Summer days...

... breakfast at a new favourite cafe...

... water fun at the octopus's garden...

...plums straight from our tree...

...cheeky pups...

... learning from nature...

... fairy tea parties...

... plum tree caves...

... teeny visitors, on plates...

...and in hands...

... "I'm setting up a bloggy photo Mummy"...

... stunning Day Lillies...

... delicious homemade plum and bacon oysters...

...new scooters...

... vintage records...

...beach walks...

...beach scoots...

...and quiet time with babies wearing gifts from near and far.

Happy Summer!!

Allana xxx

Things that have been making us happy...

Our She & Him Christmas record arrived all ruby red and pretty. 

(FYI: it comes with a code to download a digital copy for free - that's lo and high tech at its best don't you think!)

I intended to play it at my Nan's while we set up her Christmas tree but with a broken stylus and no replacement it wasn't to be. She did however send us home with a record player she just happened to have stashed in her cupboard (!!) that wasn't quite working. I admit to not having high hopes for it's resurrection however while surfing (the net that is, it was midnight after all)) I heard Zooeys gorgeous voice coming from the lounge room and raced out to find Mr HMH had got the motor going!! Yay!! 

Since then, every afternoon, The Munchkin and I can be found rocking out to Christmas carols done the She & Him way in our lounge room - super fun! Thanks Nan, thanks Mr HMH and thanks Munchkin for not caring how Mummy dances and still looking at me lovingly with your gorgeous big blue eyes xxx

The Munchkin and I made some little handmade treasure for some friends of personalised photo puzzles (photo printed at home, laminated on my awesome laminator and cut up = easy and fun!) and tiny crystal or treasure pouches based on this tutorial. We used some cheap hessian to make little pouches and The Munchkin cut out the shapes and glued them on. We tied them up with string and they were personal, handmade and fun to give.

We spotted this little beauty after our library visit this week and I wanted to pop it in my pocket! Flawless yellow paint, yellow wheel detail and sunny yellow curtains - I was bursting to see inside! I haven't seen one of these so small before and it would be perfect for my dream of setting one up as a cubby house/Summer house in the backyard. Sadly it is over here on holidays from Victoria and not for sale :( *sigh*

Mangos - enough said! Happy, happy, happy!

And here is a sneak peak at a little botanical potion making activity I've been up too... as a friend said "you really are a hippy!" hehe, yes, I think I am ;)

I will share the recipe for this very soon, lets just say it smells sensational and it is just what you will need to relax after a busy Christmas/Holiday season.

Happily yours, 

Allana xx

An impromptu play at the river...

Sorry this ones just for me really... sigh...

Today we were headed to a meeting for a local group looking at setting up a Steiner school and providing support for homeschoolers too. It is something we are really excited about and can't wait to see it get off the ground! Our closest Steiner school is 4 hours away past Hobart so to have local support is fantastic!

Today, at least for us, it wasn't to be. As we were heading that way I realised that our petrol tank was dangerously low, as is my bank account so we made a split decision to go to a local park instead to explore. 

I am so glad we did! It was magic! 

There is something wonderful about unplanned adventures. No expectation I guess.

 Mr HMH left us to explore while he raced off for hot chips and lemonade and The Munchkin and I waded in and found a nice rock or two to sit on, dangled our feet in the water and listened to the sound of the water and the birds flying by. 

The river was low and had exposed a lovely gravelly beach area that we chose to enjoy our feast on. With a vintage duvet and melamine cups from the car we had a moment that wonderful memories are made of.

I could not wish to live in a better place to raise our daughter. 

Happily yours, 

Allana xxx

Little makes...

We've been making... Tibetan inspired bunting in Moroccan coloured fabric leftover from our engagement party yonks ago...

...wrapping little gifts for the owlets in our Brown Owl group, with The Munchkin writing her name on each parcel and decorating with little owl stickers, each one placed in exactly the 'right' place...

...a little Daddy and Munchkin rocket building inspired by Wallace and Grommet...

... a welcome friends missed caller noticeboard inspired by this pin (full post here)...

