The Lounge - Obviously it's a before shot.

Morning All,

So what I have discovered over the past year and a half that it is almost impossible to finish a room and start on the next. The Entry is nearly done but I am looking for the perfect coat rack idea and lighting so while I search around for what I need to finish it off . However we did have ideas for the lounge room. 

So on the spur of the moment last Saturday we decided to get started on some ideas we had since Julian was measuring up, there was no time to tidy up, welcome to Saturday mornings in the mansion (pre clean up) I'm sure those scraper site will just be dying to steal these photos....or not on the plus side when you're having a my house is terrible come back and make yourself feel better.

It's actually a very large long room. Above it the front of the room. A lot of the space has been unused because of the arches.

That's the back of the room where Julian has his study. I told you it was pre clean up.

I know people love little nooks, but this one bugs me.

There isn't actually that much crap in there usually but I was cleaning out another room and I dumped everything there.

I had to snap these so quickly because Jule's had literally just been checking where the wall studs are and went off to the hardware store, as you can see, Madeleine thought she needed to double check the studs.

This is the arch that leads into to the entry just to give you an idea of how it is situated. So what's about to happen, big surprise but I can give a spoiler and say that awful dingy beige is gone! We have HUGE plans for this space.

Also I am kind of glad the photos are messy, it will make whatever we do look better (hehe) Plus I am praying that will be the last of the blue carpet in the living area, we were given some free carpet however it didn't fit so we have had a change of plans which we should complete over the Easter break.


So what would you do with that huge space, any suggestions? What about the nook, love them or hate them? I actually like some nooks but not this one we have another one in the kids area that is actually fantastic. With this nook I think they dudded us on kitchen space by adding it, however to remove it will add more problems so it has to stay.

Thanks for reading,


Mel xo

You're Invited To Cream Tea at The Mansion...Scone Recipe

Morning All,

So I am going to tell you about my favourite thing in the world, it's when my Nana (Dad's Mum) and her sisters organise a family event. They are the BEST home cooks and bakers ever! Just to make the point, Samuel's reaction to the last funeral we went to was, "Awesome, will they all be cooking?" RIP Great, Great Grandpa, I know he didn't mean to be disrespectful, it's just that teenage boys only think with their stomachs. 

Anyway, I thought I might share some of the recipes that makes my kids excited about meeting up with the extended family, although this version actually came from a friend.

WYPW

Hey guys,

Happy hump day, here's what's got me chuckling this week.

Sadly mine hasn't even signalled for Robin!

Five Star Locksmiths - Securing the Mansion

Hey Guys,

As you know I have been working on the entry for sometime now and as we know with DIY there are things where it is best to call in the experts.

Case in point, our deadlock died, well it was sick and then I killed it, I broke my key off in the lock, instead of calling the experts, I mucked about with it myself and completely destroyed it, no pictures because I never thought I would be sharing this tale.

Then Dad came by and did DIY a new lock but in this particular case, we were left with a chunk of wood out of the door. We wont even mention how likely someone would have been able to get in should they have chosen to try.

Lucky for me the good folk at Five Star Locksmiths contacted me and asked if I would review their service and of course I jumped at the chance.

First up I have to say for tradesman they have customer service down to an art. Every call was answered right away and the staff were friendly. Given I live out of the city they had to send someone down here and they travelled quite a distance. Even with the travel, my friendly locksmith Tom was right on time and got to work.

Tom was lovely and not only did he replace my standard hardware store lock with a brand new compression lock, but he also epoxied up that gaping hole, which I just need to paint over.

Sorry about the photo but the sun was glaring in and the night photos didn't really show the work but you can see how it looks it just needs to be repainted.

Here is my fancy new compression lock

Tom also happened to notice that the front gate was missing a screw on his way out and fixed it on his way out.

Loving the new door locks and the repaired frame and honestly while I live by the motto "Trust in God", it's always a great idea to lock the door as well. If you require new deadlocks I strongly suggest calling Five Star Locksmiths.

