A Seven year old Room

Within the blink of an eye, your baby is SEVEN! It incomprehensible , but somehow so very true!

Not only is she 7, she is also growing up. Watching and observing. Asking and listening. Maturing and changing. Somewhere, along the way I realised that Stella needed a space of her own (she used to share with Lacey , 5) and a space that was a little more on the 'grown up' side. 

Don't get me wrong, I still look at her as a little girl. She has so many years ahead of her to be a 'tween' or 'teen' but for now, seven is still young. Still pretty and girly  and still a time for playing and being a kid. Well that's my opinion anyway.

Stella still asks me to pick her clothes for the day ( I am holding onto this for as long as possible), she still likes to play with her siblings, she still likes to play with Hilda her bunny in a role play Mummy situation and she still likes a soft cuddle toy at night. Hallelujah! 

When we decided to give Stella her own space ( and me stop working from home) , she moved into the smallest  and oddest shaped room in the house. Regardless, she was stoked!!  A space to call her own. And a space to kick her siblings out of when she was sick of them! We wanted something pretty but inspiring, a little area for her to write and draw (her favourite things to do) and some storage and display for her 'precious items'. All while being rental friendly! 

Now, seeing as though we live in the desert ( Ok, not quite the desert but it sure can feel like it at times!) we only have one shop, being Kmart. Its a pretty good shop to have at the moment, as they are busting out some awesome homewares but it still makes of limited shopping, especially when you are looking for something in particular. So sourcing bits and pieces we wanted for her room was the not the easiest task. 

Plus budget. Always back to the budget! We are a single income family (or were until this week when I returned to work) and therefore everything needs to be budget friendly.

I can't say I have ever set out to decorate a room. I have never said - Right Liz, lets make over this room from top to bottom. And gone out and bought everything that I have needed/wanted. Our budget has never allowed it. Our rooms have just evolved over time. 

Stella's room

I think with any bedroom space, whether it be for a child or adult, its nice to have some different bedding options. By simply changing your quilt cover or throw cushions with each linen change, you are essentially creating a new look and giving the room a fresh feel. Stella has the above quilt cover and also a reversible Coverlet which we change up every time I change her sheets. This gives her 3 different looks for her room. 

Cute love heart battery operated lights (bought on sale after Valentines Day from Woolworths for $5) add some fun and a soft glow when she is having trouble getting to sleep at night.

An older photo before we sourced new drawers and painted them . 

I had the floor mat made by a local lady who used fabric I had in storage . I love that it is machine washable - a must while living in the Pilbara.

The bookcase was given to us by a friend , Stella stores all her precious and keepsake items in it, as well as her books and craft supplies. 

Her desk area is a funny little alcove in her room and the desk is repurposed from my old work area.  It fits perfectly into the space and a lot of gorgeous drawings have been produced here. 

Bits and pieces and 'pretties' are a must for any girls room!! Free printables I found on Pinterest stuck on the wall with washi tape, brighten the space nicely.

A room is never complete without a wall collage! 

The watermelon print Stella drew and painted herself and the Ice-cream print is just scrapbooking paper with a sticker of an ice-cream added. Wall art doesn't have to be expensive!
The Live the Life print is actually the front of a Typo notebook that I cut off and framed.

There you have a look inside of Stella's girly space. She loves pictures and colours, watermelons and crafting. She likes to leave her shoes on the floor and is a bower bird for anything shiny she can find. Typical 7 year old really ;)

And because I know the questions and emails will come, details of pieces in her room; 

The quilt cover was bought for $20 on sale at the Adairs Outlet store. Its reversible as well.

Her newer drawers were bought for $20 off our local Facebook Buy and Sell site and I sanded, painted and added glass knobs to them. She just needed a few more drawers for things like knickers, socks, bathers etc. 

Stella name banner- Pretty Paper Label 

Pillowcases - Adairs and Cotton On Kids

Watermelon cushion - Cotton On Kids 

Face cushion - Adairs on sale for $15

Love Canvas- Adairs for $9

S letter- made with letter from Spotlight and scrap booking paper

Your are My Sunshine Hoop- Ollie Rose

Coverlet- Gifted to us by a friend but from Kmart a while ago

If there is anything else you would like to know please feel free to ask!

And despite Stella loving her own space, she also loves the other kids visiting her, and they love hanging out in there too!! Angus can always be found laying on her bed , watching her draw or taking her a book to read to him! 

Same same but different ....

I just love that saying, 'Same same but different' , it never ceases to make me laugh. Especially when said by a Balinese person who is trying to get you to buy something that is a 'genuine fake'.

Anyway, you know how it goes. You have children, and to you they don't look like anyone really, just themselves. Their big personalities take over and they looks and features are all their own. Every now and then they may look at you a certain way and you think ' oh geez, she is her fathers daughter '  or something to that effect but its when you go out, see people you know or show people photos that the comments start rolling in. 

People saying that Stella looks so much like me, then you turn around and the next person you see , says she looks like her Dad?! Go figure?!

But when it comes to siblings looking alike, I knew right from the start that these 2 of ours are like two peas in a pod.

That's Angus on the left and Stella on the right. Amazing huh?

