a little bird told me. so

c'mon springtime (you can do it!)

2011-10-04T23:54:00.000+11:00

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

2011-09-26T13:17:00.002+10:00

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!

2011-09-24T13:10:00.000+10:00

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!

2011-09-12T16:57:00.003+10:00

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

dear husband ...

2011-07-01T12:57:00.001+10:00

Dear Mr A,

I am pretty lucky to be your wife I think and I am really enjoying being married to you. So I thought I would write you a list. It is entitled ‘50 reasons why you are THE BEST husband’ and there are 50 reasons why I think you are so awesome.

…

50 reasons why you are THE BEST husband

1. There is no one else I feel more comfortable with than you. Whether I am dressed to the nines or in my tracky dacks or winning farting comps I know no matter what you still love me and think the world of me!

2. You’re a really good kisser!

3. You’re not ‘too cool’ or afraid to try silly things. Like mud masks (which I know you really love!) and dancing in the kitchen (even if you don’t let me take photos for fb)

4. You stick to your word and you never let people down. If you say you are going to help someone or do something, you always live up to that promise = You are a man of your word.

5. You’re always on time. I am not – you get me moving and grooving !

6. You’re fun to play with. Dreaming of the day we can have a large house and have a really good game of chase!

7. You help around the house and don’t complain when asked to do a load of washing or the dishes. ( and I REALLY appreciate your spontaneous help around the place)

8. Pretty much every week you clean the bathroom - Nuff said!

9. You love to find bargains and get excited when I find a really good sale item! for e.g. - your latest email "yea boy we just got 22.91 credit in our savings! Free money!! :)"

10. You sing along with me in the car.Sometimes you even harmonize (its really cute!) And sometimes you sing ‘girl’ songs “I’m just a little bit caught in the middle, life is a game and love is a riddle”...

11. You’re very smugly and give the best hugs.

12. You cook dinner for me almost every night, a lot of times trying something you never have before and learning all the time.

13. You really can’t wait to have a baby – seriously this one MELTS me and scares me at the same time!

14. You SOMETIMES like to discuss baby names

15. When I ask you to, you play with and brush my hair

16. You love god and have a deep desire to get back into a church family.

17. Whenever I ask you immediately stop what you’re doing and pray for me/us/whatever.

18. You sign your name on cards and write sweet messages to my dearest blog friends.

19.You have really neat handwriting and write the cards when I dictate and buy the pressies!

20.You know how to make a really good cuppa just the way I like it!

21.You let me climb all over you, and 'bury!' and snuggle in while quite nearly suffocating you in the process!

22. When you say “I love you” I know you really mean it

23. You make me laugh like no-one else ... (last bit a little too private to share)

24. You have a few very sexy moves (some I am sure you’re not even aware of!)

25. You have a funny, crazy and very silly streak!

26. You take really good care of your stuff (me included)

27. You don’t blow money on silly things, and don’t spend as much as your friends on car bits – ha take that subyclub.com boys! :)

28. Family holds a really special place in your heart.

29.You really care about me. When I rolled the car and got home to a sleepy eyed you at 6am I could see the love and concern pouring out of you (did I ever tell you that it was a funny moment to but you totally melted me there and then?)

30. You’re a snuggly sleeper!

31. You don’t hold grudges or stay mad for very long!

32. You’re not too proud to admit when you’re wrong

33. You let me talk you into silly things – like date nights with ‘silly rules’

34. Your adventurous – (bit in brackets a little too private to share)

35. You look really hunky when you’re playing the drums

36. I know that if I asked ANYTHING of you would at least try your hand at it

37. You always try and spoil me and provide me with things I want but don’t really need, like LUCY (our kitchen aid!!)

38 You hold the nail polish for me when I do my nails and tell me it’s pretty

39. You don’t get too grossed out when I have forgotten to shave… AGAIN: P – sorry love!

40. a little too private too share :)

41. You have a really sexy body! AND you look good in lots of clothes

42. You’re fun to pick clothes out for and style and dress up …

43. And you’re equally as fun to undress !

44. You keep my car clean and serviced and washed and full of petrol

45. You tell me I’m beautiful and pretty even when I’m covered in paint and in my tracksuit!

46. You cook a mean bbq!

47. 99% of the time you have a great sense of humor – and 1% of the time I just don’t get it :P

48. You make pinky promises with me in our cute fashion

49. You have the ability to melt me on the spot and make me loose my breath, words and thoughts all at once.

50. You’re the favourite thing in my life and I know how strongly you feel about the vows and promises we made to each other and that your sticking around for.. well ever!

I love you mr !

And now I will email you the unedited version ;)

Love wife

new kid in town...

2011-04-12T13:06:00.001+10:00

Theres a new kid in town and she is sweet sweet sweet!

tiny and squishable!
Miss Imogen Gwen

She's really making me wish I was in Dubai right now loving on this dear-to-my-heart cousins family.

And it seems that The Keeks is pretty infatuated with 'her baby' too :)

off to finish sewing ruffle butt onesies and other teeny things...

"lots and lots of fast massive running!"

2011-01-23T19:55:00.001+11:00

My cousin Larissa just sent over the cutest facebook link, that I just had to share.
My adorable second cousin Keara aka Keke aka The Keekstar aka Keeks (yes she answers to all of the above) and her daddy ran in the 3km Dubai fun run marathon.
I love the fact that they had no kids shirts so she wore a small ladies shirt, which looks like a dress and wore her number patch that takes up the whole for her body :)

Larissa said that she ran 1/3rd of the way by herself until she retired to the pram too - so proud of this little munchkin and wishing so bad she (and her mummy and daddy and new baby sibling on the way) were back here in Oz!

and apparently she was super excited to get her medal for "Doing lots of massive running!"
Man I love that Keekstar!!

aussie day!

2011-01-21T11:35:00.000+11:00

It is calling to me ... wanting me to own it!

My Ikea desk that is... seriously I know, I know this is the third post I've mentioned that damn desk but it is stalking me!

Seriously. I was not even looking for it and then came across this post on SFGirlByBay yesterday:

sigh...

And then I was searching for cute Aussie Day Entertaining Ideas and saw it even used as an outdoor food table. See Husband - this piece is versatile and I NEED it! ;)

ooh I hope Ikea gets this item back in SOON!

So Australia Day is coming up and I am dreaming of the day we can have some friends over for a really cute backyard do - lamb and prawns on the barbie and pavlova for dessert. Followed by some garden games (I have a crush on garden games) and then a total Aussie movie like The Castle or Muriel's wedding or Croc Dundee (can you believe I have still NOT seen this!) but as we can't fit many people into our teeny tiny little flat I thought I'd show you the rest of these images from this cute Australia Day spread by Wedding Style Guide.

I like it cause it's not the typical green and gold aussie spin off (it's actually really cute) although It very much reminds me of a 4th of July event - I think it has to do with the stripes?! But still total inspiration for any of you US or UK girls who follow the blog too - or anyone else who has a blue, white and red flag. You just maybe couldn't wear that bikini ;)

Seriously so looking forward to Wednesday - we are heading to the beach with friends. What are you up to?

aussie aussie aussie..
and now you say...

random. I want a desk

2011-01-19T12:40:00.000+11:00

I got an early mark from work yesterday which means I walked in the door around 6pm, 6 PM PEOPLE!!
woo hoo - That is ahumazing!
I would be a very happy camper if I could do that everyday.
I had so much more energy too!!
I filled hubby's tummy with bbq pork spare ribs, cous cous and oolala kt salad and then he took me to a movie.
Morning Glory.
It was ok - we had a few laughs - although does Harrison Ford's voice annoy anyone else in this movie!!!! gaaah!
and when did he get so old looking!?

anyway I enjoyed snuggling and munching on my bubble gum rock candy (left over from the wedding) and did you know Rachel McAdams (well the character she plays) has my Ikea desk. in white. just like I want waaaa (see below post)

anyway that was kinda a post about nothing .. hoping to get a little bit crafty tonight so I can have something fun to share over here, using my new hot glue gun (os. any Aussie's out there Spotlight have 50% off their glue guns right now - I got mine for $7!) that I am an going CRAZY not being able to create!!

itching to get decorating!

2011-01-17T20:41:00.000+11:00

The current state of our spare bedroom/craft room/home office...

ughk, right!

it's basically just a junk/store room right now.

And this non-inspiring space has been the reason that not much crafting has been happening around here lately. I can't stand it anymore- so much so that the door to the second room stays shut pretty much all the time I am home.

I can't wait to get in there and 'prettify' it by...

Getting rid of that ridiculous spare room sink!??!
Refreshing the walls with a new coat of paint
Buying a new bedspread and cushions for the single bed (I want to turn it into a more day bed/lounge and put on a larger quilt cover so it hides the ugly plastic covered mattress underneath)
Purchase a new rug (especially for winter because I can imagine those tiles are going to be cold then!!)
Purchase a new desk
Add floating shelves above the desk for added storage
Finishing painting 2 x roadside furniture finds (a wardrobe 'craft supplies' cupboard and the rest of that white chest of drawers shown)
Hang fun artwork
an inspiration board and;
decorate with lots of fun accents!

Here's my little inspiration mood board ... (click to see it larger)

It's quite colourful and I probably won't stick to it completely ... but I think with the simple waem grey walls, whites and timbers I can easy change the look and feel of it with smaller accents and decorations and allow the room to evolve over time.

And speaking of desks, for our wedding I couldn't find any big old rustic tables I liked for our lolly station so dad made a desk top out of three old wooden planks which he glued together (I know I am super lucky!!) and placed on some trestles - it looked really good! I was going to get dad to make me some more white ones as a desk for the craft room (I wanted a really long desk and couldn't find one in our price range that I liked anywhere). Then I came across the Vika Artur Ikea Trestle - I love that it has shelves underneath too - and is adjustable for drafting (this would of been perfect for college!) or cutting out fabric.

And since then I have seen it being used in some pretty fun spaces ...

(another fun trestle table - i LOVE them!)

Sadly though it seems I am going to have to wait till March to get my desk as we were informed on Saturday that they are sold out of the vika trestles and wont get more stock in for a couple of months - rats!

summer toes

2011-01-16T22:21:00.000+11:00

this is where you'll find me on Sunday afternoons ...

barefoot and daggy (and not pregnant!) in the garage stripping layers of paint of an antique cupboard I saved from the side of the road a few months before our wedding - in absolute pouring rain too :)

It feels so good to get stuck into it now and get rid of a thick layer of mission brown paint...

then fluro green ...

then a yellow stained white.
noice!

Once this cupboard is restored it will go in our spare room/studio craft room to store (hopefully) all my fabrics and craft supplies.

I have plans to paint it a fun colour, but am having a hard time deciding what colour exactly...

any suggestions?

I have no real inspiration or starting point for that room yet - I think I may need to spread my resene paint colours over the floor in that room and see if anything grabs me.

in the meantime here some inspiration images of cute painted furniture:

source

Can't wait to hear your ideas :)

lovin ...

2011-01-14T21:23:00.001+11:00

it's true ... i'm lovin, 'blog lovin!' and I think you might too.

I saw this post on A Beautiful Mess's blog today and thought it looked really cool and user friendly.

So I signed up and am loving just how easy following and organizing my blog feed now is.

I like how you can sort the blogs into categories (see mine above), how simple and clean the layout is, how you can 'heart' posts for finding later on and even search new fun blogs or have blogs similar to those you follow recommended to you.

so much better than dashboard or even google reader - it's definitely worth try :)

I hope you all have a lovely day tomorrow- I'm off for my mother-daughter date to Ikea and out for lunch - I can't wait! and speaking of Ikea I was watching 500 days of Summer on the train this afternoon and I thought I'd share my fav scene with you all :)

Ikea from mood on Vimeo.

best line "Honey, I don't know how to tell you this, but there's a Chinese family in our bathroom!"

gets me everytime :)

the little love nest.

2011-01-12T10:17:00.001+11:00

A few of you have been asking about our little love nest and I was inspired by my dear friend Amanda's apartment tour (isn't it amazing how quickly and stylishly she has furnished that little place in such a short time?) to show off this video we made ages ago - before we were married, moved in and had made any changes (not that we've made many yet...)

For those of you who haven't been following the blog for long time when we got married I moved out of my parent's house (and the bedroom I had inhabited since the age of 3) to a little apartment 30 mins from my parent's home. Husband (sorry I'm not sick of that yet) moved his stuff down one flight of stairs and up another. That's right we are living with the in laws - who I believe do sometimes read this blog - hi guys!
Morgan's parents are awesome and they are allowing us to live here, in a little self contained 2 bedroom flat, paying minimum board so we can save for a place of our own and hopefully be home owners within 2-3 years time!! This is a huge blessing for us and a great opportunity which will really help set us up for the future. Plus they recently put a new kitchen in (which my dad modified and installed) and an air conditioner - which is AWESOME or we would die during this summers heat (the flat is unfortunetly not properly insulated).

