FEELING ORGANISED

Don't you just love it when your all organised? It would be nice if Sundays were actually a day off for me but not quite… nearly every Sunday I tidy over the house (I don't have a set routine for house cleaning so just do it as I see it), do all the clothes washing and the food shopping oh and a bit of cooking ready for the working week ahead. Hubby helps out too, so I'm a lucky gal!

I'm not that good really at running a tight ship or anything, but find myself so much happier when organised… funny that! Im sure you feel the same way.

Today I am feeling super organised after inspiring myself when I decided to move my glass notice board into the kitchen thoroughfare. I originally made this for my girls to keep track of their homework (see the post here) but seems that didn't last long and now they have laptops I can only hope they have everything under control... I doubt it!
Now that all the kids' sports have resumed for the year I will be busier than ever driving around for training and with our appointments, parties, meetings and dinners we can all see what's going on!

I don't pride myself highly on being organised at home. I'm no super working mum and don't want to be either, I never want to set myself up to fail 'that' standard so I keep it real! I can get myself into a messy situation just like anyone else by ignoring the house for days and send lunch boxes full of crap to school when I have no food in the house, but mostly I am on top of it because I get a little crazy and nasty when I'm not in control and that's no good for anyone living here! I'm not perfect and I'd prefer to be happy and have happy household and to do the things we like and take time for myself (often) than be mental about my house and stuff, that's why I pour a lot into Sundays so I can enjoy my week, I don't feel so guilty watching TV shows at night and playing on Instagram or Facebook and blogging, they are a way for me to be creative… I'd go mad without it I reckon.

Even if its just one thing to make you feel more organised its a good start… Today I came home from the supermarket and had this urge to make chicken soup as I was going through the vegetable crisper cleaning it out. So that's my work lunch for the week sorted! It was so easy I thought I'd share, here's the recipe…

Chicken Noodle Soup
Serves 6
Active Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 2 hrs
INGREDIENTS
6 cups water with 2 chicken stock cubes
2 chicken thigh fillets
1 cup chopped celery with leaves
1 cup chopped onion
2 good sized chopped carrots
1 head of broccoli broken up
1 tin of corn kernals
1 large parsnip chopped
Salt
1 tsp minced garlic
1 bay leaf
10 peppercorns
1/2 cup broken spaghetti
PREPARATION
1. Put broth, chicken, celery, onion, carrots, parsnip, garlic, corn, broccoli, bay leaf and pepper in a large saucepan. Cover and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 45 minutes, or until chicken is cooked and vegetables are tender. 
2. Discard bay leaf. Remove chicken to a plate to cool slightly. Add noodles to soup; cover and simmer until tender.
3. Meanwhile, shred chicken with fingers or 2 forks. Add to soup.

Well I'm going to grab a drink and go outside and see my husband, he has been busy outside mowing the lawn while I have been trying to get organised in here! I still have ironing to do and tea to make but it never ends does it!

Have a great week

Carla x

MY DIY WEEKEND

I had a very eventful weekend around the house doing lots of jobs. I got the re-decorating bug which isn't hard for me, it's been a few weeks since I last re-arranged something haha.... And a while since a DIY project. In one of my previous posts I said I was going to recover my ottoman in the family room, so one of my jobs this past weekend was to do this. I decided to go with a plain fabric, I just didn't  find a pattern to work, there are other patterned furniture in the room on the other side so it would probably have clashed and this way I can do patterned cushions and switch them out when I feel like it with others! I have ordered some new cushions I'll show you as well.

I should say that whilst my house has a traditional feel to it and I love the modern country/french style, I also love contemporary, modern classic and mid-century as well. When we renovated I chose colours, fixtures and fittings that would tie in with almost anything so that I could change my decorating style down the track. I am slowly going to change things over to a more modern look but still eclectic, I can't get rid of special things just to stay on trend and I think it makes a house a home having the things you love! We have been thinking about another house so this will tie my creative bones over until the next big thing is able to happen!

So here's the old ottoman... From an old modular, the colour just didn't go with my inherited mustard sofa...

I took the hardware off and cut the fabric to size, about half an inch bigger to staple down.

I laid the fabric out on the dining table and started stapling with my electric staple gun (love this thing)

I folded up the corners and stapled, once I was done all the way around I screwed the legs back on, this is pretty simple stuff hey?

I thought it needed something extra and found these upholstery studs I've had in my craft box for years and years, I had enough for 7 down each side, so took the punt and nailed them in! I'm happy I did, it just adds a nice finishing touch I think.

And here it is...

It looks a little purple in the photos... I can assure you it's not, I'm not going crazy!!! It's in the same tone as the grey/brown back cushions as the sofa. (Being closer to the camera is playing tricks and I can't fix it)

I've ordered these cushions for the room too

And bought these flowers for the kitchen or dining, I haven't found a home yet... to go with the yellow in the room. Both cushions and flowers from www.makeyourhouseahome.com.au

Do you like it? 

There are some more new things to come around here... Have been working on Flynn's room so keep in touch!

Oh and I've linked up to the 'Best of the nest' link party for my Ottoman DIY project, click the link below to see some other gorgeous DIY projects...

Carla x

I LOVE LINEN

Just before my post, you would recognise I have a new logo and banner, I thought it was time for a fresh new look! Hope you like it? 

OK...

