father's day... in samoa

it's fathers day and i've just arrived in samoa! what better gift could i have possibly given my dad than arriving on father day? haha. i am more pleased than i could ever write about to see him. i've missed him and my mum so.

i've spent ages looking at this picture and have realised it's the first time i've ever thought dad and i have looked alike. i don't know if it is because dad has always had a giant moustache hiding half his face, or whether i've just never looked for it before... but we look so similar here!

i love my dad. he has never, ever let me down. he has always told me how beautiful i am. he has always defended me and looked out for me. he used to buy me a bouquet of flowers for my birthday as a teenager, just because he could. he used to slip me money when i was deliberately staying home in order to pay off my small debt when i returned from my year in brazil as an exchange student. ("you're 18 years old, you don't need to be sitting home on a friday night.") his lap was the safest place in the world when i was a child. he told the best (and most outrageous) bedtime stories.

but most importantly. he made me feel important. he made sure i knew that i mattered, and... he loved my mother so well, that i knew being a woman was something the right man would treasure for eternity.

he's incredible. 

and he's my dad.

the countdown is on!

i cannot believe this is happening. in less than 2 days we are off to samoa to see mum and dad. i am so, so excited (not about packing... blergggggh) and can't believe that the time has passed so quickly since we booked. tick tock, tick tock...

this is really happening... mum i'll see you soon!

dougie has a birthday

this little monkey turned 34 today. and to be completely honest, he doesn't look all that different... just add a beard and that's him all these years later. haha. 

i love you my doug. may today be wonderfully normal (as i know you have to work)... and i can't wait to celebrate with you soon... in samoa!! x

raukohe and georgia got married!

i did my first wedding today! raukohe and georgia got married on a beach lookout in falcon with just their immediate family and 2 close friends there. it was exactly the way a wedding should be, private and intimate.

i have know georgias family for a very long time (in fact - our grandmothers were friends) and was thrilled to be able not only be there, but snap away during the ceremony. the colours she had looked perfect at the beach... it was just lovely.

i have to admit, i was worried, with big dark clouds looming, and georgia even having to wait in the car for a little while before being able to walk to the lookout arm in arm with her dad... but the rain thankfully stopped after a few minutes so the ceremony could go ahead.

and the light stayed perfect! there is nothing better than rain and clouds to help make a good picture, so personally i think she should be glad it was raining haha!

we had a great time on the beach afterwards, taking a few shots.. which turned out beautifully!

congrats raukohe and georgia!

♥

niques is outtie...

my beautiful sister in law has taken off back to brisbane to put her mission papers in and embark on her next adventure... and i don't know how to feel about it. she joined us a week before madeline's first birthday to look after her while i returned to work... now two years have come and gone and she's outta here.

she's been a pleasure to have, she adores the babies (and she and madeline are of course besties after spending so much time together...) and was always willing to help with whatever i needed. i know i'll miss her so much, especially late at night when we used to watch movies, pinterest and gas bag until the wee hours of the morning, but it's time and i know there are other things she needs to do.

i had a few errands to run today, so took both the kids with me, so she could finish up packing and getting all the rest of her things together, but came home to a completely vacuumed house, a cleaned bathroom (including the toilets - we all know that's the worst job ever...) and mirrors, with dinner cooking on the stove and her busily washing the dishes. what a legend. i have no idea how i am going to live without her.

i am going to miss you like crazy, you minga. but i love you and i'll see you soon.

peace out and god bless. x

felt banner hack

disclaimer to begin - i in no way own this picture, total possession belongs to homely creatures. i simply have a friend who upon seeing this banner featured in a competition on instagram fell in love, but was a bit short on cash, so i decided to make my own version - for her.  i think it's a cute idea and all credit to them for the inspiration, in fact if you want your own, please go and buy one here! they are a very reasonable price for how much work goes into them... but if you too are a little short on cash, feel free to follow my instructions and diy!

you will need - half a metre of felt on the roll, available from all large craft/sewing stores (i went to lincraft) most places will measure slightly larger than the 50cm so that you definitely get the amount you've asked for, so mine wound up being about 30cms wide. i simply folded the piece into 4 and then cut into pieces, then evened up the edges with my scissors also.

grab a piece of chalk and start drawing the outline of your letters onto the felt. they don't look even? not a worry - as you can see from the original, not all letters are the same size and are slightly higgledy piggledy. once you are happy with your outlines, grab your sewing scissors, poke into the felt and cut around each letter, then use a dampened cloth to wipe off any excess.

i've then made a slight hem at the top and pushed through some wire, to make sure the felt doesn't sag and just sewn a straight line across the bottom for the same reason. to hang, add a piece of coloured string (poke a hole and thread through) or use 3m strips if you're renting (thus the lack of string on all the ones pictured!)

i am very much hoping that they are enjoyed by the two little men they are off to... but this is the beauty of the internet. like something you see? make your own version! all it takes is a little inspiration and makeshift materials and you're well on your way to having your own! now off you go and make your own.

besties...

these kids are besties, no doubt. i frequently find maddie 10cms away from wherever i have left joseph chatting away to him, passing him toys, smiling at him and giggling away, which he now does back. she is obsessed with making him laugh, which makes my heart so, so happy. 

when he was smaller she would always take his dummy away so she could lay next to him and get close to him. it would be so hard to get her away from him. she still loves to have him close and will always check his bed a million times when she is waiting for him to wake up, cause "he wants to play with me!" she also reminds me over and over that he's crying when i can't rush straight to him. thanks love, i have my own ears...

i really hope they remain close as they make each other so happy.

i saw this beautiful frame necklace for sale online at the lovely bird (a gorgeous store on the sunshine coast in queensland - can't wait to check it out when we are over for a few days on our way back from samoa next month) and snapped it up with the thoughts of putting a pic of my babies in it. i could not have wished for a better picture and i am stoked to be able to wear them close to my heart.

i love them both - and am so glad they love each other. ♥