Here's the original floor plan and layout as originally blogged here:
cute right?

And here is a little video we made of the flat tour - I can't believe I'm sharing this - I'm such a dag in it - I cringe everytime I watch it!! But it gives you a good idea of the layout and space of our teeny tiny flat.

And stay tuned for DIY and decorating posts as we paint, decorate, change and make this space more 'us' :)

m+kt flat tour 2010 from Katie McAllan on Vimeo.

ikea trip

2011-01-11T12:54:00.001+11:00

Excited to be heading on a little shopping trip (and girly date) to Ikea with my mum on Saturday.

Unfortunately our closest, well actually the only Ikea in the whole of NSW is in Homebush (where the Sydney Olympics were held). It is also an hour and a half trip from our house.. so we girls get kinda giddy when we get to go!

I wish we had a store closer that we could just pop into on a whim (although Morgan disagrees with this idea entirely!) I really think they should build an Ikea here on the Central Coast ... there is totally the right market and space for it...

Anyway above is just a few items that caught my eye while browsing through their website. But there are so many more items on my wish list and that I can't wait to check out in person on Saturday (probably a good thing that husband has given me a spending cap for our trip!) but we so need more furniture ... like shelves so we can unpack all those boxes taking over the craft room and a coffee table cause putting my mug on the floor is getting old :)

and yes that ung drill frame is the same frame as in our photo booth pictures - but it was unfortunately my cousin Rachel's, which she brought for their wedding a few weeks before ours, so we had to give it back :(

And speaking of wishing of having an Ikea store closer to home... check out this cute 'I wish we had Ikea' tea towel from Etsy. Seems Skinny Lamix is echoing my sentiments exactly! At least we do have Ikea here in Oz though ...

As well as some furniture, I'm also going to stock up on some of these, which I got a little obsessed with while staying at this ladies house last year. Bean game tournaments, late night sewing extravaganzas aaah the memories of these little fellas Leslie :)

we've been published!!!!!!!

2011-01-10T19:52:00.002+11:00

we've been published...
well our amazing wedding photographer Christine has.
Check out our engagement session in this new inspiring book of handmade lovelies.
It is so weird seeing your face published in a book! Especially a book so up my alley ... handmade creative goodies - umm yes please!!
You can grab your copy of 'Handmade Living - a designer collection' from here.

We are eagerly awaiting out copy which Christine is blessing us with - I can't wait to see it in person!
will do a little review then.

All images are Miss Christine's.

ps. Thanks for all your sweet comments on my last post. It is so good to be back and posting. I thought after a seven long months I might have lost a few followers... but thanks for sticking around - you guys make me feel so loved :)

a note from MRS A ...

2011-01-09T22:55:00.003+11:00

So a lot has happened since my last post...

some 7 months ago (!)...

a new job (with a rather crazy commute)...

a new home..

a trip overseas...

a first christmas ...

parties and new year celebrations ...

but best of all ...

we finally got married!

It was a beautiful (and fun!) day ...

he cried (as soon as the first bridesmaid started to walk down the aisle)...

I laughed at rings that wouldn't go on! (while the groomsmen took photos on their iphones)...

he promised to ' trust you when you think you are right and respect you when you actually are!' (and made everyone laugh) ...

we stood under a pretty tree and promised forever ...

and got really excited about being newlyweds ....

we played lawn games ...

while wearing fun socks ...

and raced around the vines in golf buggies ...

we frolicked in fields (it involved me being passed through a barbed wire fence in my wedding gown to get in people! but so worth it for the shots!)

we kissed a ~~little~~ alot ...

the girls looked beautiful ...

the guys looked 'smokin' (it's a groomsmen joke...)

we had the most fun in an amazing photobooth ...

(and got the funniest responses from our guests!)

and ran through sparklers (quite possibly more than once...)

and rode away in baby brother's cute little vintage car

(complete with tin cans) ...

then the Mr and I ran away to Thailand ...

we rode elephants and fed monkeys and rode in long tailed boats and lazed around and ate - oh how we ate! That breakfast buffet was +10 kg GOOD ;) !

And now I am back.. back to blogging people!!

I have things to make, things to share, a new (teeny tiny little) house to decorate and a sweet little life to lead as a MRS! So stick around as I share our 2011 moments

oh it's good to be back :)

ps. all these photos are a mixture of our wonderful photographer Christine and her amazing second shooter Kellee, who helped out last moment - thank you Kellee!
you can check christine's take on the day here and here and Kellee's over here.

Oh hello giveaway - you are loved!

2010-07-29T10:50:00.000+10:00

Are you a fan of oh hello friend?

If not, I think you should be. I love popping on over each day and seeing all the beautiful eye candy, craft projects and design inspiration that Danni has to share.

And this latest giveaway is SO exciting ...

see ...

sleepless (well almost) in Seattle ...

2010-07-18T22:17:00.004+10:00

After my amazing week with the P's Leslie and I caught an early early morning flight to Seattle (after staying up much too late finishing sewing a million aprons ... well it felt kinda like a million never ending aprons that late at night! And thanks Mr Nick for wrapping them up so nicely for us too - seriously! :)

We were pretty excited because this was the start of our bloggy meetup, which we had been planning for about a year. A fun time where we would spend a weekend with a bunch of fellow bloggers whom we had never met (well Leslie had been lucky enough to meet a few) but who we had prayed for, cried with, constantly emailed, had many hour long phone chats, facebooked and become dear dear friends and close sisters in Christ ...

and we were also probably exhausted from our week of fun and craft room mess making times as we both slept pretty much the whole flight! Although we did enjoy it when our hostesses sang "Goodmorning Goodmorning" to us and also sang goodbye as we landed (The same lady I mentioned in my last post) very funny + strange! :)

Our flight was the first one to arrive into Seattle and we eagerly awaited the arrival of this lady and her littlest one. Excitedly trying to work out exactly what terminal she was coming from and standing at the top of the escalator and spotting her coming up it, waving and shouting was such an exciting moment!!!

Once again it was surreal standing there in the airport with these two amazing ladies. Trying to let it soak in that this was real!

Then we headed out side where it was cold and awaited 2 carfulls of very excited girls to arrive...
This one and this one and this one and this one too...

Chelley even tried to jump out of an almost still moving car and run across three lanes of traffic just to hug us. Crazy lady! :)

some fun Seattle moments:

- the start of Andi's standing on chairs to get our attention and organize things.
- Meeting Misha, her hubby and cute kids when they dropped her off at the hotel.
- late night talks all cramped in one hotel room (we had to hire three rooms to fit us all in but couldn't be separated until it was very much bedtime and then we talked a lot once we were in bed too!).
- Staying in the classy 'Sheraton Hotel' and gazing out onto the famous city below
- Experiencing tipping a hotel bellboy - this was like another language for me :)

- My first PF Changs experience yummo! and trying to understand how much to tip - still Such a foreign thought!
- a 3 storey anthropology!!! need I say more...

- Having Andi capture Fairlight's and my expression (we were the only two who had never actually been into a store before) as we first walked in. Andi - we need copies!! :)
- 2 yr old Rose 'buying stuff' at anthro - cutely walking up to the counter where her mum was purchasing a few things and putting her little stash of handles on the counter as if to say "Just these thanks"

- Enjoying Seattle's pretty buildings and super clean streets (Sydney people you could learn a few things here!) with bare but pretty in season twiggy branches

- Pretty Pretty cherry blossoms lining the streets

- Experiencing Pikes Place Markets.

- oohing and aahing and buying flowers at the market (not knowing that they had something to do with me...)

- Taking SO many photos of Pikes Place

- Getting asked what magazine/paper we were from because of all our big slrs and picture taking of the pretty colourful fruit and veggies. see? ...

- visiting the world's first ever Starbucks and grabbing a hot tea on a brisk morning.
- Fairlight and myself getting to taste a macroon for the first time from a cute and cozy bakery. (LOVE that we were able to experience a few 'firsts' together on this trip!)
- Having to take pictures of our macroons before we ate them - such a blogger thing!

- Receiving my first Martha Stewart wedding mags - yay!
- Sharing beds and stories and chats into the night with this lady.

- Getting to help pick up Amanda and Miss Jilly up from the airport with Dawna and Misha - while the others went to finish some 'errands'. Little did I know that they were up to secret things that I wasn't to know about yet :D
- Letting the Aussie 'help' with directions on the i something er rather - eek! :)
- Stopping off at another Starbucks (they closed all our local Starbucks over here now except one I know of in the city...) where we met up with the sweet fun and beautiful Miss Nikki - who completed our group.
- an incredibly fun and chatty trip with Niki all the way to Seabrook on the Washington state coast where we had hired a beautiful beach house for our relaxing trip together - This girl can SO do a better aussie occer accent than me :P !!!

And I guess some of us weren't all that sleepless :)

coming soon to a theatre near you!

2010-07-11T22:40:00.001+10:00

Continued post(s) of my USA travels coming up soon, I promise. Sorry it has taken so long - I have had the busiest last couple of days and weekend (there is some news to report), I am also sick and got up this morning at 3:45 am to get M and his family down to Sydney and the airport (they are holidaying in New Zealand right now - are you jealous too :)!!

But have no fear - I will back soon. Wild horses couldn't drag me away (anyone else love that saying too!??!)

a week with the P's ...

2010-07-05T14:41:00.003+10:00

Leslie's is one of those blogs I have read from back to front. Devouring every word and being totally inspired by her crafting, homemaking, mothering, love for her husband and the Lord and for just being real. With Leslie you get the good and the bad and its all beautiful and it's all so her ....

and yes she is aware that I have stalked her for years too ;)

While reading her blog I always thought how cool it would be to meet her one day - little did I know I would actually get to see this become a reality. Leslie was the one who got to pick me up from LA airport when I flew in from Sydney. The first bloggy friend I got to meet and hug on my trip. I was SO excited when my plane arrived I could hardly wait and luckily got through customs in like 5 mins! And we got to spend a whole week together in beautiful Cali with her lovely little family too.

some of my favourite moments from staying with this family:

- Leslie praying over our first breakfast together, the week and the rest of the bloggy meet up girls just after she'd picked me up from the airport and we stopped for a bite to eat.

- the gps telling us to "make a u-turn" then when we made a u-turn to "make a u-turn"

- Leslie realizing this after about the fourth u turn :)

- The cute black board in the lounge room with a 'welcome Ms Katie' note when I arrived (wish I had taken a pic...)

- meeting Nick and the kids for the first time. Suddently all those pictures I had seen were moving and it was kinda surreal!

- being this boys crush

- seeing the cuteness that is their new home.seriously seriously cute!

- Enjoying the Californian landscape. So different to Oz aka hardly any trees and boulders on the hills, but oh so lovely.

- constantly trying to get in the wrong side of the car and getting confused everytime we turned left and went ACROSS the intersection!

- my little shadow Ry Ry who would watch me every morning do my hair and makeup and always ask "katie what are you doing?"

- Giving Rylan my clean makeup brush and watching her brush it over her face while standing on her little step stool. Thrilled to be hanging out with 'Ms Katie' - precious!

- crazy hairstyles in the bathroom with Ry Ry and wearing my pretties (headbands)

- Sewing in the cutest craft room and sharing new music together.

- Fabric shopping and not realizing we had spend over 4 hours(?) in the one shop until Nick called and we saw it was dark outside! we may have been up to something...

- 'Australianisms' and Nick and Leslie's face when I would say something that made perfect sense to me but they had absolutely no idea what i was talking about. like where's your 'bin''?

- the way that Aussies apparently 'chuck a lot of things' e.g. 'Chuck a yewie' 'Chuck a sickie' and one of Leslie's favs 'chuck a wobbly'

- Rylan laughing over a youtube video of a wombat digging - so funny!

- outlet stores :)

- Going to "Mickey's house" aka Disneyland!!! I'm not sure who was more excited, Rylan - or me.

- going on a water ride at Disneyland with Nick. Who somehow came out of it pretty much dry, while I could hardly walk properly because my jeans were absolutely SOAKING wet!

- Embarrassingly announcing to Nick that it wasn't just my jeans "even my undies were soaked through" - sorry Nick that was probably too much information :)

- the teacups - so fun!!

- Love how the girlies had our teacup spinning so fast and theres Nick in the background just lounging comfortably :)

- it's a small world!

- California adventure!!

- ummm the roller coaster at California adventure and the toy story game which was great cause it was one we were all able to go on it together.

- crafting - even though we may have taken on more than we could chew!

- for Nick's enjoyment... 'shark biscuit'

- chatting with no interruptions or phone delays - a dream come true hurray!

