fresh start

I'M BACK!!!! It's officially been forever since my last post:( sorry all. There has been so much going on in my life the last year and I've needed a little time to focus on myself. I went on a lovely holiday to the snow (snowboarding) and have come back refreshed and ready to start living my life again...I also came back covered in bruises:) literally covered...my knees were black! I had a ball though:D

So I still have a ways to go until I'm past all the yucky stuff but I'm feeling much more positive and I have lots more happy days. I'm getting excited about the future and just enjoying life more in general. I can't wait to be back to that bubbly, happy girl that saw beauty in everything and good in everyone again...I've missed her.

Anyway God is good and the best is yet to come.

Toots

x

does paris ever not look beautiful

I found some incredible pictures on pinerest today. I am so desperate to go to Paris and am hoping to next year with my sisters. I've heard people say very different things about their experiences there but I guess it's what you make of it.

Where's somewhere you've alwasy wanted to go but haven't gotten to yet?

Toots
x

changing my thinking

Life isn't about waiting for the storms to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain.

Toots

x

it's summer somewhere in the world

Just a short one, it's been a rough week.

"And so with the sunshine and the great bursts of leaves growing on the trees, just as things grow in fast movies, I had that familiar conviction that life was beginning over again with the summer."

F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby

Toots

x

little princess

Sorry for my lack of posts all. I've been so busy with work and getting the house sold that my blogs been put to the side a little. This will probably continue for the next few weeks until settlement.

Had to share the most beautiful thing with you though. My parents just went to Syndey for a week. They always bring us back presents. This year Dad picked out a hand blown glass shoe (very tiny and dainty) and told me it was to have until my prince charming came along. It was the sweetest most beautiful thing I think anyone has ever gotten for me. I will have to take a pic to put up but in the mean time it got me thinking about two things:

1. Disney Princesses lol. I abslutely adore Disney movies...to the point where I'll be devestated if my children don't also love them.

Who was your favourite disney princess? Such a hard choice. My favs are Arial, Cinderella, Jazmine but my hands down winner is Belle from Beauty and the Beast:)

2. Just how much women should be valued. I love this verse from Proverbs 3:15-18

She is more precious than rubies, And all the things you may desire cannot compare with her. Length of days is in her right hand, In her left hand riches and honor. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, And all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, And happy are all who retain her."

Also thought I share this pic that Bella Mumma Has posted...very princessy hehe:)

 

Toots

x

don't forget to smile

This is definitely something I've needed to remind myself of lots lately. Hoping it will start to come a little more easily again soon!!

Things that HAVE made me smile this week though:

• lots of rain (so desperately needed here)
• using my slow cooker for the first time this winter
• being very blessed by some amazing family and friends
• thinking about what I want to do next year
• watching Nigella Bites entire DVD in one sitting
• remembering that I have my very last car payment next week
• knowing there is a long weekend this weekend

Toots

x

weather girl

I don't know about anyone else but I am obsessed with checking the weather. In summer it's to see when the really warm days are so I can plan to spend the day at the beach...in winter it's to check for the rain.

Though I am definitely a summer girl through and through I have to admit that after such a long, dry, HOT summer in Perth I'm am hanging out for a few rainy days.

It's is the best feeling to rug up on the couch with a blanket, book and hot chocolate and the heater on (a real fire place would be better...I can dream) and listen to the rain outside knowing you don't have to go out in it lol:D I am definitely NOT a singing in the rain kinda gal!

Toots

x

the wind in my hair

I LOVE bike riding.

I got a bike for my birthday last year and used it nearly everyday over summer...now that the weather is a little cooler and it's dark by the time I get home after work I haven't taken it out of the garage for about a month:( BUT I am already looking forward to next Summer. I'd like to get a basket on the front of mine so I can go for picnics or to the shops.

It is honestly one of the best feelings riding along with the wind in your hair and enjoying all the beauty of our lovely country.

had to throw in the one of Audrey...

Toots

x

cinderella cleaning products

OH MY GOSH!!!!!!!!

I have found these again. I purchased years ago and loved them and then couldn't find them anymore. Unfortunately they never made it to supermarkets over here but they can be ordered online (will post below).

They smell amazing, are well priced, are all natural and are named after a Disney princess..does it get any better!?!?! Let's face it, we all have to clean so we may as well do it in style...with a nice smell and a pretty bottle lol.

This is what they say about the products:

Welcome to the world of designer cleaning. You've made the jump from boring products that dry out your skin, irritate your nose and in most instances harm the environment... to fabulous products that smell great, work effectively, won't dry out your skin and degrade quickly so there is minimum impact on the environment... and well they help make you even more fabulous.

