Prop Room

My collection of goodies is slowly growing, picking up pieces here and there, each one I find I immediately see has a purpose, even if I have no where to use it yet.
Chairs, and furniture are obvious props but the list is really endless, theres beauty in everything when it has purpose.

Even more, I love it when something I thrifted years ago takes prime position in a beautiful tablescape or wedding instead of being carelessly piled in a 'junk' store its shining magnificently and standing proud again.
I try to choose objects that have been loved, if not I will make sure I love them. alot.

With my collection, I dream of one day having a purpose built space for them, itemised, colour coordinated, you know because I'm borderline OCD on these things, my cake stands will stand in like like soldiers waiting to hold the perfect cake.

So as you do.. I googled 'prop room's' and came across the Pioneer of all things 'Event' Martha Stewarts prop room and my suitcase is packed, I'm moving in ...

Pink Ladies

Here are some shots of an event I hosted for a 'Girls Night In' - to raise money for women's cancers.
Thank you to my beautiful Friends for their donations.

Lucky for me I have one very special friend in http://www.jennifersando.com.au/ who came and took some amazing photos for me, I asked her to capture them with a fun feeling, nothing to serious.. I love how they turned out.. thank you so much Jen .. xo

My temporary backyard is very. very small.. not the backyard any event stylist would dream of, but I love the challenge of making a small, not very workable or pretty space work.
I ordered the flowers from http://www.lotusflowershop.com.au/ if you are planning an event please go and see Holly she is so talented, the blooms she sent my way included Peonies . they were just beautiful and one of my all time fav's tulips and rannuculas - I popped them into random jars and depression cut glassware.

I knew from the start I wanted to make the style very pink and with pink being such a colour of perfectness I wanted the decor to bit a bit rustic, left of centre, I didn't want everything lined up perfectly, I wanted raw edges, mixed printed linens topped with fluffed pom poms and lots LOTS of tissue paper! I think this is the most under use decor item and its so affordable and so effective, I used tissue garland to backdrop my 'sweet table' and my photo booth. I had Anne Ludwig from http://www.eleganteventmanagement.com/ deliver me beautiful white chavari chairs and a lovely long tables. If you need event management, day of co-ordintation, complete wedding co-ordination Anne is your go to gal.

Of course no sweet table is complete without sweets, I had the AMAZING Belinda Harley of http://www.sweettreatscakes.com.au/  make the beautiful cake centrepiece and the ruffle cupcakes these were filled with passion fruit, oh my goodness!! then I had http://www.nonnaspantry.com.au/  make me the most stunning macarons, Turkish delight with chocolate ganache and vanilla and lime.. to good to even explain.

I asked everyone to bring a dish and I would be in charge of the desserts... and the Cheese platter. I'm a little bit in love with all things cheese.
I also asked them (but didn't make them, because that is just wrong) if they wanted to wear something pink to go right ahead.

It was a great night, I didn't have a lot of girls, but the girls I chose to invite are all very dear to me.
Some I have known for years.. YEARS, some I have know much less but I think as you get older you know when you have a sisterhood and a respect, and with these women I certainly do.
They are all very different.. each in their own right, inspiring, amazing, interesting and I'm so proud to know them all.

I love details, I love planning the style of an event in my head and making it come alive, I love colour and making it all flow together, and while I spend so much of the time working on these events thinking about all of this, the thing I have found I love the most is that when it comes together on the day it isn't really about how well the 'pinks' went together or how wonderful the details are, is about creating a moment, a memory and showing people that you love them and feeling that they love you... life is good.

Love you girls. xo

For more photos you can go HERE
I have many more images of this night, but they have been saved for something special.. so stay tuned for them, there are loads of details that I haven't shared yet... including the most amazing Jelly dish I have ever made.:)

Blush and Bashful = Pink + Pink

I love pink, I really do, and if you had asked me some years ago what my favorite colour was I would not have hesitated in saying PINK, in fact  I planned my own bridal shower to be the theme of 'Blush and Bashful' ..(Steel Magnolias fame) so I was quite serious about this hue .. while I'm more partial to the salmon and paler side of this pretty colour and lets face it EVERY colour is pretty awesome in its own way, I now favour yellow, coral, aqua and of course White!
I don't get to use it in full force much, and pink certainly has its place in every gals life.. don't you agree?

