Easy paper baubles

The other day i left my battery charger for my laptop at school. This was particuarly bad as it charges both our laptops, and the battery was low for both. However this predicament did have a very positive outcome, as i had to find a different way to amuse myself.

I must say that if i was a student in my own classroom I would be particuarly frustrating because have quite a short attention span. I loathe having NOTHING to do! My husband and I are often pleased when we havce a spare weekend with no plans, because we can then 'do nothing'. Except his do nothing is really, do nothing. Watch a movie or read a book and not move. My do nothing just means not leaving the house, but i must still find a way to occupy myself.

Faced with a do nothing weekend with no laptop I was in a predicament. What was i going to DO? Add to this the fact that i have no car at the moment (a minor prang!) I needed to find my amusement out of whatever i had at home. Luckily i had a plan.

The recent Better homes and Gardens magazine featured a variety of christmas decorations you could make out of scrapbooking paper. I just so happened to have a book full of beautiful paper that i have barely used, so i set to work.



Easy christmas baubles

Scrapbook paper (I used about 4 pieces and made loads of baubles)
Hole punch
Ribbon or wire (BHG used wire, i didn't have any but found ribbon did a great job!).

Cut strips of cardboard approx 1 cm in width. You can vary the length, so long as you have 8-10 pices the same length.

Hole punch the top and bottom of each strip. Cut a length of ribbon as long as the strips then a bit more for a loop. Tie a knot on the bottom (needs to be bigger than the hole punch hole).

Gather 8- 10 strips and slide them down the ribbon, printed side down. Loop the end of the ribbon through the other end.

Push the strips down until they bend over. Tie a knot with a loop on the end.

Fan the strips out to make a circular shape

Voila!

I then gathered some vines that i had taken from my sisters place. Their new home had a beautiful wisteria tree, which we are all allergic to. So sadly down it came, however it has meant loads of beautiful bendy vines for me to play with. I bundled the vines together, took some florist tape and wrapped them together. Popped it in a vase with some stones and paper and added my baubles.

I am really quite pleased as this is one of my first crafting attempts. What do you think?

Give it a go yourself!

My meaning of christmas

I will say this right now. I LOVE CHRISTMAS. I adore it, I revel in it and I think about it constantly. Christmas has always had a magical feeling for me. I love everything about it. I think part of it is that it appeals to my love of traditions. Christmas is a perfect time to establish traditions that can be followed.

My love of Christmas definitely starts from when i was a child. I think my parents did a fantastic job of creating the magic of Christmas.

It starts with the decorating of the tree. This is the definite signal of Christmas beginning. We would always buy a fresh tree, with us kids and Dad heading out to find the perfect one. We liked ours tall and full. We would allow for only one open spot in the tree.. that side could be turned to the back. As a matter a fact one year the tree farm made the mistake of mentioning that i did not have to take a pre cut tree, i was welcome to walk around the many hectares and choose one to be cut down. This was said to my Father's dismay as he was then dragged around for an hour while i went from tree to tree assessing it for height and fullness. I just so happened to find the one i wanted at the far corner of the farm. He He He. It was the best tree EVER!

We then would take said tree home, cut the end off and let it sit in water for a few hours. Later we would then fill a bucket with sand, and insert the tree. Then out would come the decorations. Mum would always start the pudding while we were tree decorating, so the smell of fruit mince and pine always invoke the 'scent of Christmas'. Each of us kids all had a special decoration to put up, a wooden Santa with a musical instrument (which coincidentally were the exact same special ornament that my husband and his siblings had, complete with the name written across the butt!).



Next would come the Christmas eve ritual of setting out the goodies for Santa after we got home from church (where i would sing loudly and off key to the Christmas carols at the end). Dad would always hover around leaving suggestions about what Santa did and did not want, usually a beer and Cherry Ripe Slice or Rocky Road. Just happened to be Dad's favourites. Ha!

