Dive on in...

When we bought our house, the inground pool was a major selling point. With three kids, and the kind of sweltering summers we have here in Queensland, it's definitely had a workout over the years. Lately, it's been looking very tired, and we've had leaking pipes, broken pool pumps and filters, tiles falling off....you name it. This winter, we've had yet another leak, and at the moment it looks more like a swamp than a pool! So, we've decided to bite the bullet and give the old girl a bit of cosmetic surgery. New coping pavers, waterline tiles to replace the slate, and re-landscaping the pool area is on the cards, and not before time, I can tell you! One of the advantages of living on acreage is that we have space to play with, but it also can pose a few challenges - like where to put the mandatory safety fencing. Take a look at a few of my inspiration pics - and if my pool makeover looks half as good as some of these beauties, I'll be a very happy camper!<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbE5gL88xms-BFu78_SNdR6_siCxb1FTRRZRBbey9s4vPRlgjAPV43VzjiDhUoA-zyUHd9u6zGvQEXSmbIh7e3XNl0Aaf8rUYzCs50fiRcWmTBmOzSsLk4c8rn_1Amuh6cA4tK5D1ojGo/s1600/1006p108_row_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbE5gL88xms-BFu78_SNdR6_siCxb1FTRRZRBbey9s4vPRlgjAPV43VzjiDhUoA-zyUHd9u6zGvQEXSmbIh7e3XNl0Aaf8rUYzCs50fiRcWmTBmOzSsLk4c8rn_1Amuh6cA4tK5D1ojGo/s640/1006p108_row_1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://realestate.com.au/">source </a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX-gXc5iJtoLfpn_nMAEelkq8w941neeyCDQhyphenhyphencxYBDxQJufj0A1DfXttW0rTaaFzLTUfj-pYkyE2bM9aavT9m5aSU92uQNjjfRlOUM_rnN7Si7lsKCocMaBW9Hd6nu10h_e1sRG0G83Y/s1600/verandah105682329bl1247054071.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX-gXc5iJtoLfpn_nMAEelkq8w941neeyCDQhyphenhyphencxYBDxQJufj0A1DfXttW0rTaaFzLTUfj-pYkyE2bM9aavT9m5aSU92uQNjjfRlOUM_rnN7Si7lsKCocMaBW9Hd6nu10h_e1sRG0G83Y/s640/verandah105682329bl1247054071.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://realestate.com.au/">source</a></span><a href="http://thepicturedesk.com.au/"><br /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4LGEbqB91OalYqgrryeQNcgoMof4R3dJ5ZPt5P-YIRzaKXKQlEpLZUNC6nA7xJZaQKz8ACHVNG9nWzM7BFrF0tO4rr_pHrMw8oR8o5HvC95MJnYzEVCP2wj7Oea4kvQEBnt-UdXFTn7g/s1600/bellevue+st+avalon1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4LGEbqB91OalYqgrryeQNcgoMof4R3dJ5ZPt5P-YIRzaKXKQlEpLZUNC6nA7xJZaQKz8ACHVNG9nWzM7BFrF0tO4rr_pHrMw8oR8o5HvC95MJnYzEVCP2wj7Oea4kvQEBnt-UdXFTn7g/s640/bellevue+st+avalon1.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://realestate.com.au/">source</a></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>  <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHLTh18osdMTQMNb6oklEpHv2UuGZtPQBnHlIucQhmUvRACpVbAFMq_kE89AZtJr-gTW6YRDZPySqWwowyIbvcndylxrAQb9QwftOSX2J6GT__51tdstuh6H5EcdLtVD9WT-9vB5yacXQ/s1600/oudoor+fireplace3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="547" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHLTh18osdMTQMNb6oklEpHv2UuGZtPQBnHlIucQhmUvRACpVbAFMq_kE89AZtJr-gTW6YRDZPySqWwowyIbvcndylxrAQb9QwftOSX2J6GT__51tdstuh6H5EcdLtVD9WT-9vB5yacXQ/s640/oudoor+fireplace3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">paint these beams white and you have the perfect outdoor fireplace </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1p3HzGg3li9FryGf5J-WviRRxUNPAB28gUY_0hn6lbnGGD5uKni5dAc6l0CMn4zzk6kdwLwpVgOUJrKvYM8VckJen4-fokJ1hz6rrAFIvzN12KJiAVd2MAe1W-VrY3jqXIZ6BwCfpuP0/s1600/905161253_Kr6cz-O.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1p3HzGg3li9FryGf5J-WviRRxUNPAB28gUY_0hn6lbnGGD5uKni5dAc6l0CMn4zzk6kdwLwpVgOUJrKvYM8VckJen4-fokJ1hz6rrAFIvzN12KJiAVd2MAe1W-VrY3jqXIZ6BwCfpuP0/s640/905161253_Kr6cz-O.jpg" width="484" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">this is a similar pool to ours - and that little poolhouse would be perfect!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWQo5KH37Xb170g0nkvW2pLX6MJ4MlToWgbnD4Op20Z2G251qhbHQOyTzbxp9dV0dmhVo4E9xoh8vcbCbuzJZaPgCU-SNBw19bvt4mIfWz_ncJaEITspbfW3CVTAB3y9_Ps7eLxYkjvvo/s1600/poolhouse+studio.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWQo5KH37Xb170g0nkvW2pLX6MJ4MlToWgbnD4Op20Z2G251qhbHQOyTzbxp9dV0dmhVo4E9xoh8vcbCbuzJZaPgCU-SNBw19bvt4mIfWz_ncJaEITspbfW3CVTAB3y9_Ps7eLxYkjvvo/s640/poolhouse+studio.jpg" width="588" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhevcXg1iBI8Vx8D_GW_VhBKZ9bbE9aG0beh2BpU_vLlbHoVzfAAuvqBZLD_Gf0W0gBi_WQOmName10o1UR8aHxIE1eIoHka7pv3-ZF_8b2M414ovPA64SrZXSEj7aAxetsqVm5oufUklI/s1600/79avalon2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhevcXg1iBI8Vx8D_GW_VhBKZ9bbE9aG0beh2BpU_vLlbHoVzfAAuvqBZLD_Gf0W0gBi_WQOmName10o1UR8aHxIE1eIoHka7pv3-ZF_8b2M414ovPA64SrZXSEj7aAxetsqVm5oufUklI/s640/79avalon2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://realestate.com.au/">source </a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">sandstone surrounds maybe?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3cAsCnG943vjBGyQckNByFpif-_5zfU-RpC56V-PbiteWl0nqJi1EKrSaqdtGUv4t_VkTd6kR6Y5aUtr2rFUPib8NED0gH0d9q85uR8kGzKFy7qbRtLp6EfYkpDAKSNsLpkmZJCK1t-8/s1600/103248084el1150348581.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3cAsCnG943vjBGyQckNByFpif-_5zfU-RpC56V-PbiteWl0nqJi1EKrSaqdtGUv4t_VkTd6kR6Y5aUtr2rFUPib8NED0gH0d9q85uR8kGzKFy7qbRtLp6EfYkpDAKSNsLpkmZJCK1t-8/s640/103248084el1150348581.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://realestate.com.au/"><span style="font-size: x-small;">source</span></a> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Now that weekend sport is done for the rest of the year, (after my daughter's nail-biting one-point win in her netball grand final - nothing like giving your parents a heart attack in the process!) we'll have a bit more time to spend on getting this house into shape. Can't wait!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85794/shatay01/57292ae3db79c6d939a1f2a85508a076.png" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border: 0pt none ! important;" /></a>

