Christmas in Feb.

Husband told me he was getting me a rug for christmas. Fast forward a few months and it finally arrived from here. I think husband did a lovely job getting me a christmas present that really suits me (although a little late due to stocking difficulties) and it just seems to brighten up the study so. Although I love a good thrift find, a nice present never goes astray.

Speaking of pressies my lovely jet-setting friends have a real gift for buying simply the best souvenirs. I got these two new additions to our home- a moroccan painting which was painted using green tea and a two cupboard handles.  I spent months searching for cute handles for this old wardrobe so I'm on the search now for some furniture to display these beauties on. I also need to thrift the perfect frame.

I love have friends and family who know me so well. I always struggle with gift giving and finding presents that I know my friends will love. I always feel presents made with love are the best and a present that is good to give to people as a thankful gift is some homemade chai.

This chai spice mix is really tasty and I've become a bit addicted to my afternoon chai. Combine cinnamon, ginger, cloves, mixed spice, ground nutmeg, milk powder, coffee whitener, sugar and stevia and also leave a vanilla pod and a cinnamon stick in the container.

Then all you need to do is mix 1-3 heaped teaspoons into hot tea, coffee or hot milk and add cold milk to taste. Although I never drink black tea I think my favourite chai tea is with hot tea but I also really like it with hot milk- we just always seem to be running out of milk.

Now all I need to do is make up some cute labels and they'll be ready to gift.

Lisa x

Ps I'm linking up with

A Diamond in the Stuff,Elizabeth & Co,Romance on a Dime,The NY Melrose Family,The DIY Dreamer,The Winthrop Chronicles

The thrifty hostess.

I love to entertain. I feel so blessed to have our beautiful home and enough money to buy food and drinks and be generous with others. I'm always a big fan of having people over for lunch and dinner but I also can't help enjoying a cup of tea with a friend or a nice little cocktail/mocktail night. I am really thankful that after three years in our town I have a long list of people to call up and say come on over (it took a few years to really develop any closer friendships). We had people for dinner tues night, fri night and sat night so it's such a privileged to have a space to share with others (since we don't have many places to go out to in our town)

Anyway I got a thinking about setting up some areas for my tea love and a little bar cart, just to make having people over just that bit easier and fun.

The bar cart was a $3 find on a garage sale and most of the alcoholic drinks and glasses were gifts. The bottle of moet was an engagement present which I thought made a cute little vase. I purchased a few paper straws and won that fancy crystal decanter at a bridal expo. We don't use it that much but when we do I feel a little like I'm from an American sitcom where they have their bar cart- anyone else a bit of a boston legal fan?

The teapots and cups are housed on 2 dvd holders from ikea that we got shortly after we were married. They used to be filled with dvds but I decided to ditch the covers and house our collection in a folder for easy access. All the teapots and cups have been thrifted or given as gifts and it just makes a tea party a little more fun when drinking from a fancy little pot and cup.

Time for a cup of tea...

Lisa x

p.s I'm linking up with
Too Much Time On My Hands, Tutus and Tea Parties,Classy Clutter,Its Overflowing,Nifty Thrifty Things

Ready for twenty thirteen.

Via

I'm a reflective person, if I wasn't I don't think I'd quite enjoy blogging so much. Two thousand and twelve is almost over and it's definitely been a year of many personal highs and lows. Of course I started this blog which I would consider a big high as I've loved getting more linked in with the online community and having a space to share my voice and ideas. Thanks to all the wonderful people who read this.
I have felt challenged this year in so many ways and have loved expanding my skills. I've started sewing, had a go at furniture restoration and upholstery. I've done numerous craft projects and am probably most proud of my chevron wall.

However probably the most profound change has happened as a result of my 'thrifty challenge' and the quest to distant myself from repeatedly purchasing things brand new. Of course I've been buying objects from thrift shops and garage sales but I have felt so compelled to live a more minamilistic and simple lifestyle.

As a new year starts my goals are focused around enjoy and embracing the present, of living a life of less but recognising that it is indeed more. I will never deny how excited about a new find I am, how much I love beautiful objects surrounding me and how my creativity can express itself in fun and beautiful outfits. However I am so aware that I do not need clutter filling up my life. I do not need to hold onto my uni notes from 2006 or the threadbare jumper from year 10 with the tigers head on it.  I want my life to be one that is filled with the beautiful and while things remind me of memories, my memories are still there when the things aren't. In no way am I saying I'm planning to ditch all my things and won't ever shop again- rather I just want to be more purposeful about what I let into my home.

When I found out we were stuck in our town for christmas, I burst into tears at the thought of another christmas without family and friends but husband's brother and the delightful Libby visiting turned into one of the best christmas' I've ever had. I am so thankful for this reminder that things can turn out even better than if they'd gone as we first planned.

Anyway onto the resolutions for 2013:

1. To eat more natural food- be gone with things that come pre packaged and make things from scratch.

2. To only buy things if I truly love them.

3. To constantly clear out clutter. No more letting junk accumulate and don't let the 'oh I might need it one day' get in my way.

