Showing posts with label happiness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label happiness. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Friday, February 11, 2011
Oh So Pretty
Today when I was in our local homewares shop buying a couple of gifts, I spied this little plate. It is only a wee small thing, 11 cm square, but when I saw it and it made me smile, I knew it had to come home with me!
It is a dark picture, but the one with the flash just made it look funny!
It is a dark picture, but the one with the flash just made it look funny!
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Spoilt Rotten...
by my lovely husband. We are in Dublin, escaping from the kids and the inlaws for 2 whole nights and nearly 3 whole days. It is so nice to sleep in, have a long lazy breakfast, not to plan out they day and just wander where the wind blows us.
For those who know me, you know how I love to shop. I don't necessarily have to make a purchase, a window shop is just as good for me. Grafton St is a fabulous pedestrian shopping strip. At the moment, there is a great buzz in the air with Christmas just around the corner. There is a wonderful department store called Brown Thomas and I love just wandering the different halls and floors. I came upon a dress that I loved. As I was wearing my knee high boots, the sales assistant handed me in a pair of heels. Whilst the dress was totally awful on me, I fell in love with the shoes. Dave bought them for me, a special treat. I love them. They are totally indulgent and who knows when I will get to wear them but I am glad they will now have a home in my wardrobe! Hmmm, now about the fabulous clutch purse that was next to them, I wonder if that would be pushing it??? Perhaps...
For those who know me, you know how I love to shop. I don't necessarily have to make a purchase, a window shop is just as good for me. Grafton St is a fabulous pedestrian shopping strip. At the moment, there is a great buzz in the air with Christmas just around the corner. There is a wonderful department store called Brown Thomas and I love just wandering the different halls and floors. I came upon a dress that I loved. As I was wearing my knee high boots, the sales assistant handed me in a pair of heels. Whilst the dress was totally awful on me, I fell in love with the shoes. Dave bought them for me, a special treat. I love them. They are totally indulgent and who knows when I will get to wear them but I am glad they will now have a home in my wardrobe! Hmmm, now about the fabulous clutch purse that was next to them, I wonder if that would be pushing it??? Perhaps...
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
"In Dublin's Fair City...
...where the girls are so pretty" we landed to -7 degrees and snow yesterday morning. IT IS COLD!!! The flight was pain free as the girls were just awesome, we were so proud of the way they travelled. We all got a fair amount of sleep along the way!
Yesterday was spent unpacking, lots of cups of tea catching up with family and the girls playing in the back yard in the snow with their second cousins.
Dave headed off for a few pints with his dad in the early afternoon whilst the girls and I hung around home with Granny Mai and other family dropping in and out. One by one we all dropped off into a jet lag induced sleep. Ciara first at 2pm, followed by Zoe at 4.30, then me at 5pm then Dave followed at 8pm when he got home. So by 3am this morning it was party time...it is going to be a long day.
It is the first time that Dublin has seen snow this early in the winter for many years. I have already taken load sof pics, but for some reason I am unable to upload them at the moment, will try again later on in the day!
We are all so excited to be here and looking forward to lots of fun and laughter with the Irish lot!
Yesterday was spent unpacking, lots of cups of tea catching up with family and the girls playing in the back yard in the snow with their second cousins.
Dave headed off for a few pints with his dad in the early afternoon whilst the girls and I hung around home with Granny Mai and other family dropping in and out. One by one we all dropped off into a jet lag induced sleep. Ciara first at 2pm, followed by Zoe at 4.30, then me at 5pm then Dave followed at 8pm when he got home. So by 3am this morning it was party time...it is going to be a long day.
It is the first time that Dublin has seen snow this early in the winter for many years. I have already taken load sof pics, but for some reason I am unable to upload them at the moment, will try again later on in the day!
We are all so excited to be here and looking forward to lots of fun and laughter with the Irish lot!
Monday, November 15, 2010
850 pages...
...later and this morning I finished reading Ken Follett's latest book "Fall of Giants". I am always so disappointed when I finish one of Mr Follett's stories! I just want them to go on forever to see happens in the lives of the characters! This is the first book of a trilogy with the next one due out in 2012 then the 3rd due out in 2014. Oh No!!!
As a hard cover with 850 pages, it wasn't the most comfy book to curl up on the lounge with, but the fabulous story line made it all worth it.
Sadly I don't think I will achieve "50 books in 2010" now though. But with a 24 hour plane trip coming up plus 5 weeks in Dublin where the weather won't be condusive to spending much time outdoors - you never know what could be achieved!
