Making a bunny

Our camera is having issues, which is why I haven't been showing many photos on the blog lately, it's so annoying! I've gone back over our photos & found some from a couple of weeks ago.

I had left my 'ideas' notebook on the kitchen table, the one where I write & scribble sewing & crafty ideas for my own reference (I have such a bad memory!). Evie proudly presented me with a drawing she had done of a bunny toy that she wanted to make. I was so impressed with her creativity that we got straight to work!

I had to really try not to take over, but let her be involved in all aspects. I let Evie choose the material & thread, help me at the sewing machine & stuff the bunny. We're both so happy with how it turned out!!

Apparently our next project will be to make one for baby boy, hopefully we can get that done before he arrives! (yes, I'm 37 weeks now & Evie was born this early, I'll keep you posted!)

ps - Happy Australia Day for yesterday - we spent it at a friends place with a BBQ, swimming pool & hanging out, bliss!

A parenting challenge

I was reading back over some old posts in The Beetle Shack this afternoon, when I came across one entitled 'Being Spirited Is NOT An Excuse To Be A Meanie'. Emily got my attention here! She talked a bit about what it is like to parent a spirited child, and referred to a helpful book. Well, I'm all over that like ants at a picnic!

Our Evie is a very spirited child, which I love, she is energetic, active, alert, engaging... but along with that come some not so positive descriptions; difficult, strong-willed, stubborn...

I'm going to read the book suggested in the blog post, 'Raising Your Spirited Child'. I feel that especially as we add a baby to our family our parenting of Evie can use all the help & encouragement we can get!

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I don't tend to buy or read parenting books, or self-help books for that matter, have you got any you'd like to rave about?

A relaxing wednesday

For Christmas my parents bought Evie a ticket to see the Angelina Ballerina Concert (with my mum), and the concert was this morning. Evie wanted to wear her flowergirl clothes & have her hair in a 'ballet bun', she looked gorgeous! They caught a train into the city (which Evie loves doing), saw the concert & then had lunch together before coming home. She loved it & I can hear her lying in bed singing songs about Angelina even now!

I had a lovely time with the house to myself. I did a few productive things, but mostly just rested. I'll be 36 weeks tomorrow, and Roger keeps telling me off for doing too much!

I ate this delicious salad for lunch (and yes, I was halfway through before I thought to take a photo!)

I also watched Julie & Julia (great movie) while sewing a playmat for baby boy. I've decided to hand quilt it (which I've never done before) because I figure it will make me sit still alot!

Here's a pic of my lovely girl when she was brought home, she flaked it in the car & had an hours nap when she got home - so relaxing!!

Wedding recap!

My sis-in-law Laura was married to Ryan on the weekend, such an amazing day!

We spent the morning getting ready at her folks place, which was surprisingly relaxing. It helped that I was the only bridesmaid so we weren't too busy or rushed. We had quite a lovely time chatting as we had our hair & make-up done.

Here's a couple of snapshots that Rog took before we left for the church:

 my lovely flowergirl!

Dress: David Jones

Hairclip: a vintage shop

Dress: Forever New (although you can't really see it here!)

The service was lovely. My flowergirl walked the aisle like a pro, and although she was a bit wiggly & jumpy during the service, wasn't too bad! Ryan surprised his bride with a song & brought a tear to every eye!

Here's a pic of our gorgeous group of girlfriends (taken by the photographer Meg on a friends camera):

How stunning is the bride, am I right!?!

On the other side of the bride you might have spotted my sister Megan,

and on the far left is Kate from little adelaide kate!

We spent the afternoon taking photos, Meg Hansen, the photographer, is amazing. She gives really detailed instructions & knows great little spots for photos!

The evening reception was full of ambience, amazing food & some oustanding(!) dancing at Our Place@Willunga Hill.

A perfect day!!

ps - lets not talk about how trashed & tired it left me! And the enormous sunburn across my shoulders & back, ouch!! ok, so other than that, perfect!

Some lovely links - 17

It's been ages since I've done one of these posts (November!), I've got so much to share!

