Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Christmas music

Love this - the lyrics, the beat, the clip!


Christmas trees

12 shopping days til Christmas....


I think I will just stop, breathe and enjoy this tree! From a blog I love Absolutely Beautiful Things - I share Anna's love of colour!!

Monday, December 12, 2011

My Favourites this week


Favourite Book: A Christmas Goodnight illustrated by Sarah Jane Wright

Favourite Room: Delightfully pink and pretty
Favourite Party photos: courtesy of Bondville
Favourite Artwork: Love Jen Ramos' style
Favourite Blog: Love the Christmas doilies

Favourite Photographer: Not only is she talented, but incredibly generous
Favourite Clothing: Is there any other brand of clothing?
Favourite Toy: For me ;)
Favourite App for kids: Art Maker by ABC for kids
Favourite Furniture: Like. A lot



PS The image is from here - wow & thank you )

Thursday, December 1, 2011

In the past 18 months ...

Since I sold Mummys and MyFavourite here is what some of my favourite suppliers have been busy bringing us!



T2 Colour Club Featuring a thirst quenching quartet of French Earl Grey, Gorgeous Geisha, Strawberry Sensation and Sleep Tight teas


Mor Cosmetics Lychee Flower Perfume Oil

Mozi Milk Bottle Could also be used as a vase :)


Alimrose Snow White doll 36cm


I grew this for you by Belle and Boo


Little Chipipi have released a range of co ordinating linen and placemats as well as more moveable stickers


Cocoon Couture have released new denim beanbags, wall stickers and more


Glasshouse Candles Night Before Christmas

Monday, November 21, 2011

And this is what I want Santa to bring ...

Posh Cakes


I like to think that I can bake and decorate cakes like these. But I so can't. Thankfully Nicole from Posh Cakes can! I can't choose which one I love more. The attention to detail blows me away! Look at the straw in the manger and the detail to the snowflake. Wow!


Hopped over to the blog to write one post and I end up writing three ... its a little addictive :)

Table Tonic


Last Christmas I bought myself one of these. This year I have been eyeing off Table Tonic's Moroccan Pouffe's. The one on the right reminds me of my grandparents one that I remember sitting on as a child that my cousin now has. I took a photo whilst at his place last year. I love the way it has worn over the years. I wonder who has rested their feet (or bottom) on it and the conversations that have been held around it.

Table Tonic have 25% off storewide at the moment ... might do a little Christmas shopping for my better half  & create our own conversations :)

This Week...





Favourite Book: Stuck by Oliver Jeffers
Favourite Room: Sooooo prettyyyyy!
Favourite Party photos: My Sweet Prints party
Favourite Place: Haven't got there this year, but wow!
Favourite Artwork: These glow in the dark wall stickers - wow!
Favourite Blog: Because your kids think you are cool when you find things like this post
Favourite Fabric: Amy Butler (who else?!)

Favourite Photographer: Tim and May capture people and nature in a way only some people can
Favourite Clothing: This tshirt - who would have thought?!
Favourite Flowers: These peonies

(Image courtesy TimnMay)

Sunday, August 21, 2011

MATHLETICS **GIVEAWAY** winner

Congratulations to the following posts:


Please email me at hello@jenniferbarker.com.au and I will forward your details!
You will love the site www.mathletics.com.au :)

Remember to log in during their competition time and to drop by www.dealsformum.com.au.



Thursday, August 18, 2011

Craft ideas

This post is purely to make sure I remember this gorgeous crocheted rug! Found here: http://www.madeit.com.au/detail.asp?id=300686

I almost deleted the newsletter in my inbox without opening. Never a good idea :)

There are so many lovely things in her store! 