From Ken Follett's website
Fall of Giants
Published worldwide on 28 September 2010, and debuted at #1 on The New York Times' hardcover fiction bestseller list!
Fall of Giants is a magnificent new historical epic. The first novel in the Century trilogy, it follows the fates of five interrelated families – American, German, Russian, English and Welsh – as they move through the world-shaking dramas of the First World War, the Russian Revolution, and the struggle for women’s suffrage.
Thirteen-year-old Billy Williams enters a man’s world in the Welsh mining pits…Gus Dewar, an American law student rejected in love, finds a surprising new career in Woodrow Wilson’s White House…two orphaned Russian brothers, Grigori and Lev Peshkov, embark on radically different paths half a world apart when their plan to emigrate to America falls afoul of war, conscription and revolution…Billy’s sister, Ethel, a housekeeper for the aristocratic Fitzherberts, takes a fateful step above her station, while Lady Maud Fitzherbert herself crosses deep into forbidden territory when she falls in love with Walter von Ulrich, a spy at the German Embassy in London….
These characters and many others find their lives inextricably entangled as, in a saga of unfolding drama and intriguing complexity, Fall of Giants moves seamlessly from Washington to St. Petersburg, from the dirt and danger of a coal mine to the glittering chandeliers of a palace, from the corridors of power to the bedrooms of the mighty.
As always with Ken, the historical background is brilliantly researched and rendered, the action fast-moving, the characters rich in nuance and emotion. It is destined to be a new classic.
In future volumes of the Century trilogy, subsequent generations of the same families will travel through the great events of the rest of the twentieth century, changing themselves – and the century itself. With passion and the hand of a master, Ken brings us into a world we thought we knew, but now will never seem the same again.
As a hard cover with 850 pages, it wasn't the most comfy book to curl up on the lounge with, but the fabulous story line made it all worth it.
Sadly I don't think I will achieve "50 books in 2010" now though. But with a 24 hour plane trip coming up plus 5 weeks in Dublin where the weather won't be condusive to spending much time outdoors - you never know what could be achieved!
From Ken Follett's website
Fall of Giants
Published worldwide on 28 September 2010, and debuted at #1 on The New York Times' hardcover fiction bestseller list!
Fall of Giants is a magnificent new historical epic. The first novel in the Century trilogy, it follows the fates of five interrelated families – American, German, Russian, English and Welsh – as they move through the world-shaking dramas of the First World War, the Russian Revolution, and the struggle for women’s suffrage.
Thirteen-year-old Billy Williams enters a man’s world in the Welsh mining pits…Gus Dewar, an American law student rejected in love, finds a surprising new career in Woodrow Wilson’s White House…two orphaned Russian brothers, Grigori and Lev Peshkov, embark on radically different paths half a world apart when their plan to emigrate to America falls afoul of war, conscription and revolution…Billy’s sister, Ethel, a housekeeper for the aristocratic Fitzherberts, takes a fateful step above her station, while Lady Maud Fitzherbert herself crosses deep into forbidden territory when she falls in love with Walter von Ulrich, a spy at the German Embassy in London….
These characters and many others find their lives inextricably entangled as, in a saga of unfolding drama and intriguing complexity, Fall of Giants moves seamlessly from Washington to St. Petersburg, from the dirt and danger of a coal mine to the glittering chandeliers of a palace, from the corridors of power to the bedrooms of the mighty.
As always with Ken, the historical background is brilliantly researched and rendered, the action fast-moving, the characters rich in nuance and emotion. It is destined to be a new classic.
In future volumes of the Century trilogy, subsequent generations of the same families will travel through the great events of the rest of the twentieth century, changing themselves – and the century itself. With passion and the hand of a master, Ken brings us into a world we thought we knew, but now will never seem the same again.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Spoilt
We love books in this house, adore them, can't get enough of them. So imagine the selfish delight I felt when my sister recently started as the EA to the MD of a rather large and well known publishing house - of course totally delighted for her as she is loving the job but even more excited for me when she brings me home bags of books for my bookcase! Last night, it was these....
Monday, October 18, 2010
A Clucky Good Time.
My brother in law, John, is marrying the lovely Sinead in December. On Friday 20 of us ventured down to Melbourne for her Hens party!
I got an early flight down on Friday morning with my sister and a friend. We left a gorgeous summer day at 9am and Melbourne greeted us with wind, rain and a very chilly day. Brrrr!!! It was cold!
