VIKING & DRAGON PARTY :: LEVI TURNS SIX

Last month we celebrated Levi's sixth birthday with a viking & dragon themed party. It was his first 'friends' party, with his friends from school and not just our own family friends.
I designed & sent these viking themed invitations to all the boys in his class, I sewed some 'hiccup' style viking vests, and Dave got all 'man crafty' on me and made all the weaponry for the boys. (We had a laugh at how much he got into it, staying up late doing party prep - quite the role reversal!!).

I kept food simple, buying some and making some, knowing they would likely just play the whole time anyway (which they did!). The hero of the food was indeed the cake. I saw this viking helmet cake on Sweet & Saucy, and given the transport was impossible, I set out to make something similar but with buttercream (yum!) and not fondant. I was impressed that I got the horns to stay up!!

It ended up pouring down rain, but was still such a fun morning. The boys had to 'earn' each piece of their weaponry with each game. There was sheep launching, dragon fire defending etc. The 'dragon killing' game was the most fun, with hatchets and balloons, and could have gone on for longer had we had more dragon balloons blown up...lesson for next time!

It was a really fun day and the boys totally go into it. Happy birthday handsome boy! xo

Sources: Invitations // Stickers //  Treat Bags // Game Ideas // Cake Inspo

See Levi turn; Two | Three | Four | Five (?? missing somewhere??) - I can't believe I have a six year old!

MOVING HOUSE + HAPPY WEEKEND

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As we continue to unpack and set up home, I'm constantly thinking about the end goal of each room. What I want it to look like, how it needs to function. Biggest on my list is the lounge room. At the moment we have grey couches...on tiles...in winter...it's cold and not overly inviting. I'm inspired by this living space I've had on my Pinterest board for a while. Neutral but interesting. I like the gallery wall & clean lines. I'm drawn to these colours I've pinned too. We need something on the floor to start off I think though, so I might just start the rug quest this weekend. Wish me luck!

Thank you so much for the overwhelming response to my pozible campaign. The funds raised so far are almost a quarter of the target amount...in just two days! Blown away. Obviously there are still 28 days to go, but there's no time like the presence to pledge and make this dream become a reality. Yay, it's happening! :)

Have a great weekend x

POLKADOT PRINTS DOES GOMA & NITROGENIE

The reason it's been quiet here....We are nearing the end of our three weeks school holidays! It's been so nice to have a break from the 'must-be-out-the-door-at-a-certain-time' school mornings and just chill. After taking it pretty easy the first two weeks, this week we have been out and about a bit more. A highlight was heading in to South Bank to check out the GOMA and current exhibition by Jemima Wyman. I love that they make art so kid-friendly. (Except the part where we were looking for the childrens gallery and walked into a silent video installation of naked men in a meadow...true story!)  The kids made patterned spinning cards, pattern puzzles and played with interactive kaleidoscopes. It was a lot of fun.

After lunch we topped the day off with Nitrogenie. I'd heard about this magical Willy Wonka-esqu place for a while and wanted to check it out for myself. Inside you find white overall-clad creators making incredible flavoured ice cream with stand mixers and liquid nitrogen. It is really mesmerising to see your ice cream magically freeze before your eyes. I highly recommend it!

I hope you get to enjoy this sunny winter weather this weekend. Have a good one x
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Images // copyright Jordan Bariesheff

RAINBOW & SUNSHINE PARTY

Well winter is definitely here! We've had our first round of the winter flu hit us with a vengeance and made the rounds through all of us, including a little hospital stay for little miss Lexie to perk up her oxygen levels with a bout of bronchiolitis poor baby. I miss summer already! So I'm taking you back to Ellie's 2nd birthday in the height of summer.
I was heavily pregnant when it came time for the party planning, so we didn't do anything too fancy. I made a piñata and and pastel pink ombre cake with topper, in fitting with her 'rainbow & sunshine' theme. (see invitation I shared here)
She had a lovely day and it was just the right amount of event planning for me at the time. She looks so small even just four months ago!

Rainbow Stationery available in the shop

NOT SO GOOD FRIDAY

This post is probably one of the hardest I've had to write here. And has been a long time coming. Nearly a month actually. Obviously my life is private, but I do share a lot of myself here with you. And it just feels a little bit false and 'shiny' to share only the good stuff. So I aim so touch on it all.

Our family experienced the deep sadness of losing one of my sisters over the Easter holidays. She tragically took her own life. I know. Heartbreaking.
It's difficult to share something so raw and personal with you. As a sign of respect to her & our family, I'm not going to share her whole story here. Except to say this has been one of the most difficult things that has hit us as a family.