... and finally a quite big Hessian and fabric soft storage cube finished off with burlap tape handles (from here) When I asked The Munchkin what we should put in it she said "me!" haha, she fits nicely ;)

Actually supposed to be resting as I have a bit of an odd virus causing dizziness and shortness of breath. It seems I have forgotten how, not sure when that happened I used to be as lazy as I could get away with... maybe that was pre child haha!

Yours in semi-restfulness, 

Allana xxx

Ps. Thanks to Emily at the Beetle Shack for introducing me to this gorgeous NSW singer - I'm in love! I am such a sucker for that folksy, cruisey Aussie sound... so dreamy...

Family fun day...

mmm... fairy floss...

Naughty Shorts frock and grubby "been playing in the garden" toes...

Last weekend the company Mr HMH works for out on an all expenses paid family day at a local park. 

It was AMAZING!

There were 4 different jumping castles, choc and strawberry milk, and mineral waters, a BBQ, icecreams, snowcones, fairy floss, Santa photo's and gift bags, face painting and balloon creations.... and it goes on. We had such a great time and I must say the best part (other than the fairy floss hehe) was The Munchkin being able to have unmetered time on the jumping castles. It was so nice not to feel time pressured or rushed and just to enjoy the day...sigh...

Please excuse the last pic of The Munchkin blissfully eating fairy floss haha, it's the only one I took of her sweet face painting. 

Yours in sunburn and sugar highs,

Allana xxx

Etsy shop update...finally...

I have finally managed to get some Dotty Dogs in my etsy shop so if you were thinking of adopting one now is the time...

Thankyou again for all of your support and kind words.

Florally yours, 

Allana xxx

Things I love ...

This cheeky bunny...

...fantastic Oppie finds (from a few months back - oops!)...

...the feeling of cutting into Lino after not having done it since High School...

...and as a result, now having handprinted journals (large are Moleskines, smaller ones are from here) to give as gifts...

...and last but by no means least...Bananas finally being a reasonable price again!! I've missed you Banana Bread!! :)

Yours, 

Allana xxx

A Giveaway...

Ok, I promised to make it up to all you non-Hobart access people and here is my sweetener...

The fabulous baby interiors blog Baby Space is running a

  Christmas Giveaway 

through December to be drawn on 24th December 2011.  You have the opportunity to win the most generous prize pool from gorgeous designers including Love Mae and Fabrik and guess what? There is a special little Japanese cotton Dotty Dog included! 

I am thrilled that Bron asked me to be part of this giveaway. Baby Space is a beautiful, professional blog that showcases amazing rooms and products and I love dropping in for a little dose of happy. I feel honoured that my little Dotty Dogs are standing alongside such gorgeous offerings. 

Please stop over and check it out, someone is going to be the lucky one and it might just be you! :)

Yours, 

Allana xxx

New Stockist: The Nook Hobart...

I am sorry if you are sick of hearing about my little Dotty Dogs but I had to share with you my exciting news...part one!! 

As of yesterday Dotty Dogs are now being stocked by the fabulous Bek in her gorgeous boutique The Nook in North Hobart, Tasmania!

 Yes! I'm super excited! 

My sleuths were out this morning and popped by via Sweet Envy to take a photo of Bek's lovely window in which if you have a little peeky on that gorgeous ladder, you will spot a white and yellow Dotty!! Eek! She even sold a grey blanket Dotty the day she put him on the shelf.

*sigh* how enticing does that window look! I am so keen to get down there to meet Bek and admire her amazing shop. I am thrilled that she supports handmade and local wares and humbled to be included alongside her other talented designers. 

GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED - THANKS ALLY!!

As a little "I'm so excited and I just can't hide it" giveaway, if you can get in and check out Beks gorgeous shop and take a photo of a Dotty Dog in situ and send a copy to me, I will give you a custom Dotty Dog for free! Might be nice if you chat to Bek and browse her wares while you are there too I think, so she doesn't get worried... please :)

 I know this rules a lot of you gorgeous readers out, and I'm sorry about that however tomorrow I will let you in on my other grand news and I'm sure I will be in your good books again ;)

Thanks for baring with me on such a rambling, self promo post. You guys rock x

Yours with grand illusions, 

Allana xxx

PS. Hehe, that's my Mum and Dad reflected in the window...what troopers x