As we headed off to bed we would take our mega large Santa sacks (lovingly illustrated my our mother) and lay them out on our bed. This was the really magical part that got me every time! It would be empty as i went to bed, and magically full and overflowing the next morning when i woke! As we dragged our sacks downstairs laden with goodies we would pass the empty beer bottle and one remaining piece of slice, complete with a bite mark in it.

After present sharing we would have a brekkie of a fruit platter and head off to our Nanna and Grandpa's. Here we would gather with our Aunties, Uncles and Cousins, swimming in the pool all day and only getting out for our huge Christmas spread of cold and hot meats, salad, trifle and Mum's afore mentioned pudding.

Boxing day we would head down to my Grandma and Grandfather's place in Vincentia, where we would spend a week with my other side of family, and going to the beach down the street.

Sigh... with all this is it any wonder that i adore Christmas?

Now I have my own home I too mark Christmas with the decorating of tree and house. I hope that once I have children I can also do some baking on this day, filling the house with the smells of Christmas. Except we have a large fake tree, as my Husbands clean freakness won't allow for nettles of tree falling on the floor. He He.

My tree is as below, a blend of silver, gold and copper/ burnt orange. I do have a few rules with Christmas decorating.
1) NO TINSEL as i think it drowns the tree - but i do use thin tinsel threads.
2) ABSOLUTELY NO "SNOW" THEMED ITEMS
I do not associate Christmas with one speck of snow, so snow themed items are totally vetoed.

These pictures really don't do the tree justice. You can't see the sparkle!

Now that I am an adult Christmas has altered a bit. No more Santa sack. Sniff Sniff. Although now i have my own two families to celebrate with. Christmas can be a bit of a juggling act trying to fit in families, luckily the stars seemed to have aligned and my plans fit with that of my in laws. We do Christmas day with one side one year, and boxing with the other, then swap the next year. We only really see my brother and his family every second year on boxing day as they don't do anything Christmas day outside their little family, which is their own tradition.

This year i am hosting my own family's do. I am really excited about this, and am already thinking about decorating ideas and bookmarking magazines with food ideas. I am thinking less of a buffet and more of a simple 3 course meal, as we will all be having celebrations the day before.

For Mike's side we recently worked out the food, which will be a mainly cold spread, with cold meat (Pork, Turkey and Glazed Ham), Salads (Potato, Mango and Avocado, Garden and coleslaw) and desserts (Cookies and cream, Ice cream, Trifle and Pudding). I think i may need to stop eating a week in advance to make room for it all!

I really love watching my nieces and nephews, as in many ways Christmas is about kids. I love their excitement and squeals. This is what i look forward to when we have our own children to share Christmas with. Like my Mum I will save through the year so I can fill their magical Santa sacks. I want to have a bake day where we prepare and bag little goodies that we give out to family and friends. I want to have special decorations that get put on the tree for each child. I want to make Christmas eve a little special with a light Christmas dinner and listening to carols, maybe playing a few games.

I hope that i can also recreate the magic of Christmas, that my own children will sniff the air as i do when they detect the 'scent of Christmas', with and smile at the thought of whatever memories that smell invokes for them.

My dream home

I was initially very excited when i first saw the latest blog this topic - with the instructions of 'If time/location/ money/ the rest of the world didn't matter, where would you live? What would your home look like?

I set to work straight away and started researching.... and looking, browsing through blog and google images, following links to other sites. Increasingly i became overwhelmed. You see, making a decision really isn't one of my strong points. I umm and ahh over things, wanting to make the 'right' choice. I started thinking of bedroom decor, lounge rooms, outdoor area's, bathrooms, kitchens, kids rooms, studies, media rooms...

In the end i have reigned myself in and decided to just show a handful of images that represent some of my favourite parts of a home. I decided not to show bedroom or lounge room choices because i was just could not narrow them down! What i will show you are some dream images of a kitchen, bathroom, and outdoor entertaining areas.

As for location, i really don't mind. After all, if this is my 'dream home' i will have many acres so location does not matter so much because it will be my own little oasis! So long as i am with my husband, with family (and shops!) close by i will be content!

