Christmas gift guide for kids

With Christmas only a couple of weeks away, the hot question on everyone's lips at the moment is, "Have you done all your Christmas shopping yet?" I'm quite chuffed to say I am but if you haven't, don't panic. Here are some of the cutest gifts you can spoil your little one with.

1.  Audi Ride On Car - A stylish ride on car for driving around the house or flaunting at the local park.

2. Luggy Basket Yellow - a toddler sized wheeled basket perfect for storing and transporting toys and other treasures around the house. It's looks so good, we don't mind lugging it to the beach, the playground or the shops!

3. Native Jefferson shoes - They're light, they're handwashable, shock absorbent, odor resistant and come in a myraid of funky colours that is sure to please any kid (and kid at heart). Alexander has an orange and green pair and he absolutely loves them.

4. Books - If there's one thing I can never buy enough of; it's books. Alexander is somewhat fascinated with poo of late and anything with animals is bound to be a hit, so What do they do with all the Poo from all of the Animals at the Zoo - Anh Do and Pig the Elf - Aaron Blabey are my picks for the boy this Christmas.

5. Bloomingville Mini Storage Basket Bag - This  storage bag with the giggle worthy "Nothing is Lost" text is perfect for laundry as well as toys. It's gender neutral colour and design makes it a wonderful accessory for any kid's room.

6.  Decor Night Light Cactus - Night lights are tricky; they need to be dim enough to induce sleep yet bright enough for bedtime ready and not too captivating that keep already sleep resistant kids awake. This cactus night light is not only cute to look at, it casts a reassuring glow when switched on. 

7. Little Red Stuga Kebnekaise Mountain Knitted Bean Bag Pouffe - Each bean bag is made from 100% knitted cotton. The pattern cleverly and attractively portrays the snowy peak through the combination of white and navy. This gives the impression of snowfall.

8. To the Moon and Back Banner - This banner is carefully hand felted by women in a village just outside Kathmandu, Nepal, is made from 100% NZ wool felt and is 23 x 33cm with grey string for easy hanging. I always end Alexander's bedtime routine by whispering "I love you to the moon and back" so it only seems fitting to have this hanging in his room.

Review: Sonett Natural Organic Cleaning products

As a mum to a toddler and a dog who both love to lick surfaces around the house, I've become rather pedantic about cleaning and the products I use to clean with. The last thing I want is any product that is full of nasty chemicals that can essentially poison my babies so I've opted instead for safe, natural products for my family.  

As you may know, over the years I've tried a number of different cleaning brands and in fact, have even made my own multipurpose spray, but my hands down favourite cleaning products are from Sonett, a pioneer in organic powders and cleansers, who had sent me some of their products last year to review. Their products are effective, keeping my house clean and sparkly while gentle on the skin.

Sonett only uses ingredients that are completely biodegradable and free of allergens, using primarily herbal and mineral raw mineral.

Alexander has been helping me with little household chores like wiping down surfaces and washing his own dishes and I have no problems with him using Sonett's multipurpose spray and calendula dishwashing liquid (while supervised, of course) as I have no worries that the product might hurt his skin or health.

In my opinion, Sonett's star product is the orange power cleaner, a nifty all rounder that makes cleaning tough greasy stains in areas like stove tops, exhaust hoods, cookers etc an orange scented breeze. I also use it diluted for cleaning of floors and the floor looks absolutely amazing after each use.

What household cleaning products are you using?

Tips for decluttering your home

As I have mentioned in an earlier post, Stu and I spent the large part of the Christmas holiday break just cleaning and decluttering our home. And oh boy, it felt good to actually have excess space. Mentally, it felt incredibly good to start the year afresh as if we'd thrown away our negative emotions together with all that physical junk. Today I'd like to share some of my tips for decluttering your home. Read on if you're interested...

1. Start small - at first I found idea of cleaning out the whole house extremely daunting and kept putting it off. Then one day, after having trouble finding a key, I decided to clean out the one drawer I had a feeling it was in. I found the key shortly and that achievement alone motivated me to keep going. I couldn't stop cleaning afterwards.

2. Teach kids to clean up their mess - Alexander has been trained at an early age to clean up his toys after play before he is allowed to move on to the next toy or activity. I hope that this gets him in the habit of putting things away now, than procrastinate.

3. Categorize your belongings - Stu and I went through every single item in our house (and yes that includes the wardrobe) and categorize them into "keep", "donate" and "toss'. Everything in the "toss" pile gets binned straightaway, while the "donate" items are dropped off at our local charity. The cupboards and drawers get a good clean before we put the items we want to keep back in an organised fashion which brings me to my next point...

