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An Australian beach Christmas

Monday ~ Posted by Karen Schravemade

Welcome! Today I’m part of A Very Merry Christmas Home Tour.
We’ve just moved into our beach house rental, so in keeping with the mood of our home, I kept my Christmas decorating casual and beachy. 

If you’re new here, I live in Australia, where Christmas falls at summertime. The cons of this? We don’t get to experience the cosy thrill of chestnuts roasting on an open fire… or walking in a winter wonderland… or sleigh bells ringing. The pros? Prawns on the barbie, drinks by the pool, backyard cricket, the kids on summer holidays, and ice-cream cake for dessert.

A fresh colour scheme of white, blue and silver helps create that relaxed summertime-Christmas feel. I dressed the table simply with white-painted branches in tall, clear glass vases…. 
… and a simple but elegant centrepiece of white pillar candles on a china cake stand, wreathed with white and crystal berries.
The berry garland is from Adairs, and has tiny bud fairy-lights scattered throughout, which will look pretty lit up at night.

For the table settings, I nested square plates with a teal napkin to give a shot of colour.
The napkin rings are a simple DIY, made using modelling wire and a handful of beads in crystalline and pearlised tones.

Let’s talk about that “Joy” sign, shall we? It’s the star of the room – a real show-stopper. Wire lettering on walls is very on-trend right now, so I hit on the idea of using rope lights in the same manner to spell a word directly onto the wall.

My original plan was to write “Light of the world”, as I really wanted the focus of the Christmas décor to be on Jesus’ birth. Then I quickly realised that concept was waaaaaay too ambitious. Just the three letters in “Joy” took me an hour to assemble on the wall, with an extra adult set of hands to help out. That could be because I’m OCD, or because I’m uncoordinated. Actually both.

Worth it though, right? I’ll be giving you a simple tutorial for how to make this sign in an upcoming post.

To the palm in the corner, I added a garland of paper stars. So pretty all aglow at night.

And nothing says “beach Christmas” like starfish and baubles.

Swing your head to the left, and this is what you see next…

Since my “Light of the world” idea didn’t pan out, I was on a mission to find a similarly meaningful statement about the true meaning of Christmas. I was thrilled to discover these beautiful prints at Etsy shop Salt & Wood.

So gorgeous, right? I had them printed on gloss paper and used double-sided tape to affix them to the frames I already had hanging above my buffet. Once Christmas is over, they can be easily taken down and stored away for next year.




I’m completely in love with the prints from Salt& Wood (you can see why, right?!) and so I jumped at the chance of
partnering up to offer an exclusive discount to my readers – enter SUNSHINE30
at checkout to get 30% off your total order!
 Code expires 
Dec 31st. Take a browse – they have some utterly gorgeous
Christmas printables
.

The white and blue vases I already had here were perfect. I dressed up the buffet with a few Christmassy embellishments, like this clear resin deer from Spotlight.

I even tried my hand at making some DIY Christmas trees using wool (yarn) dipped in watered-down glue and wrapped around a polystyrene cone. These were so much better inside my head.

Yeah…. kinda worked. Sorta.

Back around to the other side of the room, where I dressed our Christmas tree this year with some new ornaments to fit the blue and silver theme. ($10 for a bulk pack from Big W – bargain! The expensive ones can wait till the post-Christmas sales…)

So that’s our Christmas living area.

To hang in our entryway, I made this driftwood Advent wall hanging using watercolour printables, also from Salt & Wood. 


You can find the simple tutorial for making this DIY Advent wall hanging here. 
I hope you enjoyed this tour. Wishing you….

this Christmas as we celebrate Jesus’ birth!
Before you go, why not take a few moments to browse the Christmas home tours of the other bloggers participating today. It’s like a magazine of inspiration in your inbox!

Monday collage

You can find today’s tours at these links!

A House Full of Sunshine
Lovely Etc.
Bigger Than The Three of Us
May Richer Fuller Be
Paper and Fox
Delineate Your Dwelling

Oh, and if you’re new here, don’t leave before you grab yourself a FREE copy of my book, Your Beautiful Life. You can get yours here!