- shopping, shopping shopping!

- seeing the kids for the first time, especially Cade who we prayed so much for and threw such a special baby shower for.

- Seeing all sorts of handmade goodies and the scrappy journal from the shower in the kids nursery :)

- Swedish Fish. I AM HOOKED!

- the bean game - oh Nick I wish we could of played more rounds!

- the excitement of the bean game

- 'stink beans' are for BOYS :)

- Rylan, Cade and myself tying ribbons to ourselves and goofing around taking silly pictures. Ok, Ok I may have been the instigator in this silly game!

- finally receiving my Christmas Card, because Leslie forgot to put 'Australia' on the envelope and still had no idea why it hadn't reached me! I love her :)

- our plane trip on Southwest to Seattle where the hostess sang goodmorning and goodbye to us which ended with..."We hope you enjoyed our company... next time marry one of us and fly for free" and then the plane erupted in giggles and applause.

- meeting this amazing fellow blogger and having the sweetest yummiest picnic lunch at Laguna Beach.

- seeing the condo in Orange County.

- "in the boonies"

- "out woop woop"

- Rylan's artwork for me - the first time she used scissors "like mamma"

- my "first time to Disneyland" badge

- Listening to Steve songs in the car "line, line, circle circle square square square square triangle triangle line"... and then yelling out "again again" while Rylan looked at me like I had LOST it!

- California pizza kitchen mmm + now knowing that Americans call corriander - cilantro!

- those times where 'Morgan' would just sit on the coffee table, craft room table and join in with our conversation (on skype on my laptop).

- Late night sewing with Leslie, Morgan sitting on the table and Nick on the floor turning apron ties inside out.

- Making pretty aprons for some special ladies and having fun choosing fabric and notions according to each girls tastes and personalities.

- Hearing my parents on skype and actually thinking 'Oh my gosh they sound SO weird!'

- experiencing wallmart for the first time.

+ only a few not so great memories.. which included

- getting the stomach bug a few days after I arrived.

- Throwing up all over the bathroom floor of a family I just met

- then proceedings to flood the downstairs toilet (with totally clean water btw) while Leslie was out. Once again POOR Nick! I think I owe this guy a totally fun Aussie surfing holiday!

- Not getting up early enough - I think it must of been delayed jet lag but I feel like we could of fit so much more in!

- Not taking enough photos together! umm and I have not one of Nick and I or Ry and I. so sad guys! :(

- saying goodbye to Les at Seabrook. where we both teared up and I feel like I didn't get to say anything I was really feeling!!

something along the lines of ..

thank you P's for your love and friendship and for letting me into your life and your everyday. I loved every minute of it (well maybe minus the stomach bug thing). You are an amazing family your love and strength and friendship are so inspiring to me and your children are so beautiful - I just love you all. Oh and please please please come to visit us in Aus one day!! pleeeaaasssee .... cause I miss you and Morgan would like to chat to you while sitting on a chair and not on the table and I think we need another round of the bean game ;)

kt xx

ps. all photos totally unedited because otherwise I knew I'd never get them up!
More on this part of my trip here.

I need.

2010-07-02T20:23:00.001+10:00

This swimsuit for my honeymoon. how cute and stylish is it?!

I already have a lovely and fairly new bikini but I feel like I need a stylish and flattering one piece too.

And from all the reviews I have read it seems like Shabby Apple swimwear are a lovely cut too ie. not skimpy around the butt area. I have such a problem every summer finding a nice fitting swimsuit that actually covers my bottom area - so not a fan of skimpy cut swimsuits which is um ... basically every 'unfrumpy' swimsuit out there on the market. I mean I'm not unhappy with my butt size or anything but I don't really feel comfortable walking around the beach with a permanant wedgie either. I prefer some sort of support people!

but enough about butts ...

Now the question... do I want it in sweet sexy black or fiery and hot ruby red?!

I heart Amy.

2010-07-01T11:16:00.000+10:00

love my in-laws-to-be...

look what they brought me for my birthday!!

ooh I have wanted this book forever!

Things from this book that I am just itching to make:

decorative patchwork throw

image from here.

wide leg lounge pants

from here.

desktop organizer

from here.

Fashion checkbook clutch

from here.

clutch handbag with fabric flower

from here.

Patchwork handbag

from here.

And I don't know how I quite missed this but Amy Butler has a new sewing book coming out in August this year. It is available for pre order on both Amazon and the Book Depositry right now and I may have just added it to my wishlist :)

ps. Have you heard about the book depositary? Even though it is a UK site, I love that they list items in AUD dollars and they have free shipping worldwide (US is on this list too). This means that for me it's often cheaper to purchase and ship from the UK than to buy a book at my local Boarder or Angus and Roberson - isn't this silly!

what about you, what are you sewing or crafting up right now?

ps. I can't believe today is the 1st of JULY today! can you!?

I miss the sunshine!

2010-06-30T23:58:00.002+10:00

its so cold here in Sydney tonight...
3 degrees cold (thats 37.4 degrees Fahrenheit!)
it sounds so much more impressive in celsius...

I'm wishing I were back here. California dreaming it up.

With the waves at my feet, enjoying theme parks, those tall tall palms and soaking in the bleached sun.

Summer - I MISS you!!

ps. more photos (and words) from my US trip to come soon.

the following images from California Adventure, Disneyland and Santa Monica.

been having fun with images here.

dry me.

2010-06-30T20:48:00.002+10:00

I just came across this great online tea towel shop 'To Dry For' via Young House Love and I just love all their designs. I've always had a soft spot for fun and funky dishtowels (I brought some cute birdy ones at Spotlight the other day that I plan to put some fun colourful poms on).
Here are some of my favourites:

I think I also need to get this one for M because it is totally his humor and maybe, just maybe if he owned it then he would believe in wiping up - or then again maybe not :)

The one where I admit I don't have it all together ...

2010-06-29T10:46:00.003+10:00

One of the reasons I haven't been blogging recently I've been struggling a little lately ...
with lots of little and big things...

with wedding stresses and decisions - Have I mentioned how we dropped M's suit of to be altered and they completely butchered it?! ...
with being 'unemployed' right now and trying to get into my chosen career in a market that doesn't seem to have many opportunities for a recent college graduate ... (it's scary and humbling to watch your bank account dwindle while not being able to keep topping it up. But then I don't want to complain because I do have some amazing work coming in - paid interior design experience. Which is great but also hard because it's rather sporadic work, paid monthly and takes up a lot of job hunting time) ...
With receiving 'unsuccessful applications' for simple reception jobs - something I hoped would tie me over till something in the design field came up - and with a wedding coming up, a dress and honeymoon that needs to be paid for - it's all kinda scary ...
Like desperately needing new car tyres and being a victim of a shopping center hit and run (I now have a lovely scratch up the side of my car) ...
Of still trying to find 'our' church home where we can serve and grow and a cell group to be part of too. Because spiritually I am feeling quite dry right now....
And then there's stupid things like being a baby about Sydney winters - which I think are freezing but now know are kinda like Seattle and Chicago springs! - yup BIG baby who shouldn't complain, I know. But this season is so not my favourite! ...
that and there's nothing new and exciting to report here.
No crafting. No real silly fun times.

In all of this I feel like I've lost a little bit of me too.

While having a lovely chat with this lady awhile ago. We talked about how we all want everyone to think that we have it together all the time. and it's true.
But the truth is I don't have it all together, because I am a human and the truth is we constantly goof up and fall apart and make mistakes and one thing I am learning a little more and more during this season is there is one thing to see me through - one thing to cling to and trust upon ...
My saviour Jesus Christ.
And that's what I'm trying to do and relying on right now.
Because seasons, they don't last forever but my God, he surely will.

Isaiah 41:10
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

pretty.

2010-06-28T19:55:00.001+10:00

No words today (hopefully soon) but here are some more of our favourite engagement photos... they make me smile. A little over 4 months to go till the big day. I can't believe we are getting so close now - I still have SO much to do! Remembering to breathe and lift it all up to the Lord (or at least trying to) :)

seven sushi rolls.

2010-06-24T15:51:00.001+10:00

Some days you just need to stay in your jim jams until 3pm and make sushi... lots and LOTS of sushi. Because when things have been busy and stressful it's sometimes good for you to step back and do something you enjoy. Something simple and relaxing and ... delicious! And sometimes you need to spice it up a bit and make bacon and egg sushi rolls. Because all sushi is healthy right??!
It's been one of those weeks.. months...
I am trying to get back to posting here regularly I really really am ....
I have month old posts half written and no words to finish them off.
Hopefully soon.

Until then enjoy this link to Bakerella's Red Velvet Cake Balls Like I have been.
And her cake pops too
Aren't they cute?
I am hoping to make a few of these for our wedding :)

seven.

2010-06-16T23:24:00.002+10:00

The lovely Kat from Tea and Cupcakes has tagged me to answer this seven question meme. Which is great because hopefully this will help me get out of my non-blogging rut and back into full swing posting around here?! Well we can hope :)

So thanks for choosing me to play along Kat and here are my answers:

1.what is your favourite food?

Ummm…
This question is hard because I really REALLY like food! Also this past year has seen such a change in our household menu and also our tastes - so much so that this topic will have to be saved for another post. But one thing I can never resist when it's sitting in front of me is brie or cambert cheese and bikkies :) My fav take away would probably be Thai - or recently Vietnamese. And I crave fresh organic salads and juices (my current favourite being apple, pear and carrot juice), home guacamole, brushetta and lots of fresh herbs in every meal - my adore corriander and basil! I am also a BIG sushi fan. And enjoy making home made sushi - a lot! And then on the other side of this (the more unhealthy Kt side) after my recent US trip M and I have been enjoying smores in front of the fireplace at night - He loves them so that I think we may need CM care packages around here soon when our supplies run out so he can survive! ;) side note: does anyone know what bikkies we have here in Aus that are like graham crackers?
see I told you that I LOVE food!

2. What is your favourite childhood memory?

I am lucky to have had a really blessed and amazing childhood, it holds a lot of truly lovely memories. Our two week holidays to Moreton Island (off the Coast of Brisbane) hold some of the best. Mum and dad would pull us out of school for a week or two and we would pack the car full, leave home very early in the morning and spend our time swimming, beaching, 4wdriving, being pulled along behind the car on sand boards, playing with solider crabs and running up and down sandunes. Also too each trip dad would make a new sand board - which he wouldn't unveil until we were ready to leave or already at out destination. It was always exciting to see what he had come up with and how fast we could slide down the hills with it.

A close second memory is the time my crazy cousins and I were in my grandparents spa and it started to hail slightly. So instead of getting out like sensible children we instead dragged the plastic childrens chair and table set into the spa with us and held them above our heads. All except Sarey - who instead insisted on sitting there with my brothers baby floating ring on her head and making the small hail stones bounce comically of it. I love this memory because it always makes me laugh and is such a Sarey thing to do - I love how she still has that fun sense of humour!

3. What is your guilty pleasure?

Buying real living magazines - even though we monthly get sent Home Beautiful, Vogue Living and Inside out magazines too. There's just something about Real Living that totally clicks with my personal taste (and probably budget too). You can check out their blog here.

I'd also have to say fabric and craft supplies that are brought for no reason other than the fact that I liked them at the time, they inspired me and thought it could be used on a possible one day project - a rainy day kinda stash!

4. If you won $1 million tomorrow what would you do with it?

I know we would definetly buy a property that could get us a great start in life. But I wouldn't be able to keep all the money to myself. In our life M and I simply want to be 'blessed to be a blessing' and be able to have the ability to give to people in need. Some of the money would be put towards really helping people who do not have what we take for granted here in the Western world and also to help family. Was that a boring answer of what :)

5.who is your biggest inspiration?

Blogs and the amazing online crafty community out there.

But because that is such a broad answer I thought I would share the two blogs that have me at hello right now ...
smile and wave by Rachel Bowden + ashleyannphotography

Because they have amazing homes done on a budget and with unique DIY projects, they also have great eyes for design and tonnes of eye candy on every blog post!

see ...

All images are from Ashley Ann's website.

6.what are you reading at the moment?

My parents church and small group have been going through the Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren and so M and I joined in too. We've finished now but I'm still reading because I am behind. I would so recommend this book - it is really clear on the bibles perspective of not just how to live your life - but how to live with purpose and really held some lovely eye openers for me. I am also still reading Before you plan your wedding plan your marriage by Greg + Erin Smalley, What Katy Did (an absolute childhood fav) and our date book too.

