Friday, December 31

WELCOME 2011

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
I would love to blog about the most exciting night out with family and friends but the reality is that I am having the most perfect night!
All children asleep, a glass of champagne and the whole new season of Brothers and Sisters to watch. I call that the most awesome New Years Eve yet!!

Today I felt very Pink. I love all things pink . Here are my favourite pink things....

Pink Champagne, Bella, Moet I don't care as long as it is Pink!!!

Pink Flowers. They make me feel happy.
All shades of Pink Nail polish

Decorating in tones of pink
( I don't get to because Mr Belle thinks it is a little to pretty for a master bedroom!!) oh well...
Pink Perfume bottles of glass jars
Pink Paper
Turkish Delight.. Need i say more?



My Pink Pocket Bible that I can take anywhere



and lastly..a pink tea cup. Gotta love a cuppa!!!

What is your favourite colour? What do you love?


Have a great New Year.
May God Bless you and your families.
Love Emma xx

Wednesday, December 22

Busy Busy Busy

I am pretty addicted to flicking through blogs and looking at homes other than my own! It is like a small escape for a few minutes. I soon realise that living in these homes with 3 small children, a husband (who isn't that tidy) and crazy family wouldn't really suit our circumstance. I can dream, enjoy and ponder on exactly how much stress it takes to keep such immaculate homes. I found these homes on a blog called Desire To Inspire . She has taken them from a  French interior stylist and journalist Sophie Maillot-Juillet.




I hope you had a fantastic day getting ready for Santa. I had an awesome morning at breakfast with my husband, collecting those mammoth laybys and wrapping the presents, picking up the kids from the Grand parents, fitting in a small swim, wrapping more presents, back to the shops because I forgot one, wrapping presents, dinner for the family ( thank you best friend who delivered it to me!!), sending the boys off to the Mariners game, bathing little Belle and then my precious cuppa alone on my couch!!

Umm who said that I wasn't at work today? You have to be kidding!! I work EVERY DAY!! hahaha

Sunday, December 19

I also love these Christmas wrapping ideas from The Happy Home. I love that other people can create such fantastic ideas and post them on blogs to re create. Belinda has some fantastic gift wrapping on her site.

RUBY BELLE: Before and After

RUBY BELLE: Before and After: "Everyone likes a makeover. It refreshes, rejuvenates, cleans, improves and just makes us feel a million dollars!!!!   Before   ..."

Before and After

Everyone likes a makeover. It refreshes, rejuvenates, cleans, improves and just makes us feel a million dollars!!!!



kitchenbefore2
Before
  

I am a sucker for before and after photos. I'm not sure what it is that fascinates me. I love to read home blogs where a get to see and 'before' and 'after' shot. I found this kitchen renovation from The Happy Home which inspired me. Belinda has done an amazing job at making her home look awesome.


kitchenafter1
After



It made me start thinking of my all time favourite before and after makeover. I found it on a blog called A House That A M Built. If a die and go to heaven, I think I would want to live here!! lol ( I know there are no houses in Heaven!!) This is my dream house!! I'll wet your appetite with a few pictures, but be sure to check her site out. If you love houses you will LOOOOOVE this!!!

The pool and entertaining area





ahhh the laundry...
I think I would enjoy doing the washing!!

The ultimate before the after shot!!!


I hope you had a very restful weekend as you prepare for the countdown to Christmas!! Hope to post again soon!!
Love Emma xx


Wednesday, December 15

Shops anyone?

Christmas shopping...um where do you start?

Does this picture make you stress? Just a bit?

I actually took off from home today to pick up a few bits and pieces from the shops only to turn around and drive right back home. Crazy you ask?

No 'CRAZY' is attempting to juggle the shops with two children in this silly season!!

So I decided instead to turn the car around and come home. The children and I played with blocks, ate lunch and as I type they lay asleep. Beautiful day really. It could have turned out different!

