Party Preparations

Over the last few days I have been frantically getting organised for my party tomorrow! Things have been so busy with uni that I've only really started to think about it this week! Yesterday I went on a huge op-shopping trip and found a heap of cute vintage things that will help to style it nicely. I also found some pretty Love Mae wrapping paper and made some food cones out of them which will be perfect for holding yummy sweet treats. Cant wait to share photos with you!

30 Before 30

{Sleepy Fawn}

Now that I've turned 21 and am officially in my twenties, I decided it might be fun to write a list of goals to achieve, and things to do before I'm 30. I don't expect to achieve all 30 goals but I think it will be interesting looking back on this in a few years time and seeing how many things I have managed to cross off the list! So here is my 30 before 30...

1. Travel overseas
2. Get married
3. Graduate
4. Start my own business
5. Host a crafter-noon
6. Get a tattoo
7. Learn to play piano
8. Plant a rose bush
9. Ride in a hot air balloon
10. Dye my hair
11. Bake a three tiered cake
12. Make a quilt with my vintage scraps
13. Own a boutique
14. Buy a house
15. Go to Splendour in the Grass
16. Buy a caravan and make it pretty
17. Get into film Photography
18. Host a dinner party
19. Go to a Finders Keepers Market
20. Start a new hobby
21. Ride on a roller coaster
22. Travel around Australia
23. Buy a cute bike
24. Try out a gym
25. Start a vegetable garden
26. Make a bunch of dresses from vintage patterns
27. Join a book club 
28. Go to a drive in cinema
29. Own a Royal Albert tea set
30. Live in Melbourne for a while

It was actually pretty hard to come up with 30 goals to add to the list and some of these will be a lot easier to achieve then others! Do you have a 30 before 30 list? Leave me a link if you like as I would love to read it!  

Twenty One

Today I turned 21! I have had a lovely day so far including lunch with Matt, a little bit of shopping, some delicious cookies and cream cheesecake and now about to go out for tea with the family! Birthdays are so fun! 

Lovely Teacups

{Lady Lindy}

{Fairy Candles}

{Source Unknown}

{Via Colourful Life}

{Polli Blog}

Anyone who knows me, or who is starting to know me, knows that I have an obsession with teacups. I have a small collection of teacups that were once my grandmothers and they are some of my most favourite possessions. I treat myself to tea in my teacups as often as I can because I just think tea tastes so much better when from a pretty teacup!

Cute Winter Goods

A couple of months ago I entered a knit off competition that was being held by Element Eden and even though I didn't end up winning the main prize, I still managed to receive a runners up prize! Last week the pretty package finally arrived on my doorstep and I was so thrilled with that was inside! A cute bundle of winter goodies! I was particularly excited to see the cute deer beanie and kitten mittens as they were part of a collection inspired by Tiny Owl Knits, who creates some of the cutest knits around! 

Birthday Wish-List

On Monday it's my birthday and even though I've already received gifts from my family and boyfriend I still thought it would be fun to make a wish-list! I also have a Myer gift card to spend and so have included some things I hope to buy with it.

1. 2014 Frankie Calander

2. Fujifilm Intax Mini

3. Royal Albert Teacup

4. Quirky Circus Dress

5. Shoes by The Horse

Afternoon Treats

This months issue of Frankie Magazine is so pretty! I have been a fan of Emily Martin for a very long time, and I was so excited when I saw one of her lovely illustrations on the cover when I went to buy my copy this morning! This afternoon I decided to take a small break from studying to flick through the magazine and drink some tea from my favourite teacup. Little treats like this make my day. Especially when things seem so overwhelmingly busy with uni at the moment!  

Polka Dots

{Her Library Adventures}

{Source Unknown}

{Oh Hello Friend}

{Via Happy Moments Lie Ahead}

{Red Poppy Stories}

{Fleaing France}

{Piece of Cake/ Peace of Mind}

Here are some lovely polka dot themed images for your viewing pleasure on this Saturday morning. This weekend I was hoping to go to the farmers market for breakfast and spend some time shopping and getting coffee with my boyfriend Matt, but it turns out we are both too busy. Me with assignments and him with work. Oh well hopefully next weekend!   

