A special giveaway!

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Thanks for all your comments on our invites. It's not quite finished yet but they are the mock ups. I was more of the ideas person but Jason is the graphic designer :) So glad I'm marrying someone who is also creative. (We've already decided to have a creative room for all our projects). It's two months away today!

Well I have a special giveaway for you. It's a pre wedding/just because you're awesome. I really love the blogging community and I wanted to give something back. I thought I would giveaway a Compendium journal. I find them beautiful and inspiring. I thought I would let the winner choose which journal they would like from this list.

So all you have to do to enter is to...

1. Leave a comment here about what makes you happy and which journal you would like

2. Be a follower

If you want extra entries you can blog about it if you want to, just comment here to let me know. I really hope you enjoy this giveaway. I actually have another one lined up but that will be for later.

Oh and it closes on Sunday 29th December. And remember I live in Australia so this will be a bit earlier for the closing date.

Thank you all for being so so awesome!

Invite Reveal

Hello lovelies! It's a beautiful day today. I feel like doing nothing but there is so much on my to do list. Oh and thanks for the comments. I love my pink shoes too!

Last Friday night, Jason and I watched New Moon, which I loved (surprisingly). And we also randomly met up with Laura and Josh. We just saw them (Josh first, Laura came later) and found out we were watching the same movie. I love little surprises like that.

I thought I would post our wedding invitations. It is basically finished. It needs some tweaking but the main design is done. It's 62 Days on my wedding countdown. Tomorrow it will be exactly 2 months until the wedding!! Oh my! A part of me has little freak outs about this. Especially when I realised how much I still need to do. All the little details.

Anyway, here's the invite draft.....

This is the main invite. That space underneath is for a tiny envelope. I'm making those myself. It's taking a long time.

The tiny envelopes will have these tiny cards inside. This is the back with the monogram Laura created for us.

These are the little details on the cards. Contact details, a dress code, a little wedding date calender and a diet card (which probably won't work anymore because we aren't having RSVP cards for people to send back anymore).

You can click on the pictures to see it a little clearer and larger. We are now in the process of just confirming details and finding a printing place.

Also we decided not to have the wax seal which was meant to be for the tiny envelope. We might make our own sticker seals instead.

What do you all think? This is still the draft. There are a few things we are going to change. But this is the main design. Ignore the gray/silver border. That part is getting chopped off.

Have a lovely week!

Bathurst Trip

I just wanted to say that I will send out the Christmas cards out hopefully this weekend. Thanks for those who sent me their addresses. If you want to me send you a card you can still email me your addresses.

I thought I would share a few photos from Bathurst. Unfortunately I didn't get any photos from the ceremony or of the bridal party. Camera couldn't really capture it.

Jason and me after the ceremony. This was before the reception started.

I really can't pose properly. I hadn't straightened my hair properly in awhile.

This is me and Lauren, one of Jason's other cousins. She's the sister of Jacinta the cousin whose wedding we were there for.

The reception was held at some old Gold fields. This was equipment used for gold mining.

The centre pieces were lovelier in person than the photo I took.

The pretty roof with fairy lights.

The white part of the place cards can be planted and a lemon bottle brush will grow. I have to plant mine soon.

Jason and me outside on the deck. It had a nice breeze as it was quite hot.

This is at Jason's dad's house. We went to visit the next day. This is part of his property. Don't laugh but cows scare me a bit. After this photo a whole bunch of them started starting at me. We had gone for a swim before because it was hot.

Here's a sneak peak of our wedding invitations.

I know it's very faint but we are working on it. It involves small cards, envelopes and maybe a wax seal.

There will be more wedding posts and some Christmas posts coming up. And I'm watching New Moon tonight! Eee! Although it's one of my least favourite books in the series.

Back and christmas cards

Hello my lovelies! Well I'm back from my quick trip to Bathurst. We got back about 11.30pm last night. Very long drive home and it was hot (good thing we had air con).

The heat in New South Wales is so different to heat here in Queensland. It gets hot and we have a high humidity. So you feel sticky a lot. Down in NSW, it's a real dry heat where you feel as though you can't breathe. Plus the heat in Queensland is very constant. We don't get ridiculous heat waves like they do down south.