Let’s chat: Do you do Christmas in summer or winter? What are your pros and cons of each? American friends, do you think you’d ever like to experience an Aussie Christmas?

Linking up here: Home Stories A-Z, Your Designs this time, Made by you Monday, Hit me with your best shot

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Categories: Christmas, Decorate, Events, Home

« Welcome to our beach house!
Driftwood & watercolour advent wall hanging »
Get my free eBook and learn how YOU can live a more creative, organised and joy-filled life at home with kids...starting today!

Lovely comments

  1. Erin says

    Monday at 10:57 am

    Beautiful decor, Karen! You are right the "joy" sign is a definite show-stopper. Merry Christmas 🙂

  2. Chaney says

    Monday at 10:57 am

    Your home is gorgeous! I love every bit of your decor – especially the "Joy" lights and the prints above your buffet. Thanks for sharing such a beautiful tour of your home!

  3. Elise Jay says

    Monday at 10:57 am

    Absolutely beautiful! I can&#39t believe how quickly you pull everything together!

  4. Erin says

    Monday at 3:08 pm

    Beautiful decor, Karen! You are right the "joy" sign is a definite show-stopper. Merry Christmas 🙂

  5. Chaney says

    Monday at 4:12 pm

    Your home is gorgeous! I love every bit of your decor – especially the "Joy" lights and the prints above your buffet. Thanks for sharing such a beautiful tour of your home!

  6. Karen Schravemade says

    Monday at 10:57 am

    Thank you so much, Erin! xoxo

  7. Karen Schravemade says

    Monday at 10:57 am

    Thank you, Chaney! I loved stopping past your home as well! xoxo

  8. Karen Schravemade says

    Monday at 10:58 am

    Thanks Elise – I must admit this one was down to wire! I had a few moments of wondering if I was going to get it all together in time. 😉 Nothing like a deadline for making the impossible happen. It&#39s good having the Christmas decor up early though, cos now we get to enjoy it for longer. 🙂

  9. Elise Jay says

    Monday at 7:26 pm

    Absolutely beautiful! I can't believe how quickly you pull everything together!

  10. Brett Goldstein says

    Monday at 10:58 am

    Gorgeous! I love how you added some glittery stars to your tropical plant. I am a plant lover and will need to do something like this to get my plants holiday ready!

  11. Carrie Spalding says

    Monday at 10:58 am

    I love the blue, white, and silver color scheme! It is so bright and fresh! And the Joy lights are fantastic – definitely a statement maker!

  12. Karen Schravemade says

    Monday at 9:34 pm

    Thank you so much, Erin! xoxo

  13. Karen Schravemade says

    Monday at 9:34 pm

    Thank you, Chaney! I loved stopping past your home as well! xoxo

  14. Karen Schravemade says

    Monday at 9:39 pm

    Thanks Elise – I must admit this one was down to wire! I had a few moments of wondering if I was going to get it all together in time. 😉 Nothing like a deadline for making the impossible happen. It's good having the Christmas decor up early though, cos now we get to enjoy it for longer. 🙂

  15. Sarah says

    Monday at 10:58 am

    Wow! That is gorgeous. And I&#39m in love with the Joy light.

  16. Brett Goldstein says

    Tuesday at 12:58 am

    Gorgeous! I love how you added some glittery stars to your tropical plant. I am a plant lover and will need to do something like this to get my plants holiday ready!

  17. Karen Schravemade says

    Monday at 10:58 am

    Sounds like a plan! Nothing like adding some pretty lights to dress up a room without much effort. 🙂

  18. Karen Schravemade says

    Monday at 10:58 am

    Thanks so much Carrie, I&#39m so glad you like it! xo

  19. Carrie Spalding says

    Tuesday at 1:21 am

    I love the blue, white, and silver color scheme! It is so bright and fresh! And the Joy lights are fantastic – definitely a statement maker!

  20. Sarah says

    Tuesday at 2:52 am

    Wow! That is gorgeous. And I'm in love with the Joy light.

