Home Organisation Challange

I must be going through the nesting phase at the moment as I have an urge to tidy and organise the house in preparation for bubs arriving.

My first job - the laundry shelves.  These have been annoying me for a while and I do feel embarrassed when our cleaner comes and it is in such a state.  So I put my label maker to use and here it is...

BEFORE...

AFTER...

I'm very pleased. Now, what next?

Wardrobe Wednesday

Here is my outfit for the week. I must admit I have been reluctant to post any of my outfits for Wardrobe Wednesday until after the baby arrives as my choice of clothing is somewhat limited but here goes...

Jacket:  Sabatini
Tunic:  Armani Jeans
Jeggings:  Jeans West
Shoes:  No1 Shoe Warehouse...my favourite store :)

Next week it may be maternity wear...or it may not!

A new discovery

I have just discovered Ashore Fine Food & Wine  http://www.ashore.co.nz/

Actually I discovered it on Friday...and my goodies arrived the following day.  So quick and so exciting to open them.  I wish I had ordered more.  The service was great and I would recommend to all!!

I came across it by pure chance as I was googling recipes on Banoffee Pie.  They actually sell Mrs Bridges Banoffee Curd (unfortunately currently out of stock) but I can't wait to try it. They also have a shop in Birkenhead which I can't wait to go to  - as in the shop they sell the Denheath Custard Squares....yum!

I can't wait to use the new products I ordered....

Lirma Potato Gnocchi...I have a special bacon recipe lined up for this.

Wild Hibiscus Flowers in Syrup...I have tried these before in champagne.  I actually bought them to use them for that purpose but they came with a delicious sounding apple martini recipe which I think I will try instead (after bubs arrives of course).

Casa Rinaldi Penne Nero Black Pasta...An impulse buy because black squid pasta just looks so cool!

And last but not least, my favourite - Coloured Farfalline Pasta Butterflies, which I am planning on turning into a pasta salad for Holly's birthday party.  I'm sure the kids will love these.  These were handmade in Italy using only natural dyes are used: beetroot, paprika, spinach, turmeric, squid ink.  I'm really excited about these.

I can't wait to get across the bridge to the store to have a real big spend up :)

A Wedding Present

My favourite website at the moment is www.felt.co.nz

I love the idea of being able to buy gifts and presents for people that have been hand made or specially commissioned.  I think it is so much more meaningful.

The first commission I ever made off the Felt site was from the Tinyeyes shop http://felt.co.nz/shop/tinyeyes

It was a portrait of Georgie and John for their engagement.  I was blown away with how cute it looked and how well it was done.  Dee certainly is a talented artist.  Georgie and John got engaged at Disneyland on the Peter Pan ride, hence the Mickey Mouse ears and the pirate ship in the background.  The flag flying from the pirate ship says "I love you" in Korean. 

For their first wedding in Korea , which they have just come back from, I wanted to get them something special to mark the occasion.  I got in touch with Dee from Tinyeyes again and commissioned her to make a doll of each of John and Georgie based on the painting.  This was the result....

Aren't they awesome!  Wouldn't it be cool to have your own personal doll - just like a movie star.  I can't say enough about how pleased I am with what Dee has done! 

And here is the happy couple...dolls and all....

Another awesome commission

I loved the commission I got from LemurKat for bubs so I really want to get one for each of the kids.  Check out her site http://www.lemurkat.co.nz

Holly's arrived yesterday. 

It's a Leorat.  And its so awesome. It is half Lion representing Leo - the month she was born and Rat representing the Chinese Zodiac year she was born.  I love it.

I have to think about Phoebe's...it's a bit more difficult when she is a Libra!

My first purchase!!

My first purchase off Etsy arrived finally yesterday. 

I'm so excited to get them....Curious George and Dora Buttons.  They took a while (OK perhaps they didn't - I might have just been getting a bit restless.  I think they are pretty cool and can't wait to use them.  I have a few ideas so watch this space ;)

The Nursery

I'm slowly collecting up my decorations for the nursery.  I seem to have a natural progression towards an animal theme, with orange based colors.

I think this is what started it....

I ordered an awesome felt mounted deer head and I just adore him.  I love anything from Cuckoonests shop! I am saving up for a felt cuckoo clock next.  Here's the link... you have to check it out! http://felt.co.nz/profile/cuckoonest

And so then of course the animal/orange theme followed.

Yesterday "Mumbles the Owl" arrived.  The photo just doesn't do him justice as he is super cute.  I love the vintage fabric.  He's going to hang next to my dear little Deer.  Purchased from http://www.monkeej.co.nz/

I then of course I had to make a fabric canvas "Sitting on a Wire".  Do you see the theme??  I love the felt black birds I purchased from FixDesign http://felt.co.nz/profile/fixdesign

I hope #3 likes animals...and orange!

Just had to share this, which arrived yesterday.  I commissioned this drawing from an incredibly talented women for the upcoming arrival of baby number 3.  It is a "Leorabbit".  It is a combination of a lion (Leo being the zodiac birth sign) and a rabbit (being born in the year of the rabbit).  She has done such an awesome job I love it!  Check out her website here http://lemurkat.co.nz/

I think I am going to have to get one done for each of the kids!

Finally, my first blog.

It's been something I have been meaning to do for a while.  It will be a slow process to get it up and going, but let's see how I go!!

I'm hoping it will be more of an incentive for me to get my list of things to do - crafts, recipes and general ideas done.  After all I have to have something to blog about!

Fingers crossed, there should be more to come.