december 1...advent pockets to fill with love...

<b><br /></b><br /><b>morning lovely bloggy friends...</b><br /><b><br /></b><br />we had a mid week teacher's strike here yesterday & therefore a house full of extra's...<br /><br />so not all my boxes were ticked- which i'm needing to do each & every day now that we are<b> *in*</b><br /><br />the month of our huge <a href="http://misssewandso.blogspot.com/2011/11/going-homex.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666;">{move back}</span></a> to the beautiful beaches of sydney...<br /><br /><br />so...after a morning of balance (you know those mornings- & it wasn't the kids!)...<br /><br />the ever patient, every gorgeous husband took all the kids to school...<br /><br />& i'm sitting here, with a strong cup of tea...thinking bout filling advent pockets...<br /><br /><i>not life altering i realise ;) but about all i can manage this morning...one of <b>those </b>mornings people...!</i><br /><i><br /></i><br /><i><br /></i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf3VrjwRYripjEAopaJrm0vZ6KCoLWyC5EBSo7JgH3BvhvbiJNO40u79W-EtNnr65pb3crhLAsNokFpacmYUIJHIBasShH9xyPscuOXOOT1dQmqyrQ5_ctlPgkXAR7lwARTFqMvqQT18IH/s1600/advent1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf3VrjwRYripjEAopaJrm0vZ6KCoLWyC5EBSo7JgH3BvhvbiJNO40u79W-EtNnr65pb3crhLAsNokFpacmYUIJHIBasShH9xyPscuOXOOT1dQmqyrQ5_ctlPgkXAR7lwARTFqMvqQT18IH/s640/advent1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><i><br /></i><br /><i><br /></i><br /><b>for our three kiddos, age irrelevant, the *advent calendar* is a special lead up to the big day...</b><br /><b><br /></b><br />they've all gone off to school this morning anticipating the opening of the first advent goodies<br /><br />this afternoon...<br /><b><br /></b><br /><b>some years we've had little fabric squares on string lines across the windows...</b><br /><b><br /></b><br />some years we've done the <strike>desperate</strike> easy <i>quick-it's-the-flippin-first-of-december-store-bought </i><br /><br />chocolate calendar boxes, with the flip open windows...<br /><br />you know the ones...awful, loud, disney inspired {!!??}...yet do the job...<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAXgZelBOaVKp9LOLPMxDLle10NIC5KRl6dsYwGDcmBZ-4hzltmTwq8Ubd57K8k_oNDNO2v11cyv5KJLPg4OcDYxUdZlUYbdNhFQlR5d99VtEUFuA5ULrI6Z04YJEVPoo1Da8T3Z_kJGLT/s1600/advent2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAXgZelBOaVKp9LOLPMxDLle10NIC5KRl6dsYwGDcmBZ-4hzltmTwq8Ubd57K8k_oNDNO2v11cyv5KJLPg4OcDYxUdZlUYbdNhFQlR5d99VtEUFuA5ULrI6Z04YJEVPoo1Da8T3Z_kJGLT/s640/advent2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><b>this year</b> we needed something simple...that could survive a mid-advent flight <a href="http://misssewandso.blogspot.com/2011/11/going-homex.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666;">{home to Australia}</span></a>,<br /><br />whose daily pockets could be filled with more than chocolate coins...& that was made with love<br /><br />by me, for them, in the house we have loved in the english countryside, for so long...<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcKNjN6CgjmfQ6hJxuLgxIf-3GQjOCoasp29qY-q6XKm2762dISTZMg8oZFEpYbr_Eyb03u8k4MvwMXXSdWroX-eEwy3Xz-OT0jthfWBsg9Pf9LBVkchaZACpr1GLyS3MJs90u4ItX5SKG/s1600/advent3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcKNjN6CgjmfQ6hJxuLgxIf-3GQjOCoasp29qY-q6XKm2762dISTZMg8oZFEpYbr_Eyb03u8k4MvwMXXSdWroX-eEwy3Xz-OT0jthfWBsg9Pf9LBVkchaZACpr1GLyS3MJs90u4ItX5SKG/s640/advent3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><b>so...the squares were cut...the french numbers stamped...the pieces sewn together...</b><br /><b><br /></b><br />& this morning i am going for a quiet, simple wander to fill those pockets...<br /><br />english sweets...some little english souvenirs...little reminders of our time here together...<br /><br />by Christmas day we will be sitting in the sand, drinking smoothies & wondering what the cold<br /><br />felt like...<br /><br />so taking this advent calendar home on December 20 & opening one day in Dubai & the<br /><br />remaining days in the sunshine just makes <b>this year's calendar all the more special</b>...<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAIfWLtk2zczl-bq1G-lse3cdRq1vhoSwFNBNbSyu0HZsYFh2N5FOMHtOt10yg-L6pLFA6Zpb7C9mFDA4FJS88hFGdGDhOwo29YTDqH3f1V97mv12vZ-xbqKHUitZTQ0-PsVGG_bcxsXho/s1600/advent6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAIfWLtk2zczl-bq1G-lse3cdRq1vhoSwFNBNbSyu0HZsYFh2N5FOMHtOt10yg-L6pLFA6Zpb7C9mFDA4FJS88hFGdGDhOwo29YTDqH3f1V97mv12vZ-xbqKHUitZTQ0-PsVGG_bcxsXho/s640/advent6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b>at this time of year- life can be a tricky balance...</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>remember the simple things are often the loveliest </b><b>memories...</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><b><br /></b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBYuE1fx-uwW5SmWhu3grFB1D6F3r6j6CdIZQbbgddZmLatD1aUf9qlq_MZc9LZ_6L91R420DJZt3BMYGz2HuqpYFCKxt7t_RPwOek31Yfj99XJ5AOdzvHY6mX315z129Oj7WAkUbFjczm/s1600/advent4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBYuE1fx-uwW5SmWhu3grFB1D6F3r6j6CdIZQbbgddZmLatD1aUf9qlq_MZc9LZ_6L91R420DJZt3BMYGz2HuqpYFCKxt7t_RPwOek31Yfj99XJ5AOdzvHY6mX315z129Oj7WAkUbFjczm/s640/advent4.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><b><br /></b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b>~~~~~~~</b></div><b><br /></b><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">a shared thought: yesterday an incredibly brave mother from our little school lost her long fight with cancer...</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">her two beautiful children were blessed to have had her guide them for as long as she could...</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">today please just take a moment to look at your children...</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">& to love them that little bit more...</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Karen will always be an inspiration in my mind & though there are many tears- her smile is what i will recall each & every time we passed with school bags, scooters & *good morning's*...</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">thank you for the small *moment* of time in which i knew you Karen- your children will continue to be loved & watched over at school by their many gentle friends...</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">xoxox</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>

december 1...advent pockets to fill with love...

morning lovely bloggy friends... we had a mid week teacher's strike here yesterday & therefore a house full of extra's... so not...

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A Giveaway- Christmas Ribbon & Ikea love...