Dive on in...

When we bought our house, the inground pool was a major selling point. With three kids, and the kind of sweltering summers we have here in Q...

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My Holidays....part 1

<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">How hard is to <span style="font-size: large;">come back to normal life</span> after the holidays?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've come back home last week and I just can't feel they are over!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><em>Quant'è difficile tornare alla vita normale dopo le vanze?</em></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><em>Io sono tornata la settimana scorsa, ma proprio non riesco a capacitarmi che siano già finite!</em></span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHpZfjLVSUw6DEAHAOUTNbN8swWJQeFFvFj_PPzQb59N38zPhAN1xpcJOIxoM-wLVvV7WEjwQaZmNf8OM-vkhp0wJhAQAYa-wdENUnejUOr9KapPJAZgt6vZwBBFYvv6nSz2_h4fWBXA0/s1600/10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHpZfjLVSUw6DEAHAOUTNbN8swWJQeFFvFj_PPzQb59N38zPhAN1xpcJOIxoM-wLVvV7WEjwQaZmNf8OM-vkhp0wJhAQAYa-wdENUnejUOr9KapPJAZgt6vZwBBFYvv6nSz2_h4fWBXA0/s640/10.jpg" width="640" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My mind and my heart are still here...</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><em>La mia mente e il mio cuore sono ancora lì...</em></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiXW44nfyTOo7LqVZfORTjX9tTXDHGLuGMYP8voJVPUfKpF98eVZnMtWb__5hbsOBchBmWghrEkQezY9GAZ_WlaTblykKRiVrAuxJsU298z7EI_FcoLATGWTWYP6cUw96bKFEkZ5anNFI/s1600/1_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiXW44nfyTOo7LqVZfORTjX9tTXDHGLuGMYP8voJVPUfKpF98eVZnMtWb__5hbsOBchBmWghrEkQezY9GAZ_WlaTblykKRiVrAuxJsU298z7EI_FcoLATGWTWYP6cUw96bKFEkZ5anNFI/s640/1_.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">among mountains and fields full of flowers...</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><em>tra montagne e campi di fiori...</em></span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNI1h9ALNmfX25Wvfk8igj-WT4muTxwybFHPOeICmzQZVNBCDo81SFPlv2q9IUXjF1oiY5Nd7gYTTLcNEiNmcp3h4pYr6fm7viFp9xRFp7VnxS-FiVxQEtoKhPsYL16SsaeO4CaXI-9n8/s1600/9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNI1h9ALNmfX25Wvfk8igj-WT4muTxwybFHPOeICmzQZVNBCDo81SFPlv2q9IUXjF1oiY5Nd7gYTTLcNEiNmcp3h4pYr6fm7viFp9xRFp7VnxS-FiVxQEtoKhPsYL16SsaeO4CaXI-9n8/s640/9.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">fresh air and beautiful blue sky...</span><br /><br /><em><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">aria fresca e fantastici cieli blu...</span></em><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0rhir42NVb53ZIKM3qzHsuglbm-_7T_wO8UsEQDVkBPhLFoQl3Ytq8EC_hOx_uADvplfDIGS0YkLgHZyGcI1LRFlVD3zaxVDxBhs-_XiN3DrOuE-AHW0EJ9P9Wun6D7emIh14i6iA7DM/s1600/Immagine+016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0rhir42NVb53ZIKM3qzHsuglbm-_7T_wO8UsEQDVkBPhLFoQl3Ytq8EC_hOx_uADvplfDIGS0YkLgHZyGcI1LRFlVD3zaxVDxBhs-_XiN3DrOuE-AHW0EJ9P9Wun6D7emIh14i6iA7DM/s640/Immagine+016.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic9DE7BYgTkwcXgNt3xw-AeYW2tiFTN0imtjG7QecIA3BpUhrUL4Vcn_UUA4yo5AZg9gVfNZY_hW31BBZH-_XtzHhohSexuqXpV12AY9Sg9eFHaTaho35HHTdUG1E80qLP1XPfS4gn7yI/s1600/Immagine+023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic9DE7BYgTkwcXgNt3xw-AeYW2tiFTN0imtjG7QecIA3BpUhrUL4Vcn_UUA4yo5AZg9gVfNZY_hW31BBZH-_XtzHhohSexuqXpV12AY9Sg9eFHaTaho35HHTdUG1E80qLP1XPfS4gn7yI/s640/Immagine+023.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I haven't had an adventurous holiday, as I was used until a couple of years ago...</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><em>Non ho avuto vacanze avventurose come qualche anno fà...