Jolly Jumper with the sniffles...

Hi Dolls,

There are sniffles in our house again. I was supposed to book Piper in for her needles but had to postpone because my poor little chicken wing went and got herself another cold and gave it to me while she was at it. At least I can't say that she doesn't share!

Piper tried out her jolly jumper for the first time this week. She loves it and could not get enough of bouncing and spinning around! If you have a baby you have to get one of these. They are so much fun - for the both of us!
She has also been using her Bumbo a little more. It's so cute and she looks so grown up sitting up in her Bumbo and bouncing around in her jolly jumper.

                         

 

We also finally got a door gate. We went to put it up and guess what... too big. So we will have to take it back now and get a new one.

A couple of weeks ago we went to Robert Gordon Pottery in Pakenham. That place has the most amazing things. I know that Piper's first birthday isn't until April next year, but I couldn't help myself. I picked up invitations, cupcake patty pans, party hats, lolly bags and heaps of other stuff all in the same theme. They had heaps of different themes you could use for birthdays, parties, hens/kitchen tea, high tea, baby showers... the list goes on. They had beautiful crockery and a huge collection of tea pots. They had these cute ceramic milk bottles that I'm going to get next time I'm there. I thought I could put some balloons with sticks attached in them and place them on the table to decorate the party a bit.

Also on the agenda this week is fathers day - this Sunday. I have Piper's daddy sorted and will be able to reveal all next week. I have been racking my brain for my Dad and my husband's Dad though. I have no idea. What are you getting the Daddy's in your life? More socks? It reminds me of the little father's day stalls at school and the presents we bought for our Dad's that we thought were so good. We just couldn't wait to give them to our Daddies on their special day.

On a sad note, I'd like to send my condolences to Jarrad McVeigh and his family on the loss of their baby girl Luella who was born with heart complications.

http://www.robertgordonaustralia.com/

I've been getting my craft on!

Hi Dolls,

I have been busy busy this week. I got stuck in lincraft (again!). I got a heap of stuff and have been glue-gunning away making cute little headbands for my lil munchkin. It's so much fun being crafty and I have a huge to do list for things in my home - not just baby stuff. I've been scrolling through and watching tutorials on Pinterest.com and have custom made headbands to go with all of Piper's little outfits. Here are a few I made earlier.

I have been putting Piper in headbands pretty much since she was born. Mainly because they are pretty, but also in the hope that when she is older and she is wearing a hat or sunglasses in the summer time she might not feel the need to rip them off - here's hoping! My sister-in-law was making headbands among other things for Piper while I was pregnant. Yep, I couldn't wait to find out what I was having. So, before she was born I had the cutest hand-made cot mobile and pram-tie going around. Everywhere I go, someone comments on how gorgeous it is! Here is a sneaky peak of the cot mobile and our baby girl's nursery. I hung lanterns over her change table. There are white cane baskets with pink gingham inserts under the change table. I put a dandelions decal on the wall. I even hand sewed crystals all over the top of the mosquito net (took me ages!!). My sister-in-law made the canvases hanging on the wall as well using white fabric, pink and white polka-dot ribbon and buttons.

Did I mention that my other sister-in-law is getting married next month? I'm so excited and cannot wait, gosh I love a wedding! We all went Mother-of-the-bride dress shopping last weekend. It's top-secret so I can't say too much. Only it cost a bomb and looks magnificent. We went shopping at the Burke Street Mall. That place is huge! Piper was an absolute nightmare - she slept most of the time and we barely heard a peep out of her, she was the perfect little angel! I behaved myself as well, but did get myself a new pair of Nike runners. I needed them, I swear! I've even used them already (shocked? I know I was!). They actually make me want to exercise. I guess we will see how long that lasts!

Ooo, I also got a dress for the wedding! It is also super top secret... but I will tell you it was from Diana Ferrari and it was $150 discounted to $130 with 50% off. So I ended up getting it for the bargain price of $65!! Absolute bargain, I couldn't pass it up! Gee, bargains make me happy!

I caught up with my girlfriends as well for brunch. We went to Switch at Fountain Gate shopping centre. It was great to catch up. I think sometimes life just gets in the way and you forget how long it's been. I must make the effort to do that more often.

