My first objective is to drink a glass of water while I make a cup of tea. I drink my tea sitting up in bed where it's  restful and peaceful.

Next I like to meditate. This is a time where I clear my mind and let my brain waves shift into a receptive place. I like to let what is bothering me come forward and then let it go into a stream to be carried away. I learned to meditate years ago and I am able to make the shift from monkey mind to receptiveness effectively now, but it took practice. I’ll meditate for about 10 to 30 minutes. Once I've let go of distractions, I am able to let creativity rise and new ideas be received into my conscious mind.

I always feel refreshed after meditating and ready to meet the day's challenges. Using my phone, I’ll do a quick check for emails and social media that need responses, then I get up ready to have some breakfast.

After straightening the bed and putting the cushions back, I wrap myself in my new Kimono (which I adore) collect my reading glasses, phone and tea mug and swan out to the kitchen at about 8.30. Depending on how hungry I am, I have one or two pieces of toast topped with something different each day. My favorite toppings are gluten free Vegemite, jam, a poached egg, a slice of cheese or slices of tomato with salt and pepper. I make another cup of tea to have with it.

While I’m eating breakfast I like to watch a couple of YouTube videos. Topics that inspire me are crafting, gardening, home decorating, and story analysis. The channels I’m enjoying most are Olivia’s Romantic Home, Garden Answer, Live Your Style and The Take.

​After breakfast I turn on my computer and while it’s firing up I take a cup of coffee into the garden and water the flowers or just sit and enjoy the view. I bring a glass or water into the office and start work at about 9 to 9.30. If I’m having a low energy day, that can move back to about 10 to 10.30 before I have the brain power to begin working on whatever is most pressing. If I have a blog due, that takes priority. I prefer to write blogs like my books, write a draft and revising some time later on. It doesn’t always happen but that’s what I aim for. 

If I can dive straight into my current WIP I love it. I’ll write for about an hour. I’ll drink a glass of water, shower and get dressed in something comfortable. I brush my hair and teeth and fill another gloass of water to take back to my computer. I begin another session of 1 to 2 hours of writing.  That takes me up to lunch time.

I keep writing on and off for the rest of the day, interspersed with five minutes jobs like washing a load of clothes or vacuuming the bedroom. I have more energy as the day goes on, but this morning routine seems to get me productive and feeling better.

​Noticing what my habits are  gives me the framework for a routine that I can consistently keep to. Also I gain the ability to tweak it a little. Trying to impose a routine has never worked for me. Mindfulness of what I need to be productive has been the basis of  how I structure my day. Awareness provides the ability to grow into making more healthy and productive decisions.

I suppose the takeaway I'm sharing in this blog is that when I consider my needs and not just what I want to accomplish it works. It's a balancing act as are most things in life. The push pull of doing what we need to, opposed to what we want.  Knowing my limits lets me take care of myself while still having productive times in my day. 

While YouTube is inspiring I can feel a little glued to the telly. If that happens, I remember the good feeling I have when working at my computer. After all, a morning routine  has to work for you, not against you.

Dora Bramden writes heart-melting, passionate romance.
The Scottish Billionaire’s Secret Lover
The Italian Billionaire’s Secret Baby
Follow Dora on Instagram Facebook and Pinterest

Packing was once a dilemma for me but not anymore. I have it down to a fine art. ​I don’t like lugging heavy suitcases and so I always pack light. In past holidays I've taken a lot of clothes so that I'd have options but ended up wearing the same few items over and over again.

I've learned from experience that a couple of items of each type of clothing is all I need. Even though I’m travelling to Italy and Cyprus in October, the weather won’t be freezing but I can expect a cool day here and there so I'll need to be prepared for a range of temperatures.

Due to weight restrictions, I won’t pack anything thick or bulky. Layers of clothing will provide insulation on cool days. Singlet, T-shirt, cotton button shirt, cardigan, scarf. If the sun comes out I can ditch the scarf and cardigan and put on my sun hat. If I’m really hot, a quick trip to the loo and the singlet and T-shirt will be in my bag when I emerge. I like to take a dress as well for going out to dinner and for warmer days.
 
