My favourite...

Oh Holy Night! The stars are brightly shining

It is the night, of our dear Saviours birth

Long lay the world, in sin and error pining

Till He appeared, and the Spirit felt its worth

A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices

For yonder breaks, a new and glorious morn

Fall on your knees! Oh hear the angels voices!

Oh night divine, oh night when Christ was born

Oh night divine, Oh night, oh Night Divine!

Truly He taught us to love one another

His law is love and His gospel is peace

Chains shall He break, for the slave is our brother

And in His name, all oppression shall cease

Sweet hymns of joy, in grateful chorus raise we

Let all within us praise His Holy name

Christ is the Lord! Oh praise His name forever!

His power and glory ever more proclaim!

His power and glory, ever more proclaim!

My favourite carol of all time. Closely followed by Judy Garlands 'Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas'. But this one one for me is perfectly what Christmas is about.
Merry Christmas my lovely readers! May you be blessed with love, peace and joy, and have a wonderfully merry Christmas!

I'll be back blogging in a wee while, and be prepared for it to be all about the wedding. 4 weeks and 3 days today! But who's counting...

xx

mistletoe...

We've lost our mistletoe. Tis a Christmas disaster. The first year I have someone to kiss under the mistletoe, and it's gone. But don't fret. Next year, when I have my first white Christmas (weeeeeeee!!!), I can buy mistletoe in bulk and never. run. out. Ever.
It'll be the best Christmas ever.

engagement party!

A few photos by the delightful Lucy from our very excellent engagement party! The mini caramel tarts were delicious.

Enjoy the weekend my dear readers, only one week till Christmas!!!

xx

these are a few of my favourite things!

Oh the smell of fruit cake soaking in its yummy sherry! Although walking through the shopping centre with a huge bottle of sherry in its brown paper bag did provoke a few judgemental stares. I do believe, however, if I'd started yelling manically I would have possibly provoked more. It's for the Christmas cake the CHRISTMAS CAKE!!!! But then the cake being baked slowly and wrapped in newspaper to cool. Tis one of my favourite things about this time of year! I LOVE fruit cake! Taste's like Christmas, you see. And the best part is, I get one for my wedding too! Christmas till the end of January! I don't see how this could get any better...

I suppose there's always rocky road, mince pies, shortbread, cherries...

image via taste.com

Beautiful...

I don't particularly understand what the giant crystals are all about...but is this not a beautiful dress? Yes? I know.

oh the dress.

Reasons to dye my hair red and buy an amazing dress. Oh wait a minute! I have one! Now to dye my hair...

present fun...

Some buttons for a crafty friend this Christmas? Oh I do love shopping for the crafty friends...

Deck the halls...

Another beautiful Christmas song! Watch the video. Really. It's marvellous!

ps - the boy arrives tomorrow! and when he gets here, it's not that long till we get married! and then we're together forever! excellent. just excellent.

A reminder! Come one, come all!!!

It'll be GRAND!!!

Look who's had a makeover!

And just in time for Christmas! The gorgeous EmmyRose Stationery has just released all of these delicious new treats for your every whim! Lovely thank you notes, party invitations and loads more, as well as gorgeous twine and beautiful wedding invitations. Having just spent the weekend at Finders Keepers this is definitely one talented lady who would love to say hello! Pop by the online store over at EmmyRose to see all the lovely little paper goodies you can spoil your friends with!

Also. Can we all please cross our fingers and toes that Glasgow airport stays open so the boy can get here in 3 sleeps? A volcano is one thing, a volcano scare second time round another, but now a snow storm? My GOSH!

xx

the music...

Nothing quite like a good Christmas music mix! This is one of my new discoveries (Zee Avi...check out her other stuff...it's swell), but we've got Ella's Swinging Christmas, Mariah Carey, Amy Grant, the list goes on and on. And I love nothing more than sitting in front of Harold*, watching his lights twinkle, and listening to a lovely Christmas song. Christmas cookies are quite good too. Whats on your song list?

*see previous post

oh how I love Christmas!!!

Yesterday, Dad and I hiked through grassy fields that were covered in mud (note to self, when it has been raining and mud is a possibility, do not wear your havaianas. Something more sturdy would suit...) to chop down our carefully selected glossy and bushy Christmas tree! He's perfect, I've named him Harold. We listened to carols and ate spice cookies as we put the tree up! Oh how I LOVE Christmas time! And the best part is we get to send out cards like THESE from the gorgeous Little Paper Pantry! Head on over to their website or facebook page to order some of these tasty treats...you're friends and family will love them! Is it bad if I order some just to keep for myself? No? Excellent.

