Coastal Christmas Ideas

This year is a special year for us, the little bear is 31 months old so Christmas is a big deal for him, and thus for us too.  Everyone that visits us is coming over with gifts for him to tear open, so when we put all the gifts under the tree today it was hard to keep him from doing the same to ours.  We have decided that for him to open a present on Christmas day, he has to give a gift to someone else first, we hope that this might insight some excitement in watching others receive presents as well as when he gets them himself (I will let you know how that goes!)  It is also our first Christmas with our new addition, my little girl Lana.  She obviously has no clue whatsoever, but my little bear can get some kicks out of opening her presents.

 

This year will be a coastal Christmas for us - swimming in the pool, eating fresh prawns from the trawler down in the village and drinking healthy amounts of very good New-Zealand Sav Blanc!

 

Here are some gorgeous coastal Christmas inspirations, the first tree is mine...

 

 

Just kidding!  But mine is pretty similar. X

 

Have a Merry Christmas!

 

Ax

Glamorous Mothering...

Oh, if only it looked like this...

 

 

 

I have not posted for a while as you can see, but I have good reason. Baby number 2 has arrived!  She came 2 days before my birthday on November 23rd, weighing 3.1kgs.  A very happy and healthy bub.  And a very quick labour and delivery (thank goodness).

 

My little bear is just in love with her and cannot stop cuddling and kissing her.  And she sleeps and feeds well.  But alas, I do not look like Jennifer in the image above, that is going to come shortly as I have put in my wish with Santa.

 

Ax

A Pink Post for Friday

For the love of pink and absolutely no other reason!  Here are some pink inspirational pictures I have found and kept for when I need some pretty in my day.  Enjoy.

 

 

Beautiful Grace Kelly

 

Calleija's new pink diamond campaign

 

Who doesn't love pink diamonds??

 

I want the dress she is wearing too.

 

Pink at Christmas anyone??

 

Ever gorgeous Marchesa Couture.  Marchesa holds a special place in my heart always, as my wedding dress was one of their beautiful creations.  But I will save that for another day.

Have a good weekend!

Ax

Chanel News Just In My Inbox...

If only I wasn't 4 weeks away from giving birth...

 

Hawaiian florals

The Halekulani, meaning "The House Befitting Heaven", on Waikiki Beach  has earn't it's name indefinately. And not just for the second to none service, but the atmosphere is truly magic and time does seem to stand still. As usual, I am obsessed with the flower arrangements, namely orchids.  Here are some of my Fuji moments...

 

 

Lillies in the foyer

 

This gorgeous number gets changed regularly.  There is real coral pieces and driftwood in this one.

 

Perfect white orchids

 

This restaurant is called Orchids.  Fantasic waffles!

 

The stores at Ala Moana shopping mall are no exception.  Here are some noteworthy arrangements at the Ralph Lauren store...

 

 

Orchids of course

 

This philly is perfect with the white cabinetry and the seagrass wallpaper.

 

Beautiful broms

 

 

This is on both sides as you enter the store.  Love the antique pots and tables.

 

 

This is located in my entry way and is one of mine.  When I am not super pregnant I like to change this one around regularly.  Most of the greenery in this one is from my own tropical garden so depending on what is in season there are no two arrangements the same.  I like to try to bring a little piece of Halekulani into my home where possible.

 

Ax

 

 

White & Lilac

Ok, the floors are painted white, the lilac curtains have arrived from Restoration Hardware and they look fabulous with the Laura Ashley wing chair.  The room is not finished yet (hence no photos).  But I have decided to axe the pink and stick with lilac and white for my little girl's room.  Pink is very overdone.  It is in every store and in almost every little girl's room at some point.

So, I have been trolling the internet for inspiration - again, and this is what I have logged so far...

 

This is gorgeous for a teenage girl's room, very sophisticated and chic.

 

Here are a few angles of the same room.  The soft palatte includes blues but as you can see, the addition of lilac in the room makes this space unique.

 

And, or course the ever lovely Restoration Hardware!

 

Conclusion: My poor husband gets to paint the room again.

 

Ax

Girl's Nursery Inspiration

There is a slight problem here... too much choice. I started a file of pictures that I found on the internet and just went from there. I began to see a pattern imerging... I like pink and purple, and vintage pieces. Here is the pick of the inspirational images I have found to base my nursery look on...

  

 

Restoration Hardware of course.  Totally in love with the armoire, luckily I have one just like it and it is in the room slowly collecting little treasures for my little girl.

 

I love the vintage look of this bed, and the mix of the soft pastel colour palette (and the tutus of course!).

 

An older girl's room, however the use of pink and purple with the white furniture just calls to me.

 

Not pink and purple, but beautiful all the same.

 

There is a mirror very similar to this in the room also.

 

Here are the gorgeous cutains that I have ordered from Restoration Hardware.  They are a washed velvet with a satin frill.  Now I just have to wait for them to get here.

 

Ax

A Pink Baby Shower!!

This is it! I get to have a baby shower after all. 

With my son, one was arranged - the date was set, cupcakes booked and decorations purchased.  However, it was not meant to be.  The little bear had other ideas.  Just after our 29 week 3D scan I went into early labor.  This has got to be one of the most terrifying experiences of my life.  You can feel your baby inside you, distressed, and you know he is too little to come into the world and make it on his own for quite a while and yet there is nothing you can do about it.  You just have to rely completely on the doctors to make the right call for your baby. 

Luckily the doctors were able to calm my contractions and I spent some time in hospital, and on some pretty strong anti-contraction medication.  Since we caught the contrations early enough we were able to stop them from progressing.  However, bedrest for me.  No more work.  No more running around. No baby shower.

But I got the best gift ever after 38 weeks!

 

Now, nearly 2 and a half years later I get to have a shower.  With the nesting instinct in full swing there was no stopping me.  Vintage pink was the theme here, with plenty of roses.  I made tule table cloths, and table runners, personal water bottles, bunting, lolly jars, lanterns and more ribbons and bows than you can imagine.  But as you can see, and I hope you would agree, the results were quite lovely.

 

Plenty of sugar to go around.

 

A dear friend made these cupcakes, and they were just magic in your mouth!

 

A girlfriend made this delicious punch for the day too, non-alcoholic of course.

 

The day was just so worth it!  I had some lovely company and the chance to catch up with lots of good friends.  I got some amazing gifts, which I have to admit - I was so wrapped up in planning and decorating this party I forgot about that part.

 

 

But as you can see, I was very spoiled.

 

Ax

Numero Uno...

 

This is where it all started, with blue paint.  One proud Dad to be painting with such passion (which would be the first and last time he did so mind you). We had just found out that we were having a boy at our 20 week scan.  My little bear was on the way. 

Ahhh, if I only knew and appreciated at the time, how easy this pregnancy would be compared to number 2.

 

No instructions needed here of course.

 

The finished product.

 

Just waiting now.

 

 

The little bear himself.

 

Ax