</em></span><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5KLErjvBSLSI2P1yRP1PCsZO1wlL8ysqy7uoQRhR4DVQ1rWs3uCqYiCIVVw6_tCB30Lre_4Dpal-NRRQAdiqDrmU4Th303DUaz-rV9L9DyBQmNUWXwV2DsJ-jo3yuTif8DJvKdpuq6wo/s1600/2_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5KLErjvBSLSI2P1yRP1PCsZO1wlL8ysqy7uoQRhR4DVQ1rWs3uCqYiCIVVw6_tCB30Lre_4Dpal-NRRQAdiqDrmU4Th303DUaz-rV9L9DyBQmNUWXwV2DsJ-jo3yuTif8DJvKdpuq6wo/s640/2_.jpg" width="422" /></a></div><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">have spent a relaxing time with my family, watching Sofia discovering new things and making <span style="font-size: large;">new "friends"</span> everyday:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><em>Ho passato una vacanza molto rilassante assieme alla mia famiglia, guardando Sofia scoprire nuove cose e fare nuove conoscenze ogni giorno:</em></span><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLPuWLq67rcm47Bm8xf3EGoZ2egDzVOWD__vtlPnqEj0KsIXsgzFtt5SVIUjR_83s_alxsRgN3S4q049yNOY3-69VE4KtSfugmDBlgTJKqAadph9yy4csMTbAkkdNVkmUJt1XFzw55jdY/s1600/12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLPuWLq67rcm47Bm8xf3EGoZ2egDzVOWD__vtlPnqEj0KsIXsgzFtt5SVIUjR_83s_alxsRgN3S4q049yNOY3-69VE4KtSfugmDBlgTJKqAadph9yy4csMTbAkkdNVkmUJt1XFzw55jdY/s640/12.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifeh6dcr1VMv57FLk-5SGP2dbYcdhhYOLVRVMhp8kBxN0P0FBbjheIuBBf4omJUdSkFz_Vnd4al5dYiBArdZD4bXgZk0tE2sBJfFqacV_JYhpOpuM4c0jTkIMGoxWOORaJFyOaz1jScWg/s1600/201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifeh6dcr1VMv57FLk-5SGP2dbYcdhhYOLVRVMhp8kBxN0P0FBbjheIuBBf4omJUdSkFz_Vnd4al5dYiBArdZD4bXgZk0tE2sBJfFqacV_JYhpOpuM4c0jTkIMGoxWOORaJFyOaz1jScWg/s640/201.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCeknxhaVRetuwIeVDpZu_44KHM4bIXLYe_fz_s8o54iWHE791s8uyD5IFYScUYUdokHBaQ3Qsdy1t_Ee97tmO_Y-zVjHXAL11qkHr_B1gKtUMX-sFbUKxzvQ55SCn5z0q88Np7uIBsIU/s1600/072.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCeknxhaVRetuwIeVDpZu_44KHM4bIXLYe_fz_s8o54iWHE791s8uyD5IFYScUYUdokHBaQ3Qsdy1t_Ee97tmO_Y-zVjHXAL11qkHr_B1gKtUMX-sFbUKxzvQ55SCn5z0q88Np7uIBsIU/s640/072.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But it was what I really needed, I feel very <span style="font-size: large;">relaxed and recharged</span> now!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><em>Però era proprio quello di cui avevo bisogno! Ora mi sento proprio rilassata e ricaricata!</em></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Now some infos: </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">as you can see I've re-started to <span style="font-size: large;">write in english and in italian</span>, 'cause someone of you asked for it. I promise I will do it now on!</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Secondly: I'm sorry for the delay in coming to say hello to everyone of you, please be patient! I also have to become follower to some of your fantastic blogs, but I faced some troubles with Google friends connect. It's on my to-do list, I haven't forgotten you!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Ora qualche info:</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">come vedete ho ricominciato a scrivere sia in inglese che in italiano, perchè qualcuno di voi me l'ha chiesto. Prometto che lo farò d'ora innanzi!!</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Poi: mi spiace per essere in ritardo con i saluti su tutti i vostri blog, vi prego portate pazienza! Inoltre devo diventare follower di alcuni vostri blog, ma non ci sono riuscita perchè ho avuto qualche problema con Google Friend Connect. Cmq sono tutti sulla mia lista delle cose da fare, quindi non mi sono dimenticata di voi!!</span><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTyp1GkTacZzCkoBe9OoopkKadXe3yoiXN7P77ZLvjoDdsOuiWwUMPxuyTkupK71q2cuFouzH3VxMFDEdbfRafA91RsomXXs1pgWCp_pIfcMmjciyVtdQiaEVz8i-X-F3ZYfdWnkQz3MQ/s1600/firma.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTyp1GkTacZzCkoBe9OoopkKadXe3yoiXN7P77ZLvjoDdsOuiWwUMPxuyTkupK71q2cuFouzH3VxMFDEdbfRafA91RsomXXs1pgWCp_pIfcMmjciyVtdQiaEVz8i-X-F3ZYfdWnkQz3MQ/s320/firma.jpg" /></a></div></div>

My Holidays....part 1

How hard is to come back to normal life after the holidays? I've come back home last week and I just can't feel they are over! Quan...

