Project Autumn-Cleaning & Project De-Clutter

Well... I just can't tell you how lovely it is having some space back in our lovely home. For quite some time now, we've been jam-packed in with boxes, bags, baskets and JUNK just falling down around our ears. I really shouldn't call it that... I'm just stressed. It's all of my beautiful mum's beloved treasures that we have rescued from being thrown out and sold. My "inheritance" that I am having to fight for, or what's left of it anyway.

It all needs to be sorted, cleaned, and assigned a new purpose - does it stay or go? If it's staying, where will it live in the house? If it's going, will I donate it, give it to friends, sell it, or is it really just good for the bin?

This is tiring.
Stressful.
Draining.
And I've been doing it for the last four months :(

So naturally, I'm very excited now that our living/dining room is now void of these boxes...

And these...


These...


And these too...


I've lost count. In the last few weeks, I must have thrown out upwards of about 50 boxes of junk (and that's an approximate figure, not an exaggeration). I call it junk because it was everything from badly aged artificial flowers, magazines, newspaper clippings, small fabric scraps, broken toys... And more. Stuff that was intended to be sorted and fixed eventually, but no-one ever got around to doing it.

You can't even begin to imagine how heart breaking this is for me.
So many precious things.
Once cherished and loved.
Reduced to nothing but recycling and land-fill.

I have to keep reminding myself that I can't keep everything, and these weren't really the things that mattered to mum anyway. As it turns out, we've got space once again in our pretty little apartment, and it is filled with light once more...

Our entrance and dining area.


The lounge/living area.


Just a pretty little feature, inspired by our beautiful close friends who have regularly checked in on us and kept me distracted when I needed it.


You have no idea how wonderful this is. It was seriously so bad that we could barely walk around. We were even considering moving to a larger place just so we would have room to sort, because there wasn't even room for that! I got through it by just forcing myself to sit up at night and go through everything, one by one.

Phew.

So, did you spot that fabulous grandfather clock in the entrance way? My Bisou spotted that baby on Gumtree some weeks ago.

Would you believe it was only $60??

The poor bloke who bought it originally paid a few hundred for it, but apparently his wife made it very clear that she didn't like it and it wasn't staying... Troy snapped it up, and we love it. It's not working at the moment, but my clever little Bisou has been doing some research and thinks he can get it going again. So when I treated my Bisou to a couple of lovely new jumpers for autumn (and he treated me with some gorgeous new boots), I couldn't help myself but take a photo of him looking so debonair in front of our beautiful new time piece.


One of the things I love about us, is that between the two of us we have so many skills that there isn't much that we can't do together.

Oh yes.
I love Troy to bits :)

So that was one project out of the way. The other...?

I kind of had no bedside table for a while. Well, to be accurate there was a table...


This has been mum's kitchen table ever since I can remember. I love it. I couldn't part with it, but when we rescued it there was no room for it except in the bedroom! Once my bedside lamp got put on there it was destined to be around for a while, but because of its sheer size it meant that other stuff was just piling on top of it too...

Just awful :(

So... We didn't have the money to go out and get a couple of nice matching bedside tables, and it wasn't bothering Troy that he didn't have one for now anyway, so what was I to do? I had to do a swap somewhere around the house...

And then it hit me.


We don't use the table outside all too often because we find it a bit small, and we generally don't spend as much time on the balcony as I'd like either. I'd just have to clean it and paint it before it came inside.

Paint paint paint...


A bit of de-cluttering and getting rid of things that didn't need to be there...

And here's the result :)


A much much happier (and less cluttered!) bedside space.
Oh yes, I painted the chair too. I like white :)

I must admit, it's prone to change again sometime soon as this is by no means a permanent solution, but it is far nicer and much more liveable than it was before.


On my bedside is one of my most treasured photos... This has been next to my bed since Troy and I got married in 2009
Xoxoxoxo


My beautiful, gorgeous Bobby.
Xoxoxoxo


Another of mum's beloved little treasured. A dragonfly pin she used to wear as a brooch from time to time. Her little "libellule".

I love and adore you immensely my Bobby.
I miss you everyday.
I hope and pray that you are safe and happy.
Xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

How to say "I'm Sorry..."

