Wedding Day Fun

Today I stole a fantastic idea from Kelle at Enjoying The Small Things and made a Instragram photo dump/collage to show off some of the pics from the weekend :)

It's Wedding Season!

And I'm ready!

We have had four weddings this year (well three gone & one tomorrow) & I have to say I am loving it! I am a sucker for the gown, the flowers, the suits, the music & all that love in the air. I love the laughter, the friends, the family & feeling so special that these people I call my friends & family want to share their special day with me. I love admiring all the hard work that goes into making that day oh so special, all the personal touches, all the DIY & handmade items which have taken months to finish. I remember the stress & craziness of trying to get everything organised & finished in time & love seeing that look of relief on parents, friends & family who have been helping tirelessly, when it all starts & things run according to plan. And I always start to reminisce about my own special day. Sharing champagne with my girls, looking at my dress hanging in the lounge room just waiting for me, watching my nephew get dressed by brother & entertain himself quietly while we did all the boring stuff.

I remember that special moment, after climbing into the car, when my Dad turned to me from the front seat & simply said, with a smile on his face, 'Are you ready?'

I remember the moment when all my bridesmaids had gone in & I was trying to fit myself, Dad & my train into the entryway & having my brother take my train from my hands and say 'Do you want me to hold that?', walking down the aisle to see the look on Samuel's face, especially when I quickly poked my tongue out at him. 

I don't think anyone will forget the moment when our minister began talking about sex & pleasing each other in marriage, I certainly won't forget the look on Samuel's face! And that first kiss as husband & wife.

And that final moment when our closest friends & family greeted us as husband & wife!

But this time it isn't about us. So far this year I have had the joy of watching a close friend from University marry her highschool sweetheart, a childhood friend marry her lovely fiancée & my Brother-in-law marry his wonderful fiancée, thus welcoming another person into our ever expanding family. Tomorrow is another very special day with my oldest friend marrying her lovely partner. And I can't wait! 

My dress is ready, my shoes are out, the card is picked & I've got the tissues packed (Yes I'm a crier at weddings!). Did I mention that I love wedding season?!?!

  

Keep Calm...

That is all :)

Christmas Cards & Chaos

After my post about the days left until Christmas (only 59 by the way!!) I got rather inspired! I've been pinning up a storm on Pinterest. There are so many gorgeous Christmas craft ideas out there & my mind is full to the brim with ideas & plans. So I spent Monday morning cruising the second hand & discounts shops (my crafting bread & butter) & arrived home much lighter in the pocket but with a range of ribbons, paper, glues & a million other goodies including a tiny little Christmas tree which I can't wait to decorate. I wonder if since it's only a mini Christmas tree if I can decorate it early? Like in a week? lol
So Tuesday was delegated as CHRISTMAS CRAFT DAY! In a matter of about 1 hour I had a total state of chaos overtaking my lounge room & 4 absolutely gorgeous Christmas cards all finished & ready to be sent at the beginning of December. Over eager you say? I prefer to say I am overly organised. Most people who know me may laugh heartily at that comment & then disagree but I maintain they are wrong! 

These cards are everything I love about handmade! They have ribbons & buttons, glitter & pretty paper, all artfully smooshed together into lovingly made cards.
Unfortunately four is all I have so far, as just as I was putting the finishing touches on the last card I received a phone call from my Mum. My Pa had been taken to hospital & we had been told to come. Nan & Pa live over 1000km away so this meant a mad rush to get ready & a 12 hr trip, hoping we would get there in time. I've never packed a suitcase so fast in my life! Nothing was folded & I still have no idea what I actually threw in there. But I was packed & about as ready to go as I would ever be, but I was still calm & in control, as I raced out the front door, leaving behind a confused puppy & the utter chaos that was my Christmas cards. I don't think the enormity of the situation really hit me until I sat in the car on my way to tell hubby at work. Then the tears came as I realised that I may not make it in time, what if he died before we could get there. I really thought I was more prepared for this news, after all he has been living with Motor Neurone Disease for 3 years now (Check the link on the side if you want to know more about it). We knew that this would happen most likely sooner rather than later, but nothing prepares you for that phone call. I really don't think Samuel knew what to do when I arrived at his work & promptly burst into hysterical tears. But he coped amazingly.
After explaining the situation to his boss, we headed up to Mum & Dad's who would be taking me with them to see Pa. Then the waiting began. We couldn't leave straight away as Dad had repairs to do at work, we had to pack & my other Pa had to be taken into the nursing home for respite, so Mum could come. So eventually at nearly 4pm (about 6 hrs after I was told to pack) we were on the road, with a 12 hr journey ahead of us. Boy was it a long trip, with lots of food & coffee breaks, including my first ever Red Bull at about 11pm (tasted like Nerds made into a drink, which I have to say I found rather disgusting!), but we made it, with Dad having driven the entire, at about 3:30am. We'd made it!
In the morning (well a reasonable hour of the morning anyway), we were filled in. It was a heart attack but things weren't looking quite as dire now. He's alive & recovering, still so worn down & with even less mobility from when I last saw him 9 weeks ago. But he was here & so was I, as hard as it was & is to watch him & Nan struggle, with not only this but all the other implications which have arisen, I am so thankful that we made it in time. Now we are here to help them through not only the recovery but also the almost certain reality that he won't be coming home but rather moving into full time care. It's hard, goodness knows it's hard, but I'm here, in this chaos (which is so different to the chaos I left behind) & I thank God for that every second of every day.

Xxx

Only 62 days left!!

Christmas is almost upon us!! It's only 62 days away! Which means it is only 38 days until we can put our Christmas tree up! Can you tell I'm getting excited? So much so that I started a Christmas board on Pinterest (oh what an utterly addictive site!) last night. 

That also means I only have 38 days left to make all the wonderful new ornaments I had in mind for our tree & only 62 days to organise all the presents. Now that's a scary thought! Hubby & I have decided to do all handmade presents this year, which I'm so excited about but means I'm making all the presents. Eeeek!! I have a million ideas floating around in my head but not a single present started. I'm thinking slippers, aprons, tote bags, pajama bags, headbands, earrings, necklaces, bracelets, softies & ribbon tutus, just to name a few. 
I think I need to sit down & write a list, so I know who I am making what for! 

I'm currently working on a pair of super cute slippers (for myself) based of this gorgeous tutorial here! There are so many gorgeous tutorials out there my bookmarks folder is almost overflowing! Later this week I am hoping to have my own tutorial up for you so fingers crossed!

In the mean time tell me: What's on your handmade Christmas wishlist this year?

Xxx