loving paper decoration

my bedroom ceiling could do with some finery.

diy paper decoration?

i can already make paper cranes (images via here and here) but they are quite time consuming – especially a room full of them.

or thinking the pom poms might be a better idea? (images via here and here)

or a paper bunting? (images via here and here)

can't decide.

all need zero sewing skills (a bonus since i don't sew) and paper is my medium of choice in everyday life anyway.

any ideas which way to go?

fragment of my life

no words today.

(just a day where multiple cups of green tea are needed)

share the joy winner

oh it just begs to be said that everyone's a winner doesn't it?

i have to say the 'prize' goes to nat.

her image alone provided so much joy.

so nat – your turn for a 'challenge' now.

here all all the entries i received (plus a few i found 'by accident'). enjoy!

nat's little joy list

coralie's little joy list

bronya's little joy list

k's little joy list

alyssa's little joy list

christine's little joy list

elise's little joy list

mum's little joy list

mel's little joy list

carlien's little joy list

feel free to keep the joy lists going.

post/email me/sing about it, whatever takes your fancy.

one more that i received as a comment and i have to put up because it's so beautiful:

sj's little joy list:

1. the citrusy spray that hits your face when you peel a mandarin


2. the warmth of a freshly brewed cup of tea


3. the smell of the ocean


4. (gazing and...) getting lost in the horizon, especially when its full of fluffy white clouds and looks like a screensaver


5. eating eggs on toast every saturday morning with tom


6. the smiles on peoples faces at fruit n veg markets


7. buying a fresh loaf of bread from the bakery and the way they wrap it up in white paper, i wish i had a bike with a basket to place it in and cycle down the street


8. day dreaming, this alone has a list – in particular, day dreaming about sitting on a day bed by a big window, rain dripping down the window whilst reading a book


9. toms family


10. friends

(and ill sneak in... dwelling on the little blessings i receive every day)

(photo via here)

the BEST thank you card i think i've ever seen

this is just so so great.

humour + original concept + cute design = i love.

it's a thank you card a couple sent to their photographer for 'shooting' their engagement portraits.

(the photographer being max wanger who is just AMAZING)

a skulk of foxes

: amazing jewellery.

hand made in australia too.

sterling silver, acrylic or timber.

i have to say their silver pieces are my favourite.

how beautiful and unique are the antler earrings!!!

visit their site here.

wow: bec winnel

check this amazing illustrator out here.

i'm just in love with her work.

especially the eyes.

wow.

(all images copyright bec winnel)

designer humour

typography moustaches

'colourful' language

and a new take on designer bags

(something i am possibly sporting at the moment due to lack of sleep last night)

my monday usually needs a bit of a humour.

how good are these!

to my darling sisel

...(aka sister christine)

just a little letter to say thank you so so so so much for sharing beautiful memories with the photos and videos you sent to me of your adorable little (growing up very fast) family.

you made my week – you really did.

to my darling alannah,

the video of at your school performance was wonderful.

you are such a great little actress.

to my darling imogen,

you are getting so grown up and talk so well!

i love-love-love your new hair-do.

to my darling mr. finn,

you made me cry with laughter at your funny shuffling habits.

oh, and your general mischievousness.

to my darling brother-in-law ed,

you're about the most dedicated father and husband i've ever met.

p.s. am noticing a few more greys. hee hee.

i miss you all.

(photos by christine – maybe slightly modified etc by self)

i just adore winnie the pooh

...i think he and i are kindred souls.

share the joy project

ok, here is my blog 'challenge' to my readers.

not really a challenge – i'm calling it a project.

i think we so often get caught up in everyday life that we forget to stop and think of the little things that make us smile.

here's the deal:

just list 10 of the 'little' things that bring you joy.

no prize.

i think sharing happiness is enough.

once you get started you'll probably find it's hard to keep it to a list of 10! i did.

but in keeping in the spirit of bron's blog challenge i'll pick a winner to 'pass the baton' on to.

this little project closes thursday june 24.

(either post on your own blog — preferably with a pretty pic – and place the link in the comments section. but if you are one of my non-blogging readers still feel free to participate and write your little joy list in the comments below).

so i'll start:

mandy's little joy list:

1. fun times with my musketeers – especially when we laugh so hard it hurts

2. running along a windy beach

3. snuggling with someone i love

4. the smell of rain on a hot road in summer

5. love letters from my little people (nieces and nephews)

6. waking up before the alarm and the bliss of realising you don't have to get up yet

7. childhood memories of my oma dingemanse

8. going out for breakfast

9. singing my heart out to tunes in the car

10. a blank canvas and paint in hand

weekend with mum

i had a fantastic weekend catching up with my darling mum.

we saw mama mia (along with my gorgeous aunty tania), had a lazy breakfast, drank lots of GREAT coffee and did a whole lot of relaxing.

i have to admit i also did a good lot of sleeping on sunday while mum caught some winter sunshine in the backyard.

thanks mum.

you're the best.

xxx

(p.s. i found out i 'won' bronya's blog challenge, and i promise i'll get around to posting my 'competition' soon)

wonderful winter warmer

fabulous idea.

even i – who don't sew – could attempt this.

perfect for snuggling on a frosty winter night.