4. Storage containers - For our linen cupboard and bathroom cupboard, we used clear containers which we labeled to make it easier for us to find items stored in them. We use straw baskets for toys, magazines, books and craft materials. On the back deck, we have a storage chest which doubles as a craft table for Alexander as well as storage for blankets, cushions and cleaning materials. Drawer dividers are great for organizing stationery, cutlery and other items in drawers.

5. Consider self storage solutions - when we turned our study into Alexander's nursery, we had to use a self storage facility for some of the items that were previously in that room, such as some furniture and filing cabinets full of documents and business records that we had to keep for a certain number of years but no longer had room in the house for. Fort Knox is one such self storage facility that can help you keep clutter away in a secure location.

Do you have any decluttering tips of your own to share?

Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by Fort Knox. I was compensated for this post, however all opinions are my own.

Alexander's "Big Boy" room + decorating tips

Alexander recently made the transition out of a cot and into a "big boy" bed, so Stu and I decided to give his a room a little makeover as well. You may remember how we had lovingly set up the nursery two years ago in anticipation of his arrival. By making a few little changes, we were able to update this space and make it more toddler friendly.

We bought Alexander a king single bed for two reasons: firstly, so one of us could comfortably lie down with him through the night if he was feeling unwell and secondly, we'd hoped that this bed would see him through to his teenage years (not so sure about that now as it's doubling as a trampoline!).

It's a low bed so if he can climb on and off with ease and with a cushioned bed head not dissimilar to our bed. Alexander is pretty obsessed with trucks and anything with wheels at the moment so we bought his rescue vehicles sheets, much to his delight - he loves pointing at each one and naming them before bed each night.

We stopped changing Alexander's nappies on the change table as he is too mobile so with the change mattress off, it now functions as a shelf for toys, wipes, nappies etc, We also installed new curtains in a neutral beige and moved the pom pom foot rest to the front of the window so Alexander can stand on it and look out into the backyard.

Apart from the cost of the new bed and sheets, this little room makeover cost us hardly anything. Simply by moving and reusing old furniture and accessories, we were able to add some style to this room. in fact you can quite easily recreate Alexander's room with this bed and 4 drawer tall chest from Super Amart who has also asked me to share some tips on how you can decorate your kid's room on a budget. Read on if you're interested...

1. Spend on furniture with longevity - The bulk of our budget was spent on Alexander's new bed as this is an item that can grow with him and has the most longevity. The fact that it's a king single size means he will likely still be able to use it well into his teenage years. Be sure to check out your local Super Amart store for their wide range of bedroom furniture.

2. Shop at garage sales and thrift stores - Stu and I spotted an old wooden chair with faded paint but was otherwise in good condition at a garage sale for next to nothing. Stu gave it a good sanding and painted it a vibrant shade of yellow and it now sits pretty next to Alexander's room, lending a fresh pop of colour. Ditto for the toy Tonka truck.

3. Add colour with accessories - Pick solid colours for furniture and choose colourful or patterned  accessories to add interest. As you can see, we've chosen a plain white bed, tall boy and walls as a base for this room, allowing for the hints of yellow, blue and lime green to bring life to this room.

4. Books and toys as decor - Alexander's collection of colourful books and some of his well made toys double up as decoration for his room. This saves us having to find storage for them.

5. Straw baskets as storage - I used straw baskets for organisation purposes and allocate each basket to toys/books, nappies, shoes. Alexander has learnt what each basket is for and assists in returning things to the baskets at the end of each day.

Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by Super Amart (click here for their current promotions). I was compensated for this post, however all opinions are my own.

House additions on my wishlist

During last week's non-stop rain, Alexander and I were cooped up at home for days on end. One day, we even donned raincoats and gumboots and ventured out to the sand pit in our backyard but it really was no fun with all that dampness around us. It got me wishing for a few house additions that would really make such rainy days (and all days, in fact) more bearable. Read on if you're interested...

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1. Sunroom - While Alexander and I sat on the deck wishing the rain away, it occurred to me that if there was some way we could turn this outdoor space into a functional indoor area then we could use it all year round, rain or shine. We could still hear the birds, enjoy the wildlife, watch the trees sway in the wind and still get a good dose of Vitamin D! An experienced sunroom renovator like Additions Building will be able to help us encloseand turn existing deck into a sunroom of our dreams.

