Birch + Bird Vintage Home Interiors

After a very long day of travelling, we made it “home” without any major issues.  The girls were fabulous and I’m so proud of how they kept up with me through the airports while pulling their own suitcases.  I hope our trip home will be as easy.  Before we left, I was granted Mother’s Day off to go shopping.  Pure bliss.  Of course, I stopped in at Anthropologie to have a look around and came across the lovely stationary of Quill and Fox that I’ve been eyeing on Etsy.  The Terrarium Postcard Set came home with me because my stationary stash hasn’t been replenished in a long while.  Who wouldn’t love to find any one of these in their mailbox?

All images by Quill and Fox

Pretty, right?

Since it’s the middle of another very busy week, I thought I’d take us all on a little vacation today. I came across this stunning South African farm over at Pure Green Magazine and just had to share some of the amazing photos with you. Babylonstoren is a 200 hectare working farm and luxury vacation escape located in the heart of the Cape Winelands, about 60km from Cape Town. Many of the farm buildings date back to the 1690′s (crazy, right?) and it’s hard to believe how immaculately kept the grounds and buildings remain to this day. There are 14 guest suites available on the property and guests are free to wander as they please, join in harvesting and planting 300+ varieties of plants in the garden, enjoy the spa, or eat fresh food sourced from neighbouring farms and the garden. Sounds like paradise, doesn’t it? Take a look around and I think you’ll see what I mean…

Babylonstoren via Pure Green Magazine

Babylonstoren via Pure Green Magazine

Babylonstoren via Pure Green Magazine

Babylonstoren via Pure Green Magazine

Babylonstoren via Pure Green Magazine

Babylonstoren via Pure Green Magazine

Babylonstoren via Pure Green Magazine

Babylonstoren via Pure Green Magazine

Babylonstoren via Pure Green Magazine

Babylonstoren via Pure Green Magazine

Babylonstoren via Pure Green Magazine

Breathtaking, isn’t it? It’s hard to believe that such a magical place with such history even exists, let alone one that has such gorgeous vacation suites available to book! Now, if only I had that winning lottery ticket in my pocket…one day maybe! Be sure to check out even more photos of Babylonstoren on a second post over at Pure Green (understandably, there were just too many beauties to choose from) and here. Have a wonderful Wednesday!

Today is a crazy busy day because we’re flying out on a jet plane in the wee hours of the morning and I haven’t packed yet so I’ll have to make it short and sweet.  We’re so excited to see everyone and our calendar is full of visits that will go by far too quickly.  Once we’re home, we’re moving…two days later.  Ahhh!  Yes, it’s true.  I’m so grateful and excited to have a home and I can’t wait to put my mark on it.  I also look forward to our schedule becoming more routine because lately it’s been far, far from routine.  Anyways, I was browsing the online magazines for some inspiration and spent some time over at Rue.  I loved all the character in each one of these images from their Details gallery and thought you’d enjoy them too.

 All images via Rue

I’ve got some suitcases to pack.  Bye, bye for now!

Phew, what a weekend! Did yours go by as quickly as mine did? The sun was shining and it was beautifully hot for Mother’s Day yesterday . I can’t say that it was super relaxing as we hosted 15 people (both of our families) for lunch, but it felt so great to spend the afternoon on our patio celebrating our moms and grandmothers while soaking in some much needed rays.  On Saturday night, we were treated to a fun evening out by some dear friends which included a limo ride (ooh la la!), a cooking class by Chef Dez at Lepp Farm Market and a yummy pastry demo by Tina of The Pink Spatula. I don’t think we were the ideal students…we get pretty chatty when wine is involved…but it was a really great time with some wonderful friends! How was your weekend? Did you get breakfast in bed or have a chance to spend time with your mama? Hopefully you got the same dose of sunshine that we had! Speaking of warm and bright, take a peek around this gorgeous apartment in Sydney, Australia….

The Design Files. Photo by Felix Forest.

The Design Files. Photo by Felix Forest.

The Design Files. Photo by Felix Forest.

The Design Files. Photo by Felix Forest.

The Design Files. Photo by Felix Forest.

The Design Files. Photo by Felix Forest.

I can’t get enough of all of the gorgeous rugs, red accents and warm wood furniture throughout and I’m pretty sure I could handle curling up on that window seat with a good book for hours at a time! It’s hard to believe that it’s only a two bedroom apartment, isn’t it? Belonging to Vanessa Steele and Peter Braig, it is “One of just a handful of boutique apartments in a building known as ‘La Granada’ in Sydney’s leafy Bellevue Hill neighbourhood…Tucked at the back of the block on the ground level, and opening out onto a leafy patio, it’s wonderfully private, and with windows on all sides, it feels more like a house than an apartment.” City living at it’s finest, I would say!

The Design Files. Photo by Felix Forest.

The Design Files. Photo by Felix Forest.

The Design Files. Photo by Felix Forest.

This looks like one very happy and liveable home, wouldn’t you agree? I feel so very blessed by my mom and the many other amazing women who bring so much joy and warmth to my life! My mom has always encouraged me in all of my creative endeavours, has supported me in countless ways and has helped us with the kids soooo much. My sister is also a huge part of our lives and I am so excited to say that I’ll be an Auntie sometime in December! Becky and her husband are expecting their first bambino and I’m so happy to see them move into this next phase of life. Hurray for the moms, moms-to-be and amazing aunties everywhere!

With Mother’s Day just around the corner, it’s a reminder to me how holidays and birthdays will be different now that we are across the continent from our family and friends.  I’m lucky to have just had a nice visit with my mom and we’ll be heading her way in a matter of days for Scout and of course, to squeeze in as many visits as we can.  But I know it won’t be like this for the many other special days of the year.  We’ll be spending a belated Mothers’ Day together the first weekend of our trip and I’m pretty sure it will have an outdoor theme.  Maybe a picnic?  We shall see.  How are you celebrating your Mom this year?

honey pixels 

the merriweather council

frenchfelt

Rifle Paper Co.

Flower Thyme

[amanda catherine] designs

happee monkee

the merriweather council

Rifle Paper Co.

I’m so blessed to have such a great example of a loving and giving Mom.  For all that she’s done for me and my family, I am eternally grateful.  She’s a reminder to me to keep on keeping’ on and has definitely set the bar high.  Happy Mother’s Day, Mom.  I love you.