<b><br /></b><br /><b>morning from ol'Blighty- where it's getting chillier as the days roll on...</b><br /><b><br /></b><br />i've got my ikea stash all ready to show & tell...<br /><br />Christmas decor inspiration i hope...<br /><br />& also a Christmas *loving-red-&-white* ribbon giveaway...<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUTdiCnveqULbEZ-nD-TL8k6OimgejGoekUi9tauM8JjD5G-Z8_S9Eb_jASaw7ZuMWOzxzcdSEjMJNjWbSa_K6tZWU7DqR8lLO72rAfU-g6DXO0RgWDbSw1pKV1oLWvmMuOxv65qifKr1k/s1600/ikeaxmas10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUTdiCnveqULbEZ-nD-TL8k6OimgejGoekUi9tauM8JjD5G-Z8_S9Eb_jASaw7ZuMWOzxzcdSEjMJNjWbSa_K6tZWU7DqR8lLO72rAfU-g6DXO0RgWDbSw1pKV1oLWvmMuOxv65qifKr1k/s640/ikeaxmas10.jpg" width="612" /></a></div><b><br /></b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><b>when i started <i>raving </i>about the BB & my visit to ikea <a href="http://misssewandso.blogspot.com/2011/11/happy-christmas-planning.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">{here}</span></a> i hadn't actually opened all</b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><b>my ikea bits up & snapped them for you...</b><br /><b><br /></b><br />all my pickies of gorgeous ribbon were not from ikea, but a shop in our village...<br /><br />they were the <b>start of my love affair</b> for all things red & white this Christmas...<br /><br /><b>but- since you were all so <i>in lust</i> with the ribbons- i've got a pack to give away this week along</b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><b>with some other <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Miss-Sew-So/230143973690957"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">{Miss Sew & So}</span></a> Christmas bits...</b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><i>{be a blog friend here & on face book <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Miss-Sew-So/230143973690957"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">{here}</span></a> </span>& of course let me know what you think of my</i><br /><i><br /></i><br /><i>ribbons...}</i><br /><i><br /></i><br /><i><b>so...here's my swedish Christmas stash....</b></i><br /><i><b><br /></b></i><br /><b><br /></b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGjNgcJMz4wNADrI-LaNu23qcgh_8w7JIcubX1cyX_QQ1PhCG0INdmWcm01rTH4eW1zP0KnLwfwPbzFDPlNeh2nDEzzNhNhmCCr9jVSHluUY788GXkfYh8cG41hbMrCF8v2GGczfK5sNIF/s1600/ikeaxmas1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGjNgcJMz4wNADrI-LaNu23qcgh_8w7JIcubX1cyX_QQ1PhCG0INdmWcm01rTH4eW1zP0KnLwfwPbzFDPlNeh2nDEzzNhNhmCCr9jVSHluUY788GXkfYh8cG41hbMrCF8v2GGczfK5sNIF/s640/ikeaxmas1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><b><br /></b><br /><b>the lead up to Christmas is always full of extra's...</b><br /><b><br /></b><br />extra people dropping by...& inevitably extra meals thrown between the standard one's...<br /><br />these napkins are totally Christmas with <b>no</b> effort at all...<br /><b><br /></b><br />white tablecloth...greenery in jars up the middle of the table & these gorgeous paper napkins...<br /><br />& yep the BB & i bought a few...<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXaGuv42m3mCG7NaUX1ZlxzStnDvj7bLaNPPubQIMYPrgFbKwVEGq93oqhnXuZgsY_3I9eSZAgCPprBD9wv9HZt6h5EGNUMkHXSRxerFe7VTyh2aM2iUBA33N5GzaKjK14thMdAnr5FPIv/s1600/ikeaxmas2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXaGuv42m3mCG7NaUX1ZlxzStnDvj7bLaNPPubQIMYPrgFbKwVEGq93oqhnXuZgsY_3I9eSZAgCPprBD9wv9HZt6h5EGNUMkHXSRxerFe7VTyh2aM2iUBA33N5GzaKjK14thMdAnr5FPIv/s640/ikeaxmas2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJefgGfPrsYPmMJMNwqB9K5dLOicTAFVXf-QLFUsG4PIslDdxM1UAKKGSPPgHL9ZgFLcwJ8fZ-ztCAhH8Nn_QegqmYrdabGnER6fJzXkdA-E1qwe_ULliz3aUqud-hHC68U9rLiUCh0enN/s1600/ikeaxmas3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJefgGfPrsYPmMJMNwqB9K5dLOicTAFVXf-QLFUsG4PIslDdxM1UAKKGSPPgHL9ZgFLcwJ8fZ-ztCAhH8Nn_QegqmYrdabGnER6fJzXkdA-E1qwe_ULliz3aUqud-hHC68U9rLiUCh0enN/s640/ikeaxmas3.jpg" width="502" /></a></div><br /><b><br /></b><br /><b>i'm not a massive tinsel lover...our kiddos are...</b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><b>i try- but it just doesn't ever <i>do it for me</i>...</b><br /><b><br /></b><br />too bit-sy...<br /><br />too shiny...<br /><br />too tinsel-ey...<br /><br />then we found this...<br /><br />white...sweet...perfect...<i>my kinda tinsel...</i><br /><i><br /></i><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOSznxVB-1Kyv-ZcvftIjqC25KBbrUDvWt5h0O4jdCZ7A-suzAqwA8Py6h7Iqs-dvY7XOnvnWeXan3WmlEjorKrJPxpAtrpxLJbXGI4THablCMf88rvR703aFgAPR7JFx-qCx4OBLGDnv1/s1600/ikeaxmas4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOSznxVB-1Kyv-ZcvftIjqC25KBbrUDvWt5h0O4jdCZ7A-suzAqwA8Py6h7Iqs-dvY7XOnvnWeXan3WmlEjorKrJPxpAtrpxLJbXGI4THablCMf88rvR703aFgAPR7JFx-qCx4OBLGDnv1/s640/ikeaxmas4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOxJwLzHqxSJ5s-i734UrF8ZXUpgN5RhtIwpu-uWuSJdbEEfYIUzdvMOYZns8qaBJgqDmwdZIYRDwvBB8ThheLVIySF3kOArRfg4nXyJeF6XaAaO4B704HXAHZMXiuml60dCjiOCBET_7U/s1600/ikeaxmas5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOxJwLzHqxSJ5s-i734UrF8ZXUpgN5RhtIwpu-uWuSJdbEEfYIUzdvMOYZns8qaBJgqDmwdZIYRDwvBB8ThheLVIySF3kOArRfg4nXyJeF6XaAaO4B704HXAHZMXiuml60dCjiOCBET_7U/s640/ikeaxmas5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><b><br /></b><br /><b>the other thing the BB & i wanted was reindeer...</b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><b>they are <strike>huge</strike> pretty big in Christmas decor over here...</b><br /><b><br /></b><br />since we moved here from Oz, we've seen plently of wild deer & stags in our trips to the Outer<br /><br />Hebrides off Scotland <a href="http://misssewandso.blogspot.com/2011/06/island-life.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">{here}</span></a><br /><br />the kids truly fell in love with them in the wild...<br /><br />& i want to take that love home with us to the beaches of australia in all shapes & forms...<br /><br /><b>these are divine... & <i>the paper print is gorgeous</i>...</b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO9dkesaRLn6-VFV-o1VMReBQKi4lNraC4CSXKYkBo6EjWPOq5gWnX3ndVjSBpXRk7SE5qGWcSKK1BOmO_5zhUw4yQDsAxD_gqx0MmcVeMnH4fKfR32aruwV2HMNKb19zMHgRjLvbEknEY/s1600/ikeaxmas6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO9dkesaRLn6-VFV-o1VMReBQKi4lNraC4CSXKYkBo6EjWPOq5gWnX3ndVjSBpXRk7SE5qGWcSKK1BOmO_5zhUw4yQDsAxD_gqx0MmcVeMnH4fKfR32aruwV2HMNKb19zMHgRjLvbEknEY/s640/ikeaxmas6.jpg" width="430" /></a></div><br /><b><br /></b><br /><b>now...as you know we are packing to head home to Oz after nearly 4 years here in the english </b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><b>countryside...</b><br /><b><br /></b><br />this means no more unnecessary purchases- i get that...<br /><br />but these Christmas glasses were soo flippin lovely & so <b><strike>cheap</strike> </b>inexpensive, that i figure we'll just use<br /><br />them to keep the kiddos feeling Christmas-ey here & then add them to the BB's stash later...!<br /><br /><b>the perfect 6-pack ;)</b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaCqEhh5SIhn5x-aou-SHWu4k7mrjXVKwvJdwwE2O7vK57aI-nDdMFMFUBZotf-jdf5E395D-Fw3RykzBfYST3kcyLHc56HI9uuZQWXcxchSZXQiuRXrB7WhE9Oh2fEJtqwnLkn-O5YpDI/s1600/ikeaxmas7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaCqEhh5SIhn5x-aou-SHWu4k7mrjXVKwvJdwwE2O7vK57aI-nDdMFMFUBZotf-jdf5E395D-Fw3RykzBfYST3kcyLHc56HI9uuZQWXcxchSZXQiuRXrB7WhE9Oh2fEJtqwnLkn-O5YpDI/s640/ikeaxmas7.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><b><br /></b><br /><b>&...lastly these little hanging peace doves that i've bought each year we've been here in </b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><b>england...</b><br /><b><br /></b><br />they are beautifully simple...<b>light to take home</b>...& one little miss.6 loves making their wings for<br /><br />me...<br /><br />i don't really need any other reason to throw these in my hand luggage back to sydney...<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYKGL28ONBFO62Ahza-ER0EmMFB_RuBWjG5t78yrXIF7ElTv-pnJPQpWelDbKnYyPulOIxzS54cv6X6bYMQ_zR5_j_Mcf3CXdGnFdBPzY9vacZkqjCcqu4uCcgZ8q3tzNHR21x4Fenxe_z/s1600/ikeaxmas9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYKGL28ONBFO62Ahza-ER0EmMFB_RuBWjG5t78yrXIF7ElTv-pnJPQpWelDbKnYyPulOIxzS54cv6X6bYMQ_zR5_j_Mcf3CXdGnFdBPzY9vacZkqjCcqu4uCcgZ8q3tzNHR21x4Fenxe_z/s640/ikeaxmas9.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><b><br /></b><br /><b>so...i'm hoping...thinking...that there may be some <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">ikea-love</span> from some of you here...</b><br /><b><br /></b><br />i'm gonna send out the ribbons below just to get you started...<br /><br />leave a comment...be a FB friend...& i'll draw the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">Christmas Ribbon Giveaway </span>at the end of the<br /><br />week...<br /><br />leave a comment each day for extra entries...every day counts...<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPwk0d71_IBpVIsh3WS65E14RvU09zMMr_Vh1FbRBQ2xYFdSTz4o7l5qrflWyU8KQzam1zFROqXdYGhwb_ttJN2g-SVecBWs7lanBgg-t68Da4hJ6kTnbQ43sBAR2pLtFHt6HI7VmBuqYW/s1600/ikeaxmas8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPwk0d71_IBpVIsh3WS65E14RvU09zMMr_Vh1FbRBQ2xYFdSTz4o7l5qrflWyU8KQzam1zFROqXdYGhwb_ttJN2g-SVecBWs7lanBgg-t68Da4hJ6kTnbQ43sBAR2pLtFHt6HI7VmBuqYW/s640/ikeaxmas8.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><b><br /></b><br /><b>little miss.6 & i spent an hour in front of the fire on sunday afternoon hanging & tying </b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><b>& talking </b><b>Christmas as only kids can...</b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><b>i felt inspired- bless her...</b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWOWkrQMWcD7GSwF9KIFAX2a7GqAkONSnM49L2zQPjnmuZOzrXAuQwldPmqhmlwFDs2Gtduis9ntZcM07BP-9S1r_TAKgoC4avbSU7KwFPpCiZJga5gdcAlZF15Fvyfko0h1ZKacq9KpUo/s1600/ikeaA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="392" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWOWkrQMWcD7GSwF9KIFAX2a7GqAkONSnM49L2zQPjnmuZOzrXAuQwldPmqhmlwFDs2Gtduis9ntZcM07BP-9S1r_TAKgoC4avbSU7KwFPpCiZJga5gdcAlZF15Fvyfko0h1ZKacq9KpUo/s640/ikeaA.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;"><b>go get yourself to ikea if you can</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;"><b>&</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;"><b>if not...get into this giveaway to start your inspiration for christmas</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;"><b>...ikea is my *favourite & best* at Christmas...</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;"><b>xox</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2NkoATN1ZFjizmq1HLwxhgPvrKsh6CjuX2NtJ71_o_g0vZat_OgIXCLQy610RuaCUSahEY9UB8QEAQcLTjwI4lnrkesSe3nkLusKyC4iZO2yGAQ4QqJMNOC0KNBMWyseKFBQOVUAvVTXj/s1600/ikeaxmas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2NkoATN1ZFjizmq1HLwxhgPvrKsh6CjuX2NtJ71_o_g0vZat_OgIXCLQy610RuaCUSahEY9UB8QEAQcLTjwI4lnrkesSe3nkLusKyC4iZO2yGAQ4QqJMNOC0KNBMWyseKFBQOVUAvVTXj/s320/ikeaxmas.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">~~~</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>pop over to my gorgeous friend Maureen's <a href="http://daydreamliving.blogspot.com/2011/11/favourite-and-best-find-linky-party.html">{here}</a> </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">she's got some more fave & best goodies she's sharing...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">~~~</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><b><br /></b><br /><b><br /></b>

