Merry Christmas and New Year resolutions.

I have loved looking at all the most stunning Christmas pictures this year on blogs so here are just some of mine. Each picture has taken me 5 mins to load very frustrating and several times I have just gave trying to post. Never mind, I will work it out why blogger is so slow but at least I now have a few precious pictures to show you.

At the moment, like most people I know, we are busy spring cleaning and decluttering the house. There is nothing like the start of a new year to get you all inspired and finish off those projects that have lingered for too long! I have set 3 new year resolutions that I truly want to succeed in....

1. To be more organised
I have gone back to work full time this year so its important I still have a beautiful clean house, washing done folded away each night (I have 2 full loads a day hence why its an important chore), kids forms for their school activities signed and homework completed. They are my priorities for the home front. If that can be achieved then the rest will follow .

2. To be a nicer person.
Still working from the inside out...always! Not to get caught up in conversations that drag you down. I have been reading The 7 habits of Highly Effective People. I find this helps me more in my professional life but a classic book and interesting read.

3. To get my act together financially.
I love shopping and buying things but I need to take a step back and look at the real value of money. Yesterday, I spent half a day organising the study and getting all my son's old text books to sell at a second hand textbook shop. Then, I sat down for a good hour with a rubber and rubbed all the answers in pencils out of the books so the next child who bought it could enjoy it. I managed to sell the 6 language books for a total of $25 which in return I bought 2 more 2nd hand books for this year. The satisfaction I had from just a small amount was immeasurable...sometimes, just going back to basics is a lesson in itself.

Hope you enjoy my Christmas Pictures....

Mrs B

Time for Christmas...great gift ideas

All images from Mooza Designs

Already the shops have Christmas decorations and since I love shopping and Christmas, I am always on the lookout for wonderful gift ideas. Yesterday, the Herald Sun featured a company called Mooza Designs who create gorgeous hand crafted resin and acrylic letters, words and symbols. Imagine receiving a gift like the word BLISS personalised for you in all your favourite colours. I have 6 nieces and forever racking my brain as to what I can get them for Christmas...always something special just for them. I think this will be one my Christmas list.

Mrs B

The Beach House...Completed for now!

Front View

Finally the beach house is finished. Months of hard work by Mr B...plumbing, painting, rubbish removal (never ending trips to the tip) scraping, floor sanding, lighting and landscaping , it is now finally available as a normal rental. The photos don't do any justice as to how nice it looks compared to the before shots. I now have this great desire to start another project I have wanted to do for many years...to rent it out as a holiday cottage, fully furnished and of course decorated in the Sarah Richardson way.



The kitchen...well, not much we could do at this stage. Just a good scrub, a new oven given to use by our best friends, painted the underneath the bench white and put on some new taps. Eventually, I will get an IKEA kitchen like on this fabulous blog A Beach Cottage

I think give 4 years and we may be in a position to set it up as a Holiday House. I still need to do some research and see if its a viable option for the area. At the moment, we need a steady income flow from a long term renter. Already, we have had a number of people just knock at the door wanting to rent it but not go through an agent. This is just not going to happen as an agent checks references and deals with issues that may arise. I will always use an agent as its my peace of mind. Now its finished (to a tidy up standard) I can see the potential that this little 1960's beach shack has to offer. No longer have we any desire to knock it down but keep the house the way it is just add 2 major outdoor areas with decking, barbecue area and of course beautiful seating so guests can enjoy the views. So many of these type of houses are being knocked down and replaced with big double story contemporary homes that are capable of sleeping up to 12-15 people. I think this narrows your market as these houses rent only to the family market in Summer time. My idea is to appeal to couples as a weekend retreat throughout the year. It will only sleep 6 and I think this is a good way to advertise it.

The curtains are from IKEA and although the photos do not do them any justice, they look fantastic in real life. I wanted to get the big ringlets (not sure of the correct name) so they are easy to open and shut. These windows took 6 large panels with 2 panels worth $50. I got them all taken up professional so the end result looks like they were custom made for these windows. The floors Mr B and his friend did theme selves. almost killed both of them. They are also the most beautiful feature of the house. Not sure if the pics show (Mr b took the pictures of course LOL) but they are red gum parquetry and very expensive in today's dollars. So for a cheap 1960's beach holiday home, it now starting to show its beautiful features.... I just had to look past all the other stuff.

Mrs B

Etsy shop of the week.

RozArt

This would have to be one of my all time favourite Etsy shop. The artist creates the most whimsical original oil paintings that I just cant help but smile when I look at one. Now when I get that Paypal account organised, Mr B is going to commission one for me for Christmas...he doesn't know he is going to do this but he will!

On my Christmas list is a Nest painting just like one in the picture. The 3 eggs will of course represent my 3 children...how cute is this painting.

RozArt

Next on my Christmas list is a swing 'leap' painting that depicts an age that all my boys have been. As long as the little boy in the picture has strawberry blond hair thats fine as my boys look the same anyway LOL
There is something about this particular painting that lifts my spirits and reminds me of a happy childhood...carefree, full of hope and joy.

RozArt

How do you have a cow in your house? Easy...look at the episode of Grand Designs.

Grand Designs

I know you cant see the cow due to her head being in the way... but believe me its a cow. when I saw the episode with the cow picture, my heart did a back flip. Anything is possible in decorating!

RozArt

I just love this bee painting...

Apartment Therapy Picture by RozArt

Look at the colours when grouped with other pictures. I love this painting so much but maybe my one will be of a little boy holding balloons.

RozArt

Another Leap painting. How could you ever not smile every time you walk past a painting like this in your home.

RozArt

Three little children. Should I do a picture like this with my three boys?

Hope you enjoyed looking at one of my favourite Etsy sellers...more to come.

Mrs B xxx

100th post! back to blogging

I cannot believe it has been 5 months! Anyhoo, I will try not to dwell on the fact I have neglected my beloved blog and all my bloggie friends so here is the 100th post.

First of all, what did I miss? To be blunt, I almost had a heart attack when I visited A-M's blog 4 weeks ago. Not only had she moved out but her home was in Home Beautiful and most importantly, I did not have a copy of that issue! What has happened whilst I've been away from blogging? One of my lovely forum friends kindly came to my rescue and sent me her beloved copy of Home Beautiful all the way from Western Australia...(lets not mention the fact that the postage was more than what the magazine was worth) So my biggest thankyou to Kexkez who sent me the issue that A-M's house was in.


On the decorating side...nothing at all. The beach house project has diverted all of all attention and effort. Thats ok, its almost come to an end and has just gone onto the market to be rented out. Eventually, I would love the beach house to be a holiday rental, where I can pretty it up with white furniture but that would be a few years down the track. I am starting to refocus my attention back to our own home and the picture above is my son's room and his birthday present. We have set up a desk for him with everything he need, lamp, little buckets to keep stuff in (they now hang from the wall) and a cool red chair. All came from Ikea. Not a real big fan of this store but when you get everything for under $100...you become a fan!

This green Buddha sits on our kitchen bench next to our stove. It belongs to Mr B, every night before he cooks, he lights the little candle. It looks like it just belongs...very calming and of course I love the colour, it matches our doors. The Buddha is from the Jamie Durie series at Target. Cost $10 and has a really nice quality about it.

At the moment, I have been studying Etsy for quite a while, looking at original art works and cushions that suit my home. I am itching to buy haven't even got a paypal account. I must be the last blogger who has never bought a thing on line. Thats going to change...after all, I have a home to finish decorating!

Mrs B xxx