from nature {a giveaway}

It has been known for centuries the healing powers of aromatherapy and the use of natural essential oils on the senses.  For a while now, I have been making a more conscience effort to return to using aromatherapy in my everyday routine.  Something that has been made easier by a wonderful product that I happened to stumble across whilst holding a stall at a local market.  The stall holder next to me was Cara, and her Aroma sticks and rubs have been in use daily since.

The benefits of the Aroma Sticks mean that a little piece of aromatherapy goodness can be with you wherever you go.  The essential oil inhalers come in five different blended scents and are all designed to boost your mood with their healing properties.  Simply remove the lid and inhale the scent!  I have incorporated the lavender inhaler into our nighttime routine, allowing the children to inhale the wonderful properties of lavender and petitgrain which calms the senses, soothes and aids sleep.  I have the Refresh inhaler in my handbag for a quick hit of Lime and Tangerine to aid in reducing anxiety and providing a happy serene stimulus.

When Cara decided to promote her products online we forged our creative talent together and I was given the opportunity to photograph her products, which you can now find in at FarmHouse Direct and at AndAble.

Cara has also given me a selection of her products to one lucky reader as a giveaway!!!

The pack includes:

One each of the five inhalers - Invigorate, Comfort, Refresh, Strength and Ease.
One Aroma Rub - Balance which includes a cream infused with Geranium, Juniper Berry, Grapefruit and Evening primrose oil.

To enter just leave me a  comment!  Giveaway closes Tuesday 13th August at 8pm.  A winner will be selected at random.


Giveaway Closed!  Thankyou to all who entered!  Random winner was comment no 9!  Kymmie you are the winner!  yay!!! 

afternoon delight {giveaway}

An afternoon, with a small glimmer of winter sunshine cascading in the windows, the slow murmur of the kettle rumbling the water within to boiling point for steaming cups of tea to accompany delicious scones of various colours and tastes.

The delight in afternoon tea is a fond time of the day.  It's not meal time, it can be formal or on a whim, with loved ones or newly met acquaintances and has the excuse of indulging in something sweet as a pick me up you need to get on with the rest of your day.

When Bakers Delight were so lovely to deliver me a selection of their scones, well afternoon tea has never been so delightful!   My kids devoured the choc chip, whilst the husband took to the white chocolate and blueberry which left me very happy to have my favourite date scone all to myself!

With school holidays just around the corner, why not have afternoon on me at of course Bakers Delight!

I have three $10 vouchers to giveaway so to enter.....

Be a follower of this here blog and just leave a comment.... for extra entries, like the Bakers Delight FB page,  repost this giveaway on any other form of social media (Facebook, instagram or twitter) and let me know (one comment for each shout out).  Vouchers only redeemable in Australia.

Three winners will be drawn at random and entries close on Tuesday 2nd July at 9pm. 

xx


Giveaway now closed!  The lucky winners drawn with Random Org are Zara, Provincial Homemaker and Pauline.  Congrats!

weetbix {a giveaway}

This is a sponsored post

When I was asked to make a few dishes by the folk that represent Weetbix, well I jumped at the chance. Weetbix has been a household favourite of mine even before I was a parent, and back further when I was a child myself. There is something quintessentially Australian about the humble Weetbix.  But I'm also here to remind you to look beyond just limiting this favourite icon to flooding a bowl of Weetbix with milk for breakfast.  Weetbix are truely a universal staple to have in your pantry.

Come with me on a journey and discover the possibilities that await you....

1. Weetbix, date and nut balls ::  1 cup chopped dried pitted dates, 1/2 cup roasted nuts of your choice, 2 weetbix, 1 tbs honey or you could use peanut butter :: Process in a food processor until all blitzed and starting to stick :: roll into small balls with your hand and coat with coconut. A great healthy sweet snack perfect with a strong coffee!

2. Salmon and Weetbix bites -  Mix a 400g tin of red salmon with 2 crushed Weetbix, 1 egg, some grated cheese and if you like some grated vegetable of your choice.  Roll into small sized balls.  Dip in egg yolk and then into bread crumbs and fry in some vegetable oil until golden.  Serve with a dip of your choice and slices of lemon.





3.Stuffed capsicum with Weetbix and Parmesan crumb - fry off some onions and vegetables and until soft and browning ::  Add a cup of cooked rice (brown or white) and stir to combine  ::  Spoon mixture into half capsicums ::  In a bowl crush one weetbix and mix with a tablespoon of grated Parmesan ::  sprinkle liberally over the top of each capsicum to cover the filling ::  place capsicums in a baking dish, fill a with a little water and then cover with foil and bake in the oven for about 30 minutes or until the capsicum is soft,  remove foil and bake for a further 10 minutes or until the crust is nice and golden. 

I have a year supply of Weetbix to giveaway to one lucky reader.  A year supply!  That's one box of Weetbix a month for a year.

Simply leave me a comment suggesting the way in which you like to use weetbix in your cooking repertoire.  It's that easy.  Giveaway will end at midnight Tuesday 22nd January 2013 and is open to all Australian and New Zealand residents. If you are not already a follower of this blog, then please become one and ensure that I can contact you should you be the lucky winner!