Shoes are heavy, so I opt for the lightest ones I can find. But they must have adequate arch support and rubber soles that will absorb impact, so I can walk for longer. I recently updated my sandals at the Homey Ped outlet. It was my lucky day, they had a rare size 11 for my large feet in a sweet style that will go with both pants and dresses.
 
Hair care is minimal when I’m on holiday. Hair ties are my best friend. I will take my favorite shampoo, conditioner and hair brush. I’ll wash my long, curly hair at night and let it dry while I sleep. In the morning I’ll brush it and mold it into a messy chignon with the hair tie. Done.

I have to admit, I really don’t like wearing heavy makeup and it doesn’t do much for my mature skin anyway. A BB cream which is a tinted moisturizer with sunscreen is my preferred go to. A muted pink lipstick is a must for looking put together, other cosmetics will include a palate of eye shadow in neutral colors, blush and mascara. I’ll take makeup remover wipes and a night cream. That will be it.

This week I purchased a tote sized cross body bag from Kmart that is large enough for a nightie and emergency toiletries. I also purchased a smaller cross body bag for day trips. At $15 and $20 AUD they were a bargain.

For entertainment, I’ll be bringing some technology to save weight. I have a new phone with lots of memory so I won’t be taking my Sony camera. That’s one less thing. A selfie stick will be going, for better shots of Sam and I with scenery behind us.

On my first overseas trip, my case was heavy with books. Thank goodness I don't have to lug physical books anymore. My kindle will live in my tote bag. It’s loaded with books from my To-Be-Read-Pile and I can’t wait to open it and dive in on the long flights. A notepad and pen will be useful for making notes of anything inspiring. A travel diary is essential so I can record all the things we did each day.
​
Regarding medicines, I have an authority letter from the doctor for my many medications that keep me alive. A large bag will be needed to carry the month’s supply but that okay. No medicine, no Dora, no holiday. ​

All I need to do now is go through my checklist and make sure I have everything packed that I want to take.

The Checklist
Clothing
2 pair socks
4  underpants
2 long pants made of stretch material
2 singlets
1 T-shirt
2 cotton shirts
1 dress
1 cardigans
1 scarf
2 nighties
1 kimono style dressing gown
1 pair slippers
1 pair sandals
1 pair runners
bathers
Bathroom
Makeup bag with foundation, blush, eye shadow palette, mascara, lipstick, small pot night cream.
Makeup remover wipes
Toothbrush and toothpaste
Shampoo and Conditioner
Hair Brush
Hair ties
Accessories
1 umbrella
Sun hat
Scarf
Faux gold earrings and necklace
Large, cross-body tote bag
Small cross-body bag for day trips
​Selfie stick
Carry On Essentials
Passport and Wallet
Phone
Kindle
Notepad and pen
Medicine

If I’ve forgotten anything please let me know in the comments below. Is there anything you always travel with that makes your holiday less fuss and more fun?
 
Dora Bramden writes heart-melting, passionate romance.
The Scottish Billionaire’s Secret Lover
The Italian Billionaire’s Secret Baby
Follow Dora on Instagram Facebook and Pinterest

In 2011, I threw two coins into the Trevi fountain, one so I'd come back to Rome and another so I'd find love. Guess what, it worked. This year I'm going to Italy with my new husband. 

Although Sam has Italian heritage he's never been to Italy. So this trip is two fold. It's our honeymoon but also for him to connect with his Italian culture.  

I've never met a person who traveled to Italy and said they didn't love it. The country is so beautiful, north, midlands and south, each area has a distinct charm. So I'm thrilled to be travelling to nearly all the places I've been before and adding some new destinations as well. But the flight from Australia to Europe is far too long for us, so we are breaking it up. 

We're booked with Emirates to have overnight stopovers in both Singapore and Dubai before landing in Rome. Hopefully, this will mean we have no more than two eight hour flights and one six hour flight to get us to Rome. 

