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12 Days of Christmas Traditions~Starting December 1st!

Hello Christmas Friends! Welcome and thanks so much for dropping by. I have been very busy these last couple of weeks, getting ready for my 12 Days of Christmas Series at my Christmas Blog, Keeping the Christmas Spirit Alive, 365!

Keeping The Christmas Spirit Alive


Each day I will be posting about different traditions that we hold dear at this special time of year. I'm so lucky that a couple of surprise guest bloggers will be joining me along the way!

12 Days of Christmas Traditions

I thought it might be nice if we all got to share some traditions and ideas at the same time so each day I will also include a link up gadget so you can share posts on the same theme. On the 12th Day, December 12, I am hosting a linky party where we can share our posts on all things Christmas.
Here is the program!

December 1 ~ Christmas Advent Calendars
December 2 ~ Candy Canes
December 3 ~ Gingerbread Houses
December 4 ~ Oh, Christmas Tree!
December 5 ~ Father Christmas, Santa Claus or St Nick?
December 6 ~ Christmas Stockings
December 7 ~ Christmas Puddings
December 8 ~ Christmas Traditions around the world.
December 9 ~ Let's Eat:Christmas Foods and Yummy Treats!
December 10 ~ Christmas Music
December 11 ~ The Spirit of Christmas

12 Days of Christmas Traditions

You can link up any posts that celebrate Christmas on December 12th. You can share posts about Christmas Crafts, your decorated Christmas home, Christmas recipes, Christmas Songs...anything Christmassy!

I sure do hope you will be able to join me each day and that you can link up each day and help me Keep the Christmas Spirit Alive!

See you December 1st!

Blessings and best wishes,

Natasha In Oz 

Please join me each weekend for the Say G'day Saturday Linky Party!
You can also visit me at PINTERESTTWITTERGOOGLE+

Say G'day Saturday Linky Party ~ Decorating your home with ideas from Pinterest.

Welcome to this weekend's Say G'day Saturday Linky Party! I'm so glad you stopped by to visit me in my little corner of the world!

Say G'Day Saturday, Say G'Day


I so enjoyed visiting the 75 bloggers who shared recipes, crafts, songs and ideas last week! I don't think I have ever seen so much diversity in one party; we had links from all around the world last week! Thank you so much to everyone for adding your names to the Pinning Bloggers Master List, linking back to NatashaInOz.com and for taking the time to leave comments on everyone else's blogs.

Thank you also to all of my wonderful bloggy friends who had have added this Christmassy button to their blogs! My 12 Days of Christmas Series starts on December 1st and it culminates with a great big Christmas Party on December 12. I sure do hope you will be able to join in and link up your Christmassy posts! Click to here to read more and find out the full program!

Now onto this week's Party!

This week I am sharing some very beautiful pins from Sally, a gorgeous blogger who loves anything that has to do with homes & decorating! She has a great blog called Love of Homes and Sally is also listed on the Natasha In Oz Pinning Bloggers Master List!

 I'm sure you are going to LOVE her blog. Sally says, "I'm a stay at home mom of 4 cute kids. I love anything that has to do with homes & decorating. My husband often gets recruited into helping me finish things that I start! We are making our house a "HOME" one project at a time!"

Have a look at some of the amazing projects Sally and her husband have completed!

Beautiful turquoise table painted by Sally.
Say G'day Saturday Linky Party, Decorating your home with ideas from Pinterest.

Sally added the flower ribbon to this lamp for her daughter's room-isn't it gorgeous!
Say G'day Saturday Linky Party ~ Decorating your home with ideas from Pinterest.

My favourite project is this wonderful gallery wall that Sally created in her entry way
with a bunch of old cheap frames.
Say G'day Saturday Linky Party, Decorating your home with ideas from Pinterest, Gallery wall, Natasha in Oz


If you haven't already visited Sally before please do pop by and visit this very fun blogger! 

Thanks for being a fabulous Pinning 
Blogger Sally!

I hope you enjoy checking out a few of Sally's Pinterest Pins and while you do I also hope you enjoy this beautful piece of music. It has been used in two movies and was written by Mark Isham. It was used in the wonderful movie No Reservations Catherine Zeta-Jones, Aaron Eckhart and Abigail Breslin but I first heard it in the touching movie Life as a House starring Hayden Christensen, Kevin Kline and Kristin Scott Thomas. It is called Building a Family and not only is it a stunning piece of music I think the title of the song fits in perfectly with sweet Sally and her hubby who indeed building a beautiful family and home!




Dress Up Your Walkway
Source: bhg.com 




Source: houseandhome.com 


Nature-Inspired White Kitchens






Photobucket




Sheet Music Christmas Trees With Wreath
Source: hgtv.com 


Add Shimmer and Sparkle to Christmas Door Decorations
Source: bhg.com 





Chocolate-Coconut Bars


Thanks for finding these pinteresting pins Sally!