  21. nellbe says

    Monday at 10:58 am

    Just beautiful and like everyone else I love the Joy light, it looks fantastic. I like your DIY christmas tree&#39s too. 🙂

  22. Karen Schravemade says

    Tuesday at 6:07 am

    Sounds like a plan! Nothing like adding some pretty lights to dress up a room without much effort. 🙂

  23. Karen Schravemade says

    Tuesday at 6:08 am

    Thanks so much Carrie, I'm so glad you like it! xo

  24. Ashley Mayes says

    Monday at 10:58 am

    So, I&#39m totally new here and love your style! The Christmas decor is just amazing… can&#39t wait to dig in to some of your other posts!

  25. nellbe says

    Tuesday at 8:37 am

    Just beautiful and like everyone else I love the Joy light, it looks fantastic. I like your DIY christmas tree's too. 🙂

  26. Karen Schravemade says

    Monday at 10:58 am

    I&#39m a bit partial to it myself! It&#39s nice when something turns out. Thanks for stopping by! xoxo

  27. Karen Schravemade says

    Monday at 10:58 am

    Yay, so glad you like them… haha! They were the element that took the most time to make, and they were a bit of a flop, literally. I had to prop them up with the greenery. Ssssshhhh. 😉

  28. Karen Schravemade says

    Monday at 10:58 am

    Why thank you so much, Ashley! So awesome to have you here, girl! xoxo

  29. Lindsay Eidahl says

    Monday at 10:58 am

    Love it! I love all the touches of blue and that "joy" sign is too fun! The glass reindeer are to die for! I need some of those!

  30. Ashley Mayes says

    Tuesday at 12:43 pm

    So, I'm totally new here and love your style! The Christmas decor is just amazing… can't wait to dig in to some of your other posts!

  31. Karen Schravemade says

    Tuesday at 2:23 pm

    I'm a bit partial to it myself! It's nice when something turns out. Thanks for stopping by! xoxo

  32. Karen Schravemade says

    Tuesday at 2:24 pm

    Yay, so glad you like them… haha! They were the element that took the most time to make, and they were a bit of a flop, literally. I had to prop them up with the greenery. Ssssshhhh. 😉

  33. Karen Schravemade says

    Tuesday at 2:25 pm

    Why thank you so much, Ashley! So awesome to have you here, girl! xoxo

  34. Lindsay Eidahl says

    Tuesday at 4:27 pm

    Love it! I love all the touches of blue and that "joy" sign is too fun! The glass reindeer are to die for! I need some of those!

  35. Karen Schravemade says

    Monday at 10:58 am

    Thank you Lindsay, you&#39re so sweet! xoxo

  36. Karen Schravemade says

    Wednesday at 10:06 am

    Thank you Lindsay, you're so sweet! xoxo

  37. Kylie Wells says

    Monday at 10:58 am

    Hey Karen 🙂 Where do you go to print out all the lovely artwork you find on Etsy. Do you go online or somewhere local?? Found some i would like to print out but wondering how much it cost to blow them up nice and big. xx And i would love to experience a snowy cold christmas every now and then….but very thankful for our sunny rainy christmas time where the kids can run free outdoors…imagine snow for months on end and being locked up in our small shed with 5 children!!!

  38. Kylie Wells says

    Wednesday at 10:10 pm

    Hey Karen 🙂 Where do you go to print out all the lovely artwork you find on Etsy. Do you go online or somewhere local?? Found some i would like to print out but wondering how much it cost to blow them up nice and big. xx And i would love to experience a snowy cold christmas every now and then….but very thankful for our sunny rainy christmas time where the kids can run free outdoors…imagine snow for months on end and being locked up in our small shed with 5 children!!!

  39. Ashley @ 3 Little Greenwoods says

    Monday at 10:58 am

    It is so much fun peeking into everyone&#39s home to spy on their Christmas decor! My favorite piece is your "Star of Wonder" print. I *need* that!

    I would love for you to share this post {and others} at my Show Me Saturday linky party this weekend. My readers would love your decor!

