A wedding & a funeral...

Hi everyone, 

So I've just had one of the busiest and most challenging couple of weeks of my life. Filled with the highest highs and the lowest lows! 

I have been talking for a while about preparing for hens nights, kitchen teas & my best friends wedding. So I have been very busy preparing all of that, and making sure that each event came off without a hitch! Which, thankfully, it did! :)

(Minion themed Hens party photo)

I have also been busy fulfilling roles as sister and "the best Aunty ever" for my sister & nieces birthdays also! 

But there was one thing I had not prepared myself for...

My dad, Victor passed away on the 19th of Feb after a long and complicated illness with Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy! His death was both tragedy and blessing! He doesn't suffer any more, but we all miss him dearly! 

(Photo of the flower the staff laid on my dads chest after he passed away... Such a beautiful & simple gesture.. A wonderfully touching kindness)

Dad died exactly between my sister and nieces birthdays (who are exactly a week a part) and a week and a half before my best friend Tanya's wedding to her now husband Isaac! So not only were we coming to terms with the loss of my dad but we still had a 6 year olds birthday and a wedding to get through too! And then chuck in a funeral and you can begin to understand what my life was like last week! 

Dads funeral was beautiful! It was everything he asked for and we could have hoped for! So, I just want to say thank you to everyone who made it to dads funeral! It made a huge difference to see people we haven't seen in years, people who have come from all over the state & those who have been there for us through it all! No matter who you are and how often we see you now, thank you for making dads funeral such a special event for us and a beautiful way to celebrate the life of an extraordinary man!

Also, Thank you to all those people who sent cards, condolences, love and flowers to us this last couple of weeks! It has helped my family & I in our grief, to know others are thinking of and sending their love to us! 

I know I am still coming to terms with the fact my dad isn't just down the road for me to chat to when I want. And I keep waiting for it to really hit me... But I guess having the wedding to focus on after the funeral was what I needed because I haven't had a chance yet to wallow in my sorrow. 

For those who wanted to know how Tanya & Isaacs wedding went... It was amazing! Tanya got me in a dress, high-heels, makeup & fancy hair, which I have to say is an achievement in itself! :) 

(Photo curtesy of: Kye Ellen)

I was completely overwhelmed with the love they have for each other & their friends & family! And the love that they & their friends & family bestowed on me! I gave my obligatory maid of honour speech and after a few jokes, shared a bit about who these amazing people are for me...their love, support & generosity!  And Included what they did for me during dads funeral, where both of them played a supportive role! And doing this all just days before their own wedding! I am so blessed to have these two people in my life! 

(Photo curtesy of Kye Ellen)

I wish Mr & Mrs Mead all the happiness in the world! 

(Photo Curtesy of Linda H ) 

Please excuse me whilst I may not post for a while... It does not mean I have given up my kindnesses! In fact I see their importance now, so much more than before! I am, after all, the legacy of my father, & he was such an amazing man! Dad & my mum taught me about kindness, generosity & compassion and I have a deep need & responsibility to share those things with others! 

I hope you are all well! I send my love to you all! Thanks for hanging in there with my blog! 

Much love, 

Daena x

January 28, 2012

Hello hello, 

Well the 28th was an amazing day for me! I got so much done! Most of my work was related to the upcoming Kitchen Tea party for my best friend! 

I went to 3 second hand shops looking for tea pots, cups & saucers, sugar bowls, milk jugs, and pretty plates for the "English garden party morning tea in the high tea style" that I have been preparing for in two weeks time (or there abouts)! 

So I went to the 3 charity op-shops & bought something at each one! Ending up with an amazing array of kitchen tea party wares for $50... Check this out.... 

Or in more detail...

Mum taught me how to stack & pack four cups & saucers into each other so they don't take up as much space! Very grateful for that lesson! Thanks mum!!! 

I also donated a box of books to the first charity shop we went to because they had been sitting in the boot of the car for about a week! :) 

There is still so much to do for these parties... But I just love having the ability to share something! Sadly I can't share much of my preparation about the hens party because I want all those details to be a surprise for my best friend! After all I know she reads this blog from time to time! Hi TJ! :) xxx 

What is the most exciting thing you have found at an op-shop/thrift store/2nd hand shop? 

Luv Daena

January 27, 2014

Hey lovelies, 

on the 27th I got to work preparing & planning more stuff for my best friends kitchen tea & hens party. Spent an hour and a half having a planning meeting with the mother of the bride. 

This is a photo of my book of secrets for my best friends pre-wedding parties! :) 

I did some cleaning at my sisters house, because they are away. I also fed my niece & nephews fish & chickens! :) 

I also helped another friend by drying dishes after dinner & desert at her house! 

I hope you are all doing well! 