Our travel agent arranged it so that we will have a couple of days in Rome to acclimatize and get to know parts  where the tour bus doesn't' go. ​

Two day's after  we arrive we'll joining a thirteen day Best of Italy, Trafalgar Tour, that will take us south through Cassino,  to, Sorrento and Capri and Pompeii. We head north through Assisi, Verona and Venice and turn west to Milan, Lake Como, Lake Maggiore and then begin our journey back south through  Pisa, Florence and San Gimignano and finish back in Rome.

​Even after covering so much of the county we have yet to visit the island where Sam's parents were born.

We're booked on Air Italia, from Rome to Catania in Sicily and will stay the night in Catania before making our way to Milazzo by train and taxi the following day. From the port, we'll take a  ferry  to Lipari, one of the volcanic Aeolian islands.

Now a popular holiday resort with restaurants and plenty to do, our focus will also be discovering the places that Sam's family lived and worked. We are staying at Casa Papiro, in Canneto for four nights. After that we'll do the travel in reverse back to Rome.
​

Cyprus is our next destination. Sam's best man has a house on Cyprus, and have invited us to spend a week there. We'll take a Ryan air flight from Rome's Ciampino airport to Paphos. Our host will pick us up and be our tour guide while we are there. I'm excited to experience the Cyprian culture the way you can when staying with a local. Also I've heard so much about the beauty of this Greek island and  I'm sure it will be amazing.

We fly home to Melbourne, Australia with Emirates and reverse our stopovers in Dubai and Singapore. We've included enough time for sightseeing at our stopovers on the way home. I'm hoping to see a bit of Singapore because I've never been there before. In particular the botanic gardens are at the top of my list.

While writing this blog post I'm made aware of how happy I'll be to get back home and how ecstatic I'll be, that I got to experience such a wonderful honeymoon/holiday.

Have you been to any of these places? Comment and let me know if you have any tips to share. What did you like most? What was your trip highlight? Did you ever throw a coin in the Trevi Fountain? 

Dora Bramden writes heart-melting, passionate romance.
The Scottish Billionaire’s Secret Lover
The Italian Billionaire’s Secret Baby
Follow Dora on Instagram Facebook and Pinterest

When deciding which DIYs to take on, I needed to be strategic and also consider the time I'd have the day before and on the day to get it all done.  I wanted to have personal involvement with creating our special day . Making some of the things myself was how I achieved it. Read on to find out what I DIYd and how I did it.

1. Making a bouquet.
I knew I could make the bouquets myself, if I went with simple posies tied with satin ribbon. I found inspiration on Pinterest and watched YouTube videos on how to make them so that when it came time to act, I had a plan in place.

What you'll need
Florist wire on a roll or pre cut lengths of wire.
Rolls of 1 inch wide ribbon in the colors you desire I used one roll per bouquet
Lace of choice
Florist's pins for attaching lace.
Per Bouquet,Three bunches of flowers of choice.
For all three, 1 bunch of greenery

The flowers I used in the bouquets were:
The bridal bouquet
1 branch of eucalyptus, separated into about 5 stems
5 white peonies and 1 pink,
10 white roses
1 multi flowered stem  of white chrysanthemums

Each bridesmaids bouquet contained 
I branch of eucalyptus separated into about 5 stems
5 pink peonies
10 blush pink rose stems
1 multi flowered stem of white chrysanthemums

Method used for all  bouquets
I began with a center flower and kept adding in a circle around it. Holding the bouquet in my left hand and adding flowers with my right, letting the flowers sit at an angle as the bouquet grew. I Alternated the flowers and eucalyptus stems as I went. To make the classic dome shape, I placed the flowers lower near the edge. The stems will make a fan underneath below where you are gripping them. That's okay. Tie them off tightly with florist wire. 

​Wrap the stems tightly with ribbon starting at the top and leaving a length free. Wind down the stems (this brings them back together)  stopping a couple of inches before you get to the bottom and then wind back up to the top. Using the length left free at the beginning, tie it off and make a bow .  Using sharp kitchen scissors or secateurs, snip the stems even at the bottom and place in a vase with an inch of water covering the stems but not wetting the ribbon and or lace. ​

On my bride's bouquet I pinned on lace that matched the lace on my wedding cake and guest book. I made the bouquets the day before and stored them overnight in a cool room (the laundry in my house) with enough water to wet the stems but not come high enough to reach the ribbon. 
About an hour before I left for the ceremony I emptied the water from the vase and patted the end of the stems with paper towel. We didn't have any drips and the flowers lasted very well. They were put in water after the reception and kept well in vases for the next week.

