Our weekend that was

Fun was had at the ice rink. The first laps were slow.... but big smiles and then confidence grew and he started to wrap dance! Little miss enjoyed her party and was quite graceful on the ice.

I enjoyed knitting and actually got quite fast at it, intermintetly look up to check on the skaters.

I am down to the last couple of rows nearly.

After an early start this morning with master playing rugby at 8am! we enjoyed the rest of the day in the backyard. A little bit of ping pong, some swinging, a bit of totem tennis but mostly Golf was a hit (no pun intended!)  I started quilting the baby's quilt, though it was tough- either the layers are thicker than Ive previously worked with or I'm out of practice. So I took myself outside and read my country living mag and enjoyed a cup of tea. I can feel spring coming.

After all the fun, the kids decided to take the activities inside and have a quick rest while I made some apple and cinnamon muffins, just before we set off for the hospital tour.

I have reached 30 weeks! It feels that long but I am still amazed. 

I started to get hot flushes during the tour.... you would think it would be no worries third time round but I think as it has been a while maybe my mind is chattering more than it should. The hospital seemed nice and Daddy is well equipped with where to park and enter for the special event!

Sharing the creativeness

Can I share with you such a creative find. You just have to stop by at acuppaandacatchup blog and check out the awesome QUILLOW. A quilt that folds into a pillow! Genius.
AND a tutorial to make your own, love it. Though I do have three unfinished quilts in my workpile, so not sure how close I am to starting this project, but its added to the list.

Well that is my sitting break over.... we are off ice skating, well the family will be skating and I will be watching (maybe secretly knitting!)
Have a great weekend

Master Appreciation

I LOVE my mixmaster. Just wanted to put it out there!

I am extremely grateful for it and love its work. 

I know I secretly dream of a kitchenaid - especially when I watch martha using hers but I do honestly feel extremely grateful for the one I have.

Lately I have been reflecting on all that we have and how very blessed we are. There is so much happening in the world today and our days are filled with so much I cant believe that we still crave for more. I am truely greatful for the small things...... The sun filled day and a warm cup of english breakfast tea, My two beautiful cuties that light up my day, my sewing machine, the love our house is filled with, borrowing magazines from the library, my sister visiting with a big bag full of baby clothes, my girl singing at the top of her lungs the same lyrics over and over and over, my mixmaster!, my flannelette sheets and my heat bag for my back...... I could continue.......  but for your sake I wont!

take a moment to enjoy the view and realise everything you have in your life.

girly gifts for a little girl

I have been sewing lots this last week and loving it. Though I have been motivated by a ticking clock as they were mostly gifts, but I am loving being at the machine and creating. 

We were off to a 5yr olds party, a special fairy friend of ours, and I wanted to make something sweet for her, for her room.

Now my girl has a lot of little treasures, which all need homes. So with this in mind I made a little purse and a wall bunting with a twist.

The bunting is all pockets so she can house her treasures in them.

Fairy pink and super sweet. I hope she loves it.

knitted by me!

I finished it. And I am so proud. Can you believe I even introduced a second colour (successfully)

Was a quick knit, then I sewed it up. 

I used bamboo cotton and it feels so soft. If we have a girl, I plan to add a dusty pink flower to the front.

I have since fallen in love with stocking stitch and have started a baby's blanket using my beanie skills (stocking stitch, stripes and lounge knitting!!) 

I have been doing a bit every day and actually get withdrawals if I miss a day, though I seem to be getting slower the more I do!!

My babysitting gig

Our escape to the country

We escaped. Escaped to the country.

It was for a short two nights but was well worth the trip as we felt like we had been away for ages and all enjoyed ourselves so much.

And I do need to make special mention of how well I traveled at 27 weeks! 

The kids LOVED being alltogether and just played and played.

We found ladybirds.... not just one, but lots. 

There was quadbike rides, olive picking, bunny chasing, arts and crafts, fresh air, running and chasing, tasty dinners round a big wooden table, card playing, knitting, late nights and lots of laughs.

I am more keen than ever to find our spot in the country (not toooo far from everything!)

Meet Mabel the Monkey

Not quite the same as the picture, but ever so cute just the same. 

Meet Mabel the monkey.

I didnt make her to 100% size as I thought it would be just as cute small, but I can see it would finish alot better at a larger size. 

Check out the length of her tail! 

Since making Mabel, I have gotten quite creative with the blossom bunnies and am enjoying them. Also trying to knit a baby blanket which is quite time consuming but very relaxing.

