girls HQ

Girls HQ is almost complete..

There are a few little things that I still want to do but on the whole it's done.

Mid Saturday morning pajama play session I have managed to take some snaps to share..

I have put this room together using everything that we already had..

The only "new addition" is the blackboard..

Mr Right and his cordless drill, a piece of MDF - standard size, so no need for cutting, and a tin of blackboard paint and a little motivation is all it took...

The girls and their friends are loving it and it is well used by them and ME! 

It's really handy for subliminal messages and job lists...

Sweetness corner...

Prints were gifts and fairy cross stitch was a special gift too.

Dolls house was spotted at a friends house in the "donate" pile..

Needless to say my heart skipped a beat, a small exchange and she was ours..

Thanks miss Julie x

Now well loved and well used..

Dolly corner..

Little table handmade by my grandfather and little vintage kinda chair picked up by my mum

$5 dolls house kit from Cotton on Kids...

Couldn't believe my luck

then quickly realised there was a very valid reason why they were heavily reduced to $5...

Two five dollar dolls houses = at least 3 hours work...

But i love them sooooooooo...

girly friends....

the "unfinished"  reading corner...

Such an amazingly beautiful spot to curl up with a book..

It currently has - a lovely old wingback chair picked up from my favourite op shop, draped in a sheet - for now... Still deciding whether i cover her myself or just leave it to a professional..
Also have a few other little ideas for his spot.

                                                                                    Source: pinkandpolkadot.net via Melissa on Pinterest

This chair is almost the identical shape...

Maybe a little brave for my first upholstery attempt...
but i can see it now...

until I'm brave enough....this is how she sits...

Blackboard love

under my feet as I snapped...

Blissful Saturday morning..

Play and pajamas...

 followed by berries and pancakes..
Oh how we love the weekend..

Big girls and small are drawn to this room...
 I have soo many big & little girls comment that it their favorite room in the house..
It is probably one of the only rooms "almost finished"... Perhaps that's why..
The girls have the tv and Wii in there too...
But i tend to hear more singing, voice impersonations, music, thumping from dancing and tiffs coming from this room...

So this room works...
The girls and their friends love it
It cost next to nothing to style
It is tucked away down the "girls" end of the house - so i never have to worry about cleaning and fluffing it before guests..It has a sliding door that is in regular use...
Winner..

Enjoy your weekend :)
Oh and news flash - I have (another) new addiction....
Instagram.. I have always loved but as my personality would have it, I am now well and truly hooked - line and sinker...
Come find me at Melissa@whiteverandah....

Melissa xx

life, love & flowers....

 Timely really, that this little beauty would just go and shoot itself right out of nowhere in the middle of our back lawn.. Mr Right, with mower engine roaring, called out "Can I mow this?" on the weekend...That was before she had blossomed...The girls and I screeched "Nooooo"... Knowing what the green weed looking plant was about to bestow on us..

Reflective... is I guess what you could call this state of mind that I have been blessed with over the past couple of months.. Funny, how as you get older, experience more life, work, love and relationships, that your state of mind just, well, gets reflective... mmm.. Is it just me?

This blog started as a place to document our move to the country, the construction of our home, White Verandah, and some life along the way... What happens here, on this blog, in White Verandah is all real... Our life.. Of course there are parts that you dont see, you dont hear... I am a normal mother of 2 babies, working part time, wife, friend and housewife...

I do, what most every mother blessed with babies does.. housework, washing, sorting out tiffs between the girls, disciplining them and guiding them, navigating marriage and parenting just like the rest of us...and along the way trying to live in the moment and in love...

The house is almost complete..And there is so much more to share with you...The flavor may change around here..but my love of pretty stuff, houses, design, interior design, photography, etc doesn't change...

But i may dare to share some reflection with you...

about life, love, parenting, building, gratitude..

And this little beauty, in a reminder as I look out the kitchen window every morning and afternoon, that I am growing, learning, thankful and loving this journey..

I am delightfully happy right where I am.. Planted in the middle of the green hills

I am where I should be, here for a reason, meeting the people i need to meet, learning what i need to learn and experiencing what i need to experience...

Despite my heart skipping a beat every time I drive into the drive

 It is this sight that truly fills my cup. 

Finding beauty in nature which is so easy to do around these parts..

Trying to reduce my material wants, opening my eyes to what is already here is abundance.

That's my reflection for today..

Special little shout out to a reader that complimented White Verandah recently.. 

I'd lost my way abit with the blog... Building almost over and all.. But I am inspired.. 

Thanks for coming past,  Melissa.. xx

memory makin

 We spent the school holidays in Queensland..A well deserved break after investing so much energy and time into building the house, it was so nice to have a real break. I love this photo - a visual representation of the fun we had! The girls were at an incredible age to enjoy the theme parks, we had been before but there was always rides, slides, etc that we couldn't go on due to height restrictions... but this time nothing was off limits!!

 We surprised the girls with a swim with the gorgeous dolphins at Seaworld..

Amazing creatures... next time i think ill have to join in.. I really wanted to touch it after hearing from the girls how amazing it felt..

 We still managed to fit in some making when we stayed with my dad..

The girls collected the timber from around the new home and went to work making their tee pee..

Despite enjoying Easter in QLD, and not having to bring back almost any chocolate - (bonus) we couldn't resist a little Easter baking on our return.. 

Easter was well and truly over, but we still had a box of packet cookies with an egg shaped cutters..Shame to waste it...

So little hands got busy..

Back in the swing of things this week, the sun is still shining and warm, delightful!

Hope you all enjoyed your Easter break..

Back with house photos soon...

Melissa xx

Last week of term - already....

Term One over already! This is little one, all dressed up for her end of term pirate party to celebrate finishing the "Ocean" topic the class had been working on...

Miss Amelia was soo excited about dressing up and loved getting into character talking like a pirate and snarling away all morning! I love dress ups! This stuff is really what primary school is all about.. Even Charlotte was a little disappointed that she just had to wear her boring old uniform.. Never too old for a good dress up!

We finished off the Term with school sports too this week...

Proud mumma bear beamed all the way through the day, as the girls collected ribbon upon ribbon...Was a lovely sunny day to enjoy all the kids being active, competing, cheering each other on...

 Easter has rolled around so quickly.. 

Time really does fly - as you get older? when you have children to relish in and look after? 

For whatever reason, it does go so so fast..

Enjoying all the moments - looking forward to the school holidays, busy doing some memory making as their childhood ticks away..

I hope everyone has a gorgeous and safe Easter and enjoys the break

Back soon...

Melissa xx

The front door..

The front door of the house had me in knots... 

As the painters neared completing painting the entire house, I still hadn't really decided on the fate of the front door. I am usually not very adventurous but really loved the idea of a black door. The painters had already coated it white and despite the girls pleading with me not to do it, I gave the painters the go ahead for a black glossy front door... I bit my fingernails that day...

 But i am delighted with the finish...So shiny, glossy and gorgeous!

 

I initially thought I'd change the brass door handle but i think it will stay.. I quite like it against the black.. They just painted the outside of the door...I was too undecided about the inside - so it remains white...

The VERANDAH is half complete... It should be finished within the next couple of days..

I have been wandering around it aimlessly, gazing at it from every angle, resisting the temptation to share until it is complete...Stay tuned..

Thanks for coming past 

Melissa xx