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Pink circus-themed birthday party favours

Tuesday ~ Posted by Karen Schravemade

Little Miss has just turned two. We’ve never made a big deal of first birthdays, because I figure a one-year-old is too small to appreciate all the fuss, and so really, what’s the point? But by the second birthday, there’s enough awareness to warrant a bit of a happening. So we generally pull out all the stops to make up for our vague guilt over doing nothing whatsoever the year before. 
After two little boys, Allegra’s 2nd birthday was therefore my first EVER non-boy-themed birthday party! And after a run of Spiderman, Octonauts, Cars and Train-themed events, I was ready for something altogether pretty and girly.
No prizes for guessing what colour featured prominently in the party décor. As one friend put it, it was a “pink spectacular!”
Yes. Mummy went a little bit pink-crazy.
I’m going to reveal photos of the complete event in a few days time, but first I thought I’d walk you through a few of the projects I put together for this party.
After choosing a “pink circus” theme, I spied this inspiring image on Pinterest, and decided to do something similar for my party favours – but in pink, of course, and using smaller-sized jars. 
I used baby-food jars, which were just the right size, and a cheap packet of zoo animals from Big W.

The first step was simply to glue the animals to the lids using craft glue.

Once the glue was dry, I used Rust-oleum Paint + Primer in Gloss Candy Pink to spray both the animal and lid. Simple!

I found it easiest to flip the lid on its side first and give the underside of the animal a quick shot of spray, then sit the lid flat and spray liberally from the top and each side. The paint gave great coverage. You’ll need to be very careful that the underside of the lids don’t come into contact with the paint.

I also experimented with spraying the animals and lids separately, and then gluing them together, to see if that would be any easier. It wasn’t. The animals did glue firmly even with the two painted surfaces, but I found it a bit more fiddly that way for some reason. I liked having them all in one piece – for me it just seemed easier to handle.

The last step was to fill the jars with mini marshmallows – the perfect colour combination for the pink spectacular.

And here’s a sneak peek of the favours lined up on the party table!

Just forgive the awful quality of these photos. There’s a story behind that. I was rushing to shoot a couple of pics of the party table before our guests arrived, and fumbled and DROPPED my DSLR camera onto the deck. It stopped working completely and I had to snap some pics with my iPhone instead.

Thankfully, it started working again perfectly within the hour, and I’ve had no problems with it since, but of course by the time of the camera’s resurrection all the food had been eaten. Sigh! I’m no fabulous photographer by any stretch, but iPhone photos just aren’t quite the same…

Nevertheless, the favours were a big hit with the kids, and they were all quite excited to choose the animal they liked best from the line-up and have their own special jar to take home. All up, this is one of the simplest and most effective party favour ideas I’ve tried thus far. It gets a thumbs up from me!

Stay tuned – more party projects coming up this week! 
Let’s chat: Before I had kids, I imagined that elaborate parties must be more for the parents’ benefit than the children’s, but having seen the way our kids talk about the event for the next six months, I know that ours appreciate the extra effort and creativity we try to put in. Our boys are already talking about what theme they’d like for their next party. But I think there’s definitely a case for simplicity as well. Parties can be expensive! So, what do you prefer – a simple get-together or an elaborate event?

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Categories: DIY, Kids, Party

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Lovely comments

  1. Haley says

    Monday at 11:09 am

    These look so cute all lined up. Did the kids get picky about which animal they got?

    We do a family party for birthday parties. There are about 30 people so it seems big, but is still intimate. When throwing a party, I always like to add a little something special like decorations. Something like this would fit perfectly.

  2. Haley says

    Tuesday at 4:26 pm

    These look so cute all lined up. Did the kids get picky about which animal they got?

    We do a family party for birthday parties. There are about 30 people so it seems big, but is still intimate. When throwing a party, I always like to add a little something special like decorations. Something like this would fit perfectly.

  3. Karen Schravemade says

    Monday at 11:09 am

    Hi Haley! No, the kids weren&#39t too picky. There was no fighting over which animal they got – but once they&#39d made their choice, they became pretty attached to their particular jar. 😉 I like the sound of your family gathering for birthdays! And yes, it&#39s nice to do something a little special, isn&#39t it? After all, it&#39s only once a year.

