m.e

On the wall

2012-02-15T11:47:00.000+11:00

I have been a little behind on playing along with memes lately, I seem to start them but then get easily distracted and the excitement wears off

Perhaps I am afraid of commitment, pressure, deadlines.

I seem to do that alot in real life aswell.

This is the wall in our family room, it's still a work in progress.

It's filled with all the things I love, creations by my little ones.
The first time they wrote their names, family portraits, birthday surprises and some pics of Amelie from a gorgeous mad stitches photo shoot by the awesomely magical Julieanne Perara.

What's on your wall, go on, we'd love to see.

Pop round to the ever so cool chic and check out more wall loving.

Are you a meme follower or do you crumble at the mention of them. 

Happy Wednesday all ♥

* pics taken on phone so may be a bit grainy
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Happy LOVE day everyday ♥

2012-02-14T13:13:00.000+11:00

Whether you celebrate or not, I hope your days are always filled with love.

Do you celebrate LOVE day? 

Sending you many hearts wherever you are ♥
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Kids Lunch box dilemma

2012-02-08T13:13:00.000+11:00

So the school year is only just back but the never ending dilemma of the school lunch box has already begun. 

You hear it all the time, the worries about good food wasted, the "my kid won't eat sandwiches", or the fear that they will starve at school.

In reality, they won't starve, but the mother guilt is always going to nag at us to make sure they are fed well.

We must remember, children will only eat until they are full, once we become adults that fabulous thing unfortunately turns itself off and we forget to stop when we are full and just eat something because we want to.

So don't worry mums out there, our children will not starve, we just have to find what works for them.

If it's Vegemite sandwiches every day, then go with it.

Here's a few tips I have found along the way having a sometimes fussy, vegetarian child who absolutely does not like soggy sandwiches.

Soggy sandwiches are not a good choice as they alwayscome back home, instead of a cucumber or tomato sandwich try two pieces ofwholegrain/wholemeal bread with cream cheese, Vegemite, mustard or any otherspread and put cucumbers & tomato in a separate container in the lunch box
Pitta bread or mountain bread toasted cheese sandwiches
Slices of cheese or a cheaper alternative to pre-cutcheese shapes is to buy a block of cheese and using small cookie cutters cutout shapes
Variety of vegetables cut into circles or thin sticks,cucumber, carrot, bean shoots, thinly cut red capsicum slices
Variety of seasonal fruit freshly cut or frozen in alittle container, watermelon, berries, kiwi fruit etc or some tinned fruit
Dried fruit mix, dates, mango, cranberries, sultanas,pawpaw, pineapple
jelly with fruit
home made custard in a tub
home made rice pudding
Mini savoury muffins or vegetable patties
Dinner leftovers in a Thermos
Rice Cakes
Ryvita crackers
Water is a must, in the hotter months use a bottlethat can be put in the freezer and they will enjoy cold water all day long
Mini Muffins,Mini Pancakes or Breakfast bars
Muesli or mini fruity weetbix in a little containermakes a great sweet snack
Home made Granola (without nuts) in a little tub with a mini long-life milk they can later add to it
Home made oat cookies
Home made muesli bars

Remember to keep things chilled with an ice pack, especially anything with milk, egg or rice and ask them to eat that at snack time. 

Even though I do a lot of baking I do not tend to addsweets into the lunch box as I try to keep it as healthy as possible, if a bakedtreat is included it will be a wholegrain biscuit or home made muesli bar.

These are just a few ideas which may help you throughthe school year.
If you are still worried about them, have a chat to their teacher to keep an eye on their eating, maybe they are distracted or eat very slowly.

What about you, what's in your child's lunch box, what do they love and what comes back home every single time?
I'd love to hear.

Good luck mum's for the new school year.
I am still pinching myself to believe I have a 6 year old grade one child...eeekk!! thanks for the sweet wishes!
♥
more about lunch boxes over here
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Six

2012-02-04T23:59:00.000+11:00

cake made by me inspired by Amelie's drawing 

I love the way you call me mamma,

I love that you are so sensitive,

I love your imagination,

I love your creativity, 

drawing by Amelie, embroidery by me

I love that you sometimes know things that I don't,

I love that you love to take photos & "movies" with my phone, 

I love that you can read your own birthday cards,

I love that you will be able to read this, 

I love that you still hold my hand when we walk to school,

I love your neverending energy,

I love that you can be the most caring big sister,

I love that you are the sweetest big cousin,

I love your sweet smile,

I love your nervous smile,

 refashioned skirt, panel made by me

I love how much you love me..always,

I love that you can now reach and help me hang the clothes,

I love your innocent shyness,

I love that you enjoy school,

I love that you love to read,

I love it when you make me pictures and write "Love mum" on them

 these two made by me

I love that you are a little monkey on the monkey bars 

I love that you are a little bit cheeky

I love your witty sense of humour

You know I just love you always..to the moon and back... 50 million times and I especially love that I am your mamma

Happy birthday baby girl ♥

p.s I would love to freeze this age

amelie's 4th birthday
amelie's 5th birthday
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Fruit & Nut Granola

2012-01-29T17:29:00.002+11:00

A few weeks ago we dehydrated some fruit, pears, bananas and strawberries and I added them all to our Granola mix.

It's all gone and the kids are asking for more.

Fruit & Nut Granola

print me

Ingredients

5 cups rolled oats
1 cup wheat germ
1 cup bran
½ cup shredded coconut
1 cup raw sunflower seeds
2 cups flaked almonds
2 tablespoons cinnamon
1 cup honey
½ cup olive oil
½ cup maple syrup
1 ½ cupssultanas/raisins
Dried fruit of your choice, banana, pear,apple, mango, papaya, paw paw, cranberries etc

Method

Preheat oven to 180C/160C fan
Combine all ingredients except dried fruit in a bowl and mix to coat
Spread onto a greased baking tray and bakefor 30 minutes whilst stirring every 10minutes
Mix in fruit, allow to cool and store in anairtight jar

   You should try it, it's easy and healthy and gives you and the family something different for breakfast or even for an after school snack. 

What do you have for breakfast?

Here's more about dehydrating fruit over at Mum's Business.

Happy week to you, we are back to school on Friday....eeeeep, grade ONE ♥

If you're on facebook, pop by here to see what else m.e has been up to
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Easy one bowl Orange Cake

2012-01-12T12:56:00.000+11:00

This is a really easy one when you know you should bake something but really can't be bothered.

Pop all the ingredients in a bowl and mix away.

