Birds N Cages

I'm so obsessed in love with birdcages n cute lil birds, anything I see with them on it and I have to buy it. Full price too (so not like me!). They've become a bit of a trend which is probably why they're on everything from clothes to decorating. I've recently added to my collection teatowels, drawer liners, a jumper, silver ornament, wooden birdcage and now these mirrored wall decals.

They were easy to put up, just remove the protective film from the mirror side and then from the back to remove the sticky. Use a spirit level to get them straight on the wall and hold for a few seconds and they stick like glue.

I did have to pinkie swear I wouldn't want to take them off ... ever ... as they'll probably remove the paint as well. Ain't guna happen look how sweet they are all clustered in the corner like that.

The wooden birdcage and sequined bird I bought from one of the antique shops in Guildford and drilled a ceiling hook in to hang it from. I've got to get some decorative chain for a more authentic look but the black ribbon will do for now.

I'm loving the feminine touch in this room and how its coming together bit by bit ....

Mirrored Wall Decals Kmart $14

Wooden Bird Cage Guildford $27

Sequined Bird $13

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Because your worth it

I  nearly ripped the front door off the hinges this morning running for the bus and late again
But I stopped in my tracks when I saw there was a padded envelope left on the step
My morning grumpies suddenly dispersed into a big wide smile as I realised it must be a gift
*Grins*
The front was stamped from L'Oreal
*Grins wider*
Ripped it open
*squeals*
I won this hair pack L’Oréal Professionnel Série Expert Vitamino Color valued at over $100

There are so many great comps online - I won this from Cosmopolitan (ok so I'm a bit too old to read the mag but doesn't stop me from entering the comps online!) and also L'Oreal Beauty Confidential is a good one too.

Because your worth it!

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Hole in the Wall

As promised we've made a start on the living room. As we now have the luxury of ducted air conditioning this old wall unit air conditioner was the first thing to go.

Undid the screws, jimmyed off the frame and pulled the baby out. Went to brick up the hole with the bricks we'd picked up from my parents place the day before, thinking we were prepared and nothing would go wrong. Turns out the bricks are the wrong type we needed the double sized ones. So then we had a big hole in our wall and nothing to fill it with. Awesome. The flys think it's great they're coming in quicker than I can say "What the bleep do we do now!"

Being a Sunday there wasn't any place open that sold bricks (not even Bunnings sell bricks surprisingly). So then it was calling family and friends until someone answered our prayers with the right size. Mission accomplished but we'd have to wait until the next day to get them so we boarded the hole back up with some wood from the outside and cardboard on the inside.

As soon as we had the right bricks Pete whipped up some mortar (sand, cement and lime) and laid the bricks in the hole and stuck them there. Then the front was trowelled with mortar to make it smooth n pretty and ready for painting. 

Is it just me or do little jobs sometimes turn into big jobs when you least expect it? 

Has not having the right materials ever set you back? 

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Living Room As It Is

How exciting we’re starting on our next room The Living Room. We want to paint it, move the aerial, remove the old wall unit air conditioner (as we've had ducted installed) and then the fun part buying new furniture. I’ll be so stoked if it’s done by Christmas and I’ve been assured and promised and given lots of exasperated sighs meaning of course it’ll be done by Christmas that's weeks away. Please please please I hope so! Not being able to watch TV will no doubt be motivation to get this room done in double time as I just don't know how I'll live without Packed to the Rafters or Master Chef.

So you can get an idea of how the room looked BEFORE this is us before we moved in sanding the floorboards back and sealed them with Tung Oil.

From this side of the room you can see the front door on the left (still taped with plastic from sanding), the white door on the right takes you into the kitchen area and the alcove is where the TV goes.

This is the view you get from the kitchen with the front door on the right and looking out the gorgeous big window to the street view. We've since replaced the blue venetians with timber blinds and had the huge pine trees removed from the front as they were overshadowing the house and becoming dangerous.

