Christmas Wish List

 

Christmas Wish List

Bands of Courage Charm for bracelet

Pretty summer dress from Mister Zimi

Umbrella + Chair from Sunday Supply Co

Amber Sceats Jewellery

Perfume - so many fab scents to try - Mecca

Father's Day 2020

Father's Day 2020 was a quiet day at home. (as most of our 2020 celebrations have been!)

We started the day with presents and breakfast in bed, followed by reading the Sunday papers in the sun. I made up a platter for lunch and then we had several games of bocce in the backyard.

I also whipped up Simon's favourite Mars Bar slice for afternoon tea.

The Sunday footy on the tv in the afternoon and Simon was truly celebrated on Father's Day.

Plus he has a new cheeky sign in his office to let him know we think he's doing a great job! ;)

Father's Day Gift Ideas...

It's Father's Day on Sunday and I thought I'd put a few ideas together for some gifts for dad.

The boy's usually pick something up from the Father's Day stall at school but it's nice to add something else that Simon might like. Most of the time gifts for dad tend to veer towards the practical side e.g. tie, socks and undies but I also like to add breakfast in bed with the papers and maybe a voucher for an experience they can use later on. 

Pj's - Peter Alexander

Cast iron cookware - Salt and Pepper

Aftershave - Beard & Blade

Beer and Cheese Board - Endeavour Tap Rooms

Surfing Cufflinks - Dad Shop

Tie - Tarocash

Waffles for Father's Day breakfast

Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there. Hope you have a great day!

Wednesday Wish List.

Happy Wednesday!

Here are a few things I've bought lately or that are on my wish list.

Recently I changed up a couple of the artworks in our home and replaced them with these 2 beautiful Moroccan style prints. I love them! Especially the pink one. Soooo pretty!

The rug is one I have in 2 of the boys rooms. It is so soft and cosy for winter.

Accessories are a fun way to refresh a simple outfit. The floral turban is a new style for me but I'm keen to try it out. Also lately I can't get enough of star + moon jewellery. 

This necklace combines them perfectly.

 You can't beat a pink bathmat and a snuggly throw. In pink as well. 

There seems to be a theme happening!

This mug would be a cute gift for your BFF.

Who was a fan of Friends?

What's on your wish list this week?

Valentine's Day Gift Ideas

We don't make a huge fuss of Valentine's Day around here but I do always like to acknowledge it. Who doesn't want to celebrate a day all about love?!!

Usually I give Simon and the boys a card and maybe some chocolates to share as a little gesture in the spirit of "love day"

I've put together a few cute gift ideas + sweet decorations to celebrate Valentine's Day...

Antipodes Pink Gin

Stars + Moon Earrings

Glitter frame

Lip Garland

Love Notecards

Heart Earrings

Heart Napkins

Candy Necklace

Love Tokens

Do you celebrate Valentine's Day?

Crystal Love - 8 Essential Crystals

Everyone knows that I love, love, love crystals!

Not only are they pretty, they also add a great vibe to the home. I enjoy reading up about what each crystal represents and the benefits they can give you if you believe......

"They have the ability to store, transmit, and transform energy in the pursuit of health, wellness, and deep spirituality."

They are a great gift, I think a specific crystal relevant to the person is such a thoughtful and personal touch, they are also a beautiful addition to your vignettes at home.

I have a big chunk of rose quartz in the bedroom, amethyst on the bookcase and a selection of smaller ones on the coffee table.

When I came across this article via "Goop" I thought I would share and edited version of it here so you could read up a little more about crystals, what they mean, how to clean them etc

Enjoy!

Q&A with Colleen McCann

Why and how are crystals so powerful?

This is where science and mysticism intersect: Crystals are millions of years old and were forged during the earliest part of the earth’s formation. I think of crystals as a timeless database of knowledge, because they retain all the information they have ever been exposed to. Crystals absorb information—whether a severe weather pattern, or the experience of an ancient ceremony—and pass it to anyone that comes into contact with them.