  4. Karen Schravemade says

    Tuesday at 9:35 pm

    Hi Haley! No, the kids weren't too picky. There was no fighting over which animal they got – but once they'd made their choice, they became pretty attached to their particular jar. 😉 I like the sound of your family gathering for birthdays! And yes, it's nice to do something a little special, isn't it? After all, it's only once a year.

  5. Kelley Howell says

    Monday at 11:09 am

    Dying over these!!!!!

  6. Kelley Howell says

    Wednesday at 3:32 pm

    Dying over these!!!!!

  7. Fiona @ Jackadaw says

    Monday at 11:09 am

    My daughter turns 4 in a few weeks. Her friends started having birthdays in April so we&#39ve been discussing party themes since then. She&#39s finally settled on one idea from what started out as a "purple pink princess mermaid pirate frozen party". Thank goodness. She&#39s really loved the process of talking about and deciding on what she wants. And she&#39s not too fussy about how I pull it off. The invitations and cake are what she has particular ideas about but other than that she&#39s not really fussed about how much or how little the theme is done. Last year it was Peppa Pig and she was perfectly happy with a Peppa face cake and I added themed invitations, bunting behind the food table and plastic table cloth on the kids food table. I love talking to her about it, seeing her excitement build as it gets closer and she works her way through ideas.

  8. Karen Schravemade says

    Monday at 11:09 am

    LOL – glad she&#39s decided to narrow it down and make things a bit easier for Mum! 😉 All the best with the party planning!

  9. Karen Schravemade says

    Monday at 11:09 am

    Thanks Kelley!

  10. Fiona @ Jackadaw says

    Wednesday at 9:42 pm

    My daughter turns 4 in a few weeks. Her friends started having birthdays in April so we've been discussing party themes since then. She's finally settled on one idea from what started out as a "purple pink princess mermaid pirate frozen party". Thank goodness. She's really loved the process of talking about and deciding on what she wants. And she's not too fussy about how I pull it off. The invitations and cake are what she has particular ideas about but other than that she's not really fussed about how much or how little the theme is done. Last year it was Peppa Pig and she was perfectly happy with a Peppa face cake and I added themed invitations, bunting behind the food table and plastic table cloth on the kids food table. I love talking to her about it, seeing her excitement build as it gets closer and she works her way through ideas.

  11. Karen Schravemade says

    Wednesday at 10:03 pm

    LOL – glad she's decided to narrow it down and make things a bit easier for Mum! 😉 All the best with the party planning!

  12. Karen Schravemade says

    Wednesday at 10:04 pm

    Thanks Kelley!

  13. Ariean Krieger says

    Monday at 11:09 am

    Oh Karen…Such a fun idea and perfect for boys and girls! I’m featuring this darling idea tonight at the Hit Me With Your Best Shot link party over on OneKriegerChick. Thanks so much for linking up…Hope you’re having a great week!~Ariean

  14. Ariean Krieger says

    Tuesday at 1:31 pm

    Oh Karen…Such a fun idea and perfect for boys and girls! I’m featuring this darling idea tonight at the Hit Me With Your Best Shot link party over on OneKriegerChick. Thanks so much for linking up…Hope you’re having a great week!~Ariean

  15. Karen Schravemade says

    Monday at 11:09 am

    Thank you so much, Ariean! What a sweet surprise! xo

  16. Karen Schravemade says

    Tuesday at 8:58 pm

    Thank you so much, Ariean! What a sweet surprise! xo

  17. Stacy McDermott says

    Monday at 11:09 am

    These jar are so beautiful and cute too, it&#39s a great idea! I&#39ve featured them on my recent party post with lots of girls party favour ideas http://www.stylemyparty.co.uk/blog/girl-party-treats-favours/ hope you like it!

  18. Karen Schravemade says

    Monday at 11:09 am

    Thank you so much, Stacy! I&#39m honoured! 🙂

  19. Stacy McDermott says

    Thursday at 11:01 am

    These jar are so beautiful and cute too, it's a great idea! I've featured them on my recent party post with lots of girls party favour ideas http://www.stylemyparty.co.uk/blog/girl-party-treats-favours/ hope you like it!

