Sunday Listening

Where Have I Been

Oh dear, it's been a week since I last posted. I had been trying to be pretty regular with my posts these last couple of months but I fell off the wagon.
So, I'll try to sum up where I've been and what I've been doing this last week......

Last Saturday was a friend's daughter's first birthday party. There is nothing nicer than a party in the park (except when you come home sun burnt!)

Harper is cutting teeth left, right and centre. Her first six teeth all within 3 weeks.

Swimming lessons with Michaela last Sunday. This is her first term of lessons and it's lovely to see her enjoying being in the water.

Jon left for a school camp on Monday and so began my first few days as a single parent with two.

I did a little bit of crafting this week. A phone pouch and a pillowcase for Pillowcases for Oncology through Handmade Cooperative.

My very generous husband gave me an iPad2 for my birthday the other week so I've been exploring the world of apps and learning how to use it. I've also had my head buried in Design Sponge at Home which provides great food for thought for redecorating and savvy DIY projects.

I had a lovely walk and chat with a friend around the river yesterday while Michaela was at Pre Kindy (only to turn an even brighter shade of red last night- I obviously didn't learn my lesson!)

I did promise a couple of tutorials too, a LOVE tshirt applique and a cloud brooch so I'll do my best to get these to you soon. Until then, have a wonderful Friday!

Loungeroom Makeover- On a Budget

Our front loungeroom underwent a little makeover a couple of years ago. New paint, some new accessories and all on a pretty tight budget of $100. I took my inspiration from this pic in an attempt to 'lighten' the room. (The original wall paint was a dark grey and with it's south facing front windows, the room was just too dark.)

I did have a 60s/70s teak sideboard on my wish list to replace the existing black glass tv unit but instead I put on my frugal redecorating hat last weekend and came up with this.

We had one IKEA Expedit upstairs in the study for books and another in the main family room which held magazines and some toys. And now we have a long console for the tv, books and a few accesories. I'm pretty chuffed with our kinda-repurposed tv console/ sideboard/ bookcase and especially with it's $0 price tag!

Happy Valentine's Day (+ a recipe!)

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My husband and I aren't the gushing, mushy, overtly romantic kind on Valentine's Day. We're the kind who like to surprise the hell out of each other at birthdays and Christmas or any other day of the year when we just want to make the other person feel special.

Having said that, I wanted to do something for Jon that would make him smile. So Michaela and I (finally got Harper down for an afternoon nap after yet another- her fourth in two weeks!- tooth cut through today......that's too much for a 7 month old I believe) decided to make Jon's/ Daddy's favourite biscuits- Florentines.

Ingredients

4 cups Corn Flakes

1.5 cups Salted Peanuts

1.5 cups Sultanas

2 pkts Coloured Cherries (chopped)

1 tin Condensed Milk

Milk chocolate

makes approx 30

Pre-heat moderate oven.

Mix ingredients together in a large bowl.

Spoon mixture onto a tray lined with Glad Bake.

Bake for approx 15 mins, until they turn golden. Allow to cool

Melt chocolate and coat underside of Florentine.

Enjoy, I dare you to stop at one!

After seeing this post I also wanted to make Michaela a wee outfit for the day. I ran out of time for a matching hairclip but it's partly done. I'll share a little tutorial for both in the coming days.

 

Hope you have a wonderful Valentine's Day

Penelope x

Valentine's Day Crafts for Kids

There is a multitude of crafty Valentine's Day ideas on the net so I thought I'd put a few of my favourites together to share. These projects can be done with young kids without too much preparation and equipment.

Paint an owl with Learn Create Love

Placemat from Katydid and kid

Bake these cupcakes together - from Bakerella

Make and Play Noughts & Crosses from Alphamom

Valentine's Finger Puppets

Print off these Valentine's Coupons from Stuck on You
Or dig out your IKEA heart shaped ice tray from the cupboard and make some 'red' ice blocks using strawberries - yum and fun!

Hello 34

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Yesterday I entered my 'mid thirties.'

New age = new frame of mind/ new direction/ new life philosophy.........not really! Sure, I'd love a little more 'me' time, I'd like to turn my small hobby into something bigger and better and of course, some money in the bank. But, my life at the moment is wonderful, my family is happy and healthy, they make me smile, laugh and feel appreciated and the time we spend together is more important than anything else.

Laundry Inspiration

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We got a new washing machine on the weekend. Obviously not the most exciting of news and acquisitions but I do love new, shiny toys! Our laundry room is not hidden behind a door and is also currently used as a change area for Harper (and visiting babies) so it's not one of those rooms where the chaos can be shut away.

As is often the case when something new enters the home, the surroundings look old and drab and you find yourself thinking about re-vamping rooms, accessories, etc. And this is what I'm doing now looking at my tired and bland laundry. I'm not sure whether I would ever have a large bouquet of flowers in my laundry, but this pic is great food for thought. Lots of light, good cupboard space, a rug for texture, all of which make for a clean, organised and 'inviting' laundry.

Sunday Listening (and Watching)

As a child of the 80s, I know this book quite well. (I had the hickory dickory clock and secretly wished for the Dolly Varden.....)

It's Thursday

My first baby starts at Pre-Kindy today. Kindy for kids whose birthdays fall in the later half of the year. She is beyond excited and my heart is currently swelling, both with pride and with the realisation that this is one of MANY big steps for her. I am promising myself not to cry and I'm sure I'll be fine, until I get back in the car and drive away........

My other baby chose to start her day at 4.10am. Not cool, Harper! Don't you love how children can pick those days when you really need a sleep or when you have big plans for the day??!!! Grrrrr. After my initial 'Are you kidding me?' (perhaps with an expletive or two in there) I felt sorry for her. It's super muggy, she just cut her first two bottom teeth, there are more teeth on their way and she just couldn't get back to sleep. The fact that she only sleeps on her tummy now adds to the discomfort when hot. But she is an awesome kid and I can't stay cranky with her when she has this expression 99% of the day.

How did your children enjoy their first day of Kindy/School? Hope you managed to keep away the tears ;)

Dollhouse Update - Bathroom

The dollhouse is out of the box and partially constructed, and despite it's very plain exterior is quite sweet. Four rooms, a set of stairs and a facade, all ready for some colour and personality.

And now that I've started looking for ideas to turn this dollhouse into something AMAZING, I've found out that dollhouse furniture can be ridiculously EXPENSIVE! As gorgeous as this kitchen is, $50+ is just too much, especially considering that the house itself only cost me $20. So, Mum to the rescue. My mother had a collection of dollhouse furniture which is about 30 years old and still in their respective boxes. She had planned to use it on a dollhouse for me as a child but dolls weren't my thing so she hung onto them all this time.

There is no rush to complete this project so the plan is to play around with what I have lying around as well as the 'vintage' furniture from my mother. Here's the current upstairs bathroom. Not quite the colour scheme I was imagining but maybe I could paint it..........???

 Did you have a dollhouse as a child? Did your mother have the foresight to hang on to toys from your childhood?