7. If you had a theme song what would it be?

Wow I found this question really hard! So I txt'd M to which he replied "I don't know hun. You are so many things!" Which I thought was kinda a sweet compliment and probably quite true, especially right now. All I know is my theme song would be a total mix of tunes, genres and lyrics. It would be soft and mellow and sweet but fun to dance along with too :)

SO now I tag Fairlight, Chelle, Jacy, Leslie, Amanda, Cassie and my newest bloggy friend Becky. Who is new to blogging - so why dont you stop on over and say hi :)

oh and my questions are:
1. What book(s) are you currently reading right now?
2. Whats your favourite song ever - or just right now?
3. Whats the best piece of advice (funny or sweet) that anyone has ever given you?
4. What is the once place that you really want to visit that you haven't been to before?
5. What is your most embarassing moment?
6. What is one of your favourite family traditions you have?
7. What is something fun and inspiring you have seen online lately and would like to share with us all?

here there and everywhere...

2010-05-31T13:00:00.000+10:00

So I may not have been here blogging lately but it's been busy busy over here. I've also been popping up in a few other places over the weekend. Check out our engagement shoot feature over at Polka Dot Bride and find out 'what I think of when I think of England' at my guest post over at the lovely Cassie's blog. I think you should definitely stop by this sweet spot and say hello to this lovely lady who lives in a dear little cottage in a lovely little village in England. (I think it's so sweet how they call their town a village :) While Cassie and her hubby are having the time of their lives on holiday in the beautiful island of Gozo, in the Mediterranean (totally jealous here of course!) She has asked a few talented ladies to write some guests posts for her. So come on over and check out all the fun entries from these very talented ladies! - Still feeling so chuffed to be included in this category! You might be inspired or find a new friend and then you could tell me what your 'English dream would be' ...

Vintage Swap

2010-05-21T10:18:00.000+10:00

Do you like vintage fabric goodness? Sweet florals and lovely cottons?

If so then I think you should pop on over to my friend Fairlight's blog. She is having a vintage sheet swap and today is the last day to sign up.

check it out the details and inspiration of lovelies made with vintage sheets over here.

date night.

2010-05-19T10:04:00.002+10:00

Because I don't want to ever forget this special date night...

Last Wednesday night was date night. yipee! Date #3 of this book and a special night together to celebrate 5 years of getting to know one another, 5 years of sillyness and fun and 5 years of falling in love with one another. over and over again.We giggled and laughed and gave each other 'hi 5's 4 5!' and really got to talk - no distractions. Just me and him being young and silly and in love. That was probably my favourite bit. And that M - we'll he went out of his way to make this a special night for me. I'd been having a bad start to the week (so may changes and big unknowns happening here at the moment) and he announced that he was taking me out to dinner and we were going to celebrate this occasion in style. With a real fancy dinner at a very lovely and posh restaurant. Which was actually a beautiful old manor style house which has been converted into a restraunt. And my main meal - well lets just say I was really sad when the last mouthful was gone. It was that yummy! When he picked me up and I got in the car that night there was a little wrapped present (with a bow) sitting on the front seat for me. He had brought me these babushka measuring cups! I so SO love them!

Then after dinner as we hopped back into the car he handed me a small bank statement for a recently opened account. He had started a special account to save up for my one day kitchen aid mix master with some monies already set aside for it. it was a really really sweet gesture! and oh how I really love that boy :)

In other news our engagement party has been featured on the new party inspiration website catchmyparty.com. A new site where you can upload images from your own parties and find inpiration from other peoples too. Jillian from catch my party found our engagement party online and asked me if she could feature us - well of course! There is also a little feature over on their blog... Thanks for loving our party so much Jillian we are honoured to be featured on your website!

featured (again)!

2010-05-12T14:30:00.001+10:00

How fun is this? Our high school sweetheart love shoot has been featured on the UK wedding blog Beyond Beyond. Where they feature "preposterously beautiful and gorgeous thingymebobs that are so damn good and eyecandytastic that we wish we made them" Oh how fun to be included in that category! It seems like they really love our wedding photographer too - and who wouldn't!?

Part of the reason we choose Christine was her use of light and bokeh and she has more than lived up to her reputation in these beautiful shoots. And little did we know we'd get such a sweet friend out of the deal too! I'm so hoping one day she can teach me to shoot like that and also that I can talk the Mr into having her capture all our special 'life moments' too ... I'm working on it Christine ;)

and hooray now I have another wedding inspiration blog to follow, cause we all know I need another one of those like a whole in my head! ;)

five.

2010-05-12T13:34:00.003+10:00

Five years ago a certain boy came into my life and took my heart off the market - for good.

I was chatting online after school one day (you know avoiding the dreaded homework) and a certain guy started chatting to me - trying to find out (for his friend) if I was interested in his friend.

but I guess he had other agendas ;)
and we haven't stopped talking since - well ok I havent stopped :)

He was just 15 and I was 16 (almost 17)!

Then four years later that boy asked me to marry him.

I often think what it would of been like to have known at that moment that this was the guy god had in store for me and all the fun adventures we'd have together and the way we'd be there to support each other through the hard times too. Would I have known it'd be this good? That I would be this blessed?

This is the first photo ever taken off the two of us. Snapped by our good friend Corinne at school with us looking all cute and little in our school uniforms and with our school backpacks on. I really liked that uniform... I don't think I've changed all that much but I think M looks particularly baby faced here and has filled out much more since then and that maybe he has finally grown into those hands which are bigger than my head in this shot? And I think he might even be taller!? crazy crazy thought :)

Happy fifth anniversary babe.
I love you more and more each year.
I love the way we laugh and enjoy life together. I love our silly games and inside jokes. And how whenever I am unsure or stressed you will always stop right then and there to pray for me - reminding me to cast my cares onto the Lord and that his plan is greater than our own. That means the world!
I am so excited to start counting our wedding anniversaries together so soon :)
kt bear x

highschool sweethearts

2010-05-05T21:46:00.002+10:00

Yay! The rest of our engagement photos and story are up on Christine's blog. So go and have a looksie! We're so happy with how our school themed love shoot came out.

My baby brother made this old school looking chalkboard for me specially for the shoot. I showed him a photo of my idea and he just went for it - I never knew he was so handy with tools. But I did know that he an absolute sweetie!

We left the board blank for some shots so we could Photoshop words in and for this shot M stuck down some thickers to replicate the idea of those boards they use in school photos. You know the ones they place in front of the kids in the front row that say the school, teacher, class and year... I've no idea what their called?!

And now I have a cute chalkboard on which to write notes to the Mr ... you know romantic things like "dishes need doing please hun" and "meatloaf is in the fridge" ;)

I particularly can't wait to get this one of M enlarged - I think he looks pretty dreamy :)

thanks again Ms Pobke!!

for the walls + floors.

2010-05-05T21:24:00.001+10:00

eeek! I just saw over on Apartment Therapy that Amy Butler is going to be bringing out her own line of wallpaper for Graham and Brown. It looks so lovely and fun. I hope they make it available here in Oz. I'm not sure if I myself would do a wall in my home up, but I think they would look particularly amazing in a commercial environment! Or used in other fun crafty projects ;)

On the other hand I would gladly put one of her rugs in my home!
isn't it pretty

I love lamp(s)...

2010-05-03T12:33:00.000+10:00

Mum + dad just brought the 'Jacob' Floor Lamp from Beacon lighting the other day for the lounge room + I REALLY love it - so much so that I want to inconspicuously pack it in my suitcase and take it with me when I move out. Except for the fact that mum would see her missing lamp when she comes to visit and probably want it back ;) I just love that wooden tripod stand and think my parents have great taste :) And at only $189 (I think mum and dad got theres for around $170 - so be sure to ask for their best price) I think it's a great deal. Especially as I've been eying the Oxford floor lamp from Oz Design furniture (sadly no longer available) but it was just over $200...

I also had no idea they also have a table and pendant light in this same design. I am thinking the pendant lamp would look so lovely in the flat in the dining area - did I mention we have a lighting problem in the flat? As in there is only one ceiling light to light up the whole kitchen/dining/lounge space?! crazy and very unpractical I tell you! :)

small and cute!

2010-05-01T23:09:00.004+10:00

So today went really well.

We met up with Uncle Ken (it's been since Feb since I've seen that guy!) and went through our draft ceremony layout M had typed up.

I can say I am excited over the way our ceremony is shaping up.

An outreach to family and friends, a glimpse of God's love for us and purpose for marriage, Marriage as a reflection of god's love and special moments to happen including loved family members and close friends.

And really trying to make it personal - anyone have any other lovely ideas on how to do this?

now if only we could pick and agree on some pretty songs :)

Then we answered a questionnaire for our marriage course. So the computer can well.. compute things and give an overview on our relationship strengths and the areas we need to talk on too.

I had to laugh answering a few questions and knowing exactly what M's answer was - the complete opposite to mine :) But it really encouraged me that our relationship is strong and healthy and that we have discussed so much of what we want our marriage to be like and what our expectations are, as well as chatting through answers on the way home and digging deeper into areas together.

It also made me realize again how blessed I am to have Mr M and how sweet he really is.

that sweet CM :)

So after a really lazy afternoon of watching movies, heading to the hardware store and super cheap auto (yup fiance of the year over here ;) We had a quiet night at M's house and I decided to measure and draw up the plan of 'our flat' which I've been meaning to do for awhile.

The flat is actually a cute little 2 bedroom flat above the garage at M's house. His parents have blessed us by allowing us to stay here while only paying board while we save for a deposit on our own house. Hopefully within the span of 3 or so years. It makes me giddy just thinking about it. We are also going to give the flat a fresh coat of paint and possibly possibly get a new kitchen put in! The old one is so not workable for long period of time - no lights, a TINY amount of bench space and drawers that stick shut but with a clever daddy such as I have I know we will be able to work something out that is stylish and well in budget.

So I thought I'd get all the dimensions and start designing up a new workable kitchen up :)

wanna peak at 'our place'?
this is the existing layout and furniture...

Because it is so small (and I come with a heck of a lot of stuff) we need to get clever with storage solutions - so I am on the look out for clever ways to use the space.
We will have the beautiful and spacious main bedroom and the second bedroom will become a spare room/study/craft and sewing room (but mostly a craft room) - I'm so excited to get my own!

I am also trying to combine to kitchen dining area to make the space more workable and to give us more space overall.

it's so very cute and I can't wait to make it look more like 'us'

our first fun little love nest :)

Dear...

2010-05-01T22:42:00.000+10:00

Have you seen this blog yet?

I think it's just the cutest!

"Leah Dieterich's mother always told her to write thank you notes. So she does. To everything."

seriously seriously sweet!

we're giggling it up over here.

some favourites...

Also enjoying this song

+ this song too.

We enjoyed singing some really girly songs together on the way down to Sydney today.

and my, oh my that boy of mine can hit some high high notes!!!

I'd have to say I am also enjoying that

because it makes me laugh :)

prepared

2010-04-30T20:48:00.000+10:00

M and I are excited to be heading down to Sydney tomorrow to meet with his Uncle Ken.

We love Uncle Ken - he's very fun and silly, is awesome pastor and come November he is going to marry us.

We're excited to have him be such a part of our special day, that we will always be able to have the pastor that married us in our lives and that he is one who means so much to us.

Tomorrow we will start our first session of our pre marriage course 'PREPARE'

+ Uncle Ken is going to fix all that is wrong with Morgan!
As I, of course, am pretty much perfect ....

we're off to a great start huh ;)

hehe

Good thing the Mr knows I'm just joking here!
A lot of our married friends and family have highly recommended pre marriage courses to us as an excellent tool for heading into marriage with + we're excited to begin.

I will let you know how it goes.

Also talking about recommending ...
we are really loving this book and our dates and would recommend it to engaged couples for sure. Not only do you get to go on ten fun dates along the way but you will also discuss a lot of things before marriage - dealing with conflict, each others expectations of marriage, household chores, traditions and working out how your differences can actually balance each other out and make you a much stronger couple.
Also in the current Kt + M library is this book, which I'm really enjoying reading at the moment too.
:D

Kt hearts Pobke...

2010-04-29T23:35:00.000+10:00

Christine Pobke + Pobke photography that is ;)

Last Saturday M and I were lucky enough to meet up with our very talented wedding photographer Christine.

Christine came all the way from Canberra (mostly) just to meet us + snap our pictures - how lucky are we? This is the first time we had ever meet face to face! Having only ever talked via Skype or email before & there was plenty of excitement both sides. I mean this girl is both fun AND makes you look like a superstar ... and we think we're pretty fun too ;)

The first time we met she squished into the back of our car with all, I repeat ALL of our props - not even sitting but lying across all our stuff camera cradled in front of her totally excited to be there - I knew then and there I was going to LOVE this girl!

Plus she also helped me get changed in a field, saw my undies eep! and kept on taking photos when I would say 'ooh what about this' + 'one more?!'

yup she's pretty amazing and if you live in the ACT or NSW even you should check her out!