  20. Karen Schravemade says

    Thursday at 11:56 am

    Thank you so much, Stacy! I'm honoured! 🙂

  21. CassCT says

    Monday at 11:09 am

    where did you get the animals? As I have been searching all over and cannot find them

  22. CassCT says

    Tuesday at 2:53 pm

    where did you get the animals? As I have been searching all over and cannot find them

  23. Karen Schravemade says

    Monday at 11:09 am

    Hi Cass! I found mine at Big W (Australian store) in the toy section.

  24. Karen Schravemade says

    Saturday at 1:07 pm

    Hi Cass! I found mine at Big W (Australian store) in the toy section.

  25. Eliza Gonzalez Saenz says

    Friday at 1:33 am

    Great idea for birthday party or baby shower!

A blog by

Karen Schravemade

welcome!

Hi friends! So glad you're here! I'm Karen, Aussie stay-home Mum to four littlies, former teacher of Creative Arts, agented writer and interior decorator. I'm on a journey to bring beauty to my home and enjoy a more creative life with my kids - I'd love for you to join us. (Curious? Read more here!)

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5 years ago, I was struggling with social media ad 5 years ago, I was struggling with social media addiction.⁠⠀
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My compulsion to scroll on my phone was making me deeply unhappy, but I couldn't seem to stop. ⁠⠀
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It feels incredibly vulnerable, but for the first time, I'm sharing my raw and honest story about how I became addicted to social media, and the exact steps I took to break free. ⁠⠀
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I've gone from wasting hours on a mindless distraction that only ever made me feel worse about myself, to falling in love with God's Word and finding true rest + peace in his presence.⁠⠀
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I'm a speaker at the 2020 Christian Women's Self Care Conference, and the topic of my session is "Stop the Scroll and Feed your Soul - how to break social media addiction and find rest in God's presence."⁠⠀
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There are 55+ speakers in total, speaking on a wide range of topics relating to self care. Registration is FREE, but only for a couple more days until conference starts on November 9th! ⁠⠀
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If you want to hold your seat, just tap the link in my bio and select "Self Care Conference", which will take you to the registration page.⁠⠀
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I hope you'll be blessed!⁠⠀
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Meanwhile, please tell me I'm not alone - has anyone else ever struggled with this?? Do share. ⁠⠀
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PS... You can read more of my story in my latest blog post! (Link in bio -> Visit the blog). ⁠⠀
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I also shared this super cute DIY phone box to help you interrupt the pattern of mindlessly picking up your phone!⁠⠀
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xo Karen⁠⠀
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#selfcare #christianwomen #christianlife #socialmediaaddiction #phoneaddiction #selfcaresistersociety
If there's one word to describe how many women hav If there's one word to describe how many women have been feeling this year... it would be "depleted."⁠⠀
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I mean, for real. Who would've guessed back at the start of this year that we'd be dealing with a global pandemic, homeschooling our kids, financial uncertainty, and a total lockdown on many of our most comforting routines?⁠⠀
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Ladies, it's time to refill those emptied-out tanks before this year is out. I'm so excited to share that I'll be speaking at the 2020 Christian Women's Self-Care Conference, alongside 55 other bloggers, authors and speakers. ⁠⠀
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It's totally online, and our aim is to bless you with help and encouragement for your 2020-wearied soul! ⁠⠀
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Even better, registration is FREE until the conference begins on November 7th, so make sure you hold your seat today! Just click the link in my bio and choose "SELF CARE CONFERENCE".⁠⠀
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Hope to see you there!⁠⠀
⁠⠀
xo Karen⁠⠀
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P.S. Swipe - do you recognise one of those Day One speakers...? More on what I'll be speaking about, very soon! It's a goody!! 😉 😍⁠⠀
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#selfcare #selfcaresistersociety #2020⁠⠀
It’s Reconciliation Week in Australia and right It’s Reconciliation Week in Australia and right now my heart is so heavy with the injustice in the world that I’m struggling to even find the words.

Knowing that I’m inherently complicit in that injustice because of my privilege is sobering. At times I’ve been silent when I should have spoken and at other times I've spoken when I should’ve shut up and listened to the only voices in this narrative that really matter - the voices of those who’ve experienced this sort of prejudice from inside their own skin.

