[beautiful bowral cottage]

Mum decided a spring clean was in order and was tossing out her collection of Country Style magazines.
I generously put my hand up to adopt them and provide them with the love they deserved.
One issue featured our future home - that is if we moved to Bowral.

I especially fell in love with the dining space with it's stunning black and white tiled flooring, amazing kilim rug, the beautiful bentwoods and the light, oh the light!
The large rustic table was apparently was on old wool classing table bought straight off the woolshed floor and the pretty blooms are displayed in an old French champagne crate.
There's nothing I love more than furniture with a story, history, soul!

I began searching for images of this beautiful little cottage to share with you all and found them on realestate.com! Yes this darling little abode is for sale.
If I were anywhere near the southern highlands of NSW this would definitely be an open house I wouldn't be missing!

Jx

images via here

[coming up - wedding shoot styling!]

My creative year/life ahead begins with styling a wedding shoot!
Late last year my lovely wedding photographer, Yena, asked if I would collaborate with her in a mock wedding shoot she would be photographing this year.
I had loved styling our own wedding and was thrilled to be given a chance to create something beautiful all over again!
Yesterday I met up with Yena at Woolloongabba Antique Centre to talk decorative details and to begin sourcing bits and pieces we would need.

These little bone handled butter knives ended up coming home with me.

They may or may not make an appearance but they were calling my name!

(Mustn't do that every time)

Looking forward to sharing the final product with you all!

Stay tuned!

Jx

First image via patyenas Instagram

[our wedding]

On the 13th October 2012, I married my Dan.

Now that the holiday season is behind us, I've finally had a little time to myself to sit down and select a few of my favourite photos to share with you.

Yena and Patrick of Sugarblush Photography were the creatives behind the lens.

Earlier in the year we had our engagement shoot with them and from then on we knew we were onto a good thing!

I decided that on the morning of the wedding, I would get ready in our little unit - the place where Dan and I had renovated and decorated to our little hearts' content over the last couple of years.

It just felt right.

We were married at the chapel where Dan went to high school and my cousin sang and played guitar as I walked down the aisle to this - have a listen, it's beautiful!

My bouquet was bound with lace as well as a little locket with my Nan's photo inside.

The reception was held in "The Tote" at Eagle Farm Racecourse - a beautiful long building, 100 years old this year with the most unique little windows along the length of the room.

We were looking for a venue with a bit of "soul".

We had all 100 guests seated at one long banquet table that I was able to style the day before (with help from a few friends and family of course!)

Today our wedding was featured on Style Me Pretty Australia (which I may or may not have woken up and 11am US eastern standard time to view) so I knew today was the day I needed to get my act together and share them here!

Enjoy x

My favourite moment was when Dan and I entered into the reception. We danced in together and then ran down the length of the banquet table, high-fiving everyone along the way - so much fun!

A completely amazing day!

Jx

Wedding Photography: Sugarblush Photography / Flowers: Brisbane Flower Market / Wedding Cake: Brooke Engler  of Eat My Cake / Wedding Stationery: Lady B Paperie / Wedding Dress: Wendy Makin / Accessories: Stephanie Browne / Hair: Papas & Pace / Robes: Plum Pretty Sugar / Vase/doily hire: Fancy Tea

[love this space...]

and the couch

and the heavy mustard throw

and the pop of sweet pink blooms

and the stacked crates with little potted succulents.

 

It's a bit nice.

Jx

 

 

image via here

 

[christmas day - part two]

Christmas day lunch was another small gathering held at Mum's place and this year's theme was Rustic Neon!

 

The table runner was a hessian piece I had painted little neon triangles on, or if you squint, little Christmas trees.

I reused our wedding ceremony candles added a little pink twine (rather than have them collecting dust), and you'll see scattered throughout, those little neon ornaments I'd given a facelift a few weeks back.

Place on a large oval mirror and throw in a few pinecones, tea lights, pretty pink flowers and holly and you've got yourself a table!



Oh and it was my first Christmas with my husband!!
Speaking of which, I'll be sharing with you our beautiful wedding photos very soon so stay tuned!
Jx

P.S. If you liked the look of the Garden Salad with Figs and Pomegranate, find it here. Don't tell anyone but it's healthy too ;)

[christmas day - part one]

On Christmas day we hosted a family brekky at our little unit.

Just a simple gathering of six.

After picking up this oh so sweet table cloth for a steal at Ikea, I thought run with it and go a little kitsch for the morning.

So sunny yellow, polkadots, paper straws and sunflowers it was.

And for the menu...

Lychee and apple juice

Red rooibos iced tisane

Fresh fruit salad

Ham, cheese and tomato croissants

Raspberry and vanilla coulis

Natural yoghurt

Homemade gluten free toasted muesli

The muesli was really delicious!

It was my first ever attempt at gluten free muesli and the finished product was a blend of a few different recipes I'd come across.

It was a big hit with the gluten intolerant folk!

Here's my version for those of you playing at home...

Gluten Free Toasted Muesli

1/3 cup coconut oil

1/3 cup honey

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp nutmeg

1/2 tsp all spice

1 cup quinoa flakes

1 cup rice flakes

1/4 cup pepitas

1/4 cup sunflower seeds

1/3 cup flaxseeds

1 cup slivered almonds

1/2 cup macadamia nuts (chopped)

1/2 cup hazelnuts (chopped)

1/4 cup goji berries

1/4 cup dried cranberries

1/4 cup dried apricots (chopped)

Preheat the oven to 160 degrees.

Line a few trays with baking paper.

In a small saucepan, heat honey and oil over low heat until runny.

Mix in vanilla and spices.

In a large bowl, mix together the quinoa, rice flakes, nuts and seeds.

Pour over the spiced honey mixture and stir in well.

Divide amongst the trays.

Bake for 10mins, remove and mix and repeat until lovely and brown.

Remove from oven and let cool completely.

Stir in dried fruit.

And you're done!

Enjoy! Jx

Stay tuned for part two x

[a very happy new year]

A very happy new year to you all!
I hope you all had a fab evening!
We spent the final hours of 2012 amongst close friends, sipping too many cocktails, late evening swimming and dressed like we fell out of The Love Boat.

I'm usually not big on new year's resolutions but I did make a little one to myself this year.

An achievable one I think.

Now that the wedding planning circus has left town, I've made a promise to myself to give this little blog some much needed TLC.  It was sadly pushed to the side when I became a little more stressed and had a little less free time leading up to the wedding (which I've also realised I haven't yet shared photos - how rude of me!)

Very very soon (but not soon enough) I'll be commencing my Interior Design course and am so looking forward to sharing with you my creative discoveries along the way!

So that's my little resolution.

Oh and to read the Harry Potter series - I really should find out what all the hype is about.

See you again very soon!!!

Jx