… was way too exciting !!
happy friday everyone !
xx
Christmas day …
2
Tag Archives: vacation
DIY heart photo collage.
here is a really easy DIY to fill some of that wall space that is just glaring at you day after day after day ….
i have never been one to frame photos & put them on the mantle piece to look pretty & collect dust. in fact I am the opposite ! when we first got married, one of the first things i did in our marital home was to take down all of mark’s framed photos !! there’s just something about framed photos that does not appeal to me … perhaps they are too clunky & take up precious room, perhaps it’s because the photos always seem so posed … or perhaps i’m just a little bit different?! (probably the latter!). but I do love photo’s ! that is one of the main things I love about blogging … the photos !
i am an absolute instaaddict. i love instagram photos because they are small, de cluttered & capture a moment in time at an instant without any fuss. so i had this great idea (again!) to use more of my instagram photos around our house. i found this great little company Printstagram who print your instagram photos & post them out to you. Easy ! And so was born the DIY heart collage …
Step 1: Find a Blank Wall in your Home.
Step 2: Select your best instagram photos & get Printstagram to print and send them to you.
Step 3: Arrange your photos in the shape you like (for me… always a heart !).
Step 4: Apply adhesive to the back of the photos.
I used double sided tape which I would only recommend if you are planning on painting your house in the future like us – otherwise it is not a good product for freshly painted walls. You could try painters tape or something similar.
Step 5: Place your photos on the wall.
How easy is all of that !
As you can see, I have a bit of space left in my heart on the left hand side. This was not done on purpose, however, I am really happy for the space because it allows me to add photos as our family grows.
The original idea came from this post … isn’t this place just divine?!
Happy DIYing !
xx
* If you’d like to follow me on instagram I am: emmyliddell.
* If you’d like to follow me on Pinterest just press the Pinterest button on the right hand side of this page …
the snow – part one.
the snow. our ultimate holiday destination ! so different from the beach (home), so fun, so snuggly, so fast, so much hot chocolate, donuts, family, friends, excitement, adrenalin, stacks, injuries, games and peace. such a good recipe for a holiday. we just love it.
a few years ago (pre-kids) we thought a six hour drive for a holiday was equivalent to being in prison for a year. “why on earth would anyone want to holiday six hours away?? yuck-o”. Now, the drive is bliss ! We get to see our beautiful country & play spot the animal, we listen to stories on the stereo, we put on our favourite music, let the kids have a good ol sleep, stop at exciting places (parliament house!) and journey with our family & friends. Road tripping is all part of the holiday and we love it. you peeps who live in the USA or Canada seem to love your road trips … what tips do you have for long car rides?
this year was extra special because our little two year old learnt how to ski for real. his pipi took him out most afternoons & (like his mamma) he feels the need for speed ! it was so great to watch him learn a new skill, have heaps of fun & ask for more.
we love Thredbo in the spring time. It is cold enough for snow, but warm enough for the kids to be able to play outside comfortably. we were lucky to get a bit of a dump at the end of the week so the kids could see snow falling. what a treat ! i can’t believe the holiday is over for another year… from now on Mark & I are going to spend our anniversary at the snow, and then another week in spring with the kids at the snow. it’s so good making plans for our little family & setting up family traditions.
here are a few pics of the kids playing & skiing in the snooooooooow !
xx
snap shots of our life …
… according to our iPhones …
** most of these photos are taken using Instagram … you can follow me at: emmyliddell
Guest Post: Spring Fashion #2
Well … I know you just could not get enough of Cassie’s covetous style so I am pleased to say we have one final drop from her. Oh how I wish this friend still lived close by … but I know she is well loved and cared for in her hometown. Much love dear friend …
Floral print jackets –
If the printed pant trend isn’t quite where you’re most happy, but you still want to embrace the spring fashion of bright & bold flowery prints – may I suggest opting for the jacket version instead. Mixed with a cute striped tee & slouchy boyfriend short during the day, sparkly singlet & slim jeans in the evening. Done!
Wide-legged Pant -
Strip-off those skin-tight jeans & leggings, & let your legs breathe. Aaahhh…. Doesn’t that feel good? Paired with a chunky wedge & comfy tee, you’ll be one classy & comfortable lady about town. I have spotted quite a lot in white (scary, I know) but other spring colors work too, along with navy. High-waisted, or regular, I’ve seen both – the choice is yours!
Coral coloured, Blue coloured.
Cropped sweater -
This is one of my all-time favorite essentials to splurge on this Spring. A light-weight, open knit sweater that cuts-off around your mid-riff or just above the hips – keeping the cooler spring evening air at bay, without feeling heavy or over-dressed. It’s a gem of a piece.
Neon -
It is a teeny-tiny fine line between colorful fun & 80’s horror. I believe it’s all about moderation – making sure the euro bright you add to your outfit isn’t joining a collage of other fluro items. A splash of neon is one sure way to shake-off the last dregs of winter & say hello to Spring!
Mix ‘n Match –
Last on the list is not an individual item but a tip – Mix. It. Up! One of the joys of this current season is the lack of rules for patterns, colors, fabrics & how you mash them all together. Have fun mixing-in vintage scarves, bright clutches, leopard print flats, red lips. As a self-confessed “matcher” this is a tricky trend for me to embrace. I always like the tie-it-together piece. So, I’m learning to keep an eye on braver girls who mix-it-up & gain inspiration from their ideas. Best of all – pull-out the shoes, earrings & handbags you may have overlooked for several seasons & see how they work now. You may just save your self some precious pennies!
