More of THAT wallpaper! : Orla Kiely

So if you're wondering why I'm blogging about interior decorating over here, then it's because I've decided to do away with my other blog. It didn't get much of a look in anyway and it really is just too difficult keeping up to blogs. So it will all be here now.

Here's that darn wallpaper again.
I swear it's haunting me.
I totally need it.

Found over here.
I really like how it has been applied to just the panels. Clever!
Ok, enough about that wallpaper now.

I found a really inspiring post over at Kelly Rae's blog.
It's about pretending to be what we long to be, until we actually aren't pretending anymore, we are actually living it.
This made me think, what is it that I would pretend to be?
If I could pretend to be anything in the world?
I think I would pretend to be an illustrator / world wide traveler / bookworm / vintage goods shop owner / lavender farmer.
I would pretend I had the confidence to take my drawing further.
But for now I will pretend I have the time to do so!
With two little rug rats, there's not a lot of time for pretending!

Feeling a little more whole : new things

Well things usually come in threes with us.

First it was the sewing machine.
Then it was the toaster.
Then it was the camera.
Without all three of these I had been feeling a little out of sorts.

So now the sewing machine is in the shop being serviced (sigh, can't wait to get her back).

We have a nice new toaster (banana and honey on bread is just not as nice).

And I have a brand new camera.

But wouldn't you know it?
I was without camera for about three days and Little Miss decided to crawl and cut two teeth. And I had no camera.
But don't you worry, I've made up for it since :)

We have a very tame Magpie that visits us morning and evening for scraps.
Yesterday he was lucky to not only get some leftover smoked chicken but to have a good tête à tête with Little Miss.

Corner of Little Man's bedroom.
Art work "Pirate Boy" by TskTsk.

New book love : I love Holidays & The Smallest Turtle

One of my favourite parts of childhood was receiving a new book.

Clothes and toys were alright, but there was something about receiving a new book, especially one that had an inscription written on the inside.

My children usually receive a new book on their birthdays and at Christmas and I've also decided that family holidays are another great time to gift them a book. A fresh new book to celebrate and relax with.

As I've said before, last week we spent a couple of nights at Noosa.
This was our very first holiday together as a family.
To celebrate we brought the children a book each.

For Little Miss, written and illustrated by Anna Walker (who's soft illustrations I have adored in Country Style magazine for years), we brought I Love Holidays.

For Little Man, by my all time favourite children's author and illustration Lynley Dodd (of Hairy Maclary fame), we brought The Smallest Turtle.
Both books were so fitting with our beach mini holiday and I'm sure they will be cherished for years to come. And maybe next holiday Little Man will be old enough to choose his own, making it even more special.

Colour polls : Inside Design 101

I have started running a couple of polls on colour associations on my other blog.
If you have a moment perhaps you could pop over for a look-see?
The information I gather from these polls will help me with my research for my Interior Decoration course.

Tag and I'm it : 6 things

I've been tagged by La Mammina for six quirky yet boring,

unspectacular details about yours truly.

So here they are:

1. My feet are like an extra set of hands. I can pick even the smallest things up with them. It really came in handy when I was pregnant and couldn't easily bend down.
   
2. My favourite dessert is creme brulee. I had first one in Paris in 2003, and even though it almost instantly made me sick (it was so rich and I had irritable bowel at the time - another boring fact) it was sublime and if it's on the menu at a restaurant I have to have it. I've tried to replicate it at home, yet to no avail, but I have now got a brulee torch, so have to try again!
   
3. I would love to be an visual artist but always feel I'm not good enough. I go through cycles where I (try to) paint, then I go back to sewing and want to sell all my art supplies, then not long after I go back to painting and the vicious cycle starts again *sigh*.
   
4. I met my husband when I was 13 and he was 17. This year will be have been together for 17 years! Yikes!
   
5. I'm studying Interior Decorating through TAFE (see my other blog). I am really enjoying it, and finding there is so much more involved then just arranging a few pretty things. I really hope to finish the course and go on to more study when my babies are older.
   
6. I love the beach, but hate the surf. I was dunked by big waves too many times as a kid (not to mention watching too many Jaws movies), and now I'm petrified. I hope my fear doesn't rub off on my kids, because I know I must be missing out on so much fun!
   

So there you have it. I now have to tag six people:
Clare, Pilli Pilli, Wendy, Anna, Bec and Hannah.

Anyway, I'm off now. We are celebrating Chinese New Year tonight, not that I am Chinese, or even remotely of Asian heritage, but I love any excuse to get together with good people and eat deep fried ice cream!