All time Favourite Christmas Movies

Who doesn't love a good Christmas movie to warm the cockles of your heart?

Here are my Top 5 Christmas movies that I religiously watch every Christmas- in no particular order of course because that would require way too much decison making!

The Family Stone: funny, heartwarming, touching, crazy noisy family (a bit like ours), spunky males, too many fabulous cast members to list...

Love Actually: LOVE everything about this movie. Love the music, Love the interwoven stories and relationships, Love Colin Fristle, Love Hugh Grant as Prime Minister, Love Karl the spunky French office worker (just don't answer the phone girl!!!), Love Billy Mack ("I have spent most of my adult life with a chubby employee") I could go on and on....

The Holiday: maybe not really a Christmas movie but it is set around Christmas and new years so I count it in the list. The English cottage is just too beautiful, Jude Law is not too bad too and Jack Black is a riot as always, even though it is not a comedy role.

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation: this is usually on tv every year but if not we will rent it and watch with my sisters and mum. This is one of those ugly laugh movies. You know, when you laugh so wholeheartedly that you have to cover your face because you look so ugly and you eventually laugh til you cry. Especially when you look over and your mother is literally peeing her pants with laughter.

Prancer: an absolute childhood favourite about a litle girl who finds a hurt reindeer she thinks is Prancer and nurses him back to health...tear

What's your favourite Christmas movie?

Fat Mum Slim Christmas Giveaway

Pop on over to Fat Mum Slim for your chance to enter Chantelle's Huge Christmas giveaway!

Amongst other fabulous items my Bits & Bubs vintage floral necklace is also up for grabs...what are you waiting for? Get clicking now!!!

image 1 via fatmumslim

Weekend Wishes

I forgot to mention how lovely our Christmas carol experience was last weekend.

We all arrived, set up camp, kiddies enjoyed carnival rides, mummy enjoyed her beveredges, clouds gathered, lightning started, thunder boomed, rain poured, feezing cold, kiddies cried, mummies shrieked, gathered stuff, everyone ran, soaking wet, started car, car bogged...

Thanks to the lovely passer-by for pulling us out of the sand!
Despite all this it was still fun and we stopped to watch the beach fireworks from the headland on the way home so it wasn't a total failure of a family outing.

Enjoy your weekend!


cute random image via audrey hepburn complex

2 weeks 'til Christmas

...and still not a scrap of shopping or preparation has been done.

I am the world's best procrastinator & leave to the last minuter...

image by Alicia Paulson via Pozy gets cozy

SATC2

Only 5 months until Sex & the City 2. I can't wait, how about you?
And what do you think about the poster? It's very bright and sparkly, I don't know about those aviators though...maybe she is wearing them so she doesn't get blinded by those city lights?

What the fudge?

Is anyone else having problems opening the new Lonny Mag?
Every link I click on and everytime I open the address it takes me to the launch issue.
HELP!!! I so wanted to have a peruse before I started work this morning...

A reason to smile...

The December issue of Lonny Mag is out tomorrow!

Yeah!

image via MA Belle

Weekend Wishes

Obviously I will be trying to get some organisation happening this weekend, but we will also be enjoying
Carols by candlelight on Saturday evening- rides and activities to keep the children amused, lolling around on a picnic rug, a delicious cheese platter,some white wine and a designated driver...sounds pretty good to me!

Enjoy your time off this weekend!

image via wehearit

3 Weeks 'til Christmas

The Christmas menu is planned, non perishables stored, presents bought and artfully wrapped, the tree dressed perfectly, new handmade decorations skillfully hung, family portrait Christmas cards mailed to friends and family and the daily to do list strictly adhered to...

The reality is the tree is only dressed on the top half only as I am sick of replacing and fixing the baubles, ribbons and garlands within Addison's reach- baubles lay scattered under the tree and around the living area- I may manage to collect them all and scoot them under the tree at the end of the day but thats all. I have bought a total of 1 present each for the girls (the lovely Tiny Concept dolls). I have at least bought the resources to make some new Christmas decorations- sadly they are still sitting in the filing cabinent with last years new Decorations that did not get completed. No menu has been planned and no food bought as yet and we are having Christmas Eve, Christmas breakfast and lunch at our house with around 20 guests, no Christmas cards have been sent- I never get around to it and the checklist is a waste of time as it is only causing me to have panic attacks looking at what still hasn't been done.

