hello 2015

Hello my lovely friendlikins & hello 2015!

Wow, we are already in February. C-razy! How's the new year been treating you so far? Did you have a very merry christmas + a holly jolly new year's eve? Have you made resolutions or goals for the year?  Have you already forgotten about them, or are you trooping on like a trooper, ticking off those goals like a winner?!

It has been a pretty BONKERS kind of holiday season around here. THAT IS FOR SHIZZLE.

handmade christmas pressies

It all began when I decided that no one was missing out on christmas presents - i was going to be prepared! It looked a lil' like this: I spent October, November & December making christmas presents {crochet bow ties for the guys and painted beaded necklaces for the lovely ladies} and christmas cards {which were old lady cards that I painted bright colours and stamped}. AMAZINGLY I actually completed all presents and most people received cards.

eric & grace and mish & steve

There were christmas parties left, right and centre, the silly season indeed! Our bible study christmas party kicked off the festivities early in December {on my birthday} - we also farewelled two couples who are having babies and moving away! We miss you Grace & Eric and Mish & Steve {and your baby bumps}. We spent the night eating pizza and giving our secret santa presents {I received the 1st gift, due to it being my birthday and ended up with a super soaker which I re-gifted to my 3 year old nephew for his birthday {he literally loved it to death so much that his parents bought him a new one!} Tommy, well he ended up with an origami kit which is right up his crafty alley.

We have also done a WHOLE lot of travelling lately, including:

nelson bay adventures with dave

• NELSON BAY - a couple of days spent with our friend dave playing board games, card games, eating fish'n'chips, gelato & having a dip at Shoal Bay.

christmas adventures in melalueca 

• MELALUECA - my aunty and uncle's property near Wollombi, we spent a couple of days surrounded by the bush and cows wandering and geese chattering and catching up with my side of the family and exchanging presents and of course; sitting by the fire crocheting.

• NEWCASTLE - we spent the day catching up with Tommy's side of the family, nomming delish lunch and partying on well into the evening. Followed by dessert & drinks by the fire. 

nelson bay adventures for NYE

• NELSON BAY - we were back up at my parents holiday apartment for NYE with Andy & Emma, and met up with Lakkos. Activities included: walking up Tommaree mountian and enjoying the view,  followed by an eager walk back down to jump straight into the ocean! It was HOT. We swam, we ate gelato, sushi,  fish'n'chips, played card games, board games, computer games, went for walks, watched the NYE fireworks & generally had a jolly ol' time!

We have also enjoyed many a wedding of late:

ryan & chelsea's wedding

• RYAN & CHELSEA'S - was a creative bohemian affair at the park in Balmain by the water. There were hay bales, poems spoken and dances performed and even a cross to signify the importance of Jesus in their life and in their marriage. The lovely bridesmaids wore lilac dresses and the groomsmen wore wooden bow ties that Tom & I handmade. Unfortunately we had to leave the reception early as Tommy had a Thief gig that night. It was a beautiful day!

andy & emma's wedding

• ANDY & EMMA'S - was a lovely teal & peacock themed wedding with a great talk by Tom's boss Arnaldo. Tommy did a great job at his best man speech! I had the privilege of decorating the church with peacock feathers and ribbons all the way down the aisle. There were fairy lights still up from christmas - it made the church look magical!

emily & julian's wedding

• EMILY & JULIAN'S - it was quite a hot day, and poor Emily was in a beautiful three layered silk wedding dress! It was a fairly formal occasion full of laughs. The reception was a bit of a drive, but was really lovely. A barn out in a paddock, surrounded by trees, a stream backed by a beautiful sunset! There was plenty of great food, friends and frolicking! 

• TOBY & RACHEL'S - was quite a drive all the way to WOLLONGONG. It was a lovely, christ centred wedding. We caught the train home exhausted as we had helped Grace and Eric move the day before! {fish'n'chips and the beach were involved- so good!}

We have spent hours playing with our crazy monkey nephews & nieces - and looking forward to meeting one more on the way! 

We have caught up with our friends Brad & marissa who we haven't seen in FOREVER! It was lovely to see their new abode, catch up on life and eat yummy beef and veggie pot pie and ice cream. 

On top of all these wonderful things we have also been...

• RENOVATING - the main bedroom at my parents abode. We've been moving furniture around the house, pulling up carpet, peeling off  REALLY old wallpaper, so old it came off easily in big sheets! Now we're scrubbing the wallpaper glue to get it ready to sand and paint!

