".

So plans for New Year celebrations  - we are having some friends over for dinner - with kids in tow - so it will be a happy, loud and child filled New Years Eve!!!!  Our table is all set...

via Savvy Design

Be safe at New Year, drink safe, play safe and stay safe.

CK

Why to screen print

There are so so many fabric designs that I  drool over - which then gets me to thinking that it would be good to learn to screen print.  For not even a nano second do I think that I could in any way produce prints like Amy Butler or  Designer Guild etc but I am sure I could perhaps come up with a few designs that I could use at home - but one reason for screen printing would be to create the cross design below..

Emily Henderson

CK

It is all white

After the hectic time that is Christmas I am dreaming of white  - not a white Christmas as we sweltered in 38oC and 40oC heat - but an all white interior...

Via When My Eyes Light Up 

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Via One hour 

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CK

Merry Christmas

Only one more sleep !!

Despite all my good intentions to be organised and not partake in the last minute Christmas rush  - today I was at the shops getting most of our gifts - so kids are all sorted, husband sorted, both sides of the family done, and all the food shopping is packed away!!! 

I have a last minute clean of the house to complete the picture.  I had grand plans of having all the washing and ironing competed -but alas that seems to be a task that will wait until after the joy and excitement of Christmas day fizzles - and at 36oC out it is far to hot for ironing!!! (lets not kill this justification with the fact that we do have an air conditioner and it is really very cool and pleasant inside)!!!

So I wish you all the happiest for your Christmas day!!! May you have a wonderful time filled with family and friends and love and joy and much laughter.

I am hoping that the man in the red suit bring us an early sea breeze - we are expecting a hot Christmas day - 38oC!!

CK

Small Space Living

I have space envy - we live in  a relatively big house -4 bed 2 bathroom with three separate activity  areas -  but we seem to be bursting at the seams - how much stuff do I really need.  I try but never seem to get to really letting go of all my stuff.


It is like a tug of war - a pull towards discarding and living a more minimal existence against the need to keep the stuff because you just never know when you might need said item in the next umpteen years (even though you have not used said item in the last umpteen years).


So my envy is not for those who live in McMansion's or stately homes but for those who live their lives -in small spaces but create so much space around them!!

via small space living

via weblo.com

via apartment thearpy

via freshome. com

as above

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CK

U2

So just a very very quick post - but the U2 concert last night was so so so fantastically good.  It was the last concert in Australia on the bands 360o tour - and it was a blast.  My tiredness this morning in getting ready for work is so okay given that we had a blast at U2!!!

CK

School's Out

Wow what a week - so much to pack in.   The boys are now on summer holidays - 6 weeks of hanging out, lazy days, beach, sleeps in and no no no school lunches!!!


It has been a roller coaster ride of emotions  - Mr A has now left primary school and is moving to high school - my apron strings tugged a lot!!!  Poor Mr Little - he was quite upset when he realised on the last day of school that his big brother would not be around for him next year - a fact that I shall remind him of when the boys are fighting!!!


So on the first day of school hol's the boys are sleeping in  - I am making sure all the school uniforms are nice and clean, ironed and packed away ready for next year!!!


Oh and rather excited about the weekend - U2 concern on Sunday night!!!!!!!!!


Enjoy the weekend ..

CK

Time to celebrate

Only 10 days till Christmas - the tree is up - its beginning to look alot like Christmas. Our school had Christmas Carols last night - lovely night with a picnic dinner and cheerful belting out of Christmas carols. While I dream of a white Christmas there is also something pleasant about Christmas entertaining done around the BBQ with the lovely sea breeze to keep us cool!!!

I have found, as probably most people have, that it is all in the wrapping - that cheap gift looks like a million dollars if the wrapping is just so. That well placed ornament and decoration around the home is so far more pleasing than a gaudy over decorated tree heaving with every ornament and bauble you have accumulated in your life .. this is the look I have tried to achieve.. (I did say try to achieve)

via Magnolia Gray

As above

Via homelife.com.au 

as above

via Inspriatonsforhome

Via Mother.Baby.Earth

as above

(the flaw in hanging pom pom's etc from the ceiling is that the alarm system does not like it!!!)

CK

A home on wheels

I have never been a real caravan holiday type of gal - as kids we did a few tenting holidays  - but mostly we (as in the hubby and billy lids) are the hire a holiday home type people - I do like my creature comforts - and the older I get the more anal (if that is at all possible) I become about sleeping in beds lined with the  sand from the beach, having to share an ablution block with the other 10000's of campers, in fact having to walk miles to the ablution block!!! 

But I may reconsider a caravaning holiday if I had one of these....

