Decorated Lolly Bags...
Growing up there was a teeny tiny Sweet shop conveniently situated across the road from our school – it was run by an elderly lady who had old fashioned treats lined up in boxes and jars – tempting goodness! Chocolate buds,
lemon sherbet,
long strips of pink liquorice…they were some of my favourites.
We’d wait patiently in line with our coins (loose change was 1 cent and 2 cent coins back then ha!)  and she’d patiently count out the lollies one by one and put them in white paper bags for us….ahhh the memories!

Lollies and sweets still put a big smile on kids’ faces and rightly so!!

On Sunday, we christened our good friend's beautiful baby girl, Charlotte and I decorated some Recycled Kraft bags as a treat treat for all 12 kids in attendance…they turned out cute!!
I will be listing some in my Shop this week too.

to see more good stuff people have been making head on over to Steph's blog 

This goes with that...

Im having great fun putting these Pinterest pins together - I think I will have to make 'this goes with that'  a regular blog post.

So what have you been Pinning lately?

any interesting boards that you'd like to share? please do!

I joined in on ShopRuche's 

'A Pin A Day in MAY'  its almost over now but here is my board if you want to have a look at my inspirations.

I think I also need to start a 'healthy eating' board as my only food board is full of calorie laden sweets! 

but apart from pretty sweet treats I've been pinning lovely interiors, stylish outfits, dreamy travel spots and beautifully styled images...

Ive been a little down in the dumps creatively.
I get into these stagnant moments but I dont push it, instead I've been reading  and catching up on my recorded TV shows plus recovering from a cold takes up lots of energy too...
I think 'Im slowly getting back, Ive got some ideas swirling again...
On the weekend I made some cute decorated lolly bags for my God-daughters christening, they turned out great, I'll have to show you soon.
I think I might offer them in the Shop too since Party supplies are very popular...

* images via my Pinterest 

Garden State

The EtsyGreetings Team are having a Wedding Blog Hop so if you are coming here via Jennifer's blog - welcome!!


I thought the blog hop would be a great opportunity to showcase something new in my shop - custom Wedding Table Setting tags.

These would be lovely for any Garden or Spring time Wedding but they can be done in any colour or print to suit your Wedding day theme and special day!

To continue the blog hop to see more lovely Wedding paper goods head on over to 'Bay Breeze Designs'

* top 3 images styled by me, bottom image from Justine & Greg's Wedding (gorgeous!!)

Etsy picks of the Week:
Cool Blue

I think i jinxed myself with my previous post feeling all smug about working out and feeling so wonderful... that I've come down with the worst cold ever! i haven't been this sick in like forever!!...im so miserable and very blue indeed!

Hope you like my Etsy picks of the week!



Top image Steven Chee for STYD magazine (scanned by me - crappy scanner)* Denim Womans Flats by MilimFashion * Glass Cocktail Ring by StudioLeanne *   Blue Jean Jersey Circle scarf by MegansMenagerie

Happy Monday!
Wishing you a wonderful day and great start to your week!
Ive started exercising again and I must say how pleased I am with myself.
My alarm is set for 6am.
Ive got my joggers right near my bed and my workout DVD ready to go - its a very early start and I do love my morning sleep but today is day 5 and its getting much easier to wake up...I have been checking in at night at a much more reasonable time, so that helps too, but im starting to feel more alert with loads more energy!
I can even say i'm (almost) 'a morning person' now .... yep! Im very pleased indeed!

*image by Jamie 

A girl called Tania
Im really excited to post about another Creative girl -  id love for you all to meet Tania!

Tania is the designer behind 'TDesign' and from her Sydney studio she creates beautiful jewelrey in a lovely palette of delicious colours - chic neutrals, fun brights or soft pastels! Each piece is lovingly handmade by Tania and has a feeling of calm that can be dressed up or down - subtle elegance, very urban!
very hip!
Tania is also a graphic designer and has a gorgeous range of screen printed cards for her shop.

