On this day in 1987.....(Simple friends)

I blogged about finding my old diaries earlier this month and its inspired me to keep sharing some of the great memories I discovered.  This one is a favourite for a couple of reasons:

1. The girl that gave me this letter in 1987 is now my sister in law and mother to 3 of my nieces
2. The simplicity and honesty of 6 year olds is something to be cherished
3. Colour pens were just soooo cool

In case you can't read it this is what it says: (spelling errors included)

Dear Sally,

            I have had fun playing with you and next time I will bring you to my party and if I go to your party I will give you a big surprise. 

            Yours Truly, Amanda

(Sorry I didn't do something else be I didn't no what to do)

Where has the simplicity and honesty gone?  At what age do we lose it? What would life be like if we didn't?

Imagine I said to you now, invite me to your party and then you can come to mine, I'll make it worth your while.  Just like that, straight out there!  

On this day in 1998..... (Meiringein, Switzerland)

I was in Meiringein, Switzerland.

Today I opened up my memory box for the first time in years and found my travel diary.  It was so much fun looking back over my memories and laughing at myself.  I always had a diary when I was younger and I shared everything (and I mean everything!).  So I thought I would share some of it with you.  Here is an exert from the 3rd March 1998:

Today Jodie & I went on a mission to find Matt.  From here we caught a train to Meiringein then trapsed around the village wondering where the hell to start but then the freestyle office looked good ....

I won't continue as the way I wrote is terrible and boring!

  

So what was I doing on the other side of the world in a tiny snow town in Switzerland?  I had not long arrived in Switzerland on my European adventure and Meiringein was where I was meeting an American skier (who shall remain nameless, there must be more than one American skier called Matt) that I had fallen for and had a brief relationship with in Australia.  I was working at Mt Buller and he was there to compete in the World Cup Aerials competition. 

Yes I know I know I can hear you now thinking it - "She left home to meet a boy", what happened?  Exactly what you would expect happened, we had a few weeks of travelling while he competed and had a great time then he had to go home and I was on my own. All over red rover.  I look back now and wonder what the heck I was thinking!!  But I would do it all over again because the next few years were some of the best adventures of my life!

MELBOURNEmade launch

I recently shared some photo's of Flynns room that we took for MELBOURNEmade Magazine.  Well Thursday night was the launch of the new ma and Lisa and I went along to check it out. We met some great people and also ran into a few of our old faves.

Lisa was lucky enough to add some content in the Top Tips for Kids rooms and it looked so great in the magazine. Check it out below (sorry for the quality I took this on my iPhone)

That's our Field of Foxes quilt on the right!

Alli from Motivating Mum was there and it was good to catch up and have a chat.  As always she is as busy as ever helping out work at home mums get their business on track and if you haven't already signed up to her forum or workshops they are well worth it!

We met the guys (and gal) from Mi Goals and we were both lucky enough to win one of their desk calendars.

And last but not least we also met the husband and wife team from Ross Calia Photography.  Now these guys are kid crazy, they are pregnant with their fourth baby!  But they were so lovely and when I checked out their website on Friday I was so impressed with their photos we will definitely be calling them for a new photo shoot we have planned.

So thanks to everyone at MELBOURNEmade for such a great night and good luck for the new magazine!

Sally

Dyed Wooden Beads Necklace

I really want to do this project- make my own beaded necklaces.  I am constantly searching for great bead necklaces and never quite find what I'm looking for.  Enter Martha Stewart and her DIY project and it  shouldn't be that hard!

Now I just have to find the time!

If you have more time then me instructions can be found here

Sally

Megumi Sakakibara

Whilst we are on the subjects of amazing designers (Check out yesterday's post on Naomi Ito) lets talk about Megumi Sakakibara.

We currently have two of Megumi's designs in our quilt range.  Both our Farm Girl and Fox ranges incorporate Megumi linen and have been so well received.

I spend a lot of time on her website checking out new designs and thought I would share a few of my favourites.

I love clocks and these are just so fun for a kids room.

  

One of my favourite things about Megumi is how she plays on our imaginations - its as if the little girl and the rabbit really exist

Nani Iro by Naomi Ito

We love Nani Iro fabrics.  We have used her muslin for our muslin wraps in the past and our current Birch range is also a Nani Iro fabric. (which we announced here)

I was browsing through Noami's main site and came across some gorgeous designs that I hope she releases on fabric soon.  Check them out below.


These ducks are just devine.  Imagine them on a boys wrap or I could even see them on a onesie!

Dots are very cool, something a little bit out of the ordinary

And if you don't like a standard dot why not a bit of something else - check out those two little fish down the bottom

Sally

Connect2Mums Giveaway

Update: Announcing the winner of the giveaway:

Drumroll please.........

