One very exciting thing about moving back to Australia is that I have an oven again! I have said on this blog before that I don't cook, well that wasn't the total truth. I don't really cook meals, but I love to bake. Nothing terribly difficult mind you, certainly nothing up to La Fuji Mama's level, but I love to make cakes, biscuits, slices and the occasional pavlova.My oven and I are going to take a little time getting to know each other, but it will be fun, like getting to know a new friend. Today's menu was vanilla cupcakes. Yummy, if I might say so myself, maybe a little too sweet (wow, I didn't think I'd ever say that) and didn't quite brown enough on the top, but overall, a decent attempt.
As DH, a good friend and I tried them, this was our view. 
The living room feature will be our new rug with some artwork on the walls, pillows and chair covers to tie it all in together. Behind that, you can see my favourite feature of our new place - the gorgeous bush reserve view. It's teaming with bird life. As our bedroom is directly above the living room, we have the same view and the birds singing every morning is magical to wake up to. I think I will be able to make this a lovely new home and build a lovely new life.
Well, I made it. I survived the move. The last month has flown by and it has just sunk in that we're here, really here and here to stay. Yesterday we picked up our new car and the internet was finally connected. Fingers (and toes and anything else that can be) crossed, DH may have a job to start next week.For the past few weeks, I've been in a non-committal daze. I had one day of tears, wishing we hadn't come back (it's quite a shock how expensive everything is here), but mostly it has felt like we were here on a holiday and I'd be back on a plane soon. Yesterday, it all started to feel real and now I'm ready to nest!The new place, a townhouse (photos to come soon) has been filled with a mish-mash of a few things we had stored (we sold most things before we left), things borrowed from my parents (they had things stored with us while they are living overseas), pieces from secondhand stores and some new. Something old, something new, something borrowed and certainly a few things blue. It's quite a challenge making it all work together.The living room was today's challenge. We bought a funky rug to cover the old carpet and now I'm trying to work everything around it. I've been looking at how to make my own sofa cover, as the upholstery is looking rather tattered. Next to the entertainment unit, we have two large spaces spare. Trying to keep the apartment baby-friendly, I'm umm-ing and ahh-ing between artwork on the walls and wall decals. I don't know anyone that has used them before, so am a little apprehensive. Here are some of the ones I like....
Forest, from artwallprojectWildflower, from MarkJamesDesignBare Tree, from circlelinestudioDandelions, from janeymacpressDon't think I haven't also been considering the baby's room.....
