The Liebster Award

I was tagged  by two of my friends for The Liebster Award, thank you Tessa & Claire! Basically I have to answer 10 questions about myself and then tag 10 other blogs.

I thought I would combine all of my answers in one post :) Questions from Tessa
1.If you were given an extra hour in the day to do what you wanted with what would you do? Absolutely nothing! Revel in the luxury and sit down, flick through some magazines, call a friend etc.
2.Have you changed much in the last 5 years and if so how and why? Definitely. I only surround myself with true friends and people who I like spending time with rather than spread myself thin trying to fit in everyone. I put myself and my family first.
3.What is the best thing you have ever bought? Our house, it was the start of our dream life together, having babies and it is our favourite place to be.
4.What is your favourite animal and why? A monkey, there is something so cute and cheeky about them.  They're my favourites at the zoo.
5.If you could start your career all over again would you change it? No, as I met Simon at work (we worked at The Renaissance Hotel together) he was my supervisor. I'm happy with how things have panned out.
6.Do you have a mantra/affirmation/saying? What is it or what are they? I love getting inspired by various quotes I see and I love popping up ones on my lightbox. My favourite at the moment is "Good vibes only" or "The grass is greener where you water it"
7.Which restaurant would you most like to dine at – anywhere in the world? No particular restaurant but I would love to go back to Paris. Steak and frites anywhere with a glass of champagne would be perfect!
8.Name one luxury item you would love to own? A private jet, flying with the kids would be a breeze ;)
9.Flowers for life or Chocolate? Oooh a toughie but I'll go with flowers. Much healthier for me.
10.What 4 words would your best mate use to describe you? Kind, fun, trustworthy, loyal

Questions from Claire
1. Favourite drink? Water is always my first choice every day (ice cold not from the tap!) but I also love iced coffee, champagne, vodka lime and soda or a diet coke. Depending on the occasion.
2. Happiest moment? Right now. Life is good! I have lots of happy memories and can't wait to make many more.
3. Song you never want to hear again? I can't think of one at the moment, probably one of the kid's songs. Or Finn is always trying to get me to listen to the latest dub step. Some of them are ok but not all too my taste! 
4. Favourite part about blogging? The community, so many lovely generous people. And the inspiration. I always love the creative buzz of blogs. 5. Most prized possession? (not family members or pets or friends!) My photos. I still have my old photo albums has well as thousands on my hard drive. I would be devastated if I lost them. 
6. If you could pick a dream job, what would yours be? Travel writer/blogger. Travelling the world, taking photos, recommending luxury hotels and resorts, dining at the best restaurants. Sounds like a dream! Of course I would have to take my family with me as I'd get homesick.
7. Signature scent? I love sweet scents like vanilla. One of my favourite day time perfumes is MOR Marshmallow. I also choose vanilla and caramel scents for my candles. Although I will pop on a spritz of Chanel No.5 for a date night.
8. Ocean or mountains? Ocean always. The cure for everything is salt water.
9. Dream holiday destination? I really want to go back to Paris as I only had 3 days there 15 years ago. I want to take the time to wander the streets. I also want to plan a family trip in the next year or so to L.A. We want to take the boys to Disneyland. The only thing stopping us is the killer flight!
10. Describe yourself in 3 words. Fulfilled, happy, loved. Hopefully you learnt something new about me :) I'd like to pass this on to   Jody - Lemon Rhodes  Son - Tied with a Bouw Amanda - Homely One Sal - Once Daily Chic Tahnee - Milk Please Mum Lenya - Raising Miss Matilda Yvette - The Stylist Splash Julie - All for Love    Choose any 10 questions from above. Anyone else who would like to play please join in xx

Links I'm loving this week.

Here are a few links that caught my eye this week x

I thought these printable HouseWarming Invitations & Moving Announcements were so cute. As seen on Oh Happy Day

This photography lesson on How to rock sun flare was so beautiful with useful tips. As seen at Fat Mum Slim

I'm obsessed with Weaved Wall Hangings at the moment. 

I loved this post on 10+ Amazing Weaved Wall Hangings on Etsy as seen on Poppytalk

I was swooning over this House Tour at The Doctor's Closet

This recipe for Chicken rice vegetable soup looks delicious and perfect for winter. As seen on parentpretty.com

Anything catch your eye?
I've been reading blogs for about 5 years now and I come across so many wonderful posts. I am really going to make a habit of passing on the links I love each week.

