HAPPY WEEKEND + WAITING FOR BABY

I hit the 39 week mark this week! So ready for this baby to arrive. To find out if it's a boy or a girl. Decide on a name. And to stop feeling like I am a ticking time bomb with everyone on 'red alert' for when the time comes :).

With our possessions still not here from our move, I'll be operating on a fairly minimal baby basis for the first few weeks. One, I don't think babies really need that much in the early stages, and two I can't even remember what baby paraphernalia is in our container, so I don't really want to go out and buy stuff that I already have!
I have been collecting a little bit of baby love though here. Babies are so new and lovely....

Stay in touch here for the breaking news if you don't follow already. I'm sure I'll be posting there first.

Here are a few things I've come across this week that I thought you might enjoy:

:: Adjusting to the changes of blogging
:: I would so love a photo shoot like this with our family. Maybe at the Ekka this year?!
:: Make a labour pack for a friend

I hope you all have a lovely weekend!

Love Jordan : )

P.S It's not too late to get your free "Love is..." wall print. Stay tuned for printed version of this in my shop really soon!

Image // Love stickers from our Valentines dinner by Polkadot Prints

A BRAVE START TO SCHOOL

I've said it before, but I'll say it again...I'm really loving the noticeable changes in season here in Canada. The weather has started to cool down suddenly just in the past week, it's still sunny, but there's a crisp chill in the air. And when 'fall' or Autumn comes around it means back to school here in Canada. It's a little strange to be starting a new year in September, but we're going with it!

I'm so thankful that even though we arrived here in Edmonton long after the wait lists were set, Levi was able to get into a nearby preschool. It means we can walk while the weather stays nice.
He was so brave on his first day this week. He didn't cry, but I did notice him biting his nails a little when I dropped him off! I know he's going to love meeting some little Canadian friends! A whole new chapter of parenting has opened up - kids & their own friends....

Here's my weekend whip around; a few things that I think you might like::

:: DIY Stamps

:: I really love this Country Fair birthday

:: This video will sure bring a smile to your face

:: A cake to cure my homesickness for the beach

Have a great weekend!

Jordan x

LEVI'S 4TH BIRTHDAY :: WEEKEND WHIPAROUND

I can't believe my boy is 4! Sometimes I look at him and wonder if I'm really a mum of a kid that big?

He is such a 'boy, boy'. A fan of lego, dragons, cars, transformers, tying things up and running. Boy does he love to run! He lives life at 100%. Draining when he's on the go, but so worth it when he loves big too. "I love you so, sooooo much-er" or just liked tonight "I so loved that (dinner) it was super beautiful". This kid is awesome.

Amongst all our moving and unpacking & visitors I decided if I did some cute invitations & baked and decorated a cake for his special day, it would be a win. He had long-requested the AWW Racing car cake so we went with that as a theme. I'll share his invites next week. I think they turned out pretty ok!

 Till then, enjoy this weeks weekend whip around and have a good weekend!

:: DIY Marble Maze

:: Levi's Second & Third birthday parties

:: Cool shirt

:: I want to make something like this for my kids' room

:: Back to school tags (freebie) maybe in conduction with this idea

THE DUCHESS BAKE SHOP :: WEEKEND WHIPAROUND

I visited a gorgeous bakery/cafe here in Edmonton this week. So french. So pretty. So delicious & So happy. It's called the Duchess Bake Shop and well worth the visit. Thanks to Kerryn for the recommendation. I'll definitely be back, as there's lots more things to try. (Won't my slim-fit jeans be happy?! :) Levi was so excited with his chosen pastry, I'm sure it was the winner because of the fancy chocolate on top!

I am excited to have my parents visiting us from Australia just for a few days over the weekend. Yay! Really looking forward to seeing them and catching up on the past few months since we left Australia.

Here's a few things from my internet travels in this edition of the weekend whiparound::

:: Some great techy ideas from Poppytalk particularly like #4 & #7 is kind of fun!

:: Weight loss simulator (a little bit of fun, but maybe a good motivator not to go back to the bakery!)

:: Add some personality to your legs!

:: Pretty Tassel's

:: Handful of Heart

:: Send your invites with a little glam

Enjoy, & happy weekend to you! Jordan xo

WEEKEND WHIPAROUND :: JOY MOMENT NO.3

Indulge me in a little mummy pride today, won't you? It was such nice weather one day this week we seized the moment, and had lunch on the deck. I grabbed the camera and got both my children smiling at the one time, dirty face and all! A little miracle. Love that.