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Summer Dreams

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXTh0cm5jt_oxLSRsc-f3IUra4PSsAzjDZqN-cbBtBuguF_Gs5ZCg3BfCV9oXdoKio-0nj3h8UDHKkLdWV69px-2inwsfJ99m_wWVki0jvfyTVzDkYcJFYuPpmOm6Inv4Q46sTjhDlYNU/s1600/1283025681.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXTh0cm5jt_oxLSRsc-f3IUra4PSsAzjDZqN-cbBtBuguF_Gs5ZCg3BfCV9oXdoKio-0nj3h8UDHKkLdWV69px-2inwsfJ99m_wWVki0jvfyTVzDkYcJFYuPpmOm6Inv4Q46sTjhDlYNU/s640/1283025681.jpg" width="512" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">credits: <a href="http://justbesplendid.tumblr.com/">1</a>, <a href="http://vintagerosegarden.tumblr.com/">2</a>, 3 (unknown), 4 (unknown)</span><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbFiw4vLJqfP6QSunNyYJuOykvm8QEP92kBi2X4X5i0PRKLAgkjrtMjJJ-ggmV6B2X1yy3LVO7DTKrIaDvI6GGWXZOGSoyNF-I_pmo5IxSjit3__b9s4WtjqJXQdkB5FsAZiKJIhNMkjE/s1600/summer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="83" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbFiw4vLJqfP6QSunNyYJuOykvm8QEP92kBi2X4X5i0PRKLAgkjrtMjJJ-ggmV6B2X1yy3LVO7DTKrIaDvI6GGWXZOGSoyNF-I_pmo5IxSjit3__b9s4WtjqJXQdkB5FsAZiKJIhNMkjE/s640/summer.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYTt3lhnae5g4EWBIMkurjSceqb96bwgZHWp2Qw0AqXpDeSQIDp7J8g7cRz_nFSRxq60jEpMoyKSSF7cwQrUO0-kxpTK_geSCBgVKI2sQtYXxd0Bpc_vWmYYX9Ijc2v0qitDTzKfHigvM/s1600/firma.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYTt3lhnae5g4EWBIMkurjSceqb96bwgZHWp2Qw0AqXpDeSQIDp7J8g7cRz_nFSRxq60jEpMoyKSSF7cwQrUO0-kxpTK_geSCBgVKI2sQtYXxd0Bpc_vWmYYX9Ijc2v0qitDTzKfHigvM/s320/firma.jpg" /></a></div></div>

Summer Dreams

credits: 1 , 2 , 3 (unknown), 4 (unknown)

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Reader redesign....the power of white paint

Last week, I received a lovely email from one of my blog readers, Karen. Karen and her husband had a common problem with their home, and one that I'm all too familiar with - the dreaded pine ceiling and brick wall combo! Karen had seen the huge difference a coat of white paint had made to my <a href="http://driftwood-interiors.blogspot.com/2010/05/my-big-planthe-kitchen-makeover-at-last.html">kitchen</a> and <a href="http://driftwood-interiors.blogspot.com/2010/07/lofty-heights-and-ceiling-lights.html">ceiling</a>, and is also a fan of Millie and Moth's work over at <a href="http://www.thelaurelhedge.blogspot.com/2009/08/answer-for-denise.html">The Laurel Hedge</a>, and so decided a white wash was exactly what was needed to give her family room a lift. Take a look at the before...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhN4jrSgX20eugrc8ICrdXQtz4VRMLgaWz6HfFJ0kDurIf7B0wkO6dQ6qd0I_MPvL_fMeAJGBq7zSK_LDFNOG_UW4LcG_YXSkU9R9wIe33eqQdZFusV7VjQOzz8ERpDbbZ3eBWzqP1SlU/s1600/kiely1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhN4jrSgX20eugrc8ICrdXQtz4VRMLgaWz6HfFJ0kDurIf7B0wkO6dQ6qd0I_MPvL_fMeAJGBq7zSK_LDFNOG_UW4LcG_YXSkU9R9wIe33eqQdZFusV7VjQOzz8ERpDbbZ3eBWzqP1SlU/s400/kiely1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">...and the afters </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQPER0Ls_CRqZ5HAGqmYZLI6OVyX5mTO3dWcCBt6Y3HwQEkRrX2DCUG5mfYXn8lqcY0XebR6n6JRTtcy6qjPq6Un1RgJTMwnLzo68dp0hio4WMcIw_tSBTKRSaaDHxlzs-HBy6ggxQwoQ/s1600/kiely3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQPER0Ls_CRqZ5HAGqmYZLI6OVyX5mTO3dWcCBt6Y3HwQEkRrX2DCUG5mfYXn8lqcY0XebR6n6JRTtcy6qjPq6Un1RgJTMwnLzo68dp0hio4WMcIw_tSBTKRSaaDHxlzs-HBy6ggxQwoQ/s640/kiely3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5BmVysKjb2UXpuV1nhci0QswWU9f6Qwqi-P4y5N_NfPXCUKAvJ7ndhQCovG56a-mT-irzlZCPekkIh0DOakYMbiOxI9TBTTlAf_e2t0j7E677TLuKcObo4xopW3YNmny26sv2cVlwQY0/s1600/kiely2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5BmVysKjb2UXpuV1nhci0QswWU9f6Qwqi-P4y5N_NfPXCUKAvJ7ndhQCovG56a-mT-irzlZCPekkIh0DOakYMbiOxI9TBTTlAf_e2t0j7E677TLuKcObo4xopW3YNmny26sv2cVlwQY0/s640/kiely2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Karen is far from finished with her makeover - there are new lamps and accessories still to come, and her husband is building a cabinet to disguise the fridge and provide more storage. And if the transformation isn't amazing enough on its own, amidst all the reno chaos Karen underwent two eye operations! What a wonderful job, and thanks must go to Karen and her husband for letting me share their makeover success with you all.<br /><br />Hope you all had a fantastic weekend, <br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85794/shatay01/57292ae3db79c6d939a1f2a85508a076.png" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border: 0pt none ! important;" /></a>