Some places to order online:

http://www.oneearthoutlet.com.au/Products/Featured/Best-Sellers/Cinderella-Cleaning-Products.html

http://www.ecobabe.com.au/b/17730/1/cinderella-cleaning-products.html

Happy shopping:)

Toots

x

today I had a thought...what if I had never met you

Absolutely love this moment in Season 6 of Sex and the City. Carrie is out with her girls for the last time before she leaves for Paris and says, "today I had a thought *pause* what if I had never met you"..

TEARS...so many tears the first time I watched that...which funnily enough was with some very special friends at the time.

Alot of my friendships have changed since then but there are still a couple of very special ones. The Gold ones, I call them, that will always be around. The kind who you might not even get to see all the time but when you do it's like no time has past and you can pick up where you left off.

Sometimes I wish I had more but at the end of the day I know how blessed I am to have the ones I do and can't imagine my life without them!!!!

On Sunday I watched the entire Season 10 of friends (as well as the Eagles beat the Dockers terribley:() and it made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

I don't ever want to take these special people for granted!!

Toots

x

to finish a book

I was such an avid reader growing up but in the last year I've had so much going on that I've made many attempts to start books but never finished them. Once they've been put down for a few weeks I usually feel like I need to start again and I just keep giving up:(

So over Easter I was determined to pick up a book and at least make a good dent it in...in the hope I'd have to finish it to see how the story ended.

I chose Kate Morton's The Distant Hours which I got given at Christmas. Thankfully I got totally hooked and don't have much left to read.

I've read a few of Kates books and I love her beautiful writing style. I'd definitely recommend this one!

I never realised until I starting reading this book how much I love a good hard cover lol. I know they can sometimes be annoying coz the longer books get heavy but they have such a good feel...I felt like I was reading the poetry book that Carrie borrows from the Library in the first SATC movie hehe:)

It got me thinking about books I loved as a kid and I can definitely say that Enid Blyton was by far my favourite. These are some I remember reading over and OVER again...

The Wishing Chair

The Children of Willow Farm

Adventures of Mr Pink Whistle

Hello Mr Twiddle

The Naughtiest Girl...and The Naughtiest Girl Again...and The Naughtiest Girl is a Monitor (lol)

Famous Five

The Magic Faraway Tree

Mister Meddles Muddles

Brer Rabbit

Secret Seven

Did you have favourite books as a kid??

Toots

x

things that make me smile-part one

• falling asleep listening to the rain
• reading a good book in a warm sunny spot
• ugg books
• fresh flowers
• time with family
• Grandma's lemon butter
• walks along the coast
• cuddles with friends babies
• home made pizza and a glass of red wine
• getting up early to enjoy that first fresh part of the day...should do this more
• marshmallows and chocolate at a bonfire
• fresh, clean sheets
• picnics
• afternoon naps
• laughing so hard your tummy hurts
• special friends that make you feel good long after you see them
• the movies (still get excited everytime)
• sunsets
• inspirational quotes
• bubble baths

Isn't this beautiful. love the colour and simpleness of the flowers in the teapot.

 

I'm in Esperance for the Easter weekend with my family and close friends. So refreshing being here. I've spent the afternoon in the sun room reading my new book and listening to the waves crashing.

 

HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE:)

 

Toots

x

meet my mate

This is Tiny Tim, he's my friends Sun Conure Parrot and he's adorable. He loves cuddles and kisses. When he gets tired he snuggles into your neck and falls asleep. We've taught him to dance...he can't talk but he does make super cute noises when he gets tired or when he's happy...he squawkes when he's hungry or wants attention, loves almonds and fruit, has the most spectacular colours, is a little scared of flying, his favourite place to be is his yellow fluffy bed that hangs in his cage.

Love this little bird, would definitley reccomend them to anyone!!!!!

ps. he's even come through the Maccas drive through with us...gave the staff a good laugh:)

Toots

x

OOTD

My Sunday OOTD. Weather was crazy warm in Perth again this weekend. Still sleeping in summer pj's with the fan on. We're off to Espereance for the Easter break and it will definitely be alot cooler there, I'm looking forward to being able to rug up, drink hot chocolate and eat LOTS of chocolate chip hot cross buns:)

hat - Seed, earings - Forever New, singlet - Cotton On, top - Decjuba, leggings - Tempt, ring - Witchery

Toots

x

little bits at a time

My room is slowly starting to look how I'd like it too. Has taken me while as I'm still sorting through things at my old place and constantly bringing more over...and there is nowhere for it to go. I've had to put quite a few things in storage in my parents shed!! Anyway it may be cluttered but at least for now it's clean and neat!!!

:( sad that bottom left handle broke on my much loved Queen Anne dresser!!!

 Absolutely love this jug from the Royal Doulton butterly range.