Here's a few other things for you to enjoy in my weekend whiparound the web:

// There is a sequel to one of my favourite books, must order soon
// Wondering if this would be better than the full sized version?
// Snazzy piping trick
// Fabric Candle Votives
// Hoping for more sunny days to do some of this

Joy Moments started after this post, and are moments I choose to look for within my everyday life when sometimes amongst work, parenting and the seriousness of life, things don't always feel joyful. Here's to a life filled with more gratitude!

WEEKEND WHIPAROUND :: JOY MOMENT NO.2

After my big offload to you I've decided to share another joy moment with you this week.

I made Sushi!

Levi asks for it everytime we got to the shops as it was his usual snack when grocery shopping back home. They do have sushi here, but it is just the small rings, not the large hand rolls we are use to, so I took things into my own hands and created my own. I based the rice quantities on this recipe, and was a lot easier than I thought it would be.
Ah these little things that bring joy...I was definitely Levi's favourite mum that day and that made me smile! : )

Here are a few things from around the web this week that might bring a smile to your face:

// This tape would be at home in my tool box

// Letter light

// Creative kids playgrounds - amazing!

// Have you seen Olive Us yet, so very sweet.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend! xo

WEEKEND WHIPAROUND

Well we finally arrived at the lodge this week. A home that doesn't yet feel like home. To say it's a culture shock would be an understatement! When we arrived, there was no running water (but was internet...get that!), our driveway alone is 20mins long, and our nearest supermarket is just under an hour away. This is totally different to the city life and Australian environment I'm use to. If I've ever needed one of my happy places like here or here, it's now! :)

It's been tough. I have missed things from home, but for the first time earlier this week, I actually wanted to get on a plane and go home. I didn't know how I'd go sharing this - this move has been something I've looked forward to for so long, so I feel ungrateful for feeling this way when I have been given this amazing life opportunity. It's strange that you can feel like something is the right thing to do, yet feels so hard.
This is life though complete with ups and downs and I know I will look back on these first few weeks and laugh at what a greenhorn I was!

This is part of the reason I opened the shop this week. I needed my creative outlet back, and something that felt normal. It is good to be back, and thank you for your encouragement over on Facebook too. I hope you have some lovely events planned for this year to create memories and bring a sense of tradition and love to your home. I hope my designs help you do that. Really family is so important, and if we can just make it a little more beautiful, then why not.

That's going to be my plan during this time of adjustment - keep making things beautiful, focus on the joy in the little things so that it changes my perspective on the big things. I don't think I can go wrong if I make a choice to be thankful in all of this, do you? xo

Here's a 'little' thing that I'm grateful for this week - Dave built a small campfire one evening and we toasted marshmallows. It felt so idealistic when inside I was feeling homesick. So here are some photos from a 'joy moment' this week - un-showered in all our glory! : )

I hope you're having a wonderful weekend!

(P.S. We now have running cold AND hot water, hooray!)

WEEKEND WHIPAROUND

Everyday is feeling like a weekend at the moment with not much daily structure, so I nearly forgot to post today! But I wanted to send you off for the rest of your weekend with a smile. 

We had three deer trot down the street in broad daylight this week! So random and funny. I don't want to mock this new country we live in, but I find myself taking iPhone photos of so many things that I find different to home. A walk down the street and a trip to the supermarket has never been so quirky! I'll be sure to share some more photos with you in the coming weeks!

Here are a few more fun things I've come across this week that I thought you might enjoy...

// Cute shop and baking supplies
// The second edition of a pretty online mag
// Blank Goods
// Quilling never looked so chic
// Would you dare have a neon wedding?
// Fill your picnic basket with these tasty sangers

I remembered our Australian farewell party this week too and can't wait to unpack and share the photos with you. Oh memories!

Image // Polkadot Prints

WEEKEND WHIPAROUND

It's been hard getting back into moving mode today after some lovely time off.  This past weekend was spent at Colour conference in Sydney. It was Ellie's first flight. My last girls weekend. My first time at Lindt cafe - holidays are all about the food and experiences in my books! I also discovered a really fun shop!
What did you do this weekend?

WEEKEND WHIPAROUND

Our last few weekends have been filled with the country, family, interstate visitors, chocolate, little people, movies under the stars, making cardboard elephants, packing, birthday parties, the beach...here's a little snapshot of life from my phone to you! I hope your weekend has been relaxing!