Much love, 

Daena x

January 25, 2014

Hey beautiful people, 

Saturday the 25th was the first day mum was allowed out and about! After spending the afternoon Friday out of bed, she was just gently swaying in the breeze rather than hanging on to everything with dear life! Friday she was able to sit & help me by sticking down stickers and envelopes for the hens night & kitchen tea invites! Which saved me some time! :) 

So after a good day on Friday, Saturday she was excited to get out of the house! She had pre booked an all day scrap booking event, and was desperate to go! (I'm not the only craft family member)! So I drove her and stayed with her all day, and was able to participate too! :) 

For kindnesses I bought lunch for mum, my sister & myself (my sister is just as crafty)! And I helped others by picking up their stuff, as a lot of stuff seemed to end up on the floor! Me with young legs and all! :) i helped several ladies use a new paper cutting tool called a Cricut (these have been around for ages but are new to us!)

I acted as mums legs (she still wobbled like a sailor just off his ship after a 3 month adventure). 

I tried to help mum out as best I could and help those around me too! And it meant we all had a good fun time! :)

I didn't take photos of what I did... Silly me! So I'll have to post them another time! :)

Have a wonderful day & have fun! 

Luv Daena x

January 24, 2013

Hello my lovely people! :) 

So Friday the 24th was a mad day of looking after mum (still suffering a bout of Vertigo) & finishing the hens day & kitchen tea invites to get them in the post by close of business! I discovered I am really good at working to a deadline! As I got them in the post with time to spare! :) 

My kindness was achieving the deadline for my best friend and using my own scrap booking and craft supplies to create and design a beautiful invite for the kitchen tea, & using my printer ink and paper to create a fun and exciting invite for the Hens night! 

I love crafting but after finishing the next 30 invites and writing on all the envelopes, and on the invites themselves, my hands & arms got a little sore! But I think they will be well received! :) 

I hope you are all well! :D 

Stay safe! 

Luv Daena x

January 23, 2014

Hey everyone,

Today (& yesterday for that matter) mum has been suffering from vertigo. As usually this sorts it self out, yesterday I wasn't too concerned. However as it continued & seemed to get worse today I rang & talked to our regular doctor & he organised for me to pick up a prescription because mum couldn't move without feeling queezie and hanging onto the bed... Poor thing! So I drove the 6 suburbs away to go get mums script, before talking to the doctor & then got it filled at our regular chemist. The whole thing took me an hour and a half! 

Please note: as a Carer for my mum I often have to do things on her behalf that include medications, food, hygiene etc. The doctor (& his staff) knows me and trusts my judgement! Sometimes he must think I over react about some things, but it's better to be safe than sorry! As part of mums health support team we work well together! 

Apart from that... I also started on the kitchen tea invites. I managed to get 32 done this evening whilst mum slept (the medication makes her drowsy).

This is my creative mess... Whilst making the invites! there is a pile of dark purple invitations there & some white one too! :)

All in all it's coming up well! 

I also made a prize for the kitchen tea event! :) 

Hope you are well & your world is not spinning! And if it is, that it is at it's usual pace! :) 

Luv Daena x

Ps. I suddenly have the desire to sing "you spin me right round baby, right round! Like a record baby right round, round, round!"! Oh... Poor mum! 

January 12, 2014

Hello my lovelies, 

I was almost asleep when I remembered I hadn't posted for the day... So here are my kindnesses...

Today in Perth was another hot day to end a hot weekend and several fires started near my sisters house in the Perth hills! Thankfully my sister & her family are safe and are not currently under threat, however it looks like 27 houses have been destroyed and one life lost in a related incident! My sister and I have friends in the area affected and some people don't know if they have a house to go home to as they have been evacuated and whilst Some stayed to defend their homes the community has been greatly affected! My kindness today was for my sister, her husband & kids, who were having a prearranged day with the kids other grandparents, if I heard or saw any news I kept them informed about the developments. I also shared on my Facebook pages links for people to donate goods & accomodation to those who are without homes in the immediate future (or long term), for agistment for horses and services for those that needed then! In tragedies it is always so wonderful to see the amazing capacity for love & generosity that humans are capable of! It restores your faith in humanity! 

On a simpler note, I cooked one of mums favorite meals for lunch, for no other reason than that we had all the ingredients in the house! We even had the leftovers for dinner! 

My best friend is getting married in less than 2 months so I am organising hens nights and kitchen tea parties for her preparation of "wifedom" (I know it's not a real word but it's a good one)! So some of today was spent getting quotes and organising/writing invitations to these events next month! 

All in all for a day at home it felt really busy! I'm so glad my family is safe! I wish love and hope to those who have lost everything! I cannot imagine what you are going through! But I am sending love to you all! 

With kindness, 

Luv Daena 

January 9,2014

Today was a good day... Relaxed and spent with family which is always nice! 

One kindness today was helping my dyslexic nephew write his blessings (10 things he is grateful for -he does this everyday like I do), and listening as my 5 year old niece read her (5 blessings) to me! I love encouraging both of them in their blessings because it promotes a healthy & happy life! :) 

I also helped my sister with her newsletter for her craft business! I coloured in a whole bunch of stamped cards (for added colour), and cut out a whole lot more little butterflies that have been added to the first card so it looks awesome! :) 

I have also started sorting out and preparing for a friends hens and kitchen tea parties (as I'm the maid of honour)! Co-ordination & sourcing stuff to make both events unforgettable! :) 

Have an awesome day! 

Luv Daena x