I want one...

I want a new sofa. I know that's not a very nice way to begin a new post, but I'm feeling a little furniture pang. I just want one. I need one for my basement family room as I'm tired of slapping cheap slipcovers on the ones I have down there. I can't even invest in custom made ones to thereby prolong the life of "their ugliness" as the springs are shot from years of jumping and training for the "high jump". When you sit on them, you sink in the middle...and not because you ate too much comfort food this winter. Will I get my way, you might ask? Nope...not unless I'm prepared to get a new hubby and heaven knows where I'd get one of those...Despite his frugality (he likes to call it common sense), he's kinda cute and useful and makes a good cup of tea, so the debate rages on between us and it goes something like this:

Me: We really need a new sofa and love seat downstairs.

Him: Don't start...(which is his favourite saying and annoys me to no end...)

Me: Yeah, but...(this is where he jumps in...)

Him: Please don't start...

Me: But the springs are shot, they're out of style, and we should get something that reflects our taste (which is where I really lose him...).

Him: We're not getting a new sofa until the kids have moved out and that's that!

Me: silent treatment begins...

Now before you think that I'm a major wimp and need to just stand my position, you have to remember I have my own version of the Tightwad gazette...or better yet: the Frugal Hack(I must remember this one).

I also know he is right. A new sofa would have busted springs in a matter of months, the cats would claim it, and we'd never actually sit on it anyway (given our tendency to flock upstairs). So, I give up the ghost, take a trip to Winners to buy some accessories, and never let on that I think he is even remotely right.

Still, it's okay to drool over pictures like this, no??

all photos: Maine Cottage.com

I know this isn't a sofa or love seat, but I want it too!! A girl can dream, right??

Style me Pretty...

photo: source unknown

photo: Country Living.com

Pretty...I love that word. It has such a sweet connotation to it...a simplicity, an innocence, an attainability. While we may not all be beautiful or live in beautiful homes, most people can have something about themselves that qualifies as pretty: pretty eyes, pretty hair, pretty smile, and so on. To be called pretty is so much easier to accept, even for those of us who brush off compliments. Pretty seems more believable, more honest... more genuine. Of course, there are many people who qualify as beautiful, but so many more that are more apt to be labelled pretty. We often hear the phrase, "the beautiful people" and we are prone to think that they are more vain, less committed to their relationships, and yet innately more happy. While this is obviously a sweeping generalization, these opinions live on.

When we think of beautiful homes, we almost always think of grand spaces, with heaps of architectural interest, reeking of quality and high mortgages. Even with homes, we equate beauty with perfection. Although we are very generous in using that descriptive when touring each other's homes, it is often more honest to deem a house pretty, or lovely, or charming...words that bring less committment to this supposed perfection. If a home is pretty, it has a definite aesthetic appeal; but it may also have nooks and crannies that are imperfect: rooms that are yet to be remodelled, paint that is chippy in spots, pillows that are imperfectly plumped, dust balls dancing across the slightly scratched wooden floors, creaky screen doors that slam too loud upon closing...perfectly imperfect.

My goal for my home is for it to feel/look pretty to me: hence my use of a soft colour palette; slipcovers; touches of sparkle and glitter; pom pom fringe; crisp, cotton sheets, whimsical light fixtures...basically anything that inspires me to think "pretty" when I look at it. What ever happened to being satisfied with pretty? Why must we covet perfection, streamlined beauty, high-end this and top notch that? Isn't pretty good enough??

photos: country cream .co/uk

In fact, my favourite compliment when someone visits my home for the first time, is that it feels comfortable and is pretty. Now, I'm not fishing for compliments here, I'm just stating my preference. Hearing that it is beautiful would honestly make me squirm a bit, as I am one of those people who equates beauty with grandeur. Certainly, I consider many things beautiful, but the word pretty just brings to mind fresh, natural, down to earth style. Simply put- white roses are beautiful... as they depict quality, simplicity, restraint. A daisy is pretty: natural, attainable. A peony defies all rules and is simply breathtaking, but in a fresh, pretty way. There is indeed a difference to how each makes me feel when I see it.

So, I say let's bring pretty back into our homes: let's not consider it the dowdy sister of beautiful, but rather the fresh-faced girl next door that we secretly know is nicer, self-deprecating, more natural and will put us more at ease when we encounter her. Bring on the unstarched white sheets, the chippy paint, the wildflowers, the pastels, the mismatched chairs, the dog-eared treasures that have been handed down through the generations. Let us forget about always wanting the best, and simply accept that good enough can be just that: apply that girl next door prettiness to our homes. Beauty fades, but even the wrinkliest of grannies can be pretty...

Some more examples of pretty...(again, not from my house)

photo: Sarah Richardson Design

photo: Better Homes and Gardens

Busy times...

(A local historic museum and the kids in front of the old van of Harry's cafe du wheels - a very famous Sydney landmark)

(A park across the RAAF)

(My trashed living room! lol)

As most of you probably know, it's summer time down under in Oz and the schools are on their annual summer vacation time (only one week left thank god lol). My kids are at home with me during this time 24/7 and I have to admit they're driving me nuts lol. Although I live in a family friendly neighbourhood I feel my children are too young to be wandering around the streets with their friends getting into mischeif so it's up to me to be their entertainment. Entertaining children can be a costly exercise so we've been doing alot of bike riding at the park, swimming at friends and turning my family room into an aeroplane lol. The last couple of days we visited an historic museum and drove out to the Royal Australian Airforce base to watch the planes. Basically the last few weeks have been all about the kids.

Having said that I did manage to sneak off to a couple of concerts this week for my favourite band in the world - Bon Jovi!!! They haven't toured down under for 10 years so we were well and truly due! My friends and I had a blast! Absolutely outstanding! They completely blew me away. A wonderful escape from reality lol.


Coming back to reality we were hit with the news the next day of Heath Ledgers death. I didn't know him personally but I was definately a fan. Like everyone else I'm saddest about the fact that we'll never see just how many more phenomenal performances he would have given and I'm sure an Oscar was imminent. RIP Heath, you will be missed.


My family and I are heading back to our lake house for the long weekend as a final family break before the kids go back to school so I'd like to wish all my fellow countrymen and women a very Happy Australia Day! Aussie, Aussie, Aussie - Oi, Oi, Oi. Hehe ;)

When I return I know I have ALOT to catch up on and I can't wait! I hope you all are well...take care :)