Show Off & Inspire-Desire Empire

I am so thrilled to be able to Show Off and Brag about Carolyn from Desire Empire. She is so talented and so creative and just plain awesome. An example of her style, ingenuity and go for it attitude is the fabulous settee on her porch. Wait ’til you find out how it came about.

A repurposed day bed I found on the side of the road, now lives on our front deck

Ok, enough from me, please welcome Carolyn and enjoy her fabulous tour from down under.

Hi I’m Carolyn and I blog from a sweet little post war beach house on Sydney Australia’s northern beaches.

I am married to Mr Beach House. My two kids, 10 and 4, are known on my blog Desire Empire, as the Beach House Brats. Funny how it goes, but I was a fabulous mother until I had kids.

Like most households raising small children, it can be chaotic at times, but I love nothing more that to swan around making my home look good on a budget.

We have slowly brought the cottage back from the bring of oblivion and it is still a work in progress. I recently made over my daughter’s bedroom.

The kitchen, and living room are finished.

My dad’s old vintage surfboard

Although we live only an hours drive from the heart of the city, the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge, the pace of life here on Sydney’s Beaches is very relaxed and we often say we live in paradise. Mr Beach House is a well known local boat builder and sailor, so we spend a lot of time on the water.

My Back Deck

I love to recycle and repurpose vintage pieces and recreate them with beachy style

This ladder gets used alot in my decorating

I am often known to make over my mantel again and again.

The mantel often accommodates my latest crafting project.

Or seasonal fare

Christmas Mantel

Spring Mantel

I love to craft and create

Beach party shoes

Lotus Napkins

Lately I find myself baking and cooking up a storm as an expression of my creativity.

I have recently lost 17 kg after having a skiing holiday, where my much older husband was doing two runs to my one. Ironically I am the skier in the family. It made me realise if I didn’t do something about the baby weight I had failed to lose, I would be staring down the barrel of all sorts of health problems in the future. So I started eating a Mediterranean style diet, with loads of fish, fruit and vegetables and whole grains and it hasn’t been that difficult to drop the weight. I also gave up alcohol and cakes initially, but I am finding the last 5kg difficult to lose though having reintroduced those things infrequently..

Moroccan Eggplant Salad

I also cook lots of light Asian food

Easy Prawn Wontons

But I don’t miss out on anything really. This luxurious chocolate mousse was made with avocados, bananas, maple syrup and cacao powder and was so delicious and easy to throw together.

Healthy Vegan Chocolate Mousse

I cooked this fabulous Chinese Pepper Steak at the Sydney Good Food and Wine Show to win my heat of a cooking competition I entered. I didn’t win the final, but learned heaps about myself and how to improve my cooking by entering.

Chinese Pepper Steak

On the blog I also feature lots of the beautiful homes for sale in the area. This is a real sea change area and living here is a little like being on a permanent holiday, so lots of my readers are interested in the houses around here.

I also write lots of stories on our fabulous surroundings up here on the beaches. I give lots of tips on where to stay and shop and fun things to do up here in paradise.

One of my favourite local vintage stores

My Beach

Sailing on Pittwater our local harbour

Some recent roadside finds

We do alot of entertaining at the beach house, particularly in Summer and I love to lay a beautiful table for guests. It usually has a beach feel. I love nothing more than opening up the house in the warmer months. We are very lucky with the climate in Sydney and can eat out doors for about 9 months of the year.

My Coastal Christmas Table

And finally, I adore Christmas crafting and baking. For me it’s the best time of the year on my blog.

No Bake Christmas Candy Tree

Nordic patchwork ornament

Reindeer Cookies

Thanks for inviting me to stop by Marty and share my story with your readers. I really appreciate it.

Are you as impressed as I am with all of her talents. Not only can she decorate, but she’s a fabulous cook too. There’s always something wonderful on her blog, so if you aren’t a follower, you really need to be. Just go to Desire Empire and click to follow.

If you would like to be featured on Show Off and Inspire, just send me an email.

I am linking to the following parties:

Wendy at The Shabby Nest for Frugal Friday

Richella at Imparting Grace for Grace at Home

Cindy at My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday

Alison at Stuff and Nonsense for Friday’s Unfolded

Courtney at French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday

Diann at The Thrifty Groove for Thrifty Things Friday

Debra at Common Ground for Be Inspired Friday

Sherry at The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home Friday

Kate at Chic On A Shoestring Decorating for Flaunt It Friday

Jane at Finding Fabulous for Frugalicious Friday