2. Decorating the cake.
Although making the cake would have been too big a challenge, I saved money (and got the cake I wanted) by decorating it myself. Cake decorating has been an interest on mine since I was a teenager so I felt confident enough to take this on. Again I got an idea of what I'd like from the DIYers best friend, Pinterest.

The gold acrylic Mr and Mrs sign was purchased cheaply from Ebay. This one was only ten dollars plus postage. I hot glued a bamboo chopstick to the stake for extra height and then wrapped the join with ribbon to make sure it stayed put. 

I found the silk faux peonies I wanted at Kaisercraft. I trimmed the green petals away and the darkest pink outer petals then I popped them off their stems and hot glued them to stiff plastic drinking straws that I'd cut in half. This allowed me to push the straws into the cake and keep the flowers secure. I added the hydrangea florets from my stash to fill in the spaces between the peonies using toothpicks to anchor them into the cake.

Some time ago, I bought a length of beautiful cream lace from a vintage fair to use as inspiration for my wedding. I wasn't sure how I'd use it, but I ended up having enough to use on the flowers, the guest book and to wrap around the two tiers of the butter cream cake.

​I had toothpicks on hand to secure it at the back with some florets but didn't need them. The lace stuck to the buttercream easily. I added a gold non toxic washi tape to the base of each tier so that it would tie in with the gold sign on top.

3. Blinging up vases.
​When we were at the reception tasting night there were samples of decorations for the tables. We were enchanted with a setting that included three small vases set around a central tall crystal candle holder.

The table center pieces we chose were included in our package but the flowers would have been extra. But I had an idea for blinging milk bottles from Kmart to hold our flowers.​  

I cut a single line of bling from the tape and hot glued it to the neck of each bottle. 

My girlfriend did the floral arrangements in the vases I created with Kmart milk bottles, bling ribbon and stickers and hot glue. The bottles cost $5Aus for a pack of six.

Unfortunately, we didn't get a photo of the tables set up but my girlfriend sent me this picture of the vases with flowers arranged ready to be taken to the wedding reception. We chose the flowers together, they included blush pink edged roses, white chrysanthemums and eucalyptus.

It cost a lot less than if we'd paid the price quoted for a florist to do them. I was very fortunate to have a friend who volunteered to set them up and she purchased the flowers for Sam and I as a gift.

Having such beautiful fresh flowers on the table really added elegance to room.  

To help out, I've hyperlinked the items I used in my DIY's, where I could find them. But they are Australian sites. For other countries, you should be able to source similar items from your local online retailers.

​(I also created a guest book which I posted in an earlier blog. Link to that is here if you'd like to see how I made that.) I used the same lace on this book that I also used on the cake and the bridal bouquet which helped link the ivory lace, navy and pink theme. 

​Comment and let me know if you're planning DIYs for your wedding or if already married,  what you made for your wedding. I'm happy to answer any questions you might have as to how I made any of these DIYs. Thanks for stopping by to read the blog.

Dora Bramden writes heart-melting, passionate romance.
The Scottish Billionaire’s Secret Lover
The Italian Billionaire’s Secret Baby
Follow Dora on Instagram Facebook and Pinterest
​

In my romance writing dad inspires my heroes. They hear the call to action that fatherhood requires and are sensible of the responsibility that it carries. Angus, from 'The Scottish Billionaire's Secret Lover', is a father in waiting. He has the welfare of orphans at the center of all he does and is a father figure to a little boy in need of surgery to repair disfigurement. He thinks he needs an aristocratic, arranged marriage but subconsciously he really wants a wife who possesses a nurturing heart, with whom he can make the family he always wanted.

Alessandro, from 'The  Italian Billionaire's Secret Baby', was a boy when he lost his father in a racing car accident. Determined not to put a child of his through the same ordeal he refuses to have children while pursuing the same career but he discovers he has a toddler son. He immediately wants to step up and be a hands on father, but he has to understand what that really takes in order to win a place in his son's life and the heart of his estranged wife.  

