Colouring-in-kit

My all time favourite childhood present was a colouring in set (2 actually) that my dad bought me home from FAO Schwartz on a work trip to New York City! At the time he was the editor of TIME magazine Australia, and as it was headquartered in NYC, so he was lucky enough to fly there twice on business conference trips! The first time he went there he bought me back a colouring in set that looked just like the one below- black, smallish (if you can call it that, I guess because I am thinking of it in comparison to the second one!) with the array of oil paints, crayons, pencils and textas you'd imagine to find in a colouring in set. I loved it dearly and it was well used.

Thanks to my beloved friend Jess for posting this picture- was a good opportunity to tell this story :)

The second trip my dad went on to New York (I'm guessing about two years later) he bought me back, in my mind what was a, gigantic colouring-in-set inside you could call nothing else but a wooden suitcase. I loved it for two reasons- the first being that I had my own suitcase just like the one my dad had for work, I felt so grown up. The second reason being that it was any child's dream- when you only know the 7 colours of the rainbow and a few more , to suddenly discover there are multiple shades of pinks and blues and yellows....it opens up a whole new world. My mum wouldn't let me take them to school so they were extra special. My favourite were the coloured pencils.  I was careful not to sharpen the pencils down too much as I knew they were from the other side of the world and were practically irreplaceable!

I had always tried to imagine what FAO Schwartz would be like- all I knew was that it was a toy store, and one of the biggest and best in the world so I had pictured some sort of fantasy toy land. So I promised myself if I ever went to NYC I would definately visit the FAO Schwartz shop in memory of my dad. So last year I did! Here are some pictures I took while I was there...

I scoured the store for hours to find my wooden colouring in suitcase, but over 15 years later it's no wonder it is still not in stock! I took a picture of the closest thing I could find:

I got talking to the FAO Schwartz "toy solider" guarding the entrance and, feeling sentimental, told him my story about how my late father getting me 2 colouring-in-kits from the store and bringing them all the way back to Australia and ever since it has been a life long dream of mine to visit the store! He said he was very touched and asked a passerby to take a photo :)

a baby shower

On Saturday I attended my cousin Stacey's baby shower. It was held at her brother's and his wife Alicia's  (my cousin-in-law?) house. The place is gorgeous and has lots of nice little features like a magenta upholstered velvet chair, a ghost chair in the study, pops of turquoise cushions and chandelliers. Alicia and all the other women involved had put so much effort into making the baby shower really special. The table was set with cupcake stands, teacups and lot of yummy food!  Here are a few pictures I took.

Kitchen preparation

The morning tea- I love the detail of the pastel egg cupcakes (baby chick about to hatch in their nest!)

and baby rattes and baby feet cupcakes 

Boy or Girl handmade quilt- The other side was pink with love hearts and stars! What a thoughful baby shower gift.



Chandellier above the dining room table, and looking into the living room

The mother-to-be present opening chair!

The white chairs that were brought in from outside were decorated for the guests to sit on with mini bouquets- cut out cardboard flowers, with a spotted bow ribbon

The study- A ghost chair and a white lacqured table! I like the colour of the walls too- a nice taupe colour.

Alicia if your reading this I hope you don't mind I put some photos of your house up! I loved it and I found lots of inspiration for my townhouse! Stacey and Aunty Joce- thank-you for having mum and I at the baby shower, we both had a really lovely time.

this is fairly cute

It was a fairytale wedding....

Literally!!!

source: unknown but thanks to my friend Zoe for emailing it to me- what a hoot!

REBUTTAL:

So it turns out it may not be so literal after all!  Looks as if  some sneaky photoshopping has been at work here. Check out the real images:

muted pastels

I dream of...

{ballrooms and boudoirs}

{chandelliers, chiffon and crystals}

{french perfume in paris}

Isn't everything on {this is glamorous}' blog simply beautiful?

A word of warning- Highly condusive to hours of day dreaming!!!

ronald dahl

via: {this is glamarous}

Rings true so many decades later

"I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy. Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that." -- Martin Luther King, Jr

a royal affair

One week on, I wonder what Kate and William are up to as royal newlyweds. 

Here I share my favourite royal wedding moments.

The first glimse of the dashing princes.

I really liked how the Queen wore a yellow outfit! I thought it was perfect for such a joyous occassion and she matches all the reds and golds of the pomp and pagentry.

The cute bridesmaids and paigeboys.

 That dress! Kate looked so beautiful. Her sister Pippa is very striking as well.

This was actually my favourite part of the ceremony- Cheeky Harry turns around and gets a peek of Kate, and whispers to his brother, here she is now. It made me feel giddy with happiness imagining the butterflies William would be feeling at this moment!

 

When William first saw Kate he told her she looked lovely, really beautiful. He also had a little joke with Kate's father Michael that it was suppose to be just a small family affair.

The carriage ride. Sigh.

The famous balcony kiss and Prince William's now infamous little goddaughter holding her hands over her ears to block out the thousands of cheers!

That crowd; mind-blowing. It makes me want to be in London!

The after party dress-
I love how she had an opportunity to wear a modern wedding dress too.