Orange Cake
makes one 20cm round cake, serves about 10

print me 

ingredients

150g butter, room temperature
150g sugar
zest of an orange
3 eggs
225g self raising flour
30ml milk, room temperature
30ml freshly squeezed orange juice

method

preheat oven to 180C/160C fan
grease and line a 20 cm round cake tin or a loaf tin
put all ingredients in a large bowl and beat with an electric mixer for a few minutes until mixture is smooth
pour into cake tin and bake for about 35min, test with cake skewer
allow to cool in tin, ice when cool

to make icing 

30g butter, softened, a couple of tablespoons of freshly squeezed orange juice, about 200g icing sugar, maybe more
beat with an electric mixture a few minutes until light and fluffy, add more icing sugar if too runny,or if you like runny leave it as is, spread over cake and enjoy

Go on, you know you want to make it, smells delicious aswell.

Enjoy ♥
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Captured moments

2012-01-10T20:08:00.000+11:00

Since my new phone came to live with us, my most favourite thing about it is taking pics.

I absolutely LOVE the anywhere any time pics, I absolutely love the freedom of it.

I now sometimes even forget I have an DSLR and all my pics seems to come from the phone.

Here are some of our moments from the last month.

What about you, how do you take your pics, do you edit them? do you love them?

What's your favourite way to capture your moments? 

If you want to make a photo mosaic, pop by here

Hope your January is filled with captured moments ♥
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2012

2012-01-01T22:35:00.001+11:00

It's been so long I think I forgot how to blog! 

Blogger even asked me to sign in, forgot who I was, as a matter of fact I forgot who I was for  while.

I became surrounded by things I had to do, things I wanted to do, being a mum, being a partner, being a daughter, being a sister, being a friend.

I neglected those close to me because I knew they would understand, I promised my mum we would bake together yet things just got in the way.  I missed girlie get together s because I had so much to do. I was late for deadlines which upset me.

I baked for what seemed like weeks on end and even the flour bucket was empty...empty, my flour bucket is never empty.

Things seem to be back to normal, I want to feel like I am back to normal!

I have enjoyed some family days with my beautiful loved ones and it has made me look at things through different eyes, eyes that need me, that want me to be there, that love hanging out with me, that love seeing me smile and be happy.

I am not a list maker or a resolution kind of girl, I like to do things that make me smile, so this year, I am just going to do more things that I love, avoid the fuzzy head by being less stressed, take some time out for me, enjoy this year, enjoy those around me and appreciate all the little things that make me smile.

What about you, do you make resolutions, do you stick to them?

Is it like being accountable for something?

Do you feel pressured to do things?

Now I have been really bad with the memes lately..see too much pressure gets to me, but I have joined in with a photo a day in January round at Chantelle's, pop over and check it out, it's a good motivator* to get clicking.

So as I smile to you and wish you a fabulous 2012, I hope it finds you happy, healthy, smiling and surrounded by love....psssst, don't forget to enjoy some hugs aswell ♥
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* despite wanting to post pics here everyday, you know I probably won't, so pop round to twitter or FB, they'll definitely be there

On the first day of Christmas

2011-12-01T13:44:00.001+11:00

Happy December to you all, the countdown has officially started and our advent calendar is up.

The kids both loved decorating each box but they don't know what's inside yet, first noodle box will be revealed after school.

I love getting the kids involved in things and because this is really all for them, I thought it would be the perfect way to count down to Christmas.

Pegs decorated with washi tape and hung on twine.

There are craft treats or sweet treats in every box and to avoid disappointment, there are two treats in every box.

They both agreed that they will take it in turns each day to open a box and they get to choose which treat in the box is theirs.

I even included some special notes as I know Amelie is loving her new reading skills.

So what are you up to for the first day of Christmas?

Do you have an advent calendar? 

I'd love to see it if you have posted it.

Happy creating to you ♥
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Another Birthday

2011-11-24T11:30:00.001+11:00

As each year passes I collect bagfuls of memories and pile them in my heart, so when I am sad or in need of a smile, I think about the little things that happen throughout the year and I smile and am grateful that I got to live it and enjoy it.

We create these stand out memories and live these moments because that is what makes us smile, that is what we live for.

Sure they aren't always great or perfect or enjoyable or even wanted, but without all these moments and experiences throughout the year we wouldn't be who we are.

Some of these moments are splashed with colour whilst others are just colourless and no fun at all.

As long as there is love in each of those moments then it hopefully makes it even the tinniest bit brighter.

So as I ponder yet another year, I look around me and ignore the toys, the folding, the mud pies, the messy bits and enjoy the smiles, the giggles and those squishy, squishy cuddles.....ahhhhh that's what a birthday is all about.

Enjoy some cake* my friends and keep on creating those special moments, I know I sure will ♥

* white chocolate mud baked by me and lovingly decorated by my two gorgeous beings with the most amazing natural food colours, will add recipe later *
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Just making & baking

2011-11-17T13:32:00.001+11:00

It's been hot in Melbourne, definitely ice-cream kind of weather.  

I'd been thinking alot about ice-cream and dreaming about an ice-cream related craft after chatting to a lovely friend so once again with a team collaboration I now have my own personalised bag designed by Amelie and sewn by me.

Now I am totally NOT a pattern kind of girl, they confuse me, no matter how easy they seem. How are you with patterns?

So with guidance from an excellent book I made myself a bag.

and you know what, I am really proud and can't wait to show my mum!

and whilst the sewing machine was out I also made a brooch for a sweet friend, I hope she likes it

and you know I baked aswell, I have actually been baking quite a bit lately and also have a bit to bake over the next couple of days. 

 aeroplane cupcakes

 red wagon cupcakes

If you are on facebook, I'd love you to pop round here, my little assistant adds all my pics there.

So whilst we're busy creating round at ours what have you been creating?  

We'd love to see.

Happy end of week friends ♥
♡

Wishing you a happy weekend ♥

2011-11-05T12:21:00.000+11:00

Enjoy every bit of today, pretend you are four, giggle, smile, be a little bit silly, forget about the not so good stuff, just enjoy it.

That is all I wish for you today ♥

make an animated gif here
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Apple Streusel Cake

2011-11-02T21:09:00.005+11:00

I cannot believe it's November already! It feels like it has come by so quickly and as it's my birthday month I was wishing it wasn't here just yet.

The weather is changing, getting better but we are still having some November rain, which I secretly love.

We had a great long weekend visiting nanny and enjoying some sleep ins and some beautiful sunshine.