Racial injustice has always grieved my heart, but there’s a difference between empathy and kindness. Having empathy is important, but it’s not enough. Kindness speaks and acts. And right now I don’t really know what to say but somehow I feel it’s important to say something anyway, however imperfectly. Because there is nothing as deafening as silence in the face of systemic suffering.

I don’t know a lot. But I do know that Jesus was always on the side of the oppressed and marginalised. And the Bible tells us that one day, the last will be first and the first will be last. To me that means that in God’s new restored kingdom, these corrupt systems of the world will be turned on their head. In that day, those who’ve benefited from a system of white supremacy (myself included) will be the least. Those who’ve been oppressed and mistreated in this life will be honoured and elevated with the nobility they deserve. What a day that will be!! 🙌

But it’s not enough to know that someday it will all be made right. I hope to see heaven come to earth. I hope to see more black leaders, politicians, policy makers, authors, artists, influencers, CEO’s, entrepreneurs, bank managers, lawyers, judges, scientists and professors. The system is unfairly stacked and our privilege is self-perpetuating. I pray for it all to be turned upside down within our lifetime.

In the (paraphrased) words of MLK, let’s not prefer a negative peace which is an absence of tension (aka passivity, complacency, complicity, silence), over a positive peace, which is the presence of justice. “But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!”
‭‭Amos‬ ‭5:24‬ ‭NIV‬‬
We’re in week one of homeschooling over here. Sc We’re in week one of homeschooling over here. School closures will last at least five weeks. I will not lie, I was anxious about how I would cope. But we are slowly finding our rhythm and perhaps one day in the distant future I’ll even have time to start scheduling posts to Instagram again. For now, this is a random mid week check-in to say, how are you surviving, friends? I’m thinking of you! Wishing you an oasis of calm in the midst of everything, whether it means getting up half an hour earlier than the kids for a morning walk alone, or locking yourself in the bedroom at night with a good book while hubby puts the kids to bed. #doneboth #wewillsurvive 💗
Easter iso style - camping on our land! When so ma Easter iso style - camping on our land!
When so many are feeling hopeless right now, we are thankful for the hope Jesus brings. 💚🧡 Happy Easter, friends!
There is no right or wrong way to be right now.⁠ There is no right or wrong way to be right now.⁠
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I've felt led to share some hope and peace with you this week. That doesn't mean you need to put any extra pressure on yourself if you are struggling to tap into peacefulness right now.⁠
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I'm an Enneagram 4, so I am well accustomed to getting trapped inside my own feelings. For the feelers, the weight of the world's problems can sometimes feel intense and overwhelming.⁠
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I was on the beach the other day, praying for a "4" friend who is struggling with this exact thing. And all of a sudden, all of these butterflies started flying from the sand dunes toward the sea, and out over the waves.⁠
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It was a windy day and they were being buffeted around. But I was so intrigued that despite their fragility, they stayed on course, flying directly into that strong wind to get to where they were headed. It started with one, then two, then dozens upon dozens of them. None of them were blown into the water or whipped out of sight. They just flew straight on, above the waves.⁠
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And it made me think of the sensitive souls of this world. Our "butterflies", who bring so much beauty with their creativity, perception, and deep compassion for others. ⁠
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Our butterflies are being extra buffeted right now by the winds of change and pain. That doesn't make them weak. In fact they have within them a surprising strength, to stay the course and to fly above the waves.⁠
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The thing is, you don't have to change who you are to be strong. You don't have to be something you're not. Your sensitivity is not a weakness - it's designed into your DNA by God. With so many people hurting and afraid at the moment, we need your compassion more than ever.⁠
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If you're feeling overwhelmed, it's okay to not be okay. Just trust that even if you feel buffeted by the winds, you are lifted by his grace above the waves, and you will not be drowned.⁠
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And even if you feel like you're flailing around out there, you never know, someone else might just be watching you, admiring your beauty and your grace. 🦋
I was reading a random little story the other day I was reading a random little story the other day from the book of Numbers, in the Bible. ⁠
⁠
A king was scared of the Israelites and so he paid a prophet to curse them. Except every time they tried it, the guy spoke blessings instead. This is what he said:⁠
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"God has blessed, and I cannot reverse it! No misfortune is in his plan for Jacob; no trouble is in store for Israel. For the LORD their God is with them; he has been proclaimed their king." (Numbers 23:20-21)⁠