Welcome Tania!
Can you tell us what is currently inspiring you? I love discovering new designers and little shops that I admire. Since I have only recently started my business, it's great to find other people who have undergone a similar journey.
Seeing how they have grown and succeeded is very inspiring.

 Name 3 things you could not live without right now? I couldn’t live without my gorgeous boyfriend, my lovely cat Rubi (she’s like a soft hot water bottle!) and my computer, it has EVERYTHING on it!

Can you define to us your personal style? I think I have quite an eclectic style as I seem to a whole range of things and styles. I love simple and clean design with splashes of colour. My little apartment is full of all kinds of bits and pieces from markets, overseas and ‘treasures’ that I find along the road.
One of my favorite pieces is this gorgeous old wooden chair that’s been painted bright turquoise – unique and beautiful!
 
Do you have a Favourite Smell/Frangrance? It’s not a fragrance but I have always loved the smell of burning wood, am not too sure why...it reminds me of home when I’m overseas…the smell of bushfires maybe?

Do you have a favourite colour? Tough one...i really love blues and greens but also neutrals like creams, grey, white and black...I don't know, I think I like most colours!

What do you love about your City? I absolutely love Sydney. I have been living here most of my life and have been lucky enough to live in quite a few different suburbs, from the green and relaxed Northern Beaches to café filled Potts Point, 5mins from the CBD. Although I was born in Milan and still love Europe, the thing that I love most about Sydney are the gorgeous parks and beautiful wide open spaces. I also love that there is so much delicious food from all around the world! I’m such a foodie at heart.

 and lastly do you have a favourite quote you'd like to share with us? “A pencil and a dream can take you anywhere” - Joyce A. Myers

Wow! great quote - thanks for sharing your answers with us Tania!  it was great to get to know you a bit more!
To see more of Tania's work head on over to her SHOP and
to her BLOG and you can also find TDesign on Facebook so head on over to check it all out!

Fast Food * Food Fast
Tuesday is my crazy day - its also my day off so I'm in and out most of the day ...catching up on laundry, grocery shopping to stock-up the fridge and pantry, taking time to tidy up the house (sort of...)  the kids have soccer training late afternoon for an hour so homework needs to be sorted before we head off.
Its getting a little torturous as the nights are cold now, hanging out in a chilly oval is not my idea of fun!
at least dinner is sorted...
i need something fast,  so Tuesday dinner is pasta or I cook some legumes...
black-eyed beans are a family favourite!
so easy! so fast!
bring 1 cup of dry beans to the boil, drain and then refill with cold water and boil the beans again until soft...add salt for taste.  Drain and serve hot or cold.

Black beans are so cheap too, I pay $3 for a kilo of dry beans and this lasts ages!
Ways to serve your beans
* with chopped English Spinach - add the spinach to the boiling water until wilted - drain and serve with olive oil + lemon juice and crusty bread.
*heat some oil, add finely chopped Kale, sautee.  Add pine nuts and fresh breadcrumbs - add the beans and sprinkle with grated parmesan cheese.
* Serve as a cold salad - add chopped tomatoes, onion, cucumber and parsley - Summer fav!
* Serve with canned Tuna salad and balsamic dressing - this one looks good!
* Add chopped smokey Chorizo sausage for a warm meal.

and today for lunch, I made a super fast soup - a can of creamed corn, a small can of crab meat, a splash of water - heat in a saucepan and serve with lots of fresh black pepper!! Yum!

