I headed down to the local $2 shop, and bought some stones, candles and glass coasters.

Using the hot glue gun, i stuck stones on the coasters.

Getting some blue satin, I also placed blue stones on that, using the hot glue gun. I also added a blue ribbon to the candle.

We were really pleased with the final look.

As usual, not showing faces, so can only show a few.

Hiding Lovers

Girls & their dresses

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One of my favourite pictures from the day

You will need:

• Base material (mine is white satin)
• Contrasting material (mine is blue satin)
• Needle & thread
• Sewing machine (or you could hand sew)
• Rings

How to make it:

• Cut the base material out, into a square 20cm x 20cm. (fold it, so you only have to sew up 3 of the sides).
• Fold your contrasting material to the width that you want it to be.

• Place it where you want it on the right side of the material.
• Sew up 2 of the sides on the wrong side of the material. Use a sewing machine if you can, it’s faster.

• Turn in the right way, and stuff the pillow to the bulk you require.

• Hand sew up the last edge using an invisible stitch.
• Tie a ribbon in the middle to tie the rings on to.

These are the photos of us girls getting ready before the day. I don’t show faces in photos, so can only show a few.

I made the girl’s hairbows. There is a tutorial on it.

The girl's hairstyles, they were all done the same, and looked lovely!

The back of the girl's dresses

My birdcage veil

My Hair

My shoes

She writes:

You can tell me if I’m wrong, but I don’t think there is a stepmom who has not experienced the following scenario. You attended an event to showcase your stepchild. Someone, who did not know you, saw you with the child and was probably assuming that you were the mom. They approached smiling broadly. Then, you got introduced. “Meet my stepmom!” Smile vanished. Poof! Get your invisibility cloak.

Oh I just about leapt for joy. Do you know how nice it is, to know that there is someone else out there that understands? That is going through the same things you are? It makes you feel normal, that it’s not just you that is the smelly kid, but that it’s every stepmum out there!

And why?

Why are we treated we have leprosy? Because we took on kids that weren’t ours? Because we opened our homes, hearts, lives and took in another woman’s kids? Yes we’re nuts, but we’re nuts in a good way.

Hear noises from Declan’s room, and get up and tell him to be quiet.

Go to the toilet on way back.

Go back to semi-sleep.

Get woken up by Mr S‘ alarm.

Struggle to stay awake to ensure he gets out of bed.

Get him out of bed.

Go back to semi-sleep.

Awake 5 mins later to the trit-trot of little feet, Saffron coming to the side of my bed to ‘see if I’m awake yet’.

Hear Mae banging around in the kitchen, it’s her job to do the dishwasher.

Alarm goes off.

Get up.

Turn light on in Kimi and Nancy’s room, telling them it’s time to get dressed.

Go into Declan and Saffron’s room, and watch as Declan bounces out of bed, already dressed, complimenting him on being up at 6am to do so, but next time could he try not to wake me.

Help Saffron dressed.

Tell Kimi and Nancy to get dressed.

Go downstairs.

Put a load of washing on.

Empty cat’s litter tray.

Yell upstairs to Kimi and Nancy to get dressed.

Wash hands.

Go upstairs.

Go into Kimi and Nancy’s room and tell them off for not being dressed.

Prepare kids breakfast.

Tell Kimi to do her hair.

Make lunches.

Tell Nancy to put socks on.

Feed cat.

Stack dishwasher.

Tell kids it’s time to get shoes on and go.

Help Saffron with her shoes.

Ensure kids have lunchboxes, notes, permission slips, homework etc in their bags.

Open front door, ensuring cat doesn’t get out as well.

Let kids out, one by one, ensuring they have bags, shoes, dressed, lunchboxes etc.

Make sure Mae hasn’t left anything behind.

Lock front door.

Unlock car.

Get kids in their seats.

Get in car.

Wait til everyone has their belts on.

Start car.

Listen to Mae telling me that she’s left something inside.

Turn car off.

Get out of car.

Unlock front door.

Stand at front door while Mae races off and gets whatever-it-is that she’s forgotten.

Lock front door.

Get in car.

Turn car on.

Drive Mae to her school.

Drive Declan, Nancy and Kimi to their school.

Drive Saffron to her kindy.

Drive home.

Turn car off and take a deep breath.

Breakfast time now.

I know this is an idea that’s been done before, and several times no doubt. But I’ve never been to a wedding that had one, and I think it’s a neat idea!

Using the tree, we added in our names, and date.

Then using ink pads, we get the guests to put their fingerprint on the tree, as a leaf, and sign it.

We put this sign next to it.

I had on my Bucket List, to ‘Find a personally inspirational quote and work it into a piece of art or home decor’.

I took the bible quote from Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

Over the top I printed ‘It’s Our Time’. Then I put it over a blue page, and framed it. It looks lovely, and is proudly displayed on the lounge wall.