Dad showed me what it is to be a father who takes that responsibility to heart. He loves his children and supports them to the best of his ability. This Father’s Day, it’s my pleasure to have dad for Sunday dinner. My sister and husband will join us and it looks like my kids will be coming too, as they usually do on Sundays to see their grandad. It will be a roast, probably lamb, which is an Australian staple, with apple sponge and ice-cream for dessert. Dad will be the guest of honor and I can’t express how lucky that makes me feel.

Dora Bramden writes heart-melting, passionate romance.

​When Sam and I decided to move our wedding forward so that we could travel later in the year it meant we’d be having a winter wedding. We found that although we wouldn’t have the advantages of longer days and warm weather that you have with a spring wedding, it provided us with significant benefits.

1. The price per head, that reception venues charge, is cheaper in the winter. Also, keep an eye out for an added winter discount. Many reception venues advertise price reductions to attract bookings during, the slow months of the year. We saved almost a third on the cost of the reception at Ballara Receptions and were given exactly the same service and quality of food that we would have had in the spring time.

2. Finding a venue that suits you with dates available is much more likely in the winter. Spring weddings for popular venues are usually booked eighteen months to two years in advance but winter weddings are obviously much less in demand.

3. There are no worries about if it will rain and ruin a garden wedding. It probably will rain in the winter, so have a lovely chapel or beautifully decorated space organised to marry in. We chose a venue that had a chapel attached which came decorated with white flower garlands and urns as part of the hire price. I loved the gazebo effect of where we were married.

​4. The days are shorter but you get gorgeous twilight photography opportunities. We had a skilled photographer, Peter Layton, take our wedding photos which I'm also using in this post.  So far as taking photos outside, on our day it did rain on and off but we were able to gets lots of good shots between showers. I got sprinkled with light rain when Sam and I were having our photos taken after the ceremony but you’d never know from the photos. 

5. Winter wonderland charm for your white wedding. In Australia, winter is in the middle of the year so we often have Christmas in July, I took it a step further and had a wedding in July. On Pintrest I saw a picture of a bride wearing a white fur stole and decided that's how I wanted to stay warm. I also really like the lacework of the bare branches on the trees at this time of year.

6. You can savor a hot meal when it’s cold outside. We had hot appetizers, entrees, main meals and hot puddings for dessert. The food at our reception was delicious. Our guests raved about how good the food was. The quality was exactly the same as if we’d paid the high season price and we got to enjoy our hot meal more because of the cooler weather in winter. 

​7. Choosing the desired celebrant, photographer and DJ/master of ceremonies, and singer for the ceremony is easier as they are less booked up in the winter.  I have a post on making our wedding plans and who we used and I'll link it here.

​Extra Tips

Flowers
You can still get lovely flowers in the winter. There are flowers grown in hot houses or shipped in from warmer climates available. It's even possible to put a bouquet together the day before the wedding, like I did. Your florist will be able to advise you.

Time of Ceremony
Plan to wed earlier in the day. We had chosen a lovely venue whose staff were experienced with winter weddings. They were able to advise us what time to plan the ceremony in relation to the daylight hours we would have, how long it would take for photos. They had a warm reception foyer where our guests were served canapes  during that in-between time. On the day, it was perfect timing.

If I had my time over, I would still choose a romantic winter wedding. 

​Dora Bramden writes heart-melting, passionate romance.

I rose about seven thirty and had breakfast of tea and toast with Sam. We talked about our excitement for the day ahead and nerves bubling under the surface but were very happy that the day had arrived at last and were sure it would be a wonderful day.
Sam dropped me at my sister’s house where I was to get ready, he then went on to his best man’s house.
The makeup and hair artist arrived around 9 o’clock and started working on my sister's hair and makeup. About 10 o’clock, my matron of honor arrived. My sister done they started on my hair which was curled with a hot tong and pinned up to set. The make up artist then worked on my matron of honor's hair and makeup. Lastly my makeup was done and my hair finished off. But I they weren't quite finished when the photographer arrived.