So as I drink my tea and read my favourite blogs, I am inspired by an old friend Nicole from Bubby Makes Three. I love how she is encouraging us to think outside the traditional box of Christmas Pressies. During her busy day, she read a sign that said....
"Some of God's greatest gifts are packaged as people..."

I have the most amazing people in my life, who I love dearly. I know that they are presents from heaven sent to me daily. My husband, children, best friend, best friend's children, mum, work colleuges and the little people who I work with each day.

my gift...my mum

I encourage you to write a special message in this years Christmas card to the people who insipre you, love you or support you the most. Let them know what they mean to you. Encourage them, it makes everybody smile!!!

Love Emma

Tuesday, December 14

School Christmas Concert

It's Tuesday and I haven't written for a while! I have been busy with the Christmas cooking, shopping, kids, work, hubby with a broken leg and of course fitting in coffee and hanging out with my friends!

Today was such a great day. I managed to duck out from work (thankyou lovely boss) to watch my son in his Christmas concert at school. He has been practising so long and was a little disappointed that it was a work day for me. I suprised him  by sitting in the audience and the smile made it all worth while!! I'm not really sure what he sung about. My guess is Christmas, but all I could think about was how fast the years fly.



It seemed like yesterday he was in my arms. He has such a wonderful personality, caring, funny and thoughtful. I love who he is becoming and thank Jesus everyday for trusting me to care for one of his children.


so cute!!

the funny pose!
thanks for a great
day son!

Have a great day tomorrow.
Love Emma xx

Friday, December 10



Friday has arrived!!! yay!! What will the weekend mean for me? Well I would like to start on my Christmas cooking. I've got some yummy rocky road to make and peppermint bark. (thanks to my special friend for sharing the recipe with me!).

Image from The Long Thread

This a recipe in found online ...

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups dark chocolate, chopped, or chocolate chips
  • 2 cups white chocolate, chopped, or white chocolate chips
  • 8 peppermint candy canes

Preparation:

1. Unwrap the candy canes and place them in a food processor. Pulse on/off several times for 5-10 seconds each, until the canes have been crushed into small pieces. Alternately, place the candy canes in a large Ziploc bag and seal tightly. Use a rolling pin to roll/smash the candy canes until they are the size you desire.
2. Cover the slice tin with aluminum foil.
3. Melt or the dark chocolate. Pour the chocolate onto the prepared tin and use an offset spatula or knife to spread it to an even thickness, a little more than 1/8" thick. The chocolate does not have to reach all sides of the sheet, as it will be broken up later anyhow. Place the tray in the refrigerator to firm up while you prepare the white chocolate.
4. While the dark chocolate hardens, melt or the white chocolate. Stir in most of the candy cane bits, reserving about a quarter of the mixture to put on top.
5. Remove the tray from the refrigerator and spread the white chocolate in an even layer over the dark chocolate.
6. While the white chocolate is still wet, sprinkle the remaining candy cane pieces over the entire surface evenly. Press down very slightly to ensure they stick. Place the tray back in the refrigerator to firm up for 30 minutes.
7. Once the peppermint bark bark is completely set, break into small, uneven pieces by hand.
 I have a very excited child who is keen to help...NOT! Move over junior master chef.. I've got two coming through with a variety of cooking expertise. Um...let me think... toast, cereal and mixing cordial are their specialties! haha
at least one loves cooking!

I will be off now to have that yummy cuppa with my hubby.  Have a wonderful weekend with your family!!
Love Emma xx

Wednesday, December 8

Why is it that on a beautiful day I immediately think.....great day for the washing! and not ..gee I'd like to go to the beach? Motherhood does strange things to my thinking!


from Getty Images

All of a sudden you forget your own hair but insist that the baby's hair is done complete with a bow, You cook, boil, mash, puree and freeze meals for your young one but forget to eat yourself. You bathe the baby and ensure that a cotton bud is used to clean out every crevice but are lucky to jag a shower every two days!! Come on now.. you know what i'm talking about!

