The Mittens' Favourite Toys

Don't you just love the expression on her face?  Clearly she is wearing too much eyeshadow, but it co-ordin ates with her vast array of hair accessories.  Mitten 1 loves her 'Barbie Makeover'.  (I know she isn't a real Barbie)  Greta would be proud of the mitten's hairdressing skills.  And then of course there is the main rock'n'roll obsession in our household.

It wouldn't be Christmas with a 2 year old in Australia without the Wiggles.  This little ol' keyboard is the firm favourite of mitten 2.  It's Wiggles all the way here people let me tell you!  We went to the concert, had Hot Potato seats, we have all the dvds, it goes on and on.........

Red Velvet Cake

I have been on a mission to make a red velvet cake like the one featured in the Donna Hay magazine and the one that Bethanny had for her wedding cake.  Here's mine!  Completely delicious.

Do you like the little toadstools that I used as a decoration for the top of the cake?  Aren't they cute.  Found them at Spotlight - someone had discarded a packet of them at the checkout so I snapped them up.  They made great present decorations too.

A Glimpse of Christmas

Well I am stuffed full of food and utterly content.  This year's Christmas has been wonderful.  Quiet.  Fun.  The kids have had the time of their lives. Family.  Friends.  I really love Christmas time.

I can go from being quite chic with my new front door wreaths - how gorgeous are they?  As you know, red is my main colour at Christmas, and I love the berries.  Then I go to being a complete goofy dork, which I must say my children adore.  They think I am the coolest Mum in the world and I don't mind at all.  Actually it is quite funny driving along and catching a glimpse of that red nose on the front of my car.

They squeal with delight every time they see mummy's reindeer ears on the car.  Other relatives were rather embarrassed when I pulled up out the front of Nannie's place though............. 

Do go to 63

Last night of course was the Nutcracker Ballet.  It was magnificent.  The sets were so rich and Christmassy and the costumes were breathtaking.  M, J and I plan to make it a Christmas tradition to go to something like this each year.  Thank you girls for taking me.  It was the best 40th present.

Now my sister B has introduced me to the most wonderful cafe.  63. That's it -  just 63.  This morning we had brunch there.  I love brunch and breakfast.  My absolute favourite meals of the day.  It was rather rainy today so we were tucked up inside.  The place was bustling.  I love the fact that they sell fresh flowers and have fresh bunches of roses on all of the wooden dining tables.  I think you can tell a lot about a place by the clientele and how busy it is.  People you should really go there.  Even the ladies from the red hat society were there.  I had never heard of them before today, I thought my sister was pulling my leg.  But no, they really do exist.  Google them. www.redhatsociety.com.  And yes they were all wearing purple outfits and red hats and were having a right old fun time.  I've never seen anything quite like it.  My sister said to shoot her if she ever ended up doing something like that.  Purple is not her colour anyway.

  They had a cute addition to their menu for the Ashes (that's right the cricket!) which I thought was hilarious.  I ordered the Googly - yes it is a cricket term - google it, I have already forgotten what it means.  Here tis



And my sister B ordered the Hat-trick.  I think mine was yummier.

We both avoided ordering the Warney.  I think Liz Hurley might have ordered it though............

Fairies really exist here's proof!

Not every kid can say that their Uncle has fairies living in the bottom of their garden, but my girls can.  Every time they visit their Uncle Crud the fairies seem to know and always leave them some kind of gift.  This is the house that they live in.

 Amazing isn't it?  Uncle Crud has managed to collect quite an array of garden ornaments and insists that the fairies love them.  Some are a bit odd......  The girls made a fairy ring out of flowers to say thank you.  Then it was down to business.  Decorating the tree.


 Such trust, he let them do it all by themselves which was very brave indeed.

 They wore their special helper reindeer ears.  Here is our fabulous pipe cleaner wreath decoration  which really sets off the tree don't you think?



The mittens did an amazing job.  Their Uncle was very happy.