4. To not take things just because they're free.

5. To stop complaining and gossiping.

6. To spend more time reading the bible and reflecting.

Happy new year!!!

Thanks for following my adventures in 2012 and I look forward to a new year of sharing many more with you.

Lisa x

A thrifty christmas.

Merry Christmas!

This year was the first year I've ever been in charge of hosting christmas and it was so much fun preparing all the food; with the help of Libby, husband and husband's brother. We went for a buffet style lunch of prawns, pickled pork, ham, roast turkey and mounds of vegetables and some amazing cocktails and mocktails. Delicious- and plenty of leftovers for the next few days...I just love christmas leftovers!!
For the past year or so I've been thrifting so much and it was a lovely chance to use all my thrifted items with others and see how much I've collected. We are slowly increasing out outdoor furniture collection and amount of tablecloths and serving dishes and utensils. We always love having people around but there is something special about hosting christmas and bringing out the best of everything to share with everyone- after all what's the point of pretty things unless you get to enjoy using them.

Lisa x

1.the annual family christmas photo. 2. potatoes- the way my dad taught me. 3.fresh cherries. 4. freshly baked loaf. 5. set up, ready to go. 6. the spread. 7. christmas bunting in use. 8. Santa Maisy (her little outfit came from cheap as chips last year) .9. banner .10.gingerbread presents .11. dancing away to the best christmas playlist.

Recent thrifting adventures.

If you've been following this blog for a while you would know that I love a good bargain. It's been a while since I shared some thrifting treasures and I thought I'd share a few recent finds. As I am in the 'process'- slow and arduous - of decluttering my house, I am getting mighty selective when it comes to letting new things into my home. Now when I get to garage sale I quickly round up all the cool stuff and then work out whether or not it really could be useful and beautiful in our home. However when I found these 6 adorable matching containers I could not pass them up. Cute and very useful. They are now home to my large collection of paints thanks to the kind stranger. I just love the pretty flowers and matching canister organisation- ah, the joys of everything having a place.

My other favourite find was this wheely trolley. I am quite tall, think 5'10, and I don't love bending down to get the laundry. I haven't seen any of these in our local shops and hardly know anyone that has one but when I saw it at a garage sale, my heart beat just that little bit faster. I love these old school trolleys. They're so very useful and this one reminds me of one my great gran used to have. Basically I'm a sucker for anything to make doing the laundry less painful...yes I am one of those people who doesn't have a passion for washing clothes and dislike the putting away/ ironing side even more... though did you see my cute ironing board cover? It does make ironing that little bit more fun.

Have you found anything cute/useful lately while thrifting?

Happy thrifting

Lisa x

Why be thrifty? Two months down.

Husband and I both work full time and are financially stable. Something I have been thinking about lately is the concept of why I should be thrifty and what to do with the abundance of possessions I already have.

Being thrifty is about more than saving money. It's about avoiding waste and appreciating what you have.

I've been really enjoying this blog lately called the year of less which is a blog about a large family who are decreasing their possessions and learning to appreciate all that is around them. God has blessed me with so much, especially when I compare my life to those who I have seen and met in places like Rwanda, Tanzania, Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam. I have been so fortunate to travel to lots of less affluent countries and really be reminded what this life is about. 

I still plan on thrifting but I'm also endeavoring to radically declutter my possessions and live confidently in the knowledge that all I need will be provided for. Thrift shops can still provide me with unique useful items and replace some of my necessity items with prettier versions.

As I've been spring cleaning I've been thinking about whether each item in my home is either:

useful or beautiful

Then with the useful items I've been trying to work out if I can make them beautiful.
Here's an example:

I had a plain  brown boring frame in the shed so I simply jazzed them up a bit with blue spray paint and turned it into a cute little to do list by framing some lined paper. I then used a dry erase maker to list off all the things I really need to get onto doing today.

I've also been getting busy turning my old jars and cans into little useful beauties but I'll share more later.

As you can see right now I've got a big list to get working on!

Lisa x

The simple things.

source

Since moving to the country I have really struggled at times with being away from friends and family. I am so blessed to come from a close knit family and have so many great friends. However I have found the separation from them really challenging.
I thought I'd keep this blog just about DIY, thrifting and all things to do with the home but I've changed my mind a little. I also want this blog to be one where I celebrate life and all the sunshine and good thoughts.

So today I am going to share things I'm thankful for and use this as my way of documenting the wonders of country life that sometimes I fail to be mindful of. 

This week I'm thankful for...

warm cuddles at the top of a cold ferris wheel

large soup mugs full of chai

baby animals

a persistent dog who always follows me round

kind strangers
freshly made hot donuts

sunshine and clean clothes

new, exciting adventures

It's been a few weekends now since husband wasn't on call so we made the most of it by visiting a show in another nearby town, hanging with friends and enjoying the local markets. There's nothing quite as relaxing on a Sunday morning than eating a freshly cooked bacon egg sandwich straight form the barbecue and strolling the markets picking up all types of different food.  I like to cook but sometimes buying food freshly made by an amazing cook is just all that much better and less effort- and the kitchen still stays clean!

Enjoy the small things.

Lisa x