A Giveaway- Christmas Ribbon & Ikea love...

morning from ol'Blighty- where it's getting chillier as the days roll on... i've got my ikea stash all ready to show & tell....

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going home...from the countryside to the beach...

<b><br /></b><br /><b>after almost four incredible years in the English countryside</b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><b>we're going home my friends...</b><br /><b><br /></b><br />the emotions are running wild...<br /><br />our hearts are soaring & then stopping...<br /><br />our family together...the experiences so precious...<br /><br />the love for two countries so heartfelt...<br /><br /><b>the time is right...</b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><b>it just feels...<i>right</i>...</b><br /><b><br /></b><br />i know i'll get on that plane shedding bucket loads of tears...<br /><br />i know that i'll have every emotion under the sun between <i>now</i> &<i> then</i>...<br /><br />BUT...<br /><br />i also know we wouldn't change a moment of <i>these emotions... </i><br /><i><br /></i><br /><i>they're all evidence that what we have done, has been so perfectly right for our family...</i><br /><i><br /></i><br /><b>it just feels right...</b><br /><b><br /></b><br />there's so much to share here...<br /><br />i hope you'll be with me here...<i>for my daily fix</i>...<br /><br />& <i>for our friendship </i>all the way home...from this gorgeous english countryside to the beautiful beaches<br /><br />of australia...<br /><br />we've a long haul ahead of us...<br /><br />moving five people 15,000 miles across the world, with almost four years of life under one's roof<br /><br />is not a simple task...<br /><br />but we're serious list tickers...we're feeling good...<br /><br /><b>our focus...as always...is that the kiddos are happy...</b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><b>that our family is together...</b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><b>that we are doing </b><b>this together...tied up with a lot of love...</b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><b>wish us luck...& so happy you are with me on this journey <i>home</i>...</b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><b>xxx</b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><b>PS- & to my BB {british bestie} -blessed friendship every day no matter where we are...</b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaaAq3QzQLRTh3K6bLXfb9WtYPRUVzzECMVAO3eAqJfg8X0Azw6sYiOV68oYKfcmZsczYpnV6x813L54GOmI2hwFW-yU6JeWcRdibj3TtTmtYsN0OcEpVTMJeNHHcaNkX5qavEtJXKE49o/s1600/home.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaaAq3QzQLRTh3K6bLXfb9WtYPRUVzzECMVAO3eAqJfg8X0Azw6sYiOV68oYKfcmZsczYpnV6x813L54GOmI2hwFW-yU6JeWcRdibj3TtTmtYsN0OcEpVTMJeNHHcaNkX5qavEtJXKE49o/s640/home.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><b><br /></b><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">all these images are from our beach life at home</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">sigh</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">xox</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div><i><br /></i>

going home...from the countryside to the beach...

after almost four incredible years in the English countryside we're going home my friends... the emotions are running wild... our hearts...