- a sweet free printable from lil magoolie

- these Peanut Butter Cookies with Milk Chocolate Chunks look amazing, I want to eat them right now! from Bake or Break

- naw, I just want to cuddle this sweet little guy! from golfini, via Babyccino Kids

- I feel like I should wear this sign on my forehead! from someecards, via Cup of Jo

- if I got a do-over on my wedding (don't worry, I'd still marry Rog!), but I'd definitely wear an awesome vintage dress! Check out some amazing vintage wedding & party dresses at Xtabay Vintage, via Honey Kennedy

- love this description of Romjul from Little Scandinavian, sounds like the perfect way to spend the Christmas to New Year break! I might have to start celebrating Romjul with our little family.

- another recipe to try here, Almond Cherry Quinoa Breakfast Cookies from Dinner: A Love Story

- yummy Quinoa Zucchini Burger recipe (we made this the other night, delish!)

- I've started using this homemade disinfectant spray from ecomilf, it's pretty cool. You might find this post on making your own natural cleaning kit interesting too!

A hens night & bump update

My sis-in-law is getting married next Saturday (I'm her only bridesmaid!) and we had her hens night last night, it was so cool! We went with a vintage theme and looked gorgeous, we made such a colourful & sassy group! No strippers & clubbing for us, we went with a more enjoyable craft activity, donuts, lovely dinner out & then dessert & games back at mine - perfect!

I'm 34 weeks now (omg, right!), and here's a pic Rog took of me before I left last night:

the dress is a Leona Edminston that I got on mega-sale a few years ago for $25,

the shoes used to belong to a friend

Thoughts on a fresh year

Ok, now that we're three days into 2012 I've actually given it some thought!

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Here's some things that I'm pleased about from 2011:

- Would you believe that my blog turned one on December 31st! I'm not known for finishing projects or persevering with things, so I'm very proud of this little blog!!

- I'm so happy about being pregnant & having our little boy in six weeks(!). We had some trouble getting pregnant with Evie, and again with this little baby, so I feel truly blessed!

- I'm so proud of myself for sewing more this past year & being creative.

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Here's some things that I'm excited about for 2012:

- I want to keep up my blogging & creative mojo with the new baby. I know my energy levels aren't very good & I easily get exhausted. I really want to keep pushing through to keep up with the blog & to keep sewing & being creative as well, I'll feel much better for it! I really enjoyed completing '12 days of a camera Christmas' in December and I think a key to maintaining this blog will be to introduce some regular features to keep me in line. I'll put my thinking cap on about this, any ideas?

- I would like to take more risks & be more creative with my appearance. I really enjoy all the fashion & beauty inspiration that I find on blogs & Pinterest, but it doesn't come very naturally to me. Especially as I get my figure back after baby & feel a bit more like 'me' I'm looking forward to experimenting a bit!

- I've got a housework schedule that I'd like to keep up with (idea stolen from a friend!). Each weekday I've designated a different 'zone' of the house (ie, Mondays is Lounge Room). My aim is to keep the house clean & in order by doing a little everyday, fingers crossed, I'd really like this to become a natural habit.

- Evie will start pre-kindy in February, which she is super stoked about! I aim to walk to kindy & back with her each session (only once a week to start, but once she turns four it will be a few times a week). Exercise is not really my friend, but this walk (five minutes each way) seems like a great place to start!

- Roger & I have our nine year anniversary tomorrow, I know, where has the time gone! I'd like to work on our marriage a bit this year; have fun & excitement, plan some date nights & keep it sexy (ha! hope that's not too much information!)

New year round-up

I've got to put some more thought into my thoughts about the New Year before I can share much with you, so here's some of my fave stuff from blog-land:

- Fear less, hope more; eat less, chew more; whine less, breathe more; talk less, say more; hate less, love more; and all good things are yours. –Swedish Proverb
via Honey Kennedy

- Olivine's Charm School has ten questions to ask yourself about 2011, I'm planning to have a go, let me know if you do to!

- Free New Year printables from Lolalina, a Birthday Calendar and a New Year Intentions Journal

- The cutest New Years Eve video by Zooey Deschanel & Joseph Gordon-Levitt, via modern kiddo