Sushi cushions

My dear friend Nancy recently bought her own house. All by herself.

She is one of my sushi friends from work, we love going out for lunch for a chat and sushi.

When I saw this fabric, I just had to make her something. Cushion covers were perfect for her new home.

I also made her a card, and am so pleased how it turned out (using fabric scraps from this dress)

Happy Birthday, darling girl

Happy 4th Birthday Abbey.

Four years ago today, it was supposed to be my last day of work before Maternity leave started. But you had other ideas. Instead, I was waking daddy up at 4-something-am saying my waters had broken. We were having a baby. One month early. No hospital bag packed. Luckily, we did not panic. We packed some bags, and by the time your daddy was driving me to the hospital, contractions had started.

At 1:47pm you arrived after a quick birth of under 6 hours.  There was a room full of doctors and nurses when you were born, they were all concerned for your heath as you were a month early. Daddy and Nanny G were there to help too, I needed them. After a quick cuddle, you and daddy were whisked away to the Special Care Nursery, where you lived for the first 15 days of your life.

Since your birth, we have learnt to let you do many things, all in "Abbey-time".

You bring us so much joy and make us laugh every day. We are so proud of you, the way you have grown into such a polite, sweet and thoughtful little girl. We love your energy and enthusiasm and wonder at all things new.

I love you with all my heart, darling girl. Happy 4th Birthday.

Love from Mummy xoxox

Christmas thank you cards

Things around here, since Zoe was born, are taking a little longer to complete than normal.

When we went away on holidays recently, I finally had the time to write messages on and post Abbey's Christmas thank you cards.

I love these cupcake cards, and they are very easy to make. You just draw a cupcake shape over the fold in a blank card, colour this in, then stick a multi folded piece of coloured card above the cupcake. I found that 1/4 of an A4 sheet of card, divided down the longest edge, fitted our cards perfectly (I hope this makes sense)

We got the idea from Mister Maker. Mister Maker is a big hit in our house, both Abbey and I love this show (when it is on ABC1 or ABC2)

Have fun!

Au revoir

Yesterday we sadly said goodbye to Chris's parents. They had been staying with us for the last 8 weeks, visiting all the way from England.

The house feels so big now, and oddly very quiet, even with two noisy children still here.

Safe travels home, Nanny Kiss and Grandad Pete. xox

I love holidays

(Freaky) Chocolate Brownie Slice

I have been meaning to share this amazing Chocolate Brownie Slice recipe for ages, I even took these photos last month. But you know, stuff happens, and I had not got around to it. So I sat down at the computer right now ready to share it, but first looked at a few other blogs I follow, and lo and behold, just today Corrie from retromummy not only blogged a very similar recipe, she has also made the same dinner (my salmon fishcakes recipe is here) for her family, as I have made for ours. Freaky. Spooky. Weird. But all yummy, that's all that matters in my opinion.

I'll still share my Brownie recipe, because I know my sister-in-law Jus and family will love eating them.

Chocolate Brownie Slice

• 150-200g good quality dark chocolate*
• 100g butter
• 1 cup sugar (I use brown)
• 1/2 cup plain flour (I use wholemeal)
• 2 Tablespoons cocoa
• 2 eggs

1. Line a 16x26cm slab pan with baking paper, grease with butter.
2. Melt chocolate and butter together (I use a pyrex dish suspended over a saucepan of simmering water) Let it cool a little.
3. Take off heat, mix in sugar, plain flour and cocoa.
4. Add eggs, mix well.
5. Cook in prepared pan for 25-35 minutes in pre-heated oven set to 160C. I like my brownies quite moist and still a little gooey, so only cook mine for 27 minutes.
6. Try not to eat all of it at once.

* I buy good quality cooking chocolate in 200g blocks. Not all of it makes it into the brownie slice, some falls into my mouth. Make sure you put at least 150g into your brownies :)

Love letter to Zoe

Dearest Zoe,

Six months ago today, you were born. Six months ago today our little family changed forever, and in the most wonderful way. Chris and I now have another beautiful child to cherish. Abbey has a little sister to entertain, smother with kisses (and boss about)

Even before you were conceived, I wanted you, craved you. There was this strong, primal urge inside me to know you. For you to be in my life.

Your birth was the hardest thing I have ever done in my life. What started out as what looked to be a quick and easy birth turned out to be (slightly) longer and challenging (for me) You were facing posterior, then spinning around and around with every contraction, and not progressing down as part of my cervix was blocking your way. Lucky daddy and Nanny G were both there as my support, and the two midwives were amazing to be able to assist you out into the world. The whole time I was birthing you, you were never in distress. You were so happy and snug inside. And you still are, outside. You are such a happy, contented little soul. So easy going. You have fitted into our family perfectly.

Knowing you, loving you, has moved me to the core of my whole being. I now feel the most wonderful sense of completion. Like a final puzzle piece, missing for years, has been restored.

I love the way your face lights up when you see Abbey, how she can make you smile like no one else can. I love the way your eyes follow me around the room when you are hungry, nothing else matters to you, until you have been fed. I love every minute we spend together breastfeeding - every roll of beautiful chubby skin on your body, I have nourished. Thank you for coping with my constant over supply of milk and such a forceful letdown. Nothing has fazed you.

Thank you my darling Zoe for making me love even more. Thank you for re-kindling my love of sewing and being creative. Being creative is now my sanctuary. Thank you for reminding me how precious life is. I am so grateful, feel so privileged to be your and Abbey's mummy.

Happy half birthday, Zoe.

I love you with all my heart.

Mummy xoxox