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2. New carport - Our existing carport is an old rickety metal one which is functional but a bit of an eye sore. Ideally, I would love to have a new carport in a more stylish but timeless design which will look like a natural extension of the house and stand up to the elements (wind, sun, rain and hail)

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3. Semi-indoor pool - I may have mentioned this more than once but come every summer, I can't help but feel a twinge of jealousy when I hear my neighbours splashing away on a hot day. I love the idea of a heated semi-indoor pool which can be used year round. Hopefully our home renovation budget will allow for a small pool in the near future.

What house addition is on your wishlist?

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Additions Building. I was compensated for this post. All opinions are my own.

Christmas gift guide: botanical edition

It came as a bit of a shock when someone mentioned Christmas was just 9 weeks away (how ridiculous!) so I went on a bit of an online shopping spree to make up for lost time. I decided to put together a little gift guide of some of the lovely things I found along the way, all of which have a floral touch to it - perfect for all the botanical loving friends in your life.

1. Sarah's Garden Square Lasagna Dish by Wedgewood - Hand rendered botanical motifs on this elegant earthenware makes a perfect addition to any homemaker's kitchen.

2. Rosewater Balancing Mist by Jurlique -  a treat for all the senses, this beautifully scented is great for refreshing and hydrating skin on a hot summer's day.

3. Botanical Square Cushion by Adorabella - One of the prettiest botanical print I've seen to date, to dress up any chair or sofa.

4. Wreath Ring Silver by Karen Walker - a dainty understated piece of jewellery for a special lady in your life.

5. Maryan Distinguish Rose Print Matinee Purse by Ted Baker - a gorgeous piece feature dark romantic floral print with large bow detail at top snap closure.

6. Electra small table lamp in Botanical Print Poppy by Retro Print Revival - A statement piece with a bold retro style poppy print bound to add colour to any space in your home.

7. Copper hanging planter from Corner Store - a stunning metallic planter in a copper finish for your plants to live in style.

8. Tropical Delight Personalised Stationery Gift Set by Tiny Prints - a practical and handy stationery set consisting of notepad, lined book and cards in the cutest print. Personalise with your name or preferred quote. Mine says "Pineapple of my eye".

Tips on how to find the perfect home (for you)

The other day I was running late to an appointment and of course, Alexander decided that was the day to throw a tantrum and refuse to get into  his car seat. When the time I wrangled and buckled him in, I was so frazzled I actually drove off without closing my front door! Luckily, my neighbour who happened to walk past saw and rang me, asking if anyone was home and should she close the door for me?

At times like this, I feel really grateful for the community in which I live in; friendly neighbours who look out for each other, shopkeepers on first name basis who offer Alexander a lolly on the house just because he gave them an extra enthusiastic wave hello. I'm so glad this is where we've bought our first home and frankly I think we just got lucky to be have been able to find a home that's perfect for us.  Today, I'd like to share a few tips on how to find a home which is a perfect fit for you.

Property type - Are you the sort of person who enjoys gardening and tinkering about? Or do you have a dog that needs lots of space to roam about? Then a house with a backyard might be ideal for you. But if the thought of having to mow the lawn fills you with dread, then lower maintenance apartment living might be for you. Thinking about the style of home fits in with your lifestyle (stand alone house, apartment, townhouse etc) is one of the most important decision you need to make when finding a perfect home.

Location - When I was younger and single, I lived in a tiny apartment on a busy, dusty main road across the road from a noisy pub. It couldn't be more different from my current home but at that time it was perfect for me as it was close to the city's nightlife, trendy restaurants and cafes. The location you chose will affect the amount of noise you're subjected to on a daily basis, the size of your home (generally smaller closer you get to the city), proximity to leisure activities.

Sense of community - Our quiet neighbourhood and relaxed lifestyle really suits our current family life but a single, young professional may find it absolutely boring and may prefer a community filled with other young like-minded people. The key is choosing a community with similar values to you that fits with your personality and lifestyle. Lend Lease offers houses for sale in Sydney that is built around the concept of bringing like-minded people together to share a secure, enjoyable and fulfilling lifestyle, which I think is brilliant.
Opportunity to extend/rebuild - Ideally Stu and I would love a bigger house to accommodate our growing family but a 3-bedder was all we could afford. However, what made it work for us was the ability for us to extend the house, or even knock down and rebuild a bigger one later on. 

Proximity to work/transport - I much rather spend time at home with my family rather than being stuck in peak hour traffic, so finding a place that offers an easy commute to work for both Stu and I was important to us. If you take public transport to work, then proximity to public transport is another factor to consider.