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a husband, a camera, a boy & fresh seafood...

<b>this is what happens when you give your husband the camera and your son loves seafood...</b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><b>you end up totally surprised with the results!</b><br /><b><br /></b><br />sent out to capture the evening with my camera-<b> </b>i figured <b>he</b> just needed time alone with my camera to<br /><br />really <b>bond</b> with it...<br /><br />thus in time, taking some photos that may have <b>me- the mama of the household</b> feature in them...<br /><br />just sometimes...you know for the kids...so they know i was there...<br /><br /><b>look at the results gals...</b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><b>sunset taken by husband on big learning curve left on own...</b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><b>he did G.O.O.D...</b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGXJTeowqrcaFEcN1ZIyBTJqkwWgPXgkQ3SLP0TqYgcxthR5apP5D6s62eMWU5vIyGYuwQCcu-Dgks_SCOQP-EN0eBXo04wFZdZWkQuWxssq_-kQbBTF1yrJ556sSX2PuMMM9a0CURCWA-/s1600/cockles3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGXJTeowqrcaFEcN1ZIyBTJqkwWgPXgkQ3SLP0TqYgcxthR5apP5D6s62eMWU5vIyGYuwQCcu-Dgks_SCOQP-EN0eBXo04wFZdZWkQuWxssq_-kQbBTF1yrJ556sSX2PuMMM9a0CURCWA-/s640/cockles3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>i think he was <strike>totally</strike> a little chuffed with the results too...</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">i even think he may go back for more...on his own for now....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">one day he may even get me in one of his photos ;)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">so...the hubsters first photographic effort on <strike>his</strike> my blog...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">i'm happy to share the space for these...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>now...back to the *son loving seafood* part...</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">we have a beautiful estuary that runs the length of our Village Green...it runs from a larger river & </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">brings with it endless perfect delicious cockles...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">we have a son who adores seafood...especially shell fish...& perfect delicious cockles...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">so here he is...filling his pockets, a block from our big old country house...sand & cockles- bless him...</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzUMabfk2mKKsXZik_IYz0sRKQ0s-C-0cHYsbv2ogLPhZkf2W-ZTw_049HxfAtSq_ICapvKfbzBYWWwmtNrZ7uZQvMk0VfLibZig7VdsZDZ35qUtOGrKhb7bm_8dT4TBBxDJ0e8xa3vb2t/s1600/cockles2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzUMabfk2mKKsXZik_IYz0sRKQ0s-C-0cHYsbv2ogLPhZkf2W-ZTw_049HxfAtSq_ICapvKfbzBYWWwmtNrZ7uZQvMk0VfLibZig7VdsZDZ35qUtOGrKhb7bm_8dT4TBBxDJ0e8xa3vb2t/s640/cockles2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>if you are a seafood lover like we are...you can imagine collecting your own only adds to the </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>experience...</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">for a child that will not eat sausages & spuds- an english fave- he amazes us with seafood...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX41t7wEu5F3qAeMT4R8o_qadrbJClConiho_kokAGpiq6Yq1R1f4kUfvJnpDGHDnHJXdsVuVGjRcWgtjH8bjeJoeL1V5yda07ViYBAz2viQQmlKO2Gr5Lm4hcyH9VO0gaMzmpIndO4aRU/s1600/cockles4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX41t7wEu5F3qAeMT4R8o_qadrbJClConiho_kokAGpiq6Yq1R1f4kUfvJnpDGHDnHJXdsVuVGjRcWgtjH8bjeJoeL1V5yda07ViYBAz2viQQmlKO2Gr5Lm4hcyH9VO0gaMzmpIndO4aRU/s640/cockles4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>collecting cockles is wonderful for kids...collecting *food* straight from nature's garden...</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">he scooted home laden down & we googled a few recipes together...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">throwing them in a colander...washing of the sea water...<b>counting our haul</b>...all memories...</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigQvm-gyEnGUeIhb4xycJrtZ781fGeHFMbD4WO3BVEwpdxBty1-mhbGhpdCILI3NYH2fIXpQtQVXip1w5-46PNzKqXWGQk0WJN8-MEeGpLCEFtKyzfgUL5a6EKoNFMMMULmv3qLtyD8jX4/s1600/cockles5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="392" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigQvm-gyEnGUeIhb4xycJrtZ781fGeHFMbD4WO3BVEwpdxBty1-mhbGhpdCILI3NYH2fIXpQtQVXip1w5-46PNzKqXWGQk0WJN8-MEeGpLCEFtKyzfgUL5a6EKoNFMMMULmv3qLtyD8jX4/s640/cockles5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>for a simple delicious simple-let-the-flavours-speak-for-themselves-go-to-recipe see <a href="http://www.ehow.com/how_2125595_cook-cockles.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c27ba0;">{here}</span></a>...</b></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIAr-7POv6wow35J2nO8Ue3yrMJPMIJB2NEXyZ_uMSwUYPmqOw2BhP66GE4elgWV39p9DX_eSp-1IhC-pen9Vsv7k-w36gmLn9FiaTBlKYN8fgk8d_ZX3kwSGX3VhvEalnbl_MsaWh-Qm5/s1600/cockles6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIAr-7POv6wow35J2nO8Ue3yrMJPMIJB2NEXyZ_uMSwUYPmqOw2BhP66GE4elgWV39p9DX_eSp-1IhC-pen9Vsv7k-w36gmLn9FiaTBlKYN8fgk8d_ZX3kwSGX3VhvEalnbl_MsaWh-Qm5/s640/cockles6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNhtUT3tmikD2wqPaL_RqknJIDrnFmLuHWV0z6fwHvvC84gD2j3u4NTuvQB-mXVLtFQemSewWW0qn1_ifPr9svS-RjFKWfur2H-uGJK-jhOurVFYAD_QfJYFMkIQYCsqmuWYn9U-lfqvS8/s1600/cockles7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNhtUT3tmikD2wqPaL_RqknJIDrnFmLuHWV0z6fwHvvC84gD2j3u4NTuvQB-mXVLtFQemSewWW0qn1_ifPr9svS-RjFKWfur2H-uGJK-jhOurVFYAD_QfJYFMkIQYCsqmuWYn9U-lfqvS8/s640/cockles7.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>eat them like Sol....maldon sea salt...fresh bread...straight off a board on the kitchen bench...</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">10 year old heaven...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">a lovely end to a sunday afternoon...a sunset & fresh seafood...</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK8i_Oc3I7GfCtkbpB_WrP_665UEKVux8bJkuG0JixhzvETMHqut_8LQ3Lii2EH0baMfHf8t1qJXMSiBTft08_Rpe5XSEUfENW7Uk1ElIcnJbYaU_YUuJIXj82-P_emMUUXbk9rQJFwy0f/s1600/cockles8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK8i_Oc3I7GfCtkbpB_WrP_665UEKVux8bJkuG0JixhzvETMHqut_8LQ3Lii2EH0baMfHf8t1qJXMSiBTft08_Rpe5XSEUfENW7Uk1ElIcnJbYaU_YUuJIXj82-P_emMUUXbk9rQJFwy0f/s640/cockles8.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><b><br /></b><br /><b>so...the hubster caught a perfect sunset...on his own...in focus...great foreground...depth...colour</b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><b>& we got a gorgeous salty local snack outa the experience...</b><br /><b><br /></b><br />yep...he's going back...<br /><br />one day you may even see me just there...wandering along the shore...in my Hunter's...bucket in hand...<br /><br />& he may even get all of me in the picture :)<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuNgFoaarZuzO8eQxd6EeQZooWnALWz5uHow0H9pTcySzkGU-LXyp-koqHodM4L7HOq_przw8hn4UZxmKlkjvVQO8f6vghLObAtNk0Wkn0SWeSnit5fj8tHqhQCNYsEYhIgGrSCMYf-pyb/s1600/cockles1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuNgFoaarZuzO8eQxd6EeQZooWnALWz5uHow0H9pTcySzkGU-LXyp-koqHodM4L7HOq_przw8hn4UZxmKlkjvVQO8f6vghLObAtNk0Wkn0SWeSnit5fj8tHqhQCNYsEYhIgGrSCMYf-pyb/s640/cockles1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;">happy monday gals</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;">i have seafood recipes to google</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;">&</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;">photo challenges to come up with </span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;">enjoy!</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;">xxx</span></b><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;"><br /></span></b><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;">~~~</span></b><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;"><br /></span></b><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">today i am linking up with a wonderful writer <a href="http://www.privetandholly.com/2011/11/monday-moments-spinning-it-out.html">{here}</a></span><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">celebrating monday's together</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;"><br /></span></b></div><b><br /></b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><b><br /></b>

