Feminine Friday - a quote

"The wife, on her part, ought not to be less desirous than she was in the days of courtship of winning her husband's admiration, merely because she now wears upon her finger a golden pledge of his love.  Why should she give up those pretty wiles to seem fair and pleasant in his eyes, that were suggested in love-dreams?  Instead of lessening her charms, she should endeavour to double them, in order that home may be to him who has paid her the greatest compliment in his power, the dearest and brightest spot upon earth - one to which he may turn for comfort when sick of business and the weary ways of men generally.

How shall a man retain his wife's affections?  Is it by not returning them?  Certainly not.  The secret of conjugal felicity is contained in this formula: demonstrative affection and self-sacrifice.  A man should not only love his wife dearly, but he should tell her that he loves her, and tell her very often, and each should be willing to yield, not once or twice, but constantly, and as a practice to the other."

How to be Happy Though Married - being a Handbook to Marriage

published 1885

Feminine Friday - my up-do

Putting my hair up isn't as easy as it used to be, but not impossible!  Trusty bobby pins and a sprig of jasmine from the vine on the front stairs did the trick.  :)

Feminine Friday - A quote

For this week, a quote. I saw this on someone else's blog recently, and I haven't forgotten it. Stuart and I were just talking about it, and we both think it's really quite true. Something to think about..............

"A lady is a woman who makes a man behave like a gentleman". - Russell Lynes

For other Feminine Friday thoughts, visit Kelly at The Barefoot Mama.

Feminine Friday and today's lunchbox

I was about to post Saraya's lunchbox contents (it's been fun, by the way) when I remembered it is Friday. I mean, I did know it was Friday. Hooray for Friday!!! But I had forgotten once again about Feminine Friday, from lovely Kelly's Barefoot Mama blog. I actually photographed Saraya last Sunday with today in mind. Here she is.

We were about to head to church when Saraya decided she would like to wear her old-fashioned apron over the top of her old-fashioned dress. What a pretty little poppet she is. :) Would you have guessed that we are reading the Little House on the Prairie books and that they are her absolute favourites? When we have time (and I have the patience with little miss "ouch, that hurts!":() she loves to have her hair in two plaits, just like Laura.

I have to say, I love little girls looking like little girls. Saraya loves to wear dresses, so I am lucky I guess. :)

And for today's lunchbox (last one!):

An orange cut up in a container, A kiwifruit cut up in a container, A pear, A tiny box of sultanas, A piece of homemade applesauce cake, An apple juice popper, and 2 cruskits (rye crackers) with promite.

Thanks everyone for sharing! Have a beautiful weekend.

Feminine Friday

Kelly at The Barefoot Mama has been hosting feminine Friday for awhile now. I haven't participated the last couple of weeks due to lack of blogging time (:(), but it's Saturday morning, the fire is going, Stu is playing a game with the 2 big kids while William naps....... and I have a spare 5 minutes!! I love weekends. :)

This week I want to share how much I love old-fashioned things. I love to read books or watch movies set during any time in history, but particularly the late 1800's - early 1900's; this is seriously when I would like to have lived! Just slot me into the March family and I would be happy. :)

I love beautiful skirts and dresses, long hair, eloquent language, homemade bread, flourishing vegetable patches, horses and carriages (or just horses), petticoats, pretty china, simpler times.

And I love this old-fashioned jug and bowl, brand new made to look old.

I was shopping with my Mum a couple of years ago in one of our favourite shops, Canterbury Lace. It's full of treasures! I commented on it to Mum, and she paused then asked if I would like it for my birthday. After a slight hesitation................ "Oh yes, yes, yes!!" I had always longed for one of these. So it's recently taken pride of place in my front room and I just adore it. It's not actually used for my daily wash as these may have been in times gone by....... Sometimes it makes a nice vase for flowers, otherwise it is happy just as it is.

A funny Feminine Friday

So the big question is:

Do I look better as a blonde or with black hair?

Hehe, just thought this would give a few laughs. :) :)

I entered the Eisteddfod here a couple of years ago, singing "Just Around the Riverbend"

from Pocahontas, in the Musical Theatre section. It was fantastic fun trying to pull off dressing as a Native American with my fair colouring! :0

The wig was awesome, and some friends who came along to support me later said they saw me but didn't recognise me at all until they heard me sing. I've actually never dyed my hair in real life, so wearing the wig was great fun. I even kept it on after changing into my pyjamas that night, just to get the most out of the "black hair" experience.

What do you think? Is it a feminine look??

Have a great weekend! :)

Feminine Friday (umm... Saturday ;))

Well, yesterday was a busy day and I didn't get my Feminine Friday post posted.

The little boys and I did some grocery shopping and went to playgroup, had rests and did a little housework before picking Saraya up from school. I made a yummy Apple Cobbler for dessert last night, to have after our pumpkin soup and bread. A nice start to the weekend, and a busy day!

Well, here's my Feminine Friday for this week.

The humble plait. I like trying different ways to wear my hair. In the somewhat repetitious life of a Mum, a "change is as good as a holiday". (Well, almost.)

I like plaits, and braids. They keep your hair out of the way and, well... look feminine too!

And this is my favourite bracelet. It was a birthday gift from my friend Jen down in Brisbane. This bracelet is great because it would be lovely to wear out (which I rarely get to do) but also really dresses up a casual everyday outfit (my usual attire!). I feel "happy" in this bracelet. :)

Thanks Jen!!

Feminine Friday

Kelly from The Barefoot Mama is hosting Feminine Friday................... a chance to share a hairstyle, outfit, or anything really that makes you feel feminine! Check it out at her blog here.

I love a chance to embrace my femininity, remembering that I am a woman and although I (sadly) don't live in an era of long dresses, petticoats and horses and carriages, I can still be a lady!

Things that make me feel like a lady are..........
* nice earings
* a long skirt or dress (I look forward to wearing dresses again once I am no longer breastfeeding!)
* putting on a little mascara and lip gloss (about the extent of my makeup regime, but enough to make me feel a bit special :))
* having fresh flowers around my home
* the occasional flower in my hair :)
* wearing both my wedding ring AND my engagement ring
* wearing my apron while I bake or cook in the kitchen

......... I'm sure there are other things but I'm tired and can't think of any more at the moment.
Kelly suggested we post a photo of a favourite outfit or hairdo. This week I wanted to share that I have just discovered bobbie pins. Yep, good old bobbie pins. Not exactly a new invention, but it's amazing what you can do with them! My hair is pretty wild. I actually really like to straighten it, but with a newborn I'm finding no time to do it lately. So instead I've been wearing it natural- wavy I guess you'd say- and using bobbie pins to keep it out of the way, in a kind-of loose bun.
Saraya saw me putting it up for church last week and wanted to have hers up too. Here was the result.....


After seeing this photo on the camera screen, I actually went and tidied mine up with a few extra pins as I hadn't realised half of it had fallen out. :)



Us girls from the front.

It's fun to "dress up", doing whatever you have time to do and whatever makes you feel lovely.