MY FAVOURITE BLOG RIGHT NOW. AND NO, I'M NOT BIASED AT ALL.

Confession: I love a good fashion blog. I love beautiful photography. Food that looks amazing.


Turns out, there's one I'm checking on daily to see if it's has been updated. I might be slightly obsessed. I'm sure I'm not biased, but this latest blog I'm excited about is my girl's. Yes, my eldest step daughter Kelly has a rocking blog, and her Instagram has literally gone viral in the last few months.

 Now you want to know what the fuss it about too, right? Her blog is found here.

Oh, and you're welcome. x

giveaways, winning + pretty things

When a parcel arrives in the mail addressed to you, how do you react? Do you open it up like a child who has to open it NOW, or you do you savour the moment and make it wait for the right time?

This afternoon I special delivery arrived at my doorstep, and I didn't want to wait.

Because I knew what was inside.

Pretty things.

Thanks to one of my favourite bloggers, Shh... it's Lizeylou. She had her very first giveaway which I WON (what are the chances?)! I was so thrilled because I'd already peeked at Eb & Ive's Facebook page, which led me to their website, which had me falling in love with their lovely bits.

They say that first impressions are lasting:

And inside:

A linen camel bag, a pretty scarf, a funky BIG ring, a gorgeous necklace, earrings to die for, AND some pretty hair clips.

Did I mention they were pretty already?

And because I'd leaned towards the mad, frantic opening which had to be done straight away (as I oohed and aahed), I transferred all my junk to my new handbag, whipped on the earrings, the necklace, and proceeded to show them off to my neighbour as I raced out the door to the next lot of errands.

And I may or may not show them off a little more on Sunday when we get all Fancy Pants round here.

But I really wanted to say was a BIG thank you to Lizeylou for her awesome giveaway, and to Eb & Ive for making the prettiest things.

Have you ever won a giveaway? Were you chuffed to the core?

look what came early... and blog day

I love the freaky warm weather we've been having lately. It's tricked all the plants, and our fruit trees are already flowering. Yet spring doesn't start until tomorrow.

Early fruit this year? I sure hope so!

And speaking of spring, isn't it wonderful to discover something new, something special?

Today is Blog Day and is there a better excuse to share the lovely blogs in our lives? Here are a few of the ones I'm loving right now:

1. Strong Southerly. This girl has style and Good Chair For Monday. I just want to climb into them every week and have a nana nap. I love this girl!
2. File Under "Miscellanous". If wanting a good giggle, Maybe Melody always has something cleverly written - whether it be a new song, or a funny way of sharing a great story. Even her "About Me" is beautifully written. Plus she's totally gorgeous. And really, really tall.
3. Agnes' Pages. I've loved this blog for as long as I discovered other blogs were 'out there.' Short posts, gorgeous pictures, and always something to think about.
4. My New Roots. Foodies, beware. Healthy, gorgeous photographs and beautifully illustrated. Don't visit on an empty stomach! Vegetarian food never looked so good.
5. The Vegan Stoner. Hilarious food blog. So cute, so easy. And so delish!
6. Diva Mum. A new blog by Naomi of Seven Cherubs fame. I love it, because I love wearable trinkets too!

Have all your trees started budding before spring? Will you share some blog love for Blog Day today too?

a modern fairytale about linky love

Once upon a time, you young (okay, not really young) and fair maiden started a blog. She promptly forgot about it, then she started it again. But by the time she was ready to post, she couldn’t remember how to do it. In fact, she had no clue how she had done it in the first place.

Time passed and as she became use to posting, her blogging host had updated their version. It was confusing, but the young maiden persisted. She even asked a friend how to add Site Meter on it so she could see some statistics for her blog. Although she needed help, she didn't mind asking other maidens how to do it.

As she blogged more and more, she became more familiar with the technology. The maiden was falling in love with her new hobby and wanted to go the next level. She wanted people to get involved in her regular posts. Then she met the thing of her dreams.

It was linky love at first sight. First the basic linky, then the thumbnail. It inspired her so much she started two weekly linkys (details here) as the linky love was free and given wholeheartedly.

The first linky was a weekly fashion post called Fancy Pants, encouraging other bloggers to get all fancy pants and dress up. Of course, the thumbnail linky enabled others to join in too. The second linky was about a new year’s resolution – to try something new every week. The basic linky was used so then people could share what they had done during the week.

These linkys continue. Except now that the love given for free now has a price. The fair maiden knew she had been taking the love without recipricating, and understood that love had a price she was willing to pay. (Even if it included cutting her long, long hair, living with extremely short people, in a dungeon or even sleeping for a hundred years.)

In fact, the fair maiden didn't think she could live without her linkys and wants to encourages others to feel the linky love and ask how they would use a linky?

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how healthy is your blogging habit?

I'm not sure if you've noticed or not, but I love blogging. Not only writing and journalling, but I love reading your posts, considering your perspective and writing style, responding with my thoughts, and reading other's comments. To me, apart from reading, this is the most immediate hub in which I learn, which I absorb, and which I am challenged.

You see, when I started this whole thing, I could take it or leave it. But as I become more familiar with you and your thoughts, I'm a little more interested that I use to be. And I confess it's a conscious effort not to hop over to my blogger dashboard for blog updates and have a read. Especially when I am preparing dinner, spending time with my kids or working on that production deadline. I pace myself, but sometimes I think I'm bordering on an addiction.

Now, most who know me would say I was a bit of a control freak. I don't drink, don't smoke, don't drink coffee. In fact, I run a mile from anything that could be slightly bad for me or addictive. But this... this has got me by the brain, by my maternal bits, my social side. And I can't shake it.

But I'm curious and have been wanting to ask you for ages... what does your family think of your blog*? What do they think about you blogging? Do they read it? Does your partner grumble when you jump onto your computer to check your messages, or your blog roll? Does it add more to your life? Does it take away from your family? Have you ever been accused of being addicted to blogging?

How do you keep it all in balance?

* insert facebook, twitter, websurfing, youtubing or your technical addiction here.