Flying Birds In The Laundry

My friends know me and my bird obsession all to well and spoilt me with this set of funky black velvet flying birds from Typo. I was let in on a secret that they were in the sale bin for only $3 a set - how can you say no to that!

After much debate I finally decided where to hang them - in the laundry

The birds add a bit of fun to this little beige corner of the house, what do you think?

Bali Tropical Theme - Party Inspiration

Tonight I'm going to a 40th Birthday bash with a Bali theme dress up!

It will be pool side with lots of drinks and dancing into the night .... now for some outfit inspiration.

More than anything these images make me want to go on a tropical holiday really soon!

Do you like themed dress up parties?

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[Images via We Heart It - Image 1, Image 2, Image 3, Image 4, Image 5,  Image 6, Image 7, Image 8, Image 9]

Underwater Photos As Art

I'm still on the hunt for some underwater art to hang on the wall near the bathroom and have come across some amazing underwater photos that would look stunning blown up oversized and framed

That last one is a nod to my love of vintage art :)

If only I knew how to get my hands on one of these beauties, but then I'd have to make a decision and pick one! Hmmmm I am drawn to the quirkiness of the second photo the fish in a cage. What about you?

[Images with links via Smashing Magazine]

Book Review: The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons

The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons was my November Book Club read that I only just finished this month, yep 2 months later which was a big fat fail on the homework there! I honesty think I read it so slowly because I didn't want it to end - yep it was that good. I went to the Book Club meet up and had to cover my ears so I didn't hear the ending but at least I got a heads up on all the sex scenes that were coming up!

The Bronze Horseman is written in 1941 wartime when Hitler invades Russia,  it shows the cold harshness of the war and how the rations killed so many people through starvation. It is also one beautiful love story about unattainable love, between the innocent Tatiana and the handsome soldier Alexander. It is a powerful love story with just the right about of sex, romance, desire, more sex, to keep you reading it with a beating heart and fighting off the tears all the way to the end.

This book is a sequel with a few more books to read in the series. There are also rumours of it being turned into a movie.

I would recommend this book to everyone, not just the romantics, but also the cynics because this book will  move you I guarantee, its a very powerful read. I give this book 5 stars - sorry Johnny I'd rather a date with Alexander than you this time!

Jarrah Jungle's Star Rating:
1 Bad - I'd rather eat brussel sprouts topped with anchovies than read this again
2 Not Good - I'd rather watch re-runs of Neighbours than read this again
3 Ok - I'm sitting on the fence - its not great but not terrible either
4 Good - I'd pass up a pack of tim tams for this read
5 Great - I'd pass up a date with Johnny Depp for this read

[Image via here]

I'm Keeping The Bachelorette Pad

My bachelorette pad has been up for sale for a couple of months and the market is not looking good in Western Australia people just don't seem to want to buy - there was a marketing campaign by a great real estate company, home opens every weekend, all that time and effort and there was only 1 offer. So I've decided to keep it and rent it out but I want a new plan - not just a basic rental but I've been toying with the idea of furnishing it to claim a higher rent return and it would be a fun project to furnish the bedrooms, living area, dining area and balcony.

You can get some good furniture packages and I could source some of the furniture second hand from Gumtree or somewhere like that. I have some pieces I could put in there that don't fit in the Jarrah Jungle. But I don't want it to look to bitsa, I want it to look modern and attract some swish city dwellers.  Hmmmmm just an idea ...

Bedroom Packages from Fantastic Furniture

Living and Dining Packages SuperAmart

Do you think its worth furnishing a rental?

[Images 1-4 Fantastic Furniture and 5-8 SuperAmart ]

My 2012 Word

I've finally come up with my word for 2012 - thanks to Maxabella's post who likes to get us all thinking about these things

My 2012 word is DECISION

1. I will not stare at items on shelves for longer than 3 minutes - thall shall make a decision to purchase or not purchase said items
2. I will not buy things to hang on the wall and then not hang them up for months - thall shall make a decision within 2 weeks of where to put that screw and hang that damn thing up
3. I will not have wild decorative dreams of stripes and wallpaper and then chicken out and go the easy plain wall - thall shall make the decision to paint those stripes and hang that wallpaper
4. I will not complain about having the same car for 11 years and tell everyone I've outgrown it and want a change - thall shall make a decision and buy another car
5. I have been given choices in this life and I will not doubt, procrastinate, say maybe, umm and ahh if I really want something - thall shall make a decision

What is your word for 2012?

 [Image via my pinterest] 

This Weeks Mantra

I have a feeling some dreams could come true this week with a bit of positive thinking and these dream mantras



[All images via my Pinterest]

Book Review: Katie Ridder Rooms

Katie Ridder: Rooms by Heather Smith MacIsaac now this book is a real treat, I couldn't find it in the bookstores here in Perth and asked for it for Christmas and it was bought online at Book Depository for about 50% off rrp

This is a gorgeous coffee table book the images are large and clear, fantastic photography, I found myself staring at each page for ages taking it all in. Katie's look is all class and sophistication.

The book is set out room by room with a blurb before each about how Katie would style and design them and then lots of photos to make you drool. The way the book is written is describing Katie's rooms with words like 'she' and 'her rooms' which I found a bit unusual at first them talking about her rooms, instead of her describing them herself, its a different angle of writing.