Motherhood would have to be the most hard work i've ever experienced!! But it is truely the most rewarding work you will find this side of heaven. I feel so blessed to have such great little people in my life that not having a shower really doesn't rate as important! I encourage you to take time out and enjoy your cheribs, leave the washing, ironing or ringing mobile phone. All these things can wait.

What matter's is that you take time to spend time with your kids. Play with them, laugh with them and hug them. They grow up so quickly, enjoy EVERY minute!!!

Love Emma xx

Tuesday, December 7

Smile...

Christmas is fast approaching and my list of things to do is getting longer. Thinking of new and exciting presents to give can be overwhelming. I have decided after much deliberation that the parents and parents in law are getting a family framed picture. I know it sounds a little lame but I thought back to when we actually had a 'family' picture taken and was shocked.....i think about 3 years ago!

So i enlisted the help of some very special friends to take a few pictures. They were so sweet to do it for me, i am eternally grateful.

How did the session go you ask? Well lets just say that we aren't the easiest family to snap. When you are trying to take a picture of 5 people at once, someone is bound to be not looking at that crucial time!

I guess a few came out worthy of a frame...

Notice all the best ones are when they aren't looking!! haha

Mummy and Daughter

Brothers
The family

Thanks for dropping in on my blog. I'm off for a cup of tea with the hubby. Take care,may God bless
LOve Emma 

Monday, December 6

Tea vs The Washing...

I absolutely LOOOOVE a cup of tea. I'm quite serious about this.
I am not into your designer tea brands or feel the need to have it imported from India.  I am a simple girl who loves a cup of Lipton.

I will use the cup of tea to procrastinate, gas bag, relax and soothe. It has so many benefits that I think I actually should drink more!

Today I should have begun to fold the mountain of washing piled up from only 2 missed days of not washing but you guessed it.....I had a cup of tea instead. I felt better immediately and the piled up washing didn't annoy me as much anymore.

Tea anyone?


Sunday, December 5

What to pack for lunch?

I have discovered an amazing invention. Sure you probably have all seen it, but I'm hooked! Yes, I am going to admit that I have a child that does not like crusts on their sandwiches!!

A 'good' mother would insist that they eat them ALL up and that it will make them big, strong, clever or maybe even grow curly hair.
Well I am here to say that I choose my battles wisely with my children.  Insisting that they eat crusts or no crusts doesn't rate highly when the others are fighting with cricket bats in the lounge room!!! I say as long as they eat!!! I'm happy.

So the 'LUNCH PUNCH' helped me take back the fun and excitment in preparing boring sandwiches. I've even had the neighbours joining in on the cognitive fun at lunch!!

Do I hear you say...What are you talking about? Take a look...

Every kitchen should have one!! Can't wait to make the sandwiches for school tomorrow....
Must go to sleep now to be bright eyed and bushy tailed for the start of the week.

Love Emma xox

Sweet Sunday at the beach...

my day was so great!! I spent some time at the beach watching the kids play and enjoying a lovely picnic dinner. I feel so blessed to be able to God's creation with the family.


Baby Belle took some time out to watch the sea roll in.
I love this photo!

My sunday started out like many others. I was busy getting ready to go out and my sweet Baby Belle had to ensure that she put on the appropriate necklace for the outing. I guess she couldn't make up her mind!! She can not leave home without a necklace and bag.
 She's my girl alright!!!





Saturday, December 4

Yay I have 2 followers!

A big thankyou to Jessica and Nel for becoming a follower of my blog! Stick with me and I'll entertain you with exciting snippets of my life!! lol You guys rock!!

Love Emma

Homemade Christmas decorations

i stumbled across this lovely wreath made by Simone from Beach Vintage. I love Christmas decorations that are made with love and are simple. I think I'm off to Spotlight.. I can hear the rolls of fabric calling me!




For more details on how to make this check out Beach Vintage

Have a great weekend
Love Emma xx

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