What are the chances....two broken bones in two days!

Today I thought that I was going to be telling you about heading to the beach for a few days of rest and relaxation with my family!

I had planned to share some older pictures of our favorite beach at Mooloolaba as a picture mosaic.

Instead I am sharing some pictures of a very sad metamorphosis that has occurred in my household.

Before:

Here is a picture that I posted last week on my other blog about all of us heading to the beach for our 

Easter vacation....doesn't it look relaxing!

After:

 Instead of going to the beach we are staying home because of this.....

#TuesdayTune ~ Sissel Kyrkjebo

Welcome friends to Natasha In Oz and welcome to this week's #TuesdayTune post!

Have you heard Sissel Kyrkjebo sing?

From Bergen on Norway’s west coast, she is truly one of the most beautiful sopranos I think I have ever heard.

She is best known for singing the Olympic Hymn at the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway and for duets with Plácido Domingo, José Carreras, Josh Groban, Diana Krall amongst others, and for her participation on the Titanic film soundtrack.

She received her first U.S. Grammy nomination in 2007 for a collaboration with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir on Spirit of the Season, a collection of songs from the choir’s 2006 Christmas concert.

Please sit back, relax and enjoy the angelic and unbelievable voice of Sissel....



For more Tuesday Tunes or if you would like to join in with this week's party please just click the button below!

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Best wishes,
Natasha In Oz 

Bill Granger's Apple Fruit Cake Recipe & A Family Afternoon

G'Day from Oz sweet friends. Thanks so much for stopping by to visit me in my little corner of the world Down Under.

A couple of weekends ago my parents came over for afternoon tea. Whenever they come over these days hubby and the kids always end up challenging my dad to a game of golf on the wii.  Mum and I always end up being left on the sidelines to cheer BUT this time I asked my mum to help me set a table with some of my prettiest things for a special afternoon tea. 

We used some of my vintage cups and saucers and a tablecloth that used to belong to my Dad's mother.

Earl Grey Tea: Could it lower cholesterol levels?

Welcome to Natasha in Oz sweet friends. Thanks so much for dropping by and visiting me in my little corner of the world Down Under. I hope you might have a minute to join me for a cup of Tea!

Before I share some great news about one of my favourite tea varieties I just want to show you my newly decorated hall table!

 

It is only a simple display but I am really happy with it.

My darling hubby bought me some beautiful roses the other day to replace some that were looking a bit sad. I didn't want to throw the other ones away though, so I cut off the stems and placed them in a crystal bowl.

You can see that they are a little brown around the edges but they look so pretty floating in the bowl instead of drooping in a vase.

Another close up (still loving my new camera!)

I thought that this beautiful Wedgwood trinket box would look pretty on the table to carry the pink theme I have created.

One more picture then it's time for a snack and a cup of tea!

I love the smell of Earl Grey tea. The bergamot used to flavour it comes from a tree that is grown in Southern Italy. It is a citrus fruit, a bit like lemon, orange and grapefruit mixed together and the scent is often likened to orange blossom. However, there are other reasons to enjoying this sweet and refreshing tea: it can actually help our hearts! Scientists have found that bergamot can significantly lower cholesterol! 

New Italian research from the University of Calabria found that nutrients called HMGF (hydroxy methyl glutaryl flavonones), found in bergamot, worked just as well on the proteins which cause heart disease and ‘bad’ cholesterol as statins.

Tea is instant wisdom - just add water! Astrid Alauda

Who would have thought that a daily cup of Earl Grey could also lower cholesterol levels and reduce the chance of heart disease!

Bergamot is often used in aromatherapy to treat depression, and also has anti-microbial effects that can strengthen the resistance of the body to colds and illnesses. It is a wonder brew for sure!

Right...Time to get to get back to work and get this posted!

I think I have made it just in time! Now to the housework....Time to do the dishes.

Thank you so very much for taking time out of your busy day to spend time with me-your visits mean so much to me!

Best wishes,

Natasha In Oz 

Please join me each weekend for the Say G'day Saturday Linky Party!

You can also visit me at PINTEREST, TWITTER, GOOGLE+

INSTAGRAM and FACEBOOK!

A relaxing weekend Down Under!

Welcome dear friends to Natasha in Oz. Thank you so much for stopping by and saying G'day!