Laila - a late entry but an important one!  We will contact you via email to organise delivery

Congratulations


Hi Guys and welcome to the Connect2Mums and Olives Tree Giveaway. We are giving you the chance to win an Olives Tree gift pack which includes:

• 1 x bassinet quilt of your choice
• 1 x dribble bib
• 1 x baby bib
• 1 x cushion

For you chance to win our amazing gift pack all you have to do is:

1. Head over to our website at http://www.olivestree.com.au/
2. Check out our quilt range
3. Come back here and leave a comment letting us know what your favourite design is (or which one you'd like to win!)
4. Like Connect2Mums Facebook page

After double the chance to win? Just Like us on Facebook and we will give you a second entry!

Good luck!
Sally

Its Shopping night - Christmas Gifts

As promised here are some of my favourite products from the participants in tonights Connect2Mums Shopping Spectacular

Its Shopping Night

Last week I told you about our exclusive online shopping event with Connect 2 Mums. Well tonight is the night!  From 7.30pm tongiht join us online at Facebook to enjoy great special offers, discounts and prizes from an amazing group of companies.

How do you participate?

1. Head over to the Connect2Mums facebook page here
2. Like their page
3. Be online between 7.30pm (AEST) and 10.30pm tonight to find out what the offers are!

We have put together the best offer ever, I can't tell you about it yet but if you like our bibs and free stuff then you'll love it too!

Want to know who else is participating?  Here is the list.  I will share some of my favourite things from these guys throughout the day to get you excited.

http://www.olivestree.com.au/ - thats us!
http://www.gemcandles.com.au/
http://www.chillibeachdesigns.com/
http://www.storksak.com.au/
http://www.koolamandesigns.com.au/
http://www.thetoybug.com.au/
http://www.magneticmoves.com.au/
http://www.kidslearningisfun.com/
http://www.passitforwardgifts.com.au/
http://www.little-eco.com.au/
http://www.swishlily.com.au/

Sally

The Circle

Yesterday I promised more exciting news and here it is......

We are going to be on The Circle! You know, the Channel 10 TV show, can you believe it? We can't!

    

How did we score the interview? Through Alli from Motivating Mum. She writes here about how she scored her interview on The Circle.  

We will be interviewed tomorrow for a series on Mumpreneurs, we have been selected for the 'working with family' segment. We are all very excited and I think we have all tried on our whole wardrobe one hundred times!

I will let you know how it goes and I'll be sure to take photos and share with you after the interview.

Wish us luck!

Sally

Connect2Mums Online Shopping Spectacular

I have great news to share (and more tomorrow).  Olives Tree has been selected to be a part of the Connect2Mums Shopping Spectacular.  Details below and more to come leading up to the big day including an amazing special offer AND a giveaway

Wordless Wednesday: Fun

Perfect is the cure for happiness

That's the adage and its a book.  Yesterday I did a leadership course through my corporate job and part of that was receiving 360 degree feedback.  Its always a learning experience having 8 other people answer over 200 questions about you and then comparing that to the responses you gave yourself!

I had one area that was exactly the same results from both sides - Perfectionism.  Its no surprise really I know I am a perfectionist and if you asked my friends, family and colleagues I don't think you'd find anyone who would disagree.  I strive to be the best I can be and believe that anyone who wants to be their best can be with hard work and determination.  That belief was a gift from my mother and grandmother.  Two strong women.

To be honest I've never had a problem with it and even when my coach pushed me yesterday to try and figure out the areas of my life that striving for perfection adds stress to I just couldn't pinpoint anything.  If anything I was trying to convince her it makes my life easier!  Am I just fooling myself? And why am I even questioning it?

Because I have just finished reading a series of posts entitled Perfectly Imperfect.  This was an initiative started by Kate from picklebums.  I have to give my respect to all the bloggers that posted, their honesty is what is now make me question my blase acceptance of my perfectionism.  Whilst I don't have kids yet and most of the posts are about mothers analysing their needs to be the perfect mother I think the message is still clear - maybe 80% is good enough, acceptable or even better than perfection.  Maybe it shows others that you are real, that you too fail and sometimes doubt what you are doing.

I am not perfect, I stuff up, I say things I shouldn't, I get angry too quick sometimes, I don't go to all the family events I'm invited to (you should see how many there are!) I never answer the phone and lately I have been lazy with the garden.  This is what happens when you neglect your garden!

But that is who I am, I also do good things.  I'll help you with whatever problem you have, I'll jump into new projects feet first and I've given a whole weekend away without even realising it, I'll be there for my family whenever they need me regardless of the past.