We live in a pretty normal house. Well, as normal as can be expected in the midst of our "current situation". Those of you who know me personally know that this is the toughest time I am ever going to have to experience in my life. Ever. Somehow, some way, this lovely little blog has helped me more than I can say... I'm not sure I know why. It's as if I'm able to say all the little things I need to. I can share all the funny little things that make me smile and happy. It's helping me to remember what is positive in my life, what to work towards, and what to live for.

It's silly to think that I would even need reminding, but it's been tough lately,


Anyway, as I was saying - we live in a normal house, and we're a very happy and contented married couple. In fact, I like to think that we're happier than most. We have such wonderful communication and an openness with each other, that others have found baffling. We fit together in such a way it's like sticking two complex puzzle pieces together that only have one correct pair. Even though things are slowly starting to settle down though (I really should have bolded and italicised s-l-o-w-l-y), tempers still fly high from time to time, and they are flying more often than they usually would. We're both worn out, we're both sick of it all, and we've had enough of everything in general.

But it's during these very tough times that I'm reminded of the gem of a man that I somehow managed to have in my life, and why I feel so blessed to have him. He has a direct and unimpeded line to my heart. When I think I'm going to have a complete breakdown and I feel I'm ready to thrust a knife into his aorta and twist it violently (graphic much?) he will do or say something so completely "Troy" that the anger will almost instantly dissipate and I want nothing more than to melt into his arms again. Oh yes, and I completely abandon that notion about the knife :)

Who else would say sorry on a cupcake or two?


Or with chocolates and beautiful flowers - boring on their own - so accompanied by that beautiful IKEA cake stand that you've been eying off for a while. Although you can't see it very well, he's actually written "S:(rry XOXO" on the cake dome).


My husband is beautiful. He has the gentlest soul of anyone that I know of. His temper can flare up as high as mine can, but he will almost always be the one to apologise first. He is tender and kind, caring and gentle. We need each other equally, and we express that readily to each other. He makes me laugh when no-one else can. He reads me like an open book, even when I try to hide things from him. I absolutely could not have survived these last three months without him by my side, and I am so thankful for him each day of my life.


My beautiful, wonderful Bisou. I am so sorry these last three months have been hard on you two. I am trying so hard not to lose it, really I am. I see how hard you are trying too. I think that if we keep doing this for each other, then we will be okay. Love is always forgiving, kindness, and gentility. With a love as deep and strong as ours, I know we will be okay.

I will never stop trying for you.

Your one true love,
Laura
Xoxoxoxo

Tag dag :)

Just a quick one... I've recently stumbled onto the CUTEST way of labelling my food items in the kitchen, and also for writing out gift tags for friends. It's kinda amazing, and cheap as chips!

You need...
1 black card stock (about 250 gsm) from a newsagent
1 roll of twine from a hardware/dollar store (or wherever you get your twine from!)
1 piece of chalk OR a whiteout pen

And you get...


Instant cuteness. I am totally going to go nuts and re-label everything in my kitchen and bathroom with these...

It's also awesome to use as a gift tags for presents. Just grab some old newspaper or butchers paper, a little bit of twine and some fresh or dried flowers, and you have yourself a masterpiece. I used lavender because it was my mum's flower, and these gifts were for two very special and very close family friends :)





My pressies were such a hit, along with the bottle of lemon syrup (pictured above) that not only did they not want to open my presents (I did of course protest), but my lemon syrup received high kudos - I added a touch of manuka honey into it this time for some added natural goodness, and also because it meant less "actual" sugar too!

Hope you enjoyed :)

Xoxoxo

Baking success

Just a quick one today... I finally got around to making Troy his "Ginger Dean Men" las night, and they came up a treat. Icing was a bit tedious, but it paid off if you took your time...


Homemade lemonade was a huge success too! My Bisou has declared that it's the best lemonade he has ever tasted, and he's happy to have that as his "sweet treat" instead of the store-bought lemonade. Yay for success! I also tried making my hot variation of the lemonade from the syrup, and it's just as tasty... About 3 capfulls of the syrup, a teaspoon of ginger past and a dusting of mixed spice, and you have one warm and revitalising drink. I plan on drinking this all through autumn and winter to keep those nasty colds and sniffles at bay - I'll let you know if it works.

PS. Maxine and John - if you're reading this, I'll bring a bottle down for you this weekend, just incase your throat is still a bit sore :)

Love love,
Xx