Pink & Black

I don't know what is wrong with the lighting here, or why my eyes insist on being so crazy but so be it.

The Husband is still my loyal photographer but if in public we get one or two goes, and that is it. There is no reshoot.
Do you ever wonder who takes the photos for those rather popular bloggers who seem to go on expeditions to take photos of their outfits? I wonder too.

See these sandals? Get used to them. 

My feet really don't fit in anything but these and thongs at the moment which is not very glamorous. 

I am lucky that my work have been kind enough to allow me to wear them as they definitely don't work with our dress code.

I'm wearing:-

Kookai dress, backwards of course because the real neckline is just weird.

Kookai cardigan, handy in hiding the size of my bum

Witchery sandals

Necklace from Bali

The annoying thing about these dresses is that the bigger my belly gets, the shorter these get and they ride up when I am waddling. Inconvenient for someone who doesn't like her legs or knees.

I bought an actual maternity dress for the festive season and low and behold, it's long! Success. 

We are frequent San Churro occupants these days but on the weekend I really didn't want anything. 

The Husband was practically peer pressuring me to get something so I opted for the Peanut Butter Besos, hot damn, I was hooked.

It's that salty peanut butter like you get in Reese's Pieces but in thick shake form, hell yes. 

We also bought our pram on the weekend and got it on mega sale!

We were originally looking for the Joolz Day Earth but then discovered that neither of us liked the brown leather trim, so looked at the Joolz Exploration but didn't like that colour combo either - too armyesque.

The Husband has wanted a 'light and pure' pram from the get go, so when he saw this colour combo he was sold, and then when I saw that it was also on sale, I think I was more sold than he was!

So we got the standard Joolz Day pram and as it was a special sale thingo they threw in the nappy bag and parasol for free! We got it at such a good price, I am rather excited by it. 

I think I will probably keep this nappy bag on here as the basket is not very big (but you can buy big shopping holder things), and then use my Marc by Marc Jacobs bag also. 

Don't tell me that it will get dirty because I do not want to hear it! 

All of my google skills tell me that I can pre-treat it and then they clean up pretty nicely or whack it in the wash.

I just love the height of the bassinet, and that the inside is not black so the baby is surrounded by light. 

Both our parents are being really generous and buying a lot of things for us, which I am so grateful for.

As we were trying to stay out the heat, we crossed the road to the new Ikea in Springvale which was dead.

I am so used to the Richmond Ikea being crazy busy on a Saturday but it really was dead. 

I think we are possibly the first people to ever walk out empty handed, but we did leave armed with a list of the stuff we will buy (see my previous Ikea post here) and The Husband has also decided on the custom wardrobe he wants, complete with draws for his watches and ties. 

Maybe I made the wrong move by accepting his offer of having the walk in to myself!  

Despite walking out empty handed, we did get lunch and a hot dog for the sake of it.

I figured that the vegetarian burgers were probably slightly less likely of giving me food poisoning than the meatballs so gave them a shot and actually really enjoyed them. 

I don't know about you but my go to drink when feeling a little off is Apple Juice. It must be the sugar content because it picks me up instantly.  

White Furniture

It has come to my attention that I really do have a strange love of white furniture.

Not all white furniture though, I don't have much love for the glossy variety.

I don't think we had too much white furniture growing up, but my bedroom furniture was definitely white, white wicker at that! So here is my love for white furniture, waving a little white flag and declaring awesomeness.

I have been searching furniture websites like there is tomorrow. I have determined that I have rather neutral and simple tastes and that what is in my head does not always exist in real life.

The Husband may have given me the side eye when I announced that the majority of my favourite furniture is actually from Ikea.  I don’t think he likes the sounds of this, but if we cant find it elsewhere why wouldn't we go to Ikea? Cheap and cheerful I say.I haven't had a piece break on me yet.

Little kids are just going to draw on it anyway if I remember my own childhood. 

Maybe he knows that I am the Master Builder in our marriage and will be out of action so he may need to build, but Ikea have people who can build it for you!

Now - here are some pieces on my 'I like and if I don't find else where in better quality will buy' list:-

Ikea Liatorp Coffee Table 

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I think that a coffee table will be one of our last purchases though as our couch is already on the huge side, and our lounge is not.  We will see if we can ever fit one in otherwise will have to get side tables instead.

I like the idea of this one though as you can put pretty coffee table books in the drawer and look at them through the glass rather than on top of the glass. 

Ikea Liatorp Glass Cabinet

I want a glass cabinet of some type to house our special objects such as the ‘good’ dining setting, cutlery, wine glasses, tea cups etc etc – you get the drill.

I think I really need to see them in real life though to determine the quality.  Freedom have one that I adore but I hate the colour wash of it. 

I would like to put some different handles on these also. If you have seen these elsewhere, please drop me a comment!! 

Hemnes Glass Door Cabinet with Drawers

We are going to need more storage in the laundry too, I adore these being used for a linen cupboard and like to think that it force me to have a neat area but who am I kidding. I only use fitted sheets and cannot fold them nicely for the life of me.

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Am unsure about getting a sideboard or TV unit, I think that we will have our TV mounted on the wall but I guess you need to put your DVD player and DVD's etc somewhere.

That's one I need to ponder further I suppose...

Ikea Liatorp Sideboard

I don't need these chairs because we have a dining setting already but I think I may buy 2 just to have randomly as I adore them. Maybe if we put a study desk in then they would work.

Ikea Ingolf Chair 

I do however need stools for the bench and these are the cutest I have seen. Will of course need little cushions on them but so be it.

Ikea Ingolf Bar stool with backrest

Look how cute they look! 

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Our bedroom has a walk in wardrobe but The Husband has graciously offered to let me have it and he will use a separate one which we need to buy. I think that both our clothes can fit in the walk in as I am culling a lot but he clearly thinks my clothes are contagious and if he rubs his lovely stuff against mine it may turn polyester. 

As he has so many shirts we need the wardrobe to have two rails, but if we don't get an Ikea one we may look at having a custom one built which will probably work out better as can have a section for his ties and what not but I have no idea how much such a thing would cost.

Life with so many clothes must be exhausting. 

Ikea Aspelund Wardrobe

Ikea Hemnes Wardrobe

I love the idea of a big mirror leaning against the wall but I don't think it is that safe - so maybe we will have one hanging and fixed to the wall properly.

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For some reason I am so incredibly excited about decorating the fire place mantle.

I want a big mirror above it, and have already selected some silver Vera Wang frames (gifts from our wedding) and candle sticks to go on it. 

We need to decide which photos to put in the frames, but I am thinking family shots from our wedding would be nice.

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Now, the house is quite old and doesn't have much storage in the bathroom so I was thinking I would either get a ladder shelf or the Hemnes shelves and put nice baskets on them so that we can have towels, products etc nicely presented.

I will need to measure the space that is left to decide on this though.

Freedom Storage Ladder

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Ikea Hemnes Shelving Unit

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I really do love the look of these shelves actually. Plain and neutral. 

I am all for rolling my towels as opposed to folding them - how about you?

Freedom Resort Package 

We are yet to see an outdoor setting that we love and white will be a pain to keep clean so we are still looking.

Am hoping to find this and buy our white goods in the Boxing Day Sales!

I think I love white furniture because you are not limited the the colours in your art work, rugs, flowers, cushions and all that other random stuff that accumulates around a house. 

So - what are your favourite furniture stores? I do admit that if I cannot see it on the website first, I usually cannot be bothered schlepping to the shops - especially with my belly weighing me down now.