… that Sofia Coppola’s apartment is a great example of the décor reflecting the owner’s personal style. Well I think so anyway. But don’t you think it’s so… her? Feminine and classy with a hint of the exotic and a wow piece all thrown together somewhat casually? I love it. {images via The Fashion Spot}
…that I’ve done lots of interior design no-nos in my home – feature walls, fan lights, replica furniture… I interviewed an interior design team for an upcoming decorating feature and, um, couldn’t bring myself to admit to them everything they advised against, I’d done in my own home. Sigh. I did get lots of great info though – should be a fun one to write. Let’s hope I can read my shorthand.
…that it’s my 6th wedding anniversary on Sunday! Steve and I are not exactly obsessed with anniversaries and celebrating them. In fact, we usually forget all about them, like last year: mum called us after dinner to wish us a happy anniversary and we hadn’t even noticed it was the 25th! But the same was with our wedding. I called myself the Anti-Bride – even wrote an article about it for Cosmo Brides. Although for publications purposes and to make me not sound like the daughter of some evil wedding creature, we changed it to the nonchalant bride. Or something. Despite all this anti-wedding stuff, it was a beautiful (if not rainy!) day and we’re very much a blissfully happy couple (although slightly tired and frustrated – see below). I’ll try and find some more pics and post about it next week – but it was in the days of film processing so nothing is digital – oh how old-fashioned! But if you’re after some budget wedding tips, I might be able to help: we planned the whole thing in three months and it cost less than $5000.
…that sleep deprivation is a highly effective form of torture. Honestly, my whole body is aching, I have no energy and I’m thisclose to putting out a MISSING poster for my patience. Zak has decided that sleep is no fun anymore. It’s a nightmare to get him to bed – he screamed to 11.30pm the other night – and then once he’s down, he of course wakes up a few times throughout the night and screams some more. We’ve got rid of the “tickles that come out of the wall” (creepy much?) by yelling at them to go away (we had to do every single wall in the house), we’ve tried the light on, light off; made bedtime fun, made bedtime boring; been patient and kind, yelled and screamed with him; given him ultimatums, given him a 100 things to take to bed; tried talking in soothing tones, tried the silent treatment… We’ve TRIED EVERYTHING. And nothing seems to work. Tonight he’s bunking in with Layla – I asked if he’d want to sleep in her room. “yes, Layla’s room is not scary.” Ok then. He actually ASKED me to go to sleep tonight – at 5.30 without dinner or changing into pjs. Out like a light within minutes. I’m guessing it’s from exhaustion from the last month or so… But if you have any suggestions on getting a child to enjoy sleep again, they are so very, very welcome.
…that apparently, I have two daughters. Zak is quite taken with Layla’s red tutu…
…that Ink + Wit has a few fab products out: Aesop’s Fables Hare and Tortoise Poster, $US50, to introduce kiddies to the famous tale, and a letterpressed 2010 calendar, $US42, inspired by designer Tara Hogan’s recent travels. I love that the amount of stylish calendars increases every year – if you buy from clever types at Etsy or smaller online stores you’ll not only get a unique design, you’ll get a GREAT one. I don’t understand why cat or flower calendars are all you see in stores when there are so many non-daggy varieties online. {image via Ink + Wit}
…this awesome pumpkin carving perfect for Halloween – if you do that kind of thing. It’s never really taken off in Australia, has it? Probably due to us drumming into our children Stranger Danger – don’t talk to strangers; don’t take lollies from strangers… But if you’re into Halloween, give this a whirl – perfect for front porches or table centrepieces. Also check out the site’s brilliant repurposing projects such as tote bags made from singlets and a bookshelf from old drawers. {images via Crafty Nest}
Have a great weekend, wherever you are! x
Happy Anniversary!
I too have commited some interior design crimes. We have fan lights in the bedroom. Tsk. Tsk. And I just bought Replica Eames chairs for the dining table. If we were billionaires it would be different.
Our 6th anniversary is coming up soon too, congrats! Do a little something special for it, though it is tricky with kids
Love Sofia’s style, so beautiful.
Awww Zak you are too cute
Thank you so much for your advice re: the wedding
It’s nice to know someone else has done it
xoxo
If it’s any consolation the only time we celebrated our wedding anniversary was our 10th, two years ago!!! Being on January 3rd, it is the worst time as we’re often away, with family etc and it gets lost in the Christmas/New Year thing. To be honest and for fear of sounding corny, you should remember/appreciate/celebrate your marriage at other times – whenever the moment takes you, I reckon. Formalising it on one day can be a bit too organised and forced. Anyway, got to get back to my spraypainting my wicker (sorry to ramble)!
