what to blog?

Whenever I'm absent from bloglandia I always have trouble getting back into it. There is everyone else's blogs to catch up on. Then I just don't know where or how to start again. It's been a while, so I decided to just jump in and do anything. Looking through the photos I have stored up here in my computer, I decided to put up little M's birthday shots. Quite appropriate because that's pretty much where I left off. You will notice two things about the photos. One, there are no actual birthday action shots, we were totally washed out and had to cancel. M didn't mind, he had lots of mini celebrations over the following weeks. Secondly, my overzealous use of polaroiding. But it's so much fun! I must say, the cake tones lent themselves very well to it and almost look like a women's entertaining mag from the 70s

wha t

Good Food

My good friend Simone gave me a subscription to Good Food magazine for my birthday last year. What a great idea for a gift! I had (and will have) the excitement of waiting for the next issue in the mail! Then when I finally open it, I always paw over the pages for quite some time, and finally I get to cook things......then eat them! These are from the Jan Feb issue 2010. The top is the Yogurt Pistachio cake (without the turkish delight cream) made for big M's birthday, the bottom photo is Creamy pesto chicken with roasted tomatoes. Yes, Reb, I'm still veggo, but the two men in my life aren't. Am thinking of doing a kiddy version of the yog. cake for little M's birthday cake too (yes we like it that much!)

Thanks Simone, and keep warm!

The best kind of Friday

Michel's stretching partner.
A little bit of yoga.

And this is the view from our breakfast table this morning! A great way to start Friday. We live in a very small apartment, so our dining table (and yoga studio) is on the balcony. Fortunately the Brisbane climate allows for dining al fresco nearly all year round! I think there are maybe two months in winter that it's too cold (we could probably still eat out then, but are cold weather wusses). Have a great weekend everyone.

Just a quick little thing

Gato Tomas

Aren't these lovely prints by Gato Tomas? They were being sold at a tiny kiosk in Buenos Aires. I didn't get to purchase any, I really wanted the mozzie/bug one for M (BA was full of mozzies).

2010

Well, that's it, all the climaxes are over! Christmas has had it's merry day, New Years too. We are back from our holidays. Michel is back to work today! I thought I'd write this quickly, as am too tempted to look at other peoples blogs than write my own. Here are a couple of photos of the millions taken. Will put some more up later. As you can see, Bariloche was breathtakingly beautiful! I did the appropriate Sound of Music songs and dance...... don't you worry sistas!

No, we didn't stay at the top photo! But the photo below was taken from our cabin! The time with Michel's parents went well too (no tension.....a first!). My only regret was not eating more chocolate......it was there, at my finger tips.....why didn't I eat more?!
but I did have some nice white wine..... and the tomatoes were out of this world!!

Merry Christmas and see you in the New Year

Riley, ready to go.

Well, maybe I can squeeze another couple of posts in. Mainly because my sewing machine is broken!! Arghhhh! Going over to mum and dad's today for a bit of a sewing machine frenzy to get the last of the gang's sleeping bags done.

Well, Riley is all ready for his sleep over...birthday gift... to big Riley who is two on Sunday. I am really happy with how everything turned out. The lining of his sleeping bag is an old polar fleece baby blanket of M's. It was barely used by us and by it's previous owner, but too nice not to be used for something. Happy happy, I'm even happy with the size of the shoe box, the colour of the tissue paper (the only one they had, other than white), the card, the wrapping paper........happy happy happy!

Must email Hillary and tell her how much I enjoy making her dolls!

One crazy Santa's elf

Hi, I can't say much! Got too much to do.

Am baking and sewing as well as the usual activities. I have sleeping bags to make for the gang (wanted to do back packs too, no time). Just to slow me down, I can't find my zip foot for the machine! So I am hand sewing them. Despite the time restrains, I'm actually enjoying the hive of activity. Don't they look cute? The little girl's dress material is from a breast feeding top of mine, I loved the fabric, but it just got too billowy now that we don't have boobie anymore. Thanks Hillary Lang, what a great pattern to make! Well, got to go, will be taking a break from the computer, and don't know if I'll get a chance to blog again. If I don't, Merry Christmas to you! All the best for a fruitful New Year! See you in Feb!

A big thank you to Reb!

Look at what I got in the post?!!!

Thank you so much for the gorgeous photo Rebecca! I was secretly hoping that I would receive one of your super photos one day! Don't know where to put it yet, but we are going to have a putting up of pictures session soon. Until then it is on display in the living room. I also love the presentation, the lovely paper, the lovely ribbon and the very cute card!!

Caution!

Danger signs don't have to be ugly or boring. I spotted this one getting off the ferry, and I find it kinda funky!

Eye spy Christmas wishes

So I'm being a bit greedy and having three wishes...... but I'm willing to share them!

Here they are:

HEALTH (Top)

What represents health better than a fat, breast fed baby (plus I had to squeeze a bub photo in somewhere). I can't remember how old he was there, 4 months maybe?

HAPPINESS (middle)

I saw these beautiful flowers on our walk yesterday, they were like an instant joy fix.....and smelled soooo good!