Scientifically, crystals are the most orderly structure that exists in nature, meaning they have the lowest amount of entropy (a measurement of disorder). Crystals are structured in such a way that they respond to the inputs of all different energies around them, so they oscillate, emitting specific vibratory frequencies. The way they are balanced, the frequencies they emit, and their ability to store a tremendous amount of information makes crystals essential to modern technologies. This is why there are crystals in computers, TVs, cell phones, satellites, and so on.

People have been attracted to crystals since the dawn of time for burial rites, divination practices, healing rituals, spiritual advancement, and even simply as decoration to connote power. Our ancestors intuitively knew that when worn, the energies of the stones would interact with the human electromagnetic field to bring about energetic changes. People gravitate towards vortexes (where energy is either entering into the earth or projecting out of the earth’s plane) like Stonehenge and Sedona because these ancient and massive magical rocks sit on top of energetic ley lines—making them, in effect, an energy portal or place of power. People choose to wear diamonds as a sign of binding two people together (diamonds are the most indestructible natural substance on earth), and adorn the crowns of royals with crystals. For millennia, crystals have been used to heal, restore, and enhance physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual balance.

How do you select good crystals?

Every crystal type has a different purpose, so it depends what you’re looking for. Some stones may be best used to heal the body or to tap intuition during meditation, while other stones are used in technology or as a part of building structures. (See below for the powers of eight different crystals.)

That said: Through my travels I meet vendors from all over the world, and I source my crystals from vendors I trust. Knowing the lineage of a crystal is somewhat akin to knowing where the meat you’re eating came from, or certifying that your engagement ring isn’t a blood diamond. Everything carries an energy in it; you want to have the most positive, clean, and clear energies in your crystal. I always ask crystal store owners where they get their stones, how they harvest the stones, and if they know any physical history about the stone I am choosing. Most importantly, though: If a crystal is yours, then it will speak to you. The stone may get hot in your hand, it can send tingles into your arm, or you might feel a third-eye buzz. Trust your intuition when a stone is yours. If it doesn’t feel quite right, then go with your gut—it’s not meant for you. If you feel that a crystal is yours, but it’s physically dirty or maybe just needs an energetic bath, you can follow the cleansing steps below.

Is there a particular way to care for crystals?

Crystals that live on altars should be cleaned on average once a month. If you wear a crystal or meditate with a crystal daily, it should be cleaned once a week. (Instructions below.) Cleaning is necessary because it removes any dense or stale energy the crystal may have picked up in its environment, or from you. It’s like washing our faces to remove dirt and debris. If someone else touches your crystal—which you want to avoid—it needs to be cleaned immediately before you wear it or use it again. People automatically want to touch stones, as they are pretty, shiny—and filled with your personal, sparkly energy. A crystal becomes personally attuned to you and nobody else should put their vibration or energy on it. Look at it this way: Would you share mascara or a toothbrush?

There are a few different ways to clean stones—you can do any of the following:

1. Bury them in dirt for a week. Returning your crystals and stones to the earth allows them to cleanse and recharge with the vibration of the earth.
2. Wash them in salt water: Salt purifies and absorbs negative energy. (Note: Some crystals disintegrate when wet. Common stones that can’t get wet include: amber, turquoise, red coral, fire opal, moonstone, calcite, kyanite, kunzite, angelite, azurite, selenite. A good rule of thumb: Many stones that end in “ite” are not water-friendly.)
3. Leave the crystals out in the moonlight for three days prior and three days after the full moon (or for at least 24 hours). Lunar energy helps cleanse and charge the stones, and the moon’s light is brightest and energetically strongest during the full moon.
4. Wipe them with a soft cloth and isopropyl alcohol to remove fingerprints and to sanitize.
5. Burn sage and run the stone through the smoke because it is purifying.
   What are the crystals to know?
   BLACK OBSIDIAN
   

   Superpowers

   This first chakra (the root) stone helps you feel more grounded.

   Mystical Homework

   Put black obsidian in your pillowcase, on your nightstand, or fall asleep with it in your hand to help decompress and ground yourself at the end of the day.

   Where It’s Sourced

   Anywhere there are high amounts of volcanic activity, in places like the United States, Canada, Mexico, Guatemala, Argentina, Chile, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Iceland, Russia, New Zealand, Japan, and Kenya.