Please tell me I am not the only one that has all these grand plans that fall to the wayside every year?

all images via pointclickhome

Early Mid-life crisis?

Last weeks 2 possible indicators.

1. Went to a Britney Spears concert. Yes, I know, I am not a teenager. (it was a great concert though, even with the lip-synching).

2. Threw a party, overindulged in alcholic beveredges, swam in the pool all night and did not go to bed. Lots of fun during, not so fun the next day with a house to clean and 2 children to deal with thus no sleeping until the evening. I was so exhausted that I woke up last night with 1 chocolate truffle in my hand and 1 partly eaten truffle on my pillow. Explanation: I eat dessert in bed every night and obviously I was too tired to even finish chewing- how embarrassing.

image via weheartit

5 weeks 'til Christmas and Weekend Wishes

It's going to be a busy weekend...
The christmas tree is going up (heaven help me as to where it is going to go- we have a rather ,ahem, large tree), decorations to make, decorations to hang, a "quick" trip to ikea for Christmas supplies and a Christmas party to plan for next weekend. Oh, and Bing Crosby will definately be making an appearance on the ipod (don't you just love old time Christmas carols?).

Have a very merry weekend!

ps. Oh, and I am still on team Edward. New moon was a little slow as I thought it may be (it was my least favourite book out of the series) but fantastic anyway. The count down to Eclipse begins!


image via pointclickhome

Edward or Jacob?

We are off for a girls night out at the movies tonight- I have been waiting for this for a looong time. Yes, I am aware I am not a teenage girl but there is something about the Twilight saga that absolutely captivates me. I am sooo team Edward all the way, not a full blown Twi-hard (I didn't go to the mightnight screening or anything) but enough to be classed as a slight obsession.
Has anyone seen the movie yet???

LOVE Amy Butlers new range

I always love her fabric but I really love Amy Butlers new fabric range "LOVE".

Bright, girly, floral and absolutely delicious. My mind is going into overdrive of projects I could make...

All image via amybutler.com

Christmas Crafting with Paper

My Christmas Crafting inspirations made from paper...

paper wreath made from old books, music sheets etc

paper bird garland in red and white

paper cutout snowflakes (I make these every year, though not as intricate!)

paper doiley garlands (you can never have enough garlands!)

image 1- source unknown- oops!
image 2 via kiddley.com
image 3 via sweetfineday
image 4 via maminkagirlstudio

Make Me Smile Monday- Blue & White decor

Ahh, blue and white- always fresh, always lovely, forever classic...

image 1 &2 via decorpad
image 3 & 5 via brabourne farm
image 7 via marley & lockyer
image 4 via coastal living
image 6 via desire to inspire

Weekend Wishes

Ahh...the weekend is here again.
What do you have planned this weekend?

Enjoy!


image by Dolly Kershaw

6 weeks 'til Christmas

 

OK, now I am starting to freak out. I am so unorganised this year I fear!

I am in definate need a checklist...

image via pointclickhome

New Blog- Bits & Bubs

Pop on over to check out my new blog and keep up to date with my Bits & Bubs Label!

Bits & Bubs Website live!

Check out the Bits & Bubs website now online!
Although it is a little bare at present and some parts are still under contruction...at least it's up and running.


image via citified

Clam shells

Funny story...a few weeks ago my sister and I quickly popped into the local markets to grab some strawberries. While she was busy with our girls trying fingernail stickers I ducked into a bric a brac stall and to my suprise found and quickly purchased a fabulous large clam shell for $15, complete with a few barnacles. I showed her what I had found and said "I have always wanted a big clam shell like you've got" her draw dropped and she was quite unimpressed- turns out she doesn't have one and has been crazy searching for one everywhere...sorry Ez!



images 1-6 via completely coastal
image 7 via decorno
image 8 via willowdecor

Bits & Bubs News

Very exciting news!

I have been a very busy bee trying to get my new website up and running for my sad and neglected Bits & Bubs label...fingers crossed it shall be ready by Thursday at the latest.

I will post some pics of some pretty little items I have been working on tomorrow.