I am thoroughly enjoying having extra time to craft, and trying new things. I was looking at more craft books online today, and dream about fabric and wool! 

We are off on a mini-break for the weekend and I am already thinking about craft I can do on the go!!!

Change away

I did it. Its finished.

It felt like a labour of love.

It took alot of thinking, just to make sure I did it right the first time, save unpicking galore!

I checked out a few pictures online of others you can get. And I looked at my sister-in-laws one for size and finish. Then at home, decided on material and made a template.

I wasn't using a pattern and didn't really know exactly the best way to go about it but I started cutting.

And its finished and ready for nappy changes on the go!

Has a pocket on one side for the nappies, wipes down the bottom and a zip pocket on the other side to carry bits like cream or baggies. And also has a small taggie at the top I can connect up a toy for enjoyment while changing!!

And folds up into a clutch size purse that can be carried alone or popped into my handbag. No need for bulky Nappy bags here. And for this minimalist its perfect!

I would have loved to add a pocket at the front but I thought it may make it too bulky (and was tooo much for me to think about!! hehe)

progress..

so... slowly getting rounder!

My maternity jeans are my saviour. Living in them.

And the cot is finished. We assembled it on the weekend and it got me very excited. I have't been that eager for everything as I guess I just thought it would all happen in time, no rush. But now that its up I cant stop looking at it and yesterday I pinned the quilt together getting ready to stitch it.

We still need to order a mattress, so for now the washing basket is sitting in it! This is motivation to put the washing away!

Cinnamon Scrolls - yes please

Its holidays. Now that im not working we have lots of time to have fun playing, crafting, and eating!
I was looking through some magazines and books looking at different ideas to cook and decided to try cinnamon scrolls. The receipe was relatively straight forward, no egg, quick to make and the best bit - tasted DELICIOUS!
When I pulled open the oven door, I was so delighted at the sight and smell... they looked just like the picture, success. The kids immediately had two each (and so did I) The middle part was extremely close to the texture and taste of a doughnut. Something my kids haven't got to taste except for the ones I tried to make that took 4 hours and did not come close!!!

Not great for the diabetics or waistline watchers! but not soooo bad sometimes. Though I did make a second batch the next day as they disappeared quickly. The second batch however, I left off the icing part and they were just as delicious.

Cinnamon Scrolls

Dough

2 cups self raising flour

pinch salt

90g butter chopped

2/3 cups milk

Filling

120g butter softened

4 tablespoons brown sugar

2 teaspoons cinnamon sugar

Icing

1 cup icing sugar

1 tablespoon boiling water

1. preheat oven to 210 degrees C

2. sift flour and salt into a bowl. Rub chopped butter into flour till it resembles bread crumbs.

3. make a well in middle and add milk and mix with a flat bladed knife till it comes together as a dough. On a floured surface gently knead briefly until smooth and roll out dough to a rectangle about 25 x 40cm.

4. make the filling - beat butter, brown sugar and cinnamon sugar together until light and fluffy. then spread it evenly over dough

5. roll up the dough, rolling from the long side to make a long log. then slice into pieces and place onto a baking tray and cook in oven for 12 minutes, until golden.

6. to make icing - mix icing sugar and boiling water to make smooth runny icing and drizzle over top of scrolls. I found it best to wait about 5 mins before drizzling.

A sweet treat.

Upside down Apricot cake - egg free version

I was rifling through my magazines for a receipe for pannacotta (a craving) and I stumbled upon my 2009 Winter edition Family Circle which really has some great things to make. Things I intended to try and hadn't and now was the time. 

So the other night I whipped up an Apricot Upside Down Cake

mmmmm yummo, see how little is left! You really must try this delicious cake. It was simple to bake and lovely both warm (with ice cream) and cool. 

80g butter, melted
1/3 cup firmly packed brown sugar
800g can apricot halves, well drained
125g butter softened
1/2 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla essence
2 tablespoons of apple puree
1 1/4 cups self raising flour
1/3 cup milk


1. preheat oven to 180 degrees C. Line square tin with baking paper
2.  combine melted butter and brown sugar then spoon over base of square tin. Arrange apricot halves cut side down in the sugar mixture
3. Beat softened butter and sugar till pale and creamy. Add apple puree and beat well. add half flour and half milk and mix. then add the rest of the flour and milk and mix till well combined.
4. Spread cake batter over fruit. Bake for 30- 35 minutes - until skewer inserted comes out clean. stand the cake in the tin for 10 mins before carefully turning onto a serving plate

ENJOY