G’day! How are you lovely lovely lovely Beach Cottage girls! Lovely? Good.
Or are you more likely feeling this slight wave of panic somewhere inside, are you thinking about Christmas lists and wondering quite how you are gonna fit it all in. Hmmm, I bet that’s more like it.
I am feeling a little bit like that, but truth be told, I have learnt over the years, with the Beach Cottage Crew to run around after at this time of year and all the other stuff going on, to keep my expectations low.
One way to do this is not get too caught up in having everything look perfect and wanting your old cottage to look like the latest front cover of House and Garden…that is probably not going to happen…I have got myself in a twist waaayyy too many times over this, not anymore…especially in Australia, when not only is it Christmas, but it is also end of the school year and the start of the long summer holidays so there are even more events thrown into the ring
…so keeping it low key will make it do-able and one way I like to do this is to shop the house for decorations and then just add a few simple Christmas things to them, without too much fuss… obviously I like mine to be in a coastal Christmas meme, but whatever you like can easily be sparkled up for this time of the year…and doing it this way makes it very easy on your time limitations and even easier on the pocket.
This is an old vintage Pepsi crate I picked up ages ago…
I wanted to use something vintage and natural in my coastal Christmas / beach decor theme and thought this might be firstly easy, secondly in budget seeing as I already had it and thirdly very quick to just fill up with a few pretty Christmas things.
It was actually super easy…I filled it with things I love
The silver candle holders are from IKEA, I have had them for a few years now
Then I added vintage bottles and a jam jar with red twine and a tealight…
Stuffed around that shells, silver baubles, and a few of my clay tags…I love having these plopped here and there at this time of year too (you can find my tutorial on how to make your own clay tags here)…these are so simple to make, I just do a big stash of them and then use them for the Christmas tree, on parcels and presents and here and there with the silver and baubles, here I did them in lovehearts, but I have stars, stockings and trees too..
Enjoy Good Life Wednesday…for me today it’s about keeping it a simple coastal Christmas, keeping it real, do-able and more importantly keeping that Christmas broomstick in the cupboard..
Next week is the Beach Cottage Christmas party…did I say I have lots of goodies lined up to give away?? Did I mention one of those lovelies is one that stands on your counter top and mixes things for ya?!
OH YEAH, be there…
See you next time, I’ve got a fashion post (lbd) and a lovely Christmas wreath table dressing to show you soon…
Get those twinkles out, shop the house and throw around some sparkle
Goodmorning Sarah!
Beautiful pics this morning, loving the pepsi crate and the concept of keeping things simple and utilising things we already have around the house. Often times during this silly season, I have been known to get out that Christmas broomstick….oh dear. Not this year! No! I shall attempt to keep things in perspective…and this means not leaving things to the last minute…or staying up till midnight weeping over a gingerbread house that is not sticking together despite copious amounts of royal icing reinforcement….
Looking forward to the linky party….although being a newby blogger….I may find myself bumbling my way around…watch out it could get ugly!
Ps loving the red twine however, it is proving to be very hard to find at stores….any ideas where I could go?
xo Rachel
Gorgeous simplicity at it’s best Sarah!
I am looking forward to that lbd post!!!
Enjoy the season, mostly I am soaking up the little moments with my little ones.
I hope you are too. (and enjoying that trip to the hairdressers!)
Love the centerpiece. Quick and Fun ! Since you love white and sparkly …. Heres a kids craft ( my personal craft level). Take clean glass jar. Apply modge podge roll in glitter. Or, variation. Wrap and modge podge wax paper around jar then apply more modge podge and roll in glitter. I did this for the first time a few years ago and I was stunned at how pretty the were !
Thanks for blogging.
~ Christie
Hi Sarah,
I love the concept of keeping it low key ;” Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication “,right ?!
I find your Christmas/beach decor an embodiment of Da Vinci’s quote . I love the originality ( as always ), the simplicity , and the serenity of it . Thank you for your wonderful party !
Love your idea of coastal decorating….you said that it is the end of the school year in Australia. What months doe the kiddos go to school What are your seasons over there?
The centerpiece looks nice with all your sparkly silver and white and I just love those shell balls (spheres??). They are really cute and seem to be so versatile and really say beachy/coastal to me.
As usual, I love what you’ve done and I look forward to the lbd post and the Christmas table wreath post and, of course, the Christmas party next week.
Looks lovely and fits your theme. I can’t handle purchases made specifically to just decorate and they havent been collected over time, have no personal meaning or “story”, nor gathered from a trip or gifted/inherited from a loved one, nor fitting a theme. I looove it when people can tell me a story about the things in their homes and the meaning of its value to them.