I will have a post about the trip but I will have to load photos. It was a beautiful wedding and I'm glad I was able to go.

Anyway, I saw this idea first on Nicole's blog My Teacups in Peony. About sending out some Christmas cards to her blog readers.

I thought that was an adorable idea. I would love to send out Christmas cards to all you lovely people. Mail is just the thing that will make me very happy.

So if you would like to me to send you a card with a handwritten message :) email me your address to gracienne.nancy@gmail.com It will make me happy. And your address will be safe with me. I would never give them out to anyone!

And I think I want to have a little Christmas giveaway soon. So watch out for that. Plus more wedding news and a few Christmas idea posts coming up.

Thanks for all your wonderful comments and have a great rest of week.

Some christmas joy

Well lovelies....it looks like I'm off to Bathurst tomorrow. Jason is flying me down to Sydney and then they will pick me up from there for the 3 hour drive to Bathurst. Apparently he really wants me there :p So I will have to go and pack soon. It's a 5am flight ugh! And it's my first flight by myself. I know it's only interstate but I'm a little apprehensive.

Anyway, this morning I went to my nephew Caeleb's preschool Christmas concert and graduation. He's going to be in prep next year.

There were three levels to perform today and poor little fella got a bit of stage fright and didn't want to sing.

Little Cael on stage before he went off. Sorry the photos are so fuzzy. I wasn't close enough to the stage. He's supposed to be a shepard.

But he was fine when he 'graduated' from preschool.

The little shepherd is so much happier away from the stage.

Which is so weird because he's a real little entertainer. He normally loves to sing.

Me, Cael and mum after the mini concert.

Cael with his gift from preschool (left) and his parents on the right. His preschool is part of Christian Outreach Collage which is the school that's part of our church (we have a pretty huge church).

Cael posing with another gift from my parents and I. It's a giant colouring in book. He loves to colour in. He's very creative and thinks outside of the box.

He's much happier now. This was the morning tea time. Unfortunately I couldn't really eat anything because my tummy is still sensitive. I put the little Christmas crown thing on his head.

Ok this seems kind of random but it's Caeleb's drawing. They had this alphabet book where they learn to write the letters and had to draw something that started with that letter. He drew a girl....with her bits. lol The two circles on top are the 'boobs' and he drew a 'wee' hole. He didn't say that but Liz (his mum) and I concluded it from the picture. lol. It's pretty funny though kind of embarrassing for a 4 year old to be drawing. I don't know what happened to her hair and arms.

So yes, he is very random like that. For instance for the letter F he drew a fire. Of all the things to choose. For the letter X he drew a letter C which is to represent him because his name is Caeleb Xavier. He definitely thinks outside of the box.

Anyway, I should try and pack a few things and I really hope you all have a wonderful weekend!! Take care xx

Award catch up

Thank you all for your comments. I'm definitely a lot better today. I've started eating more though it's still not much. My body feels very heavy as though my limbs are made of lead. I really should try and eat more to gain more energy.

And Jason has left for Bathurst this morning with this family, minus me. He will get back next Monday night.

Anyway, I have a few awards I've received and to share with the rest of you. I received this award from the lovely ladies of BonBon Rose.

I pass it on too..... Cassie, Born to be Mrs Beever, Alli Michelle, Kellie

I received this award from the sweet Cassie of Hydrangeas and White Daisies.

There are some questions and 6 more friends to nominate =)