I didn't realise until I started thinking about my week, how much running around I actually do. It seems like I'm never home! We also went and visited Belinda and her brand new 3 week old baby girl, Aleeyah. What an adorable little girl, and such a gorgeous name. I had a cuddle and she felt like she weighed just a breath of air. It made me realise how fast Piper is growing up, she is 4 months old already!

This week, my husband and I also had our first proper date night without Piper! We went for dinner at Outback Jacks. So many people rave about how good the food is here, but I was a little disapointed! My steak wasn't cooked very well and was really fatty, so I don't think we will be going back again anytime soon. We then went to the movies and saw Red Dog. I loved it! Ok, ok, I cried as well, but that's not unusual - I cry in almost every movie! It was an Australian film and it was really good. If you're a dog lover, it is a must-see for sure.

Anyway, I'm off to enjoy the lovely sunshine. It's such a beautiful day!

OPI: Hawaiian Orchid & I Mainley Eat Lobster

Hi Dolls,

David Jones had a sale I just couldn't resist. Spend $39.90 or more on any OPI products and you receive a free full-sized OPI Rapid-Dry top coat valued at $22.95! OPI is my go to nail polish. It glides on effortlessly and even for me it's easy to keep in between the lines. So I got 2 full size OPI nail polishes at $19.95 each - Hawaiian Orchid & I Mainley Eat Lobster.

How to: Newspaper Nails

Hi Dolls,

For the life of me, I can't remember where I saw this, but thought I would give it a shot anyway.
I think they look super hot. My sister and I had a go yesterday and here's how we did them.

Ingredients:
Bowl
Rubbing alcohol or vodka
Base coat nail polish
Light coloured Nail Polish
Top coat nail polish
Newspaper

Method:
- Pour some rubbing alcohol or vodka into a bowl. Just enough to be able to dip your nails in.
- Grab your newspaper and cut out 10 strips. I chose my horoscope and an article from the style section of the newspaper. You could also use recipes, cartoons or even crosswords.
- Apply base coat.
- Once base coat is dry apply your nail polish.
- Once your nail polish has completely dried, dip one nail into the bowl of rubbing alcohol for about 20 seconds.
- Apply the newspaper onto your nail and press down for another 20 seconds. I found it helped to add more rubbing alcohol on top of the newspaper.
- Carefully peel off the newspaper and the print should have transferred from the newspaper onto your nail.
- Wait for the print to dry then apply your top coat.

Flashback Friday: Parlux 3200 Ceramic & Ionic Edition Hair Dryer

~Originally posted June 29, 2010~

Hi Dolls,

I have just upgraded my hair dryer to the Parlux 3200 Ceramic & Ionic Edition $169.95. This is my first salon quality hair dryer and I have absolutely no idea why I didn’t upgrade sooner!

The Parlux 3200 hair dryer has won awards including InStyle’s best hair dryer and is used by hairdressing professionals all over the world. This dryer not only dries your hair faster, but it also reduces the amount of damage that your hair suffers when using a regular dryer.

The combined effect of ceramics and negative ions radiates heat inside the hair without damaging the hair. Drops of water are broken down into micro-molecules which are absorbed by the hair, leaving it frizz free and healthy. Moisture can then easily penetrate the hair shaft leaving your hair moisturized and looking soft and shiny. The negative ions also reduce static electricity and stress on the hair.

This dryer not only dries my hair super quickly, it also cuts down my drying time in half. It seriously took me less than 3 minutes – trust me, i timed it! My hair is fine and thin and generally lacks body. I find this dryer really good for blow drying and I can create plenty of volume with it. It leaves my hair feeling silky and soft, frizz and static free without drying it out. It feels the same as it does straight out of the salon.

- 1900 watt powerful motor. Life: 2000 hours
- Light weight compact dryer.
- Cold shot button.
- 4 temperatures.
- 2 speeds.
- Ceramic and Ionic technology.
- 3 meter long and strong cable cord.
- 2 unbreakable nozzles – one for a perfect setting and the other for fast drying.
- Weighs less than 500 grams.
- Air flow: 69 cubic meters/hour.
- Matching diffuser is available to purchase separately.
- 12 month warranty.
- Available in:  White, Silver, Chocolate, Pink, Red, Blue, Black, and Choc Cherry.
- Mine also came with a free round brush worth $26.95!
- Made in Italy.

The man chair - do you know it?