So beautiful, you make simple things look so magical! And you always make it sound so easy but there definitely is an art to it! Thanks for sharing your genius with us as always! Love all the photos.
Hi Sarah
I love the silver & white & all sparkles. The vintage crate amongst all the white is really eye catching.
What colour are the walls in that room? I’m struggling to find a good white for a bedroom! I’ve already got over 10 swatches on the wall and not one is speaking to me.. (sorry to digress from the Christmas cheer).
I am mad for that gorgeous PEPSI box…love the old vintage box with the white & silver sparkle of Christmas inside…
Wise words- setting your goals low for the racing around about Christmas- as the way you *simply* throw it all together says calm & carefree…not Christmas manic at all….
I loved your post yesterday- and got so into sorting out TWITTER that I failed to post a comment!! I did TWEET you though!
Thanks for the *keep-going-and-maybe-see-if-it-works-for-you-like-this-post*- I really get Twitter more now!
Love your beachy Christmas decorations Sarah! I’m looking forward to the table dressing idea, still stuck on how to do mine this weekend for the home show. It’s like I know what I want, but not sure how to pull it together…Can you come over please? To California? Thanks for hosting, Marcia
Thanks for your sweet note about my yellow Tablescape!!! I LOVE all your Christmas table, especially the mix of old/new & modern/rustic! Perfect!
8 bloggers are hosting a Blog around the Christmas Tree Party and today’s feature is Christmas Scapes! I’d love to have you join up, the party is just beginning!
G'day! I'm Sarah, I live in a tatty old cottage, near the sea in Australia with a battered old deck & a big old fig tree out the back...stripped wooden floors, old sash windows & a jumble of vintage furniture. [Read More …]
Beach Cottage ladies, we have some vintage linen and some wood/twig washed up on the beach today here in Beach Cottage Land….don’t say I don’t keep you entertained now will you . Come on in. So, yep I have posted about colanders on this blog, about things sourced from the side of the road, about [...]
G'day ladies, let's have a Too Easy Beach Cottage recipe yeah? The original place for Too Easy Recipes on the web ;-)
So, after my last salad went down a storm in my inbox, that's here if you missed it, I had to do this one seeing as I make it most weeks.
There is a problem with this salad and kiddos though...it looks, well, it looks, kinda yucky...but once they try it, they'll ask if and when they are next having it....at least that's what happens in this ratty old cottage...but I must interject here that my kiddos are 'good eaters'? ...they didn't get a choice in that ;-)
Now, stop, don't start running and hitting that next on your blog reading list, pulses are your best friend in the Too Easy Dump & Go kitchen for the busy mum, or busy anyone for that matter...that reminds me I must blog the garlic canneloni Go To for when you forgot to do dinner, feel like a bath but have three ravenous young Beach Cottage Kiddos on your hands...another day.
I am almost embarrassed to tell you how easy this is, we have it so much that I always have a couple, make that six, cans of lentils around and a jar of goat's cheese in the fridge...the great thing about this is that it's all too easy to get ready in just a few minutes, but it looks, tastes and seems like you did oh so very much more than that.
You can obviously too change it up a bit depending on what you have to hand in your kitchen, and I must say that is how I settled on this version...because one day when I made it I didn't have enough Parsley in the garden and so I chucked in some basil too, and liked the Summer feel it added.
I think of this as being a rather posh salad, not sure why, because it couldn't really be further from the truth...the great thing is that it works so well for an average run of the mill day, (when I did this for this blog post, it was a hot Sydney Sunday and I did it just simply to go with Rosemary & Garlic stuffed pork, you can see that pork here),
...but just as easily it works on a regular old Wednesday night when you have lost all enthusiasm for rustling up yet another meal, or indeed on Saturday night, when your friends are on their way over for dinner and you my friend, are in your new vintage inspired clawfoot bathtub (that's me in a few weeks time, k?) without any clothes on, a tipple and no idea what to cook for dinner...
I have a complicated and ever-changing relationship with goat's cheese...it never fails me in its performance and it never fails to impress me (you can find out a bit more on what I like in food here if you like) and I kinda collect it...because it's very easy to collect and has a fairly long fridge-life, I love trying out different ones and there's not many things I love more than goat's cheese on sourdough...but I think the best thing about it is not thinking about it exclusively in the toast/salad department...I've stuffed it in chicken and all sorts of things as a last minute and it's been fab.
But let's get down to the nitty gritty of this super salad that makes you look like an angel who has been on her knees all day scrubbing the front step when really you are in the digital world and spent most of ...