The exterior

realestate.com

I love cottage federation looking homes with wrap around verandahs and pretty arches. This exterior looks perfect, crisp white colours and a beautiful cottage garden. This will set the tone for the rest of my home.

This home will be filled with beautiful furnishings, a blend of modern pieces with vintage designs. Think whites, creams and browns accentuated with punches of colour from pillows, vases and other little nic nacs. Tables, chairs, buffet's will be a recycled timber or distressed white finish.

The Bathroom

Porchlight Interiors

I love love love this shower! I was browsing through images with claw feet tubs, and his and hers sinks, both of which i quite like. However when i came across this picture i just fell in love. I prefer showers over baths. Usually because in a bath the water goes cold, while a shower stays nice and hot! What i love here is the long bench in the shower! You could still lounge around a little, while under a steady stream on water (in my dream home there is no drought, nor water restrictions).

The Pool

Porchlight Interiors

As a child i longed for a pool, still do for that matter! I adore how this pool blends in with the surroundings. Some pools look a little like they have just been plonked into the backyard. This one looks like it has grown there! That spa/fountain on the end also adds to the appeal!

Outdoor Living

House & Garden

With such a beautiful pool ares i know i will need a lovely outdoor entertainment area. I really like bench seats and lounges, where guests could relax with a glass of wine and have a chat. Near here i would have an outdoor kitchen, with a barbeque, mini fridge and a wood fire oven! I would also have a lovely table, one that i could expand to fit as many or as little as i liked!

The Kitchen

Ikea

I have a 'thing' for Ikea kitchens. I especially like this one as it has that blend of country and modern that i am going for. The marble bench and professional gas oven is a must for any serious baker. My tea cups would be displayed in those glass cabinets, adding a punch of colour to the room. I also like to have people around when i cook so i can have a chat, so those bar stools are fab!

In the same room, a little further away i would have an open plan dining room and lounge room. I like these as it provides a central gathering place.

So that is my dream home! It really centres around being a gathering place for friends and family. It has been lovely to dream a little and imagine the 'what if's'. Although i will say that i really love my little home, and for now i will count my blessings in what i do have!

In this very moment...

I have been inspired by a blog that i just read http://everyonewantsthis.blogspot.com/ to recreate her list of 'currents'. Lets have a see....

Listening to: A the moment US baseball because my husband has control of the remote while i have control of the laptop

Crushing on: I would agree with Miss Carly and say Chuck Bass from Gossip girl. I only discovered this serious during the school holidays just passed. I quickly consumed 2 seasons in 4 days...

Lusting over: This chair on http://www.ezibuy.com.au
I would LOVE this chair, and it seems it comes in bright red... which i think would look FANTASTIC!

Consuming: My husband just heard the Home Ice cream truck and we brought a few things, one of which was a very sweet Callipo style ice block in raspberry flavour. Yummo!

Rocking: My mega comfy maxi dress. I love it as it looks good and is so simple!

Reading: As of yet nothing but i am anticipating i will read Matthew Riley's new book 'Five greatest warriors'. I do love his books, they are like an action movie with so many twists and turns!

Watching: Boston legal. I have some seasons downloaded on a hard drive that i watch every now and again. I love it's quirky characters.

Stressing over: What i am going to do with a particular class i teach. They are driving me up the wall!!

Scared of: Falling off the weight loss bandwagon. I really need to keep going this time.

Style i love: Beautiful decor often posted on some of my favourite blogs like http://swishandswanky.blogspot.com/ & http://www.absolutelybeautifulthings.blogspot.com/

Make-up essential: Mascara and under eye concealer

Wanting: A pretty but flattering summer dress that's below the knee... still searching

Loving: As always, my Husband. Although i also can't seem to get enough of my Nephew Lachlan. He has been on a roll with his talking and he is a crack up!

Hanging for: New Moon! I love love love Twilight. I know, it's like a dirty little secret, but it's oh so good!