I will share some pics of our weekend, but AS this blog of mine is supposed to be a food blog, I thought I'd share with you this amazing Apple Streusel Cake recipe.

Now seriously, this has become a new family favourite and I can tell you that I have made it three times in the last week.

There are a few steps to this recipe but really it's not difficult at all.

Apple Streusel Cake

print me

ingredients

streusel mix

50g plain flour
30g self raising flour
75g brown sugar
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp mixed spice
75g butter, chopped
20g rolled oats

cake 

200g butter, room temperature
150g caster sugar
finely grated zest of 1 lemon
3 eggs
150g self raising flour
75g plain flour
100ml milk, room temperature
4 granny smith apples
1tblsp butter
75g brown sugar

method

preheat oven to 180C/160C, grease and line a 23cm spring form cake tin with baking paper
start off by making streusel mixture, put flours, brown sugar, spices and butter into a food processor and process until combined, add oats and pulse a few times just until combined
put streusel ,mixture into a bowl and place in the freezer
to make cake, beat butter, sugar and lemon zest until light and fluffy
add eggs one at a time mixing well after each addition
sift flours into a bowl and add to cake mixture in two batches alternating with milk, do not over beat
spread mixture into prepared cake tin and bake for 25min
whilst cake is in oven, prepare apples by peeling, coring and slicing into thin slices
place butter into a pan over a medium heat, add apples once butter has melted and cook for a few minutes until apples have softened
add brown sugar and cook for another few minutes until sugar has dissolved and apple mixture has thickened
take cake out of oven after 25minutes and carefully add apple mixture on top of cake
then crumble streusel mixture on top of apples and bake for a further 25min
enjoy the smell and definitely the taste

And just before I go, I have to add these pics of my amazing skirt, made by me at the ever so talented and really lovely too, Nicole Mallalieu's skirt class (fabric for the panel by the sweet Miss Posie)

Now if I can make a skirt with Nikki's guidance...anyone can, so check out her classes for some inspiration (you are awesome Nikki!)

I made that little boy too

Happy November lovely friends, hope it's a wonderful month for you and for me ♥
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oh baby

2011-10-20T13:45:00.000+11:00

I must confess, I am such an emotional mum, I cry at times, I hug waaaay too much, there is not one single night that I don't tuck them in when they are asleep and whisper that I love them.  

They don't ever realise I do that, but I know I do.

Every time something new happens, I just want to freeze that moment and treasure it forever 

I want to hold on to these two little beings for as long as possible

Their funny little quirks and the stories they tell are what makes me smile, every single day.

Oh no, there are bad days, days when things are just too difficult to deal with but I don't mind, I take the good and the bad and appreciate my glass as being half full.

So for now I am capturing these baby teeth because some day soon, they'll be all gone.

Two down, many more to go.

I made this brooch for me using Jodie's fab tutorial but I think it suits Amelie so much better.

You should make one, it's so easy, all you need are fabric scraps and it will make you smile.

What are you creating today? I'd love to see!

See you soon friends ♥

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Perfect Butter Cake

2011-10-12T17:41:00.002+11:00

I promised you a butter cake recipe and here it is.  

It really is a great one for icing with butter cream or even fondant.  

Perfect basic cake and stays moist for days...very important! 

Butter Cake

print me

makes a 22cm cake

ingredients

250g butter, room temperature
250g caster sugar
splash of vanilla
3 eggs, room temperature
330g self raising flour, sifted
180ml milk, room temperature

method

preheat oven to 180C/160C fan, grease and line a 22cm round cake tin with baking paper
beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy, mix in vanilla
beat in eggs one at a time
add flour and milk in 3 batches whilst stirring just until combined
spread mixture into cake tin and bake for about 50-60 minutes, test with skewer
allow to cool slightly and turn out onto cooling rack
leave un iced or ice with butter cream if it's for a special occasion cake

This week is baking week as there's a market on, hope you can come by and say hi

Happy Wednesday friends, hope to visit you soon.
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Grateful for enjoying the little things

2011-10-08T19:09:00.000+11:00

It's been a while since I posted, it wasn't meant to be so long but life just got in the way.

We all got sick, school holidays came round and really, blogging wasn't all that important.

Thank you for your sweet emails asking if I am ok...I am, thank you! 

As I sit here and think about what I am grateful for a very dear friend has had some not so good health news and I just wanted to let her know how much I am thinking of her....

gorgeous artwork from Anna

So as I close my eyes and I think about all the good things happening around me at the moment I'll show you a peek at what we have been up to the last month and what I am grateful for

adopting some new chicks (fingers crossed they are girls)

toothless giggles

beautiful notes by my beautiful 5 year old

 winning some tickets to go to the Show
thank you Neff Kitchen

haircuts from daddy

little nephews turning one already!!

being asked to make a special birthday cake topper

having fun making a fire engine cake

yummy butter cake recipe I will share with you later

So that's a little bit about what we've been up to.  What's new with you? 

Hope you are making a grateful list, I'd love to read it and so would Miss Maxabella

Happy weekend friends, I'll definitely be round to say hello and have that virtual cuppa with you

Hugs ♥
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R U OK today?

2011-09-15T12:32:00.000+10:00

It may seem obvious, but have you asked someone around you today if they are OK? 

Have you actually listened to their response? 

We are surrounded by so many social networks now days that sometimes we forget to reach out to our workmates, friends, school parents or even our families and make sure that they are OK and let them know that we are there if they need to talk.

As someone who goes through periods of sad, I know how it feels to be down and the only thing that can get you out is a good old cry and maybe even a smile from a friend to let me know they care.

For others it's more than that.

So please, ask someone around you to go for a coffee and a chat, it may make the world of difference to them and maybe even to you.

So are you OK?, I am, hope you can join me for a cuppa
♥

don't you just LOVE Hugh Jackman!
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Made with love

2011-09-08T07:00:00.000+10:00

It was the big boys birthday the other day and the kids drew him this picture of our family which I embroidered and appliquéd

I asked them to draw onto the fabric panel with a quilting air dry marker and embroidered their drawing and message, as is, capturing their unedited creativity

It makes me smile when I look at it, you know how much I love kids drawings

I think the birthday boy loved it, how can you not when it was made with so much love!

absolutely......

p e r f e c t !

what are you up to today? hope it's filled with love and creativity ♥
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Some flowers for you

2011-09-01T20:18:00.000+10:00

You know every so often it gets a bit messy round here.

I always try to keep it pretty for you, i don't want you to come over and feel down.