And most people did not pick it. But I knew the minute Angus was born, he was just like his sister. 

In looks only , their personalities are polar opposites, especially at the same age. 

Angus is full on. A thrill seeker, fearless and never, EVER stops. 

At the same age, Stella was quiet. You told her off once and she never did it again. She liked to read and sit quietly. 

Don't get me wrong. I can see similarities in all of the kids. Even Max who seems the odd one out , but these tow, especially here!! Crazy!!

Lately...

Lately.. I have been busy trying to keep my head above water.

Adjusting to full time school, after school activities and day time ones for Max and Lacey also.
Throw in a few meetings, sports and windups plus a broken washing machine and a major slice to my thumb resulting in stitches and lots of glue, its been rather busy!!

So forgive me for being so tardy, a blogger that doesn't post but I am feeling a little more back on track.

But can you blame me? These cherubs are worth it!!
Well and truely!

Totally worth it. x

Back to school preparations

Tomorrow is the day. Back to school for WA kids. ( I know most other states have been back for a week already).

And our Stella is starting Pre Primary. Full time school.

Bitter sweet.

We have loved the relaxed pace of school holidays. Cruisey mornings, playing in pyjamas and being able to choose to do something as a spare of the moment thing and just.... do it!

But on the other hand, we are also ready for some structure. Routine and distractions.

The kids have been playing so well. The girls have really become the best of friends and play constantly with their prams (Christmas presents) and role play scenarios but they are all having their fair share of fights too!

Anyway, I had planned on sharing some back to school posts over a week ago, but have been having laptop issues. It has been playing up and driving me MAD, so its off to the doctors!!

So , a little late , but here is a bit about our back to school preparations.

Stella is going into Pre Primary, and at her school she doesn't have to wear a uniform until starting Year 1 and can also use whatever school bag she likes.

Her school bag is the same as she used last year , and truth be told,  she has had it for a few years now. Its a gorgeous Penny Scallan PVC apple bag , and I love it for all the pockets and compartments. A good scrub and line dry and its as new again.

Her cooler bag is also by Penny Scallan, (and of course matches her bag) and is the perfect size for her at the moment. It fits a Tupperware sand which keeper plus a yoghurt and cooler, and some other containers and snack cups.  I also like to use sand which sacks for things like grapes, crackers etc and love the gorgeous colours and Velcro fastening (Stella finds these easier to open herself as well).
I bought mine from Ollie Rose.  Stella will also be using 2 different water bottles, just so I can have one freezing and one in the wash. At home , the kids use Tupperware bottles but I have bought Stella cheaper ones for school in case they get misplaced. This aluminium one and a Princess one from Coles.

In the bottom front pocket of her bag, is where I like to put her change of clothes. A spare top, shorts and knickers , all in a drawstring bag with her name on it ( a party favour from a few years ago, clever hey!?) and a wet bag for the dirty set of clothes. We have never had any accidents at school, but in the warm months they do a lot of water play activities using a trough and scoops etc. Last year she got quite wet a few times and they prefer to change the kids than let them sit in wet clothes, thankfully.

This year I am able to use the same labels I had for her from last year, ordered from Stuck on You, but I have just bought some gorgeous ones for Max and Lacey from Tinyme (they have great name puzzles and wall decals too!)

In the top pocket I have popped a small Bag Tag from 2Kool4Skool with a few coins in it. Just for those moments that she made need to go somewhere and I don't have the money/may have forgotten (heaven forbid) or just in case.

Her school and dancing bags live on a set of hooks just inside her door. At a convenient height for her to reach and put away.

We have also been getting back into the groove of school and familiarising the kids, especially Stella by reading some School themed books.

And we have been counting down the days with this gorgeous countdown from Bianca at a little delightful.

Her wardrobe is ready to go, with her school clothes down one end. We find this makes it easier when dressing for school, and saves all her good clothes from wanting to be worn to school!!

Luckily Stella hasn't really gone up a size all year. She has definitely grown , especially taller but she is also thinner. I just purchased a few new tops and a skirt in the clearance section at Target like I did last year, see post HERE.

So we are set. We are ready.

Her lunchbox is packed, everything is labelled, the clothes are set out and most importantly, the camera battery is charging!!
She is ready, more than ready in fact.

But maybe, just maybe, her Mum is not.... x

I will miss my little friend and helper. Precious girls she is

Wonderful Weather

We have been so blessed with such glorious weather lately!
It doesn't feel like it at the moment, as it blows a gale outside and rains off and on, but when the sun is shining lately, its like the bees and birds are singing!

 

My parents are building on a rural block at the moment and the kids have a ball there!

I was lucky enough to capture some beautiful images of our little darlings. In all their investigating happiness.

 

(Photo overload coming now!!)

 

 

I don't know about the birds and the bees, but these make my heart sing!

How lucky are we?

Even on bad days ( and I seem to be having a few with our terrible two lately, they still make me smile on the inside and out. (more so when they are sleeping though! haha)

 

Lately.....

A post of photos that warm my heart and fill me with pride xo

A snapshot of the happenings here lately.......

Ohh gosh, they are sweet xo

Happy Tuesday all