a husband, a camera, a boy & fresh seafood...

this is what happens when you give your husband the camera and your son loves seafood... you end up totally surprised with the results! sent...

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cool crafting for sweet rock chicks...

<b>ok..so i never thought i'd say *get your tie-dye on*...!</b><br /><b><br /></b><br />seriously gals- for me...*tie-dyed* is the kinda hippie i <i>never</i> channelled...<br /><br />sure i hoped for a little hippie-cool- you know sandals & beads- when i was travelling round<br /><br />thailand...<br /><br />i hoped for a little surf-hippie-cool when i rode my long board in my teen bikini...<br /><br /><i>but i never went tie-dye hippie!</i><br /><i><br /></i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimg4X2uPZYxPc0PvX7z9AgUAG1FZt3kLEDpWQk-88bbAFY02Z_N149Qpr_XG9jC6D56sMkq6TFWjYZJsYlEhU5CdLYBz5GnRBJfrmXFt8i3aIjNZnPSrfFVSLXia2UAFwHEzH9ZhDE7u5W/s1600/tiedye2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="392" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimg4X2uPZYxPc0PvX7z9AgUAG1FZt3kLEDpWQk-88bbAFY02Z_N149Qpr_XG9jC6D56sMkq6TFWjYZJsYlEhU5CdLYBz5GnRBJfrmXFt8i3aIjNZnPSrfFVSLXia2UAFwHEzH9ZhDE7u5W/s640/tiedye2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><i><br /></i><br /><i><br /></i><br /><b>suffice to say the hippie tie-dyed tees of the 70's were best avoided...</b><br /><b><br /></b><br />i thank my mama for never putting me in anything remotely swirley & fluro...& well tie-dyed...<br /><br />in my case- the hippie in my parents living on the <i>then remote <a href="http://www.manlyaustralia.com.au/information/about_area/northBeaches.asp"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c27ba0;">{northern beaches of sydney}</span></a></i>- saw me<br /><br />skipping 'round in crochet bikini bottoms & eating home-made muesli...with bare feet...<br /><br />never a tie-dyed skirt or singlet top in sight..<br /><br />so i now find myself , some years later ;) standing righteously in my skinnies & ballet flats telling<br /><br />you all to *get your tie-dye on*!<br /><br />i blame it on my gorgeous friend <a href="http://thebottomoftheironingbasket.blogspot.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c27ba0;">{simone}</span></a> - yep the simone of all things lovely & stylish from<br /><br /><a href="http://thebottomoftheironingbasket.blogspot.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c27ba0;">{the bottom of the ironing basket}</span></a> ...<br /><br />she had a stash of dye- given to her- so popped a few in a box & sent them to my kiddos to play<br /><br />with over the half term hols...<br /><br />my kids of course didn't see <i>tie-dyed-mung-bean-eating-hippie- from-the-70's that i saw</i>...<br /><br />they saw rock star...<br /><br />what we achieved was what i would call <b>*pretty-grunge*</b>...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZXlB80fmAidwvGI7C_AyG7B0AKvmN_2B8hZG7UO34QYb2dyqo4SMtGVzoPJV8Gl992kNXm_Pv5nbsgyzXfIJHAPpS1O4u4ucesiHYMKgmvuX__4mquhYxE0LLlaD_5lmbeLi1SibHIbH0/s1600/tiedye1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="538" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZXlB80fmAidwvGI7C_AyG7B0AKvmN_2B8hZG7UO34QYb2dyqo4SMtGVzoPJV8Gl992kNXm_Pv5nbsgyzXfIJHAPpS1O4u4ucesiHYMKgmvuX__4mquhYxE0LLlaD_5lmbeLi1SibHIbH0/s640/tiedye1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />they googled tie-dying...ooohed & aaaahed at the simple one-coloured options...<br /><br />they didn't grab old greying singlets to colour...<br /><br />they went on the hunt for clean, white, cooler looking tees to <i>*design* upon...</i><br /><i><br /></i><br /><i>that's what they said- *hey let's all design some t-shirts*...i LOVE that...</i><br /><i><br /></i><br /><i><br /></i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKk2Hu6oICkBnytquSSkQZbqyWr3XQ7GBmPguFKttR18Mw8kff2aYgMKUhiHA-2pjitieosb-0e4Mf5w6-FxNWSh6MzgbqgfvdmFVzEYezYi3uG1B4navY9Yx-0vIJT9zmW4w4eMUfaQCA/s1600/tiedye3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKk2Hu6oICkBnytquSSkQZbqyWr3XQ7GBmPguFKttR18Mw8kff2aYgMKUhiHA-2pjitieosb-0e4Mf5w6-FxNWSh6MzgbqgfvdmFVzEYezYi3uG1B4navY9Yx-0vIJT9zmW4w4eMUfaQCA/s640/tiedye3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><i><br /></i><br /><i><br /></i><br /><b>so...my-rock-star-grunge-pretty-gypsy-travelling kids made me love a little tie-dying...</b><br /><b><br /></b><br />only in support of true design, self expression & a love of fashion of course... ;)<br /><br />when the kids want a little crafting over their holidays...grab a bucket, a bag of elastic bands & a couple<br /><br />of fresh white tees...<br /><br />get them out doors creating rock tees for christmas...<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeLrqPeUOUFudbKE91LGyotYR5nA675U0k3O4HQsmPsCNSletXW6yEPkeyv2lsb6h6rcKLooYGndkcGOUNytIcMnNAYvK7wseptaWKdTGYGDiJf50XBVSdNtthyphenhypheneYKm4azs5xzGfRePMrh/s1600/tiedye4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeLrqPeUOUFudbKE91LGyotYR5nA675U0k3O4HQsmPsCNSletXW6yEPkeyv2lsb6h6rcKLooYGndkcGOUNytIcMnNAYvK7wseptaWKdTGYGDiJf50XBVSdNtthyphenhypheneYKm4azs5xzGfRePMrh/s640/tiedye4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">~~~</span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">get your tie-dye on baby 'cause</span></i></b><br /><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></i></b><br /><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">"it's all in the way you wear it"</span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">happy hippy thursday</span></i></b><br /><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">melissa </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">xxx</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">~~~</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">PS- don't forget my *mollie makes* giveaway <a href="http://misssewandso.blogspot.com/2011/10/giveaway-rocking-some-creative.html">{here}</a></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">i'll get those little rock stars to pull a name outa their guitar case over the weekend!</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">~~~</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimg4X2uPZYxPc0PvX7z9AgUAG1FZt3kLEDpWQk-88bbAFY02Z_N149Qpr_XG9jC6D56sMkq6TFWjYZJsYlEhU5CdLYBz5GnRBJfrmXFt8i3aIjNZnPSrfFVSLXia2UAFwHEzH9ZhDE7u5W/s1600/tiedye2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="392" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimg4X2uPZYxPc0PvX7z9AgUAG1FZt3kLEDpWQk-88bbAFY02Z_N149Qpr_XG9jC6D56sMkq6TFWjYZJsYlEhU5CdLYBz5GnRBJfrmXFt8i3aIjNZnPSrfFVSLXia2UAFwHEzH9ZhDE7u5W/s640/tiedye2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>

cool crafting for sweet rock chicks...

ok..so i never thought i'd say *get your tie-dye on*...! seriously gals- for me...*tie-dyed* is the kinda hippie i never  channelled... ...

