Goodbye 2013...

The time has come to farewell another year. 

2013 has been a mixed bag for us, with lots of highs but also a few terrible lows, one of which was the sad passing away of David's father.

David and I celebrated our 50th birthdays, whilst daughter No. 2 celebrated her 21st and moved out of home. Mum turned 80 and we had a few months worrying about Dad's health but after some recent successful surgery, his recovery is looking very positive.

S, David and J learnt to knit!

The house plastering was completed this year, and we added a walk-in linen cupboard, main bathroom, guest bedroom ensuite and outside pool W.C to the list of finished rooms. I had an entertainment unit custom made and installed and started a coffee table project.

I shared a few client's projects with you, the most exciting one being Mum and Dad's home renovation. Oh, and David's Avoca Beach Project making the cover of a major magazine. That was pretty awesome too!

That pretty much sums up this year....

Thank you for following my blog, taking an interest in my life and home construction, and for taking the time to leave much appreciated comments when you can.

2014  here we come!

x KL

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Putting it all away....

All that effort with decorating the house for Christmas, and it's all now past its use-by-date.
I like to stick with tradition and pull everything down on January 1, but this year I have an interstate friend staying over and don't want to put it off till after her departure. Soooo, today's the day....

Goodbye Santa, Sworovski stars and glittery trees!
Goodbye our little puppy guest, Thor.
Goodbye fairy lights and .....

...goodbye to my expanded waist-line too!

x KL

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Custom Entertainment Unit finale!

 Just before Christmas the Ceasarstone top for our custom made entertainment unit was delivered, finishing this project. Yay!!!!

 I'm thrilled with how it both looks and functions!

Certainly an big improvement on what we had....

 x KL

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Today...

How stunning is this picture? It is of Terrigal Haven, 2 minutes down the road from me. It was snapped yesterday morning....would love to be able to capture the feeling of my neck-of-the-woods as perfectly as this photographer did!

We're all lazing about post Christmas, enjoying sunshine, presents, abundant decadent food and no timetables! Heaven!

x KL

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Christmas

The table looked beautiful for our Christmas celebration, held on Christmas Eve!

We feasted on cold ham, turkey, mini quiche, lobsters and prawns....yummy!

I made some rocky road for the first time. Easy-peasy and super yum!

Santa did a drive-by on Christmas Eve, as is tradition, with lots of lollies to be collected!

  On Christmas morning, the stockings were filled to the brim...

And the floor around the tree was smothered with gifts.

 It didn't take long for the family room to resemble a bomb site! LOL!

And just to remind us of the true meaning of the celebration, I had to share the following....

 I hope you had a wonderful Christmas too.  

Best wishes to all,

x KL

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A Christmas Interlude....

 I am definitely feeling the Christmas Spirit...but, after a day of wrapping presents and writing Christmas cards (...that's a job-and-a-half!), I took a wee break and caught up on some favourite interior blogs. It was really nice to have a visual rest from sparkle, OTT decorating and same-ness!

So...here's a Question. What do these eight images have in common?

 They're images via  Domaine Home and all are rental properties.

The style in each is quite different but in every one, I found something to Oooh about! 

Here's my 'discovery' tour....

In one post, I found all these bits and pieces that are currently on my 'lust list'!

Ran away from Christmas chores before school ended too and had my hair coloured, a mani / pedi, eye-brow fix etc...a mini me-tune up! LOL!

Back to reality again now...and onto sorting out the Christmas feast options!

x KL

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An update....

Davey took this pic of The Tree; 2013. He fooled around with camera settings and I think it looks much more realistic in this shot. Fairy lights are difficult to snap!

In exciting news, the stone top for the entertainment unit is being delivered tomorrow! Woo Hoo!

and the glazed, guest en suite shaving cabinet doors are ready for collection. Yay!

Desperate for Christmas gift ideas? I found this yesterday....

...at Adairs. The most DIVINE scent, and exquisite  crystal refillable bottle...

Yup. One for a gift, One for me. LOL!

The whole house has been 'pimped' with Christmas words & phrases that delight the children with the  opportunity to rearrange and generally pi** me off.

 

Lovin' my li'l gold accents...the lounge is old and tired but this CR cushion looks very festive to me!

Finally got to do a sweet little Guest en suite vignette.  So much more to do in this room though, looking forward to the mirrored shaving cabinet doors the most! They're ready for collection...guess what I'll be doing tomorrow?

 Even Bindi has received some Christmas decoration! I bought the paper garland from the U.S via Etsy. LOVE it! And the 'Emperor' cap is a recent pressie for J, from my elder sister who has recently returned from China.Very in. Very now. 

I don't know about you, but for the first time in....

Y O N K S

I'm feeling POSITIVE about the year ahead... 