WEEKEND WHIP AROUND

Hey folks, I heralded in the first weekend of December with my first two Christmas parties this past weekend!
Saturday was a beautiful afternoon spent at Sirromet for the Womens Business Christmas party. Organised by Daneve of Ah-Tissue, it was the last chance of the year for women and mum's, who also live in this virtual world, to get out from behind the computer and have a conversation with a real person! I'm there at the back (3rd from R) between Linda from Bubble & Sweet & Bianca from Peekaboo Magazine. So many great girls and not enough time!
I also have to mention that I actually won something (!!) - a gorgeous necklace from Ruby Olive, thanks Skye! And we all went home with some seriously great loot from the goodie bags - yay!

Sunday was fun with friends...and some little reindeer. No, I didn't make them, but they were too cute not to share!
 
And we also have a full house with my mum and sister around (waiting for the twins to arrive!). C'mon little babies!

There are some great parties and Christmas ideas around too at the moment, I've been pinning a lot of new stuff, are you on Pinterest yet? Email me if you want an invite. So inspiring!

Hope you're enjoying the first full week of December!

WEEKEND WHIP AROUND

I hope you had a lovely weekend. I feel a weight has been lifted from my shoulders knowing all my events are over for the year. I can now finish up some freelance work and then it's all Christmas!

Summer is defininately here now, lots of swimming and the first Mangoes of the season...

I went with a good friend to checkout the Warehouse sale of a few of my favourite stores - Little Maison, Sharnel Dollar Designs, Apple & Bee among a few others. I bought a few supplies that you might see in the coming weeks!

We enjoyed Fish & Chips at the local park. Chased birds, fed them chips and climbed trees - ahh the simple life is so refreshing!

 And I had a little help with some Christmas baking in preparations for my new Christmas printable collection I'll share with you this week...yay!

 What did you get up to this weekend? xo

WEEKEND WHIPAROUND

I hope you had a lovely weekend! Another full & fun one for me. (I have a feeling this is going to be the way things go at this time of year!)

// I bought supplies for a new photo background ready for my Christmas printables (and Dave is nearly finished it...yay!)
// Had a movie night
// Had one too many meals of fried food
// Styled a little shoot for a new party craft idea
// And collaborated with some lovely party girls on my second last event for the year.

Without giving too much away, here's a little behind the scenes from yesterday's beach shoot. It was fun albeit a little hot and windy!
I was in bed at 8.30pm...zzzzz....

CHOC MOUSSE SHOTS :: WEEKEND WHIPAROUND

You probably know by now that the recipes I share here are by no means MasterChef standard. They are simple but always delicious - solid, reliable, yummy. You can always jazz something up in a cute jar, with some ribbon or paper goods. At least that's the way I roll!

This little chocolate mousse number is from my sister and I used for the Cherry Love & Safari Park shoots. And, I've actually got some in the fridge right now as part of a choc-berry parfait I'm preparing for friends coming to dinner tonight. It's a super easy recipe...

CHOCOLATE MOUSSE

600ml Thickened Cream
250g Chocolate, melted
600ml Chocolate custard (I use Pauls Double Thick)
Whip cream. Gradually whip in, chocolate custard & melted chocolate till completely mixed through. Put into dish or individual ramekins. Chill till set.

Enjoy!

Here are a few things around the web I came across this week.

Glass bottle + washi tape = cool vase.
Don't throw out your egg cartons
This is how to blow the stationery budget
Old School movies
So many great ideas in the latest edition

Do you follow my Pinterest? Come on over and share in all the fun and games, and have a great weekend!

{Images: Naomi V Photography}

PARKING IT UP

Yay, it's the weekend! We went to the park yesterday afternoon, it was so nice to feel like a fun mum after a busy week of work projects. While I have resigned to the fact there is no magic formula to balancing work with motherhood and wife-hood, and I know I will probably have this tension in my life forever, I have been motivated recently to just stop making excuses and DO all the things that I say to myself in my mind "one day" or "when things aren't so busy".

I'm doing less official & programmed things (like Playgroup), but making more of an effort to do more intentional activities within our days - Library, park, cooking, going for a drive, craft, etc. No more putting off, I want to make these the best years of my little guys' life!
We're off to the airport shortly to pick up my parents-in-law. Maybe some plane & people watching is in order! Do you struggle with the tension? How do you balance the different roles in your world?

Here are some fun things from my internet travels this week -

:: One for any Angry Birds addicted person

:: Pirate Ship Bedroom - wow!

:: Can you believe the cake at this party?

:: Message in an egg

Enjoy! See you soon, Jordan x

P.S. There was an after school birthday party happening at the park yesterday. The guests played with these yellow rocket balloons for AGES, blowing them up and then letting them go. A great idea and I imagine really inexpensive!

Still a couple of days of voting left - thank you for your votes. Continue to click once a day right here.

COCKTAIL PARTY :: NEW DESIGN

Here's a little taste of one of the new designs that will be hitting my store shortly. A classy one for the ladies. What do you think? There will be matching accessories too!