Read more »

a virtual coffee in the english playroom...

<b>morning sweet bloggy friends..time for a virtual coffee....?!</b><br /><b><br /></b><br />it has been too long since the last...<br /><br />summer kept me outdoors...travelling...kiddo organising...thinking...creating...<br />so it's now time to take stock of what is a new school year here in ol'Blighty...& to share with you a long awaited virtual coffee....<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOqp7mk-_0AFPZyj5jr2yhrYUOIRUiHDq6xm3hxK3kwpP0RExirGFnkkiy-9FEDWgupC1Y3L7zgz64Mt0bZnpm2fufnnZfJniFOi9_-tuUnM6VBk9hejXUWCwVT0OPiKD9ow3uhrZiVQCV/s1600/playroom11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOqp7mk-_0AFPZyj5jr2yhrYUOIRUiHDq6xm3hxK3kwpP0RExirGFnkkiy-9FEDWgupC1Y3L7zgz64Mt0bZnpm2fufnnZfJniFOi9_-tuUnM6VBk9hejXUWCwVT0OPiKD9ow3uhrZiVQCV/s640/playroom11.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><b>i've been struck with the spring cleaning bug...so grab your coffee & head with me, if you will, to the kiddos domain...the playroom...</b><br /><b><br /></b><br />not the season to clear out...i realise...but for me, having grown up <i><b>down under</b></i> where the start of a new school year is january...clearing out is what i do when they all go back to school!<br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwGTBJjDMklyl6iEDL5PM4mXAOdCZtxpHI93W_Hxl9pNhwm7qbq_tp4i5kWfk6fFkictSYVRgTb_PmPPPawYJ5CSD5d7iTSvdCBy_LFOqVIeLxplJCRBxaG14W6z-COt7Hncah6NCKZlT1/s1600/playroom8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwGTBJjDMklyl6iEDL5PM4mXAOdCZtxpHI93W_Hxl9pNhwm7qbq_tp4i5kWfk6fFkictSYVRgTb_PmPPPawYJ5CSD5d7iTSvdCBy_LFOqVIeLxplJCRBxaG14W6z-COt7Hncah6NCKZlT1/s640/playroom8.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">(a gorgeous gift from the lovely </span><a href="http://lonadeanna.blogspot.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966;">anna</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"> to our little vegemites)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />i'm starting a fresh new school year with organised cupboards...clear under beds & a full re-cycling bin...<br />just as i would in january living on the beaches back home...<br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHfAZaGnaCUvfP2BzIOnjVzmmnKhEqunnB-bGxega1L6CzdrMF4kCtfK_Th6cBQEX1qR1GgzFVks-Lls4aNbt7k6jFIkU3RloJck3LOwPuIcvkw-O7z-sZCHjtkXL3FswluLUmcbTIjV_o/s1600/playroom1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHfAZaGnaCUvfP2BzIOnjVzmmnKhEqunnB-bGxega1L6CzdrMF4kCtfK_Th6cBQEX1qR1GgzFVks-Lls4aNbt7k6jFIkU3RloJck3LOwPuIcvkw-O7z-sZCHjtkXL3FswluLUmcbTIjV_o/s640/playroom1.jpg" width="478" /></a></div><br /><b><br /></b><br /><b>you can sit in the sunny bay window whilst i tell you about this playroom...</b><br /><b><br /></b><br />when we first moved from our sandy-toed life in sydney, to our *horse-riding-football-mad-milk-from-the-local-farm-country-inspired-life* here in ol'Blighty...i had my check list in hand...<br /><br />my own personal *what-i-want-english-house* check list...<br />&<br />right up at the top was a <i>playroom...</i><br /><i><br /></i><br /><i><br /></i><br /><i><br /></i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHYUAekHRNVSg1P4ACojSZcTQHA4awW2S7Ohyphenhyphenhf2XH7c-hRL0i4XT_D1XXgsrgLO4ar8evmggJPfaKI3MxQs64ohzQ5YtQpMMc1tAz6bQc8QSP9DGYCLQCqMes3cjhzFWiMTDYP9vLWoL_/s1600/playroom4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="464" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHYUAekHRNVSg1P4ACojSZcTQHA4awW2S7Ohyphenhyphenhf2XH7c-hRL0i4XT_D1XXgsrgLO4ar8evmggJPfaKI3MxQs64ohzQ5YtQpMMc1tAz6bQc8QSP9DGYCLQCqMes3cjhzFWiMTDYP9vLWoL_/s640/playroom4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><i><br /></i><br /><br />not a rumpus room- as friends had had in australia when we were growing up...<br />not a family room- where the toys were dumped & everyone ate round a coffee table...<br /><br />i wanted a real <i>mary poppins</i> playroom...where the kids had their games...the girls had their doll houses...& there was a drawing desk...<br /><br />a playroom where they all snuggled down in winter to watch movies...<br />& where in summer, we opened the windows & let the air in...<br />& where kids could climb in & out from to the garden with their friends...<br /><br />so when we looked at big old english houses...i just held my breath for a playroom...<br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu5Icwmb1oieMOoX3MuVgeBeCmviEQDB_nIEzVoXudSluc7wl6E9cnMpZAoHRwHzeUMDqh50lfkOgk6fuzSlC3kGBhYbW03iuDKjPATR1srj5h9OrFnfzh82Cpog3-APtN_1W__ayd_e8F/s1600/playroom7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu5Icwmb1oieMOoX3MuVgeBeCmviEQDB_nIEzVoXudSluc7wl6E9cnMpZAoHRwHzeUMDqh50lfkOgk6fuzSlC3kGBhYbW03iuDKjPATR1srj5h9OrFnfzh82Cpog3-APtN_1W__ayd_e8F/s640/playroom7.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><br />& we found...on the edge of our little market town...a perfect playroom...with a bay window...& high ceilings & lotsa light...<br /><br />aussie kids need a lot of light & a lot of space...suddenly our outdoor life was about to become indoors and this playroom was the perfect <i>mary poppins </i>inspired answer...<br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9teVtKWb0ndYqfBuU9XyyIk8gJThSsB4rQl4K2ATlUAr3GnCAmHxerdm6XCqtXPxPOoGMWkKiVQaa7zxn1T8uLY5DUIz3RhafvNOzCRWhnzWqDxiA_mNdsyili_Vfw-NJ7IX3oeSkaS0p/s1600/playroom2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9teVtKWb0ndYqfBuU9XyyIk8gJThSsB4rQl4K2ATlUAr3GnCAmHxerdm6XCqtXPxPOoGMWkKiVQaa7zxn1T8uLY5DUIz3RhafvNOzCRWhnzWqDxiA_mNdsyili_Vfw-NJ7IX3oeSkaS0p/s640/playroom2.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><b><br /></b><br /><b>so for three & a half years we have lived in...& so loved this playroom...</b><br /><b><br /></b><br />but just because i wanted it so desperately didn't mean it was my space...<br />chippy was not high on the kids list of decorating...<br />nor was a sense of calm white or jugs of flowers...<br /><br />this playroom was for kids...& toys & colour & dancing & wii & karaoke & lotsa fun...<br />so we met half way via<i><b> ikea</b></i> & some very special vintage car-boot, thrifted finds...<br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIqpR-gFHO7C3ww6rNRoz3mQzGIL0T5cGl-Ky14ckH9Gte_MFEpxXJMRxovp7bX85yC0U7U-Z-Ld2XwAqy0FQwe4JmzaCDHVaS9aGIr9qj6Vcabf8M5DsPesP4yLGdQLeeqdro8lrbYoT1/s1600/playroom6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIqpR-gFHO7C3ww6rNRoz3mQzGIL0T5cGl-Ky14ckH9Gte_MFEpxXJMRxovp7bX85yC0U7U-Z-Ld2XwAqy0FQwe4JmzaCDHVaS9aGIr9qj6Vcabf8M5DsPesP4yLGdQLeeqdro8lrbYoT1/s640/playroom6.