I would recommend this book for those that love the finer things in life

I give this book 4 stars - I may be overloaded on chocolate from Christmas but I think its more that I'm in love with the devine photography

Jarrah Jungle's Star Rating:
1 Bad - I'd rather eat brussel sprouts topped with anchovies than read this again
2 Not Good - I'd rather watch re-runs of Neighbours than read this again
3 Ok - I'm sitting on the fence - its not great but not terrible either
4 Good - I'd pass up a pack of tim tams for this read
5 Great - I'd pass up a date with Johnny Depp for this read

[Image via Book Depository]

Jarrah Jungles Top 10 Projects of 2011

As we kick into a new year I've been thinking back on how much we've done at home aka in the Jarrah Jungle in 2011 as we continue to turn our 1960s renovators delight house into a home. Here's my top 10 projects for 2011 in no particular order, although if I had to pick I'd say No.5 the shoe cupboard is pretty high on my dreams coming true list :)

1. Living Room Renovated - This room renovation was a  huge 2 month job - we removed the air conditioner, lifted the ceiling, restored the floorboards, painted a media wall and everything else, bought a new rug, leather couches and coffee table which you can read more about here

After

2. Outdoor Dining Area - I made the executive decision to move our dining area outside under the patio to allow for french doors to be installed to go out onto the deck (a project for 2012). We bought a new 8 seater outdoor dining setting and we hosted a dinner party outside with great success which you can see more of here and no doubt  more of those to come in 2012!

After

3. My Bar Fish Tank - With the dining area cleared away we moved the wine buffet into the dining area against the wall and the fish tank on top and I then had fun sourcing bar accessories for the fish tank and set it up with a bar theme, you can see more of my aquascaping here

After

4. Man Cave Renovated - The 4th and final bedroom was renovated, floorboards restored, everything painted, bought a recliner couch, rugs and new blinds which you can see more before and afters here. As the name suggests I haven't been allowed to decorate this room and besides the furniture its looking pretty plain so enough is enough - time to get my hands on this room and get it finished!

 

 

Still in progress

5. Install a shoe cupboard and have my Carrie Bradshaw dreams come true - I converted the hallway cupboard to a shoe cupboard with shelving so I can see my shoes at a glance and pick the right shoe with the right outfit each time. Yes I'm a very lucky girl!

After

6. Customised The Hallway Cupboards With Wallpaper and New Handles - The awesome buy we found in Amsterdam of rolls of wallpaper for $5 euros a roll was put to good use on the hallway cupboards which got a face lift with the wallpaper and new handles

After

7. Black and White Photo Wall Put up in Hallway - After picking out my favourite photos and printing them in black & white and collecting enough black frames I hung up a wall of photos and I intend to add to this wall in 2012

After

8. Backyard Pimping - Veggie and Herb Gardens and Lawn- The backyard was in desperate need of some attention and we cleared the weeds and set up some garden beds for a vegetable and herb garden beds. I'm growing tomatoes, leek, spring onion, carrots, rocket, garlic chives, lettuce, sage, coriander, parsley and basil. We also had an epic lawn laying weekend and laid about 70m2 of lawn in the backyard which is growing really well despite the hot summer sun.

In Progress

9. Art for Master Bedroom - I found some retro art prints which I framed for the master bedroom and you can read more about it here

After

10. Bathroom Renovation - Its not quite finished yet the shower screen doors are still to be installed and towel racks, mirrors and new light/heater etc. But it has come a hell of a way since we designed it, bought the glass basins, custom made vanity with granite bench top, shower box, removed the old window and installed a new clear one which gave us a surprise view of the tree tops, tiling floor to ceiling you can see how it was before then from this to now.

I did get my Christmas wish of being able to shower inside after 8 weeks of washing in the granny flat and laundry with a few mishaps thrown in for fun

Almost After

Woah that means the kitchen, laundry and powder room are all that is remaining inside - can we get them finished in 2012? Hmmm we'll have to wait and see.

I hope you've enjoyed my top projects for 2011, you can check out last years top projects here

Start The Car Sale

I was crazy enough to visit Ikea this week, yes on school holidays, and in the midst of the January sales. That place does it to me everytime I walk in and before I know it 3 hours has gone by and I have a trolley full of items to try to fit into my car boot!

I paid just under $130 for all this stuff and everything was on sale except for the retro ssshh print and white pot plant holders. They don't call me the bargain queen for nothing :)

The white pot plant holders I had on my Ikea wish list from last time I went but they were sold out so I was happy they were in stock this time and happy to pay full price for them which was only $4.95, now I just need to decide what to use them for I've seen some really cool ideas

This blue pot plant holder was sold out last time as well so I was chuffed to see they were on sale for $7.95 this time. Hopefully it cheers up my little money plant which is looking a bit worse for wear at the moment.

The orange bin was reduced to $4.95 and retro ssshh art $19.95 are both going in the man cave which needs some splashes of orange to match the new light fitting

This black vase was a steal at $9.95 (was $50) but having no flowers to put in it, I turned it upside down and thought it would make a cool side table in the man cave. Perfect for a beer or magic eight ball to sit on! 

The guest room needed a bit of freshening up for summer with light coloured linen and this queen doona set with 4 pillowcases set me back a mere $12.95

This black ornate frame was my most expensive purchase at $35 (reduced from $45) and I have a bit of a project in mind for this one using my leftover wallpaper

Have you visited Ikea lately? Did you nab any bargains?

[All images my own other than Skurar Pot via Ikea, Plaza Interiors and Ikea Hackers]