   CARNELIAN

   
   
   

Superpowers

Carnelian, second (sacral) chakra stone, provides emotional support for all female reproductive issues: It eases period cramps, tempers PMS, regulates menstrual cycles, treats infertility, and addresses shame around female body parts and sexual trauma. It stimulates, balances, and heals the reproductive system, helping girls at menarche and women of all ages to value and respect their life-making ability.

Mystical Homework

Pack your carnelian with your tampons! Menstruation is governed by the cycles of the moon, hence the phrase moontime, and the reason women used to sit in moon lodges and bleed together. When you feel PMS coming, hold the carnelian in your hand as much as you can. It is also helpful to lie down and put carnelian on your abdomen during that time of the month.

Where It’s Sourced

Brazil, Uruguay, India, Madagascar, United States.

CITRINE

Superpowers

A stone of the third chakra, which is the energetic power center of the body, citrine catapults a woman into embracing a leadership role, making things happen in business. It is associated with creativity and wealth. Not only can citrine assist with asking for and getting, say, a long overdue raise, it can aid in standing firmly within your personal power, self-confidence, and establishing healthy boundaries in every area of your life.

Mystical Homework

Citrine is great for a thirty-day Abundance Altar: Place the piece of citrine on top of a stack of clean, crisp $1-bills on your desk. (I do one hundred $1-bills.) The new bills symbolize that money coming in has fresh energy on it. (This gives a whole new meaning to the phrase “dirty money.”) In addition to the citrine, add other items to your altar that symbolize power and abundance to you. It could be a small statue of Goddess Lakshmi (the Hindu goddess of wealth and prosperity); or perhaps a picture of someone you really admire in business; or in the Chinese Buddhist Feng Shui tradition, you could add a small money tree to your altar as green represents money, prosperity, and growth. After you’re done decorating your Abundance Altar, it is ready to be activated. Make a ceremony out of this occasion. Burn some sage or palo santo to clear the air and take some time in front of your altar for positive visualizations of what you would like to call into your career. Thoughts are very powerful, and if we put positive energy behind our thoughts than we can more quickly manifest what we want. You can also hold the money and citrine in your hands as you visualize. Repeat this ritual for thirty days. (If you really want to go whole hog: Within Feng Shui, everyone has a “success direction” in their Bagua Chart. Locate your success direction here before beginning the thirty-day ritual and put your Abundance Altar in that corner of your home.)

Where It’s Sourced

Brazil, Madagascar, Russia, Argentina, Bolivia, France, Myanmar, Namibia, Russia, Scotland, Spain, Uruguay, Zambia.

ROSE QUARTZ

Superpowers

Rose Quartz activates the heart (fourth) chakra and promotes positive energy. It enhances all types of love: self-love, love for others, and unconditional love. This tiny but mighty baby-pink wonder raises self esteem, restores confidence, helps with emotional balance, releases stress/tension/anger, and helps curb jealousy.

Mystical Homework

You can make a mystical love spray with rose quartz: First, clean your rose quartz crystal using sage, sunlight, moonlight, or salt water as mentioned above. Place your rose quartz in a glass bowl of filtered water, in direct sunlight from sunup to sundown. Then, pour the crystal-charged water into a glass mister bottle, and add 22 drops of argan oil (jojoba and almond oil also work well), and 11 drops of rose oil. Give it a shake, and mist yourself whenever you feel like you need a little pick-me-up in the love department. In addition to the positive vibes of rose quartz, you’ll also benefit from the rose oil, which is super good for your skin: antimicrobial, combats acne, reduces inflammation and redness, tones and tightens skin, fades scars, and refines skin texture. [You don’t have to make your own; Sandoval makes an amazing, beautifully aromatic rose-quartz love spray.]

Where It’s Sourced

United States, Germany, Brazil, Madagascar, India.

LAPIS LAZULI

Superpowers

The fifth chakra (throat) stone promotes speaking one’s truth with grace, ease, and confidence; and eases communication issues.