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><b><br /></b><br /><b>i</b><b> must admit...i don't usually share a coffee in here...it's only cause i'm on this cleaning thing that i'm giving you the bay window seat...</b><br /><b><br /></b><br />you've not had to side step any little animals living in castles...leggo scooter sets...i-pods...art supplies...drink bottles...tents...cubby houses, sweet rappers or soccer boots...<br /><br />the floor is clear...<br />the kids are at school...<br /><br />come 4 o'clock & i'm back on my chair in the sitting room...<br />pretending the floor hasn't been covered in up-ended baskets of <s>kid crapola</s> special bits...<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzXDZ08njWj_YVVyMld9ZJ4Beqt2xuAIpeRb-jzxsNQeen9l8R1JG6SyURBV3XYnpT7DJg2RnB2F3D0JDYt1MaF__4jsS_lDcLY1B7LiqWmN6AlFbJcnsXWSQ9KPeiJrfdejtzu8Q_xUOE/s1600/playroom9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzXDZ08njWj_YVVyMld9ZJ4Beqt2xuAIpeRb-jzxsNQeen9l8R1JG6SyURBV3XYnpT7DJg2RnB2F3D0JDYt1MaF__4jsS_lDcLY1B7LiqWmN6AlFbJcnsXWSQ9KPeiJrfdejtzu8Q_xUOE/s640/playroom9.jpg" width="494" /></a></div><br /><b><br /></b><br /><b>so...if we were really having a coffee today...i would ask you if you've ever dreamed of a real life mary poppins playroom....</b><br /><b><br /></b><br />i'm not into the singing birds...or the ordered shelves...or the links to a world of children seen but not heard that a playroom used to represent...<br /><br />but i do love me a space to hold all the kid stuff...<br /><br />everyone always harps on about the long nights, the broken sleep and the constancy of having and rearing kids...<br /><br />i just wish someone had told me about all the <b><i>stuff<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">!</span></span></i></b><br /><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><br /></span></span></i></b><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiiRLdmmYH0MQblPIoxsKnCVuDp3NnqGW0ZhN40kfubsAEDJdzs5U9ON_tcSY9VFGYOQNYJH6bmwA4VU81rP9ZUDNCZp8EcO5AfF0qgFOvzCrFi7p2JfqhGNSNuKc-N2IOCykolkgsGEDC/s1600/playroom15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="392" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiiRLdmmYH0MQblPIoxsKnCVuDp3NnqGW0ZhN40kfubsAEDJdzs5U9ON_tcSY9VFGYOQNYJH6bmwA4VU81rP9ZUDNCZp8EcO5AfF0qgFOvzCrFi7p2JfqhGNSNuKc-N2IOCykolkgsGEDC/s640/playroom15.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c27ba0;">(the daunting after-summer-before-cleaning-out-very-used-playroom!)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><br /></span></span></i></b><br /><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">so...coffee drunk...playroom seen...i'm either pushing you back out into the wind with a bag of pre-loved toys under your arm...or you're coming with me to attack my sewing room & office space...</span></i></b><br /><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><br /></span></i></b><br /><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">totally up to you...</span></i><br /><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><br /></span></i><br /><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">but from here on in...it's pots of tea...garbage bags...a ruthless edge to the day...perhaps a little cursing thrown in for good measure and a promised sense of satisfaction at the end of the day...</span></i><br /><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><br /></span></i><br /><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><br /></span></i><br /><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><br /></span></i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCSMDe08BLEUTD4UZw4fPPMPXij6UVzryTfdf_czzuK1cYn_OW5AZBK-QvXogxYxpSyp2oT4TYcvV2iwZnGxa9su7cdq4r44RVuz7BeXkCXU6hbbemlVg77JQcYnstu_QT8T5vW5ms51US/s1600/playroom3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCSMDe08BLEUTD4UZw4fPPMPXij6UVzryTfdf_czzuK1cYn_OW5AZBK-QvXogxYxpSyp2oT4TYcvV2iwZnGxa9su7cdq4r44RVuz7BeXkCXU6hbbemlVg77JQcYnstu_QT8T5vW5ms51US/s640/playroom3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: auto;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: auto;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></span></b></div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;">let me know if you're in...</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;">&</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;">you can still take the bag of toys...</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;">&</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;">we may even find you something special in the sewing pile...</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;"><br /></span> </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;">tempting i'm sure ;)</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;">~~~~</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;">yep...i thought you'd be away...thanks for the coffee...</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;"><b>(there's more coffees to share <a href="http://amyluckynumber13.blogspot.com/2011/09/virtual-coffee.html">here</a> with my sweeeeeet friend amy)</b></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;"><b><br /></b></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjAEJi8sfaETKrBlxfKDRsdDvD8EpYQIN5ei6Vtl0OIsmJbucjwxFL4xnZEDD8TnKzY_bLAZCu6uobiXBw3M0J96hSl7hNar6GWl34pjay5DhOLkVEDrZxnpHtpljcswX_XoHa9bOyK8FP/s1600/playroom10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjAEJi8sfaETKrBlxfKDRsdDvD8EpYQIN5ei6Vtl0OIsmJbucjwxFL4xnZEDD8TnKzY_bLAZCu6uobiXBw3M0J96hSl7hNar6GWl34pjay5DhOLkVEDrZxnpHtpljcswX_XoHa9bOyK8FP/s640/playroom10.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3xcwGozEooaY8eNTAhyZzj69MDArdc96SBA2S7VEVPPgFL1YCoZ4dpBY5PR19sgxOqNYXcMCr0sUwDTC-_PCQsjnABiTMevOxtamGw6QiBKiTW7rEQuxUHF9_jocCGF0zcxJpHX_Pd2M3/s1600/playroom11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3xcwGozEooaY8eNTAhyZzj69MDArdc96SBA2S7VEVPPgFL1YCoZ4dpBY5PR19sgxOqNYXcMCr0sUwDTC-_PCQsjnABiTMevOxtamGw6QiBKiTW7rEQuxUHF9_jocCGF0zcxJpHX_Pd2M3/s640/playroom11.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(disco ball + world globe + vintage map + doilie bunting = playroom heaven!)</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><b><br /></b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><b><br /></b>

a virtual coffee in the english playroom...

morning sweet bloggy friends..time for a virtual coffee....?! it has been too long since the last... summer kept me outdoors...travelling......

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seaside village lovely...