Hi Dolls,

This week has been so cold and I've had the heater blasting non-stop. I'm not looking forward to our gas and electricity bills that's for sure.

Our tax money has finally appeared in our account so I can now officially shop - delighted! I went shopping with my husband the other day and it really is a totally different experience when you are shopping with the boys. I don't want to generalise, but most guys, when they shop are on a mission. They know what they want and they just go in and get it. No browsing, no window shopping and no thinking about it. They go in, try a heap of stuff on if your lucky (sometimes they don't try it on and make you take it back another time because it's not right) and spend the big bucks all at once. I end up layering mountains of clothes in my husbands arms with things I think he would like, things I like and things I think would look great but not sure if he would actually go for but am trying to push my luck anyway. They never believe that some things look better on compared to just on the rack. It is actually a bit exciting shopping this way. They don't just pick up a top or a pair of shoes every few weeks, they get the works and get it done once, maybe twice a year. You can tell when they have been dragged along by their partners and are not shopping for themselves. They are sulking and sitting on what I like to call the 'man chair'. You know the one, it's the lone chair just outside the change rooms where the girls leave their shopping companions to sit and wait patiently while they try on a million things and come out for a suitably flattering statement about what they have tried on. Let's face it, we never come out with something that we don't actually like, those things we just call out and say that it just didn't fit right, not the truth where it actually didn't fit at all. God forbid we ask the boys to get us the next size up! So shopping with my husband wasn't too bad after all and he picked up some jeans, a couple of T-shirts, a hoodie and a jacket. He looked very spunky in all his new gear.

I went shopping with my Mum yesterday and we wondered into Williams where I discovered the boots I got last week come in tan! They also had 50% off the second pair of shoes and I could not leave without this other pair as well. The best part was that my Mum shouted them for me as an early birthday present. I know my birthday isn't until the end of September, but they are going on holidays for over a month and won't be here for my birthday so I get to have them now! I love my birthday! The tan pair were $140 and the other pair were $70 discounted to $50 with 50% off. So I ended up getting them for just $25!

                     

During my shopping adventures I obviously had to visit the baby change areas. I have been to quite a few now in the three-and-a-half months Piper has been around. I know the nice ones in each of the shopping centres and which ones to avoid. Unfortunately you can't always avoid the weird people who frequent them. Of course I have met some lovely people there, it's just what you do when you are changing and feeding your baby. You chat to the other Mums, friends, grandparents and siblings. You coo at their babies, ask how old and what their name is and then tell them how adorable they are. You obviously expect this in return! I also see a lot of people with the same pram. I have an apple iCandy. I absolutely love it and would recommend it to anyone! Whenever this happens we both check out each others pram and and say ooo, do you love it!? The answer is always yes! I have the black one, but you can buy attachments to make it different colours. I reeeealllyyyy want the purple, I hope my husband is reading this and sees how good the purple looks! Hint Hint! There is a LOT of traffic coming in and out of the baby change area. I once saw a line of people wait for the toilet where you can take your pram and the rest of your life in with you for what seemed an age only to discover that it was empty the whole time and it just looked like it was locked. Another time, I saw a women hold her two year old's bottom half under the tap of the sink to wash her. Seriously, I would have given you a wipe if I knew you had run out. Or you could just pay the 2 bucks for a nappy that comes with wipes. I would have been so embarrassed! So note to everyone, best not use the sinks in these places!

We got the new incubus album this week and I have had it playing in the car non-stop. I really like it and can't wait until they come out again. I'm thinking date night with the husband for that one!

I also got stuck  in Lincraft this week. Not literally, but I did spend a lot of time in there sorting through all the fabrics, felts, lace and elastics. I decided to get a bit creative and I made some super cute headbands that go with all of Piper's little outfits. I am really enjoying it too! I will show you what I have been up to in the next few weeks.

Flashback Friday: Op-shopper... I am not

~ Originally posted April 20, 2010. ~

Hi Dolls,

I am a dedicated shopper. I would even say that I am an experienced shopper. I can walk into a store, quickly give it the once over and decide whether or not they will have what I am looking for. If I think they have what I’m looking for, watch out! I can be in there for hours. When I tell my husband that my type of shopping is definitely a form of cardio, he just laughs. It’s true though, shopping is cardio and I’m sure that a lot of you would agree. I have been known to visit more than 4 shopping centres all in one day. I am even lusting over pink license plates at the moment that say SHOPPA. They are still available, so don’t even think about stealing it! This is how committed I am to all things shopping.