After a nice and relaxing weekend I am ready for a fabulous new week. Isn't it amazing what a little rest can do to lift one's spirit!

My relaxing weekend started on Friday night. The kids were so happy because they didn't have to do any homework, Hubby was happy because the football season has finally started and I was happy because, well, I was just happy!

I had such a lovely evening sipping wine, talking to my family and relaxing by candlelight.

While the kids and hubby were watching their favourite shows on TV, I spent some time reading a coffee-table book that I made on snapfish.com. It was so nice to look at pictures of our family vacation in Europe.

I also read some magazines! I LOVE reading magazines, especially house and garden magazines.

I also love making picture collages of some of the blue things in my home so that I can join in with Mary's Mosaic Monday, Smiling  Sally's Blue Monday and Cielo's Show off your Cottage Monday!

After such a lovely weekend I am ready to face the week with a smile on my face! Yay for Mondays!

Happy Monday!

Thanks for visiting today and for spending time with me in my little corner of the world Down Under. I love it when my beautiful blogging friends stop by-your visits make my day!


Best wishes for a beautiful week,

Natasha In Oz 

Tuesday Tune ~ Lisa Gerrard

Welcome friends to this week's #TuesdayTune.

Have you heard the beautiful Lisa Gerrard sing? I bet you have but you might not have actually known it!

She is an Irish-Australian musician, singer and composer.Gerrard received a Golden Globe Award for the music score for the film Gladiator, on which she collaborated with Hans Zimmer and Klaus Badelt. Her voice is haunting and has been described as "distinctive, floating effortlessly between sepulchral and heavenly, and often featuring the yangqin (Chinese dulcimer)....electronica with a Middle-Eastern spice, laced with an octave-defying, operatic voice." Image and Bio from The Melbourne Age.

Wikipedia

In November 2012, she won Feature Film Score of the Year for her score to Jonathan Teplitzky's Burning Man at the 2012 APRA Screen Music Awards. The win follows on from her win for the same score at the Film Critics Circle of Australia Awards.

Wikipedia

Please enjoy listening to Now We Are Free - The Theme from Gladiator

I always get goose-bumps when I hear that song! I hope you enjoyed it too.

If you would like to download a 4 track sampler for free from Lisa Gerrad please just click here!

Best wishes for a beautiful week,

Natasha In Oz 

Please join me each weekend for the Say G'day Saturday Linky Party!

You can also visit me at PINTEREST, TWITTER, 

INSTAGRAM and FACEBOOK!

Pink Roses and the weekend!

I am so happy that today is Saturday! I have had such a busy week as I did four days of substitute teaching this week. This time of year is always terribly stressful for teachers as there is so much marking and drafting to be done, reports to be written and end of term functions, concerts and sport's finals to attend. If you are also a parent, then it's double the stress!

This week has reminded me why I quit full-time teaching.

This week has also reminded me why I love my husband so much. He knew that I was tired after my busy week so, while I was enjoying a sleep-in this morning, he went to the markets and bought all our fresh produce for the week and he also bought me these...

What a wonderful man you are dear sweet hubby!

Thank you!

I will be sending special thoughts and prayers to all teachers this weekend....The holidays are just around the corner!

Best wishes,

Natasha In Oz 

Nature in Australia on a beautiful Autumn day.

Welcome friends! Thank you so much for visiting Natasha in Oz, my little bloggy home in my little corner of the world Down Under!

After several weeks of constant rain it was so nice on Sunday morning to wake up to a glorious sunny Autumn day.

I spent a lovely morning in the garden and I took lots of photos with my new camera.

#TuesdayTune ~ Bebel Gilberto

Hello friends! Welcome to Natasha in Oz, my bloggy home Down Under!


Have you heard Bebel Gilberto? 

Her style is a mix of Brazilian, European and electronic pop and I love it! Click here to read about her and to listen to her most recent album All in One.

I hope you enjoy today's Tuesday Tune - It really is So Nice......

Thanks so much for visiting and for spending time with me today. Please let me know you have visited and say G'Day!


Best wishes for a great week,

Natasha In Oz 

Bill Granger's Miso Fish Recipe

Hello Sweet Friends! Thanks so much for stopping by to say g'day and if you are new here welcome to Natasha in Oz!