Christmas Wreath Craft

Ask any Mum with kids at kindy or school about the present giving at this time of year!  The kids all like to give everyone in their class a small gift like a candy cane or santa chocolate or a christmas card or something!  As this was my daughter's final year at kindy, I wanted her to give a gift that the kids would be able to remember her by and keep forever, so we made decorations for the tree.



 Are these not fabulous?  And so easy to make.

 We found the stripy pipe cleaners in spotlight and just made them into a circle with a little twist.  Then we put these 'twisty bows' on them and attached ribbon to hang.  Voila!  No glueing, no fuss.  Dead easy and quick.



  We made quite a few.............  So we have been giving them to teachers and friends & family too.  I was inspired by these numbers from when I was a little girl.




  And also the street decorations that you get on the Gold Coast - remember those from the 70's and 80's?  I think they still have them - I am sure that I spied some along the GC highway the other day.

Still loving that gingham

Quite seriously this is a crazy busy time of year.  I ventured out to Carindale on Thursday night along with the rest of the population and their friends and family.  I started off by focusing my attention on my wardrobe and complete need for new clothes.  This is what I bought.  I love Laura Ashley and I love gingham, so you can imagine my delight at finding these lovelys.

  Both are in stretch cotton.  And better yet they were 25% off and I had a gift voucher as well so I ended up paying for both of them for less than the price of one at full retail.

Then I found this little number.  It is my first Leona Edmiston dress. I thought it would be lovely and cool for all of the Christmas soirees coming up.  Don't you just love the print?

 Then I managed to finish my Christmas shopping.  Yippee! 

 This afternoon  we have a family do at T&E's place, then I am so excited to be going to the ballet to see the Nutcracker with my most gorgeous friend M and her equally gorgeous daughter J.  Cannot wait.

First up though I am taking the mittens over to their Uncle Crud's place to help him put up his tree and decorate it.  I hope he knows what he is getting himself in for.  Will keep you posted.

Christmas Tree Bliss

You can feel Christmas in the air.  Our tree is up.  It looks fabulous.  I am very proud of it.  Last year it was brand new  and we had trouble filling the 8 foot reno - so throughout the year one of my sisters has been giving me the best decorations as gifts (she loves Christmas and has 7 yes seven trees!!) PT I am so grateful for your Christmas obsession - thank you. Most of the decorations are antiques, and have come from ebay purchases.  Red and pink are my favourite colours but overall the theme in our household is red and rich.  Ventured into the shops today - talk about busy!  Spotlight had 50% off all Christmas stuff - unbelievable.  I couldn't resist picking up a few treasures.



 Myer had 30% off too which was great.  How gorgeous is this shoe??

  For the past couple of nights I have been taking the 'mittens' (my daughters)  out for a drive to see all of the pretty lights.  They love it so much.  We play Christmas Carols in the car.  I have so much fun with them.  I have to admit I am a big kid when it comes to Christmas and love the lights too.   Before we go it is bathtime and they put on their jarmies so when we get home they easily go straight off to sleep. Mummies do try this - it works a treat!   Ahh if  only bedtime could be this easy all year..........

Ben's Budgie after Streeton

It's not every day that I get excited by an artist's work.  But when I picked up my December issue of 'Australian Country Style" I was mesmerized by the brilliance of Australian artist Ben Quilty.  I love his style very much.  I am now on a mission to acquire one of his works.  But of course I want the one which is hanging on his living room wall.


  Do you think he would part with it?  I wonder how much his work costs?  Could it be that I am craving some Australiana in my life?  I really am hungry for more.

Polka Dot Perfection

Hold on to your polka-dots people!  Is this not the cutest car you have ever seen on the road?  It's a little bit 'Herbie goes Bananas' if you asked me which is probably why I love it and also the small fact that I tend to be a polka-dot fan.



 The car belongs to the gorgeous Carey Oxley of My First Room. You should check out her website www.myfirstroom.com.au or if you are in Oxford Street Bulimba pop in and drool over all things cute for kids bedrooms.  I honestly want nearly everthing in that shop!