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Even the curses of the enemy will be turned into blessings for the people of God. ⁠
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He has given us an inheritance that cannot be shaken. ⁠
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💜 What blessing are you thankful for today? ⁠
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I'm thankful for the leadership of my local church, who continue to minister to peoples' needs both spiritual and physical. Our pastors have their own families and needs, yet they consistently look outward to care for their flock. ⁠
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Let me know yours below! Let's name as many BLESSINGS as we can!⁠
⁠
xo Karen
Thank you God, for your goodness.⁠ ⁠ For famil Thank you God, for your goodness.⁠
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For family and a home and a table to gather around with our loved ones.⁠
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Thank you that when so much else is changing, you remain the same.⁠
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Thank you that you are for us and not against us. That your heart is toward us. That in you is all we need, now and always.⁠
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We pray for those who are lonely and isolated and anxious and unwell. For those whose jobs and livelihoods are lost or threatened. Give us creative ways to reach out with kindness, that we can be salt and light in a dark world. ⁠
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Let kindness for others not feel like a drain on our limited resources, but a natural outflowing of your continuous, abundant supply. ⁠
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Shelves may be bare, but you always have more than enough.⁠
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Every blessing comes from your hand and we are grateful.⁠
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Amen
“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind an “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid." John 14:27⁠
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There is truly nothing like God's peace.⁠
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The world can offer mindfulness and yoga and candles and calming diffused oils and self-help. Nothing wrong with any of those things, in fact they can be beautiful tools - I use all of them. ⁠
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But I can say from genuine experience that the peace God gives is not like the peace the world gives. It's on a whole new level. ⁠
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It's the peace that he gives when you're in the middle of a storm and the world is turning to crap all around you and you're at the very end of yourself and self-help has begun feeling like trying to drag yourself from a pit via a rope around your waist that you're tugging on with your own two hands. ⁠
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We can't always lift ourselves out of anxiety or fear. So drop the rope. Stop striving. And ask God for HIS peace. He has an abundant well of supply for you to draw from. ⁠
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Fear is trying to hold tight to control in a situation we can't control. ⁠
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Faith asks us to let go, to repent of our fearfulness and surrender it all to God.⁠
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How do you find this miracle of peace? In the letting go.⁠
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We were never meant to carry this burden anyway. ⁠
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How are you doing today? Let me know how I can pray for you. ⁠
⁠
xo Karen
I was praying yesterday and felt God telling me th I was praying yesterday and felt God telling me that it's time to make a transition. Instead of being a person who looks for support from others in times of stress or uncertainty, he wants me to offer support TO others. ⁠
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I've often felt like I don't quite have it together. I'm sensitive, I feel things deeply, I tend to get trapped in my own head and in negative thought spirals.⁠
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But I felt like he was saying that I have something to offer, anyway. Just because I've always been a person who views myself as needy or weak does not mean God views me that way. He can see the strength that is in all of us and he delights in calling it forth. I love how when Gideon was hiding in fear in a winepress, God's angel greeted him by saying "The LORD is with you, mighty warrior."⁠
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He was the furthest thing from a mighty warrior at that point. But God knew the battles he WOULD win in his future. He saw what did not yet exist and spoke about it as if it was already a reality. He saw Gideon's true identity and spoke directly to that buried and hidden place within him.⁠
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So. Maybe all I need is a shift in perspective. From looking inward at my own lack, to looking up at him. HE is the source of any hope and help I can offer. And if he wants me to share that, it would be my privilege to obey.⁠