The only thing I can’t get into is op-shopping. My sister is an op-shopperaholic. I must have missed this ‘jean’ – see what I did there?! I can’t help but think about who wore these clothes before me. I think of a disgusting pervert that hasn’t showered in… well ever. My sister thinks of someone fabulous and the fact that it has been dry-cleaned anyway. I have tried to get into it and have visited many opportunity shops before. The thing is, when you walk into an op-shop there is no mistaking the smell. They all have the same smell – musty, crusty and ‘pre-loved’. I love to rummage through racks of clothing with the best of them, but at an op-shop I think of the smell and it has to be coming from somewhere. I almost cried when I saw a jacket with sweat patches stained under the arms. I don’t want to breathe in through my nose because it smells so bad, but I also don’t want to breathe in through my mouth in case the germs get in.

I am all for a bargain, but I just can’t get past these issues. I don’t know why. I would have thought that it would be enough when my sister came home with a Review Dress (A$8), MNG Dress (A$6), French Connection dress (A$10), Grip Jeans (A$4), Levi’s jeans (A$6) Jag T-shirt (A$3), Lee Miller Shirt (A$5), Escada Jacket (A$12), Original Nike Air High-Tops (A$4) – All for under $60!!

I’m pretty sure that if you told me a celebrity had worn it before I would make an acceptation. This is where good vintage stores really could take advantage of me. I am extremely gullible and would believe almost anything. Oh, Sarah Jessica Parker wore that? Sold! Then the credit card bill would come through at the end of the month and I would look at how much I actually spent on something that SJP probably never did wear.

So my unfortunate habit of all things having to be hygienic and my over-active imagination will make sure that my shopping and spending habits will not always have a lot to show for themselves like a committed op-shopper would.

Here are some good op-shops if you dare. Keep an eye out when you are out shopping. The little ones and the forgotten ones are the best ones. They always have the best stuff as nobody has found them yet.
You are also helping to support some worthy charities and people less fortunate.

Savers - Supporting Sids and Kids, Diabetes Australia
Dandenong - 210 Lonsdale Street, Dandenong, VIC. 3175, Australia
Brunswick - 330 Sydney Road, Brunswick, VIC. 3056, Australia
http://www.savers.com.au/

Salvos - The Salvation Army
http://salvos.org.au/

Vinnies - St Vincent de Paul
Cranbourne - 4/218 High Street, Cranbourne, VIC. 3977, Australia
http://www.vinnies.org.au/

If you have any other hidden secrets you would like to share, please feel free to leave a comment.



No muffin top here!

Hi Dolls,

Last weekend I went to the T'Gallant winery for my sister-in-laws 30th birthday. We had a wonderful time and a really beautiful day. The food was amazing, the wine was fabulous, the company was fantastic, the service was perfect and the venue was spectacular. We started with a wine tasting where I decided that I must chuck a few wine glasses in my purse on the way out, they were gorgeous. Then I found out there was no need as you could purchase them from their cellar door instead. At the wine tasting I tried Pinot Grigio for the first time among many others and it was so yummy. I also had the Mascato and that was devine! I think I could be a wine drinker after all. We then had a delicious two course meal. I had salmon croquettes with beetroot and then braised duck with ricotta and spinach gnocchi. I stuck to the mascato throughout lunch. I must say, I didn't have much drink training in the lead up to this day but I was quite surprised that I didn't actually end up napping under the table after lunch. We all travelled there together in a mini bus so we had no excuse but to 'get on it'!
Check out their website if you are interested - http://www.tgallant.com.au/

Miss Piper had her first case of the sniffles this week, so we spent the first half of the week at home. It's awful when they are sick. There's not much you can do and you would do anything to take on their sickness instead. She has now come good though and this morning she had a playdate with her little friend Miss Indi Winter. These two little besties met through their mummy's at baby birthing classes! They had such a fun time chatting, having lunch and playing together. Both proud mummy's took so many photos that I now can't decide which one to put up on facebook! The one where they are both smiling or the one where they are holding hands or... I can't put them all up... can I? It's hilarious what you do to get a good photo - I'm glad I'm not the only one who dances around trying to get the perfect picture! When they held hands accidentally on purpose we both yelped with excitement. Both babies got such a fright they stopped holding hands before we could get our cameras out!