FRUITFULNESS (bottom)

I like all three, but this one is my favourite at the moment! A fruitful 2010 would be great! The photo was taken....ohhh so long ago in Ecuador. Ecuador is so colourful, there is a great culture of murals, should have taken more photos! Please excuse top, a gift from mother in law.

So health, happiness, fruitfulness to me and mine, and you and yours (and I'd like some perfume from Perfect Potion too)

Thanks for the theme! And see more eye and spyers at bug and pop

upcycle bibs

I don't have my camera at home, it was left at mum and dad's on the weekend. This is not a bad thing, as I have so many old ideas to stick into my virtual scrap book!

I loathe to throw out anything of little M's. It's all so tiny and cute, and yes, gasp, it means he is growing up! So I had a few t-shirts that were either too grubby or small for my little fatty to wear.

I was flipping through A Ervilha Cor de Rosa website (I love her site) when I found somthing she had written on converting t-shirts to bibs! I thought I can do that! And that I did, right away! I am very happy with the results, as I have got much more milage out of the ts! I should have bound the edges in some way, I didn't, and I think it would have given the bibs a more finished, professional look.

I now have lots of hot pink loops hanging in M's closet, an old t-shirt of mine, which has been cut up for other purposes.

Ps I hope daddy doesn't see this post, climbing on the sofa back is verboten....we will get into a lot of trouble!

pps thanks to Kate and Simone for the baking vibes! They worked! Both slices were very nice...especially the Almond, orange and carrot one!

Eye Spy-Joy

My apologies to all those squeamish! I did try to choose a less blood and lardy photo to put up.

This would have to be the most joyous moment in my life! Little M was born on a rainy Wednesday. I remember that it was raining because it was the first of the rain that filled the dams (08). We had been waiting for both M and the rain for what seemed such a long time. I had a large window in the ward, and would sit and watch the rain fall, while holding my little slimy one! The pregnancy had been a tough one, bad acid reflux, itchiness and the possibility of him being still born meant that I hadn't slept much in a long time (still haven't actually), the stress of whether we should induce, all came to an end, when he chose to come out early! The joy of holding a healthy little boy was indescribable!

Thanks Tara for such a wonderful choice for eye spy. And as always thanks to Cindy for being the hostess.

Rebecca

I think you would like this site. Little worlds!

Bake-a-rama!

This week is going to be a mega bake off. I have the weekly bread, M's play group Christmas party, and my birthday!

So far, not so good! I made the bread....... see the bread above? That was last weeks, now imagine a steam roller going over them, or better still, cow pats, that was this week! Thankfully they tasted nice and had nice crumb, they were perfect for dips, not for sarnies!

Last night I baked M's little biscuits from a new recipe (I know, I know).....terrible! It was so late, I couldn't start a new batch. I have most certainly not taken a photo! So I have just covered them in little cream cheese rosettes. I even considered buying a packet of Tim Tams on the way there!

So later on in the week I will bake bars for my birthday. New recipes (I know, I know) one is for luscious lemon bars, the other is for almond, orange and carrot bars. They sound good, don't they?! All recipes (except the bread) are from a new book I bought, Cookies, Brownies, Bars and Biscuits by Catherine Atkinson (I think she compiled them). The bread is cucumber pickle juice and rye. It's a Dan Lepard recipe from a book I borrowed from the library. I don't remember the name of the book, very sorry!

Well gotta go and wrap the Christmas present! Please send baking vibes this way!

Eye Spy-Adventures (of the imagination)

Cow looked pretty nervous..... Sheep waved hello to freedom, as the animals flew safely over the meat factories and away to greener pastures. What a great escape plan from the man on the outside, Farmer Joe.

As crafty mums, and crafters in general, I'm sure we all love to collect every cardboard tube, roll or box (egg cartons are my fav). Over the past three months little M's imagination has just taken off (bad pun, which I shouldn't have pointed out!) I love to watch him transform boxes into houses, ferries, cars tunnels, horses.. you name it really! He really does have some fantastic adventures for such a little fella.

With Christmas on it's way, and all the junk mail with it's glossy toy adverts, I find it very hard not to jump on the next bus and high tail it to Target to buy the complete Little People barn yard set, or Dora the Explorer adventure hide out for my little angel!

I have to take a deep breath and remember that these toys are not necessary for adventure, and that kids are very resourceful when it comes to play. I saw a really great documentary on ABC a while ago called Consuming Kids. It made the point that kids don't make things as much as they used to, you can buy everything ready made. I had a doll house (which I absolutely loved) set up on the first three shelves of my closet. Mum and I made it together, it was one of the biggest highlights of my childhood holidays! Would it have been the same if it had come in a big box? I don't know.

I'm not saying that I won't buy my little one anything ready made for Christmas, but will try to keep a healthy balance. For as long as I can!!

Look to Cindy for more experiences.

Happy adventures everyone!

Eye Spy-Adventures

It's not Sunday yet, but the weekends are usually very hectic around here so I'm posting the Sunday Eye Spy theme now. Photo thanks to Emma from one of her many trips around the world.

And the theme is.... (drum roll)... Adventures, big or small, near or far.

Remember to check in with Cindy so that we can all see what adventures you want to share. I will be doing my official eye spy adventures after the weekend craziness subsides.

Hope you enjoy it!