Just Like Martha

Easter Show Wrapup (better late then never...)

As we approach the last days of April I thought it was about time I posted about our "Easter Show outing"! When the girls were younger we used to try and make it an outing every 'other year' but somehow we have missed the past few years...it was time!

It was a lovely Autumn day and we headed off in the morning with packed lunches and comfy walking shoes. Our tickets included transport, no need to worry about driving and finding car parking..perfect! Our Easter treat to all the grandparents was Easter Show tickets...how special that we were all able to meet up and enjoy afternoon tea with the ladies from the Country Womens Association .....cups of tea and scones all round..when we were there the ladies had baked a grant total already of 38,618 scones!!! WOW!

The decorated cakes are always a favourite to visit, A M A Z I N G!!!

Time for a quick photo with a favoutite...

AND another with a bannana?????

What is a trip to the Easter show without a turn on the 'Clowns' in the carnival area...

Winners are grinners!!

We didn't go on any other rides in the Carnival area but I couldn't resist taking some photos.....

We were content wandering and just 'taking it all in', there was so much to see and do and of course no trip to the Easter Show is complete without a visit to the Animal Nursery (always been a favourite with my girls even since they were 'little people').

The evening entertainment in the arena was fantastic! We grabbed some healthy sushi and yummy hot chips and settled in for the "Showtime Spectacular"...my favourite was the 'Stockmans Ride" and of course the 15 minute fireworks finale.."Colours of the outback"! We hopped on the bus for the drive home exhausted but happy xx

Still in shock....such a sad tragedy

We are still in shock over the devastating news that the beautiful Costa Concordia ship is no longer....on December 4, 2011 just a short time ago we set sail from Rome on a wonderful 7 night Mediterranean cruise on the magnificent Costa Concordia ship....just over a month later the same ship, covering the same route has been destroyed!

Here are some of our wonderful memories.....

The ship had over 1000 crew members looking after all the passengers...

Wonderful waiters who looked after us every night in the dining room...

And made 'special' animals and characters out of towels that waited on our beds every evening, always making us laugh...

Talented crew that entertained us every night after dinner with world class shows and musical spectacles...

It is so upsetting to then see images like this...

All our love and prayers to those who have lost loved ones, to those who have suffered, and to those still waiting to hear news...such a tragedy!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Our dream holiday is over!

Its hard to beleive that this time last month we were in Europe sipping on lattes and immersing ourselves in local markets and oh so much culture.....and loving it! We retuned to Australia just before Christmas unpacked our winter woolies then repacked our summer clothes to join our family up north for Christmas celebrations..back to Sydney for NYE then....sickness! We have been stuck down by some flu virus and it has really knocked us. So sad I had so many wonderful plans for the final few days before my return to work...sorting holiday snaps, cathcing up on ironing (where is that ironing fairy I ordered for Chrsitmas???)etc etc. Hmmm instead dear hubby and I have been quitley recuperating and dining on antibiotics!

Hopefully we are now on the mend and my new year resolutions can kick in next week, I have so many plans, there has been too much time for me to think lately (always dangerous) I have begun list making (yet again) and am eager to get started.

But for my my blogging friends this will have to suffice...

Source: Pinterest

See you soon, HAPPY NEW YEAR to all xxx

 

Back in a little while....

Well there are "no more sleeps to go" we are off....today...yippee!

Looking forward to our family holiday...and this...

and this..

 and this...

Ooooohhhh did I mention I was excited....

Travel Journal inspiration.....

I wanted to take a travel journal with me on this trip, something to write in every day and a place to paste museum tickets, airline boarding passes, drink coasters and all the goodies I collect along the way...memories. The girls have each been given an early Christmas present of  lovely journal each, perfect but I was looking for something special and didn't like the commercially produced ones I came across in the shops (surprise, surprise).

So a 'google searching I went' and along the way discovered lots of inspiration...these were amongst my favourites.

Source: www.sandekrieger.typepad.com

Source: via Pinterest

Source: via Pinterest

Source: via Pinterest

So inspired by the creations I discovered along the way I set off to create my own, off to Big W and a stationary supply place for a few supples (I find Big W which is quite local has quite a good selection of resonably priced scrapbooking supplies PLUS its open early so I can be in an out before the shops become busy)...

Then I set to work starting with the front cover then a few pages dedicated to our first stop Paris. The idea is that along the way if I have time I can doodle and journal to my hearts content OR simply gather everything and jot down notes on scraps of paper to create later...I have created a mini 'kit' to take along which neatly fits in a large pencil case (including the journal) I can take it on the plane with me (I just have to remember to keep the small scissors in my check in baggage to save any embarassment!)

