Our Wedding

Last year David proposed in a most romantic way in front of a crowd of people in Times Square. Pretty spectacular - it blew me away! Although there were many eyes on us at the time all I could see was David and my little guy - two of my favourite people. It was the day after I lost my best friend so it was a very emotional time and reminded me of how important it is to live life to its fullest with those we love. Below is a photo captured of this moment and I just love that Robbie was there to witness it.

David and I talked about having a small and intimate destination wedding but we didn't have the time to plan it ourselves. We contacted Stella & Moscha to work their magic for us and we are so grateful for their help both in the planning and on the day of the wedding. When we travelled to Santorini for the wedding I had given birth to Christopher only 7 weeks prior (I know, crazy right?!) and it felt like a luxury to be able to relax and enjoy the day knowing the details were taken care of.

A couple of months have since passed and it still seems so surreal that it all happened and that we could share this day with our families and friends who travelled from around the world to be there with us. We had also organised a cruise for our guests and a christening for Christopher the day before the wedding so it was a jam-packed trip but the memories are priceless. I am also proud of us for somehow mustering up the energy to travel overseas and plan these events with two children including a newborn. I think we were running on adrenalin!

I hope you enjoy these photos below taken by Nikos Gogas.

Photography: Nikos Gogas | Wedding planners: Stella & Moscha | Flowers: Handmade by myself and my family | Ceremony: Pantelia Suites | Reception: Sphinx Restaurant | Favours: Olive oil bottles imported from Sifnos | Stationery: Smitten on Paper | Music: Kraximo guitarists and Pro-Support DJ | Makeup: Eleni Ilio

Hawkesbury

Road trips are our 'thing', lately. We can't keep still.

Last weekend we headed for an overnight stay in the Hawkesbury. It is still as beautiful as I remember it to be. Years ago, friends and I would hire a house boat and travel down the river, fishing, barbecuing and just having a good time. This time we spent a night in a beautiful resort and it was a relaxing way to kick off the weekend.

We needed the rest because when we arrived back on Sunday we spent hours painting and prepping Robbie's old room for a new look. It was exhausting work and I'm still a little sore from it but we have made good progress! I'll share more on that soon or you can see some of the progress made here.

In other news, I practised getting my frock on with this bright yellow dress in preparation for Frocktober which started today. I'll be wearing a dress a day throughout October to raise money for Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation. I would love your support.

I said yes

Can I pop in before the start of another week to share some good news? I've been keeping a little secret. If we are friends on facebook or instagram you may already know. It's pretty cool.

In the heart of Times Square, cameras flashing, so many people. And then my favourite people...

My friend Emily

I'm back in town. It is with a heavy heart that I write this post.

While I was away my close friend passed away.

Emily Sephton was a friend of mine for years. She was wife to Anthony and mother to two beautiful boys - Jesse who is 3 years old and Archer who is 4 months old. She meant the world to so many people and we love and miss her so much.

Visiting Fiji after Cyclone Evan

I have been out of town with the boys travelling to Fiji for a summer holiday. It was nice to get away from everything and switch off my mind for a while. I also crossed off an item on my life list "Travel on a plane with Robert" - done!

Hello, I'm here

I've been around. Kind of floating.

Words haven't been coming to me very easily lately which is very unlike me as I always have things to say. My girlfriend has needed my support and that's where my head and heart has been. It's still there with her.

A night in a haunted house

We stayed in a beautiful old hotel last weekend and neither of us knew before the room was booked that the hotel was reportedly haunted. I caught a whisper of it when I told people at work where I was staying but they reassured me it wasn't haunted and to enjoy the trip. So I did. For a while.

I switched off technology and spent the night in a haunted house

Last week, David and I escaped the city life for the mountains and I discovered more inspiration in those couple of days than I have in a long while. At the start of this year I had never seen snow in my life, and I feel fortunate that I have now seen it twice. I wrote about the first experience here.

Prioritising

This morning I read a post written by my friend Belinda of The Happy Home. It was exactly what I needed to read, to absorb, to contemplate and to put into action. You see lately, I have been torn between all the various projects I have on, my job(s) and being a mother, a partner and a student. Actually, not just lately. This has been a struggle of mine for a long while now. Maybe you can relate?

Tips for preparing a media kit (for bloggers)

Now that I am in my fourth year of blogging I figured it is about time I got myself organised! You may not know but once upon a time I used to work as a lecturer in IT and social media. It is a topic I am passionate about sharing with people and in the 14 years I have worked in the IT industry, it has been interesting to see the growth and uptake of blogging during this time.

ish and chi is FOUR!

Time flies when you are having fun! I have been blogging for four years now. That's 100 billion years in blog terms (okay, not quite).

Looking back through my posts to create the above collage I realised this last year has been all about enjoying what life has to offer. I even created a "Life is Beautiful" list to cross off things I still want to do. 

A recap of the highlights of the last year:

• I visited the snow for the first time and lay in it, played in it, jumped in it. So much fun!
• I went pink and then purple
• I shared various projects including the latest, the IKEA kitchen project. I have also been busy setting up my design business and taking on 'real life' design projects
• My home was featured in Homespun
• Made a flower bomb
• I started a column called 'Creative Spaces' to share the studio spaces of creative people
• My partner moved in and we've been busy working on the home to become more 'us'
• Two kittens also found a home with us
• We planted a vegetable garden and I haven't mentioned it again because it was unsuccessful BUT we are persistant and we've tried again. I'll share with you soon!

And THANK YOU for joining me on this journey in discovering design in all aspects of life. You are awesome.

Planning a trip to Palm Springs and Los Angeles

In a few months time I'll be able to cross off another item from my "Life is Beautiful List" - Visit Palm Springs to see the mid modern architecture. I have booked a trip to go in February next year for Modernism Week and to also explore Los Angeles.

Have you been to Palm Springs or LA? Any tips you might have for where to stay or things to do would be wonderful. At this stage we are thinking of staying at The Saguaro in Palm Springs. The colourful hotel is such a contrast to the desert landscape and it looks amazing, don't you think?

♥ Images above of The Saguaro. See the gallery for more photographs of this colourful hotel.

Touch snow

The first item on my life list is to touch snow and I can cross it off now! We headed to the Snowy Mountains for the weekend and walked towards the peak of Mount Kosciuszko which is the tallest mountain in Australia. I can't explain in words how beautiful it was to see and feel snow for the first time. And the view was breathtaking. 

The "Life is Beautiful" List

Inspired by Nicole and Maggie I have put together a life list called the "Life is Beautiful" list. There are so many things I want to do and I am constantly flirting with one idea or another but without committing to any of them. My aim through this list is to organise my thoughts, to focus and to feel that satisfying feeling your get when crossing off items from a list. Here's my "Life is Beautiful" list.

Back from the beach, the sun and the views

Travelling for over 9 hours up the north coast of New South Wales to Byron Bay made me appreciate the beauty of the Australian landscape once again. 

Dreaming of a road trip

I am a little unwell at the moment but trying to get myself back to full health quickly! I'm planning a road trip very soon. I hear Byron Bay is beautiful but I have never been. Have you? If you have any recommendations of what to see and do whilst there please do let me know.

Meet Frankie & Sammy

We adopted two stray kittens over the weekend and these little brothers are settling in very well.