You can call them on 1300045397 or check out their website www.fivestarlocksmiths.com.au

Disclaimer, I did receive this service in exchange for a review, as always my comments are reflection of my experience and are written in my words. I was not paid for this post.

Thanks for reading,

Mel xo

Spice Rack Bead Organiser

G'day.

I rarely get to do a bit of thrifting, but lately I have been stalking every single one looking for spice racks. I've seen countless pictures on pinterest where spice racks have been used for craft supplies and since I use spice jars for my seed beads it got me thinking.

Then I stumbled across this little beauty for $2, so excited and I am pretty sure my parents had one of these back in the 80's.

Anyway as much as I love Masterfood's I was after a different look. So I broke out the chalk paint and painted her up.

After I painted I kept thinking it needed a graphic or something, but once I put the beads in I think they give her a little sparkle and I'm glad I didn't add any extra.

DIY Delight or Disaster? Well I think it's a delight and I like having the beads sparkling I'm all about seed beads, cheap but pretty.

Thanks for reading,

Mel xo

Bejeweled Bread Box

Hey Peeps,

So in love with this I could seriously gush and swoon...but I'm not really the swooning type.

So about a year ago I posted that I had thrifted this bread box, but I had actually bought it in November 2012 and it promptly went into the garage much to Julian's horror. He loves when I bring things home and store it in the garage (yeah right!)

Anyway, continuing my chalk paint love I decided that I needed to paint her up. After I finished painting, I knew I was terrified of trying a transfer methond didn't want a graphic but she did need something. Anyway I had these ruby coloured glass knobs and I thought that would give her the vintage glam look that I wanted.

I LOVE it. I love how the glass reflects against the white wood, way better than the original wooden knob. I just think she is so pretty now, in fact too pretty to put ion my kitchen and have the kids maul her so I think she's going to stay in my craft room as storage, then again I may change my mind.


DIY Delight or Disaster? Oh she has delighted me more than words can say. This I have decided, is the look I want, white lots of white, white, with a little wood, bling and glass. It only took me a year and a half of blogging to find out what I like and I'm loving it, we have been doing some serious DIYing in the house. Oh man how I do LOVE Autumn! I'm loving red as an accent colour but I also love that I can swap it out any time I like.

Thanks for reading,

Mel xo

WYPW

Hey guys,

Happy Wednesday! Here's what I've been giggling at this week.

Umm I am the worst for this, seriously Jules sys I should organise witness protection since no one can ever find me, usually it because the phones on silent and I don't hear it. 

Samuel was telling me about a math problem they were working on today and the working out took an entire page. I texted him this, I believe in giving the kids hope for the future.

While we're on the subject of awesome parenting, here's a tip that I need to look into.

With 5 kids sometimes I get over baking birthday cakes, somehow I don't think they'd appreciate this gesture.

I love helpful public service announcements, but umm really??

Keep laughing,

Mel xo

Easter Tic Tac Toe

Hey Guys,

This was a post I shared over at the Thrifty Rebel last year for Easter

Today I'm also going to solve one of the greatest mysteries in time - I promise!

So I was a little unsure what to do for this post, so I got out my most rebellious shoes and got thinking.

 I decided on an Easter theme. I love Easter but I hate that my 5 kids end up sick from eating far too many chocolates, so I thought I would give them something to do and made a Tic Tac Toe board.

Supplies:

Fabric
Canvas
Ribbon
Hot Glue
Game Pieces
Buttons (Optional)

I started by hot gluing the fabric down, then added the ribbons.

I thought it lacked something so I added some decorative buttons to the corners.

For the game pieces I used some eggs and chicks I found at our local "cheep" store.

Then I was shocked when my almost 15 year old son decided that he wanted to play with me. I wasn't sure if he would understand the concept of a game without a screen...but he got there, bless him!