This competition is now closed!  The lucky winner is Mel from Coal Valley View - Congrats Mel...a years supply of weetbix is on it's way to you!

Christmas Giveaway

As I continue on my homemade Christmas Journey, a thought occurred, possibly in the wee hours of the night, when most creativity strikes....a little handmade giveaway.  I've not done a giveaway for so long, which means it must be time, and what better time than the season of giving.  So to say thanks for for spending time here on this special little place of mine, I'm offering one person a package of my handmade goodies.  Some things I've been making for ages, some just now...but all I love to make and fill my need to express my creativity in all sorts of ways.

The Christmas Giveaway Package will include

:: 1   An Oh So Handy Key Fob - in true MiraNarnie style, my favourite yellow and grey fabric on black webbing.
:: 2   Set of 4 napkins made with light weight cotton, with rolled edge.
:: 3   Clay bead necklace strung on leather strap in gorgeous hues perfect for summer!
:: 4   Pin cushion - a cute double sided fabric pin cushion filled with poly fill and adorned with ribbon and buttons.
:: 5   Boy's Movie Quote Print (A4 size) - Don't forget the boys in your life...for those that love the movies, this will provide loads of fun!
:: 6   Six Christmas tags decorated with Christmas washi tape and red twine - all your need to do is write on them and pop on a gift! 

You could keep them all for yourself or this little package might help tick a few last minute gifts off your list!

Ok, so how to enter?  I was going to make it a random draw, but apparently that doesn't comply with our States Gaming Requirements. So it has to be a game of skill.  These are the T's & C's of this here giveaway.

Please, make sure you are a follower of this here blog and comment answering the following question:

              Tell me why you need or would like this Handmade Christmas Package?

The Giveaway will be open from 8.30am (EDST) on Wednesday 5th December and close on Tuesday 11th December at 12 midnight (EDST).  The prize winner will be judged by my darling husband whom I will read out only your answers so he wont know who said what! This is a game of skill and the most interesting/entertaining comment will win.  The giveaway is open to all Australian Residents, and the winner will be announced on Wednesday 12th of December and contacted by email or via your blog, so be sure to make sure I can contact you.   Decision is final, and one winner will win all of the above and package will posted directly to the winner.

Good luck

xx

*** Competition now CLOSED!  winner was Em from Tea cup too  - Congrats Em xx

three ohhhhhhh

Source: flickr.com via Brenda on Pinterest

Oh dear!  It's nearly here....

yep, these are the last few days of my beloved 20's.

I've loved being 20 something.  Infact, I still feel 24 at least!  I know I should embrace turning 30, but it seems like such a leap - like suddenly I'm grown up.

Do you get strange about milestone birthdays.  I didn't think I would.   

But it's given a great idea - and I'll be celebrating in style with a great giveaway on my blog, so stay tuned. 

In the meantime...If you are, ahem, 30-something.  Tell me something amazing about being in your 30's!

xx

(image - of marilyn blowing out the candles on her 30th Birthday!)

i ♥, u ♥, we all ♥ - Maxabella L♥ves

HELLLLLOOOOOOOO BLOGLAND!


well, have you heard?


Maxabella Loves is having one HUGE giveway to celebrate her epic achievement of 1000 followers.  This acheivement in itself it awesome, and an inspiration to just how fantastically powerful blogs can be.

I remember when Maxabella Loves was a newby, a little fresh up-start blog, and *ahem* had fewer followers than me!

Hhahahahahah!  How weird does that sound now.  Look at her now!  All popular and, well, amazing.  But that's not to say it was easy.  I reckon it takes a special someone to have an amazing blog.  To make us want to come back, time and time again, day in day out.  To make us laugh, cry, wonder, ponder, think and decide.  To write critical words to get the message across, as if, she's sitting in our lounge room with us (kids running havoc of course), and just having a chat.

You may remember the celebration when Maxabella Loves hit 500 (yes little MiraNarnie was apart of that) - So of course, the natural progression when one hits 1000 has to be something just slightly more momentous!

So, whilst I'd love to just talk madly about Bronwyn, lets get back to the point at hand.

Bronwyn has totally outdone herself here and is offering one lucky winner an amazing Party Outfit from a selection of gorgeous fashionistas (Leona Edmiston, Shoes of Prey and Elk).

wow!  Amazing right.

So click on the button below.  Get commenting. Enter. Enter. Enter Enter.

Congrats Bron on hitting the mark!
xx

image

I'm grateful for...{diaries}

I love that we can start the weekend off with so much positivity.  Grateful day, is a special way, that does make me stop and appreicate, reflect and perhaps be a little less cynical or selfish.

I'm joining in with the ever entertaining Maxabella Loves....

And I'm grateful for...

1. Diaries - I've always been a diary kind-of-gal.  The kind that writes in appointments, carries one everywhere and feels lost without it.  At school, i would decorate my diary with an inch of it's life, cutting out gorgeous male models    pictures, and photos, paper and drawings just to make it look lovely.  Now with my delightful Frankie diary - Diary writing just got a whole lot cuter.