A day of shopping, followed by a day at The Caulfield Cup and an evening of partying, followed by a Sunday morning of a very chilled out brunch to recover and a wander around the lovely lanes of Melbourne city.
We were delighted that, although very brisk, we had mostly fine weather for the races.
We arrived back to another gorgeous afternoon in Sydney and headed to a barbie at my other brother in laws - a lovely time to cap off a fabulous weekend!
I got an early flight down on Friday morning with my sister and a friend. We left a gorgeous summer day at 9am and Melbourne greeted us with wind, rain and a very chilly day. Brrrr!!! It was cold!
A day of shopping, followed by a day at The Caulfield Cup and an evening of partying, followed by a Sunday morning of a very chilled out brunch to recover and a wander around the lovely lanes of Melbourne city.
We were delighted that, although very brisk, we had mostly fine weather for the races.
We arrived back to another gorgeous afternoon in Sydney and headed to a barbie at my other brother in laws - a lovely time to cap off a fabulous weekend!
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
From the Mouth of The 3 Year Old...
...this morning....
"I've decided that I want another sister as well as Zoe, so tomorrow I am going to go to the museum and get one called Asherlee"
"I've decided that I want another sister as well as Zoe, so tomorrow I am going to go to the museum and get one called Asherlee"
Friends...
are the family you choose!
I am blessed to have so many really wonderful friends. Without their love and support, life would be duller and laughs would be fewer.
This is one special mate who I met when I was 11. Like all friendships we have had our ups and downs but we always come out on top and have shared so much over the past 25 years that I think I would truly be lost without her!
There are probably hundreds of these immature and silly photos through the years - we don't get away with them as much as when we were 12...but we try!!
Between us we have 4 special princesses who adore each other as well. It is so special that the friendship lives on in our next generation!
We have just spent a really fun time hanging out in Fiji all together, along with some more of her family and other friends.
I am blessed to have so many really wonderful friends. Without their love and support, life would be duller and laughs would be fewer.
This is one special mate who I met when I was 11. Like all friendships we have had our ups and downs but we always come out on top and have shared so much over the past 25 years that I think I would truly be lost without her!
There are probably hundreds of these immature and silly photos through the years - we don't get away with them as much as when we were 12...but we try!!
Between us we have 4 special princesses who adore each other as well. It is so special that the friendship lives on in our next generation!
We have just spent a really fun time hanging out in Fiji all together, along with some more of her family and other friends.
Monday, September 20, 2010
The Kindness of Fellow Quilters...
A couple of weeks ago I celebrated my birthday. Over at EB Newbie Quilters, we have done an FQ swap for the past couple of years. In my haste to pack up in readiness for the renovation I totally forgot to take a photo of all the beautiful fabrics I received. Thanks ladies for the lovely FQ's, they will all be wonderful when I get back on track with my Dear Jane...bring on my sewing room, I say!!!
I was also sent some lovely extras, chokkies, hand made cards, pretty little pink scissors, gorgeous little "business type" cards which I guess are for scrap booking but I am going to use them as gift tags and for my art journal. The beautiful Nic sent these absolutely divine little dolls for my girls - they are already well loved, taken to bed each night and we have already have lots of fun playing with them. Thanks Nic for such a special gift, it is truly appreciated, and you are a very clever girl!
I was also sent some lovely extras, chokkies, hand made cards, pretty little pink scissors, gorgeous little "business type" cards which I guess are for scrap booking but I am going to use them as gift tags and for my art journal. The beautiful Nic sent these absolutely divine little dolls for my girls - they are already well loved, taken to bed each night and we have already have lots of fun playing with them. Thanks Nic for such a special gift, it is truly appreciated, and you are a very clever girl!
Monday, September 6, 2010
Thursday, September 2, 2010
A Joyous Morning!
Nearly every morning I awake somewhere between 5.30 and 6am and go for a walk with my pooch. I love this start to the day, the fresh air, the solitude, it really sets me up for a great day, and I can feel the difference in myself, and the dog, when I don't do it. I was delighted that this morning it was finally warm enough to wear just a long sleeve tee, without a jacket. Spring has well and truly sprung and I love that! We got caught in a massive down pour and got drenched but this morning even that didn't dampen (ha) my spirits.
As I do every morning, I logged into the council website to check the status of our DA. A long 77 days ago, we submitted our plans into council. Imagine my ecstatic whoop of delight when this morning, dripping wet, I logged into the council website and saw that our plans have been approved and a letter is on the way to us!