    ~ Ashley

  40. Ashley @ 3 Little Greenwoods says

    Thursday at 4:46 pm

    It is so much fun peeking into everyone's home to spy on their Christmas decor! My favorite piece is your "Star of Wonder" print. I *need* that!

    I would love for you to share this post {and others} at my Show Me Saturday linky party this weekend. My readers would love your decor!

    ~ Ashley

  41. Karen Schravemade says

    Monday at 10:59 am

    Hello lovely! I always print locally, Mango 4 when I was in Rockhampton and Capricorn Printing now that we&#39re in Zilzie. (http://www.capricornprinting.com.au/) They do a fabulous job! That&#39s where I had these ones done. It cost $22 each (from memory) for a large print – 68.5cm square. Large prints are always pretty expensive, but then again, it&#39s a heck of a lot cheaper than buying an artwork. 😉 And I&#39m hearing you on the snowy months – that would be very hard to handle with kids at home!! It&#39s so romantic in theory, but honestly we are so spoiled with this lovely climate of ours. 🙂

  42. Karen Schravemade says

    Monday at 10:58 am

    Thank you, Ashley! 🙂 I appreciate the invite! xoxo

  43. Karen Schravemade says

    Monday at 10:59 am

    LOL – you&#39d fit right in here, then! 😉

  44. Karen Schravemade says

    Saturday at 10:31 am

    Hello lovely! I always print locally, Mango 4 when I was in Rockhampton and Capricorn Printing now that we're in Zilzie. (http://www.capricornprinting.com.au/) They do a fabulous job! That's where I had these ones done. It cost $22 each (from memory) for a large print – 68.5cm square. Large prints are always pretty expensive, but then again, it's a heck of a lot cheaper than buying an artwork. 😉 And I'm hearing you on the snowy months – that would be very hard to handle with kids at home!! It's so romantic in theory, but honestly we are so spoiled with this lovely climate of ours. 🙂

  45. Karen Schravemade says

    Saturday at 10:31 am

    Thank you, Ashley! 🙂 I appreciate the invite! xoxo

  46. Karen Schravemade says

    Saturday at 10:32 am

    LOL – you'd fit right in here, then! 😉

  47. Cara Marie says

    Monday at 10:59 am

    Gorgeous!!! Thank you so much for sharing your home and unique ideas. If you don&#39t mind me asking. Where did you get your dinner room table from. I am looking for a reclaimed or farmhouse kitchen table. Thank you again for your inspiration and Have a Wonderful Day! Marie

  48. Cara Marie says

    Tuesday at 5:02 pm

    Gorgeous!!! Thank you so much for sharing your home and unique ideas. If you don't mind me asking. Where did you get your dinner room table from. I am looking for a reclaimed or farmhouse kitchen table. Thank you again for your inspiration and Have a Wonderful Day! Marie

  49. Cassie Bustamante says

    Monday at 10:59 am

    your home is beautiful! i love the tablescape!

  50. Cassie Bustamante says

    Thursday at 6:57 pm

    your home is beautiful! i love the tablescape!

  51. Karen Schravemade says

    Monday at 10:59 am

    Sorry for my delayed reply, Marie! It was from Super A-Mart, which is an Australian store. Depending where you live, that may or may not be at all helpful to you! Best of luck finding what you&#39re after, and thanks for your sweet comment! xo

  52. Karen Schravemade says

    Monday at 10:59 am

    Thank you so much, Cassie! xo

  53. Karen Schravemade says

    Sunday at 11:56 am

    Sorry for my delayed reply, Marie! It was from Super A-Mart, which is an Australian store. Depending where you live, that may or may not be at all helpful to you! Best of luck finding what you're after, and thanks for your sweet comment! xo

  54. Karen Schravemade says

    Sunday at 11:57 am

    Thank you so much, Cassie! xo

  55. Bridget Refined Vintage says

    Monday at 10:59 am

    You have captured your mood board&#39s inspiration! I do love both your sofas. Very mid century yet very current too.

  56. Bridget Refined Vintage says

    Tuesday at 4:25 pm

    You have captured your mood board's inspiration! I do love both your sofas. Very mid century yet very current too.

