the little things...

In exactly one week from today we have our 18-20 week ultrasound where we get to find out the sex of baby A. We are both so excited! I know some people like the surprise of not knowing and perhaps we will choose to go this way in the future, but this time round, I am so looking forward to finding out whether this little one will be made of sugar and spice or snips and snails and puppy dog tails. I also feel like knowing will help us bond more with baby as we dream of our son or daughter and what our new family of three will look like early next year. Also, I'm such a planner and I have so many things I want to buy and make that are pretty gender specific, so I am anxious to be able to get started. Oh and to get into the swing of nursery decorating too - Oh the fun!

But in the meantime, I thought it would be fun to share a few items I have been eying and will be purchasing if baby is a little girl or little boy ... 

For Baby Girl ...

1. Shanna Murray 'I love you beyond measure' print for the nursery. I have wanted this decal FOREVER and now I have the perfect excuse!

2. Gold Rush baby Moccasins from Hubble and Duke

3. Pineapple headwrap from Airlie Co

4. A gold print for the nursery. Pictured: 'Hello Love' gold foil print on Etsy by AllThingsPrettyBlog

5. Toshi organic muslin wrap in floral print. I especially love the Aviva, Posie and Wild Rose prints.

For Baby Boy ...

1. Dribble bibs from Cotton On. Cute AND practical!

2. Salted Caramel Moccasins from Hubble and Duke

3. Sophie the Giraffe vintage teether. I know absolutely everyone has this teether but I just can't get over how sweet and vintage it looks! And actually I would buy this whether we have a boy or girl.

4. Customized children's geometric name print on Etsy by PaperlessPost for the nursery

5. Solly baby wrap in Natural and grey stripe. M and I have decided on the Solly Baby Wrap as our carrier of choice while baby is little (I'm thinking of an ergo for when baby is bigger and in toddler stage). We both love the grey and white stripe pattern and are waiting for it to come back into stock. I also love that it is gender neutral so both M and I will feel comfortable wearing it. M loves a bit of baby wearing so I just can't wait to see him wear our little one around :) This is another item we will be purchasing no matter what sex baby ends up being. 

Oh I just love baby stuff!

actually been a-reading!

So it was back to work this week with me (boo!) but boy have I felt refreshed and re-energized!
AND On my week off I actually got to go and browse our local library (oh squeal!) Since I was a little kid I have always love the library and can you believe the last time I got to visit was grabbing some books to take on our honeymoon back in Nov last year!?!

Here is the somewhat random selection I picked up this time ... there not brand new or best sellers just books that grabbed my eye and might interested you too ...

1. Jamie Durie Patio - cause who doesn't love a bit of Jamie and the magic he can work in exterior spaces!!? This would make the perfect coffee table book and has actually been on my book depository wish list for awhile now along with the outdoor room and inspired!
This book has some really great ideas which I am eagerly filing away for the day we have our own outdoor space and not just a teeny tiny balcony to call out own :)
random side note: Anyone else really miss Backyard Blitz!! Morgan I may NEED this...

 

2. A Slice of Organic Life
There is so much useful information in the book about choosing to live more organically that I think I might have to put it on loan again. I really have a passion inside me to not only eat but to live more organically and have more knowledge on the products we use daily. 

3. Squeezed 250 juices + smoothies
Another re loan I think. We love our freshly squeezed juices around here, especially on the weekends when we actually have the time to make them! and with summer just around the corner I am excited at all the fruit opportunities that are coming. This book kinda won me over with it's lovely food photography (anyone else a sucker for pictures of yummy food?) and oh look husband I may have just added this book to my wishlist :)

4 + 5. Some fiction reading for the train
Lucy's Kiss and The Preachers Bride.
I've only just started Lucy's Kiss so I have no idea yet but The Preachers Bride was an easy read. It is based on the story of John Bunyan (who wrote Pilgrims Process) but it kinda made me sad as it really showcases the treatment of women and persecution of those who were trying to preach the gospel (unlicensed) in England during the 1600s.

SO what have you guys been reading - anything fun to recommend for my next trip to the library?

aussie day!

It is calling to me ... wanting me to own it!

My Ikea desk that is... seriously I know, I know this is the third post I've mentioned that damn desk but it is stalking me!

Seriously. I was not even looking for it and then came across this post on SFGirlByBay yesterday:

sigh...