Doesn't it look fabulous?

Well Alvin you have outdone yourself!  My site is all "glammed" up thanks to you. Thank you so very much! I cannot wait for the website to come along...........

By the way mummies, It has been one of "those" mornings...........  Getting out of the front door with two children under the age of five by 8am is like herding cats!

Tough Decision

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Quite seriously people which is better for you really?????  I know I am supposed to grab for the dark chocolate when the craving hits - but it just doesn't hit the spot quite like old fave cadbury does it?  They say dark chocolate is better for you, contains more good bits etc.......  but for me, you just cannot beat the taste of cadbury.  Mr dark chocolate I have tried to love you, but it's just not the same.................

Very Valentino

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I died and went to heaven at the Valentino exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art.  How absolutely breathtaking are his creations??!!  You could not feel anything but gorgeous in one of his gowns.  Immaculate.  He and YSL were always my two favourites of that genre.  I saw the YSL retrospective many years ago which was completely different but breathtaking all the same.  Both designers understood something that is very close to my heart - Glamour!  Bring it on people.  Make an effort.  It has inspired me to lift my game - and I am even tempted to sew again dare I say it.  Just something special and sparkly to wear to dinner or to a party.............

sweet scent

I found these gorgeous candles at a country fair.  I love how they have been poured into an old cut glass milk jug and a mug. 

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Pretty in Spring

I found these gorgeous green carnations at woollies  - I have never seen them in this colour before!  I am not normally a fan of carnations but they sure do last and look amazing if displayed well.

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And of course who can forget the Cup!  It was my first proper "ladies lunch" in ages.  It was quite a glamorous affair.  Champagne, French Martini's and a $5 bet (such a gambler I know!)  The effort put in by the women has to be admired - impeccable grooming with such attention to detail co-0rdinating fascinators, frocks and accessories.  All with such a wonderful sense of occasion.  Dressing up is good for the soul I say.  We need to do a lot more of it!  This is what I wore - well my fascinator, purse and nailpolish.  This opi colour is my new favourite neutral pink "dulce de leche"  All were teamed with an old favourite Lisa Ho frock in the above carnation green, and an Alannah Hill pink bow.

Enjoy.........

[caption id="attachment_33" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="My Melbourne Cup colours"][/caption]

Spoo -k-k-ky -k-k-ky -k-k-ky..............

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Halloween was just soooooooo much fun!  Look how my cakes turned out?  Are you impressed?  Here is the front door - I tried to make it as stylish as I could - after all it is my first Halloween display ever!

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And then of course the stars of the evening - our little ghouls!  One white spider witch, one purple witch with a moveable wart which was too hilarious for words, one handsome pirate and a cute witch-fairy.

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ok what is going on with the downloading of photos?  It seems to be taking forever.  I wonder what I am doing wrong?  Must investigate.

enjoy............

Halloween treats

Got them!  How cute are these little ghost chocolates? 



and of course how could I not buy these icing sugar cupcake decorations?  I cannot wait to make the cakes for the girls!

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whoever knew Halloween in Australia could be so fun?

Let's start this blogging

The world of blogging is a new concept to me but I like some of what I have seen out there and it is fantastic fun.  Today I picked up my brand new business cards and perused the first samples of my new range which will re-launch soon.  My website is well and truly underway.  This afternoon am off to Aldi to snap up some of those fabulous sweets - (did you get the brochure in your junk mail??) for Halloween and get my eldest a witches costume. This year we have chosen to have a little Halloween fun in the park with our neighbours and their children.  This is our first Australian Halloween - the kids are soooooooo excited.

until next time........... 

[caption id="attachment_8" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="my logo with thanks to Michelle Grayson of Sprout Gallery"][/caption]

Hello world!

Hello world!  This is my introduction to the world of blogging!  First of all my priority is to make this look pretty but until then a question - Do you like bugs?