Bella Epoque

Last Monday we celebrated my friend (Julie) birthday. Julie loves everything French....so much, that she's certain she was meant to be born there.

Belle Epoque is a patisserie, cafe, bistro and bar located in the Valley, and it's one of my favourite locations for photo shoots, so I was really looking forward to helping her celebrate her special day there.

A photo in the restrooms...loved the wall paper!

Fabulous food, great wine and beautiful company.

There are many fabulous shops too, dance wear, fine stationary, home wares, designer clothes, a book store and a unique store called "The Candle Shoppe". We met Chris - the owner, she's originally from Nevada and has two stores that sell the most divine candles - all imported from the states. I came home with a cranberry and orange....my house smells amazing and I love that scent especially at Christmas time.

I've been busy trying to get all organised for Charlotte's 6th birthday party. She's having a "High Tea" dress up party this year. I've been making her invitations and tissue paper flowers that I'll be hanging from the huge old fig trees down at the park while mum's bought two dresses for the occasion......people must think we're nuts, but we're not nuts.....just passionate about special events.

Anyway, must go...I have loads to do.

Nikala xxx.

A new location

While on our weekly hunt looking for a reno or block of land, I came across this cute, old,  run down shop front and took a mental note to revisit with my camera.....and that's what we did this past Sunday afternoon. Charlotte was up for some new pics and we grabbed a few props and off we went. She had many questions about the shop and wanted to know why no one answered the door when she knocked.

Here's lots of my favourites:

 

 See what I mean.....many, many, many favourites.

bye,

Nikala. xxx

Scrapboxx

The latest Scrapboxx newsletter for October has just been upload. You can take a look here if you like:

www.scrapboxx.com.au

There's always loads of inspiration in the newsletters along with the BOXX gallery.

Here's my layout for October. I scrapped those photos I shared earlier of Charlotte and her little friend Olivia baking cupcakes.

and a few close ups:

This one shows the paddy cake paper.

Until next time,

Bye! 

Giddy up Horsie

So, how did you all go at the Melbourne Cup...win anything?

A group of prep mums spent the day at "Garden Way". We'd been discussing outfits and hair pieces in the weeks leading up. I wore my faithful pink dress but sat up till midnight the night before making my headband. I was really happy with it in the end.

They ran a few sweeps in which I had 4 horses...as of last week, my luck seems to have changed and I won second, third and last.

Here we are in the gift shop. I could spend half a day drooling over the home wares here....look at this table and chairs, and the couch in the background.....I've been dreaming about them. Wouldn't that couch look great placed in a field of wild flowers...sorry, I'll stop now.

Great friends, food, wine and winnings,

Nikala xx

Pink Ribbon High tea.

Last year was the first year that I got involved with donating a Toffee Photography sitting to help raise money for breast cancer research, and I was more then happy to get involved again this year. Most of us have been touched by a friend or family member that has cancer and one of my friends was diagnosed last year. She's been through so much this past 14 months and being involved is the least I could do.

On Sunday afternoon a group of 45 ladies enjoyed high tea at the "Stamford Plaza". Jodie and Annabel did a fantastic job the with the organisation of a very successful event. They raffled off 20 great prizes....gift vouchers, flowers, fruit and veg, facials, handbags, perfume and I happened to win three of them. I think my luck has changed...I normally never win a thing.

Annabel and Jodie

I'm looking forward to meeting the families that won my photo sittings and capturing some beautiful images for them.

Thanks for stopping by,

Nikala xxx