• CRAFTERNOON'S - i've been teaching a lovely friend Beth how to crochet over the summer. It's been lovely to hang out, craft and bless someone with a new skill. She's already quite confident after a few lessons; practicing and enjoying it - which is wonderful to see! In the last couple of weeks I've made a scarf and four crocheted necklaces and another on the way! 

• MOVE HOUSE - we've helped Maddy {my sis-in-law} move house into this beautiful five bedroom house right across the road from the church where Mike will be working. All three kids love the house and it will be a great size with another bub on the way and also for entertaining. We spent the day moving furniture and boxes into their appropriate rooms. I unpacked most of the kitchen and entertained the kids to keep them out of the way. 

josie leaves for adventures in perth

• GOODBYE - i said goodbye, see you later, sometime soon please to my oldest and closest friend Josie who has moved to perth to study and work as an ESL teacher. We went for a walk to the park, lay down in the grass catching up and saying goodbyes. I already miss her... 

brian & jesse's 21st birthday party {so tired}

• 21st BIRTHDAY PARTY - it was Brian + Jesse's 'two for one deal' birthday party a few weeks ago.  It was full of insightful speeches, catching up with friends,  feeling old and crocheting - followed by a sudden thunder storm that had us all racing inside!

engagement party fleurs and crochet necklace making time!

• ANNA & TIM'S ENGAGEMENT PARTY - we ended january with a lovely engagement party in the garden of a beautiful home in Killara. It was a night of tasty treats, catching up with friends, listening to good music and celebrating the couple of the night! I spent most of the night sitting down crocheting as I had decided that it was about time that I wore my beautiful teal wedding shoes which I hadn't worn since our wedding, as they are platform stilettos and I cannot walk so well in them!

Well that was a mouth full! Well done for getting through all of that! I hope it was an enjoyable read : ) it's been a lovely,  exhausting and event-filled couple of months! I wonder what other adventures God has planned for 2015? I reckon it's going to be jam packed full of goodness! 

HAPPY 2015 LOVELIES!

love love

{lizzie}

  xoxo

p.s. COMING SOON: 2015 goals.

birthday/christmas wishlist

birthday cupcake!

hello lovelies!

how are you this fine and dandy day? can you believe it's nearly december?! where has the year gone? it's been a year of patience + excitement + creativity + travel over here. how about you? i always look forward to december. it means it's my birthday + jesus' birthday + making CHRISTmas presents + spending time with family + parties + holidays + new year's eve! yay : )

i thought i would share my birthday/christmas wishlist with you all, so that you can be inspired to find something for your loved ones this holiday season! here we go:

{clothes}

peter pan collared shirt + jumpsuit + gorman space top + polkadot socks

{shoes}

teal clogs + pink jelly sandals + colourful jelly sandals

{sunglasses + filofax + satchell}

karen walker sunnies + cat-eye sunnies + teal filofax + purple leather satchell

{accessories + perfume}

handmade necklace + leather pink camera strap + colourful bralette + daisy perfume + polkadot belt + sparkly studs

 these are a few of my favourite things at the mo. do they tickle your fancy too?

HAPPY SHOPPING FRIENDLIKINS!

love love
{lizzie}
 xoxo

{lizzie's life lately}

{link}

hello lovely friendlikins!

how are you this hot + toasty day? hope your'e staying cool by the pool or staying inside where there's air-con to avoid the traumatisation of skin cells like i am! how's your december been so far? have you been making the most of the sunshine? are you all partied out yet? do you have holiday plans? or thoughts of spontaneous adventures?!


my december has been looking a lil like this:

* i've been making + wrapping CHRISTmas presents!

* celebrating my 25th birthday with free boost, a new kikki k pen, mexican for lunch, and an evening of diy hand painted jewellery courtesy of my wonderful hubby!

* there's been 2014 planner prepping, for an organised + productive new year!

* tommy + i have enjoyed taking waffle the puppy for a walk + introducing him to bumble + moose our cats!

* i've been enjoying the blue skies + pretty flowers everywhere!

* i did a big de-clutter of one of our rooms - it feels so good to get rid of junk!

* spending time with family - enjoying meals, fun times + snuggles with munchkins!

* there was barney's 21st birthday party, with 21 cakes!

* my friendlikins brad + marissa had their wedding! {so exciting!}

* i've been watching series 7 of dr who, started watching torchwood, and watching more new girl!

* swimming in the pool!