I feel totally blessed that life this far, while it definitely has it's ups and downs, has been tragedy free and I have not had to experience the loss of someone so close to me. But that has now all changed. So many tears, thoughts and wonderings. I will always miss my bright & creative sister. Not because of any talent, skill or achievement, but just because she is my sister.

I am so thankful that my family has a faith in Jesus, that has kept us grounded and united during this season. I realise you don't know our family, but we are definitely not doing this alone. You unfortunately only read my words here and don't get to see the amazing community we are a part of; the meals, the flowers that just keep turning up, the text messages from friends, those who have walked a similar road of loss sharing their story, the huddling together in those first few days just sitting together. Family. For this I am so very thankful.

While the journey of grief will no doubt continue over time, I wanted to write this post is a bit of a marker in the sand really. I probably won't share much more on this in the future, it just seemed strange to continue posting "frivolous" design stuff without acknowledging her life. But, while I have been back doing freelance for a couple of weeks, I am ready to start sharing here again. I really hope you'll stop by again soon.

Much love, Jordan xo

And P.S....Go hug those you love...one of those long 7 second stress-releiveing ones :)

LEXIE ROSE

We welcomed little Lexie Rose into our family late last month. It has been a bit of a whirlwind since then, so now, two weeks later, I'm actually officially letting you know. If you follow me on other social media platforms such as Instagram & Facebook, you would have already heard, but nothing like making it all official like!

She was born rather quickly at home (no time for even the dr to arrive!) Due to some difficulties breathing because of retained fluid on her lungs from a rapid birth, she was transported to hospital just an hour or so after her birth and began a week long stay in ICU & special care. It was quite scary at the time not knowing what was going on, and being helpless to do anything for her. Very different to my two previous births which were also very quick, yet uneventful!

The days in hospital were long, and the nights...even longer, as after the first two nights, I was there alone. And after five nights, I had to be discharged which meant leaving our newborn baby alone at night - talk about heart breaking! How do mum's do this for weeks & months at a time with preemie babies? It has opened my eyes to a whole new world. We were so thankful she was full term, and otherwise healthy.

We are so thankful for my mum & dad, family & friends who helped out with the logistics of getting the right people to the hospital at the right time, looking after Levi & Ellie and for dropping around meals, gifts and most importantly, praying for our little Lexie.

And those nurses in both the NICU & Special care...they are a special breed.  I remember one day we just 'kangaroo hugged' our girl after she had another 'blue episode' and I was quite emotional. "Just let the hormones out" encouraged one nurse as she handed me tissues as I hugged and rocked Lexie. They are simply amazing!

So after such a rocky start, we are all home together again, getting use to being a family of five. It's going to be a few weeks of me on maternity leave this time round. I need some time to re-group with my little fam, get on top of having a newborn in the house again, and just give myself some TLC after a rough week or so.

Thanks for your understanding and I look forward to sharing more design & life with you soon!

P.S. You can sign up here to receive notice of when my stationery shop opens again in a couple of weeks. 



 

HAND LETTERED INVITATIONS & A TWENTY-FIRST

My youngest sister celebrated her 21st on the weekend. The last of my siblings to turn twenty-one! :)

The plan was a garden party with old school backyard games, dinner and an outdoor movie. However, due to the summer thunderstorms prone to Queensland, there was a last minute venue change and a few modifications to keep things happy & dry. There was still a whole lot of fun and were still able to show a movie under the back verandah to finish off the evening.

I designed the hand-lettered invitations and some of the party decor for the ice cream bar. (I will never tire of the ice cream bar I don't think…and neither do guests, such a winner!) But everything else, my sister sewed or pulled together, including some picnic blankets & about a dozen outdoor cushions which were still put to good use. Her little details made the old Queenlander look even more beautiful with twinkling lights, as it moved from afternoon to night.

It was a fun evening with funny, and meaningful speeches, tonnes of food and a wonderful relaxed vibe. Happy birthday Mercy! xo

I HEART THE GOLD COAST

We finally made it to the beach on the weekend! Oh my word, there is something so refreshing and majestic about it, I loved it!

Only since living in a land-locked province of Canada, did I realise how much I took for granted our living within an hour of some of the worlds most amazing beaches. The kids had a fantastic time frolicking about in the waves & got sand every.where.

I'm vowing to appreciate these pristine sands & clear waters a lot more this summer! They really are pretty spectacular. Do you live close to a tourist attraction, or beautiful part of the world that you tend to take for granted?