If you are like Sally and have been pinning up a storm on Pinterest why not add some pins to a blog post and share them with us at this week's party and join the fun! Maybe you have even posted a song on your blog? I would love it if you could share your favourite pins, a musical post, a craft idea, decorating tips or even some gardening hints at this weekend's Say G'Day Saturday Linky Party!

If you would like to link up a post, old or new, just add the url of your particular blog post that you would like us to visit to the Linky tool below.










Thanks so much for joining in and linking up! Don't forget to visit some of the lovely bloggers from all around the world who have linked up.

Why not make someone's day and say a quick G'day!

By the way, I have also created a central list of Pinning Bloggers so we can all find each other's Pinterest pages more easily called The Pinning Bloggers Master List.

If you would like to add your name to the Pinning Blogger's Master List just click the button!



Thanks so much for visiting today. Please click the button below to see where I am linking up this week!



Please say G'day if you have a minute and be sure to join in with this week's Say G'day Linky party if you haven't already.




I hope you have a wonderful weekend and happy Black Friday shopping to my American friends!

Best wishes,
Natasha In Oz 
Please join me each weekend for the Say G'day Saturday Linky Party!
You can also visit me at PINTERESTTWITTER

Giving Thanks for Thanksgiving and Sweet Potato Pie Recipe

Hello my dear friends! Thank you so much for popping by and visiting NatashainOz.com today!
Thanks also for joining me for this week's Tuesday Tune post!

Today I am taking time to give thanks for Thanksgiving by sharing a Thanksgiving post, something my Aussie friends might think is a little strange!

Tuesday Tune, Giving Thanks For..., Natasha in Oz, Ray Charles, Sweet Potato Pie, Tuesday Tune, Thanksgiving,

I'm not sure if many of my American friends know this but we don't celebrate Thanksgiving here in Australia.

Tuesday Tune, Giving Thanks For..., Natasha in Oz, Ray Charles, Sweet Potato Pie, Tuesday Tune, Thanksgiving, Fall Candle

That really makes me sad as I really love the idea of taking time to give thanks for our family, friends, health and other blessings in our lives.

Say G'Day Saturday Linky Party, Down on the Beach.

Hello my dear friends and welcome to this weekend's Say G'Day Saturday Linky Party!

Say G'day, Natasha in Oz


I have really enjoyed exploring the wonderful pictures, recipes, crafts, songs and ideas that people have been sharing over the last few weeks. Thank you so very much to everyone for joining in with this weekly link up, for adding your names to the Pinning Bloggers Master List and for linking back to NatashaInOz.com!

Now onto this week's Party!

This week I am sharing some very beautiful ideas from a fellow Aussie who has the wonderful blog I Heart Sunny Days.

Elizabeth lives in sunny Queensland in the coastal city of Cairns.


Elizabeth blogs about her life by the beach, her days in her garden and her thrifted treasures...


Free E-Zine for Christmas and an Announcement!

Hello my dear friends! Thanks so much for stopping by for 5 minutes! I've just got a very quick post today. First, I must apologise for not visiting you all very much these last few weeks. Since the school year is winding down I seem to be spending much of my free time helping with end of year school projects, attending school concerts, helping the kids stay motivated until 2 December (that's when school finishes for the year!), and so on.  I have also done a few days of relief teaching and....

 I have also been decorating our house for Christmas!



Say G'day Saturday Linky Party ~ Turning 40!

Hello my dear friends! Welcome to this week's Say G'Day Saturday Linky Party!


Have you had a great week this week? I have had a lovely week and one day in particular was very exciting!

First I have to tell you that I had a Shellac French Manicure...I love shellac and am totally addicted to it. It's my new favourite thing! 


But more importantly, on 11/11/11


 I turned 40!

Thank you for making this yummy Peanut Butter & Chocolate cake for me, Stacey!


Yes indeed...I have truly had a life changing weekend!



I have had such a great birthday and I will be celebrating with all of my family tonight at my favourite Thai restaurant so I hope you don't mind that that this post is a bit brief...you only turn 40 once!

Thank you for the peonies Mr Attorney!

If you would like to share some of your favourite post with me at this weekend's Say G'day Saturday Linky Party please link up!

You can link up an old or new post about anything you feel excited about! You can share a tutorial, recipe, decorating idea or even a gardening tip! Just link up the particular blog post that you would like us to visit to the Linky tool below.










Thanks so much for joining in!

By the way, if you haven't already heard, I have created a central list of Pinning Bloggers so we can all find each other's Pinterest pages more easily called The Pinning Bloggers Master List.

If you would like to add your name to the Pinning Blogger's Master List just click the button!




