Our Play Kitchen hack

Posted on June 30, 2017February 25, 2019 Posted in LottieTagged children, creative play, family, hack, home, ikea, kids, Kmart, make believe, makeover, play kitchen, project, tea party, toy

Our very own play kitchen make over is complete!

We picked up this pink, grimy Barbie kitchen from Gumtree a few weeks ago and got to work on fixing it up for our little princess.

So so happy with the results! The marble wallpaper from Kmart Australia is a popular hack I picked up from others on Facebook and Instagram and it adds the perfect touch. The black and gold was Hubby’s idea and it looks great.

Our little Lottie is obsessed with her new kitchen and we look forward to many more tea parties and creative play this weekend!

Liz x

Lovely lavender

Posted on May 13, 2017April 8, 2018 Posted in Liz's BlogTagged cozy, home, homemade, lavender, painting

I’ve been reading the Ruby Red Shoes books to little Lottie and we absolutely love the beautiful description of Ruby’s cost caravan. Cups of tea, books to read and cozy blankets to cuddle up in.

It really reminds me of the atmosphere I try to create in our home with lots of cushions, books, handmade mittens, paintings and pieces of furniture made by family, nice lavender soap, candles and, of course, tea and biscuits are always plentiful.

No matter what happens out there, home is always a warm, safe and happy place to rest and just be.

Liz & Lottie’s Little Library

Posted on May 9, 2016May 9, 2016 Posted in Liz's BlogTagged books, childhood, contentment, family, happiness, home, house, kids, learning, library, moving, preschool, project, reading, stories, story, unpacking

Everyone said that flood was a blessing in disguise – and they were right.

As we settle into our second new home of 2016, the feel of everything falling into place, the warmth of our books and pictures everywhere, Lottie’s toys scattered lovingly around her room and finding all the little things – throw rugs, balls of yarn, tea cups – that have been hiding in boxes just make us happier and happier.

My husband and I catch ourselves wandering from room to room smiling at each other and utterly content with where we are.

I wanted to share some images of my favourite project, our library.

Lottie’s reading is coming along wonderfully. She recognises most of the letters of the alphabet, and runs to find the letter your name starts with when you come over to visit. She knows her friend Audrey starts with A and Beau starts with B. She ever spelled out ‘Pig the Pug’ after the story book they’re reading at preschool this month.

Reading brought me more joy than anything growing up and it still does as an adult. It’s wonderful to see my little one discovering that same excitement in opening up a story book.

Liz x

Settling in

Posted on April 19, 2016April 19, 2016 Posted in Liz's Blog, UncategorizedTagged ambiance, bath, busy, candles, content, family, flood, home, house, Lush, moving, packing, Phoenix Rising, relaxing, stressful, warm

Family exhausted. Boxes stacked against every wall. Nothing but pizza and Moët in the fridge – we are officially moved in to our new place.

And there is no better way to relax after our second long weekend of moving house in 6 weeks than Lush bath bombs and wine.

Liz x

Coffee and Sunshine

Posted on April 1, 2016April 1, 2016 Posted in Liz's Blog, UncategorizedTagged blog, coffee, flood, home, house hunting, kids, life, positivity, resolve, sunshine, tough times, update

So it’s been almost a week since we lost our home to flooding from a hot water system and we’re holding up ok. The in-laws took us in and have been a wonderful source of support through this. But living out of suitcases on the floor is not a long or even short term solution and I’ve started house hunting. I did not expect to fall in love with the second place I inspected but no one ever expects to fall in love with anyone/thing. We’ll see how our application pans out.

Today however is a glorious Saturday to be enjoyed. There’s the most beautiful little cafe just a stone’s throw from here so I’ve got my hipster-mummy-Sydneysider coffee fix for the day.

01 fortybaskets

It’s heading up to 30C but Little Lottie is bundled up in a beautiful yellow hand knitted jumper her grandmother got her. I gave her a floppy straw hat before she went on her walk with her grandparents (she was awfully upset that she couldn’t find the hat with the flowers on it) and she told me, “I am a happy sunshine now! Let’s go to the park!”.

Yes, you are a happy ray of sunshine my dear girl. Never change.

Liz xx

A time to be grateful

Posted on March 27, 2016 Posted in Liz's Blog, UncategorizedTagged breathe, damage, disaster, Easter, family, flood, grateful, home, house, kids, stress

The Easter long weekend is for family, relaxing and reflection.

Then the hot water tank bursts just a week after the car’s gear box starts playing up and that idyllic weekend in the country with warm socks, happy children in white linen dresses, wine, food and laughter turns into soaking up 2 inches of water from the flooded living room.

Thankfully we’re OK, no one was burned or injured and we don’t seem to have lost much property. I think. Haven’t fully inspected the damage yet.

Right now I have to remember that I’ve done all I can do. Everyone has been called, the water was mopped up and the windows opened to help dry out the floor. It’s time to take a breath, take it one step at a time and maybe take Lottie to the playground.

ABC Reading Eggs – Learn to Read program 3-7yrs

Posted on October 26, 2015October 26, 2015 Posted in LottieTagged ABC, activity, Australia, child, early learning, fun, home, learn, Mathseeds, online, parent, pre-primary, preschool, primary, read, Reading Eggs, school, school preparation, teach, toddler

We just did our first ABC Reading Eggs lesson and Little Lottie is happily writing ‘m’ all over her notebook at the kitchen counter.

She’s turning 3 in a few weeks but loves singing the alphabet, pointing out letters and loved Jolly Phonics at daycare so I thought I’d give her a go at the preschool Reading Eggs lessons. The whole online lesson in a single letter was only 20mins and was set up in a series of interactive activities that made it seem like a game. A game with singing ants and lots of bright colours. By the end she was confidently pointing out the letter Mm, identifying pictures with M words as their names and making mmmmm sounds.

ABC Reading Eggs is a full learn to read program for ages 3 – 13 and it links to a math program called Mathseeds, and an online store of early reader material. I’m using the 14 day free trail available to parents and teachers worldwide and was honestly surprised at how popular the program is outside Australia. 12 month subscriptions are around $80 and the book packs are $80 for one level or $119 for both levels. I see them in ABC stores and book shops. We left it at one lesson today (they’re designed to do a few letters a day) but it was a success and I’m looking forward to trying out the next one tomorrow. We will definitely be purchasing a book pack very soon.

Liz x

Sick days

Posted on June 16, 2015June 16, 2015 Posted in Liz's BlogTagged blog, children, home, projects, sick

After successfully avoiding the wave of Hand, Foot & Mouth that’s swept through Lottie’s daycare service, our friends’ kids and ballet class we’ve all been struck down one by one with a nasty cough and runny noses.

Sick toddlers are not fun, sick husbands are worse. All in all we’ve gotten a decent amount of sleep and kept super warm so we’re on the mend.

The days stuck inside haven’t been wasted. Lottie’s old change table is finally gone and a beautiful open wardrobe we scored for free (thanks gumtree) is now home to tutus, coats, blankets and way too many shoes for a 2 year old. I gave the bathroom a warm and beautiful make over with purple & grey towels, a fluffy mat, candles and apothecary jars adding so much to the ambiance with no paint used at all. And I’m working on my latest obsession – thick, stylish ear warmers. I’ve worked out the kinks in the pattern and can’t wait to post the results.

It’ll be another sick day inside but with tea parties, crochet projects and the Care Bears it won’t be a boring one.

Liz x