Contance the Caravan  - via snailtrail.co.uk

Images above via ruffledblog.com

Image above and below via designsigh.com

CK

Ahh again the weekend..

We have a friendly set of neighbours - we don't live in each others pockets but there is a safety in knowing your neighbours - and with that every year we have our Christmas drinks - 

This is a busy weekend -I have lunch with some girlfriends today, Mr A his guitar concert, Mr Little has a birthday party this arvo and we have drinks tonight.  I have a work function tom morning, Mr A has cricket at 8am, then I have a catch up with some girlfriends in the arvo and then a 50th birthday party at night!!!  

Sunday is clear which is probably just a well!!  Hold the press we now have sailing on Sunday - the Fremantle Harbour Classic - if you get a chance come on down  - a possie near the A-shed is good.  But don't forget to slip, slop slap - looks like it is going to be a sunny hot day!!

Enjoy your weekend.

CK

TOLIX

Xavier Pauchard (1880-1948) pioneered  galvanizing in France based in Burgundy, at Autun.  In 1927 he registered the name Tolix when he converted to the production of chairs, stools and  metal furniture.   The most recognised off the Tolix design is possibly the galvanised Model A chair  - which had become an icon of modern design.  Nothing says French cafe more than the Model A chair !! 

Image via crdecoration.com

My ideal kitchen table would be loaded with the Model A chair (in RED) with a few H stools for extra seating!!

via delight by design

via ella's inspiration

CK

Bike Riding

Welcome to Monday!!
Mister Little has learnt to ride his bike and there is no stopping him so we are out and about riding - which is great for not only the body but for the mind!!

And as I have tendency to do I have been dreaming - this time of a new bike  (though my bike is completely okay) but check out the new retro bikes- I am sure they go faster and have some sort of design feature that makes your legs longer and shapely.. or are able to make your stomach flatter (probably need to combine the riding with some new age thigh stomach work out sports shoes..)

CK

Another festival

What is not to like about summer - okay the hot hot weather can be a little tiring but the outdoor actives around the Freo area are abundant!!  Today we are biking to the George St Festival in East Freo - a really great community activity for all ...

CK

Mr Little turns 7!!

Where have the years gone- this year has just skipped by - all of a sudden Mr Little is 7 year old - I can't believe it.  As this is an off party year we are having a little family celebration -  and I have decided that the cake will be this little number I spotted on the Martha Stewart website - I mean who doesn't like an Oreo!! (well except the hips, thighs, tummy ....)

Have a great weekend..

CK


(PS - Little confession - did not get the Oreo cake made as above  - had to down size - by the time I had really studied the cake I realised that we would need the entire suburb at our birthday do so did a little version of the above - works well if you have a iced cake underneath and then build up with single layer of biscuits for about three tiers !!)

SPACES - by frankie Mag

So after school and work we go to do our shopping- Mr A needs some special pens for school art so we stop in at the newsagents - as he is pondering of thickness of said pens I seem to be pulled to the interior/home design mag section - and what treasure do I discover  - SPACES by frankie magazine. Despite my own personal resolution that I would not under any circumstance purchase another interior design or home magazine or design book until the new year I now find myself at home with said magazine (oh to justify the purchase I did get Mr A some much needed and can't live without pens).

I have to say (another justification) this is a well priced book and is very much eye candy  - the homes are delightful - trying to re-create the spaces in our home is going to be a challenge - so for now I shall just be a voyeur into other lives.

Really sorry but my photo's do this little book no favours!!

CK

Dreaming of a white kitchen...

Okay -I have a little obsession with white kitchens - and island benches - we have a white kitchen and the thing that I would change is to have a free standing island bench.  I have at times been very very anal in keeping the bench clean but almost like osmosis stuff creeps back - the kids are frequent contributors to kitchen bench clutter  - we are lucky enough to have a junk drawer - the idea being that I keep it in reasonable condition so that when I need to do a quick clean I can sweep all the stuff into the drawer - but alas it is all good in theory - apparently the drawer is not a bottomless pit!! (on the to do list that drawer goes). 

Image via Style-Files.com

Marie Clare Maison

Urban Grey Interiors

via just imagine design

CK

Too cool for school

Hello Monday - hoping that you all had a fun and laughter filled weekend.  I am still recovering from a very late Saturday night (or more to the point early Sunday morning).  So in the heat of Sunday and with little motivation to clean, iron and wash - I trawled the Internet and came across this house.

Wow  - not sure that I could live in the house but is it pretty cool - the whole thing of an indoor pool a few steps from my living area would do my head in  - I can only see eternal mopping action for me thanks to the kids splashing  - but this would be a pretty cool place to call  home..for a while at least (house is currently for sale and you can find it listed on  real-estate.com.au(located in Darlinghurst,NSW.

CK