I've been involved in some great publications and DIY projects lately. I'm hoping I can start sharing them next week. And Easter printables...done! Will be in store next week too...it's all happening around this place. Too much going on I get paralysed not knowing where to start sometimes! Anyone have that feeling?

Well, I hope you all have a lovely weekend. What are you up to?

Here are some fun things from around this blog/web world of late. 

:: Hear, hear, love this reminder that blogs are simply ONE facet of life! 

:: Another easy DIY party decoration 

:: I want these in my pool 

:: You up for this cupcake craze?

P.S. Have you heard of Pinterest? I'ts a fabulous way to store and categorise all those eye candy images you see around the place. I have started my mood boards and you can find and follow them here.

Floating Macarons

(image source)

How mesmerising is that first pic of the macarons in 'mid air'. Some people are clever!

I hope you're having a great weekend. It was a girls night for me last night, and I have a surprise event on tonight...shhhh. Gonna be fun!

Take time out for a stroll around the web: 

:: Want to use these Chalkboard Labels

:: Edible Crayons - hmmmm 

:: File this away for your next School Party & make a go of these clever Pencils

:: Make your own birthday candles 

Wedding Pyramid Bonbonniere's

I wanted to share a few of the wedding details with you over the next little while. First up are these pyramid bonbonniere's.

(Image source Polkadot Prints) 
After Asher saw the family Christmas table last month, she asked me to make the same boxes to match her wedding. Too easy! Mercy filled them with handmade truffles...a little bit soft in the heat, but still so delicious!

Printable pyramid boxes are available in my store and can be made to match any of my invitation designs.

I'll leave you for the weekend with these favourites from around the web...

:: French patisserie party

:: What a striking purple wedding cake (and all round stylish winter wedding) 

:: Colour me yellow! Love this styling and stationery...hmmm

:: Get your art party started with these neat Pantone Cookies

DIY Gift Packaging

I like the idea of these sleeve gift boxes I found at Celebrations at Home. They look really easy to make.

At first I thought they were matchboxes. Alas they weren't but that did make me think - wouldn't they be really cute if you wrapped the sleeve of matchboxes and did something similar with a sticker or seal? Go the miniatures!
...........................................................
As so not to swamp you with multiple posts tonight, the winner from the Simply Christmas gift tag & twine giveaway was Comment #8. Congratulations Jo, your prize is on it's way! Thanks to all who entered and came and visited...I hope I will keep seeing you around! ...........................................................

Here are some other things from around the web for your regular Weekend Whiparound - 

:: Nothing says welcome like these

:: Oh Christmas Tree

:: Dreaming of a white christmas

:: A great escape from the summer heat

Photo of the year!

I know it's not a party, not a new design or a stylish event, but I just have to share!!

Isn't this the best photo you've seen this year? Maybe not to you...but to us, it has been about 6months in coming and, seriously I would be happy with just this for my Christmas present (in fact with all that lies ahead in the next couple of weeks, this could well be it!).

It has been a big year for our little family filled with some fun exciting things but also some very sad and difficult days. There are so many feelings and tangents I could go on about in relation to all the circumstances and events of this year, but I will sum it up by saying - it has been full, it has been fun & crazy, and there were times when I just wanted to sink to the bottom.  I have been encouraged by prayer, friends & family and even Dory from Finding Nemo with her mantra of "just keep swimming, just keep swimming"! What can I say, here we stand -  still 'singing', still holding on to faith and life. We have each other, and we have a bright hope for the future! (And my favourite season is here! Yay for Christmas!)

Many times throughout the year, this blog and business of mine has been one of the strongest, most positive and enjoyable things in my world. And I truly love it! It is my passion, my 'sweet spot' as it were. It doesn't feel like work at all. I feel very privileged to be able to pursue my dreams, and I'm ever so grateful that there are many people who think my creative endeavours and business is worth supporting, purchasing and following. A huge thank you to you all!

Wow, it sounds like I've skipped Christmas and jumped ahead to the New Year's resolutions already! But, selling this house has given me such a bright hope for the new year. I have great expectations of celebrating Christmas with my amazing family, and plan new adventures for us in 2011...Bring it!

Oh, and with selling a house comes a garage sale, packing, moving and un-packing...a busy weekend ahead! I don't think I'll be in front of a computer much, but if you are, have a peek at this weeks 'Weekend Whiparound' for some creative inspiration.

:: Secret Storage Books
:: Another stationery wonderland
:: Loving these cushions
:: Everyone's a winner with this craft

See you on Monday!
Jordan x