  57. Karen Schravemade says

    Monday at 10:59 am

    Thanks so much! They are lovely sofas and really make the room! xo

  58. Karen Schravemade says

    Thursday at 6:02 am

    Thanks so much! They are lovely sofas and really make the room! xo

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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INSTAFEED

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5 years ago, I was struggling with social media ad 5 years ago, I was struggling with social media addiction.⁠⠀
⁠⠀
My compulsion to scroll on my phone was making me deeply unhappy, but I couldn't seem to stop. ⁠⠀
⁠⠀
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.⁠⠀
⁠⠀
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."⁠⠀
⁠⠀
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! ⁠⠀
⁠⠀
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.⁠⠀
⁠⠀
I hope you'll be blessed!⁠⠀
⁠⠀
Meanwhile, please tell me I'm not alone - has anyone else ever struggled with this?? Do share. ⁠⠀
⁠⠀
PS... You can read more of my story in my latest blog post! (Link in bio -> Visit the blog). ⁠⠀
⁠⠀
I also shared this super cute DIY phone box to help you interrupt the pattern of mindlessly picking up your phone!⁠⠀
⁠⠀
xo Karen⁠⠀
⁠⠀
⁠⠀
#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."⁠⠀
⁠⠀
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?⁠⠀
⁠⠀
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. ⁠⠀
⁠⠀
It's totally online, and our aim is to bless you with help and encouragement for your 2020-wearied soul! ⁠⠀
⁠⠀
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".⁠⠀
⁠⠀
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!! 😉 😍⁠⠀
⁠⠀
#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.⁠
⁠
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.⁠
⁠
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.⁠
⁠
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. ⁠
⁠
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. ⁠
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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.⁠
⁠
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. ⁠
⁠
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. ⁠
⁠
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. ⁠
⁠
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.⁠
⁠
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:⠀
⠀
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.⁠⠀
⁠⠀
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"... 😉⁠
⁠
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!⁠⠀
⁠⠀
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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#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!! ⁠
⁠
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. ⁠
⁠
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.⁠
⁠
I love it when something you've struggled with for the longest time suddenly just clicks. Has this ever happened for you?⁠
⁠
Now we just need to draft it up properly and then see if we can actually afford to build it. Lol. ⁠
⁠
One step at a time... 😆Celebrating progress today!⁠
⁠
xo Karen⁠
⁠
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
⁠
I'm a 4 wing 5, married to an 8 wing 7. They do say opposites attract 😆⁠
⁠
Do you see yourself in any of these descriptions? ⁠
⁠
xo Karen
ENNEAGRAM⁠ ⁠ Where are my fellow Enneagram fan ENNEAGRAM⁠
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Where are my fellow Enneagram fanatics??!⁠
⁠
I've only recently "discovered" the Enneagram, and OH. MY. GOODNESS. What a game changer. ⁠
⁠
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.⁠
⁠
It is so accurate, it's almost uncanny.⁠
⁠
Basically, there are 9 types, representing 9 different ways of looking at the world, each with different motivations, behaviour traits, strengths and flaws.⁠
⁠
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".⁠
⁠
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. ⁠
⁠
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.⁠
⁠
If you haven't done the Enneagram test, do a search online - it's honestly so interesting and self-revealing.⁠
⁠
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!⁠
⁠
Anyhow, could be worse, and I do feel like I'm starting to pick up again now. ⁠
⁠
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. ⁠
⁠
Are you a chronic re-arranger, or do you prefer to leave things as-is? ⁠
⁠
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!⁠
⁠
xo Karen⁠
BLACK vs WHITE⁠ ⁠ Let's talk kitchens! Our hou BLACK vs WHITE⁠
⁠
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. ⁠
⁠
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. ⁠
⁠
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! ⁠
⁠
So let me know - I'm keen to hear your opinion!⁠
⁠
1. All white⁠
2. All black⁠
3. Black + white⁠
⁠
🖤♡🖤♡🖤⁠
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.⠀
⁠⠀
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.⠀
⠀
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⠀
⠀
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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