Christine found an amazing field in Centennial Park, Sydney for our engagement photoshoot - I loved it. So much so that I think we will have to go back there and picnic one day!

As we met at highschool and are very much high-school sweethearts we added a little bit of an old school theme to our photoshoot - school books, old suitcases, chalkboards and an amazing old school desk Morgan picked up from his neighbour THAT MORNING!

totally made the shoot!

Only bumma was forgetting the cute apples we took ages buying that morning in the car during our shoot - the ones with the perfect stems. But they did fill up hungry tummies on the way home.

Look guys the twister quilt !

oh and a mention must be made to my amazing makeup artist Melissa of Melli Cosemetics who did my makeup trial earlier that day.

I would also really really recomment Mel - her makeup is an artform and you can tell she just loves her job and has a real passion for makeup!

We had a lot of fun trying different ideas and effects until we were both happy with the result and knew it would match in with the wedding theme perfectly.

oooh and I got my foundation airbrushed with a gun too - so fun!

I am just so happy I got to use my trial for something fun too!

Here is our sneak peak Christine just put up!

Thank you Christine we love the and are so excited to see the rest!! ...

(plenty more to come!)

excited.

2010-04-20T23:25:00.003+10:00

So I just found out that Anthropology now ships to Australia!!

eeek!

of course it's not quite the same as spending an hour or so in the two story store in Seattle with:

a bunch of 8 fellow blogging ladies ...

8 tummies full of PF Changs ...

+ 8 fortunes from our fortune cookies ...

(1 lady with a fortune telling her that she shouldn't really shop ... what the?! ... poor Andi!)

3 babies

(1 who was quite cutely shopping all by herself hehe )

at least 6 cameras (Andi - I need pictures please :)

but I am happy just the same...

I just wish the postage wasn't so ridiculous!

I am really kicking myself for not buying myself and M these monogrammed mugs when I visited.

I really did eye them for ages.

But at over $40 to have them posted here looks like they will just have to stay.

I wonder if anyone stocks anything similiar here in Oz ...

anyone seen anything?

post edit: Just went on the Urban Outfitters webpage and they now ship to Australia too! With much more reasonable shipping prices might I add.
hopefully 'pandora' will be next :)

Back again..

2010-04-18T18:09:00.001+10:00

Back from (another) holiday of...
FUN!
a last family holiday before the wedding kinda fun...
of fun with good friends... (who are basically family anyway)...
of meeting long-lost relatives... a grandfathers brother ... a grandfather I never got to meet ... Who I know only through the stories telling of his funny sense of humor and of the joker he was... and getting a sweet glimpse of him through his equally funny brother...
of pouring through an old family bible...
of meeting mum's cousins - I never knew she had so many!
of a brother getting his license first go...
of a funny moment when the RTA announced he wasn't able to take his driving test with possible 'projectiles' in the car...
of sitting in the RTA along with ALL our holiday supplies so he could take said test ...
of water park fun ...
of slides and rides and giggles and screams (fun ones of course) ...
of palm trees and beaches...
of sand and sunshine... (and a little rain too)
of 4wdriving and swimming...
of trivia nights and lawn games...
of early morning walks and chats with the lord ...
of a tonne of special moments.

and of me just wanting to drop in and say hi...
I'm back again...
to stay.
Well for awhile - there is a honey moon in the planning for later this year!
I'm feeling content and so blessed tonight - even though the fun times have been had and now is the time for planning and organizing (some of it stressful) and settling back down and oh some serious job seeking (cause savings only last for so long!)

and ...
of promising to stick around more this time + blog too :)

I'm back!

2010-04-06T11:41:00.001+10:00

So I am on this amazing + dear ladies list..
why?
Because I haven't blogged in too long and perhaps, just perhaps maybe she misses me too?!
:)

So here I am. back + blogging... It's been only two weeks since I have returned from my month long trip to the States and yet it seems so much longer. I've wanted to blog to share photos (while wishing I had taken more) but truthfully I have just been a little swamped ...
a fiances birthday, a mothers birthday, a brothers birthday, a wedding (in which M was a groomsmen + quite involved), a school rowing regatta, a brand new car of his with a $1,200 problem (luckily still covered under warranty), some frustrating banking problems (both with M + my accounts) lots of wedding preparations + appointments, last minute trips to find Paige a dress for the wedding, a suddenly falling down formal dress - thank goodness for Hollywood tape + bra enhanchers is all I can say... and lots + lots of running here and there.

I feel like I don't even know where to begin.

What I can say is I have been super blessed by my trip to the States. + I'm still trying to process it all! Super blessed to have met the most amazing bunch of women ever - who have given me so so much - inspiration, encouragement, beautiful memories and lasting friendships. I totally adore each and everyone one!!

and I feel I have grown so much since my trip too! To say I stepped out of my comfort zone boarding a plane to another country, leaving mine for the first time and meeting up with a bunch of women I had never met in real life before is kinda an under statement.. like I told Leslie I don't think I even thought about it too much - I just did it - crazy I know! But now I know I am capable and able to do big things, to stretch myself and just go for it. + I have the sweetest bunch of real life girlfriends because of it.

see all this rambling? It's because I just can't seem to sort all thats floating around in my brain out.
So stay tuned for photos and blog posts as I try and sort out the most amazing trip and get back into the swing of normal life...

oh but did I mention we leave tomorrow morning for our last family vacation? + that by Saturday I will be relaxing beside a pool on a tropical island off the coast of Brisbane with my family and our 'extended family members' - hmmm maybe 'normal' is still a little while off yet ;)

Love Letter: Day 2

2010-02-26T19:19:00.001+11:00

To the spunky guy with the subaru whom he loves alot ... but not as much as ME,

Hey babe! I have decided to write u a small love letter here each day to keep you updated on what we get up to each day and use the enteries as a kinda diary of my travels.

So here goes ... a little catch up for you:

* the flight was good. long, but I never got to the stage where you think "are we there yet?" and then you look at the clock and it says there's still 4 hours left! So that was great.
* My flight to Brissy was late arriving and they were taking the final calls for my connecting flight but as there was a large amount of us connecting one of the flight staff was waiting for us and took us all over to the international terminal, helping us with paperwork etc. SO helpful
* the international planes are big!! super big!
* and people in business class are lucky. super lucky!
* I had to sit between 2 strangers - for 12 hours! But the guy next to me and I became quite good friends in the end.
* And plane food isn't that bad. But they didn't really serve fruit - oh how my mum would be disappointed!
* My flight into LA was early and I got through custom so quickly so I got there a little before Leslie but I knew her as soon as we saw one another.
* Hugging and meeting a bloggy friend in real life is surreal and so amazing.
* Leslie is amazing. and sweet and so is her little fam.
* I have only tried to get in the wrong side of the car once.. er make that twice (I did it again today!)
* I think you need to experience driving here. You would like it. but then again you just like driving full stop! it's strange and feels almost like you are over turning in the car and I keep getting confused
* the toilets are strange. super strange and low. And they FILL UP with water when u flush them?! I thought I'd chosen a toilet with a blocked pipe the first time I used one and that it was going to go everywhere!
* Cali is really warm so I have been able to wear jeans and short sleeved tops. how crazy is that?
* But I am expecting to freeze when I head further north!
* Rylan Mae is my sweet little shadow. She likes to wear my 'pretties' (headbands) and shoes and ask me what are u doing to everything I do. I totally want one - tantrums and all !!
* Yesterday we just hung around the house, relaxing and settling in.
* I miss you, but then again thats a given :)
*Today we went shopping at an awesome fabric places. SO So cheap we may have brought a lot!!

just maybe :)
you still love me right?
Always yours..
Kt
xxx

ps. Also I think it's so cute how excited you were over our feature on Polka Dot Bride :)

pps. I have a strange request: Can u email me a picture of your toilet and it's height in relation to the vanity - hehe thanks babe :)

featured!

2010-02-26T07:08:00.004+11:00

Guess what?!

Our engagement party has been featured on the Australian wedding blog 'Polka Dot Bride' today. We are so excited and stocked. You can click here to check it out for yourself. Thanks so much for the lovely write up Ms polka :)

ps. Have also arrived safely in LA and can't believe I'm not at all jet lagged and am already fitting in with US time. what the?! You can check out this ladies post to see how much fun were having and whats making us crack up (besides those cute kids of course). And how I keep saying things and Leslie's all - "umm what?"

And yes, seriously the toilets really are super low here!! lol

will catch u up soon. But right now we're off to the cheap fabric shop for some shopping fun :)

a little quiet.

2010-02-23T00:26:00.001+11:00

So things have been a little quiet around here lately and here's why...
remember that little trip to the US which I have mentioned a few times before? Well... I leave for LA in one days time! And I have been busy packing and organizing like a mad woman (well almost)!
It's kinda crazy - I can't believe the time has snuck up on me so quickly or that I am going to be blessed enough to meet an amazing bunch of crafty fellow bloggers who I have been lucky enough to become good friends with over the past few years - throwing surprise baby showers, online christmas parties, organizing swaps and chatting away with these girls has been so much fun and I can't wait to meet and hug each and every neck in person in just over a weeks time!

I'm also excited for this time in my life - for a chance to spread my wings and fly, to explore and experience new places and new people, to get outside my comfort zone and try something new and exciting, to challenege myself, to grow and to learn from these amazing women who's passion for Christ and their families is so inspiring. And then to come home and feather my own little nest - yipee :)

I will try to pop in from time to time and say hello.
But if things are a little quiet around here then you'll know what I'm up too :)

love kt
x

Love Letter no:1

2010-02-12T23:54:00.001+11:00

My Dearest Morgan,

Today was Friday - the exciting end of the week. The day where you get off work early and then you come to play. And we giggle. Sometimes we giggle ALOT because I do silly things like dangle off your back while you take off your shoes and make you play tag with me around the house. And sometimes.. well sometimes you just sleep. Cause you know it's been a looong week! Fortunately this afternoon was a silly one. (they are kinda my favourite!)

You picked me up and we drove in that big four wheel drive your family owns. The one I almost need a step ladder to get into cause it is SO high. Off to do afternoon errands. But I didn't mind, even though the air conditioner leaked water all over my shoes every time you took a left hand turn (seriously that water was REALLY coming out of there - with force!) - Did you mean to take so many of those left handed turns? But it didn't matter because I was with you. And you were with me. And that is really all that matters.

I love how we chatted and played as we drove along. And you teased me pretending you didn't remember that in high school Fridays were 'snuggle day' and that Friday to us just simply didn't exist. Until I was so confused by what you were saying and what you actually remembered. Oh I should know your game - you always get me with jokes like that!! Or how you refused to go along with my stupid plan to call the afternoon storm a 'snuggle storm' - I really was just being silly you know. And how you said you'd never call it that in front of anyone or tell anyone you did and how now I have just posted it on the internet for the WORLD to see because I am awesome, like that :)

And I am sorry that I probably embarrassed you in the optometrist while I was getting my contacts checked for the second time because they are 'smudgy'. And for yelling out silly things like "I think it's my eyes that are all smudgy""maybe their broken""Whats the weather forecast this afternoon baby?" or "I can't seeeee you!"
Or how I couldn't resist putting my just my leg outside the half open door and shaking it around pretending it was sexy just to get a rise from you. I hope I make you laugh and smile (because well you know I didn't have my contacts in and couldn't see your face). And I hope I was able to take your mind off a long not so good work week!
and of course for anyone interested, my optometrist was out the back while I was carrying on so! although we do have a few laughs together and I think he finds me funny and not too strange :)

Thanks for a fun afternoon my love...
I love you forever even though you truly do remember snuggle days, even when you say you don't :)
lets play forever and always be silly.
Always your
kt bear
x

a date.

2010-02-08T01:00:00.002+11:00

Four our minus 1 year anniversary Morgan took me up to Wine Country to celebrate. We had lunch at the vineyard where we are having our wedding reception and sampled the food and wine - well I sampled the wine, cause he was driving this:

borrowed (with permission of course) from the parents.

And I thought you might like a little sneak peek of outside (I unfortunately didn't take any snaps of the inside)...

the courtyard, where we hope to have the evening dancing (weather permitting)

the view.

the chicken shed.

They use the fresh eggs for the meals and also the veggies from the veggie patch :)

Canapes on the lawn will be served here.

outdoor seating. I can just imagine this at night with all the lights on :)

After lunch we played in the vines.

and that was fun!

over lunch I caught the Mr-to-be starring and smiling at me in a total look of love

and I very much melted on the spot

And I realized ONCE AGAIN

How much I love this dear boy!!

I also realized something else that day ..

I have really deep armpit cavities!
like REALLY deep!

mmm sexy!

kt hearts ....

2010-02-05T08:59:00.000+11:00

a little bit of pixie dust in a bottle

and other sweet items from my friend Fairlight's Esty shop :)

Please do check it out!

ps. there is only one bottle of pixie dust left, so get in quick!!

a little love.

