will and kate's wedding

i wasn't that interested in the lead up to the big day - but last night i could not move away from the tv.
we all sat glued - watching the spectacle unfold before our eyes.
the royals / the outfits / the hats (!?!) / the trees in the chapel / the dress (and bridesmaid dress!) / that amazing smile / the natural chemistry between will and kate / the crowd / the wow
i was the same age as my miss e. when diana and charles wed. 
i'm glad we took the time to take it all in. (tissues firmly placed by my side.)
it was an event that we'll remember for a lifetime.

just amazing.
huge congrats to will and kate - you did it with amazing style and grace.

(Photo: Reuters / Toby Melville)

happy easter - happy holidays !!

we're heading away tomorrow for a 7 night holiday - so this place won't get updated for a wee while.
we're going on our (what has become) yearly easter trip - this year with another 8 (yes 8) families.
it's camping - in style!!
almost all of us have invested in pop-up caravans.....after years of doing it tent-style.
we're heading to the high country (nsw snowy mountains) - where it's very very cold at night - but lovely clear days.
we're hoping to spot some more brumbies (wild horses) - and generally have some more really good times.
great friends, super conversations, lots of kids of many ages, loads of chocolate - good good times!!
i'll post some pics when we get back.
meanwhile - when i went out in the backyard earlier to take the above photo - this little shadow was following close behind...........

and the reason...........is not for the chocolate eggs...........but for..............

.......that tennis ball on the right........and miss molly waiting patiently for it to be thrown!!!

oh moo - you are far too cute!!!

i'm off to pack loads of warm clothes - and head out for some supplies.

have a safe and happy easter everyone.
see you when i return.

mrs c. xox

yay - i've had my hair done!!!

 it's been so long - i'm sure it was before christmas that i last had my hair 'done'.
today was finally the day.
i feel so so so so so good after half a day at the salon.
so tonight i decided to capture the after effect on film.
but here's the issue - i hate having my photo taken - so getting the above was super hard for me.
but we got it - with goob holding my hand - mr w. behind the camera - and with the help of photo software to blur it some - i got through it!!
i'm also trying to grow out my fringe (bangs for those in the u.s. - i think that's what you call them?!?!).
i've had hair to hide behind like forever - and somedays i feel naked without the hair all there!!
i'm getting more and more used to it every day.
and this year is a new year - with a new blog - with a new outlook - and an upgraded me!!!!
here's to trying to love to be photographed - or at the very least - not totally hate it!!!
(i told you goob was now taller than me - and i'm not short!!! she's getting close to 6 foot i'm thinking - oh my!!)

hope you all had a great day!!
mrs c. xox

study makeover - a work in progress

we've been finally fixing up the room that i seem to be spending so much time in - what with uni study and blogging and all!!

i don't have any before shots - the room was always such a frightful mess.
close to both the front door and garage door - it became the dumping ground for almost everything.

imagine though - yellow walls - blue carpet - dark walnut coloured furniture - black wall shelves in the darkest corner - and mess - mess - and more mess.........

changes include crisp white walls; pulling up the carpet and painting the concrete floors; painting the wall shelves (including all the brackets) and all it's contents white; roadtripping to sydney for some ikea love (6 hour return drive - now that's dedication to a product line!!);  moving the desk to the largest wall which will eventually allow three peoples to sit and work at once.....and more.

things still to complete - install a desk top (currently getting quotes - it's a 3300 x 700 mm white laminate benchtop that mr w. will then make into our desk); once desk is in - hook up all the wiring so it's out of sight; finish painting all the boxes from the shelves; find a mirror for above the sofa bed. (this room also doubles as a guest room - hence the hooks installed near the clock to hang coats etc); and probably move that picture up!!

so - it's still a work in progress - but we're loving the changes. so bright and airy. a really great place to study and create. my girls and i have already begun to study along side one another - which i find is really neat!!

here's more pics -

sofa bed, cushions and clock all from ikea (we've had these awhile - now they all just 'fit' better!!)

 

wall hooks = chrome kitchen door handles from the hardware store !!

magnetic canisters from ikea on galvanized metal strip (used for strapping together house frames!)  from hardware store attached with double sided tape.

one of my inspiration boards.

the painted concrete floor - rugs from freedom.

and this is my current make-shift desk - a place to blog - to write assignments for uni - to ponder life!!!! i get to gaze out the window at the pool when i feel the need & i can see the front street and the path to our front door in the reflection of the glass in the picture above my head!!

so - that's where we are at.
those that i've allowed to peek at this room beforehand in real life will attest to the huge changes that have occured. it's an amazing change from what it was.

i'm loving my new space.

mrs c. xox

house gnome - a.k.a. tomte

when i lived in sweden many many moons ago - my host family gave me a 'tomte' to take back to australia to protect my home.
(you can read up on the tomte - pronounced 'tom-te' with a short vowel 'e' sound at the end - here)
that particular loved tomte is packed away in the roof - and comes out at christmas.
last week i found this gorgeous guy at freedom of all places!!(in the outdoor furniture section - just under $20 if i remember correctly)
i couldn't resist re-homing the little fella to my place!!
so today i wanted to play around taking photos (with our very basic camera) & twig the pics a little using photoshop software - and decided to use him as my #1 model today !!!
he's going to stay around to protect our house i'm thinking.
here's some more of the 'big' boy in action !!!!

 

*sigh* - i miss my swedish family & friends muchly today.
sending them loads of love & cyber hugz through the airways.
mrs c. xox