Home Sweet Home

In preparation for the first Open Inspection this weekend, I went on an excursion down King William Road today in search of the perfect candle.

There are several 'Sellers Tips' and pearls of wisdom that people impart on you when you're trying to sell a house - You know, like bake some bread the morning of the Open, or brew some coffee. Have fresh flowers on the dining room table.

The small details that make a buyer feel at home in your house. And offer a little extra money...

In the perfect world, I will be awake nice and early on Saturday morning ready to give the house a final vaccum and polish so that it truely sparkles when the many eager buyers flood through the front door.

I even plan on making some cookies or perhaps a cake so that the kitchen smells amazing and all those suburban housewives who come to the Open with their handsome husband and 2.5 kids in tow can imagine themselves dressed in an apron and baking desserts and sweet temptations in my kitchen every weekend.

I know.. I have high expectations of the people who plan to make my house their home.

Anyway, back to my shopping expedition today - I was in search of the perfect candle, because if I don't have time to bake mouth watering treats on Saturday morning (or even if I do) I also want beautiful scented candles throughout the house giving off a subtle scent and also mask the new carpet smell that the spare rooms have, since I shut the doors and don't go in there very often.

I found the perfect candles in a shop called Fourish. My favourite scent was by a brand called Voluspa - It's called Pink Citron.

I'll let you know if it has super, magical, persuasive properties!!

xx

The Beginning of the End, or The End of the Beginning

My house is officially FOR SALE. The sign was erected in my yard last night. (Yes, I said 'erected'... because it makes me giggle. Coz I'm mature like that..)

I have mixed emotions about the whole process - swinging wildly from excited about the future to scared of the unknown. And of course, the obligatory resentment toward He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named for causing the drama that has resulted in the need to sell my house.

I love my house.

Because I helped it blossom from an unkempt, ugly duckling into a shiny white swan.

Just over 3 years ago, my kitchen looked like this -

And this is it now --

And the Dining Room went from this --

To this --

And the master bedroom went from this --

To this --

 I know that the Real Estate market isn't very good right now. Infact, if I had a dollar for every person who told me that 'it's not the right time to sell', I wouldn't have to worry about the house selling because I would be rich and I could buy a tropical island on which I would live instead.. But it's time for the beginning of the end, or the end of the beginning, or something equally as philosophical.

The first Open Inspection is this Saturday - so please all cross your fingers for a fast, easy, painfree sale.

I'll let you all know how it goes.

xx

Clinkers Cookies = Genius

I love this Clinkers ad. It cheers me up on days when I need to laugh at unicorns discussing paternity tests in a forest.

Today I found a container of smashed up clinkers in my pantry (obviously left over from some other baking experiment). So I baked them into choc chip cookies.

The problem with chocolate cookies is that they're not particualrly photogenic..

But they taste AMAZING

I was a little slack in the photography department, but here's the ingrediants line up >>

And the pretty, semi-mixed cookie dough - YUM

I have already eaten more of these than I care to admit. Will be taking the rest to work tomorrow to share the love (and calories).

xx

Cupcake Therapy

Some people indulge in retail therapy when they're feeling down.

I'm the type of person who would prefer to wallow in a tub of icecream (Cookies and Cream, if you want to get specific), or eat a block of chocolate (Cadbury's Rockyroad..)

But I must admit that I have found myself happily clicking away on the internet of late, and relishing in the world of online shopping.

Because you can do it in your pajamas (or if I'm honest, at my desk at work..)

Today I am delighting in the combination of my two favourite things - Retail therapy and sugary goodness - because I have just clickity-clicked my way to the checkout and purchased one of the most beautiful books I have every seen -



Miette - Recipes from San Francisco's most charming pastry shop



I am so excited to flick through the pages of this book and revel in the beautiful photography and drool-worthy treats. I can't wait !

I think it's probably San Francisco's answer to the reknowned Magnolia Bakery - another book I can stare at for hours.

Miette is available through Amazon - here

AND, there's a website, which will keep me entertained until my package arrives in the mail !

xx

Pynn It!

Yes, I'm a little slow off the mark.. so bare with me while I figure out the whole Pinterest thing..

My biggest frustration is that the 'Pin It' button can't be installed on my work computer, so I have to wait/remember to pin things when I get home.

In other news, I have just discovered decorator, stylist, TV show host, Samantha Pynn.

And I'm in love.

Please indulge me while I share some of my favourite rooms with you..

I'm definately noticing a theme in my home decorating style and Samantha Pynn seems to know exactly what I like.

xx

The Future Looks Bright

I wasn't sure if I wanted to blog about this.. but let's be honest - not many people stop by my little slice of Blog-land, and those that do will probably already know what I'm about to say anyway..!

So... Last night I saw a psychic.

Her name was Christine and she lived in a lovely little house typical of any elderly woman with big comfy armchairs and lace doilies on the coffee table.

Let me preface this by telling you that I've never had any strong opinions about psychics or fortune tellers or clairvoyants. I've known people who've been to see someone and have always wondered if I could believe what I was told, or if I would try to change my life to folow the path they thought I was on.

But given the changes in my life in the past few months, I decided to make an appointment and have the experience. After all - what do I have to lose ?!

The reading began with an inspection of my palms, followed by use of Tarot cards and also some communication from 'passed souls'. It was a surreal experience and I was there for over an hour. And can I say - I believed her. I didn't provide her with any information, choosing instead to listen to her talk and marvelling in what she knew about my life.

Obviously, only time can tell if her predictions come true. But if they do, then my future looks bright and there will be LOTS of travel.

I'm excited...

True Love, True Blood

I heart True Blood.

Season 4 is almost here.

Even if you don't think you're into the whole vampire thing, allow me to explain why you should get on board...