Mystical Homework

Have a fear of public speaking? Use lapis lazuli as your worry stone: Hold the stone in your left hand when practicing your speech, the day of your speech, and when it’s your turn to get up to the mic. Let your anxieties release into the stone.

Where It’s Sourced

Brazil, Uruguay, India, Madagascar, United States.

CLEAR QUARTZ

Superpowers

The seventh chakra stone (the crown of the head), clear quartz is known as the master healer. It amplifies the energy, thoughts, and vibrations of other crystals. It’s used for connecting you with your higher self, intuition, and spirit guides.

Mystical Homework

The beautiful thing about clear quartz is that is has a very powerful, yet neutral vibe. I like to call it the black skinny jean of the crystal world, while all the other crystals are the tops that go with them. Every top you own can be paired with your skinnies. So let’s do exactly that: An eight-day mini-meditation using all the stones in your new medicine bag. On day one, hold your clear quartz in your left hand (energy comes in through the left hand, the divine feminine side of the body), and one of the seven other stones in your right hand. By holding the stones, you are getting to know them and activating them. Close your eyes, get still, and take big, deep breaths for 10 minutes, visualizing what each individual crystal can help you accomplish in your life. Each day for the next week, pick one of the seven other crystals from your bag, and hold the colored stone in your right hand (the divine masculine side of the body that releases energy out into the world), while holding the clear quartz crystal in your left hand. The clear quartz will amplify the other stone you are holding that day. Just don’t forget to breathe!

Where It’s Sourced

Brazil, United States, Swiss Alps, Himalayas, Peru, Madagascar.

AMETHYST

Superpowers

Ever wonder why crystal stores often have a giant purple amethyst geode in the corner of the room? Amethyst rids negative energy within a room, and also keeps “energy vampires” out of your personal space. Amethyst is used in crystal prescriptions to treat addiction—and addictions show up in our lives in all sorts of ways: alcohol, shoe shopping, negative self-talk. Amethyst is a stone of the sixth (third eye) and seventh (crown) chakras: It is super high-vibration (in addition to being super pretty); it helps us tap into our intuition and connect us to the higher planes of existence.

Mystical Homework

Drop amethyst into your water filter pitcher or bottle and just drink the water. As you hydrate, you’ll be helping to curb bad habits. Amethyst is absolutely safe to drink (some crystals are NOT so please check a reliable source before ingesting gem water). Make sure to clean your amethyst before putting it into water, though (see details above).

Where It’s Sourced

Brazil, Uruguay, Sri Lanka, Siberia, Canada, India, Bolivia, Argentina, Zambia, United States.

CHRYSOCOLLA

Superpowers

Also known as the Goddess Stone, chrysocolla is associated with the fourth (heart) and fifth (throat) chakras. It aids women in embracing their divine feminine power through strong communication, self-expression, empowerment, and education. While it stimulates the mind, calming effects allow truth and inner wisdom to surface and be heard. It emphasizes the power that our words and actions have on those around us, and encourages compassion and strengthening of character. It brings forth prosperity and eagle-eye discernment in business by enhancing analytical and intuitive abilities. As it is the stone of goddesses, high priestesses, and medicine women everywhere, those who resonate with chrysocolla will feel its ancient energies and connection with indigenous wisdom traditions.

Mystical Homework

It’s time to put that goddess voice to work, and help raise our collective vibration by showing some love. Every day for the next thirty days, tell another woman how much you respect who she is, or what she does—or make a long overdue apology if you need to. Once you have spoken to that woman (be it mom, best friend, colleague, or stranger), find a quiet place to sit and hold your crystal in your right hand (again, we send energy out of our right side). Visualize sending that woman some extra good vibes for a few minutes. According to universal law, what you put out is what will come back to you, so if you need a little love in your life, the best thing you can do is pay it forward to others.

Where It’s Sourced

Israel, Zaire, Chile, England, Mexico, Peru, Russia, United States.

What did you think?

Was there a particular crystal you are drawn to?

Interview via www.goop.com

Merry Christmas lovely people!

Just popping in today to wish you all a Merry Christmas!

I hope you get to spend the day with the ones you love. May there be plenty of delicious food and drink and lots of time to relax!