What drives me? -“Help me to win a New Ford Territory for a Year and $5,000”

In keeping with one of the challenges in the Kidspot - Top 50 Blogger competition, I had to come up with a post that centred around "drive". This will help me in the running to win a New Ford Territory for a Year and $5,000. Yowsers! I never thought my little blog Honey and Fizz would get the chance to compete for this! What a fantastic prize, I'm loving the opportunity to take part!

As I was thinking of a title/ blog post that centred around driving, drives etc. I kept thinking metaphorically.

 I kept thinking what DRIVES me through life? 

What are my essentials to give myself and my family the best life possible? I decided that it all comes down to happiness.

I have always loved this quote from Tom Bodett-

( I think it sums up everything I am trying to achieve and enjoy in my life.)

"They say a person needs just 3 things to be truly happy in this world.

Something to love, something to do and something to hope for"

Well, I am truly covered in the love department. I spend my days surrounded by love thanks to my gorgeous boys Finn and Jasper and my husband Simon.(YES, Simon & Simone, I know, I know!) My beautiful mum, in-laws and extended family, and supportive friends keep me feeling loved up!

I also love making our house into our beautiful home, I love being surrounded by gorgeous things such as fresh flowers , books and photos of my loved ones :)

Now when it comes to the "to do" bit, I really feel that I have hit my stride only this year and everything has fallen into place. I have been mainly focusing on the mummy thing for the last 9 years (broken up with part time work) but I was looking for more. I needed something more for me as Simone and I needed to use some of my creativity in other ways than rearranging my furniture! 

This is where my blog Honey and Fizz came into it. 

Since starting blogging my world has opened up to so many new opportunities, friends and I have found myself with sooo many new interests and things that I want to try. I love the feeling of never having enough time to do everything. It makes me feel that the experiences and possibilities are endless!

I took it one step further in April this year when I started selling prints that I had designed around my love of quotes, words and typography. It has taken off better than I had ever dreamed and now I am full of plans for the future to grow my little Honey and Fizz "brand". I have found the drive to revel in new adventures and ambitions and I couldn't be happier.

Personally I have gotten back into my gym routine, joined a book club, started cooking new recipes, catching up more with friends, planned holidays,and took more photos to capture "those" moments.
I have realised that I am the driver on my own road to happiness and contentment.

I have felt renewed and so full of life in the last few months and this can only bring more happiness to mine and my family's lives. Like attracts like and all that :)

Which brings me to hope. Ah hope. I have so much that I hope for.

Number one is health and happiness for my loved ones.

I hope for lots more family time and holidays. I hope for travel.

I hope to continue getting so much joy from blogging and my work and I also hope for this.....

 Maybe just one more? :)

I'd really love to know what drives you through life? 

What road are you travelling down? Do you have a particular destination in mind or are you just enjoying the journey?

Let me know what you think :)

Simone xx

P.S - Love you to pop over to Kidspot and vote for me.

If I'm lucky enough to be one of the Top Bloggers maybe I can pick you up for a drive in my new Ford Territory ;)


PPS - Thanks for making it all the way down here!
 It's one of my longer blog posts xx

 all images via pinterest, except the 2nd one is my own :)

I'm on facebook and twitter too!

I'm going all out and taking Honey and Fizz onto Facebook and Twitter. I also have an account with Pinterest if you wanted to follow along with that too!

Come and join me over there as I will be sharing a little bit more and updating through the day.

I'm going to give it a go anyway until it all becomes a bit too much for me!

If you are on facebook and twitter too, let me know so I can catch up with you.

I kept my little blog a secret from most of my family and friends for almost a year so now it is all out in the open I have been getting lots of positive comments which is lovely.

So do your friends and family follow your blogs or is it your little secret?

New beginnings

Hi, my name is Simone and I'm starting Honey and Fizz as a creative outlet while Im also being a stay at home mum, raising our 2 boys, Finn (8) & Jasper (3).

 Im 33 years old and live on the Northern Beaches in Sydney. 

I have been married for 10 years.

This will be somewhere I can keep all the beautiful images I come across and ideas and thoughts I have to share.

I have just started reading other peoples blogs, and have been inspired to start my own journey looking at life, love and pretty things.

I guess I will learn as I go along,and hopefully create a beautiful blog.