If you missed out on Cassie’s first post you can grab it here.
xx
Gangnam Style.
I’m not sure whether to laugh or cry at this. Either way, it is well worth a good look !
Happy Monday everyone !
x
Guest Post: Place
Today I have another Guest Post ! This one is from my brother-in-love Andrew. I love this … It shows every bit of his personality, his intellect, his appreciation and love for family and his home which is a million miles away from here. It is perfect … Thanks Andrew !!
“Place matters. Each of us has a profound relationship to one place or another. We were all born somewhere and although we tend to disregard its significance, our home is an intricate part of us.
Let me introduce you to Wendell Berry. If someone is reading this aloud to you, close your eyes so you can picture him better (if you’re reading, please keep your eyes open). When we first encounter our hero, the setting is New York City, 1964. Wendell is a young writer and literature professor at NYU. To the dismay of colleagues and friends, he decides to leave New York in the dust (and apparently literary aspirations) to return to his native Kentucky family farm. Wendell’s choice to return picked up the conversation with his home place that produced him a healthier life and for us some fascinating articles and novels. He writes of the land considerately with knowledge and affection, like a lover. I recommend reading:
Articles: “A Poem of Difficult Hope”, “God and Country”, “The Pleasure of Eating”
Novels: That Distant Land, Jayber Crow
Everything else he’s written.
I recently made a trip to my hometown Marion, Indiana. My cousin Emily and I decided over breakfast to make a film. We had eight hours. We shot nine short pieces of family members telling autobiographical stories at the scene of the crime so to speak. The following are stories from my grandma Leone and my brother Peter.”
wall art.
i have been looking at bare walls ever since we moved into our new place – so it’s time to get some wall art. i have never actually ever purchased any wall art – it is usually either homemade or from my super talented brother-in-love. but now we have many many many walls to fill so i think it is time. i am not quite sure about a theme or what I am really looking for – perhaps just prints and art that are bright & make me smile. here are a few prints that i have been looking at over on etsy just to get me started ..
which one(s) do you like best?
what are your hints and tips for purchasing wall art?
xx
*this post was inspired by A Beautiful Mess.
Guest Post: Spring Fashion #1
While I am on a little hiatus from the blogosphere I have some guest posts coming up in the next few weeks. Let’s just say I’m a little bit excited ! Today my gorgeous friend Cassie who lives across the ocean & in a different timezone has given us some much needed Spring fashion tips. This is absolutely perfect for the stunning Spring weather Sydney has been putting on this week. Here are the first of her picks for the season ….
“During the Northern Hemisphere Spring we spent some time in the fashionable cities of LA & London. Naturally, I wore my dark glasses for a spot of people watching (the socially acceptable, non-creepy type, I promise!)
Here is what I spied & loved, & wished I could pack in my suitcase home…
Floaty, high-waisted, pleated skirts –
Did I get enough descriptors into the title? It’s a sure sign of my excitement for these pretty skirts with fine pleats. British babes of every shape, height & style were wearing them, boasting their femininity in the lightweight fabric, and not baring all the way up the thigh either! *sigh of relief*
Paired with ankle boots or cute oxfords, you’re in the perfect get-up for walking the city as the weather warms-up.
Oxfords
These seasonal favorites don’t seem to be letting–up, & to that I say – hoorah! Oxfords switch perfectly between stylish & comfortable, warm & cold weather. This Spring I spotted a few updates – with girls sporting Oxfords a little more on the side of whimsy, in white; two-tone colors; metallic’s; or floral prints.
Sleeveless silk shirt -
I’m continuing-on with the theme of feminine & these shirts pair perfectly with the aforementioned skirts. Shirts & skirts, it sounds traditional, I know! But take the sleeves off the shirts, make them smooth-on-your-skin silk & in candy colors or floral prints – you can’t go wrong.
Panama Hat –
I realize straw hats, & fedora-styles in particular, aren’t a truly new item. But the Panama hat, in a lighter wash & with a broader rim, is a look that goes from beachside to city street with ease.
Oh, & did I mention what a LIFE-saver they are when your hair washing falls behind schedule? Indeed.
Bracelets, bracelets & more bracelets –
Apparently, there’s no such thing as too many! Our wrists have been naked for long enough! Piled one after the other, in any color, style or size, bracelets allows your own individual style & taste to be on display, without having to redo your entire wardrobe. With this, there truly are no rules!
(Plus, you’ll have some very buff forearms by the end of it.)
Cass – these picks are truly divine … THANK YOU !!
If you want to see more of what Cassie is up to be sure to hop on over to her blog ! I must say, you have a way with words Mrs T – I just love reading about all of your adventures & I especially love your style.
xx
father’s day 2012.
dear mark,
happy father’s day!!!!!!!!!!!! you are by far THE BEST dadda on this PLANET and we love you. thank you for always loving us, for always being fun, for always forgiving and for always surrounding us with music. you are the best. i love the priceless expression on joey & v’s face when they hear you walk in the door after work … it is an expression of excitement and anticipation of what the night holds. they are both clambering to be the first one to hug you and they know that everything is right when you are home. thank you for leading us spiritually, encouraging each of us in our gifts and for being the pillar of strength and reason. you are truly truly truly wonderful & we love you.
x e&j&v