I want you to enjoy your visit and leave smiling, leave hungry, or even leave inspired.

I want you to have that virtual cup of tea with me and we'll pretend that we are sitting around sipping tea and giggling over something or talking about our kids, our men, our veggie gardens, our pets, how to crochet, whether I bake every day or if I have baking disasters

But recently I felt like it wasn't a fun place to visit round here, there wasn't any cake to offer you and that the tea was probably getting a little cold

and you know what, you didn't care, you still came round and you still made me smile and you let me cry and you listened, you just listened 

and you know that the sadness does come and go and will most likely be around again soon

I love that you did that and I love that you know how to relate to my pain, my grief, my sad patches

you are pretty awesome and that is why non bloggers do not get it, they do not get what we get

I don't need to tell you, you just know

So from my heart to yours...thank you, I really do thank you.
I so wish I could bake you some cookies...

BIG hugs ♥

thank you Lou for the wonderful, wonderful flowers
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Just no colour

2011-08-30T13:39:00.000+10:00

I guessed August wouldn't be a great month, I knew the reason but it didn't make it any easier

it has been a bad weekend, it will be a bad day tomorrow

you know when your body just gets so tired and even the littlest of colds hangs around for a third week 

you know when you have so much to do but mentally it's one of those mountains that you just can't climb...not now...maybe next week...or the week after

you know when little things upset you or make you break down in tears

you know when things aren't fun, there's no colour, no photos, no cakes, no smile, just being, just doing, just...

this week I am just breathing, there's no colour, just routine,
I am just here.... ♥
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Yellow

2011-08-26T20:58:00.000+10:00

It's daffodil day today,  it means so much to so many.

It means so much to me so please buy a daffodil and support daffodil day.

Many hugs to you ♥

✗ ♡

What's happening

2011-08-18T22:15:00.002+10:00

loving the new fun skill of needle felting thanks to Mel

this little cutie was actually made by Mel last night for Amelie, the one I made must have seriously been eaten by one of the kids (we were joking they would do that)
they were playing with it in the morning and next thing you know...gone!!

stamping recipe cards to send to a lovely lady

embroidering the wonderful letters my little boy can now write....ahhhh

what have you been creating?

Hugs and happy creating ♥

p.s just wanted to thank you for leaving comments, I have been a little behind on the visits lately. August is a bad time for us emotionally so please stick around, your sweet words mean so much.
✗ ♡

Wordless Wednesday : impatience

2011-08-17T12:33:00.000+10:00

Making gifs

more wordless fun over at the lovely Sarah's

this one's for you Vic! 

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Kids, cakes, tea parties & photos

2011-08-13T19:11:00.000+10:00

grateful that the Melbourne weather behaved today

grateful that my kids behaved today

grateful that we got to play tea parties today

grateful that someone else got to take pics of my little people today

grateful that that someone was so wonderful too

extremely grateful that you are visiting me today

what's happening with you today, much gratefulness around?

hugs ♥

✗ ♡

Party snippets

2011-08-08T11:54:00.005+10:00

birthday cake decorated with a few fun things that Aidan likes

party favour cookies

marble cake pops

chocolate cake with blueberry swiss meringue butter cream

lolly free party bags*

gingerbread cake toppers covered in fondant

Thank you all for your sweet, sweet birthday wishes for the little guy, sorry I haven't replied back to you personally, he and I send you big squishy hugs and a big piece of cake...mwaaaaaaah, you girls are awesome ♥

What are your Sunday snippets?
Why don't you pop round to Tinniegirl's and share them

*edited to add suggestions for lolly free bags, normally I add things like textas, if you have a label maker make a name label for each child and stick it on a grey led pencil, stickers, exercise book, little baked gingerbread freckle cookies in a bag, cookie on a stick, magnets, little pegs, in summer normally juice in a box (that's a treat for my kids) anything really apart from lollies. 
I prefer a creative bag with baked cookies as opposed to a sugar high bag that will drive the parents nuts.

p.s for those who have let me know about the commenting issues, thank you! 

I have changed to commenting box so could you please try again and let me know....♥
✗ ♡

Four

2011-08-04T21:54:00.002+10:00

I love it when you sneak into my bed for a cuggle at night

I love that you kiss my hand when we are walking along

I love that you help me unpack the cutlery from the dishwasher 

I love that you say "bardon mummy" when you want me to repeat something

I love it when you spontaneously tell me that you love me

I love that you pick flowers for me on our walks

I love that you learnt to write your name weeks ago
I love that you always want to help me do things

I love that you can jump as high as the sky on the trampoline

I love that you always draw pictures of mummy smiling 

I love when you walk past the rosemary bush and touch it and then want me to smell your hands
I love that you love to bake with me

I love that daddy made you pizza for your special birthday dinner 

I love that you are now "vour!"

I love that you kiss Amelie goodbye on the hand when we drop her off at school

I love that you sit in the classroom and draw and colour in when mummy helps at Amelie's school

I love that even though daddy got you a toolbox, gardening gloves and a hammer for your birthday you wanted to take Hansel with you when we went out

I love your squishy, squishy cuddles
I love it when "it's cuddle time" 

I love your sloppy kisses

I love that you are still my baby

and I especially love the way you make me feel 

Happy birthday baby boy, I love you.........♥

✗ ♡

Tips on taking better photos of your products

2011-08-02T13:38:00.000+10:00

I have been feeling a bit lost, a bit detached from this little old blog recently.

There have been a few meltdowns, yes there have. I don't know what to blame it on, maybe alot has been going on but I'll get to that in another post.

Today I wanted to share with you some product photography tips.

I was asked to teach a workshop the other day at the Thornbury Women's Neighbourhood House about blogging and product photography, if you are interested let me know and I will post the blogging tips as well.