Christmas!!!

We went and chose our tree today! It shall grow happily until we come back to chop it down and bring it home and merrily merrily decorate it!!! Huzzah! OH how I LOVE this time of year!!!

is true.

via lelove

aaand because shipping is quite expensive!!

DO come along! And share the details with all of your lovely friends! It'll be a wonderful day, and believe me...I have a lot of stuff. Lots of new frames still in their packets, gorgeous vintage bottles, thousands (literally) of magazines...fashion, beauty and bridal, hundreds of cd's (thank you ipod!), a rather brilliant beach umbrella, loads of beautiful vandoros ribbon and SO much more! I'll keep you updated as the list grows! Do visit, and make yourself known!

Spread the details my lovely readers, I have no storage!

xx

and the winner is!

As there were only two lovely entrants in our delicious cake-y giveaway, I feel a consolation prize is in order! Yes indeedy! As we've never had a haiku here before, I think our lovely Katura! wins the cupcakes! Congratulations!!! And Kelly Jones, do not fret! There'll be a little something in the mail for you too.

If you could both send through your mailing addresses to nicola@rubyandjoy.com.au that would be swell! I'll get your goodies in the mail right away!

Congratulations my lovely readers!

xx

image via martha stewart

an announcement...

to my dear and lovely readers.

i don't know how many of you have followed the 'once upon a time's' that have graced these pages over the past few months (if you haven't you should. just saying), but i consider myself to be the luckiest girl in the world. i also consider potatoes to be one of the greatest foods of all time, but that's another story (or post, if you're really lucky). in the space of a year i have travelled the world a few times, met so many lovely new people and been challenged my my obvious lack of any kind of Scottish accent. seriously. it's awful. BUT! best and most wonderfully of all, i fell in love with the man i will spend the rest of my life with...and am still overwhelmed with the goodness of it all.

before you die from mushiness (tis a rather dangerous disease, beware), there is something you should know. he lives in scotland. one of the most beautiful places on earth, and if you believe braveheart*, one where perhaps they should wash more often. i jest. obviously we're in more modern times now, and washing is more frequent. it's a land i have always loved, which is quite lucky. i like black pudding and haggis as much as the next girl!**. and how does a marriage work long distance?! and oh yes! the pin begins to drop, or fall, or whatever say you! YOU live here...HE lives there!!! whatever is going to happen???

well. i'm moving to scotland!



it's thrilling and exciting and terrifying and wonderful and very far away and not very far away at all and might mean i have to eat haggis (NEVER!) and means i will be cold forever but also means i will be with my husband (not yet, once we're there...obviously) which will be better than the grandest heart bursting thing in all of the world.

it also means i'm doing this a lot at home. nrroooooommmmm!!!

I'M kidding. i don't have long socks. and so i hear all three of my readers gasping, 'but what will happen to this blog, and your business!?', and to that I will say this. this lovely little blog of mine shall continue (woo!), and over the next however long i'll still be rambling on about whatsoever i feel like rambling on about (most likely weddings...8 weeks and 2 days!)! but the delightful flowery nature of rubyandjoy will come to an end. but wait! there is hope! the delightful flowery nature of rubyandjoy will live on (what?)! just in a less flowery manner (ah ha!). i shall keep you all updated, but keep your ears to the ground or your eyes peeled (yuk) or however you feel like keeping in touch, and you'll be the first to know what rubyandjoy embarks upon next from the snowy moors of scotland! it will be exciting, i've no doubt.

but i have been bursting to tell you all (hi mum!) since the boy (now my fiance) and 1 booked our tickets, and so here it is! who know's what is yet to come! i have a sneaking suspicion it will be the best.

xx

* have watched. is quite gruesome really.

** this is a lie

birthday treats!

One of the many lovely gifts I received for my birthday! I have been spoilt! Spoilt rotten! It's brilliant...

It's coming!

