Good Bye!

Many months have passed and I've barely looked at this blog. I think it's probably run it's course and come to the end of it's life. I may drop in from time to time, but honestly my interests have shifted onto greener/other pastures.

I have a new blog to keep me busy!

www.donnamooreart.blogspot.com.au

Goodbye and warmest of regards. XX

Renovation 2.0

I have this little investment property which I bought as a single woman many years ago. Recently the current tenants (who were fabulous I might add) advised me they had just purchased their first home and were vacating. While it was sad to see them go it was a great opportunity to get in there and do some much needed repairs and updates. 

Here we are 4 weeks later. There were many thrills and spills along the way as you would expect, but overall I had the time of my life. Renovating on a tight budget has been a lot of fun, your flying by the seat of your pants, making decisions quickly and moving on to the next thing. There is only one way out and thats to move forward.

It's been exhausting but thoroughly exhilarating! I only wish I had another to do it all over again. 

So, here we are with the Before and Afters enjoy!

Kitchen - Before

Kitchen - After

 Bathroom - Before (I know desperately in need of a makeover )

Bathroom - After

Lounge - Before 

 Lounge - After

Bedroom - Before

Bedroom - After.

My little Scraggamuffin no more.

Our dear little Olive is now 6 months old and a tad overdue for a visit to the groomers. Today we said goodbye to our little scraggamuffin and hello to a brand new doodle who smells like heaven. What do you think?

Lack of storage.

"We need more storage. Desperately. " I lament.

David shrugs and mumbles something about it being a first world problem and how we can make do. This of course infuriates me, as I'm sure it would have done countless other women who like myself struggle to win the war on crap and clutter that constantly creeps into the house unannounced. 

"This is what we need" I say brightly. I show him a picture from the book HE bought me for my birthday recently. "The snow chest of drawers. It's simple with clean lines, contemporary but also timeless and modular." What's not to love?

Snow A chest of drawers designed by Jonas Bohlin for Aplund.

Hmmm...small problem. The four drawer chest costs approx. $2200 and the shipping would be astronomical all the way from Europe. They are unavailable in Australia to my knowledge. *Sigh*

What's a girl to do?

Well, we could go with this? The Nordli series from Ikea. I think it's a pretty good substitute. I think it would work great in the boys rooms. 

So the question I am grappling with is can this: 

Replace this? Yes or No? 

I am not kidding myself 'The Snow' is a quality piece of furniture and the 'Nordli' is well, Ikea.  Cheap, ubiquitous, disposable Ikea.  I think we will need to have a look at it first.  

But the larger question here is what IS ok to buy from Ikea? Let me say photo frames, mirrors, cooking dishes, pillows, and soft furnishings all get a big tick from me. When it comes to furniture I'm not so sure? Although I have heard good things about their kitchens. 

Oh, the perils of first world problems.

Note: I went to Ikea and saw the Nordli in the flesh. The drawers were all ill aligned and the whole unit looked rather shabby. Did not inspire me to buy.

Easter 2015

Yep, that bunny came and left plenty for the kids to devour. Little Mack kind of got the concept of hunting for eggs, however beating Charlie to them was another story.  David's hot cross buns were delicious,  they do seem to get better each year. Our Autumn weather has been spectacular, particularly the afternoons where a trip to the park via the local coffee shop is a must. I love it when the park is full of kids to play with on the school holidays. In fact it's become a meeting place just as much for the parents as the kids where we take turns doing the coffee runs. Life is good.

My baby girl has settled in nicely. She is such a sweetheart and as cuddly as a teddy bear. We have finished puppy school and will shortly begin obedience training on Saturday mornings. She has absolutely won us over, I just have to watch I don't spoil her too much. (Warning: shameful puppy brag ahead) As I type this she has just gotten up and taken herself out the back to toilet. What a star.

Ollie, Ollie, Ollie!

She arrived at 6.30pm. Poor little thing had had quite a day/journey all the way from Wangaratta. It's hard to not feel a little guilty yanking her from her siblings and placing her in a new environment.  

The noisy trains freaked her out at first, but she seems to be a whole lot less bothered now. She's playful, calm and curious. A delightful girl.

 Katrina (breeder) delivering her to us. This isn't a normal part of the service we were just lucky they were coming to Melbourne this weekend.

                           

 First hour at home, not sure of where she is or who we are - poor little thing.

Who are you? 

16 hours later and she is settling in well with lots of play in the back yard.

A girl named Oliver

Finally, I'm getting my girl. This beautiful babe will arrive on the 27th of February. I think she is beautiful. The boys are delighted as you can imagine. She is a medium Labradoodle from Wangaratta (my ancestral homeland). 

Originally she was promised to another and we were on a very long wait list for a puppy in the far future, however the puppy god shined on us with this lovely sweet little girl who had been ear-marked to be a therapy dog. 

Due to her calm and gentle nature the puppy god thought this girl was right for a family with young boys. We welcome her with loving arms (eight to be exact).

Oliver at 2 weeks

Oliver at 4 weeks

Oliver at 6 weeks