This is the back wall facing the TV alcove with the kitchen through the doorway. This is how we've had the living room set up for the past 12 months. That ugly black cord trailing across the wall to the other side is the TV aeriel which we plan to relocate to the TV alcove. There use to be a fireplace against the wall where the couch is but they bricked it in years ago and rebuilt the wall so I'd say that's why the TV use to be used from there.

The 2 fish tanks on the stand we've sadly passed onto friends as they were a bit too much maintenance with the house renos we're trying to tackle and we don't really have the room for them. We've kept 1 (yes we had 3) which is currently in the 'Man Room' and my plan is to move it into the dining room. But the kitchen has to be renovated first so that may take some time!

OK so that's the BEFORE and AS IT IS. After the weekend I'll be able to show you some DURINGS and hopefully before Christmas the AFTER. How excitement.

Does anyone else have renos or any projects your keen to get finished before Xmas?  

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The Race That Stops The Nation + A Champange Cocktail

The Race That Stops The Nation ....
Yes I'm talking about the Melbourne Cup!

We are probably the only country in the world which has a Public Holiday for a horse race! 

Well our lucky fellows in Melbourne do anyway. The rest of us Perth-goers still head into town in our pretty little frocks and fascinators (or the brave ones in beautiful feathery hats) dressed for our office functions. The lucky ones are off to Ascot to watch the horses race around the track, although many don't actually get to see a horse they're too busy sipping champagne and looking fabulous.

At 12pm it's like magic the phones stop ringing, people stop working, and gather around to watch The Race That Stops The Nation. 

It's 3 minutes of exciting panting as the announcer calls out the 20+ horses as they gallop around the track. I managed to pick up the office sweep (twice) for first place woo hoo.

My office had a Lounge Lizard themed luncheon and enjoyed race style cocktails aptly named Moscow Mule, Phar Lap, The Horses Neck and my favourite Classic Champagne Cocktail.

Here's the recipe from my Cocktail Bible (which I've bragged about before)

Classic Champagne Cocktail

Serves 1

1 sugar cube

Dash of Angostura bitters

30ml brandy

Chilled champagne or sparkling wine

Place the sugar cube in a chilled champagne flute.
Add the bitters, then the brandy.
Slowly top up with champagne or sparkling wine.

Fashions come and fashions go but the true classic is untouchable!

How did you spend your Melbourne Cup Day?

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[Images from here and here] 

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Sunflower Sunday

Is it just me or can you not help but smile when you look at sunflowers?

They just look so bright and happy and cheerful!

After an absolute killer week at work I was driving home and spotted a bucket full of sunflowers out the front of the Florist. Didn't take much to convince myself that I well and truly deserved to buy these happy flowers to take home with me. I picked up a bunch for $5. A cruise down Beaufort Street, Highgate will give you a pick of half a dozen Florists all selling really nice arrangements or bunches for a reasonable price.

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Never Give Up

Who would’ve thought finding a black and white swirly girly rug would be so hard? It’s only 2 colours and a bit of a pattern. Not much to ask I thought. Well let me tell you there aren’t too many white rugs out there. Beige no probs. Off-white plenty of those. But bright white? Oh no we don’t have that type sorry. Ugggh.

Why do I always want what turns out to be a difficult, one of a kind, pain in the ass to find? But did I give up? Hell no!

Me and the boy drove around the country side and checked out about half a dozen rug shops and when we pulled into the last shop about 15 minutes before closing time I wasn’t hopeful. But my ears pricked up when the salesman said because we were the last customers of the day we could have any rug on the rack we were looking at for $165. Some were labeled up to $450 so suddenly orange and brown and crazy patterns became appealing. But then I decided not to give up on what I really wanted and explained exactly what I was after. He showed me one he had and it was near on perfect but it was way too big for the room. So as we were heading for the door defeated and deflated he said he’d check out the back ... and he came back carrying the perfect size and the perfect pattern. I could’ve kissed him!

Just to prove even if you think your getting a bargain, you can probably get a better one, I fluttered my eyelashes a bit more and we took it home for $150. Sweet.

It went straight into it's new room the Craft Room/Study. I love how it makes such a bold statement in such a small room. It's just what I was looking for, just goes to show NEVER GIVE UP!
 

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