So soon, our dream home will be a reality. It will be hell on earth to get there as we are living through the build but it will be more than worth it in the end!
As I do every morning, I logged into the council website to check the status of our DA. A long 77 days ago, we submitted our plans into council. Imagine my ecstatic whoop of delight when this morning, dripping wet, I logged into the council website and saw that our plans have been approved and a letter is on the way to us!
So soon, our dream home will be a reality. It will be hell on earth to get there as we are living through the build but it will be more than worth it in the end!
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Happiness is...
knowing that you are going to have time today for the pile of fabric/quilts that are sat on top of your sewing cabinet!!
Late last week Mum's quilt arrived back from the amazing talented Emma - see her great pics of the quilting here . I was absolutely delighted with the quilting, and can't wait for Mason's quilt to arrive back as well.
Today I will make and attach the binding, finally make and attach the binding to Ciára's monster quilt, sew the backing for Jack's quilt and hopefully some other cutting that needs to be done. Need to get started on my mother in laws quilt to take to Ireland with us in December! Might even do a few more blocks of Zoe's buddy's quilt!
First of all though, an hour sorting out the toy room. We are getting ready for our renovations. We expect to be out of council by the end of the month so I am spending some time each day sorting out and clearing out and packing up!
Late last week Mum's quilt arrived back from the amazing talented Emma - see her great pics of the quilting here . I was absolutely delighted with the quilting, and can't wait for Mason's quilt to arrive back as well.
Today I will make and attach the binding, finally make and attach the binding to Ciára's monster quilt, sew the backing for Jack's quilt and hopefully some other cutting that needs to be done. Need to get started on my mother in laws quilt to take to Ireland with us in December! Might even do a few more blocks of Zoe's buddy's quilt!
First of all though, an hour sorting out the toy room. We are getting ready for our renovations. We expect to be out of council by the end of the month so I am spending some time each day sorting out and clearing out and packing up!
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Excitement is...
forgetting that your new clock is being delivered and the door bell going and the delivery man standing there in the pouring rain with a HUGE big box just for you!
I was recently in Adelaide visiting one of my great friends. She took me to a fabulous interior design store, Update Interiors.
I fell in love with this clock. I had to have it. We tried to source it in Sydney, but in the end it was shipped up from Adelaide. The lovely Liz, proprietor of Update gave me a generous discount to help with the shipping costs. I am so glad we decided to get it as it would have been one of those "Why didn't I get it when I saw it" stories.
It is 92cm in diameter and looks huge, and when the house renovation is done, it will go in the family room. Until then, it will go back in it's box for safe keeping until it's special piece of wall is ready for it! Now we just need council to get a wriggle on with our approval!
Not a great photo, as I just popped it onto the dining room table to make sure it was all ok and in working order!
I was recently in Adelaide visiting one of my great friends. She took me to a fabulous interior design store, Update Interiors.
I fell in love with this clock. I had to have it. We tried to source it in Sydney, but in the end it was shipped up from Adelaide. The lovely Liz, proprietor of Update gave me a generous discount to help with the shipping costs. I am so glad we decided to get it as it would have been one of those "Why didn't I get it when I saw it" stories.
It is 92cm in diameter and looks huge, and when the house renovation is done, it will go in the family room. Until then, it will go back in it's box for safe keeping until it's special piece of wall is ready for it! Now we just need council to get a wriggle on with our approval!
Not a great photo, as I just popped it onto the dining room table to make sure it was all ok and in working order!
Monday, August 9, 2010
Things That Make Me happy...
So my poor little blog doesn't get too neglected, once a week I am going to post one thing that makes me happy. There are so many things in my life that give me a little kick and make me feel grateful that I could do this every day...but with the daily responsibilities of life this is not realisitic but on a weekly basis....very doable!!! I should be going for months!
On Friday night our dear friends Mel, Jon and Finn came for dinner. Mel knows my favourite flowers and gave me a lovely big bunch. I didn't take a photo of these beautiful friends (who make me happy) but here is a photo of one of my life's happy moments - the beautiful tiger lily, ah the sweet smell in my family room right now gives me a lift everytime I am in there!
On Friday night our dear friends Mel, Jon and Finn came for dinner. Mel knows my favourite flowers and gave me a lovely big bunch. I didn't take a photo of these beautiful friends (who make me happy) but here is a photo of one of my life's happy moments - the beautiful tiger lily, ah the sweet smell in my family room right now gives me a lift everytime I am in there!
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