As I promised earlier, I now have the answer to the age old question, "what comes first the chicken or the egg?" As you can see diagonally across, it's the chicken!.

Thanks for having me Tuula, I have loved putting on my rebel shoes (those are actually my favourite shoes).

Thanks for reading,

Mel xo

Friday Freebie - 100 Days of Happy

Okay so I will admit that this is kind of a weird freebie but stay with me for a sec because who doesn't want to be a little more happy?

The other day I woke up to a Facebook feed full of negativity and I seriously considered just getting rid of my personal Facebook account, I mean is it just my feed or does everybody have those people in their friends list who only ever seem to write depressing updates. I'm not talking about the odd status or a serious problem where people are requesting help from friends or family I just mean those constant attention seeking updates.

I feel like posting this to their status.

In my feed it always seems to be women!

 What I noticed, at least for myself the more time I spent on social media reading these types of updates, even just scrolling through them, the more negative and depressed I started feeling. Negativity is like a virus, and I caught it. Even on here I shared a post about how I had got into a rut I didn't seem to be able to pull myself out of. After I read the lovely comments left, I realised I had passed on the disease, unintentionally but my aim has always to make my blog a happy place.

Anyway the other day I scrolled through six of these negative updates which really were about nothing, when I came across an update about 100 happy days. My friend Leslie over at Violet Imprefection, posted a link which really inspired me, look for the happy in every day.

Basically you sign up and you look for the happiness in each day, you go out of your way to concentrate on doing something that makes you truly happy, snap a picture of it and share it on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

71% of people couldn't complete the 100 days, isn't that crazy? Surely there is something we can all do, and on the cheap to make ourselves feel good. With that thought the happiness bug struck and I have decided to do the challenge.

History says I am not good at keeping things up, but have you ever noticed that goals and resolutions often start with denying ourselves something we like, even if it is bad for us, for me think everything I was giving up in Feb Fast, this is about indulging, spending time but not necessarily money, on what makes me happy.

According to the site

People successfully completing the challenge claimed to:

 - Start noticing what makes them happy every day;

 - Be in a better mood every day;

 - Start receiving more compliments from other people;

 - Realize how lucky they are to have the life they have;

 - Become more optimistic;

 - Fall in love during the challenge.

!

Come and join me and you can follow on me on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram I'll be using the hashtag #Melshappy and the public one for the challenge #100happydays.

If you want sign up (It's Free!) and give it a whirl go here to 100 Happy Days for more information and leave me a comment telling me what social media platforms you're using so I can follow along with you too. I don't know about you but I would much see happy moments clogging up my social media than those vague random posts practically begging for people to ask what's going on.

Lastly I couldn't resist, my Madeleine and Max love to dance to this song and how can you not be happy listening to this!

)

What's made you happy today?

Mel xo

Dangle Hoops Earrings

Hey Guys,

So I have been playing around with my seed beads, love them! They're cheap but look so pretty and bright. Wanna make some?

Supplies:
Fish Hook Earring Findings
Jump Rings in asst sizes
Charms
Round Hoop Earring Findings
Seed Beads
Bead Mat
Jewellery Making Pliers


So these are pretty simple but a little time consuming open the hoop and start threading your beads.

It pop as many as you like on, I like to have a bit of the silver showing, no other reason than I like the look and then close it over. I use my pliers to shut the hoop to make sure it has a strong hold.

Using the larger jump ring add the charm to the middle. Mind my manky thumb I have been knee deep in paint and sanding and if, the hands aren't covered in paint they're covered in scrapes and bangs from moving this crap all around the house.

Add the fish hooks using the other jump ring and your done.

Then you repeat until you have all your favourite colours sorted.

DIY Delight or Disaster? Well I was only going to make one pair on a bit of a whim and ended up making about 6 pairs in different colours, I'm going to have to go with Delight!

Thanks for reading,

Mel xo

Get everything you need to start making awesome bling here!

Linking here

 

WYPW

Happy Hump Day!