Light

Use natural light, an overcast day is perfect

Shoot in the morning or late afternoon, you want soft diffuse light, not direct sun which causes shadows and bright spots

If working inside, shoot near a window, you may need a tripod or use a light box

Focus

Make sure your product is in focus and avoid any motion blur

A tripod is a must in low light situations

Framing

Think about the composition of your product in the camera

Move around and try to see your product in different angles

Make sure your camera is at the right distance from your product to avoid odd perspective and distortion

Style

Show your style by using props and different backgrounds

Don’t overdo it though as the product is the focus and you don’t want to distract the viewer by using out of place props or bright patterned backgrounds

Natural Environment

Show how the product is used, people want to see how a bag looks on someone’s shoulder or how earrings look on someone’s ears

Product Details

Show your products fine details by taking some close ups

Make sure you also have photos of the whole product for your viewer

Variety

Don’t be afraid to change things around when photographing, change backgrounds and props regularly

Vertical & Horizontal

Take both vertical and horizontal photos of your products as you may later need to use your images for labels, business cards etc

Camera Settings

Make sure you get your camera settings correct so your photos aren’t overexposed or underexposed

Turn off your flash and set your white balance, i.e. low light, shade, cloud setting

Set your ISO* as low as possible and use your tripod

A lower ISO equals sharper photos

Use the self timer to prevent any camera shake from pressing the shutter

Check your camera’s LCD screen after each photo and adjust things as they are needed

*ISO (equivalent) speed on a digital camera gives an indication of the sensitivity of the image sensor

Post Editing

Always edit your photos even if it’s just to adjust your levels

Use editing software or free online editing sites such as picnik.com

Crop
Adjust levels
Adjust saturation
Colour correction
Sharpening
Remove any dust or marks
Any other post editing

Styling Your Photos

Get inspiration from magazines, websites, blogs but do not copy other peoples images
Put your unique style into the shoot by thinking about your product
What is it? It’s qualities, its use, the process in which it was made, inspiration behind making it
Your product needs to be enhanced not lost in a mismatch of backgrounds and props
Try to tell the viewer a story of your product within the photograph

I really hope you found this useful, I'd love for you to let me know.

Happy sunshiney day friends ♥
✗ ♡

I know I said I wasn't...

2011-07-26T15:11:00.001+10:00

...but how could I not after all the ooohh, soo very subtle requests and now this arrives in the mail*!

Vic, you win!!  I'm over here, this situation is gonna need tea, lots of tea!

* yep she did, she really did send me a tweet towel!
✗ ♡

Grateful for...

2011-07-23T19:34:00.000+10:00

....these two

their creativity

their love for each other

their energy

their adventures

their mate ship

the quiet times

the cute bits

the yummy bits

and the sweet bits

I know it's one of those kids posts, but these last couple of weeks, these two have made me smile, made me laugh, made me cry but most importantly they have made me LOVE being their mum...thanks you two ♥

You know what I mean don't you?

Hope you have had a good week filled with lots of grateful moments.
More gratefulness round at Beth's ♥
✗ ♡

boys and cars

2011-07-21T14:08:00.001+10:00

This week has been all about cakes, first there was hoot

and then there was a request for cars, or aeroplanes or flying bikes or blueberries or pilots or pirates

so we settled for cars and a sparkly name on the cake

chocolate with chocolate butter cream

and finished off with a white chocolate butter cream icing

and now I have another little boy who is looking forward to his birthday cake soon but he has given me an even bigger list with puppies or dogs or cars or trucks....(just leave it up to mummy Aidan..) 

What about you, how's your creativity going this week?

Happy day to you and happy birthday to a gorgeous friend ♥
✗ ♡

Semolina Lemon Syrup Cake

2011-07-19T20:30:00.002+10:00

It's funny when the Mr walks around in the evening searching for yumminess in the fridge and in the pantry but nothing is there..well except for chocolate.

So this one was a quick in between kinder drop off and school pick-up surprise for the big boy...and yep, he and the kids loved it!

Semolina Lemon Syrup Cake 

print me

ingredients

250g butter, room temperature
200g caster sugar
finely grated zest of a lemon
3 eggs, separated
150g self raising flour
150g fine semolina
200g sour cream

lemon syrup

ingredients 

200g sugar
80ml fresh lemon juice

method

preheat oven to 180C/160C fan, grease a 20cm bundt cake tin
beat butter, sugar and zest until light and fluffy, add egg yolks one at a time beating well after each addition
mix in sour cream then add flour and semolina an mix until just combined
beat egg whites until soft peak stage
carefully fold egg whites into cake mixture half at a time
spoon into prepared tin and bake for about 50minutes until lightly golden and tested with a skewer
to make lemon syrup, place sugar and lemon juice into a small saucepan over a low heat and allow to dissolve and come to the boil without stirring, take off heat once it has reached boil
take cake out of oven, pierce cake with skewer all over and pour lemon syrup over hot cake
allow to cool and remove from tin

So what do you make when the sweet cravings hit? or do you just head to the chockie stash?

Happy day to you lovely friends, enjoy ♥

This cake has been brought to you by the yummy lemons of Miss Curlypops...thank you Miss C, I wish you lived round the corner! ♥
✗ ♡

Happy Friday

2011-07-15T13:00:00.001+10:00

Last day of school holidays, it's a beautiful winter's day, we are drawing, painting and baking.

Hope you are having a fabulous day, I am going to have a cup of tea and continue the baking for a hoot cake for a little one year old girl.

♥

Pop round to Brenda's for some birthday giveaways and wish her a happy birthday too

also Happy birthday Beky! ♥
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All about kites

2011-07-10T20:03:00.002+10:00

Today was all about kites as we headed to a gorgeous little boy's 3rd birthday.

It was perfect kite weather in Melbourne just wishing the wind wasn't so icy though.

made some kite cupcakes for the little man

and his present also included some gingerbread kite  cookies and a gorgeous bunting card from a lovely friend

I also got a sweet thank you gift which I'll show you next time

kite making was a huge hit

I'm sure you'll see more on the party over at Emma's soon...she is like a paparazzi at parties!

We are up to our second week of holidays and we have had a great week so far.

sneaky pose all his own, gorgeous beanie made by the wonderful Amanda

I will tell you all about it soon, my blogging mojo has deserted me for now so until it returns, have a great week lovely friends ♥
✗ ♡

Pear Muffins

2011-07-08T20:00:00.001+10:00

Week one of school holidays has come to an end and I am still here, haven't gone crazy yet but hey, there's still time!

We have done a few things together this week and these muffins were a good outdoor treat for the little ones.

It's a quick recipe if you have people coming over and smell absolutely delicious coming out of the oven.

If you don't have sour cream in the fridge, just use yoghurt instead.

Pear Muffins

print me

makes about 20 medium muffins

ingredients

125ml milk
180ml vegetable oil
150g caster sugar
150g brown sugar
3 eggs
65g sour cream
375g self raising flour
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp mixed spice
30g rolled oats
1 large sweet pear, grated
raw sugar & rolled oats for topping

method

preheat oven to 180C/160C fan, grease muffin tins
place milk, oil, sugars, eggs and sour cream into a bowl and mix until smooth
sift flour and spices in another bowl, add oats and mix to combine
add wet mixture and grated pear to dry mixture and only mix until just combined
spoon into well greased muffins tins and sprinkle with raw sugar and rolled oats
bake for about 20 minutes or until golden and tested with a skewer

Wind in the Willows tin from our local oppie

How's your week been? Hope it's been a happy one, tell me what you have been upto I'd love some ideas for next week.