Reader redesign....the power of white paint

Last week, I received a lovely email from one of my blog readers, Karen. Karen and her husband had a common problem with their home, and one...

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Knock, knock.....who's there? Yes! I'm back!

<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Hello my dearests!!!!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">guess who's back from a super-relaxing holiday?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Yes!!!! Me!!!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiikWSz49UTKA5Bnlieau-znx3o4DISj-v6bdu82mBxn_8zYSwkIMBvzXMyAFn2qMsusTm7z-G7WHoHsoqoLfn88cRqfU60_GHNfenRgf_L9nrScSf-Di_19ivNFxJ9gpv7W6x5ahOttzQ/s1600/1282820655.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiikWSz49UTKA5Bnlieau-znx3o4DISj-v6bdu82mBxn_8zYSwkIMBvzXMyAFn2qMsusTm7z-G7WHoHsoqoLfn88cRqfU60_GHNfenRgf_L9nrScSf-Di_19ivNFxJ9gpv7W6x5ahOttzQ/s640/1282820655.png" width="426" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://tinywhitedaisies.tumblr.com/page/4">credits</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">I arrived yesterday evening</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">and now:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">my house is a mess... </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">my washing machine is working hard and hard...</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">the ironing basket is so full I'm afraid all the clothes will collapse invading all the laundry room...</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">But I just wanted to <span style="font-size: large;">send a big hug to you all!!!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Thank you for your comments and thank you to the new followers who joined me even thought I was away!!!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Now I'm going to check all your fab blogs and say "hi" to all of you!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">This is a very short post and I still have to organize all my holidays' photos, 'cause I want to share them with you!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">So in the next days I will <span style="font-size: large;">tell you about what I did during these days</span>. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Nothing so special, no great adventures or long trips in a far-away destination...</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">...just walks in the woods picking flowers and berries, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">little feet in cold mountains waters,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">cooking cakes while outside was raining...</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">and more <span style="font-size: large;">little precious moments</span>!!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKh4pzwQXY-vz1SSxs8B68qscOcS2B1cKCwnd61TMcmL1cTTjIx47kAe873xuihyphenhyphen0wkj19Uy58xAKCkXLFr95mlii67Xymtj-Pw1CKtm_7Sp-DH4KO8t8EY5PsmJjs5cEwviaTpI_kKZQ/s1600/firma.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKh4pzwQXY-vz1SSxs8B68qscOcS2B1cKCwnd61TMcmL1cTTjIx47kAe873xuihyphenhyphen0wkj19Uy58xAKCkXLFr95mlii67Xymtj-Pw1CKtm_7Sp-DH4KO8t8EY5PsmJjs5cEwviaTpI_kKZQ/s320/firma.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>

Knock, knock.....who's there? Yes! I'm back!

Hello my dearests!!!! guess who's back from a super-relaxing holiday? Yes!!!! Me!!! credits I arrived yesterday evening and now: my hous...

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An award...and an apology!