And then I was searching for cute Aussie Day Entertaining Ideas and saw it even used as an outdoor food table. See Husband - this piece is versatile and I NEED it!  ;)

ooh I hope Ikea gets this item back in SOON!

So Australia Day is coming up and I am dreaming of the day we can have some friends over for a really cute backyard do - lamb and prawns on the barbie and pavlova for dessert. Followed by some garden games (I have a crush on garden games) and then a total Aussie movie like The Castle or Muriel's wedding or Croc Dundee (can you believe I have still NOT seen this!) but as we can't fit many people into our teeny tiny little flat I thought I'd show you the rest of these images from this cute Australia Day spread by Wedding Style Guide.

I like it cause it's not the typical green and gold aussie spin off (it's actually really cute) although It very much reminds me of a 4th of July event - I think it has to do with the stripes?! But still total inspiration for any of you US or UK girls who follow the blog too - or anyone else who has a blue, white and red flag. You just maybe couldn't wear that bikini ;)

Seriously so looking forward to Wednesday - we are heading to the beach with friends. What are you up to?

aussie aussie aussie..
and now you say...

lovin ...

it's true ... i'm lovin, 'blog lovin!' and I think you might too.

I saw this post on A Beautiful Mess's blog today and thought it looked really cool and user friendly. 

So I signed up and am loving just how easy following and organizing my blog feed now is.

I like how you can sort the blogs into categories (see mine above), how simple and clean the layout is, how you can 'heart' posts for finding later on and even search new fun blogs or have blogs similar to those you follow recommended to you.

so much better than dashboard or even google reader - it's definitely worth try :)

I hope you all have a lovely day tomorrow- I'm off for my mother-daughter date to Ikea and out for lunch - I can't wait! and speaking of Ikea I was watching 500 days of Summer on the train this afternoon and I thought I'd share my fav scene with you all :)

 Ikea from mood on Vimeo.

best line "Honey, I don't know how to tell you this, but there's a Chinese family in our bathroom!"

gets me everytime :)

we've been published!!!!!!!

we've been published...
well our amazing wedding photographer Christine has.
Check out our engagement session in this new inspiring book of handmade lovelies.
It is so weird seeing your face published in a book! Especially a book so up my alley ... handmade creative goodies - umm yes please!!
You can grab your copy of 'Handmade Living - a designer collection' from here.

We are eagerly awaiting out copy which Christine is blessing us with - I can't wait to see it in person!
will do a little review then.

All images are Miss Christine's.

ps. Thanks for all your sweet comments on my last post. It is so good to be back and posting. I thought after a seven long months I might have lost a few followers... but thanks for sticking around - you guys make me feel so loved :) 

I need.

This swimsuit for my honeymoon. how cute and stylish is it?!

I already have a lovely and fairly new bikini but I feel like I need a stylish and flattering one piece too.

And from all the reviews I have read it seems like Shabby Apple swimwear are a lovely cut too ie. not skimpy around the butt area. I have such a problem every summer finding a nice fitting swimsuit that actually covers my bottom area - so not a fan of skimpy cut swimsuits which is um ... basically every 'unfrumpy' swimsuit out there on the market. I mean I'm not unhappy with my butt size or anything but I don't really feel comfortable walking around the beach with a permanant wedgie either. I prefer some sort of support people!

but enough about butts ...

Now the question... do I want it in sweet sexy black or fiery and hot ruby red?!

I heart Amy.

love my in-laws-to-be...

look what they brought me for my birthday!!

ooh I have wanted this book forever!

Things from this book that I am just itching to make:

decorative patchwork throw

image from here.

wide leg lounge pants

from here.

desktop organizer

from here.

 Fashion checkbook clutch

from here. 

clutch handbag with fabric flower

from here. 

Patchwork handbag

from here.  

And I don't know how I quite missed this but Amy Butler has a new sewing book coming out in August this year. It is available for pre order on both Amazon and the Book Depositry right now and I may have just added it to my wishlist :)

ps. Have you heard about the book depositary? Even though it is a UK site, I love that they list items in AUD dollars and they have free shipping worldwide (US is on this list too). This means that for me it's often cheaper to purchase and ship from the UK than to buy a book at my local Boarder or Angus and Roberson - isn't this silly! 

what about you, what are you sewing or crafting up right now?

ps. I can't believe today is the 1st of JULY today! can you!?

dry me.