I have been so inspired lately working with these beautiful linens. I would love to to put them in all our bedrooms at home but that would be bit extravagant right? I might start with the little fellas room first and absolutely love the crosses for him (pictured in green) but in charcoal I think.

Is linen your thing? How often do you splurge on a new Doona cover? I'm pretty good and stick with white for myself now days and change the cushions instead, it's cheaper and helps control my addiction to changing covers haha. White suits my traditional style room at the moment but as soon as I ever go modern again I'll be getting one of these for sure! For the kids I can be a bit more adventurous and maybe do a new one each year. Maybe it's time?? I feel a trip to the shops coming on... If your after a change up for Autumn these gorgeous ones are available from www.makeyourhouseahome.com.au

Have a great weekend guys

Carla x

NEW LOOK LIVING ROOM

We were recently given these beautiful big sofas from my Mum and Dad. My first thoughts were 'they aren't my style' and I ummed and ahhed about whether I'd take them, I just wasn't sure how I was going to make them work in our house! They are such good quality and soooo comfy I would have been mad to say no to them, so I welcomed the comfort with an open mind. As a result I have had to go quite traditional with my styling which is not really the way I was heading (I was trying to pair back a bit and go a little more funky and colourful but not to be). My styling is eclectic luckily and they are a natural fit in this old house, the room seems to blend in well with the rest of the house so I am happy with the overall look. We had new carpet laid in here not so long ago and the room is sunken so it is a very inviting and comfy area for the whole family (including my little photo bomber our dog 'Franklin'). I do need to recover the ottoman, I realise the colour is not working so I am on the look out for some fabric, I have a few favourites below but not really sure yet. You might like to help be by telling me which one you like from the fabric swatches below from left to right 1-4?







Fabrics 1. 2. 3. 4.

I hope everyone had a great weekend, I'm pumped for the week ahead!

Carla x

A LOOK BACK...

on 2013....We spent many weekends renovating, demolishing, gardening, building, making, sanding and I did a lot of painting, and more painting, and I'm still not finished outside. Meanwhile we both work all week in our day jobs and have 3 very busy kids but I never sit still for too long, there's always something to do.

In 2013 we achieved:

• New floor coverings in the kitchen and family room

• We did some finishing touches to our new kitchen

• I renovated the laundry

• We made a new backyard entertaining area

Here's a few pics to re-cap our year on the house-

New floor and added touches to the kitchen

You can see the full kitchen reno here... 

http://www.insidehomeliving.blogspot.com.au/2013/02/i-love-my-kitchen.html

New laundry

You can see the full laundry Reno here... http://www.insidehomeliving.blogspot.com.au/2013/07/laundry-makeover-complete.html

Outdoor area

You can see the full outdoor makeover here... 

http://www.insidehomeliving.blogspot.com.au/2013/12/new-alfreso-area.html

Until next time, whether your back at work like me or still on holidays have a great week!

Carla x

DECORATING ON HOLIDAYS

You'd think I'd take a holiday from decorating whilst I'm on holidays.. No! I will never tire of it. I love it at work and at home. 

Today I changed over my quilt cover and while I was at it I did a quick 10 minute makeover. I bought these floral Sheridan Euro covers years ago and had never used them because they never really matched the decor in my room. So I just changed over to the frames on the wall for a while and pulled out a few cushions from storage to make them work. Bingo! a new look in 10 minutes! A change is as good as a holiday, so why don't you change up a room before the new year and give yourself a fresh start!

Everything continues to evole at my place, nothing ever stays the same for too long but I go back and forth so it's not costly.

This is how it was.... http://www.insidehomeliving.blogspot.com.au/2012/11/pop-of-colour_6.html

And now.....

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and to all a happy new year!

Carla x

If you need help decorating your home we have an online decorating service here...

http://www.makeyourhouseahome.com.au/category/4277/decoration--design/

NEW OUTDOOR AREA

It has been nearly 2 years since we moved in to our home, in that time we have completely renovated the inside of the house. Most of it was done very soon after we moved in and the rest, well there has been a list of things to finish off! I have been successful in getting those done since Dad moved here, I'm so lucky to have a builder for a Dad. Now that inside is all done we recently got back to the outside to do a few projects for summer entertaining. 

We had initially tidied up the yard when we moved in, it was a complete mess and had been let go, we ripped everything out to start again. I planted out the garden bed with lavender and some other shrubs and creepers on the fence. The pergola was a light green colour so we painted it charcoal and added a shade sail over the area off that that would become the entertaining area. There was a big dirt patch under that for some time and initially I planted some hedges along the bottom of the deck but I transferred those before we poured a new concrete slab a few weeks ago. We painted the slab with grey concrete paint and some of the old concrete paths as well to make it all the same. We had the exterior of the fence painted last week which looks so much better, like new! The latest addition has been the new bench seat that is built in to the side of the pergola, we now have a beautiful new outdoor area. The plants are getting bigger and should look great in a couple of years, and the creeper is covering the fence quickly. Here are the before and after photos... They are in order of progress, so I won't label them, you'll get the idea! 

Well what do you think? It is such an improvement, and there's still alot to do in other parts of the yard. I wish I had photos from the first day but silly me forgot to take those until we had spent days and days and were well into it. I'm just going to sit back and enjoy this for a while though!

Have a nice end to your week

Carla x