Well maybe more than two but this sums up most mornings.

Vegemite - An Australian Icon

Hi Guys,

I shared this post over at the Inspiration Cafe last year and in case you missed it here is a dedication to the greatest love us Aussie's have, well breakfast wise anyway.

First up, I'm going to say, I hate to cook, love to bake, hate to cook! Sandwiches for me are all about the convenience, it's like fast food at home, they're not fancy, they're just fuel. However there is one sandwich spread that is as Aussie as it gets and that's Vegemite!

So what is in this brown spread we all adore, brewers yeast extract, it is a by product of beer. That's right friends, come to Australia and we will feed you the leftovers from the beer making process.

It's a salty little treat that is actually very good for you. It is the worlds richest source of vitamin b, practically calorie free and Aussie kids have been brought up on this stuff for 90 years.

Last week Vegemite celebrated it's 90th birthday and is still made to the exact recipe that started it all. 

Vegemite on toast, is all I ate for the first trimester of my pregnancies, it's also a brilliant cure for when one was a little excessive with their wine intake the night before.

Kids running and playing with joy are referred to as "Happy Little Vegemites".

If you live here and don't know this song, your citizenship needs to be revoked.

So if you happen to be walking the supermarket and you see a jar of this little delight, pick it up and put the rose in your cheeks!

So if you haven't tried this delicious spread here's what our North American friends have to say...it's hilarious!




I promise this kid doesn't know what he is talking about it's fantastic and you don't ever eat it like jam or nutella. Just a scrape with some butter or margarine. Also best hang over cure out there!
Hope you enjoyed a 'taste' of Australia.

Thanks for reading,

Mel xo

Entry Dresser ... Oh What A Difference Some Paint Can Make

Hey Guys,

So I have been working on the entry and I have to say I am loving the direction it's heading. So far less than $100 which is quite amazing. What I have really discovered, which won't be a big surprise to most of you, is what a huge difference some paint can make!

This piece was ready to go to the tip it was in terrible shape, but I convinced Jules that I could paint it and it would be fine. He might have implied that he's heard that before and how many years will it be until it's painted.

The baskets were in great shape so I took them out and gave it a couple of coats of chalk paint.

Brought it in and waxed it, I read you have to wait 30 days for it to be properly cured. So under the punishment of death I told the children NOT to even breathe in the same direction as it.

There she sits in my almost finished entry and no jokes I am so in love with it. Seriously I blog and stuff, to keep the membership you never throw anything away, and I am thrilled that I didn't.

DIY Delight or Disaster? Come on, she's looking mighty fine!! Delight.

Have you saved anything recently from anyone you know lately?

Thanks for reading,

Mel xo

Freebie Friday - Cook Books

Remeber when I said I wanted to find you guys the greatest deals on the web, how about some FREE Cookbooks!

These are Free for a limited time only, so disclaimer mate, they were free when I found them but double check before you order that they still are.


How about a little freezer cooking, I love the idea of Freezer Cooking because I hate to cook...then I realise that I have to spend ages in the kitchen to fill the freezer, but I am determined to give it a try

Even More Make and Freeze Recipes

Looking to shed a little weight, this freebie might be more your style SIMPLE SOLUTIONS FOR WEIGHT LOSS

For all of you who are out in the workforce some healthy ideas to make and take to work Healthy Snacks for Work

Some snacks and sweets maybe? Have to say the fact that it is called The Happy Husband series almost made me leave it off, seriously isn't this 2014, the idea of the little woman just cooking to please her man...oh please! I cook and I want Julian to like it but I just think titles like has me imagining Pankhurst and her friends rolling in their graves, but the recipes seem good so we can overlook it. Snack & Sweet Recipes (Happy Husband Series)

Let's get cooking, good looking!F

Free cookbooks, you guys interested in more or not? Also please remember I don't set the price and they are subject to change but they were all free when I found them.

 Thanks for reading,

Mel xo