Have you found the perfect home yet? Do you have any tips of your own to share?

Photo credit: Samantha Heather Photography

Simple ways to bring the outdoors in

As the days get colder and shorter, Alexander and I have been spending more time indoors than we would like to. Being cooped up with a restless toddler is not much fun, so to lessen the doldrums of winter, I've been making special effort to enliven the house with a bit of nature so as to cheer ourselves up. Here are a few ideas on how you can bring the outdoors in.

Potted indoor plants - I used to work in a gloomy basement office where I'd spend hours without even a window to look out of. I remember how the mere presence of an indoor office plant on my desk would made a difference to my work day. Indoor plants are an instant way to cheer up any indoor space and are also great for reducing air pollution and improving creativity. I love having a variety of flowering and non-flowering indoor plants to add colour and interest.

Herb/ flower wreaths - I like to hang a herb wreath in the kitchen during the winter months so I have them handy for cooking with (instead of having to run out into the cold dark garden to cut some!) They also smell and look amazing. Flower wreaths are fun to make, so pretty to look at and add warm, colour and texture to any indoor space. Be sure to check out my tutorials so you can make your own herb wreath and flower wreath.

Botanical wall art - I do love botanical prints; they are elegant, pretty and a lovely way to bring a bit of nature in. Scour thrift shops for unique vintage posters or if you're feeling creative, why not make your own botanical print with my easy tutorial here.

Decorate with nature elements - Every time I go for a walk, I can't help but come home with lovely bits of nature that I've collected along the way. I'm talking seed pods, interesting branches, pebbles, pine cones and nuts, which I place in vases, bowls, glass jars to decorate my home with. In fact, there's a tangly seed pod from an old palm tree hanging on my living room wall that doubles as my alternative Christmas Tree every year.

How do you bring the outdoors in?

3 ways to keep your house germ free

Hint: Don't ask your toddler child to clean!

It's taken nearly two weeks for me to shake off my recent bout of cold and it sure wasn't fun. Worst thing is, I had spread my germs to Alexander and he too became all sniffly and sick. There were nights he was all blocked up, so when he sucked his thumb to self soothe, he realised he couldn't breathe!

While I was combating sniffles, snuffles, coughs and sneezes, it occurred to me that the first battle is best waged on the home front. More often than not, it's the little things that count in the war on germs so I've been doing a bit of cleaning around the house to keep the germs far far away. I'd like to share them with you today...

1. Regular cleaning
Most of us enjoy residing in a clean home and have some sort of cleaning routine. But when it comes to germs, the ante needs to be upped a little. That means including the little things in your cleaning schedule, such as wiping over regularly touched surfaces like telephones, remote controls, keyboards and desktops. These are the areas that frequently come into close contact with grubby hands.

If you have small children, the perimeter of your warfront may be extended even further to include all those areas where little faces and little hands linger such as door frames, doorhandles, mirrors and low windows.

If the cleaning task is proving a little big, it might pay to call in experts such as Absolute Domestics for some regular cleaning help. Cleaning agencies can offer weekly, fortnightly or even once-off cleans to get you off to a solid, germ-free start.

2. Clean Your Cleaning Implements
It's frightening to know that sponges, cloths and mops can be a breeding ground for bacteria, so make sure you change or disinfect them at least once a week. A good tip for your sponges is to run them through the dishwasher or simply pop them in the microwave for 1-2 minutes (not the metallic ones of course).

Meanwhile, either wash your cloths and mop head or disinfect them, making sure they dry thoroughly afterwards. Make sure you also regularly empty your vacuum cleaner and change the bag to prevent this becoming a little micro-climate for dust, allergens and germs.

3. Know Your Products
Not all cleaning products live up to the packaging claims they come with so make sure you are using the right stuff. Just because something is considered anti-bacterial doesn't mean it will kill all germs.
When it comes to germ killers, a good grade disinfectant hits the mark, as does bleach. Other products such as ammonia, hydrogen peroxide and baking soda also kill a number of germs. And there are even some natural items that are known for their germ warfare skills, such as lemon, vinegar, and tea tree oil.

It's important to remember that not all germs are a problem and no home will ever be 100% germ free. When it comes down to it, paying attention to the little things and using the right product for the job on a regular basis are your best tools in the battle against the bugs that reside in all our homes.

How do you prepare yourself and your family to ward off winter illnesses? Do share your tips with me!

