Happy Times

My beautiful dad.

The beach houses surrounding the house we stayed in. The agapanthus grows wild in front of these houses. I would love to see them flowering.

The gardens in this small sleepy beach side town are to-die-for.



Table set for Dad's Birthday lunch.






I spotted this cute beach shack when I was out picking flowers and loved it. In New Zealand I've noticed they paint many of their houses black and white which I love.



I had a bath in this huge clawfoot bath every day we were there. I love the little vintage butterfly prints on the wall.




When we eventually renovate the kitchen in our new house I definitely want to have a cabinet built just like this one which was in the kitchen at the beach house. It was so perfect for all the plates, platters, cups etc.

The beach in front of the house.

We've just returned home from a week in New Zealand where we celebrated my father's 60th Birthday. After spending a few days in Auckland we caught a plane down to Napier and drove down to a beautiful beach house my parent's have been frequenting over the past 12 months in a sleepy beach side town in Hawkes Bay. We spent 3 days here with my parents, brothers, cousins, aunty & uncle and our grandmother. It was the most wonderful holiday with lots of laughs, lots of tears and lots of reminiscing. Mum cooked an amazing lunch for Dad on his birthday. I went down the street and picked some gorgeous roadside flowers which I arranged for the table. It was the most amazing week away from work and the craziness of life. Happy 60th Birthday Dad. You are one in a million and we all love you so much.

If anyone is interested in staying at this beautiful house click HERE for details.

Getting older

I know this pink collage is quite a bit candy, but whatever, today are my birthday. I'm quite excited, while I'm going to celebrate them with some of my friends and that should be a fun. I wish the weather was better, but what can you do…

P.S. to my friends - Things to wish me:

1. Finding a job - I really do need one, being unemployed is killing me
2. Getting my MA - I hope that my thesis promoter will eventually recall me and give me the date
3. Doing my driving license - it's definitely the highest time to do it
4. Moving out - I really, really want to live on my own
5. Visiting NYC - I've never been there and I'm dying to go (definitely to much "Sex and The City" & "Six Degrees") ;)

Celebrating Owen...

Our sweet Owen is 6 years old today!

I know that it's totally cliche to say, but...

the past 6 years have gone by so fast!



Since today is all about Owen, we started off with the breakfast of his choice...

Crepes made by Daddy, filled with Nutella and topped with whipped cream, chocolate chips and a cherry!

Then...

it was time for his present!

I LOVE this picture of his face when he saw his Dad walking out with the big box...

Nothing but sheer excitement!

He's a marble track boy - has been all his life!

This is marble track number....oh, I don't even know...I've lost count! But this is the first one that has been motorized and he cannot wait to see how it all works!

He and the Will's (big and little) are in their room getting it all set up. I'm fairly certain they'll be in there for the day!

And as far as Owen is concerned, it's the perfect way to spend the day!


.............................................................


To my kind, caring, sweet, outgoing, friendly, loving Owen...


HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

I love you more than words can express

XO

Harry's 6th Birthday

Melanie {above} on a ladder in our front yard decorating the tree for Harry's Birthday.

Red wine makes filling up 150 water bombs much easier!!

Yesterday afternoon we celebrated Harry's 6th Birthday at home with a couple of his closest friends and cousins and family. We had a pool party with water pistols and water bombs and a swimming pool birthday cake which my lovely friend, Sharnel from The Cupcake Company made. Melanie {my lovely and creative decorator at Black & Spiro} came and decorated our front tree with red, white and blue bunting, red & white polka dot lanterns and candles.

The night before over a few glasses of red wine my husband managed to fill up approximately 150 water bombs which probably lasted all of about 15 minutes once the children got a hold of them!! My gorgeous friend Jody helped me with the food which was such a huge help!! A fun time was had by all and my little 6 year old thanked me this morning with a humongous hug and a kiss for "the best birthday ever"!!

Oh, and I nearly forgot to show you these gorgeous cupcakes which Sharnel also made for Harry which we sent to school last week for his birthday! So simply gorgeous!!

Birthday Surprises

Thank you for all of your lovely Birthday wishes. I had a great day. My parents held a family lunch at their house yesterday which was beautiful. My mum went to lots of trouble as usual. She is an amazing hostess. The pretty flower vases she arranged using flowers from her garden in my favourite colours. I had to show you the amazing cake Sharnel from The Cupcake Company made me as a gift for my birthday...I must say it was very hard cutting up that Chanel bag!! She is such a talent and it wasn't just a pretty cake...it was absolutely delicious. My husband couldn't stop eating it which was quite out of character for him as he isn't a sweets fan at all!!

Happy Birthday Harry!!

Happy 5th Birthday my darling boy! We've had such a wonderful day. I woke to see my son's beautiful face staring at me this morning at 6.45am. He didn't see the pile of birthday presents sitting on the bottom of his bed waiting for him so we took him back into his bed and the three of us sat in his room and unwrapped his presents which mostly consisted of Pirate things - he was absolutely thrilled!! We've had a family dinner tonight to celebrate the birthday of the only grandchild on both sides so as you can imagine he is very loved and sometimes dare I say a little spoilt. A pirate boat cake completed the celebrations much to Harry's complete surprise! There certainly is something special about the innocence and happiness of a child on their birthday that hopefully I as his mother will remember forever!!

Birthday Lunch

I know you are all probably so sick of hearing about my recent birthday but I thought I'd just show you some pictures of my 30th birthday party which I had on the weekend at Peppers Spicers Peak Lodge which is located 1 hour 45 minutes drive inland from Brisbane (where I live). 25 of my closest family and friends came and spent the weekend with us at the Lodge and we had a special lunch on Saturday beginning with drinks on the lawn (each girl received a handpainted parasol to use outside for the drinks) and then a sit down lunch inside in front of the fireplace. I decorated the table in pink, yellow and white with tin buckets filled with daisies placed down the centre of the table. We all had the most wonderful and memorable weekend. I am so blessed to have such a special group of friends!! I promise I'll stop talking about my birthday now!!!

Birthday Niceties - Part 1

I just had to share some pictures of some of the beautiful flowers I received for my recent 30th Birthday. I think everyone who knows me well always knows that flowers are one of my most favourite things in the world including my florist, Phoebe Stephens as even she sent me the little posie in the front - it was so cute!! I received 3 more bunches of beautiful flowers which I will post pictures of later today. I just loved grouping all of the lovely things together on my desk at work - they all look so pretty together!! Thank you to my very special friends and family for your lovely gifts which were way to generous yet so very special!!!