2010-02-02T00:17:00.001+11:00

So I have blogged before about my love of this sweet etsy shop. And now the lovely Alli is hosting a giveaway on her blog.

So hop on over to Hooray and you could win a cute canister filled with valentines goodies...

But please don't win cause I want this one pretty bad ;)

kt hearts ...

2010-01-31T23:07:00.000+11:00

These earrings which i have been eyeing for awhile!

There really sweet aren't they?!

other colours I think I need:

red, turqouise and grey :)

these ones are only $6.50 and I found them here.

Totally Spoilt

2010-01-29T14:40:00.008+11:00

Remember when I mentioned that I was very spoilt this Christmas?

We'll it's true I totally was!!

And not that we take note or anything.. but I also won the prize for the top two biggest presents of the year - always fun!

We opened presents with my family on Christmas Eve (as they spent Christmas on the boat and had to leave that afternoon) which meant we got to dig into this loot early too.

On top of a beautiful cutlery set (a belated engagement present from the parents), a USA power adaptor from brother, some fun USA spending money and a few other fun things M presented me with this large box... which I didn't even know was for me until then (he sneakily got it upstairs while I was out)

And guess what was inside...

A white Eames Rocker!!!

I may have screamed, ran into his arms and then just burst into tears right there on the spot - just maybe - I was so excited!

Isn't it lovely... only wish I had hardwood floors in my bedroom for photo purposes too!

And if you have been a reader of my blog for some time you might remember this post where I mentioned my search for the perfect unit for my room. And the crush I had on this one that was just over $1,000.00 aka NOT IN THE BUDGET! The search has been going on all year with no luck and so this is what my dad built me for Christmas:

And can you believe he found those shuttered door fronts on an old cupboard by the side of the road, Cut and modified them to fit and painted them up?!? How clever is he?

I was so excited to see it all finished and sitting in my room.

I also got a little teary when he pulled out the middle drawer and mentioned how he had written a little message for me there!

And oh how I love the extra storage!

Although I think I am in need of the rest of the furniture in this set now ;)

Hope you and yours were just as spoilt during the holiday season too!
oh and total cost of the unit just over $100, crazy huh!

the gumdrop shoppe!

2010-01-28T21:13:00.002+11:00

So remember when I mentioned that I will soon be flying on over to the US to meet some of my dear sweet bloggy friends?

To help cover some of our accommodation costs we have got together and started 'The Gumdrop Etsy Shoppe' (as in goody goody gumdrops - because we are THAT excited about pulling this thing off. That and Chelle always thinks of cute names - love her!)

I thought you might want to pop on over and have a look, possibly make a purchase?!

and please do keep checking back, there are always new items being added and there will be lots of fun items coming in for Valentines Day too :)

so...

SHOP HERE.

the one where I try to catch up...

2010-01-25T16:06:00.001+11:00

Wow.. it's been nearly two whole months since my last blog - so sad!
And I seem to have a writer's block...
where to start?
what to share?
Which one of the many half started posts to begin with?
there's just been so much happening lately...
Dec and Jan are busy months!

So since I last posted I have:

- Finished College - Did I mention this?!
I cannot believe I actually made it through that final major project I felt like I didn't sleep or eat properly for weeks (only about 10 out of 18 of us actually presented the day it was due - it was a crazy time!)

- Enjoyed Christmas time with M's family... my first Christmas I haven't woken up and shared pressies with my own family!

- Was totally totally spoilt by my family and M for Chrissy (more on that later).

- Laughed at babushka tool boxes that just.keep.coming.

- Spent Boxing Day on the boat with my family and M's ... eating seafood and gourmet salads, and Oma's over-supply of snacks, swimming and listening to those cicadas (they are SO loud this year!)

- Spent a few days on the boat with different friends just relaxing... and eating!

- Had an amazing New Years Eve:

- NYE#1: Went to the summer Fair down at the local waterfront. Carnie took M's money and I went on some crazy dare-devil rides with my sister-in-law-to-be. I love that she loves rides too - M will never go on them with me he stood there freaking out from the ground!

- NYE#2: Waved to mum and dad who were on the boat from up the top of the biggest ride - they didn't see me.

-NYE#3: Watched the New Years eve Fireworks on the roof of our boat with champagne and yummy cheese cakes. We were 100 m away from the barge they were letting the fireworks off from and they were so loud, you could even hear the sound bouncing off the mountains behind us - talk about surround sound - it was so great.

- NYE#4: Went to a party at a friends house and enjoyed watching the Sydney fireworks on TV and catching up with friends.

- Went through another possible sale of our house which fell through again - seriously weren't we just here this time last year too?

- Spent lots of time crafting.

- Booked wedding cars, a photographer, tried dresses on and enjoyed many more wedding related activities.

- Dated my boy a few times:

- Date#1: Had lunch at the venue we are having our wedding reception at on a REALLY hot day the food was scrummy!

- Date#2: Enjoyed a yummy date eating seafood, watching the pelicans at the waterfront restaurant - also on a REALLY hot day!

- Have been to the beach lots - because did I mention, it's been really HOT here!

- Realized I need a new swimmers - with working elastic!

- Continued planning my trip to the States coming up NEXT MONTH to meet some amazing women!

- Found out my cousin Sarey is going to be in LA at the same time as me - yippee!

- Have gotten into the TV show 30 rock with these crazy guys:

- Celebrated the church I grew up in's 30th birthday. Had a great service, loved having Ps Pat preach again, enjoyed a party and watched old church camp and dance videos which made us crack up SO much!

- Also enjoyed checking out M all dressed up in his new vest and haircut (and Mitch and him accidentally wearing matching outfits - as M says 'oh how embarrassing' but not really cause they are boys!):

- Watched dad take on a new business. Selling Thermomix machines (my my these little guys are amazing!)

- Watched dad play around with our thermo mix - we've made yummy dips, salads, ice cream, sorbet, burrito mix, custard, muesli bar balls etc etc

- Gotten my first Interior Design job through a client of dad's who is in the process of buying an old weatherboard cottage with a waterfront and completely renovating the whole thing! colours, furniture, layouts - It's exciting people!

- Have gotten excited over what is going to be an awesome (and busy) year - three weddings (2 of which M is involved in), two exciting holidays, a honeymoon, a new job, a new house with renovations and one spunky husband later!

-And an even more amazing decade for us - getting married, buying houses, babies, careers and leaning more and growing closer to our God - stay tuned it's going to be good!

"34!"

2009-11-28T21:31:00.007+11:00

Today we got our first piece of furniture for our house - for the craft room to be exact!
A chest of drawers sitting at the end of our street with a sign attached that read "Free"
I was immediately sold...
(probably before I even checked the condition it was in!- which is really good by the way)
I am seeing a new coat of fresh white paint over the existing pine and some pretty patterns to line the drawers. It wouldn't fit in Morgan's car boot so I jokingly said he'd have the carry it up the street - he didn't even think twice before he picked up those heavy drawers and started waddling up the street proudly providing for his Mrs-to-be.
aaw!

Then we had this funny conversation:

K: "Watching you proudly carry that heavy chest of drawers up the street for me in 34 degree heat made me fall in love with you all over again!"
M: *laughing at me* ... "34 degree heat huh?" (yup that's the bit he chose to take from that sentence!)
K: "yup, why's that so funny?"
M: "that's really precise"

He then goes on to cheekily say that he thinks it actually feels a bit more like "31"
There are kisses and then he jumps into his car to leave and pushes the button to check the outside temperature.
And I see him laughing his head off.
He winds the window down and I hear
"34!"
& that was the part where I won...
both a man who carry's heavy cupboards for me without thinking twice and the ability to correctly guess the heat of the day!

ps. did I mention it was HOT!?
both him AND today ;)

kt hearts ...

2009-11-20T01:55:00.005+11:00

Inside Out Magazine's Christmas special which showed up on my door a few weeks ago (my lovely Aunty K brought me a ears subscription for my birthday - score!)
As this is an Australian magazine and many of you, my dear readers will not be able to get your hands on a copy here is some delicious eye candy just for you...

oh how i want to make one of these paper wreaths!

an amazing christmassy treehouse!

and how I love this Christmas tree take.

Infact I have seen one similiar at ne of our local shops - so pretty!

Although M is definitely a real pine tree kinda guy. mmm maybe we one day can have two trees?!

& look circle garlands on the front cover similar to the ones I made last year :)

ps. today marked ONE year exactly till I become a Mrs!! I can't wait to start our life together.
Today while waiting for our Chinese takeaway (we spoiled ourselves tonight) I asked M how many different emotions he thinks he will go through exactly one year from now...
to which he chuckled and teasingly replied
"uggh do we have to talk about our emotions?!"
of course my dearest that's just what we girls do :)
but he did tell me he will cry for sure - aaaw!!

the one where I am super proud :)

2009-11-15T22:23:00.003+11:00

So I was on a bit of a role there for awhile.. but I seem to have lost my momentum, that and I am in the middle of my FINAL assessment before I am a qualified junior designer - yes I said FINAL.. eek! So that is (mostly) all I have been doing lately. But last night I took a break curled my hair and put on a cute skirt and we went out to support our amazing friend Corinne (you met her a few posts ago) and her band Jonnday at their cd launch and live dvd recording. And it was great - they are all such talented musicians and I was so proud of Miss Rinny, who is their new lead singer and has an amazing voice - but I'm biased right? I also loved one of their supporting artists Amy Rose Buckle who has the darlingest voice... I am sure I was standing there with my mouth gaping open at the way she just sat there singing like it was the easiest thing in the world. And some fun shots of the gorgeous Rinny (and the band)...

isn't she cute?

And here is their trailer just so you can here her sing :)

ooh and you can listen to their music on their myspace here too.

kt hearts ...

2009-11-05T00:22:00.000+11:00

This cute free download - a customizable card & hand drawn labels.

I of course love the little bird motif...

Found on Creature Comforts.

+ also the free recipe card download

+ this free library card download too!

Seriously if you do not already follow the creature comforts blog - you should check it out, there is so much daily eye candy and inspiration over there!

super gorgeous girls

2009-11-03T12:39:00.002+11:00

We now have a full bridal party & can I just say that my bridesmaids are amazing and fun and oh so cute! They have even made themselves a private facebook group (which I am not privy to) to "To bring us all closer together in preparation for the big day!" aaww
I wanted to think of a fun way to ask these girls to have a special part in our day so I made them each a little card out of some lovely Heather Bailey scrapbooking paper and ribbon.
It was such a great idea because not only did I get to sit down and play with pretty paper but I got to really think why I wanted these girls to be my bridesmaids and what they mean to me (& M).
And it was fun to look at their faces as they read over the card and then came to the word 'bridesmaid' - in fact one of them even started crying :)

so would you like to meet them?

sarah.

My Maid of Honour

my amazing, sweet and beautiful cousin.

Miss Mac # 1 (but only cause shes the oldest - or so we have to keep telling her ;)

So many fun childhood memories, so many similar interests.

& so many laughs and good chats when we get together.

I love her fiercely!

plus she's so cute - she was SO super excited when I asked her and after screaming and hugging she went out and brought a 'bridesmaid handbook' and has been reading it ever since. She's also already starting to plan the hens and kitchen tea party and been in contact with dress makers too.

Paige.

Morgan's gorgeous sister.
so loving. so supportive. so helpful. so sweet. so caring. so fun to be around + to laugh with.
& SO glad I get her as my sister-in-law :)
She's also wedding-blog obsessed too and has been sharing lovely things she knows I will just adore.
and she's a frequent reader of my blog - hi lovely!!
and no she doesn't usually wear masks but I just adore this photo of her :)

Leesa.

my dearest friend since junior high school.
in 2007 we got her to the chapel to marry her prince + now it's her turn.
Leese is also the creative eye behind all our engagement photoshoot photos
& many of the photos at our engagement party.
she's creative, funny and super fun to be around too!!

Corinne
I have been blessed to have known this funny and spunky girl for around 15 years!!
she is beautiful inside. outside and upside down.
not only does she makes our hairs look pretty
but she is also a great friend (to us both)
and we share such fun memories together as well as many little letters we have sent to each other over the years - oh my they are so funny to read over!

aren't they beautiful?

being still on a saturday afternoon.

2009-10-31T14:07:00.004+11:00

I saw this over on Ali Edward's blog (if you like scrap booking you will love her blog!) - she was inspired by this and thought it was a lovely little quiz to play along with...

Outside my window... yummy fresh springtime smells, a soft breeze, a little sunshine and blue sky (finally) - yay!

I am thinking... of traveling to the USA for our blog meetup & all the fun & planning between now & then!! seriously my head is spinning with fun ideas & wedding crafts which this lady & this one are going to help me with! & the fun this lady and I will get up to too!