2. Games - at the moment, my kids love to play "hide and seek" together and sometimes with me.  I love how they can hide in the same spot over and over (or tell me where to hide whilst they count) and still act just as surprised when they find me hiding in the bushes for the tenth time just like they told me too! It just makes me giggle endlessly.

3. Sweet Surprise - I was the lucky recipient of a lovely giveaway from Louise at Vintage by Lou Lou - I received the most amazingly scented candle - lemon biscotti!  Yes, for those that know me, would know how much this scent would appeal to me....well, it smells so good, i'm so tempted to eat it!

for more gratefuls...head over here...

I have no idea where this image is from - so if you know, please let me know! 

Such a luscious giveaway

....Have you heard?

Heard what....

Maxabella Loves is hosting the Lusciously Lush Fabulously Fab Gorgeous Giveaway!

And Mira Narnie is joining her with Posie Patchwork, Ivy Designs, Paper Scissors Rock and Loved with a stack of gorgeous crafty treats!  What a way to celebrate 500 followers!!!

If you only enter one Giveaway this year, let it be this one!!  You will not be dissapointed!  I wish I could enter - all those yummy, amazing handmade delights!  Imagine all that goodness just before Christmas!  Heaven.

well, what are you waiting for?  Get over there now and ENTER!!!

Friday loves

A few loves that I am having at the moment.....

1. Oranges -  the little ones and I have been pretty sick all week!  I know - a great way to start spring, but it still feels very much like winter in Melbourne and we have been bunkered down in the house with a terrible cold.  So we've been getting stuck into the oranges and I must say, I do love a good navel orange!

2. Entering giveaways - I do love good giveaway and was the lucky winner of one only last week - although I have won a few in my short time here is blog land.  There is a lovely giveaway over at Moose & Bird - this stunning pear pillow!  Be sure to check it out!

3 Worthy causes -  Kid Independent are supporting Backpacks for Aussie Kids by running an "undie drive" - All you have to do is visit the site and pledge to post them some new undies which will go to kids in foster care!  Foster carers are un-sung heros and do an amazing job but sometimes have little time to prepare for a child that may be coming into their care.  Not only that, but sometimes kids are placed into foster care with very few possession, basic items - like underwear.  I have worked with many children in foster care or whom have had to be placed into foster care in the middle of the night and sometimes there just isn't time to pack anything!! By registering to pledge you go into the draw to win some fabulous prizes - like this gorgeous handmade delight!  What a great fabulous cause hey!

Happy Friday
xx

my creative space...

Today I got a lovely crafty surprise in my letterbox!  I won a giveaway over at one red fox last week, and my little parcel arrived today wrapped in brown paper and tied up with string!  oh I just got a warm fuzzy feeling just unwrapping it.

I knew I had won two vintage kitting patterns - both with adorable Aunty Mavis' name written one them in stunning script.

Kylie also included some gorgeous inspiration tags (each with a message) and a hand stitched felt bird!  I love it - it's so cute and can't decide where it should live!  Thankyou Kylie....

This afternoon, I am working on 'for the boys - part III' as I attempt to finalise some baby blankets to take with me to the market on Sunday.....

here's a peek at the stunning boys' fabric

See what other creative types are up to - head over to Kirsty's!

talented crafters

I love receiving handmade things..... and yesterday the postie delivered me two such wonderful parcels.......

The first was this gorgeous knitted cardigan for my daughter with crochet flower pocket and ladybird detail buttons.  I found it on Etsy and loved it so much but it wasn't in her size, so I contacted the seller - Margaret, who lives in Ireland and loves to spend time knitting and crafting.   We corresponded about what I was looking for and she made me this...AND included a sweet beanie and two little headbands, they are just so beautiful.  Check out Margarets new little store here.

The second parcel was a giveaway I entered at My Little Birdie and I won!  So this gorgeous bag is mine and I was blown away by the generosity when I discovered these little extra's too - some hand made vintage style cards and two blocks of milka chocolate (needless to say me and kids got stuck into the chocolate straight away!).  Check out My Little Birdie's sweet little blog here and don't forget to check out her Made It store too!

I am always in awe and admiration of crafters and these two lovely ladies are no exception!  Even though we live in a modern virtual world, it has it's benefits as it offers the privilege of searching for handmade goodness all over the world!

Wishing you all a happy crafty day!

the winner is....

CARAPACE!!!

Congratulation Carapace - you have won my first giveaway consisting of an Oh So handy Key Fob and matching coin purse!  I will email you to get your details so I can post it to you.  Thankyou to all of you who entered by giveway...your feedback was lovely. 

last chance to enter the giveaway

As I sit as have my morning cuppa (Earl Grey today) I remembered it is the last day of my giveaway competition, so if you haven't already heard - I am having a giveaway!  Today is the last day to enter so click here for the details!

Also - I have heavily reduced all my jewellery on Etsy as I have decided to no longer make jewellery!  It was something I enjoyed doing before children, and now, well, I think my passion for sewing and craft is too strong!  So grab a bargin just before mothers day!  Prices start at $4US!

Thank you to all who have already entered my giveaway competition.  It is so lovely to hear such wonderful feedback!  Good luck and I will announce the winner tomorrow!