Tips on saving for your home

It has been five years since Stu and I bought our first home but it feel as if it was only yesterday we were at the auction. I remember so clearly the moment Stu made the winning bid and the loud thud of the hammer as it went down to seal the deal. The exhilaration I felt, the shock, the realisation that, "Oh my goodness! We just bought a house (and are now seriously in debt)!"

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Five years on, I've never been more glad - we've made the house our own and with the addition of Frankie the dog and Alexander the naughty boy, it has really become a real family home. And I feel incredibly fortunate we were able to afford it at that time. With Sydney's house prices soaring in the last few years, saving for a home has never been more daunting.

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So today, I'd like to share a few tips to help home buyers get started saving towards their future home.

High interest savings account - High interest accounts will allow you to speed the saving process up considerably and all you have to do is keep putting money in there. Make it easy to put money into the account and incredibly difficult to withdraw it. This is to keep any impulse withdrawals from ruining your awesome interest rate for the month.

Know how much you want to spend - this will allow you to build a time frame for saving. If the price range you’re looking at is particularly expensive, you can start putting together the funds for a proper down payment. If the property you’re looking at is on the cheaper end of the spectrum, you should probably be looking to pay for as much of it as you can straight off the bat.

Budget accordingly - build yourself a workable budget that takes all of your current earnings into consideration. You should be able to break the budget down into money that needs to be set aside for essentials like bills, car registration, food, and any existing debt repayments, while also leaving a little bit for emergencies or a bit of leisure like a night out. Working out exactly what you need to spend on these things allows you to take whatever is left and put it to work in your savings account.

Stay on target - the hardest part about trying to save for a house is having that growing amount of money just sitting there calling to you. You really have to focus on your goal. The best thing you can do is forget that the account even exists. Set up a direct payment into the account from your pay every week and ignore it. This will hopefully prevent you from being tempted to dip into it!

And if you're lucky enough to be thinking about buying your second or even third home, why not turn your first home into rental properties in short term? To do so, you should be researching everything. The suburb the property is in, housing market fluctuations and pricing and real estate agents. Agents are the people you’ll be dealing with most when leasing, so knowing what they’re about is crucial. Use sites like http://www.localagentfinder.com.au to gather information on things like commissions and real estate agent letting fees to make sure you’re getting a good deal.

These are just a few of the things you can do to effectively save money for buying your family home. What are your favourite saving methods? Do share in the comments section below!

What makes a place home?

I'm pretty sure we all have some idea of how our dream home would look. Mine is a double brick 5 bedroom house with immaculate green lawn, bright white interiors filled with classic timeless furniture and plenty of storage so everything would look neat and beautiful. Basically, something the clever people at Coral Homes would build. Something like this:

Source: Coral Homes

The reality for me, however, is this:

And this:

 And this:

Sigh.

But as the saying goes, home is where the heart is. And now that I have a piece of my heart running around in the form of a one year old boy, reigning havoc wherever he goes, I've finally realised that home is not made by the fancy furniture and perfect, uncluttered house. It is actually the little details and imperfections that make a place home....things like the sound of laughter, books piled high on a shelf, family photos lining the wall, the smell of cooking, conversations that flow while breaking bread.

My home is far from the picture perfect house of my dreams but it is the place where Alexander said his first words, laughed for the first time and crawled on all fours, chasing after Frankie. It is the place where Stu and I fought and said angry words to each other, but also the place where we eventually kissed and made up. It is in my kitchen where I failed miserably at making semolina cake but hey, that's where (according to Stu) the best Sunday roasts are made. And that, to me is what makes a place home.

What makes a place home to you?

DIY vertical herb garden

Our old vegetable patch was getting unruly, overrun with weeds and desperately in need of some TLC. So over the Christmas holidays, Stu built us a neat little vertical herb garden! I LOVE it; it is now much easier to access and water the herbs and I think it looks so pretty with the green of the herbs contrasting against the grey of our fence.

According to Stu, this is a super easy DIY: you simply screw on pre-fabricated metal or wooden brackets onto the wall or fence and then screw the pot/ planter to the bracket and fence. Fill the pot with potting mix and plant your heart away.

Laundry makeover

When we first moved into our home three years ago, it was a 1960s cottage with all original interiors. Over the last three years, Stu had slowly renovated and transformed each room, starting with the kitchen, the living room, the bathroom and the nursery. There was just one last original room standing - the laundry. And it was by far the worst looking room; dingy and mould-stained with loose laminate tiles, exposed pipes and broken cupboards. We both hated to be in that space and never lingered in there anymore than we had to. We'd even keep the door closed so we could pretend it didn't exist.