Oh, and as I search for her details, I came across her blog :)

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

The Happy Home

I love reading Belinda's posts from The Happy Home. They are honest and lovely. You know when you can tell someone loves their kids ... she is one of them. Lots of little ideas and links. Lots of lovely photos and lots of reality checks. Enjoy! :)


Sunday, August 14, 2011

MATHLETICS **GIVEAWAY**


I was given one www.mathletics.com.au 6 month subscription to give away to one of our readers and one to keep for myself, but since we are Mathletics addicts already, I have TWO 6 month subscriptions to give away! (valued at $88 each)


If you aren't already familiar with Mathletics, it is a very very cleverly constructed online educational site full of maths problems for kids that are school year appropriate. It is a fabulous way to keep them busy and learning at the same time. Kids can create their own profile picture to best reflect their personality. I think my son has a helicopter on top of his hat :) One of the most popular sections is a real time competition against other students around the world. There are games, credits to earn, certificates and much more. 


In conjunction with the Commonwealth Bank, Mathletics is hosting the Australian Maths Challenge between 30th-31st August. It is Australia's largest online maths competition with an expected 400 000 Aussie kids competing this year. Registrations open tomorrow, August 15th, 2011. It is a free event for students between four years and eighteen years. All students who participate will receive a certificate and the top 10 will go on to represent Australia in the 2012 World Education Games. 


"Each day of the Maths Challenge has a different focus where students can earn points for themselves and their school by competing on the Challenge website, hosted by Mathletics. The competition kicks off on the Tuesday with the ‘Curriculum Challenge’, where students are tested on their knowledge of the Australian Curriculum. Wednesday will see students earn points via the Live Mathematics Game, where they will compete in real time against other students around the country in 60-second races of mental arithmetic. A comprehensive live leaderboard will keep track of the winning schools and students as the Challenge progresses, with some great prizes available to be won". (press release)

To win, please follow / join (where the faces are) this blog (see right hand column) and leave a comment below. We will randomly select two winners next Sunday, 22nd August. 

** This was brought to you by www.dealsformum.com.au who have some FANTASTIC offers for Australian mums


Friday, August 12, 2011

Alimrose

I have loved Alimrose since I worked in a pharmacy as a teenager.
Alimrose was (and still is) part of their gift range.



You can purchase their range of dolls, squeakers, bibs, rattles & homewares from www.petitluxe.com.au

Sunday, August 7, 2011

Urban Road

I have been following Bondville for years. I love Steph's style. I should never, ever click on her links though because I find things like this ...








& then I came across the blog and I think I have found a new favourite. Just lovely! :)



Saturday, August 6, 2011

Country Road Spring 2011

Aren't these the most darling clothes for a baby girl?

I have spotted the following dress on four newsreaders in the past fortnight!

And these photos, just because! :)




Oh I love colour so much! Shop online @ www.countryroad.com.au

Thursday, August 4, 2011

Anyone like these?

Would you like these tickets? I can't make it. Email me hello@jenniferbarker.com.au


Date: Thursday 11 August 2011.
Time: 11.00am – 1.00pm. 
Arrival Time: Morning tea will be served from 10.30am.
Location: Central Coast Dance Studio. Access available from the bus terminal. Closest parking in the yellow, red or green car parks.
Tickets: Two tickets, one for you and one for a friend. Photo ID or a print out of this email is required for entry.
Children:
 We ask that you don’t bring children along because the forum has been created for parents to discuss important family issues and some content may not be suitable for younger audiences.




Wednesday, August 3, 2011

The Design Files and Cocoon Couture Tree


I must get my account happening on pininterest.com so I can post images like this one there! From The Design Files

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Love affair with stationery

I have a collection of papers from childhood. I loved beautiful paper and writing sets and always kept one sheet of each with a corresponding envelope. Kikki-K catalogues are dangerous ... but fun to look at ;)



Thursday, July 28, 2011

365 days grateful, Mia Freedman and more

When I was working on Sunday nights in a cold warehouse packing boxes ready for Australia Post, I would tune in to Open House on Hope103.2. I loved the interviews and I loved the style of the show, it made the time go quickly and less focussed on not being at home on a Sunday night!


I hadn't tuned in for a while but did again recently. The interview was with Hailey Bartholomew, one half of the  authors of 365 grateful blog. Hearing how the blog started as a way for her to focus on the positives in her life resonated with me. I love how Hailey tries to focus on the here and now and not looking to tomorrow. 