+ an all time favourite colour combination

(she says as she sits at her computer wearing a charcoal knit and watermelon scarf)

image via here

orange you glad

my favourite colour at the moment has to be orange.

it's bright, stimulating, and cheery.

just some orange i love right now:

1. orange hunter boots

2. gorgeous mud porcelain

3. beatles poster

4. fossil watch

5. ampersand illustration by gemma correll

6. townie balloon 3i bike

i have the best mum in the whole wide world

my gorgeous mum is over for a visit from tassie at the moment.

for me it's the best thing.

health wise i'm not doing so great the last few months and makes for perfect timing that she's here now to give me a bit of tlc.

this is how i left her this morning.

so cute.

supposedly my bed is way too comfortable to get out of.

i have to agree on that one.

she's determined to help me out today by cooking healthy soups and stews and cleaning around the house while i'm at work.

what a legend!

a dinner with the g's

just a relaxed dinner at clancy's the other night for cheri's birthday.

love the photo of me and sj (gorgeous, amazing, supportive friend) apart from my druggy, exhausted eyes look.

just on a LOT of medication for my back 'problems' at the moment.

bron's dinner recipe 'challenge'

"mandy's" chilli con carne

with bullet potatoes and avocado

right up, i'll admit i wasn't going to partake in this challenge seeing that cooking 'isn't my thing', but then i thought i do cook and i do have a fav recipe.

this is it!

i won't lie and said i made it up myself, the chilli con carne recipe is from taste.com.au.

i usually make a big batch and freeze it in zip lock bags for a simple lunch at work.

but the bullet potatoes and avocado bit is what i will call mine.

bullet potatoes: really, really easy. just rub potatoes with olive oil and sea salt and pick all over with a fork. place in a pre heated oven (220 degrees – that's celcius not fahrenheit bron – seeing that you're american now). takes about and hour to 90 minutes. they go crunchy on the outside and soft and fluffy on the inside.

avocado topping: score halved avocados into little squares (don't know the correct kitchen terminology for that one) and scoop out flesh with a spoon. squeeze generously with fresh lime and season with a bit of sea salt and pepper.

put it all together.

that's it.

easy, quick and oh so yummy.

(note to bron: i usually put grated cheese on mine too, but without it i think it's pretty 'ellable'. obviously you'd have to omit the cayenne pepper and jalapeno's for kids. i just love hot food so i put in extra.)

Bron's blog party dinner recipe challenge link

inspiring spaces

i have a habit of collecting any kind of images that inspire me.

(this coming from a minimalist, non-hoarding kind of person).

how great are these rooms!

i think i'll be an interior designer in another lifetime.

1. bed nook (image from goodness know's where – I've had it for a while)

it's like a tent for gownups. i adore the concept.

2. stunning bathroom.

silver, white and lots of light – what more could you want?!

3. apartment living at it's best.

very much my taste, i even have a similar red rug.

4. the coolest kids playroom in a cupboard.

(i wish i could sew then i could make cloud pillows)

5. garage to tiny house conversion.

gorgeous muted colours and great use of space.

check this one out!

my thought for the day

via here

forgotten sunset

just a photo i found (forgot about) from a few weeks ago.

taken after a run down city beach post work (before my back/hip problems flared up again).

my super fast photoshop shortcut reflexes accidentally turned it black and white.

it was vividly blue and orange but i prefer this.

i'm a bit of a monochromatic girl though *wink*

oh sweet tooth

great girls night last night.

the highlight being clare's white chocolate mousse in a perfectly decadent chocolate casing with a gorgeous sweet raspberry sauce.

especially as i'd been thinking about sweet treats all day (see previous post)!

emma gets BIG points for cooking an amazing moroccan inspired dinner too.

oh and for assembling dessert.

yes, clare made dessert for us – on her birthday mind you – and she wasn't even there, but at school!

dear people that like to bake

sometimes i wish i was a wonderful kitchen whizz woman like sarah-jane or christine.

but i'm not.

i do cook (reluctantly).

i definitely DO NOT bake.

so sometimes i pretend i'd like to.

especially since i'm such a sweet tooth.

i pretend these are the kind of treats i would make:

double chocolate raspberry pavlova

rhubarb and red berry crumbles

smore brownies

red velvet cupcakes

cherry and pumpkin seed butter financiers

oh, i do love a good food blog, browsing through cook books and could watch jamie or nigella for hours. but i don't think the inspiration and actual action will ever truly align.

so hopefully your inspiration to action impulses are stronger than mine – 'cause how yummy would these be!