Sleep deprivation. Unfortunately, I can relate. Mine has been going on a good 9 weeks now. 9 weeks of interrupted sleep without a single night of reprieve. It came without warning and I’d forgotton what it was like. Now I know: the dizzyness, the irritability, the lack of motivation…
Lack of sleep in itself is torture. But having something scream, cry, thrash, not respond to feeding, rocking, patting, singing, no singing.. at 3am it makes you want to do something irrational. I don’t know what the answer is Belinda, but when you work it out please share!
ps. Love the calendar idea, I kind of forgot that Etsy would be a good source for such a thing. Begone Anne Geddes 2009!
Happy anniversary! Your wedding sounds pretty similar- we were engaged 3 months and it cost less than $5000 too.
Hope you get some sleep soon. Sleep deprivation is the pits.
Sympathise re lack of sleep. I have had 4 babies and 2 were shockers. It is torture and all I can say is be kind to yourself.
Ahh, can very much relate to the sleep problems, we just went through it with our 2 year old (just before he turned 2 actually) and it was hell. In the end I worked out that because I kept changing tack he wasn’t responding – I tried pretty much everything you mentioned. In the end I did a version of controlled crying (if that’s what you can call it) that I was comfortable with – down for sleep, out for 5 mins, back in to say ‘bedtime’ firmly and lay him down again, then out again for 5 mins and so on. I never left it longer than 5 mins and believe it or not it worked. I stuck to this over a week and he got back to his normal easy to put to bed self YAY! What also helped was doing the exact same routine everynight as well, which can be annoying when you are so tired and just want to get them down for the night but if it works…sorry for the extra long comment – hope it helps!!
PS – love the wedding pic, cant resist a good wedding…
PSS – oh and yes – tickles from the walls – perhaps a house cleansing is needed if you are into that type of thing, creepy yes !!
jane, i totally agree. i much prefer the days we spontaneously do something special or fun or surprise each other with a small gift just because. ive never been one for valentines or anniversaries…
fellow sleep-deprived: am pleased to say zak has slept fine the past three nights. i put him on a mattress in layla’s room and if he wakes up he just wants his music star on (this star that emits a moving picture on the ceiling and plays music) and he drifts back to slumberland – no screaming, no crying, no “i want you”; “i neeed you”. am relieved he’s getting some sleep but totally peed off that we just spent all that time, effort and money creating them their own rooms… i’m sure he’ll get over it and go back to his own soon enough – or maybe we’ll swap them totally, i’m sure layla won’t care where she sleeps. i’m goign to try her travel cot in his room after a while and see how she goes in there and him in her room alone. if it works maybe that’s the winner… stay tuned for the next installment of the Neverending Room-Swapping Adventures of the Graham Family!!!
bree, you’re right – sticking to something for a while works – i did everything for several nights but the problem was i could it fine when he first went to bed, but when he’d wake up three times in the one ngiht and i’d have to do it all ovre again for hours? i couldn’t phyiscally do. and it’s all caught up with me. sick as a dog! ugh i think once we’ve all recovered and he’s back to normal i’ll try him in his room again and be persistent.. we’ll see!
thanks for all your advice! xx
Just in case the tickles in the wall or the monsters rear their ugly heads again, I’ve heard of this trick: put a drop of lavendar oil in a small spray bottle filled with water and call it “Monster Spray” or “Tickles-be-Gone” or whatever works (hmmm…a cute label might be in order). Have a go at spraying the room like crazy before bedtime — the lingering lavender scent is supposed to be calming and the little ritual kind of affirms that his worries are real, albeit fixable. Worth a try!
Am totally relating to the sleep deprivation for other reasons. Wondering if I will ever again have a day when I am not zombie-like. Sigh. Yawn.
happy 6th anniversary – lovely wedding pic…hope you got a chance to celebrate with your man!!
i do love Sophia Coppolla’s home and style, she’s very chic and creative too (love the new Miss Dior Ads!!)
im looking forward to decorating a new home and hope I dont make too many mistakes haha!
thank you for the sweet post : )
those pumpkins are beautiful!