This weekend I'm hosting a small event for some of my beautiful girlfriends in aid to raise money for women's cancers, http://www.girlsnightin.com.au/  at this moment my house is a sea of pink tissue leaf garland, liberty prints and stripes and more paper tissue poms than I care to tell you about, its going to be a pink fest :)

image via - ruffled

I cant wait to show you - more importantly of course I can wait to share the night with some of the most important beautiful girls in my life some I have been Friends with for my whole entire life (which is a long time!) .... a little bit scared of what the photo booth shots will turn out like, very much looking forward to eating my way though every single dish and dessert and being a bit silly, but you cant be precious about being silly with your girls can you, and its for a good cause!

There is still time for you to host your 'girls night in' - get on board, this year I started out small, but I hope to grow it every year.. (note to self : store sea of pink well)

'UP'

My 3 boys ages 13, 9 and 3 adore the movie ‘UP’ it’s one we watch over many times and enjoy.
My husband and I planned a family holiday in a few weeks time and I thought I would surprise them
with a ‘sweet table’ … ‘Adventure is out there’

Along with the usual cake, cupcakes I had beautiful hot air balloon and cloud shaped cookies from http://www.polka.com.au/ I also made yummy chocolate brownies and a juice refreshment.

Then each one of the boys has their own little 'scout book' for journaling the trip we take,
we have done this on all our holidays such a great keepsake.
I have worked with my dear friend Jennifer Sando of  http://www.jennifersando.com.au/  on a few projects recently and asked her if she would be so kind to come and take some snaps before the boys tucked in to the goodies.

I really wanted the table to capture ‘The Spirit of Adventure’ and to make it very ‘UP’ with out being to ‘merchandised’ The cake bunting was made from hot air balloon stamps and I used some of our favourite quotes in elements on the table.

And because the love that Carl and Ellie have in the movie, we have a little ‘Ellie badge’ for us all to wear while we travel (both from etsy).

It’s simple but fun and was inexpensive and easy to create I’m sure it will be in the memory bank of the boys for years to come, the boys LOVED it.

Make sure you check out http://www.jennifersando.com.au/ and 'like' her facebook page
over here

UPDATE ::
We were featured on the Aparment Thearpy blog OhdeeDoh .. very cool.
Not bad for a first time submission - woop woop...
http://www.ohdeedoh.com/ohdeedoh/my-party/my-party-billy-oscar-and-archie-adelaide-south-australia-128663

Fathers Day

This post is running late.... better late than never hey?

It's to wish the Dad's out there a Happy Father's Day.
We had a lunch for my father and my husband, I love the little days like these.
On such occasions we don't make a fuss with presents, unless they are handmade.
We just make sure we celebrate, so it as all about the Dad's...
The Menu was of course filled with Father's favorites
Cheese platter (okay, so this may have been mainly for me)
Red wine and maple syrup Lamb shanks, mashed potato, steamed veg, salads, a beautiful crusty bread.
home made apple pie and ice-cream followed by home made toffee apples..
Of course a crossword and some fun on the table never hurt anyone either.

To my Dad and My husband, who my children are truly blessed to have as a Dad.
and to all the other Father's out there.

I hope you had a lovely day.

Planning : Father's Day

Fathers Day in Australia is on Sunday week, the 5th of September.
It marks the start of spring, I love it.

I have started to prepare what will be a simple lunch to honor my own father and my children's
father, who also happens to be my husband.
Dad's all over the world get up everyday and work so hard, sometimes in uninspiring jobs to provide for there families, I thought Id do a post as a 'gentle' reminder to think ahead and maybe plan a special lunch, breakfast or dinner for the fathers in your life.

My husband 'MV' is a real foodie, so a nice long lunch is in order. Followed by some yummy desserts
a beautiful table, not sure what is on the menu yet, (some coke for drinks, his favorite but rare treat will feature I think) or how the table will be set but I will make it special.

He is so special to my 3 boys and I.

Some great menu ideas can be found at
http://www.taste.com.au/

Woodland Party .. the beginning

For my son's 4th birthday party we are doing a 'Woodland Animal' theme,  we decided on this theme because of his love of owls and creatures in general and my love of Gnomes, toadstools and Mr. Fox.

There are some beautiful woodland parties on the internet that are so inspiring, my challenge was to make ours unique, I was inspired by the beautiful folk style fabrics from Denmark and have used these as my starting point... Still a few months to go, but I have started sewing and styling to my hearts content..
I look forward to sharing the finished product..
because Gnomes (and woodland creatures) make people happy.. they just do.

The 'Gnomes' book that started my ever so slight obsession

Somewhere to store your Gnome

crochet toadstool

collected so far... cant wait to show you what all of this becomes