Mail

Dear Olive,
When it is good, it is very, very good. 
(And when it is bad, it is horrid.)

Papier Mache Issue 4
Jerusalem Sandals
Tea towel (a gift from a lovely friend - thanks Clare!)

Wishing List

Dear Olive,
Hey Olive ...
Yeah?
Have you and Dad bought me a birthday present?
Nope.
Really?
No.
Are you sure?
Yeah.

In light of this most shocking revelation, I thought I'd help you guys out. You've only got a couple of days so you better get cracking.

Sandals
Painting
Terrarium
Pillowcases
Tea towel
Chopping board
This house and every single piece of art and furniture in it

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Dear Olive,
The contents of your Santa bag, as it currently stands. Could be considered a little on the thin side, I suppose. Although I have it on good authority that a gingerbread man may find his way in there too. But I'm happy to keep it simple. You'll also be receiving gifts from Shane and I, your Papa, and your Aunts and Uncles. It just starts to become crazy present overload. Tomorrow we're off to visit our favourite kids store, Shorties because in a complete turn of luck, I won (I won!) a voucher for a Christmas shopping spree. Shorties is literally crammed jammed with too good to believe clothes and toys, sending my heart all aflutter and paralysing me with cluttered choice whenever I'm there. Here's to hoping I do better tomorrow, for your and my nieces sake.
(And no, I don't iron my sheets. As you can see.)

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Dear Olive,
The caring and helpful comments on my last letter were a lovely reminder of how amazing this space has been for support and making friends. It's really been the most incredible way for me to connect with other women and the friendships I've made here are ones I now treasure. So the couple of gifts that arrived in the post last week? An unexpected but beautiful icing on the cake. The amazing O, a birthday gift for you from everybody's favourite crafter (if she's not your favourite, make her yours, now!) Madeleine. And all the way from these extremely stylish folk in Germany, the cutest ever printed cord dress. It's cord! It's printed! And it's in your favourite colour! The plate and the pom pom were my lucky dip kris kringle gift from a very fun ladies christmas dinner on Saturday night, and although unrelated to the blog, I felt they were too good to be left out of this little ensemble. The whole set up didn't stand a chance, you became desperate to wear the currently oversize dress. As you pointed out, it is in your favourite colour. And there is no denying you these days.

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Dear Olive,
Have scooter, will ride. 
Have dress, will party.
Have nose, will snot.

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Dear Olive,
The birthday festivities have begun with a few early birthday presents coming your way on the weekend. A trip to the toy store with God Nonna Jo under generous instructions to choose anything you wanted. When you grabbed the tiny logging truck I subtly suggested you choose something, er, bigger. You walked away with some awesome wooden blocks as well, but it's the little logging truck with the matchstick sized logs that you love and take to bed to cuddle. (My brother and I did the same thing to Anika when we were taken to the toy store by a family friend and told we could pick anything. Three year old Anika picked something very small. Hayes and I, being older and wiser and far more aware of toy shop economy, quickly pulled her aside and set her straight. Don't you want the barbie convertible? Yup, she'll take the barbie convertible, thanks.) And a 10 minute ride on a wild steed called Petal from "Aunty" Rachelle. You'd been so excited, for days saying bridle on, hold reins. You looked so tiny up on that horse, I couldn't believe you stayed on. What a lucky duck you are.

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Dear Olive,
It's been a big week. On top of getting engaged (!), I had a birthday party last weekend. It. Was. So. Much. Fun. And in addition to my first proper hangover in three years, I came home with the most amazing loot. We had ourselves a beautiful picnic in the most glorious weather with a few friends this morning and I'm about to eat a piece of birthday cake for lunch. I have the best friends!
PS Today I turn 35. But it's ok.

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Dear Olive,
More baby shower presents, more etsy sweetness in the form of the cutest ever pom-pom booties from this etsy shop (the clever lady knitter is also the owner of this lovely blog). Can't wait to see how adorable they'll look on the teeny tiny baby feet of my soon to be born neice or nephew.

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Dear Olive,
Don't you just adore it when wonderful wares ordered on the interweb arrive and exceed your outrageously high expectations by being even better in real life?
Take, for example, what I recently ordered from the amazing Made by Mosey. You can see her seriously beautiful work at her etsy shop here and her blog here but unfortunately, I can't show you the actual item, as it's a special baby shower present for a special person who I know reads this (Hi Sarah! Don't open the links Sarah!). If you think her wares look sweet in the photos, I can assure they are absolute perfection in the hand. Lovely Madeleine even included a gorgeous treat for you too (thank you!).

Blue Suede Shoes

Dear Olive,
Your teethy nose from the weekend quickly turned into a full-blown snotty, coughy, fevery, sleep-preventing cold. It was dreadful. You've never had a cough before and it was heartbreaking to hear it. And after a few nights with barely any sleep, I've succumbed to some sort of a head cold type thing too. I know it's silly, but whenever you've been sick (which luckily, has been rarely), I can't help but feel it's because of something I have or haven't done. Too much sugar when I was pregnant perhaps? Or not enough zinc? Naturopath Guilt*, it's worse than Catholic Guilt, I tell you. 
My very lovely new desert boots your even lovelier Dadda picked up for me in Melbourne. Life ain't all bad when you're in blue suede shoes.

*Both my parents being Naturopaths.

It's Arrived!

Dear Olive,


Say hello to our marvellous new painting! Found on our doorstep this morning, a gift from my most amazing friend Mel. I love the scene and as usual, the way she's worked with colour is extraordinary. We love it so much Mel, thank you xx. (See more of Mel's beautiful work here.)

Me Time

Dear Olive,


So Dadda's on holidays. And while yes, we should be spending wonderful family time together ... time on my own was too tantalising to turn down. Goodies found in my travels. Crochet blanket for one of the new babies soon to arrive. Golden Books for your Santa bag. Plate for me. Little jug for my under ten dollars kringle gift for the ladies christmas dinner tonight.