I am so happy that Friday is finally here because it means that it's time for weekend fun with my family! We don't have too many things planned so it will nice to catch up with some reading, cooking and blogging! I will probably be making Bill Granger's Miso Fish Recipe, a new family favourite.

Tea Time with Natasha in Oz ~ 5 reasons why we should drink more tea.

Welcome friends and thanks so much for stopping by to visit. I'm so glad you stopped by for today's Tea Time post!

Tuesday seems to be tea party day in blogland and deservedly so. Tea has to be one of THE most beautiful drinks in the world!

Wanda Lee , Rhondi, and Lady Katherine must agree with me as they have dedicated Tuesdays to all things tea. Well, I think they are onto something! I can think of so many reasons why we should all drink tea but here are my top 5 reasons why we should drink more tea!

1. Women who drink tea regularly are 60 percent less likely to develop arthritis than those who don't.

2. Drinking a half-cup of green or oolong tea per day reduced a person's risk of high blood pressure by almost 50% in a new study. People who drank at least two and a half cups per day reduced their risk even more. Their risk was reduced even if they had risk factors for high blood pressure, such as high sodium intake.

3.Tea is a rare source of natural fluoride which inhibits growth of the oral bacteria and enzymes responsible for dental plaque.

4. Coffee usually has two to three times the caffeine of tea. An eight-ounce cup of coffee contains around 135 mg caffeine; tea contains only 30 to 40 mg per cup.


5.Some people have a slow metabolic rate and this affects their ability to lose weight. Green tea has been shown to actually increase metabolic rate so that you can burn 70 to 80 additional calories by drinking just five cups of green tea per day. Over a year's time you could lose eight pounds just by drinking green tea. 

Tea is the perfect beverage to drink when having friends over.

It is so easy to brew a pot of tea to leave on the coffee table for friends to share.

 

I always have milk and sugar with my very strong black tea.

  

 Of course, tea always tastes better with some yummy shortbread and other goodies!

 

 

I have set a simple table but today's morning tea with my Mum and sister is all about catching up and relaxing while we share a "cuppa".

So go ahead and boil the kettle, grab a tea bag or some loose leaves, ring a friend or two and have a cuppa! You will be glad you did!

Best wishes and happy tea-drinking,

Natasha In Oz 

Please join me each weekend for the Say G'day Saturday Linky Party!

You can also visit me at PINTEREST, TWITTER, 

INSTAGRAM and FACEBOOK!

A Tour of my Mum and Dad's Home

Welcome to Natasha in Oz! Thanks so much for stopping by and visiting me in my little corner of the world Down Under.

It looks Spring is in the air for many people in the North and Autumn is finally arriving for all of us Down Under! 

I am quite looking forward to the arrival of shorter and colder days because Brisbane summers can really get unbearably hot. Even though it was a little humid yesterday because of the rain, the temperature was beautiful-perfect weather for a casual Sunday dinner at Mum and Dad's! 

I don't think you have been to my parent's house yet...Let me show you around!

A Tour of my Mum and Dad's Home!

Mum and Dad's home 

I just love the old fashioned car...can you tell it is a whiskey decanter?

The clock and the chair used to belong to my Dad's parents. Boy, did they go through a HUGE metamorphosis, from drab to fab! The clock never used to work and it really looked very shabby (not in a good way!) and the chair was covered in a hideous fabric that was full of holes. I wish I had some before and after pictures to show you but you will have to take my word for it! Now each piece sits proudly in the formal lounge area. I have got my eye on that chair....shhh....don't tell my sisters!

My Mum has lots of little tablescapes around the house....she really should become a blogger because I know she would have fun joining in with Marty's Table Top Tuesday!

There are so many other table tops and treasures I could have shown you but I think I will save them for another day!

Thanks also Mum and Dad for letting me share your home today. 

Finally, thank you so much for visiting me in my little corner of the world Down Under! I love it when my good friends drop in for a visit! If you have time, my sisters and I would love for you to visit our new blog, 3 Sisters,365.

Best wishes for a wonderful week,

Natasha In Oz 

Please join me each weekend for the Say G'day Saturday Linky Party!

You can also visit me at PINTEREST, TWITTER, GOOGLE+

INSTAGRAM and FACEBOOK!