1. Where is your cell phone: On the foot rest
2. Your hair: Is wet and kind of messy after my shower
3. Your father: Is away on a work trip
4. Your favorite food: potato bake, lasagna and teriyaki chicken
5. Your dream from last night: was all over the place
6. Your favorite drink: peach ice tea
7. Your dream/goal: to be able to have a business and be able to work from home
8. What room are you in: the lounge room sitting on the comfy sofa with pillows and a foot rest
9. What is your hobby: making things, writing letters, reading, being creative
10. What is your fear: losing the people I love
11. Where do you want to be in 6 years: Hopefully would be well travelled and maybe starting a family
12. Where were you last night: At home resting
13. Something you are not: a mean person
14. Muffins: chocolate or apple and cinnamon
15. Wish list items: a house and an overseas trip
16. Where did you grow up: Well born in Sydney but grew up in Brisbane
17. Last thing you did: Ate breakfast and messaged Jason
18. What are you wearing: Bummy clothes....shirt and shorts (I'm not bothering to dress up since I'm in recovery)
19. Your TV: is not on but I might turn it on soon to watch a DVD
20. Your pets: are non existent
21. Your friends: are absolutely wonderful
22. Your life: has been going through many changes
23. Your mood: is content yet emotional
24. Missing someone: yes =(
25. Vehicle: Jason's car =p
26. Something you’re not wearing: a watch
27. Your favorite store: Forever New, Bardot, Kikki.K, Smiggle, Borders and Myer (where I work)
28. Your favorite color: Pink, turquoise, aqua and pastel shades
29. When’s the last time you laughed: Really laughed...would be Sunday night =(
30. When’s the last time you cried: This morning sigh =(
31. Your best friend: Jason
32. One place you go over and over: My bedroom to bring things downstairs
33. One person who emails me regularly: Erm...I don't email much but I guess my mum
34. Favorite place to eat: Wagamama - Jason and my fave place to eat.

I pass this one too.... Nicole, Julia, Anastasia, Andhari, Sara, Amanda

And I got this from my new friend Born to be Mrs Beaver. She's also a bride to be.

Translation: Your blog is super cute

The rules for this one are =)

- Indicate the award to 1o other bloggers and let them know

- Leave a message to the person that gave you the award

I pass this too.....Fee- Amore, BonBon Rose, Kristen, Caro, Bunnie, Nicole Marie, Lisa Jane, Danni, Kerri, Claire

Thank you so much for the awards. I really appreciate them!! Have a great rest of week!!

Oh so sickly

Hello lovelies. I have a tummy bug and it's horrible. I'm feeling better than I was yesterday when I couldn't even walk up the stairs to my room without having to lie down on the floor for a few minutes to let the nausea and dizziness subside. I can actually sit up today. I spent most of yesterday lying down on the lounge with a blanket. I've barely eaten because food makes me feel queasy. I had a 1 piece of dry toast and 2 crackers yesterday. I will try and eat more today if I can. Jason came over last night to use my laptop for work and he bought me some ice blocks because I felt like them. Only thing I could probably stomach. He's so wonderful.

It's horrible because this tummy bug is going around and I know a fair few people who have gotten it these past few weeks. It hits you really hard too. I think I had it in my system for a few days before it really hit me because I had been getting cold chills even when it was quite warm. Sunday night I was feeling chilly and Jason was feeling hot.

Anyway, I was meant to work today but of course I couldn't. And in a few days time I was meant to go down to Bathurst with Jason and his family to attend his cousin's wedding. But I don't think I could last a 13 hour drive on Thursday even if I am feeling better. Long car trips can make me feel a little sick anyway. So it looks like I won't be going which is a shame. Especially because Jason is going to be the MC for the reception.

Well just to keep this post a bit prettier, I have some photos from Laura's birthday from Saturday night.

This was part of my present to her. I usually give bits and pieces and package it up.

Prettifying the gift bags. I made the bauble using feathers and those plastic baubles you can buy from an art shop.

I gave that print to her as a thank you for doing our engagement photos.

Pretty fairy lights. And I adore her mirror.

Her candelabra and a sampling of the food she prepared.

A collection of pretty teacups.

On her coffee table. I gave her the book in the middle for Christmas last year. I love the book on top " This little Piggy went to Prada"

The cupcakes she made as her cake. The cupcake wrappers are gorgeous!

Lovely Laura is the perfect housewife. She just needs a pretty apron.

The rest of these photos are Laura's.

Written on one of the cards she received.

All the girls. Minus her sister. That's her lovely mum on the end on the right.

After dinner just chatting.

Wearing the cupcake wrappers on our head like a crown. It made me want to have an Alice in Wonderland party next year.

It was such a gorgeous night. She's the perfect hostess and dinner was lovely. It's given me some ideas of what to do for my 25th (eek) birthday next year. I'm actually having my birthday on the last day of our honeymoon but when we get back I would love to do something for it.

Have a great week. And I'm going to go back to resting on the couch.