G'day Beach Cottage ladies, howdy, howdy howdy today for a Beach Cottage Too Easy recipe.
If you like cake, cream, sugar and chocolate, make this.
This is, rather than a recipe, a putting it together...as you know I am no dessert maker, but, I do make quite a few sweet things, because, somehow I have ended up with kiddos, who in their roles as offspring, believe that part of the deal, is that not only do I feed them a home-cooked meal with a few homegrown ingredients in there, yes, they also believe that dessert and not the kind that comes out of a packet is included too in this All-Inclusive Deal they call Parenthood.
So, this, for sure, is no culinary masterpiece, but if you are looking for something that is so very easy, dump-able, uses everyday ingredients and at the same time makes you look like you spent hours pulling things together plus tastes good....well, then this is for you.
Best though, you don't make this for yourself, if you have spent the most part of your week sitting on your derriere reading blogs...this my friend ain't low in the calories department...if, however, you are treating yourself to a delight in a mason jar, this is so for you.
I first had a version of this when at dinner back in Old Blighty with a girl, I once, in another life, caught the train up from our village to London with...she was a funny thing really...I am not quite sure how we got on...she was kinda prissy and a bit bothered by too much...I would run to the train flustered, having got up late, and she would have a spreadsheet on the train times, if you know what I mean.
Anyway, a few years later when we both had bambinos, I bumped into her again and we met up for playdates and dinner sometimes....this particular night, after a lovely meal she served up little bowls of creamy, cakey fruity stuff topped off with chocolate flake...it was delicious!
She didn't serve hers in little jars like this, hers were in a champagne glass and not quite so layered as these ones, plus she used tinned fruit not fresh or frozen.
Years later when said offspring kept requesting dessert, one day I wangled together somehow these from what was around in the fridge and they've been with us ever since.
Most likely, if you ever come here for dinner, and shock horror, you dont' bring the dessert with you, this, if you are lucky, will be what you will get.
Throw it all together, sprinkle a lil bit of chocolate on the top and the blog reading past-time you so rudely left in order to make this, is my friend, your oyster.
Beach Cottage Too Easy Layered Raspberry, Cream & Sponge Dessert
1 small maderia or butter cake or a pack of cupcakes (or of course make your own)
1/2 cup whipping cream
1/2 cup cream cheese
1/4 cup sugar
8 tbsp fruit
1 x chocolate Flake or chocolate bar for grating
1. beat the cream cheese until it is soft
2. whip the cream until soft peaks form
3. combine & add the sugar through
4. cut your cake into portions
& layer into the bottom of your jar
5. add a tablespoon of fruit
6. layer on top the cream combo
7. repeat
8. grate chocolate or Flake on top
*Beach Cottage Recipe Notes : this is just a guide really, you can use any cream that you have on hand...I have made this with clotted cream (don't even go there unless you want to seriously get these babies on your thighs), with double cream and I have even, in desperate times squirted in that, ...
G'day Beach Cottage ladies, well I thought it was time for some blogging tips here today, alongside a few nice flowers and shells ;-)
I was recently part of a blogger discussion group over at Kidspot and a couple of hours later had a few questions from girls who couldn't make it to the live chat, one was on my Facebook page and one via email, the Facebook one I will deal with in another Real Girl Blogging Tips post...the email one asked me what essentials do I think every blog needs?
Well I have been around here for a while now doing the blogging thing, so I should know this, yeah and I mused this on my walk by the sea this morning I thought well what do you only need?
...I think it is really very easy when blogging, whether or not you are blogging up there in the lofty heights of the Super Bloggers or you are just dipping your toe in the water, to get side-tracked by 101 million different things that are 'essential' to your blog and if you are someone like me who actually gets a thrill from reading blogging tips then you are in an even worse place because you will find yourself literally buzzing with these essential things to add/do/implement on your blog.
However, walking along, gulping down that brisk sea air today (no sunshine & clouds) I thought you actually don't need any of that professional blogging stuff to be successful...but there are a few things that are pretty much crucial ...and once I started to think about it I got it down to about 5 - these are the only things that you need to concentrate on...once you have read through take a look at some of the big girl's blogs...you'll see that actually they don't have bundles of stuff on their blogs...but they do have all of these...
So here are my top things that your blog must have
1. About Page
There are all sorts of About Pages out there, and if you search on it there are many different tips and ideas for what to have on yours
Whatever blogging platform you use, adding an About Me Page is easy, quick and simple and will do everything to grow your blog.