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So let me know... is there anything you're particularly struggling with right now? If you're feeling anxious or burdened, I would love to support you in prayer. 🙏⁠
⁠
xo Karen
We haven't been quarantined yet in Australia, but We haven't been quarantined yet in Australia, but I know many of my American friends are stuck at home right now. Either way - sounds like a good chance to do "one thing for the home."⠀
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If you're feeling anxious, it can really help to get out of your head for a little while and do something practical. We can't control anything in the outside world right now, but we CAN complete one concrete task to make our immediate environment feel calmer and function better. And sometimes just having that one little win is all we need to break us out of a negative thought-spiral and restore some equilibrium. ⠀
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If you're feeling a bit helpless and panicky, I hope this helps. It's one thing you CAN control. And doing something with your hands will give your mind a much-needed break. ⠀
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🌟THIS MONTH'S PRIZE: A $50 AMAZON GIFT CARD! 🌟⠀
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Here's a reminder of how to play:⠀
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1. Decorate, declutter or organise one thing in your home, this weekend. No task is too small! One shelf or one drawer is all you need to tackle to be eligible!⁠⠀
⁠⠀
2. Post your "after" photo on the Facebook thread (click through via my link in bio). Pics DON'T have to be spectacular - they're simply proof that you did it.⁠⠀
⁠⠀
3. Follow me on Instagram and Facebook. (Click through to my Facebook page via my link in bio)⁠⠀
⁠⠀
4. Tag some friends either on THIS post or on the Facebook thread to play along! If you complete the challenge, you will get a bonus entry for EVERY person you tag.⁠⠀
⁠⠀
5. Entries will be given for every challenge completed this month. We play four times in March - once every weekend! You can participate once or all four times, it's up to you!⁠⠀
⁠⠀
Giveaway is not sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Instagram. The winner will be randomly drawn at 8pm AEST Monday, following the last Sunday of the month. Giveaway is open internationally.⁠⠀
⁠⠀
I'll be going live on Facebook today at 2.30pm AEST to kick off this week's challenge and show you the space I'll be tackling today. International timezones are on the third slide - swipe right to see! Or click through my link in bio at any time to see the video saved on my feed.⁠⠀
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I hope you join us! This will be fun!
I’ve been quiet this week. In situations of flux I’ve been quiet this week. In situations of flux or stress my tendency is to withdraw and process. (I’ve learned this is very Enneagram 4 of me.) I also feel major reticence about adding to the current noise. I feel there are enough voices talking loudly all at once about the same thing and you don’t need one more.
So I give you instead a prayer for peace. If you are feeling anxious, let this be your exhale today. 💙
Weekend feels courtesy of the "Hamptons House"... Weekend feels courtesy of the "Hamptons House"... 😉⁠
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What are you up to this weekend, friends?⁠
⁠
xo Karen
It's Friday! Time for our weekly "One Thing for th It's Friday! Time for our weekly "One Thing for the Home" challenge! ⁠This month I'm gonna raise the stakes and give away a $50 Amazon Gift Card. 🎉🎉WOOHOO!!⁠⠀
⁠⠀
You can win just by getting something done that you've been meaning to get to around your home! ⁠⠀
⁠⠀
Here's how to play.⁠⠀
⁠⠀
1. Decorate, declutter or organise one thing in your home, this weekend. No task is too small! One shelf or one drawer is all you need to tackle to be eligible!⁠⠀
⁠⠀
2. Post your "after" photo on the Facebook thread (click through via my link in bio). Pics DON'T have to be spectacular - they're simply proof that you did it.⁠⠀
⁠⠀
3. Follow me on Instagram and Facebook. (Click through to my Facebook page via my link in bio)⁠⠀
⁠⠀
4. Tag some friends either on THIS post or on the Facebook thread to play along! If you complete the challenge, you will get a bonus entry for EVERY person you tag.⁠⠀
⁠⠀
5. Entries will be given for every challenge completed this month. We play four times in March - once every weekend! You can participate once or all four times, it's up to you!⁠⠀
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Giveaway is not sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Instagram. The winner will be randomly drawn at 8pm AEST Monday, following the last Sunday of the month. Giveaway is open internationally.⁠⠀
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I'll be going live on Facebook today at 2.30pm AEST to kick off this week's challenge and show you the space I'll be tackling today. International timezones are on the third slide - swipe right to see! Or click through my link in bio at any time to see the video saved on my feed.⁠⠀
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I hope you join us! This will be fun! 🤩⁠⠀
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May the odds be ever in your favour! 😉⁠⠀
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Let's get this accountability ball rolling - let me know below what you're thinking of tackling this month!⁠⠀
⁠⠀
xo Karen⁠⠀
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#onethingforthehome #organized #organising #organisedhome #organisedlife #organisedmum #homeorganising #tidyhome #organization #organizedhome #aplaceforeverythingandeverythinginitsplace
