Books That Make My Eyes Happy

Okay y'all here are three books that make my eyes and my heart feel good. They are housey books.

Do you ever have that treat-y moment where you decide to buy yourself a magazine and then you stand in the magazine shop for about half and hour tossing up between house, craft, fashion or food (usually food gets knocked off my list pretty quick)... then you narrow it down to a genre (or virgin, as I like to say!) and then you still feel too overwhelmed so you leave.

or you buy one and then wish you'd gone for another?

stand with me here magazine ditherers of the world.

So, that rather random introduction brings me to 3 books I have recently read and delighted in of the house genre/virgin.

Absolutely Beautiful Things by Anna Spiro

This one was given to me by my sister for my birthday and it has some really good designy advice as well as a plethora of beautiful, inspiring images. Anna is a maximalist rather than a minimalist so we were already going to be great friends! I read every word - and now it sits by my bed incase I ever get to lie in and read - which will never happen because I actually sleep every morning moment I get (I think I may still be a teenager!). This is a true coffee table style book large, hard cover, great images.
Published by Penguin books Australia. Her website is here.

The Nesting Place by Myquillyn Smith

Now I did put this on my book wishlist a while ago but then I saw it in the library and grabbed it. I read every.single.word of this book. The premise of the book is to push people past their fear of taking risks, their commitment to perfection and to give them some sound advice about taking a leap with their home even, or especially, if they are renting. Although the author has a name I'm not sure how to say and a design style that is very different from mine I loved the way she wrote and I agree with her approach. She is a thrifty, make-overy, love what you have and enjoy your home kind of gal and I love that.
Published by Zondervan. Her blog is here.

Homespun Style by Selina Lake

I think I have seen photos from this book before and so I was pretty stoked to see it on the shelves of my library too. A quick browse in the home/crafty/new books section always comes up trumps! I started reading every single word of this book but then the pictures were so pretty, SO pretty that I couldn't read the words anymore. This whole book is full of a very Miriam kind of design aesthetic - it is a riot of colour and mis-match and hand made and all of it.
Published by Ryland, Peters and Small. Her blog is here.

All of these books have inspired and challenged me to make the most of anywhere I call home and to take even more risks to decorate the house in a way that makes me feel joyful. One of the questions Myquillyn poses is to come up with some words that you would like to describe your home. Here are 5 I'd like to think people would use about my place

colourful, joyful, welcoming, interesting (in a way that wants you to stop and look), creative

Do tell, what words would you want to describe your home?

love you more than a colourful cushion, imperfectly styled xxxx

Make My Week - Disco Chair

Well I have decoupaged another awful chair - this time into a frenzy of disco awesomeness - the before photo is somewhere in-between the old and new computer and frankly it just feels like way.too.much effort to locate it - so you'll just have to believe me!

I think I picked up this fabric from Lincraft (cheap quilting fabric that was almost transparent!)

The seat required re-strapping underneath which required some effort especially as I have no staple gun here.

The disco glitter vinyl is a little thick for my liking but as I am limited to Spotlight and Lincraft in the city - neither of which seem to be specialising in cotton laminate - well, needs must and all that.

I do like the triangles though.

This wee guy wanted to get in on the act so you can see it modelled on a real five year old.

I like it.

I actually have another chair that is ready for a makeover and now that I am armed with an electric sander - oh er! (Which came accompanied with a card from Flip and The Atlas saying we love you so much we bought you a sander - actually Flip wrote it and he included the price in the card to emphasise the real depths of their love. He also commented afterwards, "I think this will be an invaluable gift, don't you?").

Joining in with the fabulous Leonie who this week sent me crocheted bunting for my bike basket (and it arrived the day Ma n Pop left and I was in need of some love), yes she is that lovely.

love you more than a little disco in the dining room xxxx

B.M.W.B #24 - Dr Suess

Last week we had a Dr. Suess party.

I have been so looking forward to my boys being old enough to enjoy a 'party for no reason' party.

To swell the numbers and the excitement we made an invitation and invited another family.

For dinner we had chicken nuggets, wedges with blue and red sauce and 'make-your-own' pizzas.

For dessert we had Truffla Tree cupcakes, One Fish Jellies, Dr Suess Hat Stacks,

Truffla Seeds, Marshmallow Pops

We played 'I Can Do That' which is a Dr Suess game and very family friendly

Read stories together by the fire and had fun

Everyone was invited to come dressed up in their PJs with a crazy hat or hair

Bounce went as a Barbaloot (The Lorax), Flip went as Thing One (Cat In the Hat) and mummy and daddy just went crazy! (Notice I am actually the only person looking at the camera in this photo???)

This year I am making more of a conscious effort to have quality moments with my boys. B.M.W.B (becoming the mama I want to be)  is my way of recording and hopefully inspiring other mama’s too. Please inspire me with the little moments you are snatching with your little people OR with ideas I could do with mine. If you have blogged about it please leave a comment so we can all visit and encourage each other.  

Simple. Achievable. Intentional: becoming the mama I want to be. 

Read More:
Mystery Party for my 6 year-old
How to Make Marshmallow Pops
Family Awards Night

My Place and Yours Kitchen

Just for a bit of fun on my 'new' blog I thought I would join in with Deb and Lou on the 'my place and yours' series.

This is my kitchen which I love!
My little jugs

my mother in laws special German table cloth bought for her by her mother in law

ginger bread men

This is the place I spend nearly all my time so I like that it has pretty things in it - makes me feel like I am playing house instead of in forced domestic labour!! ;-)

Pop over and have a look at some other kitchens here!