xxx Cousins xxx

On a blogging roll today!  Thought I would share the Santa photo we had taken today with the four cousins ... Hunter was very brave!  Have to say the David Jones photos are heaps better than the Westfield ones.

Christmas ham bag

Today's little piece of creativity! Now we just need the ham :)

Gingerbread Men

Another addition to my Christmas traditions ... making gingerbread men!  These were surprisingly simple and look oh so cute (and yummy too).  I used a medicine dropper to do the icing ... heaps easy!  Now I want to attempt one of those gingerbread houses :)

The Love You Book

During one of my recent internet shopping episodes, I came across this gorgeous book, "The Love You Book".  Written by Andrew Wynne and Emma Scott, it has the most amazing illustrations and it is a beautiful story for mummies and daddies to read to their babe! We haven't read it to Lucy yet as it is a Christmas present ... but I can't wait!  Highly recommend it!





























PS. I bought it through the website www.hardtofind.com.au

Getting Creative

It was my sister Maree's birthday the other day and as part of her present I decided to make some mismatched table napkins.  After deliberating over fabric at Spotlight, I finally chose four, and made two of each.  I think they turned out pretty well ... have actually had a request for a set from another sister!

All Wrapped Up

Here is a pic of some of the presents under the Christmas tree (well the ones that I have wrapped).  I got the fabric bows idea from Anna Spiro.  She has decorated her tree with these bows too.  Pop on over to her blog for a squiz.

Cherry Ripe Ice Cream

I have just made a tub of cherry ripe ice cream ... yummo!  I got the recipe from my sister's mother-in-law (thanks Tracy!).  You can find the recipe as well as many other scrumptious dishes at Tracy's blog ...

http://www.tracymadden.com.au/

P.S Can highly recommend the chicken balls too
P.P.S The Essential Ingredient ... Love is a fab read :)

I am loving right now ...

Downton Abbey!  Yes I know it has been out for a while but I have only just managed to get my hands on it.  It is a television series set in England in the years leading up to the first world war, and it tells the story of the Crawley family as well as all their servants.  I have seen the first two episodes and I am hooked!
Put it on your Christmas list!

This time a year ago ...

A year ago today we found out that I was pregnant!  Hard to believe how much our lives have changed since then and how much more enriched they are since Lucy's arrival.  Hard to remember life before her!

I was lucky enough to have a dream pregnancy ... I loved it!  I had no morning sickness and no bizarre cravings.  I loved watching my tummy grow, and then the feel of Lucy moving around.  Although towards the end that moving around became quite painful as L was breech.  My skin was glowing and my hair in the best condition ever :)

Here is a list of my essential pregnancy items ...

1. Bio - Oil ... I had a bottle of this in the shower and would lather it on before getting out.
2. Belly Bean Maternity Pillow ... really needed this towards the end to help get comfortable.
3. Heat pack ... helped ease the sore spots.
4. Baby Wise ... absolute must have read!
5. What To Expect App ... I downloaded this onto my phone right from the beginning of my pregnancy.      
It gives you a weekly run down on what is happening with you and bub, as well as useful tips.
6. Yoga ... I started doing antenatal yoga classes but they were soooo expensive.  I ended up finding some on itunes, so downloaded those and did yoga in my lounge room!
7. Practical Parenting magazine ... Luke's sister got me a subscription to this ... a great gift idea for expecting mums :)

Here 'Tis ...

It's December!

Happy first of December everyone! Can't wait to put the tree up today and crank up the Christmas Carols. This year I'm not going for a particular colour theme ... Just putting all the decs on :). My mum is the queen of tree decorating. She has each year's colour scheme chosen years in advance, and she has a cupboard chock full of beautiful ornaments all stored in Christmas boxes! She has decided to follow a retailer Christmas and put her tree up as soon as they were up in the shops :)

Mum's Tree 2011

The Butterfly Tree Markets

... are on this Sunday at the Gold Coast Arts Centre, beginning at 9 am. I have just had a sneak peak at the stalls and have spotted many things I want to buy! Especially excited to see my cousin and aunt's stall making an appearance ... Buttercup Baby! I have a baby shower on that day too so desperately hope I can be organized enough to get to the market early ... And perhaps pick up a few gifts :)



http://www.thebutterflytree.com.au/sneak_a_peek_at_the_Gold_Coast!.html

Agapanthus from my garden ...

Mustard Glazed Lamb Racks

I saw this recipe for Mustard Glazed Lamb Racks with scalloped potatoes in the Woolworths app and just had to try it ... Delish! It is meant to serve 4 people but I reckon it is best for 3.
PS I have to say that I am liking the Woolworths app when grocery shopping ... It sorts your list into aisles for you :)
PPS A little useful tip for mummies with little bubs ... You have to ask for the trolley with the capsule at the service desk at Carindale!

Ingredients
4 (about 180g each) desiree potatoes, peeled, into 5mm-thick slices
2 tsp olive oil
Salt & freshly ground black pepper
1 tbs fresh rosemary leaves
2 tbs quince paste
1 tbs wholegrain mustard
1 garlic clove, crushed
2 (about 300g each) roast lamb racks heart smart
Steamed asparagus, to serve

Method
Preheat oven to 200 degrees celcius. Line a baking tray with non-stick baking paper. Place the potato, in a single layer, over the lined tray. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Bake in preheated oven for 15 mins.
Meanwhile, place the quince paste, mustard and garlic in a small saucepan over low heat. Cook, stirring, for 2 mins or until well combined and heated through. Remove from heat.
Place lamb racks in a roasting dish. Brush evenly with mustard mixture.
Remove potato from oven and turn. Sprinkle with rosemary leaves. Place the potato and lamb in oven and bake for 20 mins for medium or until cooked to your liking and potatoes are golden brown. Remove from oven and cover with foil. Set aside for 5 mins to rest.
Use a sharp knife to slice lamb racks. Place potato on serving plates, top with lamb. Serve immediately with steamed asparagus.