Have you also noticed blogger has upgraded their posting page, wow, love it so far.

Enjoy your weekend whatever you are doing, I'll hopefully make it back for a grateful post ♥
✗ ♡

Just a few things

2011-07-01T17:14:00.001+10:00

July, Friday, end of school term

holidays, sleeping in, spending time with  my little school girl everyday and all day

end of school discos, parent teacher interviews, magic 200 word certificates

playing with food colour pens, hiding them in my lovely new surprise pencil case (you are awesome Cat!)

beautiful winters days, walking to school and holding hands, walking to school and chatting away

baking cupcakes, decorating cupcakes, sending them off to school as an end of term treat

hottie exhibition,  Friday night celebrations and yay for the weekend with the boy home

How's your day been?

Hope it gets even better lovely friends! (BIG hi to new friends joining along)

Happy July ♥
✗ ♡

Pirate Cookies

2011-06-29T12:39:00.002+10:00

Yesterday was pirate day at kinder, so much fun, such a beautiful winter's day, so much party food to consume.

We made some sugar pirate cookies to take.  Here's the recipe if you feel inspired to create some cookies for the kiddies

Sugar Cookies

makes 26 pirates 

print me 

ingredients

250g butter, room temperature
finely grated zest of one lemon
170g caster sugar
1 egg
1 tbsp water
330g plain flour

method

beat butter, sugar and lemon zest with an electric mixer for about a minute then add egg and water and mix until well combined
sift over the flour and mix just until incorporated
knead dough on a lightly floured surface until it comes together and flatten into a disc and put in the fridge for 30 min
preheat oven to 180C/160C fan and grease your baking trays
roll out dough on lightly floured surface until about 5mm, you can roll dough between two sheets of baking paper but I prefer to lightly dust surface with flour and roll out that way
cut out circles and place on baking trays
bake for about 10-12 mins, only until slightly golden
allow to cool and decorate

decorated with fondant, painted on with food colours and drawn on with special food dye pens

It's a beautiful sunny day here today so we are going for a walk to our favourite oppie

Sending you some sunshine lovely friends ♥ 

* I'd love for you to pop round to my new page if you haven't already
✗ ♡

Sticky date pudding

2011-06-27T14:11:00.001+10:00

Now if I tell you I have never made sticky date pudding would you believe me.  Well I haven't and after hearing how absolutely amazing it was the other night at the NCB I had to make it.

I can't believe how easy it was to make and it was perfect to take when we went to a friends for dinner the other night.

Sticky date pudding

print me 

ingredients

220g chopped dates
80ml hot water
100g butter, room temperature
200g caster sugar
2 eggs
230g plain flour sifted
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
60ml milk

caramel sauce

200g butter
250g brown sugar
250ml cream

method

place dates and hot water into a bowl, stir to combine and set aside
preheat oven to 180C/160C fan, grease a 20cm square cake tin or rectangular tin or small loaf tins
place butter and sugar into a bowl and beat until light and fluffy
add eggs one at a time and beat to combine
add sifted baking powder and flour, dates and milk and beat until just combined
spoon into tin and bake for about 35 min, or until cooked when tested with a skewer. if using smaller tins, check at 20 min mark
to make sauce place butter, sugar and cream into a saucepan over a low heat and stir until sugar has dissolved
turn up the heat slightly and allow to simmer until thickened, about 10min
pour warm sauce over pudding and enjoy

Such a perfect winter treat. Do you have a perfect winter recipe?

My all time favourite winter treat is definitely rice pudding.

Off you go, you know you want to make some sticky date pudding ♥
✗ ♡

Phewww...Hottie Challenge done

2011-06-23T12:09:00.000+10:00

Are you one of those people that leave everything until the very last minute then get that adrenalin rush of having to finish it off before heading off to school for pick up.

Luckily I am not one of those people, all my projects are thought out weeks and weeks before they are due

unfortunately though getting them from inside my head to the actual production stage is a totally different matter...

Hottie Challenge all done and personally delivered to the loveliest hottie of them all.

Some amazing creations round here, more hottie goodness over here, super hottie always round here

Really wonky sewing by me, artwork by Miss Amelie (5)
✗ ♡

Thank you!

2011-06-20T20:59:00.003+10:00

Kitchen sorted...thanks mum

pics uploaded, edited and sent from friends...thanks Holly

final money count...thanks again mum  

kids in bed..phewww

so know I can tell you about my afternoon tea..yay!

Firstly it was the best fun ever, really was! It was so good to see so many familiar faces and so many new ones.

I was so exhausted but it was exhaustion that i absolutely loved in the end.

Loved because I worked hard and achieved even more than I myself expected.

The love from you all was absolutely amazing, you girls are absolutely awesome!

The list of genuine fabulousness is in no particular order because you are all equally beautiful

A Little Vintage

Teddybearswednesday

The Handmaden

Chunkychooky

Yardage Design

Curlypops

Betty Jo

Mad Stitches

Cotton Kiwi

Pardon my Chaos

Spunkerella

Chantal Vincent

Myrtle & Eunice

Polly Pratt

Mira Narnie

Confectioners Favourite 

Dimattina Coffee 
Intimo 

Coles

Woolworths

My beautiful sister, my gorgeous sister-in-law, my lovely friends Louise, Teresa, Miss Holly, my gorgeous cousin and beautiful friend Vera for taking pics for me and of course the lovely Nikki for opening up her studio for us.

The raffle prizes were a m a z i n g  and people loved them all.  The online raffle was also drawn on the day and the winners were as follows

Ms Chunkychooky won Little Miss Vintage

Ms Jennie won Walter (sorry Hayley)

Teresa D won Lil Mim

congrats ladies!!

So after a recount, the final tally for the afternoon tea was $929..I know..eeeekkk, plus the online donations and personal donations of $345, 

total  $1274, take a bow ladies, that is absolutely fabulous, well done!!!  

It's all going to a great cause that has touched the lives of many, not just mine, so thank you, thank you to all involved.

