Faking It

Lately we have been considering 'faking it', and not in a botox, faux fur, or self-tan kind of way but by installing synthetic turf or fake grass.

smart turf

As the inside is almost complete, we are turning our attention to the outside.

We have an area at the back of our property by the pool that becomes a complete quagmire when it rains, rendering it quite useless. We have even taken to fencing it off from the dog lately, with all the recent rain he seems to be constantly covered in mud up to his armpits!

gc flooring solutions

There are also two areas at the side of the house that are so tiny it's a real inconvenience to bring the lawnmower out (if you know what I mean).

The solution ............. beautiful, evergreen, non-growing (is that a word?), drought hardy fake grass!!

Awww - so cute!!
compare quotes

Has anyone else ever faked it, or considered faking it? I'd love your opinion.

Hope you're having a great Monday.
Michelle

p.s. I must apologise for my recent absence, but it was a big week in our house - my oldest started school! Of coarse all the grandparents had to be there for the big day, so we had my in-laws staying over from Noosa - it was a great week and she had a wonderful first day!!
On the way to school this morning she asked if I thought she would learn to read this week - I didn't have the heart to explain that prep is still play based and it may be a while before she learns to read - looks like I may have a job at home!!

Yippee an Award!!!

Wow, a week or so ago I was awarded the Stylish Blogger Award by Terese from Designed to a T! There are many stylish blogs out there but I never considered myself to be among them, so thanks again Terese!

The rules of the award are as follows:
1. Link it back to whoever awarded it to you
2. List 7 things about myself
3. Select 10 other bloggers you'd like to award the same award
4. Let them know

Okay, firstly I have had to confess a few truths in the past here, so I am struggling to find anything that may be the least bit interesting to you - anyway here goes ...

1. I am turning the big 4 0 this year

2. I mostly wear black .... something I am desperately trying to remedy
3. I am slowly kicking my magazine addiction which some of you may already know is a big thing for me

4. As we draw to the end of our renovation I am already planning our next (much to my husbands annoyance) I can't help myself ... another addiction perhaps?
5. I adore chocolate, and limit myself to 2 lines a night, but am about to read 'Sweet Poison - why sugar makes us fat' by David Gillespie on the recommendation from a friend that it "will change the way I think about food" - I have decided it best to limit myself to one line of chocolate a night whilst reading it

6. Oh how I want to be fit and 40

7. I can't wait for school to start back on Friday and daycare to start on Thursday .... okay, I'll add this to my 'crap mother list' too

Now to passing this award on to 10 other bloggers. My apologies if your name is not there, please know I love you all :)
Thank you to all these blogs and the many many others that bring me inspiration every day.

1. Sprout Gallery
2. Natural Modern Interiors
3. Cornflakes and Honey
4. McCarthy Designs
5. The Girl in the Brick House
6. The 5 Year Project
7. Fun and VJ's
8. Driftwood Interiors
9. Kyandra
10.Ledamae

Hope you are all still awake!!
Wishing you all a wonderful week.
Michelle

Wednesday Wicked Design - Driftwood Interiors

The support for flood victims has been amazing, with generous contributions from online artists nothing short of incredible. So I thought for my Wednesday feature this week, it was fitting to shine the spotlight on a designer who is supporting the flood crises in a big way.

Kerri, from Driftwood Interiors creates beautiful still life artworks. Her original paintings are produced in watercolour, acrylics and mixed media. Very generously, for the month of January, Kerri is donating all of the profits from her etsy store to the Queensland flood crises!!!

Take a look at some of the beautiful prints available right now in her etsy store:-

Seaweed in Charcoal

Sea Fan in Charcoal

Dynasty in Ming

Seaweed in Leaf

Recently Kerri's artwork was featured in article in our local Brisbane newspaper the Courier Mail here. It's a fantastic article and really inspirational.

Kerri is also a designer, stylist and blogger. Not only is she one talented lady but she is really really nice - pop on over to her beautiful blog and say hello, I know she would love to hear from you.

Hope you are having a wonderful Wedneday.
Michelle

BrisStyle Handmade Ark Appeal

Hi everyone. I was hoping to return to blogging last week, but with all the heartbreak in our beautiful country I just couldn't - it somehow didn't seem right.

We are lucky to live high on a hill and were untouched by the water - friends of ours were not so lucky, with some losing everything. I hope you and your families are safe and well.

With the horrible flood situation in mind, I thought I would let you know about BrisStyles Handmade Ark Flood Appeal initiative. The clever folk over at BrisStyle have been encouraging their members (and non-members) who have an etsy store to list a handmade item, with proceeds to go towards the Premier's Flood Relief Appeal. You can read all about their initiative on their blog.

Of coarse, I was keen to jump on board and have listed my "four seasons in one day" framed artwork to be sold in my etsy store with all proceeds going towards the Premier's fund.

If you know of someone who can join in, please pass the message on as if we all do our little bit for the appeal, we will see Australia recover stronger than ever!!
Michelle