Max Turns 1

Max woke up this morning to red, blue, yellow and green balloons tied all around his cot.  This is sort of a little tradition in our household.  Lots of balloons on Birthdays that is.  He absolutely loved them.  However, I think he loved his new car even more.  And I think Harry loved it even more than Max!  It's been a perfect First Birthday. 

Happy Times

My beautiful dad.

The beach houses surrounding the house we stayed in. The agapanthus grows wild in front of these houses. I would love to see them flowering.

The gardens in this small sleepy beach side town are to-die-for.



Table set for Dad's Birthday lunch.






I spotted this cute beach shack when I was out picking flowers and loved it. In New Zealand I've noticed they paint many of their houses black and white which I love.



I had a bath in this huge clawfoot bath every day we were there. I love the little vintage butterfly prints on the wall.




When we eventually renovate the kitchen in our new house I definitely want to have a cabinet built just like this one which was in the kitchen at the beach house. It was so perfect for all the plates, platters, cups etc.

The beach in front of the house.

We've just returned home from a week in New Zealand where we celebrated my father's 60th Birthday. After spending a few days in Auckland we caught a plane down to Napier and drove down to a beautiful beach house my parent's have been frequenting over the past 12 months in a sleepy beach side town in Hawkes Bay. We spent 3 days here with my parents, brothers, cousins, aunty & uncle and our grandmother. It was the most wonderful holiday with lots of laughs, lots of tears and lots of reminiscing. Mum cooked an amazing lunch for Dad on his birthday. I went down the street and picked some gorgeous roadside flowers which I arranged for the table. It was the most amazing week away from work and the craziness of life. Happy 60th Birthday Dad. You are one in a million and we all love you so much.

If anyone is interested in staying at this beautiful house click HERE for details.

Harry's 6th Birthday

Melanie {above} on a ladder in our front yard decorating the tree for Harry's Birthday.

Red wine makes filling up 150 water bombs much easier!!

Yesterday afternoon we celebrated Harry's 6th Birthday at home with a couple of his closest friends and cousins and family. We had a pool party with water pistols and water bombs and a swimming pool birthday cake which my lovely friend, Sharnel from The Cupcake Company made. Melanie {my lovely and creative decorator at Black & Spiro} came and decorated our front tree with red, white and blue bunting, red & white polka dot lanterns and candles.

The night before over a few glasses of red wine my husband managed to fill up approximately 150 water bombs which probably lasted all of about 15 minutes once the children got a hold of them!! My gorgeous friend Jody helped me with the food which was such a huge help!! A fun time was had by all and my little 6 year old thanked me this morning with a humongous hug and a kiss for "the best birthday ever"!!

Oh, and I nearly forgot to show you these gorgeous cupcakes which Sharnel also made for Harry which we sent to school last week for his birthday! So simply gorgeous!!

Birthday Surprises

Thank you for all of your lovely Birthday wishes. I had a great day. My parents held a family lunch at their house yesterday which was beautiful. My mum went to lots of trouble as usual. She is an amazing hostess. The pretty flower vases she arranged using flowers from her garden in my favourite colours. I had to show you the amazing cake Sharnel from The Cupcake Company made me as a gift for my birthday...I must say it was very hard cutting up that Chanel bag!! She is such a talent and it wasn't just a pretty cake...it was absolutely delicious. My husband couldn't stop eating it which was quite out of character for him as he isn't a sweets fan at all!!