*GIVEAWAY* Beach Cottage Feature at Real Living Magazine

 
 G'day beach babes, I have had one of those mornings that starts ok until one gets oneself into the car for the school run and all hell breaks loose.  And silly old me I thought those days were behind me.  Starting with forgotten lunch and ending with little Beach Cottage boys treading in revolting things…you know those mornings right, just love 'em. 

Anyway back here, safely ensconced in the cottage, enveloped in white, nursing a humongous coffee and about to set out on a mammoth clean-up I thought I would show you what's on my coffee table this morning.

Real Living of course with me in it haha!  A great Australian home magazine that is just what it claims to be on the cover...full of inspirational ideas for you home and your lifestyle that are do-able.  Gotta love a magazine like that.  It gets it just right, just enough eye candy to get you swooning but not too much unreality that you shut the darn thing feeling inadequate and eyeing everything around you with disdain.

When Real Living emailed to ask me could they come by and shoot I have to admit I was a tad apprehensive, yes I know I broadcast to you guys all week and yes I know this is not my first dalliance with magazine shoots. 

But, you know this place is exactly what is says on the tin…an old tatty cottage, on the wrong side of town and certainly not up there with the designers.  I considered saying no, not wanting to get myself all in a spin, and having visions of banishing the Beach Cottage Kiddos from breathing the week before they arrived, getting myself a massive makeover, trading Mr BC in and cavorting through some ludicrous pantomime of beachy perfection.

But in the end, funnily enough, I didn't have to put myself through any kind of pantomime at all, because, as it often does as a mum to three active kids, life took over and I found myself in the weeks before D-Day positively buzzing with school functions and a sporting event that took me away from the cottage for most of the week before they came.  

Yes people, that means that I was away the week preceeding and males were left in charge at home.  And I'm telling ya, those males are pretty good you know, but c'mon you don't need me to tell you that men, well my men anyway, just don't really give a rat's a*se about all things cottage and magazines, do they?  …right on over their heads…

So, the night before, we arrived home late, riding high on the dizzying heights of sporting success, I, playing proud mum in this scenario was an emotional wreck, physically exhausted and mentally fit for absolutely nothing.   The last thing on my mind was cottages.

So, the next morning, I tried to remain calm and just did what I do…jeans, t-shirt, flip flops, a quick tidy and seriously hoped for the best…it so had not been whipped into an uncluttered paradise..there was real life everywhere on show

… before long stylists and photographers, creative directors (gulp) and assistants arrived and took us as we were…all the while little Mr BC injecting his hilarious commentary on all things magazine…

and that's what they say in the business is Real Living.

I will see you around, adios amigos

p.s I am reading every single comment & question, thank you* & am working on answering

 comment to win main prize of an ANTHROPOLOGIE gift card and magazine combo I AM GIVING AWAY and because I'm feeling nice Sarah I thought I might throw in a few extra copies for runners-up.

want more? ABC at Country Home here, Houzz interview here, & what Paddy,The Courier Mail said here

**post dedicated to Sally in Tassie & the rug **