* reading the jane austen book club by karen joy fowler

* searching for a more affordable place to live!

* babysitting tonight for a lovely family!

* and heading up to newcastle tomorrow for CHRISTmas with tommy's family!


i'm looking forward to the CHRISTmas eve service at my church, CHRISTmas day + celebrating the reason for the season - JESUS! i'm hoping we can go on some bush + beach adventures + a road trip here and there and enjoy all the good things we've been blessed with!

merry CHRISTmas lovely friendlikins!

hope you have a safe + joyful holiday!

love love
{lizzie}
 xoxo

{CHRISTmas decor + traditions}

{advent}

{diy envelopes full of goodies via abeautifulmess}

{match boxes with goodies + notes - link}

{ornaments on tags - link}

{numbered paper bags with goodies - link}

{pegs + packages - link}

{punch board - an oldie but a goodie - link}

hello lovely friendlikins!

how AWESOME are these advent ideas, to get you excited for the reason for the season! ok, so technically advent started yesterday - but i've been sick + hence, am unprepared! if you, like me, haven't made an advent calendar yet - hopefully these will inspire you + me to get our advent butts into action!

do you know what advent means? is it just about eating those tiny gross chocolates in santa calendars? i hope not! here's what john piper says about advent:

'For four weeks, it's as if we're re-enacting, remembering the thousand of years God's people were anticipating and longing for the coming of God's salvation, for Jesus. That's what advent means - coming'

if you'd like to find out more, piper says more over here.

let's get excited about celebrating our AMAZING saviour JESUS!

love love

 {lizzie}

  xoxo

{i LOVE...}

{birthday/CHRISTmas wish list}

{teal vintage sewing machine}   {red clogs}   {teal vintage bike}

{teal ikea trolley}   {label maker}   {washi tape}   {statement necklace}   {statement ring}   {wooden glasses}

{saltwater sandals}   {purple planner}   {green vintage bag}

hello lovely friendlikins!

how are you? how are you REALLY doing? are you well? are you stressed? sick? over-the-moon?! today i am feeling pretty meh... i have a cold, i'm still SUPER dehydrated + other unpleasant lady times. how do you deal with meh times? do you get all cranky + whingey + sad? or do you pretend your'e not feeling meh + pretend your'e super woman instead?! i must admit there are times that i have been both, sometimes all on the same day!

this is how i'm tackling meh times today:

* i started the morning reading God's word + in prayer {asking for healing + strength + perspective}

* listening to this song over + over again {it makes me happy!}

* i had a nap + snuggle with the kitties

* drinking yummy milo

* staying in my pj's

* showering {feeling all clean + fresh + lovely}

* i'll do some crocheting

* drink LOTS of water!

* get some non-taxing things done on my to do list

* making my birthday/CHRISTmas wish list {i seem to have a thing for vintage teal things!}


the plan is basically to rest + do nice things + be productive but most of all to find my strength in Jesus, and do all things for His glory! what or who do you find your strength in? does it get you through tough days + meh times? Jesus has gotten me through the worst of worst times! He's GOOD like that : )

have you thought about what you'd like for CHRISTmas? or is it too far away? or are we wish list twins? did you know that there are 65 days til the end of the year? CRAY!

drop in again soon, lovelies!

love love
 {lizzie}
  xoxo

{lizzie's life lately}

{october edition}

you should look into Jesus {link}

hello lovely friendlikins!

oh me, oh my! it's nearly the end of october! hope your'e fine + dandy : ) there is so much that happens in life. it can be AMAZING + it can be very DARK, but in it all, even the mundane, God is there loving us with his unfailing love. he's GOOD like that!


here are my thoughts + the hippy hap {aka what's been happening}:


* christmas decorations are popping up in stores.

* i would really like to have a big 25th birthday party but not sure if that can happen with no moolahs...

* i'm wondering what to put on my birthday/CHRISTmas wishlist - even just for funzies!

* tommy hacked 3 inches off the ends of my hair!

* tommy shaved his beard - and i can't wait for it to grow back! {it's only the third time i've seen him beardless + it's all spikey!}

* we're nearly finished making tommy's duck hoody {only the cuffs to go!}

* i've been SUPER dehydrated for over a month now, i do believe...

* i've been doing better in the heat than i have in the past {i get all dizzy - i think i'm allergic to the sun!}

* there are bush fires left, right and centre.

* i'm guessing it's going to be a scorcher this summer!

* i'm so thankful to have aircon + a pool + a lovely cabin full of space, sunshine + fresh air!