 Cinnamon Buns bubble bath from Mecca...smells amazing and even has the recipe for cinnamon buns on the front:)

My Dad brought me this Harrods bear in London a few years ago. He's a Christmas bear but gets to stay out all year coz he's so special!!

Toots

x

Food Fashion Friends - Fleur Wood

Aren't these chairs just divine!!!!!! Pic from the Fleur Wood book I got for my birthday. Don't you want to just be in the picture, all dressed up, eating...and sitting on those chairs of course? All I need now is for someone to have a birthday or kitchen tea so I have an excuse to replicate!!

I'd brought this book for my friend at Christmas and it was one of those presents you really want for yourself hehe. Then she brought it for me for my birthday...she knows me well.

It is full of the most beautiful pictures and includes recipies

and lots of tips for throwing the perfect event. Definitely a book i will treasure forever.

Toots

x

baking - take one...

So I've decided to jump on the baking train...occasionally. Baking is not really my thing mostly because I don't particulally have a sweet tooth but I do enjoy watching other people eat and enjoy food that I have made. Last night after being inspired by Sophie from The Littlest Things I made Brookies (Brownie/Cookies). Recipie is from Bakerella and can be found here http://www.bakerella.com/i-hope-you-have-chocolate-chips-handy/.

They were so lovely served warm with a glass of cold milk. I brought the rest into work today and by 9am they had all disappeared and there were lots of email thanks coming my way:)

 

Toots

x

LOVE

Absolutely love this pic that bellaMUMMA posted. I did something like this a few years ago...might be time to try it again.

Toots

x

First Outfit of the Day Post

I've finally managed to do an OOTD. Hope you like it.

Purple top from Kookai, skirt made by my Mum from a picture I liked, belt Dotti, thongs Witchery, earings Forever New, ring Witchery, bracelet Tiffany and Co.

Lol at the posing...that will take me awhile to get used too!! Starting to loose my summer tan now. We actually have rain today in Perth which is lovely!!!

Toots

x

Sunday Bliss

Sorry for the lack of posts lately. Things have been pretty full on the last few weeks. Last Sunday I had a lovely backyark picnic with my friend Loulou. It was a beautiful day. We made some lovely salad rolls and sat on a blanket in the shade of a lemon tree to enjoy each others company and eat. It was the perfect way to chill for a few hours. Wish I did things like this more often!!

We made a little friend and called him Free Willy. He kept coming really close and ever touched us a few times.

Toots

xx

5 sleeps

Its is my birthday next Sunday...5 sleeps to go...6 sleeps till I leave for Sydney YAYAYAYAYAYAY:D Am really looking forward to getting away even just for a short while!!!!!!!!

So years ago my close friend and I started doing birthday and Christmas lists for each other and it has just stuck. Now I put my on the fridge each year and always hassle my brothers and sisters for there's around birthday and Christmas times...it's makes buying SO MUCH EASIER!!!

Here's mine for this year:

• Owl necklace from Sportsgirl
• OPI nailpolish, light purple and black
• Polaroid Camera
• Photo frames (white or mirror frame)
• body shop body wash cherryblossom
• Message bible
• clothing vouchers
• arm band for my ipod
• silver pandora charms
• New babyliss hair curler/straightener
• Bits and pieces from Typo
• Philosophy Vanilla Birthday Cake Bubble Bath
• Tiffanys...always Tiffanys

Eifell Tower Snow Globe - Typo

White Eifell Tower - Typo

Vanilla Birthday Cake Bubble Bath - Mecca Cosmetics

Black Polaroid Camera

Toots

x

buble

My bestie suprised me with tickets to Michael Buble for Christmas and I was so excited as I hadn't been able to afford it when they came out and then they sold out and THEN they opened up another day and he grabbed tickets straight away. I can't even explain how excited I was. He gave it to me in the biggest box ever that was wrapped is so much tape and filled with all sorts of rubbish...even a brick and right at the very bottom were my tickets...here's a pic of me trying to get to it lol:)

lol at his housemate in the background. He had a)been wondering what the MASSIVE box under the Chrissy tree was and b) why his living room was covered in paper, tape and bricks:)

Well worth the 30mins it took me to open!!!

Anyway, the day finally arrived and along with my Mum and Dad and Aunty and Uncle who also had tickets...and thousands of others...we headed along to Sandalford Winery (on a bus hehe).
The night was absolutely amazing. Not only is he a fantastic singer but a true entertainer. It will definitely be one of the highlights of this year for me I'm sure:)

best seats in the house:)



*sigh* he's so dreamy hehe

We also had a long weekend this weekend and I was so thankful that the weather was a little cooler. I managed to watch all of Season 5 of How I Met Your Mother...hanging out for Season 6 now!!!!!!!!