I don't have kids yet (hopefully soon) and I am going to take the opportunity to lessen my perfectionisic (is that a word??) tendencies before they come, I want to enjoy motherhood as much as I can, so I'm going to learn from all the amazing women who took the time to do a Perfectly Imperfect post.

Sally

Doing it by halves

I do enjoy a wee dessert from time to time but when I do make the effort to bake a pie half of it ends up being thrown away as a whole pie is too much for just the two of us.  So when I saw this pie tin I was in heaven.  Its supposed to be for people who can't decide which pie they want so they can bake two types, but for me it means I can bake half a pie and then not feel guilty about throwing away the other half!

Sally

Colour Challenge: Optimism

I have been starting to dread this colour challenge, I am feeling extremely under prepared for it and wondering whether I should just pull the pin.  Then I saw this

So I am reinvigorated.  I can do it. I will do it

Sally   

A timely reminder

I just discovered these amazing post it note watches through the Swiss Miss blog. They are so appropriate for a few people I know, write them a reminder and attach it to their wrist, therefore no excuses.  I really do marvel at the creative brains out there.

Sally

Colour Challenge: I need to set a budget

Its 6 sleeps to my colour challenge and that means shopping, lots of it and not much time. So I've been spending lots of time online shopping.  After visiting the US earlier this year opened my eyes to just how much extra we pay in Australia, its criminal really. Then shopping on the weekend just confirmed it - Australia is expensive! So to save some money I am going to give online shopping a good go.  I have already purchased a skirt but I need to get committed.

My first stop was Rachel Roy - I just LOVE her style! The dress I posted here which is my one color item is a Rachel Roy which I bought when I was in the US for $120!  I first came across Rachel Roy whilst watching Private Practice (yes I know sad).  The main Dr lady was wearing an amazing dress so I Googled and found a link to Rachel Roy - I have been in love ever since.

This was the first dress I fell in love with and found it in Australia for $700.  I bought it in the US for $80 on sale! (Not part of my color challenge obviously)

Right back to the point! I need to set a budget, and that means I need a wardrobe plan.  It would be really easy to buy a whole heap of colorful items and still not be able to put an outfit together because none of it matches!  I'm not looking forward to it but I'm going to try.  I'll be using Kendi Everyday's 30 for 30 as a base.

Sally

Color Challenge: I'm on my way

I went shopping on the weekend to get ready for my color challenge.  I got up early so I could avoid the crowds and hopefully arrive to shop assistants still getting ready for the day rather than wanting to serve me. I have to say it was a good plan, not many people around, tidy stores (which I love, as it makes it much easier to choose what I like) and the people who served me were great.  I forced myself to visit stores I normally wouldn't and I was pleasantly surprised.  Below are some pics of what I purchased - notice the colors! Ignore the one grey jacket I slipped in.

Color Challenge: Reality bites

Ok so I am committed to my color challenge - well most of it anyway!  I am committed to adding color to my wardrobe I've even told people at work about it so they can keep me honest.  There was a suggestion that one day I wear a big red flower in my hair, now thats a bit much to start with.

But can I do color every day from 1st November - well I'm not sure about that. Truth be told I have one outfit that fits into my color challenge and its already the 21st October!  That means I have 10 days to shop! (now I've just written that it does seem achievable)  So I'm going to try but I do have a back up (read: cop out) which is to say I will do it once a week.

I have taken the first step.  I have emailed my personal shopper to book in and get some help!  There is no way she cwill be available before November so I'm going to have to do some shopping on my own.  I started using a personal shopper because I hate shopping.  The endless wandering around looking at more of the same, the assistants either ignoring me or all over me, the different sizes in each store so I have no idea which one to pick off the shelf.  I hate shopping.

So today I dropped past Zara on the way home from work.  There was a heap of color items to choose from but the line was sooooo long to try anything on I didn't even bother picking anything off the racks, I just strolled around aimlessly.  Oh how I hate shopping.

Then on the train on the way home I was browsing around some online stores but nothing really took my fancy.  I am starting to understand why my wardrobe is so boring! And did I mention I hate shopping.

Maybe if I just buy a load of accessories in colors that can start me off.  I'm getting nervous - can you tell?

Pippa rocks red

Following on with my color theme (yes I am a little obsessed at the moment with my wardrobe) I've been doing some more browsing looking for inspiration.  I have come across alot of pictures of Pippa Middleton. I have to say I did LOVE her on the big wedding day and I think she does a good job of being stylish without too over the top.  Here are a few of my favourite pics of her giving red a go

Hmmm I think I need to book in my personal shopper!