Over the Christmas holidays, Stu decided to tackle the laundry in what he promised to be a quick renovation. I was slightly freaking out: what if it took longer than expected? With little Alexander around, we use the laundry every single day now. How long can we go without?

Fortunately, Stu kept to his promise and more: he built us a bright, clean, beautiful, user friendly laundry room with triple the storage space. Here it is...TADA!

air-er that tucks neatly away - love!

I'm thrilled. I love our new laundry. I love everything about it. And most of all, I love Stu.

Nursery for our little one

As soon as our bathroom renovation was complete, I felt an overwhelming desire to work on the nursery. I remember waking Stu up at 4 one morning to talk about cleaning out the 3rd bedroom aka study/storeroom so we can get started. I don't think Stu heard anything I said that time but he sure got the message.

That weekend, he cleaned out what was the old study room, scrubbed and sanded the walls, gave it a fresh coat of paint so I could get started putting furniture in and decorating. Today, I'd love to share a few photos of the nursery, put together with both our love for our little one.

We envisioned a room that was bright and light with little pops of colour to add interest and fun. We went for off-white walls and furniture so we had a clean canvas to work with. We found a surprising great range of nursery furniture at Big W that not only had rave reviews but was also very affordable, leaving us with extra dollars to splurge on accessories.

I fell in love with this Down to the woods felted ottoman as soon as I laid eyes on it and it really provides the perfect addition of colour and texture to the room.  On the chest of drawers are: a squirrel night lamp and baby's first gift from me - a set of puffin children's classics.

As baby's gender is still a mystery to us, we went with a jungle safari theme (Both boys and girls enjoy the company of animals, right?). I found this jungle mobile with six delightful hand-knitted animals from etsy store Patricija to keep baby entertained while in the cot. Above the change tables, we've added four baby animal prints from The Animal Print Shop so baby can get acquainted with them while I change his/her nappies.

The nursery is most definitely my favourite room in the house. Just being in it makes me so happy. Every morning, I sit quietly on this rocking chair (a relica Acapulco from Sokol) with Frankie for company; imagining baby's presence - sleeping, crying, playing, and that brings a big smile to my face.

Our new bathroom

Unveiling our new bathroom...built by Stu!

But first, a couple of "before" pictures so you can fully appreciate his efforts.

Our original 1960s bathroom was dark and cramped. I'm very petite but even I felt claustrophobic in that tiny space. And also the various leaking pipes created damp in the surrounding walls - making it impossible to use adjoining cupboards without mould growing on everything. The vanity was in such a state of disrepair that I couldn't bear to put any of my lovely lotions and potions in it. Cosmetically, we weren't fans of the retro green tiles either. In other words, it needed to go...quickly! 

So, every weekend for the last 8 weeks, Stu had been working hard on building us a new bathroom from demolition to finish. We opted for a combined spa bath and shower to save us some space and used fittings and fixtures that were minimal and sleek to create a clean look. We picked large white wall tiles to brighten the space and textured wall tiles as a feature to add interest. 

I absolutely detest clutter so I'm loving the storage space in the vanity and medicine cabinet which holds our toiletries, perfumes and lotions. I quite like a bit of greenery in the bathroom so I bought an ivy plant, in the hope that the foliage will grow lush and strong and cascade down the wall in time to come. Fingers crossed.

PS: Stu also built our kitchen a couple of years back, and if you are interested, you can also have a peek at our living room, master bedroom and guestroom.

On Gardening

When Stu and I first bought our home, our backyard was bare and filled with holes, a few really old fruit trees and random patches where grass simply wouldn't grow. In our minds, however, we always envisioned a garden full of beautiful flowers and a good-sized kitchen garden. We're not quite there yet, but there has been some progress.

Stu had been working hard on levelling the backyard, filling it up with literally tons of soil and sand. He also did a really good job of building a garden bed that curves around the perimeter of the backyard, framed by sandstone pavers. Yes I am so incredibly lucky that Stu is such a handy man to have around the house.

As soon as the garden bed was complete, we went to the local nursery and spent a little fortune on flowers to fill the garden with. I picked up a few pots of ranunculus.

Various pots of hydrangeas

Sweet miniature dahlias

And not pictured, we also bought pots of lavender and star jasmine for a hedge and about a dozen gardenias. I'm loving forward to everything bursting into bloom, how wonderfully perfumed would my garden be then?

Bye bye home

It's official - Stu and I finalise the purchase of our new home in a couple of days.

After 3.5 years, it's time to say goodbye to my city home and say hello to the burbs.

Bye bye home!