When Your Friend Has Triplets? It's Triple the Cute!

We lived in Sydney the year our boys were four and six. 

It's funny living somewhere for just a year: you have to meet a lot of new people but you don't make many actual 'friends' in that time. [ Well, I didn't... Maybe you have a fabulous social technique! In which case you should share it with us so we can join the friend-a-thon :) ].

Anyway, so there I was. In Sydney. With two little boys. Among the people I met was another mama, Simone, who also had two boys. She lived on our street. Her eldest child was in the same class as my eldest child. And guess what?! We became friends. 

Not that we got to spend lots of time together - what is TIME when you have four small busy boys between you ;) - but we walked to and from the school, we celebrated the Winter Solstice, we drank the occasional cup of tea together. And I knew that we would likely stay in touch after that year had slipped past us. 

I also knew that she was hoping for another baby :)

We settled back into our country-life to the north and got busy homeschooling. Life shuffled along. And then I heard that Simone was expected a baby! Well, actually *three* babies to be precise. Wow! From a family of four to a family of seven... I [ still! ] can only imagine. And - they were all girls.

We did get to meet them when the the triplets were a few months old which was lovely but earlier this year we caught up again and I brought my camera along for an impromptu photoshoot. To capture our cool-cat boys hanging out together - yay! - AND the cute little ones, now two, also.

Here are some of the photos. I'm even going to see if I can remember which girl is which. Simone can tell us if I get it totally wrong!! Lol. My favourite shots are the last ones: where we tried to get our seven monkeys to get into the same photo. Funny.  

Oh! And I'm thinking of coming down to Sydney in a few weeks time. I might even take a few bookings  if anyone is interested :) 

  

Margot.

Tilly.

Rosa. 

Simone and her girls. 

Our biggest monkeys! 

Plus our middle two :)

Me, Simone and Tilly. I think! ;)

p.s. Don't forget to let me know if you're interested in booking a family shoot - I'd love to talk to you!

Love, Amber. XO

The Shabby Chick Turns 40 in Style

It's not every day that your best-friend turns forty.

Mine did in February and I made sure that we were back from our travels and in Australia in time for her party :) A few techie problems have delayed this post but I'm all MacBook Pro-ed up now * squeee! * so here it finally is!

Claire is not only funny, smart and stupidly-beautiful (hashtag: goddess) she is also the genius behind her own successful online furniture business, The Shabby Chick.  

I told her she should put the (k) in brackets. She didn't listen to me. That's how we roll ;)

If you live in Sydney and like beautiful things you must follow her on facebook if you don't already. 

She has a stunning home that highlights her taste for beachy, shabby-chic with a modern edge just perfectly. Luckily for us she both held the party in her house and was happy for me to document it. Double-win.

That's her, above, with our boy Boston. She acted as foster-mama for me while we were away (Bossy came home this weekend) a role she excelled in like everything else she does. I flew into Sydney on the Friday night before the party and we celebrated quietly with Boston, Thai takeaway and Moët. As you do. 

The next day I was meant to wash the dog. I forgot ;) but we did hang fairy-lights, drink lots of coffee and before we knew it - it was time to get pretty. 

Not exactly hard when you're a #goddess. Smile.

And then the beautiful guests started arriving...

With lovely things.

Catering and bar/wait staff was provided by Art Kitchen who were fantastic. 

Nawwww. Puppy-love.

The guest of honour. Birthday-girl aside. 

Boston ended the night with fur-dreads from standing under dripping wax candles all night. He definitely  likes to be in the thick of a good party!

The staff questioned the open-plan kitchen + dog-fest to start but he quickly charmed them too.

Clairey and I.

And this is Karen, one of my oldest darling friends. Her and Claire both live on the Northern Beaches in Sydney and have got to know each other which is so cool. Love my friends becoming friends :)

Speeches!

And cake. Amen.

And that's where the night-time photos end. With the timely delivery of a cup of tea. Lol. It was a beautiful night...

... and a beautiful morning to wake up to. Piles of pretty things on pretty tables. 

My dress abandoned from the night before. 

Fab Shabby Chick cushions from Hampsons Homewares! Karen's thoughtful gift.

Dog-tired but happy. 

It was a magical night in a magical house for a magical girl. Happy birthday Claire! Let's do it all again in December when I turn 40... Eeeeeek! #39forever ;)