Vidal Sassoon (1928-2012)
I sadly learnt that Vidal Sassoon passed away yesterday...I told my hubby last night and he had no idea that Vidal was a person, he thought it was a shampoo brand (...oh dear man!)...
One of the first 'celebrity' hairstylists,  Vidal was famous for changing the way woman had their hair cut, precision cutting, sleek styles, cropped styles....these styles were all the rage in the 60's along with the change in hemlines, strong eye-makeup, freedom of speech and a new direction for many woman...
Its said  he gave women the freedom to be more natural and at the time this was the case,  before that many  would set their hair in rollers and pin curls before bedtime to achieve their soft flipped look - others would tease their hair to high heavan to get the sexy bouffant , a look i still love!
So lets take a lesson from Vidal and learn to love and embrace what we have...ive been leaving my hair in its natural curly state lately - its still messy and gets frizzy but Im sick of frying my hair with a hot blowdrier and flat irons plus i save time by going 'wash and go'
...im also growing my hair so I can get some weight in my curl and the past fortnight Ive been doing the 'No Poo' method so far so good!
*images via Google images - with Mia Farrow and her famous crop, baby doll Twiggy and bottom, Vidal Sassoon with Grace Coddington

This goes with that....

Ive been playing around with my

Pinterest Pins  its amazing what a great tool Pinterest is - its my 'go to' site each morning!
some pairings amongst my Pins - inspiration everywhere!

I've been home with Neo today, he's been sick since yesterday and didn't get much sleep last night, neither did I and so today I relaxed whilst he played 'sleep' catch-up...

the doctor advised lots of fluids and lots of rest. 

The TV has been switched off and there's chicken stock boiling away for some soup  - the house is very still and quiet, perfect for an afternoon nap.   

My mum was kind enough to pick up Peter from school this afternoon and my dad offered to take him soccer practice - I'm ever so grateful for the support I have in my life, my family is always there in time of need.  Im very lucky indeed!

images via my Pinterest boards

Sugar sugar....
Yesterday our friends little girl turned five (hip hip hooray!!) and I made this delicious slice to take along to her party.
Im a huge fan of slices and brownies, i actually prefer them to cupcakes or biscuits so Im always on the hunt for new combinations and recipes.

Ive made these 'Dream Bars' a few times now after spotting the recipe on Averie Cooks  blog - i was intrigued because I had never used a boxed cake mix to make sweet dough
I was also tempted because it had two of my favorite ingrediants,
Condensed Milk and Peanut Butter - seriously, I can happily sit and eat the stuff with a large spoon - both are so good! (bad bad bad!)
This slice has both a salty and sweet taste which is just ever so satisfying
and is best served in tiny little bite size pieces as its so rich!

Dream Bars - Recipe

Heat your oven to 180degrees

Slice base :

Golden Butter Cake mix ( I buy the Greens brand - usually on sale for $2)

125g soft butter

1 teaspoon vanilla essence

1 egg

Mix all ingrediants in a bowl until you get a dough like consistency and then spread out on a lined and greased

brownie pan

The Topping:

1 cup coconut flakes

1/2 cup choc chip buttons

1/2 cup white choc chip buttons

Sprinkle over dough

Then in a bowl mix 1/2 cup peanut butter (I use crunchy) and a can of condensed milk and spread over the topping.

Bake until golden brown.

Eat and Enjoy!!

Vintage Style Icon - Pier Angeli
I cant believe I havn't blogged all week!  Its been one of those weeks...we all have them, lets not go there...
but it Friday (yay!) which means its a day off for me.
I've got a lot to do today but I do hope you like my Style Icon post.
Pier Angeli, a beautiful brunette with pretty almond shaped eyes
was born Anna Maria PierAngeli in Sardinia, Italy.
The beauty won film awards in Italy, was spotted by MGM and bought to Hollywood where she stared in many films and even won a Golden Globe for 'New Star of the Year' in the early 50's.
As a young Hollywood star she dated James Dean whom she claims, after many relationships and two marriages, was the love of her life....

Pier's look has that perfect balance of sultry and girl next door, I love this 50's classic beauty -  shiny waves and dark perfectly groomed brows.
Pier almost had a comeback when she was cast to star in Coppola's 'The Godfather' (1972) but sadly just before filming was to start, Pier was found dead in her home at only 39 years of age....another great Star who died way too young
*images via Google images