<div style="text-align: left;">I have a huge apology to make...last month, the lovely Natasha from <a href="http://so-much-more-than-nl.blogspot.com/">Northern Light</a> was nice enough to pass on a the Versatile Blogger award to me, and somehow I managed to miss thanking her! So Natasha, thank you so much for the award, I really do appreciate it more than you know. For those of you who haven't met Natasha yet, she was born in East Africa, raised in Denmark and lives in America. Her blog is a treasure trove of all things beautiful, and is one of my daily reads. Here's a little of what you can expect:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTKr94isQoeVxS5AWHx-lGLRomkv3jCpMTqcwAhVNoPwDHA9blk52svveWK6MmCs2WhII-Ud614R4mhdSo5bY_xswHrHuu677mBqqqlACWik9PJZCRoH1fCLJtyMGanXI_CG-IBwcJGLU/s1600/northern+light+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTKr94isQoeVxS5AWHx-lGLRomkv3jCpMTqcwAhVNoPwDHA9blk52svveWK6MmCs2WhII-Ud614R4mhdSo5bY_xswHrHuu677mBqqqlACWik9PJZCRoH1fCLJtyMGanXI_CG-IBwcJGLU/s640/northern+light+7.jpg" width="432" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghFeq2n3YLrhlb4vKZGlRYVGUTEQ1LHY0vopZoy7ANdGBm6NJXzhpxkeXLHROubkfYMpMLm-XGSN6yDKM3HpnPQSvV8a0pIi0BvDBEPkWWewOQg8FyDHraCpfrjJWfaSdJSFcfdnXSS8k/s1600/northern+light+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghFeq2n3YLrhlb4vKZGlRYVGUTEQ1LHY0vopZoy7ANdGBm6NJXzhpxkeXLHROubkfYMpMLm-XGSN6yDKM3HpnPQSvV8a0pIi0BvDBEPkWWewOQg8FyDHraCpfrjJWfaSdJSFcfdnXSS8k/s640/northern+light+5.jpg" width="450" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRg0HQb7ts1ZLABiinSeR6gMsvAHo1-gr3lmegHy7-J8453e2GnuygBGzs1Z9oUxHs206HFV2BXmDVXeY0NJVOB8cMnl_60fkfozRWm5DOWzCUkI_bLiOG5NI2OZPCNrGjEr_xQABA_Bo/s1600/northern+light+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRg0HQb7ts1ZLABiinSeR6gMsvAHo1-gr3lmegHy7-J8453e2GnuygBGzs1Z9oUxHs206HFV2BXmDVXeY0NJVOB8cMnl_60fkfozRWm5DOWzCUkI_bLiOG5NI2OZPCNrGjEr_xQABA_Bo/s640/northern+light+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMyZIlt0l4j7vwisiW5TioMRm1-GAS_qfdijxBQpTC02k6uzkOckw8_u4okuIrs0vZiaeWM37K45qyfdWeT7-3kHtZMZfHL1aI-dDB1ojz56coVjuNG5fU4VS12dK62dJdWrhYoo6Nqz8/s1600/northern+light+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMyZIlt0l4j7vwisiW5TioMRm1-GAS_qfdijxBQpTC02k6uzkOckw8_u4okuIrs0vZiaeWM37K45qyfdWeT7-3kHtZMZfHL1aI-dDB1ojz56coVjuNG5fU4VS12dK62dJdWrhYoo6Nqz8/s640/northern+light+1.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhwZRNMU-wv0BTF178GA4tKB33sA6bd1aKRkf9VlBxXJROTUCfrGM_DG_ocqn-5kJwkBa0cm6XCn34ixsl3itVJCjS2qmFFPPbio9TrGwMwtipROSvZ2DElYT81BQxBBoywbk3txULUHQ/s1600/northern+light+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhwZRNMU-wv0BTF178GA4tKB33sA6bd1aKRkf9VlBxXJROTUCfrGM_DG_ocqn-5kJwkBa0cm6XCn34ixsl3itVJCjS2qmFFPPbio9TrGwMwtipROSvZ2DElYT81BQxBBoywbk3txULUHQ/s640/northern+light+4.jpg" width="476" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSR7-rkuFfsLPdv0RxH26iu6icj3-ablRA6ljCBd5q3EWvETYTv1z-cJFxMdFz0v0jKImcfpPV89TdRVYB0qNAnGY4niksMakJ1qs7Z6iLriB5nr-Hzz0MJS_1rL7DStNSeENcbXF_vrY/s1600/northern+light+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSR7-rkuFfsLPdv0RxH26iu6icj3-ablRA6ljCBd5q3EWvETYTv1z-cJFxMdFz0v0jKImcfpPV89TdRVYB0qNAnGY4niksMakJ1qs7Z6iLriB5nr-Hzz0MJS_1rL7DStNSeENcbXF_vrY/s640/northern+light+3.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOuatctulyFG8TK9GCjdkICJIjQ1eciJai2p5kmg5qdfXFRaXGUZgfoo9DTs988cMQsd-pepF_YQO4eom1O898tQVc3_xyyDhm490uw6QM5NV8Stk1pG_23hTuPvd4BhLJza57yhLFGOs/s1600/northern+light+6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOuatctulyFG8TK9GCjdkICJIjQ1eciJai2p5kmg5qdfXFRaXGUZgfoo9DTs988cMQsd-pepF_YQO4eom1O898tQVc3_xyyDhm490uw6QM5NV8Stk1pG_23hTuPvd4BhLJza57yhLFGOs/s640/northern+light+6.JPG" width="428" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">So if you haven't already, pop on over <a href="http://so-much-more-than-nl.blogspot.com/">here</a> and check it out, you won't be disappointed. Oh, and say hi from me too!  </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85794/shatay01/57292ae3db79c6d939a1f2a85508a076.png" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border: 0pt none ! important;" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>

An award...and an apology!

I have a huge apology to make...last month, the lovely Natasha from Northern Light was nice enough to pass on a the Versatile Blogger award...