We are getting closer on the home build front... a We are getting closer on the home build front... after two years of sketching dozens upon dozens of floor layout ideas and ultimately trashing all of them, I finally have a plan I LOVE!! ⁠
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It ended up being a highly collaborative effort between our architect and myself - he came up with a general concept and gave me external parameters to suit the contours of the block, and I then designed the internal layouts to fit. ⁠
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Turns out that is exactly what I needed - some guidelines! Amazing how much better our creativity flourishes within constraints. It was way too open-ended before our architect came on board, and I was flailing around in all that freedom like a tadpole in the ocean. Within a day or two of having a blank footprint to work within, I actually had a decent plan. We've tweaked it a little since then, but it's virtually the same.⁠
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I love it when something you've struggled with for the longest time suddenly just clicks. Has this ever happened for you?⁠
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Now we just need to draft it up properly and then see if we can actually afford to build it. Lol. ⁠
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One step at a time... 😆Celebrating progress today!⁠
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xo Karen⁠
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P.S. Let me know if you'd like to see a sneak peek of our plan in stories!!
So here's a little Enneagram primer to follow on f So here's a little Enneagram primer to follow on from yesterday's chat! This is just off the top of my head, so please take it with a grain of salt - there is SO MUCH more to each type than what I can sum up in a sentence.⁠
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Here are the 9 types:⁠
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1 - The Moral Perfectionist: self-critical, organised, driven by the desire to make things right and good⁠
2 - The Helper: relationally driven, people focussed, places others' needs ahead of their own⁠
3 - The Achiever: success driven and ambitious, gets things done, image conscious⁠
4 - The Romantic Individualist: creative, driven by the desire for uniqueness, feels things deeply⁠
5 - The Investigative Thinker: introverted and analytical,  detached from emotion⁠
6 - The Loyalist: community minded, a team player, driven by the need for security and anxiety about the future⁠
7 - The Entertaining Optimist: positive, energetic and playful, driven to squeeze as much fun out of life as possible⁠
8 - The Protective Challenger: a natural leader, confrontational, confident and determined⁠
9 - The Peaceful Mediator: conflict-avoidant, gentle and steady, driven to seek inner peace⁠
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I'm a 4 wing 5, married to an 8 wing 7. They do say opposites attract 😆⁠
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Do you see yourself in any of these descriptions? ⁠
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xo Karen
ENNEAGRAM⁠ ⁠ Where are my fellow Enneagram fan ENNEAGRAM⁠
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Where are my fellow Enneagram fanatics??!⁠
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I've only recently "discovered" the Enneagram, and OH. MY. GOODNESS. What a game changer. ⁠
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If you're not familiar with it, it's a personality typing system.  I've always been interested in personality differences and human behaviour - that's probably the novelist in me. But none of the other systems I've come across have resonated with me as deeply as the Enneagram.⁠
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It is so accurate, it's almost uncanny.⁠
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Basically, there are 9 types, representing 9 different ways of looking at the world, each with different motivations, behaviour traits, strengths and flaws.⁠
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I'm an Enneagram 4. That's the "Romantic Individualist". It's an artistic temperament driven by creativity, love of beauty, a desire for uniqueness, introspection, and authenticity.⁠
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I guess it's no surprise that when I had to ask my friends and readers to sum up my strengths for an assignment I was given, the two words that came up most frequently were "creativity" and "honesty".⁠
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Enneagram 4's feel deeply and are very connected to our emotions. We'd  much rather have a meaningful conversation about deep feelings than make small talk about trivial things. ⁠
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Each type can pull a little more to one or other of the numbers beside them, giving a different flavour. I'm a wing 5 (the "Investigative Thinker") which means I tend to be less temperamental/ moody, and more steady, reserved and analytical. ⁠
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I'm also daydreamy, a big-picture thinker, and despise administrative details. My "fatal flaw" (each type has one) is comparison and envy. Ohhhhh yep, that certainly rings true. Because while we want to stand out and be special, which can be prideful, we also struggle hard with insecurity and feeling like we never quite measure up.⁠