What do you think?

 

I couldn't help myself.....

Don't blame me, its Martha's fault..and all of those wonderful inspiring Halloween blogs I keep coming across! Its just a little display (I can see hubby rolling his eyes already LOL), and it will look great at Halloween when the kids come knocking for treats, its what they will see when we open the door!

I had a stash of "spider web" and added some cut out bats and ghosts, the web clings to anything and everything...

Looks great covering our hallway painting and on this branch I dragged out of the garden...

Lollies ready for "trick or treat"..don't worry I have plenty more but they looked great in this jar, I always try to offer lollies that are 'wrapped' and we have a rule once they are gone, they are gone, we live in the same street as a school which is hazardous on Halloween it brings kids out in the droves....after an hour or so we hae usually run out of our 'treats' and Halloween is over for another year!!!!

What are you up to this Halloween?

 

Almost Halloween

Everybody seems to be blogging about Halloween at the moment...it is of course just around the corner. The variety shops (or $2 shops as we fondly refer to them as) are filled with decorations and costumes galore and the craft world is buzzing with ideas. Now that the girls are older we don't really celebrate Halloween, it actually falls around the same day as my Birthday so we are usually otherwise occupied...BUT if I did I think I'd be "just like Martha..."

 

Loving this to 'welcome' guests....

I bet this looks fantastic in dim light...

Roses anyone???

If I was 'entertaining' over Halloween what better way to serve dessert.....

Black lollies a MUST at the Halloween table...yum I LOVE black licorice and balck jelly beans.

Source: all photos - www.marthastewart.com

The ultimate Haunted House cake!

Source: www.theidearoom.com

 Perhaps these little 'mummies' could be the take home treat..simple chocolates wrapped in white crepe paper with goggly eyes (sometimes its the easy ideas that have the most impact)

So how are YOU celebrating Halloween???

 

Shadow Shot Sunday and the school holidays finish!

We are having a lazy Sunday afternoon, the reality that school goes back tomorrow has hit everyone and as the girls get themesleves organised for another busy term I am contemplating an endless term of school lunches and "mum's taxi".....(insert sigh!)

It has been a very wet, cold and altogether miserable last weekend of the holidays, lucky we were out and about last Sunday. We jumped on the Manly ferry last weekend and spent the day exploring and playing 'tourist' close to home.

 

First stop on our adventure was the Sydney Rocks area and my well trained 'spotters' discovered the first of many shadows for the day. It has been ages since we wandered through the Rocks area, the weekend markets were on so it was a very pleasant (but oh so cold) stroll...then it was off to find a nice, warm and cozy spot to have some morning tea.

 

After a stroll through the new Westfield (well new to us we hadn't been...must say the new ZARA store was VERY nice...might wander back there one day when I can have a really good look! There were many bargains to be had but we showed great restaint only walking away with a few bags!!!

After a picnic lunch in Hyde Park and a wander through Sydney City Library to see an amazing photgraphic exhibition we found ourselves in the Botanical Gardens and there were plenty of shadows to be found!

 

 

Hmmm I did say we did a little shopping and YES Taylor is taller than me now!

 

There were lots of Cockatoos, they are such characters....

 

Some cheekier than others...this one wasn't going to share this water fountain with anyone!

Happy Shadow Shot Sunday to everyone, make sure you visit Tracy and see what the fellow shadow chasers from all over the world have been up to this week.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year (..well better late than never!)

Okay, I failed! As organised as I was, time got away from me at the very end and 'blogging' took a back seat for a little while...sorry!

Christmas was wonderful.... a lovely lunch on the Central Coast with my brother and his family..... lots of great presents to give and receive...a stunning day weather wise...then a few days to relax and unwind before we headed up to Hawkes Nest for a few days to catch up with some 'old' friends. Lots of eating and drinking but we did find time for 'surfing' the sand dunes.....

 

 

We enjoyed a great day on the water and saw some dolphins up close....

 

...an eagle searching for food...

 

...lots of these glorious birds....

 

Then it was time to 'hit the road' and continue up to Coffs Harbour where we caught up with family and celebrated the new year.

 

 

Happy New Year to one and all, may 2011 bring you every good health and happiness and some spare time to craft and create!

More Halloween Treats

As promised here are more of the Halloween Treats I have to sell at the "Twilight Fair" this Friday....

 

Some scary lolly bags to sell...

 

 

And some cute (but scary) "Crackers" complete with snappy thing..

 

 

Happy Haloween!!