I like a long-ish About Page, I am inherently nosy and I like to know a bit more about the person but at the least you should have on it your name and where you are located. I also think a photo is good too...over the last year or so I think this has become more important in blogging - if you are hesitant about that as I was, you can try using sunglasses or a behind shot until you get comfortable.
There is nothing worse than stumbling upon a new blog and going to find out more to only be faced with a piddly little one liner About Me Page...well there is something worse, not having one at all!
2. Contact Page
The chances are someone, somewhere will want to contact you and you will be surprised what lands in your inbox once you put yourself out there on the world wide web with a blog.
Many bloggers also use this page to include details for PR's/brands that may want to contact them and some bloggers put their stats on there too.
A short, to the point and simple Contact Page works really well...whenever I have wanted to contact another blogger I am often very busy and have limited time so I don't want to hang around sifting through information looking for an email address, so concise and clear ...
G'day lovely Beach Cottage lovelies.
So, yeah, so on a roll people, so on a roll.
I feel kinda home accessory wired right now.
I am always telling people, if anyone ever listens, that blogging is all about passion, not that sort of passion, but about passion that makes one tick.
Things like this make me tick tick boom.
I love finding things that suit my budget and let me treat my home but look amazing too.
So without further adieu I introduce you, ladies of the beach, to the blue vintage glasses that I have been stroking for about a week or two now...
These glasses are from a little boutique I sometimes happen upon, this boutique sells also pet accessories, carpet cleaner, bras and compost...it's quite unique though.
And, thanks to my friend Marnie (she blogs over here, go take a look at her praying position, interesting), who just so happens to be one day having me over for a lil' Greek dinner, has let me in on the fact that we call Kmart....The KMart...with an accent ....as in 'I love The KMart'...just like her MIL does. Oh yeah. Love that.
So I have had my eye on reproduction vintage glass blue wine glasses and being trying to find real true vintage blue glasses for like ever.
Oh yes I have spied them in Frenchy boutiques, I have lusted after them in stores that I shouldn't even enter and I have put them back pretty quickly in those shops with the hand-written price tags. C'mon, you know the ones.
And, though all of the above have tempted me, muchly, really, even with my wardrobe stashing skills I just thought that, actually, I'd rather be saving that casherooni for our next trip overseas..
Hello The KMart.
Tick Tick Boom
Vintage style blue wine glasses.
Do not come to my old place and think you might pick up one of these and smile with pleasure at their handblown quality, their weight, and be secretly jealous that my wine glasses cost more than your car...friend, that would not happen...these do not feel like that...indeed these in a funny way reminded me of my baby girl, she was a tiny little thing, with stick legs, the tinsssssssiest ankles and wrists you ever did see, she slept sideways in her cot wedged in between rolled up blankets and would only settle attached to Mr Beach Cottage or I or a (dirty) pj top of mine scrunched up under her nose...the first few times I picked her up to cuddle, being used to Honeymoon Baby who weighed in at 9lbs at birth and has never really stopped growing, I nearly threw her little bird-cum-rat down covered body over my shoulder.
These glasses are like that...be careful or you might lose your wine down the front of your shirt.
But oh baby, we are not talking picking up here, we are not talking quality, we are not talking house accessory snobbery.
Beach Cottage ladies, we are talking aesthetics.
And this is what I need in my cottage.
Blue vintage style glass, paired with coastal / nautical / beach stuff on my deck.
It's The KMart.
Tune in tomorrow, tomorrow, I have more budget foofing for your home, or maybe it will be the dress that wraps me up in supermarket-chic and makes me feel like me again.
Good Day to you my friends, wanna come hang out on my deck, talk house accessories, The KMart and drink some wine from blue glasses?
Sarah
gorgeously simple ! love it!
x
Goodmorning Sarah!
Beautiful pics this morning, loving the pepsi crate and the concept of keeping things simple and utilising things we already have around the house. Often times during this silly season, I have been known to get out that Christmas broomstick….oh dear. Not this year! No! I shall attempt to keep things in perspective…and this means not leaving things to the last minute…or staying up till midnight weeping over a gingerbread house that is not sticking together despite copious amounts of royal icing reinforcement….
Looking forward to the linky party….although being a newby blogger….I may find myself bumbling my way around…watch out it could get ugly!
Ps loving the red twine however, it is proving to be very hard to find at stores….any ideas where I could go?
xo Rachel
Thanks for hosting! I love that vintage pepsi crate!
Gorgeous simplicity at it’s best Sarah!
I am looking forward to that lbd post!!!
Enjoy the season, mostly I am soaking up the little moments with my little ones.
