The year that was 2013

10 Years ago New Years eve was all about what party you were going to..

Now i find new years is a bit more reflective, possibly because my husband is a cop & is always working on new years so we never get to go out together!...or just because I've got older & don't really care about partying the night away anymore {yep...i think thats more it!}

Anyway i always find myself thinking on new years eve what I've achieved & the struggles in the year just gone. It's amazing how much can happen in one short year. I can tell you this time last year, i could have never imagined what has happened in 2013!

We sold our old apartment, and have lived with Ben's parents for the year.

Very excited that just before Christmas we bought a new home! 

Much bigger & a 10 min walk from the beach - a lifelong dream for me!

I was asked to be part of the Sanofi/World Diabetes Tour Type 1 Kilimanjaro expedition.

 In August I spent 3 weeks in Africa climbing mount Kilimanjaro with 12 other diabetics from around the world.

 I have made lifelong friends with a common bond. 

Since then i've spoken at the Jelly Bean Ball, World Diabetes Day & at the World Diabetes Congress! Wow!

Two of my closest family members have been battling cancer. My father in law who has prostate cancer, had radical surgery & is now recovering well. And my 80 year old grandmother who has liver cancer - the model of positivity & is rocking her new wig! 

On the work front my business continues to grow. Ive worked on some great projects with wonderful clients this year. 

A highlight was seeing my work featured twice in Home Beautiful Magazine!

I was bridesmaid for one of my best friends, and saw two others have their first babies!

Ive lost weight (and put some back on.....)

My amazing husband continues to be an inspiration in his job as a police officer

 He was awarded the region commanders certificate this year for his work {very proud moment!}

So 2014 - Lets do this!

Its sure to be a big one for us - in April we get the keys to our new home & then 4 weeks later we are off on a 10 week European Adventure through Northern Italy, Southern France & Northern Spain! Was supposed to be the big trip before another mortgage & a baby... 

Somehow ended up with the mortgage before it, so now just have to try to not make any babies before we go! :)

I wish you the best in seeing out the year & an amazing 2014 ahead :)

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas my lovely bloggy friends!

{and what on earth are you doing on the blogs on xmas day - get back to the champagne & ham!}

Thanks for hanging out with me on the blog this year & another year of fun & inspiration.

We are having just a small lunch for 23 at Ben's parents house today ;)

 Whatever you may be up to, have a wonderful day & stay safe on the roads if you are driving anywhere ;)

Sal  xxx

Neutral Christmas

This post was inspired by a conversation i was having with a client last week.

I was admiring her beautiful tree - covered in all white & metallic silver decorations - and we were discussing our OCD & how we seem to avoid the usual reds & colours of Christmas in favour of whites!
Here are some of my favourite Neutral christmas images {although a bit of colour has snuck in!}

New Home!

Christmas came early today!  We just exchanged contracts on a new home :)

My lifelong dream of living within walking distance of the beach has come true!!! {just a tad excited} 

We don't get the keys till April, so no doubt there will be plenty of decorating inspiration posts coming to the blog in the next few months! 

We headed to our new 'local' Armchair Collective for a celebratory lunch after we signed our life savings over to the bank haha

Wednesday Wisdom

Christmassy Goodness!

Just a totally random post full of Christmassy Goodness :)

Ergoflex mattress giveaway winner!

A big congratulations to Instagram follower Kylie Morris (@mrskyza) who was drawn as the winner of an Ergoflex mattress! 

We had a fabulous response to the comp with entries from the blog, Facebook & Instagram.

Thanks to all who entered & we hope Kylie loves her new mattress!

Merry {Hermes} Christmas

Now wouldn't we all love to see this arriving on Santa's sleigh? ;)

Sleeping Beauties

I have been so busy lately - work is crazy and I've had quite a few commitments in presenting the documentary from our african trip.

If you follow me on instagram you'll know i had a whirlwind overnight trip to melbourne for the World Diabetes Congress last week.

I've always been one to value my sleep {i tend to be an early to bed type when i can!}

If you missed it last Friday, i am currently running an AMAZING giveaway!

You probably notice i don't do many giveaways & only do them when its a product i really love myself. 

Well this one is huge; 3 years ago i bought an Ergolex memory foam mattress & it has seriously improved my sleep. 

The mattress feels a bit like play dough - no bouncing around on this one - when you lie on it, you slowly mould into it, which means you are unable to toss & turn as much as it supports your body in the one position. 

Ive teamed up with Ergoflex to give one of my lucky blog readers, Instagram followers or Facebook 'likers' a brand new Ergoflex memory foam mattress - in the size of your choice no less! And if you are the winner you could have it by Christmas! 

Check out all the details in this post.

Excited?! Perhaps it might inspire a bit of a bedroom makeover?

Today i'm feeling the need for a nice serene bedroom to escape to, so here are some inspiration shots!

IDH Magazine Issue #3 - Mexico!

IDH Magazine Issue #3 is live!

Its has a bit of a Mexican theme going on this month & ive written an article about traveling to Mexico's Yucutan Peninsula. 

Think swaying palm trees, powder white sand & turquoise water, iguanas sunning themselves on rocks & $2 margaritas! 

Trust me, you want to go there!