Last week my mum and I were innocently eating lunch (after a wedding dress fitting...OH so exciting!) when we discovered the cafe had made (and were selling...the excitement continues!!) itsy winsy fruit mince pies! I can not explain to you how very exciting this is...my first mince pie of the season! Christmas is coming! I'm off to put all my carols on the ipod! And find the stockings! And overuse exclamation marks!

image via taste.com

*****FRIDAY GIVEAWAY!!!!!*****

My lovely friends and readers! I am huddled in front of the heater and I find it absurd...ABSURD! It's Summer time! I'm supposed to have naturally lost 10 kilos because I only feel like eating leaves and cress* because it's so warm, but NO! You want to spring heat upon me whilst I'm still finishing of the chocolate cupcakes without fear of the humble bikini because it's still chilly! Well...BRING IT ON! And while I finish ranting at the sky and lick the delicious icing of my fingers...may I offer you a $25 voucher for the tastiest cupcakes in Sydney at Sparkle Cupcakery? Yes? Alrighty then. Consider it offered! Keep in mind my lovelies, it's a Sydney based shop...but enter away! It's our last giveaway for a wee while, so go nutso! Entertain me with your wit and charm! In 25 words or less. I'm very busy munching on cakes you see...

Winner will be announced next Friday, which coincidentally will also be the same day I announce to myself inside my head (it's a rather exciting place) that the boy will be back in two weeks! For now it's three...but that's gives us enough time to fix this weather...DOESN'T IT!!!?

Enjoy the weekend sugarmuffins! xx

ps - even if you don't win, go to Sparkle...you won't be able to resist xx

*I don't know what cress is, but I imagine it's quite green and stringy. mmm.

and i do quite wish the boy wasn't going home today...

oh dear...

I've neglected you again! I promise I have good reasons though! After hanging out with Ingrid Michaelson last night (with my fiance, it was one of my favourite nights yet!), I was then at the markets this morning (nothing like 3 hours sleep!), followed by an evening out for my birthday tonight, which will then be followed by brunch tomorrow morning to celebrate the big quarter of a century (woo!), then tomorrow evening I'm going on a date! With the boy. Just to clarify. Then Sunday we're having our engagement party!

No? Not convinced?

How about I'm going to try and make this cake.

My mouth is watering.

After all, it seems we're having a cake themed week!

The BEST kind of week!

Enjoy the weekend my lovely readers! And the SUN! Excellent...

xx

mmmmmmmmmm...

This has always been my dream cake.

Without the gold ribbon.

And perhaps half of the layers.

Psh.

Who am I kidding.

I want the layers.

Just imagine. In my mind it's layers and layers of the lightest sponge imaginable, that's fluffy and sweet and filling and vanillery and melts in your mouth. In reality that would lead to a very unstable cake. But just imagine...

Yum.

shooessssss...

Never in a bajillion years did I think I would have to plan most of a wedding in 2 weeks. Heck no. But it is wonderful! It is also taking up my hard hitting journalistic blog time! Will you accept my apologies? I promise to not not post again! Does it make it better if I tell you I bought my wedding shoes yesterday? They are possibly the coolest shoes in the world. If ever there was a reason for not blogging, it's cool wedding shoes. But I am sorry. Hug yourself from me. And if people look at you strangely, it's probably because you're hugging yourself.

xx

Wedding loveliness

A gorgeous wedding, a beautiful bride, and a wonderful day!! All photos by the uber talented Michelle Fiona Photography (who just by the by will be snapping merrily away at our own nuptials...excellent!)!

Winner!

Apologies for the delay in announcing the very lucky winner for our Little Jane St giveaway! A morning of quick 'let's just see what's out there' wedding dress shopping on Friday turned into 'this is the one!' and a weekend following of wedding excitement! But there are no excuses! For when Little Jane St goodies are being given away hearts are waiting in anticipation!!*
SO! Without further ado, our lucky winner this time round is Amanda Thorson! Very honourable mentions to go to Anna and Claire - completely understand the moving away thing, Beach Tropic - I cried when I read yours (see astrix-ed point), Vera B - I love my Nanna too!
And to everyone else who entered, thank you! Keep your nose to the ground (my, we have strange sayings) as a delightful new giveaway will be popping up this Friday, for those with a sweet tooth!
If Amanda could email me her mailing address at nicola@rubyandjoy.com.au I'll get these lovely treats from the delightful Little Jane St in the post pronto!

*I'm quite emotional at the moment.

possibly the most exciting thing ever...

Oh yes. I get to go wedding dress shopping tomorrow. The excitement just might be too much. Seriously. I think I need a lie down. Wedding dress shopping! To good to be true...

bottom two pics - vera wang

3rd pic - emanuel ungaro