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Yes, yes and YES.⁠
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If you haven't done the Enneagram test, do a search online - it's honestly so interesting and self-revealing.⁠
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If you know your type, what number are you? xo
So I found out I have bronchitis. 🙄At least I f So I found out I have bronchitis. 🙄At least I feel less like a whiner - if I get sick I usually shake it within a couple of days, so I was starting to feel irritated with myself for still being crook after three weeks!⁠
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Anyhow, could be worse, and I do feel like I'm starting to pick up again now. ⁠
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This buffet in our living room holds a changing arrangement of mostly-white vases, with a bit of blue glass and green foliage thrown in for good measure. ⁠
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Are you a chronic re-arranger, or do you prefer to leave things as-is? ⁠
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To be honest, I've always been a "get it exactly how I want it then leave it like that forever" type of girl, but I've been loosening up and playing around more with my décor this past year, and it struck me that my buffet has gone through several style shifts now. I actually like it a little bit better every time I make a change! ⁠
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Hope this new week will be an awesome one for you, friends!⁠
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xo Karen⁠
BLACK vs WHITE⁠ ⁠ Let's talk kitchens! Our hou BLACK vs WHITE⁠
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Let's talk kitchens! Our house build is on my mind, and even though we're only at the plan stage, I'm trying to nail down my ideas in a general creative direction. ⁠
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The last three kitchens I've designed have been all white, with accents of grey. I really want to use black in my next kitchen. I love the drama of it (as we already established, I like a bit of drama. Ha.) I keep veering back and forth between all black, or some combination of black and white. ⁠
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I'm interested to know... what would you choose? My guess is that white-on-white is still gonna be the most popular choice, and black will probably be controversial, but I could be wrong! ⁠
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So let me know - I'm keen to hear your opinion!⁠
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1. All white⁠
2. All black⁠
3. Black + white⁠
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🖤♡🖤♡🖤⁠
Karen
It's Friday! Time for our weekly "One Thing for th It's Friday! Time for our weekly "One Thing for the Home" challenge! ⁠This month I'm gonna raise the stakes and give away a $50 Amazon Gift Card. 🎉🎉WOOHOO!!⠀
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You can win just by getting something done that you've been meaning to get to around your home! ⠀
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Here's how to play.⠀
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1. Decorate, declutter or organise one thing in your home, this weekend. No task is too small! One shelf or one drawer is all you need to tackle to be eligible!⠀
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2. Post your "after" photo on the Facebook thread (click through via my link in bio). Pics DON'T have to be spectacular - they're simply proof that you did it.⁠⠀
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3. Follow me on Instagram and Facebook.⠀
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4. Tag some friends either on THIS post or on the Facebook thread to play along! If you complete the challenge, you will get a bonus entry for EVERY person you tag.⠀
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5. Entries will be given for every challenge completed this month. We play four times in March - once every weekend! You can participate once or all four times, it's up to you!⠀
⁠⠀
Giveaway is not sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Instagram. The winner will be randomly drawn at 8pm AEST Monday, following the last Sunday of the month. Giveaway is open internationally.⠀
⠀
I'll be going live on Facebook today at 2.30pm AEST to kick off this week's challenge and show you the space I'll be tackling today. International timezones are on the third slide - swipe right to see! Or click through my link in bio at any time to see the video saved on my feed.⠀
⠀
I hope you join us! This will be fun! 🤩⠀
⠀
May the odds be ever in your favour! 😉⠀
⠀
Let's get this accountability ball rolling - let me know below what you're thinking of tackling this month!⠀
⠀
xo Karen⠀
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P.S. You can decorate, declutter or organise anything you like. No task is too small! Tackle a drawer, a shelf, or a storage tub. Do that niggly little job you've been meaning to get to. Hang that picture. Paint that stool. Sort through the kids clothes. We’ve all got that “one thing” - let us know yours! xo⠀
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#onethingforthehome #organized #organising #organisedhome #organisedlife #organisedmum #homeorganising #tidyhome #organization #organizedhome #aplaceforeverythinga
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