Win an Ergoflex Memory Foam Mattress!!

This is a product that has literally changed my life & i am SO thrilled to be teaming up with Ergoflex to giveaway one of their amazing memory foam mattresses. My biggest giveaway ever, just in time to spoil one of you for Christmas!
And who doesn't want to have a great nights sleep right?

I have always been a  light sleeper - i toss, turn & wake up at the slightest noise.
Then about 3 years ago we bought an Ergoflex memory foam mattress. I have literally never slept better. My husband & i aways joke about how when we are away staying in nice hotels with great beds all we want to do is get home to our mattress haha {clearly we like this thing!}

The Ergoflex memory foam mattress is a temperature sensitive & pressure relieving mattress that moulds itself to the contours of your body giving your body optimum support & a more restful sleep. I can vouch for that! You feel like you slowly mould into position & now i find that i barely move at all through the night & certainly don't wake up as much as i used to. These mattresses have been widely recommended through Europe by health professionals & are used in the health sector due to their therapeutic benefits. 

You can enter in 3 ways;

Instagram - Repost the image & follow @sally_rhys_jones + @ErgoflexAU + #sleeplikeababy

Facebook - Like Once Daily Chic & Ergoflex on Facebook + leave comment on once daily chic page
OR if you aren't a Facebook or Instagram user (im sure there are a few left in the world!),
leave a comment on this post about why you would love a new matress!

The competition is open to all Australian residents, ends midnight 15th December & the winner will be announced on the 16th!

Win an Ergoflex Memory Foam Mattress - Terms and Conditions

The competition commences at 0.15am EST on the 4^th December and ends midnight 15^th December 2013 EST.Every individual who;On Instagram reposts the competition graphic, #’s the # #sleeplikeababy and follows @ErgoflexAU and @Sally_Rhys_Jones orLikes Once daily Chic & Ergoflex Australia on facebook & leaves a comment on the once daily chic page, or comments on this blog post during the time period set out above will be automatically entered into a draw to win an Ergoflex mattress, size of their choice.
Entry is open to Australian residents only. Only one entry per person will be permitted.The draw will take place on the 16th December with the winner announced on the @Sally_Rhys_Jones Instagram feed.The winner will have until the 31^st December 2013 to claim their prize. If the winner fails to claim the prize by the 31^st December 2013 a subsequent draw will be made on the 02^nd January 2014.The winner can select the size of mattress of their choice from Ergoflex’s Australian mattress range. The winner can select either a single, long single, king single, double, queen or king Australian Ergoflex 3rd Generation Visco-Elastic Memory Foam Mattress. The prize also includes free delivery to the customer's address within the Australian mainland including Tasmania but does not include the bed base, pillows, bedding, furniture or any other item shown on competition imagery or on the Ergoflex website. The mattress also includes a 10 Year Ergoflex warranty valid in Australia only. If the mattress is taken outside of Australia the warranty becomes invalid.The mattress must be redeemed/received/delivered by 13^th January 2014 or will be forfeited unless out of stock. If out of stock the winner will be notified and an alternative size offered or will be delivered as soon as stock is available. Sally Rhys Jones and/or Ergoflex will not be liable in the event that the winning entrant is unable to use the prize for any reason.The mattress is not exchangeable for another size once delivered and removed from its packaging however it can be returned to Ergoflex if unsuitable. The winner must inform Ergoflex within 7 days of receiving the mattress should they wish to exercise their right of return; the cost of returning the mattress is borne by the competition winner.  The mattress cannot at any time be redeemed for cash, transferred to another person or used in conjunction with any other special offer.Except for any liability that cannot be excluded by law, Sally Rhys Jones and/or Ergoflex will not be liable for any loss, damage or personal injury (including any indirect or consequential loss) suffered or sustained by the winning entrant in connection with his or her use of the prize.Subject to any direction given under any applicable law, Sally Rhys Jones and/or Ergoflex reserve the right to delay, suspend, modify or cancel the promotion due to the occurrence of any matter that has a material affect on the integrity or proper conduct of the promotion.Sally Rhys Jones and/or Ergoflex accepts no responsibility for lost entries and may refuse to accept late or illegible entries. Sally Rhys Jones and/or Ergoflex reserves the right to verify the validity of all entries and to disqualify any entrant that is not in accordance with these Terms. In particular Sally Rhys Jones and/or Ergoflex can disqualify any entrant who is ineligible or who has tampered with any entry; and request the winner to provide proof of identity and proof of residency at the time of claiming their prize.Upon submitting and entry into the competition, the entry becomes the property of Sally Rhys Jones and /or Ergoflex. A person who enters into the promotion is deemed to have accepted these terms and conditions.     
Ergoflex Australia, trading name of EAU Pty Ltd.Registered Address: 1 /29 Mustang Drive, Anambah Business Park, Rutherford, NSW, 2320.ABN: 85 141 058 380

Living Room Love

Loving these two living spaces.

Big art & comfy looking sofas do it for me!

Jingle Bells it's December!

Woohoo its December!

Which means i can indulge in posts about one of my favourite things; Christmas Decorating!

We are still in real estate limbo so i don't have a home to decorate this year so im just going to have to vent here.

 Prepare for lots of posts this month with random christmas deliciousness :)