Mollie's Space (Photo heavy!)

We are, slowly, starting to do some little projects around our new home - and it is, slowly, beginning to feel like our own.

This week, I decided to get stuck into the kids rooms, have a good tidy up and move a few things around. It felt good to pack away a few real baby things - the cot bumpers, some of the toys that are no longer played with, and the mobile went, too, after I took these photos.

Mollie is starting to actually play in her room, rather than just following her brothers into their room all the time. I'll often find her pottering with her books and pulling things off the shelves. Her latest trick is climbing onto the rocking horse, clever little one! She sits and rocks back and forth - she'll be neighing and shouting 'giddy up', in no time!

(How cute is her cardigan? Knitted by the super clever Clare. Amazing!)

One of my favourite features of Mol's room is the wooden kitchen. We've had this since Aesop was 2. It is an ex-preschool one (Pintoy brand, I believe), gifted to us by some family friends.
The second, smaller, unit is a washing mahine, but I've turned it around so it works better as a shop counter. Otto is quite into playing shopkeeper at the moment, so we often grab the Eftpos machine out of the cupboard, find the toy phone, and set up shop.
Making cups of tea is a favourite, too.

This little nook, is where I feed Mollie. We sit here, snuggled up under a duvet, twice a day (or more, if she wakes in the night!). She will usually point to a toy on the shelf, and snuggle with it while she feeds.
The quilt is single bed sized - I made it while I was pregnant with Otto. I have not sewn a yo-yo since, and have no desire to! Haha.

(See that wee stack of wooden plates and bowls? I scored the whole lot for just $2 at the Sallies last week. I pretty much love it.)

I'm trying to surround my family with beautiful, vintage and handmade things. Mol's room is a great example of this - spot the Tiny Eyes doll, the Emmamakes kitten, a Deb quilt and various lovely vintage wool blankets.

A recent addtion to the room has been the tiny cluster of things on the wall. I hope to add to this as I find things - but, for the moment, it is a flower mirror Mol was gifted when she was born, a stunning Holly Hobbie embroidery I thrifted a few weeks back, and the 'M' from Stella's alphabet set.

Lastly, Mollie's bed. She's still not such a huge fan of sleeping here - I don't know why, I would love to have such beautiful bedding!
The vintage 'Love is..' sheet was a gift from my friend Amy, the bunny was made by the talented Helen and the vintage Heidi duvet was a lucky thrift find.

I'd love to paint this room, and change the curtains, but these things will have to wait a bit longer. We have other projects on the go/on the list that take priority!

Foxy Giveaway!

STOP THE PRESS!
This giveaway is aaaaaammaaaaziiiing.
That fox dress is to.die.for.
I'm one of those people that very rarely wins things, despite entering all the giveaways. Maybe you would like to enter, and just donate me the fox dress?
What's that? Okay? Oh, you're the greatest!

Either way, this giveaway is happening over on Stella's super-dooper blog. Head on over : )

A Tiny Little Bloggers Conference.

I'm sure you've all heard - there was a 'bloggers conference' in the weekend. What you didn't hear was that there was actually TWO meet-ups of cool NZ bloggers.
One group had 60+ people, fancy dinners, workshops, craft fairs, name tags etc.
The other had just two bloggers, but also 8 kids, 2 husbands, delicious lunch, and lovely chit-chit. Just as cool, right?

Us Larsens were in Hamilton last weekend, for Mol's BFF's 1st birthday party, so Dee and I decided we'd have our own wee meet-up. We've hung out before, so things weren't awkward and there were no major nerves as we drove up the drive, just excitement. I didn't panic about what to wear, and (I hope) Dee didn't panic and spend all morning tidying her house (though it was lovely and tidy..)

Dee is pretty much the hostess with the mostess. She plays by 'country rules' and not only is her home incredibly welcoming, but she puts on a wonderful spread. We had home baked rolls (I might need that recipe, actually!), a massive big chocolate cake, a pie that looked like something straight out a Jamie Oliver cookbook.. the woman is amazing!

It was so neat to see our kids hanging out together - I barely saw Otto (hence the lack of photos) and Aesop had the time of his life shooting wooden guns and demolishing the old treehouse. (Perhaps he IS an outdoorsy child afterall?) Mollie and, the very delicious, Sawyer played alongside each other nicely and the menfolk chatted about music and jobs, and other things that menfolk chat about. Dee loaded me up with fabric, fruit from the garden and vintage utensils (goodie bags at this conference, too! Well, for me..).
It was a truly pleasant afternoon.

I left the Rolston home feeling so inspired, and so thankful for our friendship.
It's weird this old blogging business - it has allowed me to form strong friendships with so many wonderful ladies around the country, friendships that are real and true (often more so than those I have in 'real life'!) and offer so much support and comfort to me. I know, gush, but seriously - I love me some blogging ladies. I might even attend the 'real' conference next time.. we'll see!