Whatchathunk?

x KL

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Reporting in...

 The tree is up and decorated; Hurrah! 

David's Mum's precious tree angel perched on top, as is our tradition.

My new little tree is sparkling away with eight years of collected Swarovski Christmas Stars. 

(And a few new gold Country Road ornaments to add some of this year's gold theme!)

After my successful framing of J's Worry Doll (HERE), I decided to tackle David's Grandfather's old hammer head. It's engraved with his initials and as David is a builder, it is quite a sentimental piece. I'm 'giving' it to him for Christmas...Shhhh!

The house has been lit outside too this year after numerous complaints from our neighbours; about last year's poor effort! Few people bother to light their homes locally so apparently our efforts were appreciated! 

David spent all of Saturday decorating with waterfall and icicle lights. Our 'family' of reindeer have taken a loss though so I'll be trying to locate one replacement...the things we do! Ha ha!

Am still waiting patiently (LOL) for the stone top for our custom entertainment unit. I was generously offered free delivery "when they're next out our way" but so far no luck. These guys are so good to me, I don't want to hassle them but.....*sigh*

Are you inundated with Christmas Do's? We had a jam-packed weekend. LMFAO at a 'selfie' taken after one. Note to self; I am too old for red lipstick that bleeds everywhere which I can't see without glasses and after a few glasses of Christmas Cheer! Eeeek!

Got a new mobile phone...finally! I chose a Samsung Note and I despise it! 

I discovered it's 'beauty face' camera feature by accident...(Grrrr...it does stuff that confuses the hell outa me)...but check out the wrinkle difference in the top pics though! Hilariously O.T.T. fake!

And finally...this was my entree at a local French Restaurant. It recently changed ownership. 

It used to be a favourite venue... so sad.

x KL

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My Christmas Wish List

 How's your Christmas shopping going? Bar J, (who I always leave to the last minute because he always changes his mind!)....I'm done! Yee Ha! *Happy dance*

The family 'wish list' has been fulfilled too. Dad's home from recent major surgery, earlier than anticipated, as he is recovering so well!

That's the best Christmas present this family could receive...

Feeling very blessed & grateful.

x KL

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Bits & Bobs....again!

 My blog has definitely been neglected lately. Just been Busy. Busy. Busy!

It seems that when I do have time to post, it's a 'catch-up' of all the Bits & Bobs that have been happening....anyways, here's another...

1. A visit to my parents on Sunday became a belated, surprise family celebration of David and my 50th birthdays. Mum, my daughter S and sister LL went all out. Very special.

2. The Tree is up, the lights in place and a gold tree skirt circa 1984 (!) was de-moth-balled!  Decoration next...

3. My new tree from The Twig in Terrigal has acquired its Uashmama bottom, as posted HERE. Wish I'd bought the XL size....the large is not quite big enough to scrunch properly. I had planned this as the Christmas table centrepiece but it's too big. Perfect though for the new entertainment unit!

4 & 5. More Christmas pressies. Rachael Ruddick Como leather clutch on sale for $230 $139! Triple J compilation and another male gift ticked off! Yee Ha! Only a few now to go! 

6. Too-good-to-be-true, authentic Prada clutch from U.S retailer. Yup, saw me coming... Eeeek!

7 & 8. Been busy eBaying J's outgrown toys. End of an era. *sob*

9. Etsy purchase. Similar to advert. Bought knowingly faux. Love it anyhow!

x KL

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christmas wrap-up!

Well, I've wrapped my first Christmas gift for 2013! Woo Hoo!

The stunning paper is from The Wrapping Paper Company, which I promise to tell you more about later. I wanted to test the wrapping and hide this pressie pronto. It's for a girlfriend and I'm SO excited with it.

Every year I have 'hit' & 'miss' gifts. Some people are just easy to buy for or a stroke of genius occurs and the perfect present materialises. Other people (mostly males!) are much more difficult and, ashamed as I am to admit it, often receive a present bought in haste desperation!

Does this happen to you?

Anywho, two of my girlfriends get Da bomb - gift wise this year. I think they peep this here bloggy so I'll share after the big day....but I can tell you now about THE wrapping! LOL!

It all started with the idea of re-introducing a decade-old banishment of gold into my interiors.

Adding it to this year's Christmas theme was par for the course. Then I found those Karen Walker spotted mugs and napkins at Myer. *sigh*

Which led me to thinking about Christmas Wrap and my aversion to the tiny-quantity, put-your-finger-through-it types on offer for a gazillion bucks. Grrr. Many a Christmas Eve the last presents wrapped were done so in a kaleidoscope of previous-year's remnants! Eeeek!

So I went on a gold paper hunt and guess what? Zilch! (Prediction: Gold will be huge Xmas 2014!)

