emily's bridal shower

this coming thursday is the big day... and today dom and i joined forces again (you can see our first joint effort here) to throw a bridal shower for her sister in law to be, emily! 

it's blossom season here in australia, so i did some branch collecting around the place and ended up with four vases of blossoms that not only looked amazing, but smelt like heaven! the bunting is a mix of lace, satin and calico triangles and is about ten metres long... made by my mum when she and dad were in samoa! it looks amazing all set up!

drinks were simple, with pink lemonade and water with strawberries and mint

the menu was a little more complicated as we catered for gf and df guests, but i think we got it right... there was barely any left over!

gf df brownie muffins (these have been my go to over the last few months - recipe here)

amazing flowers with our feast in the background

we had a few games 

- your earliest memory of emily

- he said, she said, with a video of therons responses... certainly got some giggles from the girls

- how many kisses for the future mrs (guess how many hershey's kisses were in a jar) 

we love you em! i can't wait to watch you become mrs. pinker next week! ♥

grandies

i awoke this morning to find this amazing picture of my fathers parents on facebook - taken at my friends parents wedding, many years ago. it was their wedding anniversary today and they had revisited some old pictures, which stirred some amazing memories in me - and then my family as i reposted this photo.

my grandma phyllis was apparently the most amazingly talented singer, with an incredible alto voice. according to everyone i know that ever heard her sing, she was blessed with the "voice of an angel". i like to thing that i got my gift of song from her, and that it would have made her proud when i sang at granddads funeral all those years ago. she passed away when i was just 6 years old, and the only memories i have of her are fleeting at best. one thing is for sure, i cannot wait for the day that i am finally able to sing a duet with her in the next life. 

my grandfather was the most amazing person i have ever known. at 86 he was still going strong, walking to the chapel to clean and just to do whatever he could help. he was funny, slightly quirky, had an amazing sense of humour (for those of you who are blessed enough to know someone scottish, you will understand this!!) and always, always, always had time for me. everything a grandchild could ever need.

i can't wait to see you both again when the day comes x

the king family's happily ever after

a few weeks back, the wait was finally over - it was time for the king family to become a forever family in the perth australia temple.

we were so lucky to be able to attend their family sealing, such beautiful people and so special to us. it was a wonderful day and i know that there was all kinds of rejoicing as they were joined together for time and all eternity. i have never seen something so beautiful as them, with their caramel coloured kiddies dressed in white and promising to be a forever family.

family is what life is really about. ♥

together forever

mum messaged this picture today and it made me so happy! grandad's headstone has been completed and replaced and i feel like they can finally...

 

rest in peace

hamilton

on december 9th 1977 my parents - with my two oldest brothers (who at the time were just 4 and 2!) finished a hugely long trek from perth all the way to hamilton to be sealed as a family for time and all eternity. i now appreciate this so much more - after flying from perth to brisbane, brisbane to auckland and then driving the hour and a half up to hamilton. it was a long way. even more so in the days when they had to drive across australia, then fly from sydney and then drive some more. back when cars didn't have air conditioning and money was tight. but they did it. they did it for our family. and i am so grateful that it hurts. i stood there in absolute wonder of my beautiful parents that put our family first - and managed it. it makes me feel like i didn't put in enough effort! for us the temple is not only a simple 10 minute drive away - but in the back yard of our chapel! i see it every sunday. one more thing to be grateful for!

it was for that reason that while we were in new zealand i felt like i had to take madeline to the temple. it may be the only opportunity that i have to take her to see the temple that my parents (and coincidentally doug's too!) were sealed in all those years ago. it was so special taking her around the grounds and telling her that.

we also had a look in the visitors centre while we were there - and when i sat madeline down on the bench in there - she just couldn't take her eyes off the christ statue. it was so sweet. i am sure it's cause she still remembers who he is, i mean it hasn't been that long after all.

i love to see the temple. regardless of how many times i see it, i still love it. i love to walk in the grounds and feel the sweet spirit within. i am so blessed to have the gospel in my life and to know that i am part of

a forever family

six years

i can't believe six years have passed since
doug and i were married.

so i just thought i'd share my favourite picture from the wedding... i dreamed for so long of having this picture and then finally got to have it, thanks to our beautiful photographer mimi. (who just happened to be my young women's leader back in the day!!) for my birthday a few years ago, doug had it done up huge on a canvas for me, it's my favourite thing in the whole world and probably the first thing I would save if the house was on fire (heaven forbid...)

no woman is ever disappointed when a pandora bag shows up - (unless of course you're crazy) so imagine my delight when he surprised me when he got home today with the most beautiful pair of earrings from the pandora store. and i really was suprised. way surprised. i had absolutely no idea i was getting something!! so just to add to the reasons i love him...

not that i need another one!

i have the tree of life necklace that i got as a gift from my work when i left - plus it's my favourite charm on my bracelet... what can i say - i'm a tree hugging hippie after all...

pandora freebie with my earrings! super cute!

six years down, eternity to go! it's a very long time, and i can't think of someone i'd rather spend it with

♥♥♥♥♥♥

harry potter love

i totally get this.

 there are some books that you read and love.

 that will stay with you for always.