This Christmas will be a fairly quiet one for us compared to other years, as half the family will be in QLD and the other half will stay in Sydney due to work commitments.

I saw a quote on Instagram the other day that said....

 "I used to think being a kid on Christmas was the best thing ever but it turns out having kids on Christmas is"

I loved this and it totally sums up how I feel about the day. I can't wait to see the boys faces on Christmas morning and watch them unwrap their gifts.

I hope you all have an amazing day!

What are your plans for Christmas?

Are you hosting?

Monday Must Haves....

I'm sharing my latest must haves in the Down That Little Lane newsletter.

You can read more here and find out some of my favourite blog links this month as well.

What is your must have this Monday?

Friday's Favourites

I popped over to the H&M website for a little browse the other day and these lovely products caught my eye. 
Unfortunately H&M don't have an online store, so that may mean a trip to Melbourne might be a necessity ;)
1. Doormat 2. House shelf 3. Candles 4. Copper tray 5. Frog jumper 6. Love heart towel 7. Bow-tie hooks 8. Salad bowl 9. Cockatoo dishcloth 10. Tiger jumper Which one is your favourite? Have you been into H&M yet? How was it?

What I'm Loving Lately!

Here are a few things I am loving lately. I may have even hinted for a few of these for my birthday tomorrow ;)
Cake stand & cheese signs from Domayne
Loving the sleepwear & linen at Country Road
Can't get enough of the vibe & colours in this Slim Aarons print
I love a gorgeous smelling candle. The combo of milk and honey sounds divine! What are you loving lately?

Mother's Day Gift Ideas

Mother's Day is coming up and I've put together a few little gift ideas. These are things I love to receive on Mother's Day myself.

1. A new teacup to add to my collection. This one is from T2

2. I love this bag from Bohemian Traders 3. Breakfast in bed is always a winner! 4. I love a new pair of Winter Pj's, especially these Peter Alexander ones. 5. You can't go wrong with a bunch of fresh flowers. 6. How cute is this crystal keyring from Sportsgirl?
What would you love most for Mother's Day?
I really love the cards the boys make and the gifts they choose from the Mother's Day stall at school. You never know what they will choose! I love lying in bed listening to the kerfuffle in the kitchen and seeing the pride on their face as they carry in the breakfast tray.
It's just the sweetest! How does your Mother's Day usually pan out?

Jewlr Giveaway!! Treat yourself this Mother's Day x

It was a good mail day today! The lovely people at Jewlr sent me this personalised "Mother's Ring" to celebrate Mother's Day which is coming up. I'm running a competition to win this exact ring (your own personalised names) or a $150 voucher to go towards the ring of your choice.

To enter go over to my Facebook page or my Instagram feed.  Good luck!
I love that you can customise the Mother's Rings with your children's birthstones and names. It makes it extra special! Also such a gorgeous gift idea.
There are so many styles to choose from. Also the site is really great as you can play around with the designs and change the font of the engraving to see how the final result will look.
Jewlr has so many gorgeous products, I've included a few of my favourites. 

The Blooming Round Cluster Ring found here

Endless Spring Infinity Ring found here

Flower Power Ring found here

and I've always loved a name plate necklace found here

Pop over and take a look at the Jewlr site xx

The winner of the Giveaway will be drawn on Friday 2nd May.

Saturday Shopping at Down That Little Lane!

I'm over at Down That Little Lane this week sharing some of the things I am loving lately.

You can read my newsletter and find the links to the products I love here

Which one is your favourite?

Getting Christmassy - Trees, wrapping, gifts

Here are a few things that caught my eyes for the boys

1. Crayons   2. Cushion   3.Chalkboard laptop   4.Fairy Door  

 5.Lamp   6.Sonny Angels   7.House

I also love this

From here

Love this tree

This is a cute and easy idea for an Advent Calendar

These melted Snowmen look adorable!

Here are the colours I'm using for my Christmas wrapping this year.

I got the paper from Cotton On Kids

I got this Uberkate necklace for my mum for Christmas, along with some polaroids of the boys.

I also love these personalise rings as well. Hint hint ;)

How's your Christmas prep going?