it's beginning to look alot like Christmas.....

well it's that time of year. the Chrissy decorations have been up in the shops for a while, and Santa is having his photo taken with the kiddies at all the Westfield stores!

i have usually done all my shopping by now- i normally shop throughout the year, but this year hasn't worked out that way. i have had some fun shopping with friends and my fabulous cousin though. nearly done now! and then there's all the wrapping!

i have taken all the Christmas decorations down out of the linen cupboard ( and had a "linen cupboard" clean out at the same time) and am all ready for tomorrow when we put up our tree.

we have a bit of a family tradition in our home- lots of nibbles, Christmas music and of course a glass of bubbles while we decorate the tree on our chosen afternoon. the girls also choose a new decoration each year and love to choose their own advent calender with choccies to see out the 24 day countdown until Christmas morning.

they each have their own pretty stocking- one of which is pictured above.

i hope you also have fun during this hectic but fun season!

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mirrored tags & garden pics

i have enjoyed some time in the garden over the weekend, and took some snaps of what i've planted and what is growing happily in our back yard. this vine is thriving along my timber fence and the flowers are coming out in gorgeous bunches

i got these pretty soft pink daisies from the markets

i finally decided on lavender and rosemary for my claw foot bath. it smells divine! if you look carefully, you can see our cat Heidi sunning herself underneath :)

my hydrangas are very happy in this lovely old Norco milk box i found on eBay for $1

and i have been to Ikea- again!! i will never tire of that wonderful store. i was so excited to find that they had put out all their Christmas stock. i found these mirrored tags and decided to tie some of them to the tops of these jars. they look so sweet! at $5.99 for a pack of 3 stars, hearts or angels, they are a perfect pressie topper too.

of course i had to add some to these old jars as well

here are all the spoils from my very quick visit to Ikea before closed on Saturday afternoon. i couldn't resist the Christmas paper with matching gift tags, the cherub cards or the red and white ribbon.

it's hard to believe Christmas is just around the corner! now i have my gift wrap sorted, it's time to start thinking Christmas pressies...

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for the love of candles

here is my latest candle purchase. i found it in Sussans. they have a gorgeous selection of soaps, candles, gifts and Christmas decorations at the moment. this lovely Fig & Nectarine candle in a tin had to come home with me :)

i adore mercury glass candle holders. they sparkle all on their own. i have these beauties in my entry. they aren't scented. just a couple of scented candles in the house at one time is enough for me.

what about a handful sitting in an old $2 jug?

i am loving them bunched together in vintage glass jars. they don't always have to be lit for you to enjoy them :)

this french style candle holder looks great with a good old chunky white church candle.

i even don't mind a rose scented candle in a fancy footed ashtray!
candles also look fab in a cute bird cage. we are going to hang this up in the corner of Kacey's room. she's a bit into birds and cages at the moment!

here are some button candles i made with my girls. they live in the bathroom for when we 'need' a candle lit bath :)

as you can see, i have a bit of a candle obsession. i don't need an excuse to light them up. i have them pretty much in every room of the house, and i light at least one every night. even when it's not quite dark enough. just for the smell of them. i find lit candles so soothing, so relaxing, so ambient. they change the feel of a room and the light is so much softer.

i'm always checking them out in the shops and home magazines. my fav would have to be the 'Glasshouse' range. their perfumes are out of this world and they last forever. the perfume fills a whole room- no matter what the size! i'm in the market for another one. i've burnt my last one right to the base.....

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