I hope you are too. (and enjoying that trip to the hairdressers!)
Love the crate and the sparkle added. I like decorating on a tray, it’s easy to move when needed.
it sure is Giulia, which you need on a table x
Love, your box with a nice bottle of bubbly and some crystal glasses would also be stunning. You are just so good with lighting!
Looking good as it does every year! x
thanks Katrina from The Block xx
As always- LOVELY! I really love the high low combination!
Thank you for hosting!
Kerry at HouseTalkN
Love the centerpiece. Quick and Fun ! Since you love white and sparkly …. Heres a kids craft ( my personal craft level). Take clean glass jar. Apply modge podge roll in glitter. Or, variation. Wrap and modge podge wax paper around jar then apply more modge podge and roll in glitter. I did this for the first time a few years ago and I was stunned at how pretty the were !
Thanks for blogging.
~ Christie
I love, love, love your settings! So pretty.
You must have shares in Napisan.
Thanks for hosting again.
x Marnie
Hi Sarah,
I love the concept of keeping it low key ;” Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication “,right ?!
I find your Christmas/beach decor an embodiment of Da Vinci’s quote . I love the originality ( as always ), the simplicity , and the serenity of it . Thank you for your wonderful party !
Love your idea of coastal decorating….you said that it is the end of the school year in Australia. What months doe the kiddos go to school What are your seasons over there?
Feb til December…summer through January x
I was just wondering what I was going to do with my old crate that’s been hanging around. Thanks for the inspiration Sarah!
The centerpiece looks nice with all your sparkly silver and white and I just love those shell balls (spheres??). They are really cute and seem to be so versatile and really say beachy/coastal to me.
As usual, I love what you’ve done and I look forward to the lbd post and the Christmas table wreath post and, of course, the Christmas party next week.
Looks lovely and fits your theme. I can’t handle purchases made specifically to just decorate and they havent been collected over time, have no personal meaning or “story”, nor gathered from a trip or gifted/inherited from a loved one, nor fitting a theme. I looove it when people can tell me a story about the things in their homes and the meaning of its value to them.
yep me too and a lot easier on the pocket ! x
So beautiful, you make simple things look so magical! And you always make it sound so easy but there definitely is an art to it! Thanks for sharing your genius with us as always! Love all the photos.
Hi Sarah
I love the silver & white & all sparkles. The vintage crate amongst all the white is really eye catching.
What colour are the walls in that room? I’m struggling to find a good white for a bedroom! I’ve already got over 10 swatches on the wall and not one is speaking to me.. (sorry to digress from the Christmas cheer).
Hi Kirsten, they are Dulux Whisper White hth x
Thanks Sarah!
Love the Pepsi crate! I have a plain cream crate like this that I have wanted to find a use for for a while!
Morning Sarah-
I am mad for that gorgeous PEPSI box…love the old vintage box with the white & silver sparkle of Christmas inside…
Wise words- setting your goals low for the racing around about Christmas- as the way you *simply* throw it all together says calm & carefree…not Christmas manic at all….
I loved your post yesterday- and got so into sorting out TWITTER that I failed to post a comment!! I did TWEET you though!
Thanks for the *keep-going-and-maybe-see-if-it-works-for-you-like-this-post*- I really get Twitter more now!
Melissa x
Love your beachy Christmas decorations Sarah! I’m looking forward to the table dressing idea, still stuck on how to do mine this weekend for the home show. It’s like I know what I want, but not sure how to pull it together…Can you come over please? To California? Thanks for hosting, Marcia
Love the beach tray. Your decorating style is simplistic perfection!
Love the silver, white and red combo ❈
So Pretty! I have an old wooden box in my garage that I love but have not put to use yet. I love this idea:)
Mmmm, keep expectations low. Excellent advice. Realised today if I am going away the week before Christmas then I really should get organised NOW!
Mmm, keep expectations low. Excellent advice.
alison
hmmm, Alison, that’s not very long away lol!
x
Hi Sarah,
I loved these so much I wrote a post about them! (and a tweet
Have a great weekend,
Christine
Thanks for your sweet note about my yellow Tablescape!!! I LOVE all your Christmas table, especially the mix of old/new & modern/rustic! Perfect!
8 bloggers are hosting a Blog around the Christmas Tree Party and today’s feature is Christmas Scapes! I’d love to have you join up, the party is just beginning!
http://www.itsoverflowing.com/2011/12/christmas-blog-link-party-christmas.html
XO, Aimee from ItsOverflowing.com
PS I’m going to add a link, too! Fun to know about your blog party!