Reno Ideas

I never wanted tiles but these look so sparkly and remind me so much of sun on water that I am almost tempted.

Cool! I Won An Award.

No matter what anyone says, when another blogger, especially one you admire, presents you with a blogging award it is a thrill.  It means, for one thing, that you are not the only one reading your own blog which is kind of comforting as I'm sure most of us feel that our blogs' only audience is our mums and the one or two friends who feel obliged to check in every now and then to see what we're up to.  Secondly, who doesn't like winning awards?  Especially when you don't actually have to stand up in front of a room full of people to accept it.

So..... it is with great honour that I accept the Sunshine Award

 from the delightful MAXABELLA LOVES

"the Sunshine Award is awarded to bloggers whose positivity and creativity inspire others in Blogland".  Wow! Thank you so much.

Now, according to Maxabella I get to 'pass the award on to other bloggers who are positive and creative and inspirational.' but first in order to earn my award I have to share  'seven things you don't know about me' so here goes...

1. I'm a Road Reader - which means I read my book while I'm walking.  I am exceptionally good at it and have never yet tripped over or bumped in to anything.  I can even cross the road without looking up from my book.

2.  I have to have all the chairs at the dining table straight or I freak out.  Surfer Boy moves then off centre just to mess with me.

3.  I adore MGM musicals.

4.  I always wanted to live in Avonlea but I'd be just as happy to live in Stars Hollow.

5.  I love Big M but rarely drink it anymore.

6.  I can't stand text abreviations.  If you're too lazy to write properly then ring instead of texting.

7.  I have a girl crush on Miley Cyrus and own all her albums, including the Hannah Montana album and movie soundtrack. 

Seven Brides For Seven Brothers

If I was going to a barn raising I'd want to be swept off my feet by a rugged mountain man rather than spend a staid evening with a polished town boy - wouldn't you?

Pumpkins

I really, really want to make these for my Halloween decorations this year but I just know I'm not going to get around to it.  Here's the tutorial if anyone else wants to attempt it.  (Feel free to make some for me too!)

Evoke

I adore these shots, (styled by Joy Thigpen and photographed by Jose Villa) they make me remember the early days of being in love and long summers - and who doesn't remember those two things longingly? 

Afternoon Tea Anyone

Pics from here

Flowers For Friday

Thank god for the cherry blossom

otherwise there would be absolutely no indication that we are finally in Spring in Melbourne.
I bought a vase full of blossom stems for the new store and over the course of the week have been watching the buds burst into bloom - for me the blossom tree has always given me hope and heralded in the new season and at the moment it is the only thing keeping me from going insane in this never ending cold!

Wednesday Wedding - Spanish Style

Pics via here

Dance, Burger Boy

Can you believe these are cupcakes!!!
Pic found here

Adam's House

A friend of mine - my bridesmaid in fact - had his home featured in Real Living Magazine and I was very excited to see that a present I gave him for his birthday features in a few of the shots.

The industrial letter A was salvaged by Surfer Boy and I'm thrilled that Adam obviously likes it enough to have it so prominently in his home. 

My Favourite House

This is my all time favourite home - it can be found in Stars Hollow Connecticut and is the home of Lorelai and Rory Gilmore.

(Yes, I know they're not real but humour me)

I love everything about this house - the verandah, the wisteria, the white trim, the trees and of course the lives that went on behind those double front doors.

Recently I came across a photo of Lorelai's home as it is now - a few years after the final season of Gilmore Girls - and I can't say I am happy about the changes.  I'm happy the house still stands but I think they have stripped it of much of it's charm.  I wonder what TV family will live here next?

Sally Mann

A friend of mine has just changed her Facebook profile picture to this amazing image by photographer Sally Mann.

No matter how provocative her images, you have to admit they are pretty stunning.

Flowers For Friday - On a Sunday

It's been a hectic week and I'm all out on my usual posts but I promise I'll make it up as soon as things settle down on the CHALK front.  Hope your weekend is Ace!

CHALK Done

The day has finally arrived - I have just got home after an exhausting day getting everything ready for tomorrow's opening (actually today's!) at the new Kensington store.  I can't believe that we actually did it.  For some reason the first shop didn't seem so hard, maybe because it was 7 years ago and like childbirth the memories have dimmed.

We have just ripped all the paper off the windows to reveal all!  How fun.

If you're in the area pop in and visit otherwise I'll fill you in tomorrow on our first big day.

Wednesday Wedding - You know I love a Cowboy Boot

All pics via Style Me Pretty

Photography

I love looking at wedding photographers blogs because it is a time when people really put in a huge effort for an event and each wedding gives a snap shot of the style of the couple.  Wedding stylists are so creative and usually every detail of a wedding is thought out to the minutest detail.  In my wanderings around the Internet I have discovered many photographers who's work I adore - Max, Braedon, and now the talented  Joy Harmon-Prouty & Donny Prouty at Wildflowers Photography. 

Their weddings are beautiful but I particularly love their family portraits - no stilted families in bad outfits in front of fake backdrops - here's an example of a shoot I love

 

I Want To Be At This Dinner Party

Kylie

Kylie in skates - does it get any better than that?

Dancing With The Stars

It's happy times at our house tonight.  Gidget and I spend Sunday night ensconced in front of Dancing With The Stars and it is the highlight of my gorgeous daughter's week and therefore mine too.

At the beginning of each season we both pick someone to barrack for and tonight both our dancers made it through to the Grand Final.

So Tamara and Rob - Congratulations

All the love may leave the room next weekend when ultimately one of our dancers will lose!  May not be quite so fun then.

Fabulousness.

Flowers For Friday

Have a lovely weekend everyone.

Jen

Eye Candy - Andy Whitfield

As Spartacus, Andy is giving my eyes great joy and he is surprisingly handsome with his shirt on too.

A Verandah

Was there a promise of Spring in the air in Melbourne today?  When the sun was out it was ever so slightly balmy!  Perhaps lazy afternoons reading on the verandah aren't so far away after all.

via designeditor.com

via dreamhouse.com

via countryliving.com

via Southernliving.com

Wednesday Wedding - Max Wanger

I adore this couple.  Max Wanger is one of my favourite wedding photographers and I am regularly transported by his blog and website.

He and Margeaux were married recently and I thought I'd share some images of their day with you.

They celebrated over two days with a ceremony on the Friday and a party on the Saturday and by all accounts it was a wonderful weekend.