January (as well as the first week of February) is our birthday month, so every weekend has been taken up with some sort of party or get-together. This, of course, has left little or no time for anything to be done around our home. I have so much stuff in my head of all the things that need doing around here...think I better start making a list! So much needs doing I just don't know where to start and it is making my head spin. We seriously need to finish off the extension, that is a priority and get the outside finished. I am really sick of looking at Shrek's Swamp (our backyard after the bobcat dug it all up)!

One thing I really really want to get done is the kitchen floor...which I need your help with...at the moment it has been sanded back to the bare floorboards. When the extension was put in we decided that we would make the new floorboards go through to the eating area just off the kitchen and when we could afford we would then re-do the entire house...but until such time we are stuck with what we have got. My thought was to put down some sort of lino/tile as a temporary measure. I had the idea of black and white tiles but not sure whether a lighter colour would be better? I do have the 2 new single lounges in black and white and I'm also getting some black and white cushions to put on the chairs in the photos at the dining table we use which is next to the kitchen? So what do you think? My kitchen is also very small...see photos below..(bearing in mind that the wall down the right hand side hasn't finished being painted yet)

I do love the black and white and am very into that at the moment however I think it might be a bit too much in this small space? Or if anyone has any other cheap simple ideas...please HELP....

On another note, look what I grew! And they won't stop flowering!

And some recent additions to my little collection of cups and saucers. The dark blue one is from my sweet little mother picked up on her travels around New South Wales and the light blue flower one is from my grandmother's collection.

I also took a photo of the crystals that I received for Christmas from my brother...I have had many comments about them (although they do look better in real life).

Tomorrow is Australia Day (and another family birthday!) which means we get a long weekend. We are heading up to the Grose River with my family for a picnic and some swimming. We did this last year and had a fantastic day...especially the kids (and big kids!) and we will also get to met my sisters boyfriend...should be a fun day all round.

Happy Australia Day everyone...

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Happy happy

Not that he reads this, but a big Happy Birthday to my husband today. We had a lovely little party yesterday for him and today he decided to take the day off as he did not feel that it was right to have his first day back at work be his birthday as well. So he just pottered around the house...oh and brought a Caravan!!!

Yes that's right...we have ourselves a 1977 12ft Caravan. It is the cutest little thing and I think it is perfect for the three of us. We got it from our next door neighbours who have owned it since 1977 (brand new) and for the past 8 years it has been stored in their garage and it is in perfect "Retro" condition. The only thing I will be changing is ripping out the carpet as they said it got too cold for them with just the lino and also changing the retro curtains (which I might add look new!). Can't wait for all the adventures we are going to have. But we decided that our first little trip has to be to Huskisson - our favourite little spot down the South Coast. Will take some photos and post later.

I have made two necklaces recently, mostly with my favourite thing...pearls.
I have also finally completed my hall stand and here are the after photos (I seem to have misplaced the before photos!!! great).

Just photos today...

Don't you just love the look on his face...photos from Christmas day.

and his new trampoline from Dhama & Gregdad (under construction - it now has sides but he just couldn't wait). You will also have to excuse the "shrek swamp" that is our backyard at the moment - it is also still under construction!!

taking his cousin Emily for a spin...

wait for it...

Well here it is...the only photo I got to take of Ryan all day...but it is the first photo I have of him with Santa since he was 5 months old. Although I think Santa took him by surprise and spun him around to face the camera before he could protest.

And as predicted he didn't perform at his Christmas concert. Just a few handshakes with the jingle bells he was holding and that was it and even then I had to go and sit down with him. Oh well maybe next year.

Cheeky little monkey

Feels like I haven't taken photos of the little man for a long time...funny how everyday there was a photo when he was born but lately there is only a photo on special occassions....and this is probably the reason why!!! This is what he called "serious" posing...his Aunty Sheree would be proud.


And these are the bookmarks I made as Christmas presents for his Teachers at PreSchool. He has his first Christmas Concert on tomorrow and is supposed to be singing Jingle Bells and Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. Hope to get some good shots and will post after.

Not much happening around here (well anything exciting anyway!). Am really starting to stress out about Christmas cause I still have so much shopping to do. My always wonderful Mother offered to come and look after the little man on Sunday so we can go and finish it off.

All my jewellery making tools arrived (from ebay!) and I also went into Richmond bead shop and purchased some gorgeous beads and have made 3 bracelets. The one in the photo is what I made for my sister's birthday that was on the 4th December. She absolutely loved it although I had to make it smaller. Was very happy with it myself being my first attempt at bracelets. Since then, as I mentioned, I have made 2 more.

And Nan loved her necklace as well, although even more so once she realised I had made it myself.

This craft is very addictive!

Have now started working from home until at least February when the new office is sorted and ready. Has been so nice not to be rushed in the morning taking the little man to school and I get to spend some time with him there rather than dumping and leaving him.

He has been coming out with the funniest little comments lately.

I was stressing over something the other day and he comes and says "come into my room and relax and have a snack".

Then this morning he comes and asks me if he could "look up dotcomdotau (.com.au) on my puter" pretty scary at 3 years of age!

This is a favourite photo of mine with my little man and niece.

Well not much else happening (except the stressing!) so if I don't get on here again before Christmas - Merry Christmas everyone....

(source: http://www.notebookmagazine.com.au/)

Lots going on

Will have to catch up on a bit in this post...first things first...we have finally moved into our new family room!! Yippee...here are few photos of the room so far which I'm very happy with...just need to get a rug and a few other bits and pieces and need a lamp for that little table in the corner. And of course I want to get plantation shutters for the big window behind the lounge. The thing hanging over the chair below is a christmas wall hanging that mum made me which will go up this weekend along with the christmas tree and lights.

Hubby has bought my christmas present...early...these are 1872 antique prints from Alice in Wonderland. Thought they would look lovely in black frames for the new family room.

And my new collection has begun...I am collecting old books! I especially love when they have inscriptions in the front covers with dates. A lot of these old books don't seem to have publishing dates so the only way I have been able to date them is by the inscriptions. My oldest is the Robinson Crusoe. It is in excellent condition considering it is 130 years old! Although not a very good photo but you can just make out the date Christmas 1878. They are so interesting and will look lovely in my new book shelf.

I have finally got my laundry powder tin and will try and finish off some more of the laundry this weekend and post some photos. Just need to paint the shelf and hang a few things up. Although STILL waiting for the tiling to be finished!!

And, because I know that my Nan dosen't get on the internet (or any computer for that matter) I can show you the necklace I made her for her birthday...in her favourite colour of course...purple.

Well that will have to do it for now...