Lady bug magnet.

Back in December, my mother's group held a Christmas party for the kids, and we all took along a present so the kids could do a kris kringle.

All the presents were wrapped up, they just had to pick a present for them selves from under the tree. This was the one Abbey chose - a cute lady bug and bumble bee game of noughts and crosses/tick tack toe. Abbey must be a lady bug magnet?

Recipe: Anzac biscuits

Abbey wanted to do some baking last week, so we made Anzac biscuits. Abbey only loves cooking if she can eat it along the way, and lick the bowl and cooking spoons (I love this too)


I love her concentration face, rolling the mixture!


And this is the "please can I eat one now" face.

And now the "please can I eat one more, I'll even smile for the camera" pose.

Most Australian's know the recipe, I am mainly posting this for our family in the UK, they might like to make them one day, they are very yummy. I always make a double batch, so I can share some with my mum and Grandma.

I can't say where this version of the recipe has come from, I have had it scribbled on a (now) grubby piece of paper for over 15 years. This grubby piece of paper is well traveled too, it came with me when I lived in the UK.

Anzac Biscuits:

1 cup rolled oats (not quick oats)

1 cup plain flour (I use wholemeal)

1 cup sugar (I use brown sugar)

3/4 cup desiccated coconut

125g butter

2 tablespoons golden syrup

1/2 teaspoon bicarb

1 tablespoon boiling water

1. Combine rolled oats, flour, sugar and coconut in large bowl, mix well.
2. Melt together butter and golden syrup.
3. Add bicarb to boiling water, mix well, then add to butter and golden syrup mixture.
4. Mix together, be careful it does not overflow, as the liquid puffs up in size.
5. Add to the dry ingredients, and mix until well combined.
6. Roll into balls, or use spoonfuls of mixture and cook on a non-stick baking tray or baking paper. Cook in a slow oven 150C for 12-18 minutes. 12 minutes for soft biscuits, 18 for crunchy ones.

I always use less coconut as I have a mild food intolerance to it, and I add in extra oats to make up the difference.

Special hand made Christmas Presents, part 3.

This is my last blog about all the special hand made Christmas presents we received.

These gorgeous dresses were made by Abbey and Zoe's Auntie Stepfie. Stepfie is new to sewing, but picking it up very quickly. I felt very special to be able to help her late last year with the dress lining. Since then Stepfie has been sewing up a storm, yay!

Special Christmas presents, part 2.

Abbey and Zoe were given some lovely handmade Christmas presents from Auntie Paige.

Everyone keeps asking me who is the ladybug really for?

Abbey's present is amazing - all these hand made mattresses in such lovely fabrics. The Princess is hand made, with her own little crown. A few peas were included with the gift, but these were lost within days of receiving.

This version of the story, by Lauren Child (author of Charlie and Lola) is magical.

This present is perfect for Abbey at 3.5 years old, she loves playing with dolls and is fascinated with fairy tales.

Thank you Auntie Paige for such thoughtful presents, made with love. xox

Special hand made Christmas presents

I am one very lucky Auntie. My gorgeous niece and nephew, who live all the way over in England, made these for me, for Christmas - a ladybug needle holder and a ladybug pin cushion. My lovely sister-in-law Justine helped them.

How cute are the backs?

They are getting used all the time, I don't know how I survived before I had them. Thanks Jus! xox

Can anything be better than a bag of maltesers?

Yes!

A mega party bucket of maltesers.

A whole 640g of maltesers.

Yum.

Thanks mum for such a yummy Christmas present.

Rainbow Dress

This is Abbey wearing her new Rainbow Dress that I made for her (before Christmas) with some of the lovely fabric I got from GJ's.

Abbey loves spinning in circles in this dress, the skirt is full enough to have a great twirl to it.

I made it using this pattern. I am not a big fan of the pattern, not sure if I will use it again. I did not realise until I started, that it is supposed to be fully lined, I only lined the bodice. You also add the zipper in last and this is really quite awkward to do.

I am quite chuffed, as she wants to wear it all the time - as soon as it is washed, it is worn again.

Yes, she is wearing gum boots/wellies in the middle of summer. Yes they are on the wrong feet. Again.

Sewing in the New Year

Happy New Year!

I spent my New Year sewing Abbey a new cover for her europe sized pillow. One side flowers, the other butterflies. Lots of pink. Of course.

It matches her room perfectly.