* last saturday, with a couple of couples, tommy + i watched a dvd on marriage.

* i washed the couch covers yesterday

* i entered a few competitions to win a car - eeeep!

* i'm trying to make the most of the time the LORD has provided!

* i'm wondering if i'm going to be able to achieve all the goals on the 52 things before 25 list.

* i reckon tomorrow will be a great day to get back on the bike.

* i'm looking forward to having morning tea with my mum tomorrow at my favourite cafe!

* i'm really excited for thief to start having gigs!

* i'm looking forward to hearing thief's ep!

* i've been enjoying lovely snuggly cuddles from moose

* i'd really like to organise our studio {but that requires money...}

* i've been working on new products for my etsy store biz milk + sugar story!

* i need to make a light box thing to take photos of my products

* we've been watching alias

* and listening to interesting times by terry pratchett

* i ate cake for breakfast!

what have you lovely friendlikins been up to? what have you been thinking about of late? are you getting organised for CHRISTmas already? i've been thinking about how i probably should be, as i will have many many handmade gifts to make! speaking of which, you should check out my etsy store + pick up some pressies for your friends + fam : ) that would be dandy!

wishing you a JOYFUL OCTOBER!

love love
{lizzie}
  xoxo

{new years eve + resolutions}

{merry CHRISTmas}

our diy paint chip CHRISTmas tree!

hello lovely friendlikins!

merry CHRISTmas + happy new year! hope your holidays have been full of fun times + adventures + rest + lots of memories made for years to come! did your holidays involve travelling over the seas? or more of a stay- cation like tommy and i? due to tommy only having CHRISTmas day and boxing day off work, it didn't feel too much like a holiday. but we did have the blessing of house sitting for a friend {lovely chelsea + her fam} whilst they were adventuring around thailand. it was so lovely to have a lovely big home, with three extra kitties for bumble + moose to play with!

our gorgeous bumble + moose!

how was your CHRISTmas day? were you at the beach or did you travel to see extended family or just lunch at home with your parentals? tommy + i had a lovely seafood lunch with his parents - comprising of salmon + prawns + roasted veggies. we spent the afternoon making paper snow flakes to string up to decorate their home for the big CHRISTmas dinner two days later!

here are some pics from our CHRISTmas: 

crowns for all

crown time

our token xmas present

xmas party pants

bling bauble

snow flakes!

wright tradition - cocopops for xmas breakkie

oliver brown pre-CHRISTmas fun times!

{happy new year!}

how crazy to think its already 10 days into 2013?! are you still recovering from new years eve + general holiday party mode? whats your year looked like so far? tommy + i had a very quiet new years eve - involving junk food, a few friends, and a few dvds. we didn't even watch the fireworks - which i think was a first for me! how were they? oh what was the pic on the harbour bridge?! we did watch veronica mars, beetlejuice and fantastic mr fox - of which i recommend all three be on your list of things to watch in 2013 if you haven't done so already!

{new years goals}

are you excited about the year ahead? i know i am! so many things to plan + look forward to : )
i've been working on my 2013 planner since november 2012 - its pretty epic, as it's going to be an epic year!

LOVE my kikki.k planner 

yep she's chunky

but she's pimped out with all the sweet hook ups!

new year means new years resolutions! to start fresh, to live with purpose + do good. you should totes check out this video - i think it will help in helping you figure out what not only what you want your year to look like, BUT YOUR LIFE! what are your new year's/life goals?

mine look a bit like this:

new years goals!

so as you can see my 3 goals for the year are to focus on relationships, to be healthy + get things done. how did i come to this conclusion i hear you say? first up, i thought it would be a good idea to have just a few things on the list so that i would remember them. secondly, i wanted them to be things that are important and also things that i've been struggling with lately.

as i've been sick, stressed, anxious + busy - for most of 2012 really {more on that another time} my relationships have suffered + i haven't had the energy or concentration to get much done. i got the idea to have 'a year of...' from my friend josie. she's had a year of prayer + a year of joy amongst others! so this is my 'year of relationships'. to work on my relationship with God, with family and friends.

i'm excited to see what the year holds, how God will work in my life + those around me. to be a good wife, child of God, sister, daughter, aunty, and friend! it's a year of change + making the most of the time we've been given. CARPE DIEM!

i'd love to hear what your goals + inspiration is for the year! hit me up in the comments section below. stay tuned for more new years goals + challenges for 2013!

love love
 {lizzie}
  xoxo