OK, totally exhausted and off to watch Ms Curlypops' favourite show, Offspring. More pics over at Nikki's

p.s heart cookie cutter for teacup was a lovely gift from here
✗ ♡

A reminder

2011-06-17T16:26:00.000+10:00

Things are a bit busy round here so I just wanted to remind you that the raffle is still going on for another day and the afternoon tea is on Sunday.

It's only $5 a ticket and your chances of winning are pretty good and the prizes are really, really awesome!

Thanks to those wonderful people that have made a donation, the tally is up to $200...yippee.

Looking forward to seeing some of you on Sunday, don't forget to come with empty stomachs and some extra change for some wonderful raffle prizes on the day ♥

p.s sorry if my email replies have been a little scarce, normality will hopefully resume sometime soon ♥
✗ ♡

Wordless Wednesday : Looks like fun

2011-06-15T11:21:00.000+10:00

jumping along with the other girls over here

✗ ♡

Just a few things

2011-06-14T13:39:00.000+10:00

The long weekend is over, Amelie is back at school, the boy is back at work and Aidan is going to kinder soon.

Amelie asked for a chocolate cake yesterday, this is much better than just a chocolate cake.

It's a flourless chocolate and hazelnut cake, you can see the recipe here

I wonder what her friends at school will tell her about the tooth fairy.
did you think a fiver was too much for a first tooth? it's her first and the note fit snugly into her new book

Do you love meeting new blogs, I do, I thought it would be nice to do an every so often mention on a few new ones that I am loving at the moment. 

Blogs which take me to a different place and I just want to stay for a cup of tea.

Sarah does this alot and I really enjoy it.

my blog loves this week are Jodi's place and Andrea's place, ohh how I wish I was their neighbour and we could sip tea and admire their surroundings.

If I haven't been to your place could you leave a comment, I'd love to meet you.
I am pretty normal and despite what you may see here, I do get recipes wrong, my sink is full of dishes and my pics aren't always spot on.

Looking forward to meeting you...I'll bring the cake ♥
✗ ♡

Baby tooth

2011-06-12T19:40:00.002+10:00

Amelie lost her first baby tooth, I nearly cried, we were at a little friends party, I felt so emotional, it's just a tooth, but it feels like she is different, she's only 5...

I didn't know how to feel, so I baked, I baked her some cupcakes. 

Vanilla cupcakes, with a secret, I folded a chopped up chocolate bar to the batter (chokito) and a chopped chocolate bar in the butter cream, you should try it, easy.

She woke up to a book this morning and a five dollar note. She doesn't know whether to believe in the tooth fairy, she wants to ask her friends at school whether the tooth fairy is real...because they have lost teeth and they know!

Did you have a good weekend, anything exciting happen?

Is the tooth fairy real? 

♥

✗ ♡

Afternoon Tea Raffle

2011-06-11T09:53:00.002+10:00

  Little Miss Vintage from Jennie at A Little Vintage

As you may know I have been organising an afternoon tea for the 19th of June to support the Cancer Council and have been sent quite a few amazing things to be raffled on the day.

I wanted to let you also have a chance to support such a great cause by holding a raffle here online and my wonderful friends are happy to post to the winners.

Lil' Mim from Kelly at The Handmaden

 Walter from Jess at Teddybearswednesday

What I'd love for you to do is pop round to my donation page donate $5 for a ticket in our raffle and leave a note which beautiful item you are buying a ticket for.

So that's $5 for a ticket, you can buy as many as you would like in one go, if it's for different items just leave in your message which items you have bought tickets for.

Unfortunately this raffle is only for Australian residents, but feel free to still donate if you live overseas (like one sweet girl did) and I'd love to send you a thank you card.

Please let me know if anything is unclear.

Raffle open until next Saturday the 18th of June.  

Thanks once again for all the loving ♥

*raffle idea inspired by Ms Ric Rac
✗ ♡

Friday

2011-06-10T16:31:00.000+10:00

Yay, it's Friday!  That's good because it's a long weekend here in Australia.  That means everyone is home on Monday, I love that.

I just wanted to share some of my favourite moments this week

baking these moon cookies (as Aidan calls them)

having fun setting up this page , I'd love you to pop by and say hello

listening to this beautiful music thanks to Clare

wearing some brooch loveliness from Louana thanks to Susie for organising it

making mini bunting for my afternoon tea next week, are you coming?

loving beautiful flowers and gorgeous uni friends visiting

especially loving, autumn leaf showers and gorgeous little people giggling

What have you been up to?

I'll be back later to put up a few raffle items for the afternoon tea.

I am especially loving all the love as well...you knew that didn't you ♥

✗ ♡

Teddybears and Christening Cakes

2011-06-05T19:30:00.000+10:00

It's been a long day, a day with beautiful family, beautiful children and a very special day for one gorgeous little boy

a beautifully made teddy bear * became a christening cake topper

red velvet and vanilla layer cake with vanilla butter cream and white chocolate ganache

rose cupcakes with vanilla butter cream

and one tired but very peaceful little boy

Happy christening my beautiful little nephew and now new god son ♥

* Jess you are awesome!!
✗ ♡

Happenings

2011-05-28T21:49:00.000+10:00

It's been cold this week, it certainly feels like winter.

It feels like I haven't baked anything for you for ages!!

The truth is I have, I have baked sooo much that I can tell you I am nearly all baked out.

As much as I love baking, after tomorrow I won't want to look at my oven, icing, sprinkles, cake boxes or food colours on my hands all week.

you really should try these cupcakes

and these mini chocolate croissants that this lovely lady reminded me of from my recipes

I forgot how easy they were to make for a quick treat

and how quickly they disappear

birthday cake for a friend's daughter

and there's a few that I just didn't manage to photograph

I also wanted to thank you for having the biggest heart EVER!

the amount of loving and the wonderful donation offers and emails I have been getting, hearing your personal stories, you girls are absolutely amazing!!

wow, I do love this blog community we call home and as much as I love my real life friends, the friends I have made through the blog world are just out of this world.

Don't you think?

Keep on being fabulous, you girls rock!

✗ ♡

Backpacks & Cushions

2011-05-26T07:00:00.001+10:00

The backpack is complete thanks to a wonderful and very, very easy tutorial over at Nikki's

It's for library day at kinder but we are using it everywhere.  

It makes me smile.  I love kid's drawings, they make me happy.

He drew it and I made it, what great teamwork.  

I love it and so does he.

Something we also love is the cushion swap loving we received in the mail....AMAZING!!
Thank you Michelle and thank you Vic, you are just awesome. 