The photographer took photos of my dress, headpiece and flowers while he waited for me.

I must have been getting a little nervous so didn't realize that I'd been sent to put on my dress before having my lipstick done. The photographer wanted to capture the getting ready journey and started taking photo's when I still didn't have any lipstick.

​But I think they look okay. Sam says he likes it because I look natural. Don't you just love it? What do they know? My lips were the only natural part of my face .

Then it was time for  photo's in the park behind my sisters house.

With my fur wrap on it was time for Dad and I to leave.

Getting married was intensely tender and heart warming . I'll never forget how he looked at me.

Next we had lots of photos taken in the beautiful gardens of Ballara where we were married. I'm only including one of me and Sam but of course our bridal party were a big part of it as were lots of our family.

Cutting the cake and our first waltz were naturally highlights of the reception but being married to this dear, kind man is the joy I'll have every day from now on.

Our wedding day was supported by friends and family to make it a warm and uplifting celebration. My girlfriend made the flowers for the tables as her gift. My dear dad gifted my dress and my sister gifted my headpiece. My matron of honor and sister bought the wedding cake as their gift, a delicious Coeliac quality gluten free mud cake so I could eat it. (I DIY'd the decorations myself using silk flowers and fabric lace.)

The support we had on the day was wonderful. My sister opened her house for me to get ready and hosted a delicious gluten free lunch. Sam's best man and his wife opened their home for Sam to get ready and hosted a family lunch for him. We each had family and friends travel from far away to be with us on this most important day. All of this kindness touched our hearts.

I've got lots of lovely memories to use in my writing now. It's been quite a journey to reach this milestone but I wouldn't change a thing. It all added up to a very special day that has added depth and joy to our already beautiful relationship.

​Dora Bramden writes heart-melting, passionate romance

Luck was with us on the day we'd planned to have lunch at the Bankvale Run Restaurant at Marnong Estate. A rare warm day in late Autumn made the day perfect, from the drive through Melbourne's northern rural outskirts to enjoying 180 views of the country side. 

Alpacas roamed in the field as we perused the menu and sipped a glass of sparkling wine. From the many GF options I chose Calamari S&P crust, chorizo, soft herb, hydroponic tomatoes for entree and Butterflied whole spatchcock Tuscan rub, olive oil, lemon, oregano for my main. Each dish was flavor packed and was complimented by the shared sides of GF chips and roasted carrots.
Good company, food and wine combined with 180 degree views from the dining room made this a very special day.

The walk around the grounds after lunch was a final delight. 

A surprise on the way back to the car park. A giant chess board adding whimsy to the formal grounds made me want to stay and play a game but it was time to go. 

Even the walk to the car park is a treat for visitors. The charming views around the estate just keep going.

I hope you enjoyed this tour of Marnong Estate with me. Something about being in the beauty of the outdoors is so refreshing that it feels more like I've been on a holiday than just having lunch out.

Next blog is about my garden in late Autumn, talk to you soon.

Dora Bramden writes heart-melting, passionate romance.

It's a lovely day to celebrate all the wonderful women who raised us. Yes, they are a part of us now. All the love that they gave us resides within and will never fade. Every school lunch they made and every night they sat up with us when we were sick was love in action.

It only takes a moment to think of your Mum on Mothers' day. If she's like mine, it creates a warm glow that lights up your heart and spreads to your cheeks. 

Two years since my mum passed and I'm doing okay. I miss her like anything. A hug and a cup of tea with some of her home baked cake would be truly heaven. However the light she shone in my world continues to glow in my memory and I'm blessed with many wonderful times to remember.

If you still have your mum here to visit on Mothers Day take a moment to be really grateful for the time you're sharing. Give her an extra hug from me.

I know that lots of readers have children of their own, as I do. It's your day today also and I hope you've planned some downtime to enjoy being spoiled by the next gen. I'll be putting my feet up after dinner and let my visiting children clean up. 