I am thankful for ... lovely friends & one who has just completely blessed my socks today! again, thank you!

From the kitchen... burrito's & tacos for my brother (his fav meal) for when he gets home from school tonight for our 'sibling date'
+ fresh watermelon & choc mint drumsticks - my treats for the week :)

I am wearing... dark denim skinny jeans, white t-shirt with gold braiding, no shoes and my glasses.

I am creating... a shopping list for this weeks meal plan (my parents are holidaying on an island off the coast of Brisbane, Stu is at school and I am fending for myself for the week!).
+ also some more laptop cozies.

I am going ... to Spotlight, very soon! & will try (really hard!) not. to. buy. anymore. fabric!!

I am reading ... 'Before you plan your wedding, plan your marriage' together with M. It was an awesome engagement gift from my parents-in-law-to-be. Where only up to chapter one, but I will let you know how it is.

I am hoping... for a kitchenaid mixmaster for our kitchen!

I am hearing... this song. I love the words.

Around the house ... lots & lots of cleaning - fresh sheets, fresh laundry, vacuumed & dusted rooms & a feeling of accomplishment. Now on to chats with my brother who just walked in the door as we catch up on whats been happening in our lives this week.

One of my favourite things ... the fact that summer & the Christmas season is coming up! I'm dreaming of beach days, picnics, boating trips, swimming, cute summery dresses, cocktails, nigh time bbq's & delicious salads - I am SUCH a summer girl!

A few plans for the rest of the week ... college. college. college. and to actually get started on my final assessment which I have been slightly putting off!

A picture to share ...
I was going through the old photos the other night and here are...
the original young lovers.
at Grandma's 21st birthday/their engagement party.
naw!
ps. I want that dress!

please play along if you'd like to too, ok?

paper scraps.

2009-10-29T21:10:00.004+11:00

Hurray - we finally finished writing all our thank you notes for our lovely engagement presents.
& wow we did seem to be writing forever!!We had quite a few scraps left over from the guest book (and all pre cut too!) so we used them to make our 'scrappy-thank yous.
It was as simple as cutting and folding some white cardstock (which was on hand from when we made the invites), some thank you's printed off on my new love - graph paper and a roll of double sided tape.& inside each card we incorporated our m+k theme..
& thank you to Mr M for helping me glue, stick, writing the envelopes and for writing the majority of these cards while I helped dictate - yes my left handed fiance has neater handwriting than me!
& also for that night where we couldn't breathe because we just laughed and laughed over how to word them when we got stuck on "thank you for the towels...!"
your just the best!

chic & simple.

2009-10-29T10:49:00.004+11:00

one thing I love about Amazon, is how it remembers what you've bought or looked at and gives you suggestions to other items you might like (or is this a dangerous tool!?).
One item that popped up for me when I was browsing the other day was this sewing book:

and I think I NEED it :)
I am a sucker for all the fun photography, how they are classified as 'simple', the pretty pages and I love the outfits shown (particularly the dress on the front cover).
here are some of the other patterns:

you can find this book here on Amazon.com.
... or my Christmas wish list ;)

blog award.

2009-10-28T21:35:00.006+11:00

my newly found blog friend and sweet lady Cassie from hydrangeas and white daises (I think you need to pop on over to her little spot and say hello) has just awarded me the 'Over the top' blog award. aaaw thanks Cassie. Part of this award is answering this little quiz and passing it on to 6 other bloggy friends.
so here goes ...

1. where is your cell phone: still in the bag I took to college today. mmm I probably should check that ...
2. your hair: is in need of a trim, but is getting longer & is just sitting below my shoulders now yay!
3. your father: sitting next to me on the couch in his jammies all sleepy and cuddly.. aaaw!
4. your favourite food: SO many, but I am definitely a sucker for brie cheese and crackers.
5. your dream from last night: no idea!? I just never seem to remember my dreams except this one I just remembered I blogged about hehe
6. Your favourite drink: I guess it depends on my mood... peach iced tea, plain tea, chai lattes, golden circle pine coconut which sadly only comes in the small tetra carton :(
7. Your dream/goal: to be a mum & have a creative at-home business on the side.. stay tuned ;)
8. what room are you in: the lounge room, snuggled up with my mumma, dadda, aunt, uncle and incredibly sleepy puppy.
9. what is your hobby: do I need to answer this one ;) crafting, sewing, taking photos & snuggling M :D
10. what is your fear: birds - especially the vicious ones at circular quay!!
11. where do you want to be in 6 years: owning our own little home near the beach, being a mum to our little ones and more mature in my faith.
12. where were you last night: at home .. doing nothing exciting.
13. something you are not: looking forward to all the work I have to do on my final major assessment over the next month!
14. muffins: I'm not really into cakes and sweets as much as savoury - that would be M, although the white chocolate and raspberry muffins we had at my 21st were delicious!!
15. wish list items: see below post & side list :)
16. where did you grow up: from the age of 4 in the house I still live right now & for a few years in a house a few doors down which my parents rented while we built our current home.
17. last thing you did: cleaned my teeth
18. what are you wearing: my flanelette pj's and fuzzy pink socks. And thinking I should be wearing cute summer jammies by now - it is nearly Nov and it's STILL cold?!
19. your tv: is upstairs and off.
20. your pets: have gone to bed ready for another big day at the 'office' with dad.
21. your friends: are awesome to have dinner and board game nights with!
22. your life: is pretty good and about to get super exciting next year!
23. your mood: slightly frustrated that I can't seem to accomplish everything I want to in the amount of time I have.
24. missing someone: my baby brother who I feel like I havent seen in ages & just facebooked me!! He is currently at school and won't be home till after sport on sat afternoon and then back again on Sun night :( I feel in need of one of our sibling dates!
25. vehicle: super yummy subaru liberty ;) ooh wait that's 'ours'... I mean M's car ;) (he hates when I try and call it mine) .. I have a crappy little two door dark green excel with no power steering which hasnt been cleaned since the crazy red dessert dust storm last month!! note to self: wash car this weekend!
26. something your not wearing: my engagement ring - it's in it's little dish beside my bed for sleepy time.
27. your favourite store: Spotlight! & the creative little homewares shops on Darby Street, Newcastle!!
28. your favourite colour: too many to choose from - maybe green or yellow, pink has it's moments too?!
29. when's the last time you laughed: most probally today - my college friends are crazy and silly!
30. whens the last time you cried: ? but it was probally over a sappy movie ;)
31. your best friend: my FIANCE!! woo woo
32. one place you go over and over: M's house?
33. one person who emails me regularly: Definetly M, Fairlight, Chelle and Leslie.
34. Favourite place to eat: so I have mentioned this to M before - how we don't have a favourite restaraunt and how we need to fix this!! There is a little cafe we've been meaning to try though!! Although the thai place near us is pretty good, even with the tacky light up palm trees and flowers (it is viva-la-"insert suburb here". I am serious!) I also love the thai place near Leesa and Sam's house in Newcastle - it has a fancy chandlier and they make a mean 'crouching tiger'!!

ok so I'm unsure who to pass this on too!
All my bloggy friends have such great and creative little spots!!
But if you would like to play along...
lets try Andi, Fairlight, Dawna, Chelle - because you havent blogged in a little bit and I miss you! And Jacy & Leslie because I always love hearing what you guys are up to - always!
Anyone else who wants to play along.. please feel free too aswell!

kt hearts ...

2009-10-28T21:06:00.002+11:00

I thought it might be fun to start a new weekly edition to my blog -
To keep me motivated to continually blog
to share one of my favourite finds of the week
to file them all away for future reference
AND ...
so M can buy me them as presents - hehe! I'm dreaming I know, I know!

so welcome to Issue #1 of 'kt hearts'..

This little ceramic dish is from the shop Have you Met Miss Jones?
(which is in Alexandria, Sydney yippee - but you can buy online too!)
I would put this little dish next to my bed side table so I could stare at it each morning
and I would use it to put my jewelery in while I sleep/do housework.
It would work a lot better than my current shallow candle holder
- plus its really cute too!

inspired.

2009-10-28T00:44:00.001+11:00

Just some inspiration images (partly requested by this lady) for what I’d like our little flat to look like ...

homey. creative. bright. fresh. inspiring. mismatched.
a little quirky & a lot fun!

mmm a graphic print rug again - and love the fun yellow accent!!

danish inspired furniture and pieces..love the pom pom curtains & soothing colour palette !!!

how great are these colours?!

oooh this is like a resort. And white wooden shutter - my dream home has white wooden shutters which M has heard oh, a thousand times!!

blackboard walls are fun!

white shutters closing off the boudoir... mmmm

wooden floors.

white bright walls.

cute arrangement.

a zig zag rug!!

open shelving.
pendant lights.
wood.
space.
natural light.
quirky artwork.
natural shapes.

yum.

setting up house.

2009-10-26T22:20:00.016+11:00

We have a list.

A highly practical list.
Of things we need to set up home.
Things like…
- cutlery
- pots & pans
- a toaster …
Things that we don’t have yet.
But would you like to see what is on my dream list??
the list where money and space are not a problem?
It’s a FUN list!
...
an Eames Rocker.
in white.
With stainless steel legs.
an artisan kitchenaid mixmaster.
M likes the apple green one.
and I am tossing up between the 'ice blue'
... although I also like the pistachio one too!
This print & this one too.Ikea pendal floor clock/bookcase.
only $299 and such a cute item!
a new rug for the lounge room.
in a graphic print.
this one is from Spotlight found via ish & chi blog - here.
these ones are from West Elm.
- oh to have this shop in australia!a funky shower screen.
no idea where this is from, but I do love the print and colours!
lots of cute throw cushions.
This one is from etsy, although I have lost the link :(
love the frills!
pssst I just found the link on a giveaway!!
- Hettle.An Eric Pfeiffer coffee table.
or side table.
or magazine holder.
- there's just something about molded wood :)white storage shelving unit & organizer
for the 'studio/spare bedroom'
love the style of this unit + having drawers included too.
I also thought this was a great idea for organizing fabric neatly in a closet :)
Found here.
+ I can't wait to make a 'his' and 'her' gumdrop cushion for the lounge room.
with the pattern I was lucky enough to get for my birthday :D!
ps. M – there is an actual literal list you may not be aware of quite yet! And yes the Eames chair is on it ;)

sweet birthday package.

2009-10-22T20:13:00.011+11:00

It’s true, I love to shop for gifts, I also love to buy gifts and then wrap them all up.

But even more than that…
I love to make birthday gifts for special people in my life.So that’s just what I did for one of our dear friends Rinny who just had her birthday (and also just got a new macbook!!) I jumped at the chance to make her a lovely little laptop cozy (similar to mine).Then I had fun wrapping it all up :)!

Oh yes, and I am still quite obsessed with brown paper packages, paper doilys and pegs ;)

engagement #7

2009-10-22T20:03:00.023+11:00

Just some extra images from the day that make me smile!

Rachel’s pretty braids.
(amazing image taken by Morgan - he has a good eye huh?
– I also love how this is one of his favourites from the day!)
My adorable grandpa (one half of the 'original young lovers'!).Coloured paper in a jar.
Cute shoes.
our congratulations morgan & katie sign
- from here martha stewart.com.k + m = love
roses in the garden.
roses in jam jars.
tied with string (we had these on all the tables).
& more cupcakes – the dodgy ones, but they really do make me smile anyway!
:)

engagement #6

2009-10-20T14:52:00.007+11:00

The Guestbook.
I am so glad we decided to put a guest book together. Not only did it give our guests something fun to do during the party, but we got some really neat responses and they were so fun to sit down at breakfast the next morning and read together. I am planning to scrapbook them together in an album with our engagement photos and photos from the party.To set up it was as easy as hanging twine between two palm trees, supplying some pens (provided in jam jars of course), a vase full of pegs, a vase full of scrap booking paper which I cut into small squares and some instructions. We also used the string to display some of our favourites images from our engagement photo shoot.
The papers and photos looked so pretty all hanging up they were the last decorations to come down too!!Here are some of our favourites:

“Grandma and Grandpa (the original young lovers) are so happy to see you continuing on our family tradition. Lots of babies for God and country please
xxx love ooo”

“Make sure your couch is longer than 6ft so I can sleep on it”

"Still learning about wisdom... but so far this is what I know.. don't stop talking :)"
"Dear Ktbear & Morgan hmm a word of wisdom what can I say? be grateful for every act of kindness. Remember to say thank you"
“Katie I love you and Morgan love ebonie”
From my parents:

engagement #5

2009-10-19T20:31:00.020+11:00

The Photobooth.