I love it, especially those teeny tiny ants marching along!

How's your creative day going, why don't you let us have a peek.

Hugs ♥
✗ ♡

Sometimes it's hard

2011-05-20T13:32:00.000+10:00

Thank you for the votes and the sweetness, I really have felt speechless and emotional with all your beautiful words, emails and love.

Right now I am supposed to be writing a post for Kidspot and Ford and telling you about "what drives me..."

Well, it's just so hard, it's one of those things where it is a conflict of heart and I have absolutely nothing against people that do advertising on their blogs, but it simply isn't me.

This week something definitely has been driving me and it has been missing my dad and wanting to help raise funds for the Cancer Council to support the fight against Cancer.

This last week all the hurt and grieving came flooding back and when that happens, the fuzziness starts again.

This week, this has been what has been driving me and as I write this with tears I hope that one day there will be a cure.

If you are interested in attending an afternoon tea I am organising as part of Australia's Biggest morning tea, it will be on Sunday the 19th of June 

and the ever so lovely Nikki has offered her studio as the  location

There will be a delicious afternoon high tea baked by me with unlimited supply of tea, coffee, sandwiches, cupcakes, sweets etc at $20 per person 

If you are one of those wonderful crafty souls out there who cannot attend but would like to, you can donate here or if you'd like to make something to be included in a raffle please send me an email.

I would love your support, the Cancer Council would LOVE your support and I would also love any ideas you may have for this afternoon tea.  

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Happy Friday lovely girls ♥

✗ ♡

Cushion fun

2011-05-19T07:00:00.026+10:00

Thanks for the loving, I really needed it, you made me cry and you made me smile, you girls are amazing!

It also gave me the motivation to start and complete my cushion cover last night

I had so much fun with this. After alot of procrastination about how I should do the back, I finally settled on an envelope style with some vintage floral fabric

I used some of the floral for the flowers and machine stitched the stem and leaf detail on denim(my favourite) 

It's not perfect, maybe a bit wonky and very minimal but it's my first ever cushion cover and I really enjoyed making it.   

Fingers crossed my swappee likes it.

Thanks Vic, this was soooo much fun.

Are you crafting today? I bet it's wonderful!

♥

BIG thank you for the votes...you guys are awesome!!!
You can still vote if you like

Today is the White Shirt Campaign for the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation please support it if you can.
✗ ♡

It's been a little quiet round here...

2011-05-17T23:37:00.001+10:00

I feel like I have been hiding this last week, peeking a little into your lives yet not sharing any of my life with you.

Mothers day went by and I felt a little sad.  A little part of me wanted my dad to see what a great mum I am or one that I hoped to be. 

It's strange but I just missed him so much, I thought I was dealing with the grief and all of a sudden it just came flooding back.

Sorry, I don't have many words this week but I invite you for a cup of tea and a glimpse at a few things we've been up to 

mother's day heart pillow for my mum

mother's day heart pillow for my little sis

wonderful gift to brighten up any room 

toy picnic using vintage picnic set in a suitcase found on the nature strip

(yes I did Liz!)

op shopping with my little guy

wonderful giveaway gifts in the mail

and more fabulousness in the mail

hanging out with my little assistant

making birthday cakes

enjoying autumn

Enjoy a cupcake and see you soon friends and if you feel like voting, please pop round here
✗ ♡

Date and Walnut Cupcakes

2011-05-10T20:11:00.000+10:00

Firstly I just wanted to say that you girls are fabulous, absolutely the best!

Thanks for the sweetness and the beautiful words of encouragement, I really, really appreciate it.

LOVE you guys, I wish you could all come round for some cupcakes!!

In the meantime the recipe will definitely have to do.

BIG hugs to you all ♥

Libbie you are awesome!!!
✗ ♡

A little bit awkward...

2011-05-09T12:37:00.000+10:00

Hello friends, just a quick post about Kidspots top 50 bloggers which I have been lucky enough to be nominated for.

I feel a bit at a loss, I don't normally try and promote myself and posts like these make me feel a little uneasy.

I know everyone says they blog because they just love it so I don't want to give you all that, you know that I do, so things like this are hard for me to promote, those who know me in the real world would know that this is quite painful to do.

So put me out of my misery, please vote for me  and I will be back later with what I do best, a recipe for some date & walnut cupcakes.

Thanks....♥
✗ ♡

Much love to you

2011-05-07T19:51:00.001+10:00

I wish everyday fills your heart with joy and love

I wish you can smile even though you may be missing someone in your life

I wish you are surrounded by all that you love

I wish you have a day filled with cuddles

I wish you get enough kisses to possibly get you through a whole year

I wish you smile when you look around you

I wish you shed a happy tear when you get the card they worked so hard to make

and most of all I send you love my sweet friends
✗ ♡

Clever chickies

2011-05-04T16:52:00.002+10:00

Don't you love it when star quality runs in the family!

this one was a pressie for me from the wee girl...I had a market hangover you see, very thoughtful indeed, thank you ♥

the sweet smelling lavender bags hanging on the kids beds... hopefully soothing them to sleep

I may have to use my sweet smelling eye pillow soon as I have been to the dentist and the anaesthetic is wearing off.

 all creations made by Nikki's wee girl

On a different topic, The biggest morning tea is approaching and I'm in the middle of arranging an afternoon tea on the 12th of June*.

More details soon, I'd love it if you could come, a wonderful lady is opening up her studio for us to meet, chat, sip tea, eat and raise some money.

Let me know if you are interested.

I better go help prep dinner, lentil dahl tonight...yum!

Happy day to you lovely friends, hope you've had a day full of wonderful ♥

*12th of June is the Queens birthday long weekend so it will be changed to the 19th of June
✗ ♡

It's no ordinary day

2011-04-29T10:40:00.000+10:00

Happy Birthday to a lovely friend today, I hope you can pop round and say hello to her, she's got her tiara on to celebrate ♥

Happy Friday friends, hope to see you at the market tomorrow.

I need to get off the computer and start baking now....

✗ ♡

My Creative Space...some more kids drawing embroidery

2011-04-28T12:32:00.001+10:00

After seeing Amelie's library bag there was a "why you not make me one?" request from Aidan, so I have started on his work of art and promised him it will be done next week as the next couple of days will be a bit chaotic around here.

There will be some serious baking going on for my favourite market on this Saturday.  

If you are in the area it is a great little market to visit.

Happy creating wherever you may be and for some serious creativity pop over here

Enjoy the sunshine my friends ♥  

✗ ♡