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>a life made lovely...</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>a welsh seaside village...sand dunes...friends...happy kids...sandy toes...</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">old stone buildings...crabbing...ships & salt air...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">giggles...trails through the dunes...fish & chips...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">stunning hills...beautiful estuary's...cobblestone paths...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">old pubs...antique shops...new old boxes stashed in the back of the car...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVbFTrj6cTkDpR9r9Tm1_2DXtNMPGeewo3p3LUp9Ddep-qnQrqpG2t_ABz6KKbzw8MaK7Q4Bm5ScXcabR_HGc9YvyI7YwSwrrAbVkzv1AVTRso65zzXqYy5orJ5p4VBmTI72KXgQO6VnJ8/s1600/Barmouth1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVbFTrj6cTkDpR9r9Tm1_2DXtNMPGeewo3p3LUp9Ddep-qnQrqpG2t_ABz6KKbzw8MaK7Q4Bm5ScXcabR_HGc9YvyI7YwSwrrAbVkzv1AVTRso65zzXqYy5orJ5p4VBmTI72KXgQO6VnJ8/s640/Barmouth1.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcBgOqlYQtLQ6ABz9mtUPW81no8HVba6D61zYgGW3rjsDIVnq-hZf0nfy4bvSX_vGsQL_Sz6eIzCuJwLVSrGvy-MwlpAfJGsIjcWbD_y1L3q_2UVGEYgvqEtQc8d1rYxOT692-syZgv8Ql/s1600/Barmouth2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcBgOqlYQtLQ6ABz9mtUPW81no8HVba6D61zYgGW3rjsDIVnq-hZf0nfy4bvSX_vGsQL_Sz6eIzCuJwLVSrGvy-MwlpAfJGsIjcWbD_y1L3q_2UVGEYgvqEtQc8d1rYxOT692-syZgv8Ql/s640/Barmouth2.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh86MmNLxjiUH_hGNjuJklM5LU4gx03lSLU7kak28i9qceDSbz9gCb1Qzj77Sqcp_Q1z6rsaSgt4FyRxtxUCpPB6mLcdubx8NFj_MGa8_wbeiI_aQwesHwLApO4i7DH9_5onOPnYg_4Rz6U/s1600/Barmouth3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh86MmNLxjiUH_hGNjuJklM5LU4gx03lSLU7kak28i9qceDSbz9gCb1Qzj77Sqcp_Q1z6rsaSgt4FyRxtxUCpPB6mLcdubx8NFj_MGa8_wbeiI_aQwesHwLApO4i7DH9_5onOPnYg_4Rz6U/s640/Barmouth3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR2lmvhPqqL1quFVkP62myrDNMmPqcQF2F_nGvv-kuOftJyRSDf8EOcO7T8ay07RhQytaC0MqYhqZIY9Gi9xJP_TTfS9ni_kuHbCHhPQeG0GwW45ozyYaDZ66-oO-nKdHkQ35gqz59x_I9/s1600/Barmouth4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR2lmvhPqqL1quFVkP62myrDNMmPqcQF2F_nGvv-kuOftJyRSDf8EOcO7T8ay07RhQytaC0MqYhqZIY9Gi9xJP_TTfS9ni_kuHbCHhPQeG0GwW45ozyYaDZ66-oO-nKdHkQ35gqz59x_I9/s640/Barmouth4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik4msjutubT0fTC7-C7HD-5qJTDTLJJlsBvaKKMi39GwJHpCJ91bzftumdfpMc0ziIyWLeomTGjvF1hkRrPdCOoxd5mPuKLdgF-bUmZPw6z4fzy3dTqfbmacPDVw0an9ZIoakcacJyCf31/s1600/Barmouth5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik4msjutubT0fTC7-C7HD-5qJTDTLJJlsBvaKKMi39GwJHpCJ91bzftumdfpMc0ziIyWLeomTGjvF1hkRrPdCOoxd5mPuKLdgF-bUmZPw6z4fzy3dTqfbmacPDVw0an9ZIoakcacJyCf31/s640/Barmouth5.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><b>there is absolutely nothing like time on the beach for our family...</b><br />we adore the sandy feet...<br />the knotty hair...<br />the sand dunes...<br />salty faces...<br />laughing kids...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4io8bIq0fd2IxJCDKBbz_qb5g8BPW60VHGquYAZ_zEbWkMkwXjYcs2ilXhGRJABySQOObfZ3m5M0F4GT4j0G31O3eB-0eB4OQwYiby4DZj_OlkEelbddfvwEut3qvRu6_eKTXxjMf7Rbp/s1600/Barmouth6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4io8bIq0fd2IxJCDKBbz_qb5g8BPW60VHGquYAZ_zEbWkMkwXjYcs2ilXhGRJABySQOObfZ3m5M0F4GT4j0G31O3eB-0eB4OQwYiby4DZj_OlkEelbddfvwEut3qvRu6_eKTXxjMf7Rbp/s640/Barmouth6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyhH8aAQPt8iDZyiubslxw3PeX5zGKQ5ydLK4ZYW0w3SI5Vo_m-HENDzVedA_FZYvwbLWLG6trpwfUvPfDb0Xe8u-BduzhOuzpmPGQsP9IpjqqbDRm5fBrSVA0TbHqlpNwcwFOvlb1uLu7/s1600/Barmouth7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyhH8aAQPt8iDZyiubslxw3PeX5zGKQ5ydLK4ZYW0w3SI5Vo_m-HENDzVedA_FZYvwbLWLG6trpwfUvPfDb0Xe8u-BduzhOuzpmPGQsP9IpjqqbDRm5fBrSVA0TbHqlpNwcwFOvlb1uLu7/s640/Barmouth7.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhouCcA-79dnNRw-UM1eysbXeOwP9A93saIt9rRKdFzv0IcWiBZkC0LFuE91OwpTVFYvOwRI7F04APmoCVSKfgaRiwHKxvMLius-ubWK8ehv9C1Z5cg_8ENIrFI1z-AiUywuPCrFTpjt5Eq/s1600/Barmouth8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhouCcA-79dnNRw-UM1eysbXeOwP9A93saIt9rRKdFzv0IcWiBZkC0LFuE91OwpTVFYvOwRI7F04APmoCVSKfgaRiwHKxvMLius-ubWK8ehv9C1Z5cg_8ENIrFI1z-AiUywuPCrFTpjt5Eq/s640/Barmouth8.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><b>the welsh in the kids & their dad comes out in all it's glory...</b><br /><b>aussie welsh kids fishing, crabbing & hanging out with the locals...</b><br /><b>perfect...</b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj36nS1UWhGqGDyJgAG8ZUSP-vhqHse37PpyeHLxfWkxalcpliKhjoRnmgkmqNP7BCgn2TPg-H6mgLTqIlGwv9ddWLlBU9yV8bOu3CG1_l9MZ8jJFPUkHeteBhNBNDp9bN4AxDZlG_9pgJK/s1600/Barmouth9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj36nS1UWhGqGDyJgAG8ZUSP-vhqHse37PpyeHLxfWkxalcpliKhjoRnmgkmqNP7BCgn2TPg-H6mgLTqIlGwv9ddWLlBU9yV8bOu3CG1_l9MZ8jJFPUkHeteBhNBNDp9bN4AxDZlG_9pgJK/s640/Barmouth9.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;">hope you all had a wonderful weekend</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;">nothing like a mini break</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;">in another country</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;">that you can <i>drive</i> to</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;">...as australians we will <i>never</i> get over the excitement of doing this...</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;">xox</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;">melissa </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;"><br /></span></div>

seaside village lovely...

a life made lovely... a welsh seaside village...sand dunes...friends...happy kids...sandy toes... old stone buildings...crabbing...ships ...

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