Addicted to: Cooking in my Moroccan Tagine! I love sweet salty foods so i am loving using my glam tagine and cooking up something tasty dotted with nuggets of dried fruits and almonds served up with fluffy cous cous ...mmmmmm


So tell me... what are some of your currents?

Imaginary shopping spree

The latest blog this challenge is to spend an imaginary $200 on etsy. When i first saw this i thought.. oh god, where would i start. I lust over so many things from that beautiful site. There are just so many talented artists out there creating wonderful things!

So.. after careful deliberation here goes...

Chandelier Wall decal

$49.00

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=7684739

I would place this beauty above our bed. I love the idea of these decals and have been lusting over them for ages, however it takes me a while to commit to something so for now i am just looking.

Amy butler fabric

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5782394

$12.50

I ADORE Amy Butler fabric. I have seen it featured on so many different blogs in varying DIY jobs and it always look eye catching and has beautiful harmonious colours. I would love to get some

fabrib and use it to made my window seat that i want to build (eventually).

Children's bunting

$55.00

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5834356

This would be a great gift idea i could use for any of my nieces and nephews. It is cute, but unique.

Ava’s Tea Party

$ 95.00

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5108910

I would buy this beautiful print from Belle & Boo. Not only is it whimsical, it also celebrates the life of a beautiful little girl who’s life was tragically cut short. I would love to keep this one day for my own daughter (if i am so blessed), to remind me every day to cherish my little girl, because we don’t know the next turn life will take.

I have gone a TAD bit over in my 'spending', but hey, it's well worth it. So... what would you buy?

Product Review: Hillcrest Cafe Collection Vanilla Cupcakes

I found this cupcake pack at Aldi the other week and decided to try it out. I often like to make cupcakes myself from scratch, but it never hurts to have a pack ready to go in the cupboard in case you need to whip something up quickly.

What i really liked about this cake mix is that it comes with cupcake cases in the pack. This definitely makes it an all in one mix! It also comes with it's own frosting.


When i made these i did use extra light margarine and skim milk as they were all i had, plus i am trying to make some lower in fat treats! (Yes i am aware that is a complete oxymoron.. sigh).
I also baked 6 regular cakes and the rest as mini cakes. It makes quite a lot (at least 20) mini cakes, and that was only half the mix, seeing as i made 6 regular ones as well.

The cake itself is quite nice and fluffy, although without the richness of a homemade cake. The icing had a strong butter taste, although this could be because of the extra light marg that i used.

I would definitely say these are a great standby to have in the cupboard, and you really could play around with the base flavour and add anything you wanted to change it around a bit.

Front garden plans.

I had a horticulturalist from Sydney Water come and visit the other day. It was part of a service where you pay $33 for a Sydney Water horticulturist to come and prepare a tailored watering plan for your garden.

The qualified horticulturist looks at:

• soil type and quality
• position of plants and trees
• type of lawn
• how much sunlight and shade your garden gets
• slope of your lawn and garden.

and then give you recommendations on what are the best plants for your garden, how often you should water it and other great tips.

I really enjoyed the visit. I had previously believed our soil to be very poor quality but he told us otherwise. We were advised to use some river sand in parts where we have some clay soil.

What excited me the most was that he told me that the front of our house has perfect soil and sun/shade that we could pretty much grow anything, in particular a cottage garden with a native twist.

I have lone coveted a cottage garden in front of a house near us. I was given some cards with descriptions of different types of gardens (Native, Cottage, Sub Tropical and Courtyard) which has some information on it, as well as a link to their website, which contains more information on a large variety of plants.

I have now set to work planning our front garden. I would love a cottage garden, but also lie the idea of having some natives, particularly as we have a large gum in our front yard. After a bit of browsing i am looking at the above plants for the front garden. They are a mix of shrubs, ground covers & flowering plants. Of course i haven't priced these yet. I am hoping they won't be too expensive.

I would defiantly recommend you look up this service if you are a keen gardener, especially if you are beginner like me. It was a really interesting and informative experience!

Now lets make like Mary quite contrary and see how MY garden grows...