It is the greatest feeling in the world coming back to work knowing that there are only 4 days to go...well that and going to bed on Friday night knowing that you can sleep in and have the whole weekend ahead of you:)

Toots

x

rango

I went and saw a preview of Rango last night through a promotion at work. There is something so enjoyable about kid's movies. The innocence maybe or the fact that they always have a happy ending. It's nice to see something light hearted especially after all the natural disasters around the country in the last few months.

Rango had the voice of Johnny Depp

As it was a preview they took any recording devices off us at the door...I felt very lost without my phone even just for those 2 hours. What have I become??

Toots

x

changing things up

So I've had the blonde hair for ages now and before that dark DARK hair. Time for a little change me thinks. I'm off to get my hair done this Saturday and I'm thinking of trying out balayage:

9 times out of 10, I think women look best when keeping their hair color close to its natural shade, with a few added highlights to bring out the texture of the cut. This usually compliments your skin tone and eye color etc. Being a brown-eyed brunette, I always figured I’d look foolish as a blond..with dark roots and mismatched eyebrows, I deemed the look as being all wrong. That is, until now. With the new technique of highlighting, called bayalage, I am ready to enter summer with a whole new look of natural sun-kissed highlights. Ok, enhanced-natural.

Gisele Bündchen’s bleached waves generated so much attention, it wasn’t long before celebrities fled to their hair stylist seeking the same multi-tonal do’ So, I wondered…what is this new buzz word ‘balayage’ and what makes it so different?

Balayage, a French word meaning ‘to sweep’ is a new method of highlighting which lightens the hair gradually from root to tip. This technique has shaken the salons from coast to coast because it achieves an ultra-natural effect by mimicing nature’s way of lightening hair. Hair should always be darker on the base of the hair shaft or the root area, rather then having light roots and dark ends. To balayage the hair, a lightening agent is painted on using a brush and paddle in a sweeping motion giving the hair colorist a bit more room to play and less methodical streaks. Foils aren’t used and the precision of the fine-tooth comb weaving in tiny streaks is no longer necessary. The thick mixture of lightener is applied onto a section of hair using one of three paint designs: singles, slants and V’s. The stylist uses a “sweeping” motion to apply lightener from thin at the roots to thicker towards the ends. This provides ultimate control over color application, allows for less outgrowth, much more color contrast within the hair and since the process requires no heat or foils, the hair experiences minimal damage (which is key for those of us with long hair).

The result is a gorgeous sun-kissed color of various shades of blond and honey-toned hues that look as if you just spent the summer frolicking on the beach. And thus far has proven to be the most natural looking highlights ever. Balayage is more carefree than highlights because the streaks aren’t defined and a pattern isn’t developed. But because the method is less regimented, it gives the stylist much more creative freedom, which can be fabulous or regrettable depending upon the experience and overall flair of your stylist. From the sound of it, the stylist works on instinct so very similar to an artist on a canvas.
Taken from http://www.tashascloset.biz/blog/?p=81

I'm thinking something similar to these.

Now that I've made the decision, I can't wait...will post a pic if it works out ok!!

Toots

x



time to say goodbye

...to summer that is. Not that you would believe it's over with another 34 degree day today. Perth's temp hasn't dropped below 30 as a high or 20 as a low in over 2 weeks. I need proper sleep!!!!!!

Summer is my favourite season, days at the beach or by the pool. BBQ's and drinks with friends. No need to wear warm clothes. Sun up when you have to get ready for work. I cannot believe how fast it's gone and I will be sad the first day I need to put a jumper on in the coming months:(

HOWEVER...I have started to get a little excited at some of the winter clothes I've been seeing. I'm especially wanting some ankle boots...haven't found the right pair yet but how cute are these ones:

and I also love love love an off the shoulder jumper that I tried on in Sportsgirl, couldn't find a picture of it to post though:(

Don't even get me started on beanies, I brought WAY too many last winter and have already seen a few that I like for this year...they are one of my winter weaknesses!!!

Toots

x

breakfast at tiffanys...one day maybe

I absolutely adore Audrey Hepburn and have for years. She is one of those people I would really have loved to have met.

I have gradually accumulated many pictures, books ect over the years from family and friends as presents. This christmas my sister brought me a new book and it's stunning.

As for Tiffanys I am yet to get my first piece of jewelery or even step foot in the store. We now have one in WA and after much searching on the net I have decided on the two things on my wish list for this year...

on the long chain

HEART

Cannot wait for the day that I get one of those little blue boxes!!!!!!!!!!

These are some of my fav pictures of her. it's hard to only pic a few.

“For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others; for beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness; and for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone.”

Toots

x