I am loving right now ...

ModelCo Fiber Lash Brush On Lashes Mascara ... love, love, love!  My sisters and I are all using this mascara at the moment.  Lovely long lashes are super easy ... brush on a coat of mascara, then a coat of the fibres, followed by another coat of mascara.  Repeat for super duper long lashes!

Christmas Traditions

We are heading off today to have an early Christmas lunch with my Dad's side of the family before they leave for overseas. I absolutely love this time of year and I am counting down the days till I can put the tree up.

This got me thinking about Christmas traditions ...
1. Put the tree up on 1st December then take it down on New Year's Day (although sometimes that doesn't seem long enough!) Love having a good old singalong to some christmas carols while tree decorating.
2. Make shortbread biscuits. This year I am on the hunt for a fruit mince recipe as I want to make the shortbread biscuits with this inside ... Like the ones you get in Woolies ... Drooling at the thought!
3. Make apricot balls. We always have these at Mum's house on Christmas Eve, although I am happy to have them anytime all year round.
4. Luke, Lucy and I all have our own Santa sacks which we hang near the tree. I always put a bag of chocolate coins in the stockings ... In keeping with the story of St Nicholas
5. Luke and I have decided that we are going to buy a gift to put under the Kmart Wish tree each year. We will buy for a child that is Lucy's age and sign it from her.
6. Eat my body weight in nectarines ... To me they smell like Christmas!
7. I am going to buy Lucy a Christmas decoration each year ... By the time she has her own tree to decorate, she will hopefully have a lovely assortment of ornaments.
8. Go for a drive to look at Christmas lights.
9. Make popcorn and watch a Christmas movie.
10. Get a Santa photo taken.
11. Write Christmas cards.
12. Read "Twas The Night Before Christmas" on Christmas Eve.
13. Make gingerbread men.


I reckon Christmas is going to be even more special now that we have our babes to share it with. It will also herald the start of many more traditions ... Letters to Santa, leaving out beer and cookies Christmas Eve ... All the things that my sisters and I loved doing as kids :)

Bring on the festive season!

Water Safety

I saw on the News last night that many Australian children can't swim!  We are set to face a drowning crisis according to the Royal Life Saving Society.  They state that 50,000 Australian children will leave primary school this year unable to swim.  I find that totally shocking, considering we are a country of people who love the beach, and many of us have pools in our backyards! As we are coming into the holiday season with lots of swimming and beaching going on, the following ad is a timely reminder of how careful we need to be when children are around water, and not just surf and pools.  Please watch it and share it on your facebook page.

This Much Water

www.youtube.com


Lucy will be starting swimming lessons next month.  We are going to take her to the Sam Riley Swim School at Mt Gravatt ... 
http://www.samrileyswimschools.com/

Looking forward to it! Not so sure about L though! 


xx Kit

Lucy's Christening

I knew right from the start that I wanted to have L christened while she was still quite young ... Something so sweet about little babies in Christening gowns!
It just so happened that the church we wanted was able to perform the baptism just after L turned 3 months which suited us perfectly.

The Church ... I chose St Mary's Anglican Church at Kangaroo Point ... an absolutely stunning building with a gorgeous view over the Brisbane river. This church has a lot of meaning to my family as it is where my parents were married, I was christened as well as my sisters and nieces.

The Dress ... I wanted to buy a dress that was simple and not too lacy and frilly. After scouring through etsy shops, I found what I was looking for ... http://www.etsy.com/listing/73568283/christening-gown-in-cottonthe-lincoln

Julia makes the most stunning christening attire and is a delight to work with.  She tailor made Lucy's gown to size and ensured it was shipped in time for the big day.  We had Lucy's name and baptism date embroidered on the lining of the gown ... hopefully we can add another name or two in time! I also bought a really cute head band, but L was a little reluctant to wear it on the day!

The Gifts ... Oh my, how spoilt she was! Before I sent the invites out, I opened up a trust account for Lucy.  I made stickers with her account details and stuck them on the back of each invitation.  She now has a good amount of money in there!
Every girl needs a string of pearls ... right? Well, even though I am still waiting for mine (hint, hint), one lot of grandparents as well as Mr and myself bought Lucy her very own pearl necklace ... what a lucky ducky!  She wore the pearls on the day and they have now been put away for safe keeping.  I figured they would be something she would really appreciate when she is older, and extra special as she wore them on her christening :)

Lucy also received 2 gorgeous swarovski crystal figurines, Bunnikins bowl, a venetian glass jewellery box and spectacular venetian glass mirror, a children's bible, cutlery engraved with her name, jewellery, a print for her room, collector coins and a cute piggy bank from Tiffany and Co.

We had a beautiful day sharing this special occasion with our family and friends ... and the star of the day was on her best behaviour ... Perfect!

xx Kit

Once upon a time ...

...is how all fairy tales begin and is therefore a fitting title for my first blog post ... Ever!
I am a first time mum and would like to share my experiences, ideas and daily doings. Lucy is 4 months today ... Don't know where that time has gone! I absolutely love being a mummy and I am lucky enough to be able to stay home and raise my girl ... A true blessing! I hope that you find my posts interesting / helpful???
Enjoy!
xx Kit