DIY Macbook Sleeve

Recently I treated myself to a new Macbook and I knew in order to keep it looking shiny and new I would need a protective sleeve to keep it in. After looking online without any luck, I decided that I would be better off having a go at making one myself. I was very happy with how it turned out and so thought I would share how I made it here as a fun DIY post! (If you don't have a Macbook, this tutorial could also make a cute Ipad or mobile phone sleeve!) 

I used a sewing machine to make my Macbook sleeve as it was more convenient and time effective. However, if you don't have the luxury of a sewing machine, this project can be hand sewn! The bias binding I used was made from some pretty vintage fabric. If you would like to make your own just follow this tutorial here. 

1. Layout the felt fabric flat and cut around Macbook, leaving half an inch of space around on each side for a seam allowance. Allow enough fabric for the piece of felt to be folded over the Macbook and for the flap (the entire sleeve is only made up of one cut piece). 

2. Sew a length of the bias binding along one of the shorter sides of the piece of felt. 

3.  Using a semi-circle template, round off the other short end.

4. Fold the end with the bias binding to the point at which it covers the Macbook and pin it in place. 

5. Sew the remaining bias binding from one end of the sleeve to the other, stitching the fold together. 

6. Hand sew the attachable clasps in place.

7. Cover the self cover button with some of the excess bias binding fabric and hand sew into position and then it's finished!

Ta da! One cute as a button Macbook sleeve! I hope you find this tutorial helpful and if you have any questions, just ask! If you have a go at making one, send me a picture. I would love to see it! 

Black and White

{Micheal Parekowhai}

{Kristie & Lola}

{Adored Vintage}

{Via Thirty Fifty}

Just thought I would share these dreamy 'black and white' pictures that I found on Pinterest this week. They are quite fitting as they kind of reflect my mood on this gloomy Friday evening... Hope you have a lovely weekend! 

Party Inspiration

This month I will be turning 21 and to celebrate I'm having an outdoor movie night! I figured it would be fun to do something a little different and it would be something that could be styled really nicely. I also didn't really want a huge 21st party but instead wanted something a little more memorable and intimate. Above are a few of the things that are on my 'party essentials' list at the moment to give you a feel as to how the party will look. I've also created a Pinterest board where you can see some more of my inspiration, if you're interested!   

Cookie Swap

A couple of weeks ago Amanda, from Here Comes the Sun, posted about a cookie swap that she was a part of on her blog. My friends Coby, Kristy, Natalie and I decided it looked so cute and delicious that we would have one of our very own! It was so fun chatting and sipping on yummy tea, and the cookies were to die for! Today I thought I would share my cookie recipe (that I found here) for you to have have a try! 

Chocolate Truffle Cookies

250g 70% cocoa chocolate (broken) 
60g cocoa powder
110g butter

3 eggs

200g caster sugar

1 and 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

75g plain flour

1/4 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

150g dairy milk chocolate (chopped into small chunks) 

Combine broken chocolate pieces, cocoa powder and butter in metal bowl and place over a pan of simmering water. Stir occasionally till the chocolate and butter has melted. Remove from heat, stir to combine and set aside to cool. 
Beat eggs and sugar with electric mixer until light and fluffy.
Beat in vanilla extract and the chocolate mixture.

Sift together the flour, baking powder and salt.

Add flour mixture to the butter mixture together with the chopped chocolate and stir till just combined.

Cover the dough and chill for 3 hours. - I put mine in the freezer for 30 minutes instead.

Roll the dough into small tablespoon sized balls and place 5cm apart on baking paper lined trays.

Bake for 10 minutes at 180 degrees (c) and then leave them to cool for a bit. - They taste SUPER good still warm from the oven.

Weekend Delights

Here are a few snaps from my weekend... It was very rainy and miserable on Saturday so I spent most of the day reading pretty blogs and drinking tea! I also got around to organising my uni schedule and realised that I have quite a full on next couple of weeks ahead of me. I'm glad I took the opportunity to relax while I could! I hope your weekend was as nice as mine was!