Coffee filter garlands

While trawling the web for paper garland inspiration for Christmas I came across these pretty images by Pam Garrison of garlands made from coffee filters, music paper, tissue paper and crepe.

Love them!
 

Weekend Wishes

image via audrey hepburn complex

What delights are you up to this weekend?
Have fun!

7 weeks 'til Christmas

Another week down, another week closer to Christmas.
I love this simple wreath hanging from black and white striped ribbon- simple, fresh and very effective.
I am sticking with last years theme this Christmas- red, white and brown paper- as I don't have enough time this year to make a whole new decoration collection in a differnet colourway.
Next year it will be time for a change...


image via willow decor

Vintage Swimsuits

I love vintage, I love the 40's and 50's and I love these vintage swimsuit pictures.

I may have mentioned before I have an old calender with vintage Vogue pictures some of which I have been planning to frame for quite a while (yes, another unfinshed project...).

Hopefully I will find them if I ever finish unpacking and can get them up somewhere in our house...hmmm

all images via myvintagevogue on flickr here

The Grainery- Hoarding issues much?

For anyone who worries they have hoarding issues, just take a look at these pics.

Lovely glass decanters, bottles jars...

a small sample of the crazy amount of lampshades...

and just when you think you have seen everything, you look over behind a wall and there is more stuff still in boxes!

chairs, chairs everywhere...hanging from the roof even!

The Grainery is one of my favourite 2nd hand shopping haunts.
I try to go every 2 weeks or so- no matter how many times you go there you will always see something different. Seriously, you could easily spend a whole weekend wandering the many isles, corners, alleyways and hidey holes this gem has to offer. From linens to lightbulbs, every lamp base you could imagine- desk, wall, table, floor, and of course squillions of shades in every size and colour, furniture, stools, tables, cupboards, bric a brac, clothing, a multitude of teapots and tea cups- the list is endless.
I tend to get a little overwhelmed when I go there and don't know where to look first...especially if I go with my sisters and mum as we always want to nab the best stuff before each other finds it.
The elderly owner is an absolute hoot and never fails to make you laugh with his bawdy humour.

I wonder what suprises are in store for me this weekend?

Mathilda's Markets Mayhem

I went to Brisbane to check out my first Mathildas Markets on the weekend.
Luckily I got there 45 minutes after opening time as apparently there was a massive lineup to get in.
As it was it was absolute mayhem inside with throngs of women, mothers, prams, babies and children (with perplexed looking fathers standing on the outskirts) all trying to get to the absolutely beautiful stalls full of all kinds of handmade goodies. And of course I simply had to grab a stunning handmade Tiny Concept doll each for the girls for Christmas. I am having a little obsession with them at the moment...I am in love with their exquisite faces and just love their heart shape mouth...It was great to speak to the lovely Tina who creates these too as I love her blog.

As my partner in crime ditched me at the last minute I had the whole day to myself so after the markets I popped in to Ikea (as if you can ever just pop in there), to grab a few things ie black and white striped runner I have been dying to get for our entrance.
Of course I did the usual, walk around in a daze due to the sensory overload, load my bag and trolley full of goodies, promise myself that I will get everything I need this time, take heaps of photos and 3 hours later as I get closer and closer to the registers gradually put items back on random shelves because I can't decide if I really need them and then freak out what the total will be- usually I will leave with nothing or a couple of things that I didn't go there for but I at least came home with the runner, black and white striped fabric, some kitchen canisters and storage boxes for my fabric and trims etc.

After one last  pop in to spotlight and $35 later for some black and white striped bias binding to finish a 3 year old quilting project (hmm sensing a black and white stripe issue here?) I headed home a very weary lass indeed...

Weekend Wishes

Another fabulously colouful and pretty image to end the week.

Enjoy your weekend!

 

Mathilda's Markets, Brisbane

We are off to Mathilda's Markets in Brisbane on Sunday. Girls day out- woot woot!

I am hoping to pick up a darling little doll each for Mazie and Addison made by Kristina from Tiny Concept- love them!

Colour me happy

From the "I am too scared to try colour myself so I will just drool over others" file.

 

image 1 & 8 via peacock feather events

image 2 & 7 unsure

image 3 via wanderings of a wannabe

image 4 & 10 via decorpad

image 5 via chek design

image 6 via centsational girl

image 9 via massucco warner and miller