Enter my super-hero: Mr Google!

The Brown Trading Co. provided some gorgeous gold, confetti and trellis wrap inspiration. But with a big family, buying it per sheet was a bit exy. Then I stumbled upon the aforementioned site of The Wrapping Paper Company.

Images used with permission: The Wrapping Paper Company

These guys do it all from design to print; wrapping papers, gift tags, belli-bands and gift seals. All Australian made too! Especially designed for Retailers, Online Businesses & Corporate bulk complimentary gift wrapping, this Wholesale Priced website has prices that include GST and Delivery Australia Wide. The minimum order value is $100.

After agonising over the plethora of options, I chose a gold highlighted design called Japanese Blossom Red because both my daughters are returning to Japan for another holiday in February and because it is suitable for use all year through. I also purchased a plain gloss white as a year-round go-to!

Having now received and tested the paper, I will vouch for it's high quality!

I'll note here that this is not a sponsored post: I'm too little for that. I just am enthusiastic about this product and like sharing with others my good finds! 

And I'm reassured that those last-minute, hastily bought and wrapped gifts will look fantastic this year!!!!

 Yee Ha!

x KL

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Christmas Theming....

I've made a final decision for my Christmas theme this year; White + Silver + Gold.

It wasn't really a conscious thought process, more an organic one, an acknowledgment that I was constantly being drawn to images and products in black and white tones with metalics! 

Like these....

When the latest issue of Real Living Magazine materialised in my letterbox sporting these colours on it's cover (row three, middle), it cemented the idea!

I'd love to use my Black Christmas Tree again (circa 2010) but after the children's (yes, the adult ones too) horrēre and previously documented tantrums, I'll use the traditional green version as a base this season. So, here's where my plans are at ATM:

1. This sparkly silver tree from a small local store in Terrigal will be the table centre-piece decorated with crystal, gold and white.

2. I'll get the first use (of many) from recently purchased West Elm gold cutlery.

3. The tree base in #1 is icky so I'm planning on hiding it in a large Uashmama gold / white bag.

4.5.6. Designer, Karen Walker home wares for Myer!!! GORGEOUS! Just thinking about serving a scrumptious desert in these gold-rimmed champagne coupes. ? Gold, confetti spotted napkins are a definite, whilst the polka dot mugs would be perfect Christmas morning scene-setters (perhaps from Santa?)!

It's S' 24th birthday tomorrow and we will celebrate it with her this weekend. I'm hoping I can convince the troups, when gathered, to help with the tree decoration too....wish me luck!

x KL

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bits and bobs....

O.K! sooooo, I've had some eBay hit 'n misses of late. The Foo Dogs in the middle image are definitely those that were advertised (Left) and which I received. But their size, as seen in this wee  re-styled space shows it pays to read-the details; importantly, the dimensions!!!!

Like wise my cheap-from-China, necklaces-to-be-turned-into-Christmas-Decorations! The mini pearl encrusted bags (eBay image, left) were dirty bronze (eeek!see middle pic) but the parfum bottles and duck posted about HERE were gorgeous! Still waiting for three little soldiers to arrive....

In better news, love my new mani / pedi combo....hopefully I'll get a few days out of the pretty nail colour 'cause I'm sooo rough! 

Had my hair cut and coloured too, and for once am happy with it; a rare event! 

These treats coincide with a fix-me attitude ATM. Booked waaay overdue (Shhhh...don't tell Mum!) visits to my cardiologist and endocrinologist. Have had lots of blood taken and have received an urgent call back. Eeeek! Mammogram booked as is a skin-cancer check. Have had a colonoscopy and endoscopy. My optometrist prescribed new glasses. Have sparkling clean toothy-pegs! Sleep clinic next week!

Not much left to prod or pull, I've gotta tell ya!

J co-incidentilly brought home a gorgeous little multi-coloured 'worry doll' from school. L.O.V.E. He made it from an old wooden peg and cotton tip and I decided to frame it. I used an A4 brush-out of his bedroom-to-be wall colour; Dulux Red Box, super glued the little figure to it and popped it into an IKEA Ribba box frame. Too easy and cute!

Played around in the main bathroom, zhushing some bits and pieces....Love the pop of colour this Missoni hand towel brings to the room!

  Have sorted all the DVD's, Blu-Ray, X-box, PS2, PS3 and Wii discs into plastic tubs inside the new entertainment unit. Whew! 

I couldn't get the clear tubs I was after but these coloured ones do the job!

And....drum-roll....the Guest Bed, ensuite vanity is in! Stone top and all!

Some more tiling to be done, a bit of stylin' and another room will be complete! Yee Hah!

Christmas seems to be approaching like an out-of-control, run-away train so I'm going to concentrate on that next...

 

x KL

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