Leigh Hatcher is the host of Open House (think channel seven and sky news reporter). This Sunday he is interviewing Mia Freedman on cyber bullying. I am really looking forward to hearing her thoughts on it, but will enjoy the here and now first ;)




Beautiful Winter days. One of the zillions of things I am grateful for :)

Blog Lovin'

I can't remember how I came across The Design Files. It may have been via Belinda Graham's blog, The Happy Home. Who ever it was, I thank you :)


Each day my inbox is filled with visual delights such as today's interview with Jane Hall (yes, actor Jane Hall). Her home is delightful as is her blog, Salvation Jane

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Mozi working with the Salvation Army



Mozi has always been one of my very favourite brands.
This is a fabulous initiative.
www.mozi.com.au



See Olivia's home in the current issue of Real Living Magazine

(image courtesy of Mozi)

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Monday, July 25, 2011

Some ideas for staying in control of the mess at home ..


(real photo taken 20 minutes after I tidied our sunroom)
On Facebook over the weekend I asked the question of what is your best tip for maintaining a tidy home. I find Sunday evenings exhausting trying to tidy up after the weekend.

Here is some of the advice I received ...

Donate /recycle / re-gift

Be organised

Teach girls to put things away and unfortunatly be a nagger to make them do it!!!

Invest in a cleaner! I get mine done fortnightly and works out to be about $40 a week. Best money I spend in a week.

Recycle toys often! and get the kid to pop their own washing away

Lower your standards - aim for safe

Ride it out until your children leave home

Don't look at it on the weekend, knowing Monday is coming and it can all be tidy again then (at least for 6 hours while they are at school.) There will come a time very soon when they have all left home and we will wish for the mess back again. So just enjoy it with them

I made the rule that they only play with one set of toys at a time and must get packed away before the nex comes out. Also we do 15 mins speed clean every night and I judge the most improved room. I had to model and help when they were younger. However we are often still in a mess!!

A friend once told me the OHIO method - Only Handle It Once.

Imagine the tidy house and the lack of what creates the mess and then thank God daily for the gift of the mess generators! Read that once in a reflection and it's now my messy house blessing - may it be yours also :-)

*Have you got a magic wand tip that you can share? (pretty please!)

Sunday, July 24, 2011

Magazine Cover Love ...

There is something about a sea of magazine covers that I love. 


I was particularly taken with this months's House and Garden. The way that it peeps into the home, the outside in rather than inside out. I love the idea of French accents. Lavender ... And the Chelsea Flower Show was mentioned. That is an instant must - read tag line for me.

One of my goals before I turn forty is to learn to speak French. I have five years ... and then I will have to treat myself to a trip ;) 

Saturday, July 23, 2011

T2


One of the things that brought me great pleasure whilst running an online store was the very difficult task of trying out new products ;)



A box of T2 was often used in our giftboxes, both for personal gifts and corporate. I loved the orange box, but loved what was inside even more. During the week I visited the Bondi Junction store. I could smell the tea from miles away and I had no choice, I just *had* to follow my nose. 


The. Best. Tea.

You can buy from t2 direct here: http://t2tea.com/

Mosman


The rain in Sydney over the past week has been remarkable. There are muddy puddles in my lawn which I can't recall happening ever during Winter. To escape the confines of home we headed over to Mosman to enjoy any rays of sun that we could. Whilst there we popped into one of my favourite stores, Bonza Brats. We roamed around the Allan Border oval and swung on the swings in the park. Perfection! 

Friday, January 7, 2011

AND I'M BACK ...

but I am not sure in what capacity! This is my first blog since selling www.myfavourite.com.au to the gorgeous Phoebe Olsen 5 months ago. I was able to quickly fill any spare time I might have had with starting those many tasks that I have had on the backburner for the last four and a half years and get a little more sleep!!

Feeling a little lost not having a role to play online anymore, this blog I hope will be of use to those who are online businesses, online shoppers and people who love lovely things. I miss not writing about it and sharing about it!

Hope you enjoy it!! x