Found here

Eric Northman (aka Alexander Skarsgard)

Enough said.

Season 4 premieres 26 June.

Watch the sneak peak here.

(OK.. I watched the sneak peak after writing this post.. So if you have never seen an episode before, please don't judge it based on the weirdness of this 8-minute clip! I have a feeling that season 4 is going to get very bizarre, but all is well as long as Eric is around. Plus, I have a feeling that he and Sookie will finally hook up.)

xx

Cupcakes, Candy & Crepe Paper

I blogged about my sister's 30th Birthday back in May - Read more here.

But because we don't live in the same state, the birthday celebrations were slightly delayed (in time, not in enthusiasm).

A casual gathering was organised - 30 and Flirty.

And my darling sister employed me to be her party stylist/decorator/Amy Atlas impersonator...

So on Sunday night, we sat at mum's dining table fashioning pom poms out of tissue paper and planning a candy buffet.



Here I am all exhausted, showing off my amazing Martha Stewart Craft skills



Isn't it amazing what several packets of tissue paper and a few hours can produce ?



Hours of tissue paper folding = Pretty pom pom decorations

We didn't even have a table to use for our buffet, so we threw a table cloth over the spa! And it worked suprisingly well... The bowls and platters were all on hand in mums garage (courtesy of the contents of my house being stored at her place!)



My first Amy Atlas-esque Candy Buffet

Melting Moments - A guaranteed crowd pleaser

And the show stopping cake - DELICIOUS!

Other assorted candy included marshmallows, m&m's, strawberries & cream lollies, chico babies and choc honeycomb

Cheaters cupcakes.. (Not home-made - don't judge)

 



And the beautiful Birthday Girl herself. xx

Not bad for a candy table requested the night before the event.

Oh, and it was lovely to see my sister and celebrate her birthday too!

xx

Feeling Grown Up

On several occassions, my bloggy friends and I have discussed particular moments in our life when we feel like a grown up.

You know - that moment when you're performing a task that you probably do on a regular basis, but it suddenly occurs to you that grown-ups do this kind of thing. And suddenly you realise your not a kid playing dress up, but an adult living a grown up life.

Yes I'm in my 20's and have had my drivers license since I was 16, but every so often when driving in my car alone, I feel like a grown up.

Miss Pip's grown up moment is when she puts petrol in her car.

Miss Jodie feels grown up when she pays a bill on time or has enough money in the bank to pay for groceries.

Other suggestions include actually doing the grocery shop alone or getting a manicure..

Travelling alone is another suggestion. Or picking up the bill after a meal at a restaurant.

Today I had a grown-up moment when I was talking to a Real Estate Agent about selling my house. We sat down at my dining room table and discussed the value of the property, the fees involved in the sale process and my plans for the future. I have sold propoerty before, but I honestly don't remember the process and at the time I was going through the steps with someone by my side. 

Perhaps grown-up moments only happen when you're alone ? 

 This topic has sparked much debate in our office today, so I would love to hear your thoughts.

Grown up moments - When do you have them ??

xx

Sweet Dreams

Maybe it's this miserable cold weather, or maybe it's the fact that I barely slept last night and today feel like I am coming down with some kind of winter bug.. Whatever the reason, tonight I am dreaming of cosy beds with white linen, warm rugs and soft inviting cushions.

found here

found here

found here

found here

found here

Sweet dreams.

xx

Words to Live By

Loving this artwork i stumbled upon recently

Found here

Winter = Comfort Food

And by comfort food, I mean chocolate. And lots of it.

My favourite way to spend a Sunday afternoon is in the kitchen making mouth-watering treats.

Please note that the Sunday Afternoon baking tradition was born after I discovered that Saturday Afternoon baking was making me very fat. Mostly because rather than sharing the baked goods, I tend to eat them. All of them.

This afternoon involved chocolate from Bali and a box of Oeros.

The result was chocolate raspberry brownies and Oreo stuffed choc chip cookies.

Miss Pip discovered the recipe for these cookies here and while I'm not a huge fan of Oero's, I simply had to give it a go. (There may have also been significant pressure from co-workers who heard us discussing these cookies and begged me to make them on the weekend - I caved. I'm pathetic like that sometimes..)

Besides -- It's a cookie inside a cookie!!!!

I must say that I was amused by the recipe, which claimed to make 24 gigantic cookies.

I realise that 'gigantic' is an ambiguous measurement, but my mixture only made 13, so I must have done something wrong.

Anyway, I have been extremely restrained and haven't taste-tested these cookies yet (mostly because there's only 13 and I had to take some to my sweet-toothed colleagues.)

Oh, and the brownies ?

Not nearly as exciting. Or as photogenic.

And also, I may have been using a clock with no batteries as a time-keeping tool which may have resulted in crispier than intended brownies..

Note to self - buy new batteries for the clock in the kitchen.

xx

The Cheshire Cat Says...

'Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?'

'That depends a good deal on where you want to get to,' said the Cat.

'I don't much care where,' said Alice.

'Then it doesn't matter which way you go,' said the Cat.'

More, today, from Lewis Carroll's classic. I quote it because you do know where you want to get to. You need, therefore, to be careful who you ask. Too much advice is given on the Cheshire Cat's premise. You can talk to someone, this weekend, who understands what's needed in your particular situation. That will help more than you yet know.

- - - - - - - - - -

That's my horoscope for today, courtesy of AdelaideNow..

Amused me so much that I had to share it with you all.

There's nothing more entertaining on a Friday afternoon than a horoscopes entwined with a classic childrens story.

xx

The Best Is Yet To Come..

Spent some time trawling Etsy last night and have decided that these posters will be a MUST HAVE in my new place..



Found here

 LOVE LOVE LOVE !

xx