Sorted with Style

Serendipity Experience 62: Start a collection.

12:22 AM

There is a beauty in found objects that just can't be replicated! Sifting through my shelves today I discovered that I have become a collector of found objects. Sea treasures, pebbles, birds nests, shells, no matter where I go I find myself picking up fallen leaves, acorns and drift wood, combing the beaches for any interesting finds! I knew that I had this group of "things" but had never really thought of it as a collection!!!

My Shell study

Beach Treasures

My Shell Collection

My Found Objects

Are you a collector????

Linking up with sorted with style the talented Lisa at The Creative Exchange and abeachcottage!

serenity

Serendipity Experience 61: Share Serenity!

1:44 AM

"The simplest things are often the truest" - Richard Bach

With each passing day I find myself increasingly drawn to the simple things in life. I don't know if it is the increasing demands of a fast pace world, or merely the hustle and bustle of everyday life, but more and more I find myself drawn to simple joys. The lighting of a candle, a single flower in a jar, a fallen acorn from a tree, these small pleasures seem to provide me with greater joy than all the expensive and alluring treats in the shop windows. What a lovely serene gift are the simple things in life!!

A candle to light

A found treasure

A sunlit sea!

Today I am "sharing the good life" with others at sorted with style abeachcottage pop by for more simple serenity!

Pelican

Serendipity Experience 60: Take Time!

12:22 AM

"Time is but the stream I go a fishing in" Henry Thoreau

It is very difficult to believe that we are approaching winter here in Sydney. The days have been stunningly warm, the skies a brilliant blue and the flowers have been continuing to bloom everywhere you look. I have felt compelled to get out amidst the sunshine and lap up every last ray of it! ( Hence my lack of blogging of late!). Yesterday I decided just to take time to enjoy the sunshine and spent the morning wandering around the waterfront sharing my breakfast with these delightful pelicans, They are such large birds and yet they possess such grace and charm. They have such a calming effect on the observer.

I know it won't be much longer until our days grow shorter and cooler, but for the moment I fully intend enjoying every last moment of it!

I am linking up with Lisa Gordon's Creative exchange today, as it is another place I visit which warms my heart!!!

Serendipity Experience 59: Think Pink!!

1:51 AM

"To be overcome by the fragrance of flowers is a delectable form of defeat ~ Beverley Nichols

There is nothing like a fresh bouquet of flowers to brighten your day! I am a firm believer in doing everything possible to make the daily rituals of life interesting and varied. Nothing accomplishes this more effectively than spoiling yourself to a lovely bunch of inexpensive flowers. From the minute I place them on my table, the chores ahead no longer feel so boring or daunting. My spirits are lifted, my senses are stimulated and and I feel so much more eager to embrace the day ahead!

It always amazes me how much of a better mother, wife and friend I am when I take time out to actually nurture myself. We so often forget how important it is to sustain our own souls before we can give to others. So when I saw this gorgeous bunch of pretty pink I just new it was exactly what I needed to celebrate the day!

This is a reminder to make sure you spoil yourself today too!!!!

For some inspirational quotes to brighten your day pay a visit to the following site!

Easter celebrations

Serendipity Experience 58 : Easter Entertaining!

12:02 AM

"Easter spells out beauty, the rare beauty of new life "~ S.D Gordon

Tomorrow, Easter Saturday, is my mother's birthday. The children decided that this year we should celebrate with an "Eggciting" Easter theme. As all the shops were closed for Good Friday we realised that we would need to adapt items we had around the house. We decided on a "duck egg blue" colour scheme as my mother loves the colour blue! We were very excited to find easy to follow instructions for folding these cute little napkin bunnies and just can't decide whether we like their faces or their little tails the most!!!

Now all we have to do is think about what we are going to eat!!! ( No chocolate eggs until Sunday!)

For instructions on how to fold your own Easter bunnies have a look at our bunny serviette video on youtube! And do take a look at some of these wonderful Easter festivities that I have linked with this

week!! Sorted with Style

www.atthepicketfence.com

http://twoscoops.com/

www.reasonstoskipthehousework.blogspot.com

www.momnivores-dilemma.com

www.justagirlblog.com

Serendipity Experience 56: Contemplate!

5:16 PM

I was recently given a delightful little book entitled " It's never too late...." by Patrick Lindsay, which works on the premise that "It's never too late...to break free of stale habits and change your life", even if it is such small ways that nobody other than yourself even notices! Reading through Lisa Gordon's post today on her

Creative exchange, I was delighted to see that she had embraced this concept!

This past year I made a conscious decision to attempt to break free from the mundane and predictable routines of life and make simple changes that add variety and interest ( even if only in a simple way). Instead of rushing home to do my chores, I am allowing myself to stop by a bookshop just to linger, leaving the house for no preplanned destination or enrolling in a new course on a whim, of course these simple changes remain oblivious to all but myself, yet it is amazing how they rejuvenate and add interest to my day.

As Lindsay rightly points out "Routines can be efficient, even comfortable, but they can also be self limiting...explore new ways to travel to work, new places to eat, new destinations to holiday.....Expand your horizons! You may be surprised at what you discover!

Pay a visit to Lisa's Creative Exchange for some inspiration!!

Serendipity Experience 55: Enjoy Experimenting

1:52 AM

I really enjoyed experimenting with some of the interesting prompts in Scavenger Hunt Sunday this week. The challenge this week was to capture 1.High Key 2. Bedroom 3. Something tiny 4. Off in the distance 5. Stripes. It really forced me out of my comfort zone, which I think is always a good thing!!

Bedroom: Taking a photograph of my bedroom meant actually getting out of bed from my Sunday morning sleep in!

Off in the Distance: Through all the rain, drizzle and mist, I was captivated by the bright red heart in the distance.

High Key: With thanks to faith from Simplicity on her wonderful tutorial on high key. Unfortunately living in such a sunny climate I found it impossible to eliminate the shadows! Oh well, at least I learnt something new!!