If you're stuck for some last minute gift ideas here's a few of my favorites and they were my mum's too. It's lovely to receive presents and I think the inexpensive ones are best. A picture of my kids in a frame is always a winner with me. A home decorating or gardening magazine that I can flick through with a mug of tea is a treat. Speaking of tea, special Twinnings tea bags are also an easy pick up from the supermarket. You should also be able to snag a card there too. 

My children sometimes make a card which is soooo special and they write a little bit of how special I am to them. This is the absolute best part of Mother's Day. So take a moment to really think about what you're grateful to your mum for.

I hope you all have a really lovely day on Mother's Day and enjoy the special moments and celebrate the amazing work mothers have done and continue to  do, loving, guiding and raising the next generation.

Dora writes heart-melting, passionate romance

My most treasured things are second hand. Even though new things are very nice, there's nothing like the character only a second hand find delivers.

This second hand cane lounge suite is my favorite possie to drink my morning coffee. I looked everywhere to find an affordable romantic looking outdoor setting for this space, without any luck. This second hand suite was given to me after my sister sold her beach house. Her husband originally found it in an op-shop. I find that to get the character I want, second hand is most often where I find it.

When searching for a shabby-chic mirror, I went online to the usual home ware sites, like Ikea. I had no luck at all, but in the second hand Facebook market place, I found the one I adore.

The roses and ribbon that crown this curvy mirror say romantic, shabby-chic to me. Although I love the gold, I need a light and bright color scheme in this room. There are veranda's outside both windows which can make it quite dark. I have plans to paint it white using a little pot Annie Sloan chalk paint. The dark brown lounge is too dominant for the space. I'd really like a new one but I can't afford that. I'll make do with what I have and recover it in a cream or beige fabric. 
You can see the chandelier refection in the mirror. This will also get painted white. 

I've been visiting op-shops  (thrift stores) in search of cardigans for winter. I did find some, but I also found some shabby chic picture frames and some very pretty tall glasses. The picture frames will be painted white and I'm going to get out my paints and create a still life of pink  roses from my garden to go in them. 

When walking in my garden I love noticing my second hand plants that add character. Plants I've taken from diving clumps of iris in Mum's garden and lambs ears from my sister's garden have taken off very well.

Cuttings of hydrangea, a neighbors gave me, have all grown well this year. A little burnt in our very hot summer, but they are budding up beautifully for next spring. 

Dad gave me his grandfather's crown of rhubarb. It makes a lovely show of foliage in the border and I think of Dad every time I see it. Recently, I harvested some for a Rhubarb sponge desert to have for Easter lunch.

I harvested about a dozen stems and washed them well before cutting them into one inch peices. I placed them into a saucepan, covered them with water and added half a cup of sugar. I let this come to the boil and simmer until the Rhubarb was soft. I overcooked it a bit but it still worked out great. I added a little cornflour dissolved in water to thicken the syrup before turning off the gas. I spread it into a greased lasagna dish and then set it aside to cool a bit while I whipped up a packet mix of GF sponge cake. 

I tipped a ribbon of cake mix over the top of the Rhubarb, moving the bowl up and down until the top was almost all covered. I lightly filled in the gaps with a spoon.

I baked it for about 40mins on 175C until the top was golden and the sponge bounced back when pressed in the middle. I can't believe how nice it tasted. As I'm writing this I'm sorry to discover that I don't have an after picture to post.  It was Easter Sunday and I'd had a few glasses of wine so I'll hope you forgive me.

​Imagine the sponge puffed and golden with the sweet and tart stewed rhubarb base steaming hot. I served it with whipped cream and it was very popular.
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Because I feel bad, I'm posting this pic of some Easter eggs instead. By the way, they are sitting on a marble table that I bought second hand. 

Creating a romantic home and garden doesn't have to be prohibitively expensive. Not only do I get to have fun seeing how far I can make my money stretch,  decorating and creating a garden in my romantic style, but I also find the character filled pieces that bring my home and garden to life.

It's not something you can achieve quickly. A romantic home and garden is curated over time, but it's absolutely worth it and you always have a reason to drift through your local thrift store and see what treasures you might find for a song.

I hope you all had a lovely Easter and I wish you happy thrifting for items that will add character to your romantic home.

Dora Bramden writes heart-melting, passionate romance.