a letter for 2013

cute card found here

Dear 2013,

Right now you are exactly 17 hours 7 minutes and 53 seconds old. You are new and fresh and kinda exciting and I think you are going to be a big year for us Aylings. And before you go there - no we're not pregnant! (We've been having to specify that a lot lately...) but we do have exciting plans in the works which I hope to record down here in this old faithful (albeit forgotten) spot.

It's still a fresh relationship, the one that you and I share. But so far you've been pretty good to us and I even have a favourite memory: your wee morning hours where Mr A and I laid snuggled in our bed  and prayed over you. Where we dedicated you back to God and asked that he would bless you to us and that you would bring with you above all else growth and a stronger desire for the one who bought you into our lives. Cause that would make a pretty good year.

Here's to you 2013 - I hope we stay good friends till the end!

with love,
kt
x

c'mon springtime (you can do it!)

 

spring is slowly starting to really appear around here. To which I let out the most unlady like - YIPPEE!!

I am such a warm weather girl!

and I have been having a little fun with my camera in my mother-in-laws lovely garden (total perk of living here...)

wanna have a look at what we're enjoying at the moment?

 

 

and meet Count Mondago - our resident water dragon - he hangs by the clothes line, always ready to freak a visitor out!

these pictures from the weekend are keeping me happy during this strange winter snap Sydney had been having over the past few days...
so, whats making you smile lately?

do share :)

showering marlo

The fun thing about working in the event industry and being surrounded by such fun and lovely products is that you can throw the funnest (and prettiest) little work parties, using lots of yummy showroom pieces for FREE.

A few weeks ago Jacqui (the stylist I assist) and myself got to organize a little goodbye baby shower for our Wedding Stylist Marlo who has just left to go on maternity leave.
We decided to throw an afternoon tea send off in our showroom. And we (but prob more me) may have got a little excited about the whole thing - you can't make corporate events look this cute you know!!

The above image is the story board and sketch I put together for our afternoon tea table spread and below are some pictures of how it actually turned out. Unfortunately I forgot my camera that day and had to use one of the other girls point and shoot, but you get the general idea. 

we even made the bunnies put on their bow ties for the occasion - too fun, huh!

PSSST: my two sweet cousins are now blogging - yay! You can find their blogs here and here.
I'm really excited particularly as I have been bugging this one to blog for ages. You see, she is living a really interesting life in Dubai right now and we really miss her and her two littles! And you may just be inspired (or get really hungry) by Rach's and her man James cooking!
They are new to this wonderful online community - so won't you stop on by and show some love?

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?

some time for me!

 

source

this week I am taking a 'me' week
and man that feels good to say (and even better to live!)
a whole week off from work to just stay home with no real agenda or plan (but to finish painting the living space because its been months!) and to let loose the house wife I so desperately want to be!

this week is the first time since we got married in November that I have had a relaxing break such as this (except for the busy Christmas season and a few long weekends with an extra day thrown in here and there)
and let me tell you...
it is SO much needed!
To be truthful, this first year so far has been hard on me.
hard and wonderful all in the same moment (I really DO love doing life with Mr A and we have had plenty of amazing moments!)
But I've been having such an inner struggle...
of feeling so far away from God, of not feeling like I am doing the best I can, of hating the it-is-always-messy house, of always being tired and sore (the joy of 5am alarms and loong train trips!) of letting tears fall slowly because I am not able to live up to those lovely ideals I built up in my head.  of trying to shake the sickies more times than ever before...
Feeling like I've let him down... like I've let me down!
and feeling like i've lost a little bit of me. the way I used to be so joyful and so SECURE in him.

and that's also prob why I haven't been blogging.
too much to say, but no words or heart to say it.

So here's to a week of spring cleaning of no agendas or deadlines.
Of diving deep into the word that is so desperatly needed.
of catching up with those so dear to my heart!
and of a little bit of crafting too!

But can I just say that so far today has been wonderful AND just what the Dr ordered!
today found me..

outdoors enjoying a healthy fruit salad, cuppa and browsing my fav mag at breakfast (and letting those legs get some sun!!)

of actually putting a tape on and exercising (I have been having bad back issues and am not dreading my chiropractor appointment this week !!)

two fresh clean loads of laundry drying in the sunshine

Starting a deep house clean and organizing - man it looks so good in there now!

wandering slowely through a fabric store just to look at pretty things ...
and looking at  lovely lounges and dreaming the way they would look at home (cause things like that make my heart happy)

sitting outside enjoying an afternoon cup of coffee, listening to the birdsong and blogging (blogging people!)

+ of being there when he gets home to welcome him with kisses and a lovely home made meal (one of our summer favourites)

of appreciating this time to just be me :)
hopefully I will be back to this spot with a slightly more fun post soon!

kt x