Thanks so much for having me today:


Feathered Nest Friday; Common Ground's Vintage Inspiration Friday; Inspiration Friday; Tickled Pink;Fridays Unfolded; Feature Yourself Friday; Show and Tell Friday; Free for All Friday; Cooking at Cafe D; Home Sweet Home; Flaunt it Friday;  Everything but the Kitchen Sink Party; Blissful & Domestic; Pink Saturday with Beverly ;Strut Your Stuff Saturday; Show and Tell Saturday; Serenity Saturday; Once upon a Weekend; Sunday Blog Love; Just a Girl; Seasonal Sunday; Sunday's Best; Sundae Scoop; Amaze me Monday; Metamorphosis Monday; More the Merrier MondayCreative Bloggers party; Making The World Cuter Mondays; Market Yourself Monday; Rook no.17;  Wow Me Wednesday; Show & Tell;Whatever Wednesday @Momma Hen's; Whatever Goes Wednesday; Flip Flops & Pearls Semi Wordless Wednesday;  Thursday Favourite Things;

Thank you so much for visiting today. Please know that I truly appreciate you taking time out of your busy day to spend time with me in my little corner of the world Down Under!

I hope you have a wonderful weekend.
Best wishes,
Natasha In Oz 

A Day of Remembrance ~ Lest We Forget.

Today I am honouring all of the brave men and women who have served at war.

#LestWeForget

Lest We Forget 1st Stamp (2007) Lest We Forget - Poppy


On the eleventh day of the eleventh month on the eleventh hour, we all remember the people who died so we can live freely. Also known as Armistice Day or Veterans Day today is a memorial day observed in British Commonwealth countries and the time and date commemorates the armistice signed between the Allies of World War I and Germany at Compiegne, France, for the end of hostilities on the Western Front during WWI.

A Day of Remembrance ~ Lest We Forget.


The red remembrance poppy has become a familiar emblem of Remembrance Day due to the poem "In Flanders Fields". These poppies bloomed across some of the worst battlefields of Flanders in World War I, their brilliant red colour an appropriate symbol for the blood spilled in the war.


A Day of Remembrance ~ Lest We Forget.



I ask that you might take a moment to pause and to remember the men and women who have sacrificed their lives so that we can enjoy peace and freedom today. Can we also remember the men and women who are currently deployed abroad risking their lives for us.


A Day of Remembrance ~ Lest We Forget.



MARK KNOPFLER
"Remembrance Day"

On your maypole green
See the winding morris men
Angry Alfie, Bill and Ken
Waving hankies, sticks and books
All the earthen roofs
Standing at the crease
The batsman takes a look around
The boys are fielding on home ground
The steeple sharp against the blue
When I think of you
Sam and Andy
Jack and John
Charlie, Martin
Jamie, Ron
Harry, Stephen
Will and Don
Matthew, Michael
On and on
We will remember them
Remember them
Remember them
We will remember them
Remember them
Remember them
Time has slipped away
The Summer sky to Autumn yields
A haze of smoke across the fields
Let's sup and fight another round
And walk the stublbed ground
When November brings
The poppies on Remembrance Day
When the vicar comes to say
Lest we forget our sons
We will remember them
Remember them
Remember them
We will remember them
Remember them
Remember them



The Australian War Memorial  - Memorial plaque

Source: bestourism.com 


In Flanders Fields
by John McCrae, May 1915

In Flanders Fields the poppy grew.


Lest we forget


A Day of Remembrance ~ Lest We Forget.


Blessings and best wishes,
Natasha In Oz 


Please join me each weekend for the Say G'day Saturday Linky Party!
You can also visit me at PINTERESTTWITTER, GOOGLE+

Beautiful Peonies

Today I am thankful for so many things but I am especially thankful for the month of November!

November is a great month! I love it because it is not too hot, it is when I start decorating for Christmas, it is when I celebrate my birthday and it is the month where, for a very brief time, Peonies flourish!

Beautiful Peonies, Natasha in Oz, Peony image


I love peonies and always look forward to bringing home the first blooms of the season every November.

Beautiful Peonies, Natasha in Oz, pink peony

Peonies are native to Asia, southern Europe and western North America.

Beautiful Peonies, Natasha in Oz, peony bud


The peony is named after Paeon (also spelled Paean), a student of Asclepius, the Greek god of medicine and healing. Asclepius became jealous of his pupil; Zeus saved Paeon from the wrath of Asclepius by turning him into the peony flower.

Beautiful Peonies, Natasha in Oz, peony image


The peony is a national emblem in China. Along with the plum blossom, it is a traditional floral symbol of China, where the Paeonia suffruticosa is called 牡丹 (mǔdān). It is also used symbolically in Chinese art.

File:Yun Shouping, Peonies.jpg

I am so happy that Peony season has finally arrived here in Australia!

Beautiful Peonies, Natasha in Oz

Since there are quite a few buds in this bunch I think I will be enjoying the beauty of these peonies for at least two weeks!

Beautiful Peonies, Natasha in Oz


Beautiful Peonies, Natasha in Oz, peony

Oh how I love peonies!

Beautiful Peonies, Natasha in Oz

Thank you so much for visiting me today and for spending time with me today. I hope your Wednesday is wonderful and that the rest of your week is fabulous!

Don't forget to try and find some time every day to give thanks for your loved ones, your friends, the things that make your heart sing or the things that simply make you smile.


Blessings and best wishes always,
Natasha In Oz 
Please join me each weekend for the Say G'day Saturday Linky Party!
You can also visit me at PINTERESTTWITTER

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