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Kauri Cliffs

You may remember my post on <a href="http://driftwood-interiors.blogspot.com/2010/08/white-vs-colour.html">Huka Lodge</a>, with its gorgeous, stylish interiors. Well, Virgina Fisher, who was responsible for the design of <a href="http://www.hukalodge.co.nz/accommodation/alan-pye-cottage/">Alan Pye Cottage</a>, has also worked her magic on another gem called <a href="http://kauricliffs.com/">Kauri Cliffs</a>. Overlooking New Zealand's Bay of Islands, the luxury resort ticks all the boxes - stunning location, beautiful design, and every luxury imaginable. <br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkS8DiGM7RdJoGTLbyXiSNhfr_jRNwnRgt92AcG_KAABk24xJQsGURkwO3yD-IPUHC3mgeIvi2hnoZfnV9OTxG-MQwihlvCCyak5WD70lF4J9nVqErcEzjXlNvRYPFuJn3_lxMjXliPzg/s1600/kauricliffs+com+10.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="329" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkS8DiGM7RdJoGTLbyXiSNhfr_jRNwnRgt92AcG_KAABk24xJQsGURkwO3yD-IPUHC3mgeIvi2hnoZfnV9OTxG-MQwihlvCCyak5WD70lF4J9nVqErcEzjXlNvRYPFuJn3_lxMjXliPzg/s640/kauricliffs+com+10.png" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ9VNn4sUw9J_LDrjyiKrOZw70PNzcqudDwb9-dnGjpK_l6-PycwF7qEKF8QC8VrXuZV8flqIAG8Lek9hZ93Ci-isc33n5p91l7yCay8TjSsCj3ICrHUMvq0QX6DGxv0K4oCAZ0VdAZd4/s1600/kauricliffs+com+7.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ9VNn4sUw9J_LDrjyiKrOZw70PNzcqudDwb9-dnGjpK_l6-PycwF7qEKF8QC8VrXuZV8flqIAG8Lek9hZ93Ci-isc33n5p91l7yCay8TjSsCj3ICrHUMvq0QX6DGxv0K4oCAZ0VdAZd4/s640/kauricliffs+com+7.png" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCuojBqd7CanxqP00N41M8WVfQyW4_Urnh-vOyqlY3E5tEjTIZqDyp33TfrZQwxYta9BcQAv7R9xfA5aAqlYP8lGfnMMgi_zIVgq6IPPCVQ-T4_YdG3IZqIy1sdh06D2OeUgkc0O3KmjY/s1600/kauricliffs+com+12.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="419" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCuojBqd7CanxqP00N41M8WVfQyW4_Urnh-vOyqlY3E5tEjTIZqDyp33TfrZQwxYta9BcQAv7R9xfA5aAqlYP8lGfnMMgi_zIVgq6IPPCVQ-T4_YdG3IZqIy1sdh06D2OeUgkc0O3KmjY/s640/kauricliffs+com+12.png" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIXYh10wbEAKvb2KD7rGqCDtpk03jfTQt7XpYPxuvOargGHkh3I6ZSi7nXkjqXOAlCbUJ_fx9zmyR-sTCzAh_qROv1oSiSFr8Xli5Q8i0vO0Z_0X3FuoHmC-xGNIHGKCiyr2JxXT2-ZFQ/s1600/kauricliffs+com+11.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIXYh10wbEAKvb2KD7rGqCDtpk03jfTQt7XpYPxuvOargGHkh3I6ZSi7nXkjqXOAlCbUJ_fx9zmyR-sTCzAh_qROv1oSiSFr8Xli5Q8i0vO0Z_0X3FuoHmC-xGNIHGKCiyr2JxXT2-ZFQ/s640/kauricliffs+com+11.png" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXS-7hqVjJfP_C3saUlDz0hwt_cGK-SJFPQKZJ9ZR3e1-hmFSs-DDjgp-28HNbr5OITlELwXAse_Sd71pdXF-L-HXx0Vaf192iIIzW3v_einNIkTJj41PmttnHFNqAAEJ2PjBJV-ivMas/s1600/kauricliffs+com+3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXS-7hqVjJfP_C3saUlDz0hwt_cGK-SJFPQKZJ9ZR3e1-hmFSs-DDjgp-28HNbr5OITlELwXAse_Sd71pdXF-L-HXx0Vaf192iIIzW3v_einNIkTJj41PmttnHFNqAAEJ2PjBJV-ivMas/s640/kauricliffs+com+3.png" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQkecMtH5xd6j1r1Tk_jZXqWNL_OwiJTpLadaUwgkzXY2CJE4Dqj9yAnqmB9etXzdngsQxwMZEyjrIRyiBSJ03oWdFD6ghCBQqsuE8P1bn-XlmnT7oMbLnwX8dsz-h0v5OiTCvPZJIPZ0/s1600/kauricliffs+com+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="433" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQkecMtH5xd6j1r1Tk_jZXqWNL_OwiJTpLadaUwgkzXY2CJE4Dqj9yAnqmB9etXzdngsQxwMZEyjrIRyiBSJ03oWdFD6ghCBQqsuE8P1bn-XlmnT7oMbLnwX8dsz-h0v5OiTCvPZJIPZ0/s640/kauricliffs+com+1.png" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg70YQthDl6YQnDMuKsD6THIlfmIarHw0LdyVAg8Pmca-5Tjo4Bqpf7li2FWmbDjkno-MJk6YA1DWStYHy9jUnrGXqPX8XNaaJK-8w-0FbX4W7F0aLHkIXyQS_ViKOS0RXH3egBABExl9s/s1600/kauricliffs+com+6.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg70YQthDl6YQnDMuKsD6THIlfmIarHw0LdyVAg8Pmca-5Tjo4Bqpf7li2FWmbDjkno-MJk6YA1DWStYHy9jUnrGXqPX8XNaaJK-8w-0FbX4W7F0aLHkIXyQS_ViKOS0RXH3egBABExl9s/s640/kauricliffs+com+6.png" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">all images courtesy <a href="http://kauricliffs.com/">kauricliffs.com</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Stunning, isn't it? I've just spent the day at an athletics carnival, on a bitterly cold day, so this looks oh-so-appealing at the moment.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Hope you've all had a great day,</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85794/shatay01/57292ae3db79c6d939a1f2a85508a076.png" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border: 0pt none ! important;" /></a>

Kauri Cliffs

You may remember my post on Huka Lodge , with its gorgeous, stylish interiors. Well, Virgina Fisher, who was responsible for the design of A...

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Oh my...