Photobooths have been going around blog land like crazy lately and it looked like such fun I decided we just had to give it ago too.For the backdrop I headed to Spotlight’s sale rack and found this cute country fabric for only $4 a metre. I simply cut the length in half, sewed it together and then roughly sewed up the side seams to make it neat. Then it was as simple as hanging a rope between two trees and pegging the sheet to the rope (we also used safety pins to make sure it was extra secure). And because it was slightly windy during the party we secured the bottom of the sheet into the ground with a few tent pegs.
I also found this tutorial for felt moustaches (it has down loadable stencils too) and I cut them out while Morgan used the hot glue gun to piece them together. Lets just say… they were FUN!
To capture our photos we set up one of our point and shoot cameras on the tripod and tada – hours of fun and cheap entertainment :)
It was a hit and took some of the best (and funniest) photos of our guest see:
This is Jesse-the-cupcaker-icier-extraordinaire and Aaron who were such a huge help with cooking and setting up :)Little Katelyn is just so funny & dramatic. She "made her crown especially for the party" and "just in time too!!"
aaawww
& my lovely little cousin Ella made this special paper heart for me :)

engagement #4

2009-10-19T15:23:00.012+11:00

Ok so this is a game, but after all the hours put into it I decided the much talked about twister quilt (which is actually and sadly not quilted) deserved a post all of it’s own!

Here it is in all it’s glory, cute and patchworky and fun!To make I googled pictures of the original twister game and made it larger (8 circles x 8 circles) so lots of people could play together, I’m sure around 20 could play at once.
For the quilt front I used sheeting - it was the only material whose width was long enough. For the circles I once again headed to spotlight’s sale rack and came away with these fun prints (some at only $2 a metre!!) I cut out circles with a 21cm diameter and used visafix to adhere them to the quilt top (although this step isn’t necessary & some I just tacked on roughly). Then I zig zagged around them to secure.For the quilt back I used the leftover fabric and pieced together large 30 x 30 cm squares (easy!). I then had to put a white boarder around them because in my excitement and rush I forgot to add in some seam allowances. The idea is that the quilt is reversible and M and I can use either side for many picnics to come. I also quickly and roughly sewed the back and front wrong sides together before sewing on the binding on to secure them together.
And I even made my own binding, which is the first time I have ever done this & I may be hooked!! A few chats with Fairlight who gave me some tips and encouragement and this youtube video and I decided to give it ago – I’m so happy with how it turned out, so much nicer than store bought binding!
Because it is meant to be a picnic quilt and used outdoors I also added some tags which were placed into the ground with tent pegs and helped the mat not to scrunch up under foot.For the spinner I scanned the fabrics and photoshopped them into a simple a design which I simply printed and then taped onto thick cardstock. For the spinner we borrowed one from another game and drilled a whole through the cardstock to attach it to the board. – it took all of about 15 mins.
I didn’t get to play myself on the day (I did play the night before with cousins) but plenty of our guests adults (including my parents) and kids alike had fun getting twisted in knots! Here is Aunty Mandy and Aaron and Jesse having a go:
One of our guests even commented on what a great idea it was and how it could even become a family heirloom and how our grandchildren could even bring out the famous twister quilt one day (when it’s possibly even more scrappy) and play– oh how that just makes my heart sing!!

engagement #3

2009-10-19T10:42:00.002+11:00

The Games & Entertainment.

Who doesn’t love party games? When brainstorming ideas for our party we knew we wanted to create an afternoon that was fun for our guests as it was for us and had lots to keep them occupied (as well as catering for our littlest guests too).

We set up an area for boules and dad, cut some mdf and timber scraps to make some signs, which we painted in chalkboard paint (similar to the signs I made at my 21st).

Morgan also made a quiz of us and our relationship history which got the guests mingling and lead into our speeches. Oh my Morgan's speech was so gorgeous! he absolutely hates public speaking but he pulled off the best speech I have ever heard him make! We made it so that at least a few of the guests would know each answer with the idea that guests had to chat amongst themselves to exchange answers. It got quite a few laughs, particularly questions number 8 which Morgan will never live down that he wrote 'picadi' instead of 'barcadi' , something I didn’t pick up – yeah we are totally not big drinkers ;)
He put so much effort into it, making one of his amazing excel spreadsheets with places for scoring and columns which added up and it was great to see him enjoy creating something for the day. I wanted to make them pretty and print them out on graph paper, but unfortunately M was right and they were too flimsy and hard to print, so we compromised and I incorporated our little m+k=<3 logo at the top - there's some good marriage practice right there ;) For our last question we asked our guests to write down their favourite M + K memory (if they had one) and they were such fun to read and reminisce over. One of my favourites was our friend Tim who said something to the effect of “When I asked Morgan to check out the new girl at school for me to see if she liked me and then he went and married her instead!”

We also left large buckets of jumbo chalk on the driveway for our littlest guests & they turned the driveway into a work of art & seemed to have a lot of fun and some covered in chalk!! Welcome to hopscotch city! Created by sweet little Isabel and her brother Ben. I played along with the kids for awhile, which resulted in lots of giggles - some of those hopscotches were pretty hard & I was just no good at it!

I also love how the kids covered the driveway in m<3 k!
This is me with sweet and crazy Ebonie and her artwork.

engagement #2

2009-10-17T22:09:00.012+11:00

The Food.

Yes, the menu deserves a post all of it's own!
It was scrumptious - oh my Morgan's mum and his Aunty Mandy did such an amazing job catering for over 100 guests! (with help from my mum, M's cousins Aaron and Jesse and sister Paige too).
For mains we served a Chicken Ceaser salad and Lamb salad
- Recipe here (seriously this is a super yummy salad).
Which were served in noodle boxes left over from another party :)
For Drinks we had red punch, champagne, a tea and coffee bar and homemade lemonade (found here) - an easy recipe and an absolute Morgan favourite. Morgan's cousin's Jesse and Aaron did an awesome job juicing ALL the lemons, making the sugar syrup and putting it all together - I seriously didn't have to do a thing! To serve I used one of Morgan's mums large cookie jars, a soup ladle and made a cute label - using the graph paper to keep with our m+k=<3 theme.
We used this cupcake toppers tutorial & instead secured the flags onto our straws (such a fun and cheap idea).We then placed them on the drinks table in jam jars (we collected so many!) and placed pens and nearby asking guests to label their flag.
frame reads: "Is that mine? write your name on your straw to keep track of your drink throughout the afternoon".
Here are Morgan and mine (we drank from jam jars):
Some of the guests came up with quite fun and quirky things to write on their straws. There was a few 'bridesmaids' and my brother's which read 'Stuart - awesome groomsman!'
For our cake we made over 200 cupcakes. Which M's mum, my mum and myself made a few days before the event. M's cousin Jesse turned out to be a champion cupcake icer (and SUCH a help!) and M's sister Paige made the icing (around 7 batches!!) while Jesse and I iced away.It took around 5 hours & the kitchen table was filled with cupcakes and the total supply of containers from two households!! The icing was actually very quick and easy and most of the time was used waiting for the sugar, water and gelatine to come to room temperature. As you can imagine by the 7th batch of icing we were total pros and had it down pat with everyone knowing their roles!
I once again borrowed Niki’s circle cutter and photoshopped and cut little cupcake toppers to match our invites – they looked very cute when served.
Our other dessert option was fruit platters and M’s mums home made pies. I’m sad to say I don’t have photos of either - the berry and peach pies were so scrumptious and country looking and Aunty Mandy used small cookie cutters to cut some watermelon and rockmelon stars and love hearts, which were placed on top of the fruit platter – too cute!
I also made some cute labels and placed on some jars which we filled with lollies and placed in strategic places around the garden.
And there was a plan to decorate strawberries with milk and white chocolate, but there was a shortage up in qld due to the weather – how sad!
still there was definitely plenty of yummies to go around!!
And I may have just had more than one serving of a few items - just maybe ;)

engagement #1

2009-10-16T17:40:00.001+11:00

So our engagement party was SO much fun!!
We were seriously on a high for.... AGES! (Can u tell I still am?!)
We enjoyed preparing and cooking (with LOTS of help!!), the party itself, opening our presents, playing with our presents (we decided to try some of the electrical presents as many only had a 1 year warranty which will expire before we actually tie the knot!), packing away and sorting presents, reading our cards and notes and memories left by guests, laughing over photos and reminiscing :)
There is just too much to show in one post, so I'll start with our invites which set the theme for the party:

simple
a little country
picnic style
a red & orange colour theme
and a M+K= <3 theme (which many of our guests cleverly used too!)

We also used these free down loadable polka dot mailing labels in orange on the envelopes.
cute huh?!

engaged + lots of pictures!

2009-10-16T13:29:00.003+11:00

One of my lovely friends (and bridesmaid) Leesa was sweet enough to take some engagement photos of me and Morgan.
We got to spend the night before visiting with them in their little home lovingly nicknamed 'The Shoebox' because it is so small, playing articulate, trying on wedding dresses (for another photo shoot), enjoying dinner together and her husband Sam was sweet enough to sleep on the couch so I could sleep in their bed with Leese, thanks Sam :)
We then spent the day up in beautiful Newcastle at the old baths (doesn't it remind you of pictures of Greece?), at the fair (which just happened to be in town), the park and downtown Newcastle.
of course I love them all and their not even properly edited yet :)

Yup I am tall, but at 6'2" tall M wins
& it's tippy toes for me to reach those smackable lips :)

love.

2009-10-15T16:31:00.002+11:00

I think I...
earnestly
joyfully
happily
freely
truly

love this little Etsy Shop and particularly this print (it's only $8 M!!) ,these mailing labels and these airmail bags.
Which were found over on Oh, hello friend.
& there's a giveaway too - I think you should check it out, but let me win of course ;)

too long!!

2009-10-15T15:26:00.003+11:00

some of our silly and fun friends in the makeshift photo booth at our engagement party :)

it has been almost a whole month since I last posted - I am turning out to be a horrible blogger and commenter! & it's not been for lack of anything to say either - probably rather too much going on!

This month I/we have:

* Had a fun engagement photo shoot with a friend
* Hosted the funnest and loveliest engagement party
* Finished a super large assessment and enjoyed doing nothing all holidays
* caught up with lots of friends old and new
* Done coffee
* and board game nights with friends (we are that cool!)
* enjoyed some sewing
* made a handbag for Aunty Mandy
* and a twister quilt!
* iced over 200 cupcakes
* made home-made lemonade
* played with our engagement presents
* stacked, packed and stored away said presents *sniff*
* asked some sweet ladies to be my bridesmaids, which resulted in lots of screaming and hugging
* Booked a ceremony venue - it involves golf buggies and lawn games ;)
* Dressed up in some wedding dresses for a photoshoot for a friend's uni assessment
* spent some sweet stolen moments up in the little flat which will be our first home and dreamed and played
* BOOKED A TICKET TO THE US!!! for a certain blog meet up where I get to stay with this lady and then this one and this one and meet her and her and her and her and her and a few others!!
* enjoyed being us as we are right now silly, young, in love and dreaming up the future!

Stay tuned I have more posts coming when I sort out all these photos :)

Date One

2009-09-20T11:03:00.004+10:00

eskimo kisses
summer school holidays 2005-2006
aaawww

We have some of the sweetest friends and family who it seems are so exited for our engagement.
It's been fun receiving all the little cards in the post and little gifts too!

I love this book my cousin Larissa and her family gave us. 'It's called 10 great dates before you say I do'. The idea behind the book is that you make time to set aside ten creative dates during the crazy wedding planning season which are distraction free to reconnect, to discuss certain topics together and to reaffirm your decision to marry. The book covers areas such as adjusting your expectations, Sharing your hopes and dreams, Appreciating your differences and developing spiritual intimacy with fun little exercises along the way. And so far I would recommend it.

So Friday night we decided it was time for date #1.
We dressed up nicely, making extra effort for the other (and I love how we both picked the same blue colour and matched!) grabbed some thai takeaway and took a table cloth, candles in jam jars and our food down to 'our spot' on the waterfront.
and got completely blown away by the wind - while wondering where the beautiful sunny day had gone!!
From there we went driving to another waterfront and sat in the car reading our book and chatting together and then off to McCafe for hot chocolate, banana bread and a chai latte (After finding out our favourite little cafe was already closed... the one with the cute couches).
So the date didn't go exactly according to plan but we both had so much fun being distraction free, focusing on one another, remembering past moments in our relationship, discussing our goals and future plans (my favourite), our expectations and laughing it up.
I can't wait for date # 2!! - I have some fun creative date ideas.

I love that this present wasn't just to make our home pretty but to enrich our and invest in our relationship and is something I feel we really need right now. It's been hard while I am studying to spend quality time together and weekends are either full with wedding planning or fill up some other way so I love that this pushes us to make date nights more common and to connect again.
In a silly fun carefree way.
Something I hope we can continue once we are married.