I just came across this great online tea towel shop 'To Dry For' via Young House Love and I just love all their designs.  I've always had a soft spot for fun and funky dishtowels (I brought some cute birdy ones at Spotlight the other day that I plan to put some fun colourful poms on).
Here are some of my favourites:

I think I also need to get this one for M because it is totally his humor and maybe, just maybe if he owned it then he would believe in wiping up - or then again maybe not :)

featured (again)!

How fun is this? Our high school sweetheart love shoot has been featured on the UK wedding blog Beyond Beyond. Where they feature "preposterously beautiful and gorgeous thingymebobs that are so damn good and eyecandytastic that we wish we made them" Oh how fun to be included in that category! It seems like they really love our wedding photographer too - and who wouldn't!?

Part of the reason we choose Christine was her use of light and bokeh and she has more than lived up to her reputation in these beautiful shoots. And little did we know we'd get such a sweet friend out of the deal too! I'm so hoping one day she can teach me to shoot like that and also that I can talk the Mr into having her capture all our special 'life moments' too ... I'm working on it Christine ;)

and hooray now I have another wedding inspiration blog to follow, cause we all know I need another one of those like a whole in my head! ;)

for the walls + floors.

eeek! I just saw over on Apartment Therapy that Amy Butler is going to be bringing out her own line of wallpaper for Graham and Brown. It looks so lovely and fun. I hope they make it available here in Oz. I'm not sure if I myself would do a wall in my home up, but I think they would look particularly amazing in a commercial environment! Or used in other fun crafty projects ;)

On the other hand I would gladly put one of her rugs in my home!
isn't it pretty

I love lamp(s)...

Mum + dad just brought the 'Jacob' Floor Lamp from Beacon lighting the other day for the lounge room + I REALLY love it - so much so that I want to inconspicuously pack it in my suitcase and take it with me when I move out. Except for the fact that mum would see her missing lamp when she comes to visit and probably want it back ;) I just love that wooden tripod stand and think my parents have great taste :) And at only $189 (I think mum and dad got theres for around $170 - so be sure to ask for their best price) I think it's a great deal. Especially as I've been eying the Oxford floor lamp from Oz Design furniture (sadly no longer available) but it was just over $200...

I also had no idea they also have a table and pendant light in this same design. I am thinking the pendant lamp would look so lovely in the flat in the dining area - did I mention we have a lighting problem in the flat? As in there is only one ceiling light to light up the whole kitchen/dining/lounge space?! crazy and very unpractical I tell you! :)

Dear...

Have you seen this blog yet?

I think it's just the cutest!

"Leah Dieterich's mother always told her to write thank you notes. So she does. To everything."

seriously seriously sweet!

we're giggling it up over here.

some favourites...

Also enjoying this song 

+ this song too.

We enjoyed singing some really girly songs together on the way down to Sydney today.

and my, oh my that boy of mine can hit some high high notes!!!

I'd have to say I am also enjoying that

because it makes me laugh :)

excited.

So I just found out that Anthropology now ships to Australia!! 

eeek!

 of course it's not quite the same as spending an hour or so in the two story store in Seattle with:

a bunch of 8 fellow blogging ladies ...

8 tummies full of PF Changs ...

+ 8 fortunes from our fortune cookies ...

(1 lady with a fortune telling her that she shouldn't really shop ... what the?! ... poor Andi!)

3 babies 

(1 who was quite cutely shopping all by herself hehe )

  +

at least 6 cameras (Andi - I need pictures please :)

but I am happy just the same...

I just wish the postage wasn't so ridiculous!

 I am really kicking myself for not buying myself and M these monogrammed mugs when I visited.

I really did eye them for ages.

But at over $40 to have them posted here looks like they will just have to stay. 

I wonder if anyone stocks anything similiar here in Oz ...

anyone seen anything?

post edit: Just went on the Urban Outfitters webpage and they now ship to Australia too! With much more reasonable shipping prices might I add.
hopefully 'pandora' will be next :)

kt hearts ....

a little bit of pixie dust in a bottle

and other sweet items from my friend Fairlight's Esty shop :)

Please do check it out!

ps. there is only one bottle of pixie dust left, so get in quick!!