a lovely cuppa ...

 a packet of this ...

looks like this inside ...

 

and makes a lovely cup of this ...

and comes from here!

Also yummy brewed up and added to a cosmo!!

(yes it has been done ;-)

afternoons at the pool ...

lots of this ...

and that ...

and chilling out!!

and a cute chick in a bikini!!

a good day ...

another gorgeous decoration for next Christmas!!!

http://www.2gypsygirls.com/2010/12/give-it-try.html

gorgeous garland ...

http://lovelydesign.blogspot.com/2010/12/making-winter-dove-garland.html

yummy salads to try ...

http://120dollarsfoodchallenge.com/2010/06/04/potato-salad/

This photo from Retro Mummy's blog

http://120dollarsfoodchallenge.com/2010/12/15/christmas-menu-3-spinach-sweet-potato-and-fetta-salad/

Boxing day ...

• having a few drinks with one of my darling sisters
• seeing our children play with their cousins
• seeing their Uncle John play with them
• now enjoying some delicious BBQ salmon and salad for dinner

Woo hoo what a great day ... photos to come!!

great gift wear site ...

http://www.hardtofind.com.au/

cute little angel for your Christmas layouts!!

From here ... http://www.shimelle.com/paper/869/christmas-tag-tutorial-with-special-guest-natalie/

The designer Natalie Elphinstone has a great blog!

cute ornaments to make (maybe next Christmas!!)

http://michelleclement.typepad.com/blog/2010/12/orn_diy.html

a clever Christmas you tube clip!!

Retro Mummy has a great giveaway ...

Head over to Retro Mummy's blog for a chance to win a stash of this yummy fabric!!

for you summer means ...

For Amanda's colour challenge at Escape2Create ... white & kraft!

Clever wreath idea ...

Wow I love this ... could even be make with different sized cardboard rolls

(not from toilet paper rolls though  LOL and sprayed white)

Instructions here ...

http://www.todaysnest.com/todays-nest/2010/12/fantastic-plastic-pvc-wreath.html

left over fabric scraps = Christmas decorations

http://zakkalife.blogspot.com/2010/12/kid-craft-fabric-scrap-ornaments.html

lots of Christmas craft ideas here ...

http://thelongthread.com/?p=5200

a little song ...

More Christmas ideas ...

A great collection of ideas here ...

http://tisfortrackles.blogspot.com/2010/12/25-christmas-ideas-part-1.html

Especially love this one from Heidi Swapp ...

playing in the garden ...

fish handler ...

For Sue's sketch over at Escape2Create!

Cute Post It note holders ...

Information on these here ...
http://scrapbookandcardstodaymag.typepad.com/scrapbook_cards_today_blo/2010/12/sweet-post-it-note-holders.html

Madeit purchase ...

I ordered these last night ... aren't they beautiful!!

Go here to find the madeit shop ... http://madeit.com.au/detail.asp?id=188737 ... where I bought them!!

Beautiful crepe paper Christmas trees

Follow this link for the tutorial ...
http://creativechaos.typepad.com/creative_chaos/2010/12/my-entry.html

Reno update ...

we have a back door with a handle!!

yes it is a skinny door ... 720mm wide!

and we have walls and a ceiling ...

view from the back door ...

view looking towards the kitchen / dining area ...

view looking towards the northern French doors!

very exciting!!

Still lots of dust but not as many flies!!

felt monogram decorations ...

go here for a tutorial ...

http://www.sayyestohoboken.com/2010/12/blognog-felt-monogram-ornaments.html

our builder's dog ...

he's big ... very big and he mooches around!!

gorgeous Christmas garland ...

Found here ...
http://www.shimelle.com/

cute basket ...

http://www.modabakeshop.com/2009/03/fabric-easter-basket.html

This crazy weather ...

today John & Lachlan saw these clouds from our place ... John thought they were herringbone clouds and he has never seen them here before.

Lachlan (our 7 years old)  took these!

Christmas packaging ...

This is SO clever ... I'm saving my strawberry containers for next Christmas ... LOL!!!



Lyndell's blog post ...http://lydellquin.blogspot.com/2010/05/helmar-holiday-hop.html 

first partnership ...

On line Christmas shopping ...

http://www.thebodyshop.com.au/

I have done a little online shopping Christmas this year - it is so easy and things seem to ship very quickly too!! This was where I shopped this morning!!

The renos ...

Well the renos are shimmying along ... can see quite a bit of progress over the last few weeks so it is getting very exciting.

I am still a little over the blow flies and dust though!

The air conditioning is in, although not actually functioning in the new bit but have had it on today for the bedrooms!! Very nice too!

Now for a couple of photos ...

This is the bit that has been built on the front of the house ...

This is the view looking up from the driveway ...

My lovely French doors ... I have wanted to have a house with these since I was in about year 9 or 10 at school!!

Our fire ... looking forward to using this next winter!! Just need to find a mantelpiece!

Verandas to go all around later!!

Mug bag tutorial ...

http://madquilter.blogspot.com/2008/11/mug-bag-tutorial.html

Christmas cooking ...

Lots of great recipes here from previous years ...

http://issuu.com/tarisota/docs/a_compilation_of_christmas_recipes

http://issuu.com/tarisota/docs/christmas-2009

Christmas bon bons ...

I have just blog hopped to find this beautiful site. 

I absolutely love felt and this lady has some amazing patterns that I am off to search for on line!!

http://underthemayblossom.blogspot.com/2009/01/cherry-bon-bon.html

Dress up day at school ...

today the boys headed off dresses up as what they want to be when they grow up ...

A builder and 2 cricketers!!

Rohan really got into it!! 

Luckily a friend had given us these Yakka overalls a few years ago and they are prefect!

Hannah had just picked some of the roses!! For her cubby house I think!! 

Although I see Rohan has the secauters!!