...is this not the best study ever? Just look at the library (bliss!), the vintage goodies, gorgeous floors....need I say more? <br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzSCARs91xcsDaAhE908uLIjvlRd9lvwzNSf8hZQgn7sNjA-c9XEitUrL3H0UdgTkPgWncFM6_jjrR0hiuRLbsqQvdnjUS7Q7RU_Bkx6DZftjA6lkm9rbPV5LMB5pupwUVEZu8RYFwroo/s1600/office+space+douglas+friedman+via+greige+design.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzSCARs91xcsDaAhE908uLIjvlRd9lvwzNSf8hZQgn7sNjA-c9XEitUrL3H0UdgTkPgWncFM6_jjrR0hiuRLbsqQvdnjUS7Q7RU_Bkx6DZftjA6lkm9rbPV5LMB5pupwUVEZu8RYFwroo/s640/office+space+douglas+friedman+via+greige+design.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://douglasfriedman.net/">douglas friedman</a> via <a href="http://greigedesign.blogspot.com/">greige</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />Ah, to dream.....</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85794/shatay01/57292ae3db79c6d939a1f2a85508a076.png" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border: 0pt none ! important;" /></a>

Oh my...

...is this not the best study ever? Just look at the library (bliss!), the vintage goodies, gorgeous floors....need I say more? douglas frie...

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Blue cabinet...a little update

I know it's taken me absolutely <i>ages </i>to get back to this post, but better late than never I guess! Here are a few pics of my blue cabinet I posted about <a href="http://driftwood-interiors.blogspot.com/2010/07/ive-made-my-decision.html">here</a> - with a new coat of white paint and a few pretty vintage pieces to zhush it up a bit.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwXahMJRNWXkuQLIZfqdy6Oj71nyPwfpGHossO35j6wdcnvc8t9bq2ALl-Rz9BlLuHiRB7uxmq2QAQ3kt_t38wm0f4PzTYKeWJWOgBraBQ2e4tI62xTnqDTP3tljMk0UvMlGWxbXYQGLk/s1600/blue+cabinet+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwXahMJRNWXkuQLIZfqdy6Oj71nyPwfpGHossO35j6wdcnvc8t9bq2ALl-Rz9BlLuHiRB7uxmq2QAQ3kt_t38wm0f4PzTYKeWJWOgBraBQ2e4tI62xTnqDTP3tljMk0UvMlGWxbXYQGLk/s640/blue+cabinet+4.jpg" width="412" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">ok, and the before:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Ry7AJPlEjt1Fn5Wg8ClNmgtUzAtpI2Eiq7NLZosS170HPZYwT-9cimz5DnkSbEtB39FzwNQmKjpWfhrfCdvZnxAf98yS_QRjp3q7KIzKlRkG99_hZDbaM_5GSTURjq-v7A6k9Sc_Y94/s1600/DSC02334+-+Copy+%282%29.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Ry7AJPlEjt1Fn5Wg8ClNmgtUzAtpI2Eiq7NLZosS170HPZYwT-9cimz5DnkSbEtB39FzwNQmKjpWfhrfCdvZnxAf98yS_QRjp3q7KIzKlRkG99_hZDbaM_5GSTURjq-v7A6k9Sc_Y94/s640/DSC02334+-+Copy+%282%29.JPG" width="444" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I only have this one photo to share today, as blogger and I are not on good terms - is anyone else having the same problem? I'm even struggling to log in at the moment. But anyway, I quickly popped some of my vintage pink china on the shelves, and thought the it looked rather pretty against the chippy, peely, aqua paintwork. You may remember my inspiration was the blue cupboard revamped by the lovely Maria over at <a href="http://dreamywhites.blogspot.com/2010/07/my-blue-cupboard.html">Dreamy Whites</a> :</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqrm5euXa7doayzlCAicYRtu8Bztt0iwt9EF0_EJUpZBhYkzxvSANykZvzGezzpjLzu_YBB6XgadFMDKou7dS5Bk4Pg6GutAtkJF4Bd2j9CzupwzEn2JgYpSfywLn2sv3Ikelg9TNDWS8/s1600/dreamywhites1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqrm5euXa7doayzlCAicYRtu8Bztt0iwt9EF0_EJUpZBhYkzxvSANykZvzGezzpjLzu_YBB6XgadFMDKou7dS5Bk4Pg6GutAtkJF4Bd2j9CzupwzEn2JgYpSfywLn2sv3Ikelg9TNDWS8/s640/dreamywhites1.jpg" width="428" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6hVTQNMixsEHoj2AvBVNRP4OM-PJXvLViftbw3ao9V0DOpR5UCem2ukqjRWJbzOIU_TZ3FldjorOywPpBRnlH3fKTgFVquEC4A8AQfzTKu9sYbZOMSnOk_JZ52hokG0nvCnRwyZlHm1A/s1600/dreamywhites4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6hVTQNMixsEHoj2AvBVNRP4OM-PJXvLViftbw3ao9V0DOpR5UCem2ukqjRWJbzOIU_TZ3FldjorOywPpBRnlH3fKTgFVquEC4A8AQfzTKu9sYbZOMSnOk_JZ52hokG0nvCnRwyZlHm1A/s640/dreamywhites4.jpg" width="428" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">gorgeous, no? </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">This cabinet will probably end up in my art studio, to hold all of my art supplies, but in the meantime I thought it might be fun to style the shelves in a few different ways - which I'll do over the next few weeks. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Ok, it's back to some real work for me, so I'll catch you all later.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Have a great day,</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85794/shatay01/57292ae3db79c6d939a1f2a85508a076.png" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border: 0pt none ! important;" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>

Blue cabinet...a little update

I know it's taken me absolutely ages to get back to this post, but better late than never I guess! Here are a few pics of my blue cabine...

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