:: Don't miss out on the 20% discount on all items in my shop this week. Use code MERRY20 at checkout.

BACK WHERE IT BEGAN

I feel like we have done full circle with our adventure here in Canada. We are back at the lodge. Back where it all began. (See some of our story here, here,  here & here)
We will spend a few weeks here with Dave's family before flying home. This place is beautiful. Remote (I'm talking a 12km driveway remote). But beautiful. I find it hard to do nothing, so this pace of life is different for me. But I have to remind myself that a forced holiday after all the crazy packing and moving, is actually a gift.
My children are loving having a huge backyard here after life in a 4th floor apartment. Fishing, riding bikes and getting dirty is what it's all about to them. To see Levi's grin each night as he goes to sleep, really does make the remoteness worth it!
We are planning to head into town this weekend, quite the event in these parts! (hello Laura Ingalls! : )
I hope you have a great weekend!
xo

PACKING UP & MOVING HOME

Excuse the dodgy low-lit phone photo. In the blur that has been the last week, this is the best it gets around here!
Our packing & moving guys came, packed our life into brown boxes & bubble wrap, and our possessions are now sailing the seas to greet us in Australia.
For some reason this feels like a bigger move than when we moved over to Canada initially. I feel wiped! We're off to spend some time with family in BC before we fly home. I'll keep you posted when I can...the countdown is definitely on!

P.S. This was my kids 'table' once all our stuff was packed. Thank you for the butchers paper moving guys! : )

SICK + TIRED

Oh man, I have had so many "I really should blog today" thoughts over the past few weeks. But to be honest, the motivation has just not been there. You see...I'm pregnant with baby number three! (yay!) So I've been literally sick & tired for the past 12 weeks. How quickly you forget what the early months of morning sickness is like! (which is a good thing, or I'm sure there would not have been another babe on the radar!).

I've just really retreated into family life of late. Making the most of this waning summer. Not really interested or motivated creatively. Even my regular blog reading went out the window, just wasn't into seeing anything that involved that creative side of my brain! (very weird for me!)

But, the fog is lifting and I notice I am thinking more creatively, sketching and writing ideas down again. It's good to feel 'normal'. 

I thought I'd catch you up in photos on the last few weeks of life at our place, heading back to school & making the most of summer and preparing to move back to Brisbane!

Are your kids on Spring holidays back in Oz? What have you got planned?

FAMILY TRIP TO BANFF

My sister, her husband and twin one year olds, just left us after spending two weeks holiday over here in Canada. It was sad to see them leave, we had such a great time of playing tourist, mixed with a whole lot of nothing/everyday chit chat and laughs. It's funny how when you show someone around your city,  you suddenly you realise how much you know. I found myself answering the questions that just a year ago I was asking someone else. It felt good and made me feel like this place is a bit more familiar and like home.

A highlight of their time here was heading to the Banff area. We had only driven through the rockies before on our way to BC, so it was nice to stay, relax and take a look around. Seriously this is a beautiful part of the country! If those majestic mountains don't turn your eyes heaven-ward, I don't know what will. A creative & majestic God exists for sure! You can never get the full grandeur of the view until you see it first hand, it seriously takes your breathe away.

We stayed in Canmore at this fine place. Who were very accommodating given we had four children under four (three in cots) with us. First time hot tubbing outdoors too...woo!
We visited the town, drove up to Lake Louise, visited the famous Banff Springs hotel, rode the Sulphur mountain gondola, had a delicious meal here, and wandered down main street of both Canmore & Banff. So quaint and pretty.

We were told we had to visit the Sweet shoppe in Banff, which we obligingly did. (Say hello to my sister above - miss you already Salem!)
I follow Dajana from All things lovely blog on instagram, and she had written a post about what to do in the area, it's worth a read. She recommended this place called Beavertails. I didn't really know what it was about, but boy oh boy, they were good. Below is a maple & skor topped pastry but Dave had the apple and cinnamon version and it was da bomb! I had beavertail envy! Just another reason we need to return so I can have one to myself!

I can't wait to head back to this area. I have officially added it to my 'happy places' list, and can't wait to check it out in a different season. C'mon summer! Have to you been to the rockies before? What are some of your "must do's"?

P.S. I had to include the last photo at Lake Louise; it makes me laugh everytime I look at it. And before you pay out my parenting, the photo makes it look a lot more dangerous than it was....Ellie was very safe!




Images // Copyright Polkadot Prints