It's funny the things you think you might need before your baby comes along. I seriously had everything you could think of, but when you actually start using these things you 'had-to-have' you quickly learn that most of them are really not very practical at all. While I was waiting for my little one to come along (sounds a bit nicer that pop out) I searched everywhere for the perfect nappy bag. I stumbled upon a Marc by Marc Jacobs nappy bag on shopbop.com. A bargain at just $200 with free delivery. Obviously I had to have it. I talked my husband around and was very proud of my purchase. BUT... when I actually started using it I realised that it just wasn't very practical. The bag was massive and as it only had smallish handles it would not fit over the handle of my pram. It had to go in the storage part of the pram and basically took up all the room. If you are anything like me and like to shop I found there was no room left to hide all of the shopping bags from my husband... I mean... well anyway. You just don't realise these things aren't practical until you try them out. So I ended up at Target the other day with my husband and saw that all nappy bags had 30% off. I found a gorgeous red canvas one that was $50 (bargain) down to $35 (double bargain). How could I not? It had a long handle that would fit over the handle of my pram and free up room for the rest of my 'bargains' underneath. It had heaps of different compartments, a bottle warmer and even a special place to put the dummy. Imagine my husbands surprise when I told him that we needed one. I spent all that time talking him into the other nappy bag and telling him how great it was and that he could tell everyone he has a Marc Jacobs nappy bag (yeah right) that he could not believe what he was hearing. I told him the Marc Jacobs nappy bag would still be in use and we could still put all the toys and blankets in it for when we go visiting people. Perfect, and it is for it's new function! I don't think my husband is so sure...

So with my new nappy bag and our tax return on its way I managed to get an advance and went shopping! I think I forgot how good shopping actually was and how amazing it felt to actually spend some money.
          I live in thongs. Black havaianas are a wardrobe staple for me, but now that I am a mummy I thought it was time to invest in something that would actually keep my little toes warm. I got these awesome boots from Williams. Devastated I missed the 30% off sale just days before but I loved them, so I forked out the $140 anyway. They are so comfy and actually fit really well. Like so many others, I find it difficult to find a pair of boots that fit nicely around my calves. These are perfect and flat so I can last all day long in them.

I also got a pair of bootleg jeans from Katies

I got a couple of things from Susan as well. They have 50% off the marked sale price at the moment. Do yourselves a favour and get down there. When they do a sale, they do an amazing sale! Katies also have 50% off the marked sale price on some items and I got an awesome bright orange jacket that was $90 down to $20! My husband says that it's a red jacket and it is called tomato red, but I think it looks more orange.

I stumbled across these free Kewpie doll printout labels from My Poppet and thought I would share. They are just too cute! Be sure to check out their FaceBook page. http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fmypoppet.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F08%2Fkewpie-labels-free-printable.html&h=RAQC_hRZAAQBb7tXP57P0AeBb7apW4pF58wNiYmNKO9iPkw

By the way, it is national lipstick week this week, so everyone get on board and crack open the red lippy!



Flashback Friday: There are people who don't like shopping?

~ Originally posted on 22nd April, 2010 ~

Hi Dolls,

It has been brought to my attention that there are people out there that don’t like shopping. It’s true. These alien beings exist in our material world and they are certainly not material girls. I find excuses to go shopping, they find any excuse not to. I just cannot comprehend this. What is wrong with these people? They are definitely not my people.
A few of my friends have recently admitted to me that they don’t actually like shopping. Shocking, I know! I’m not sure how we have been friends for so long and I hadn’t realised this. I just cannot think why they wouldn’t like it. What did we actually talk about up until I was assaulted with the news that they didn’t like to shop. Do we still have anything in common? Can we get past this? What have they been wearing in all the time we have been friends? I must have been too wrapped up in my own shopping expeditions to notice.  They have never been my shopping buddies, so I really should have caught on a lot earlier. I generally like to shop solo unless I’m in the mood for a stroll and not on a mission for something in particular. If I need a second opinion I choose my shopping companions very seriously. I cannot be rushed, and I will always show the same courtesy to my fellow shoppers.

I asked my friends if shopping had done anything to them in particular. Was there a reason they hated it so much? Did they get RSI in their hands from carrying too many bags? Did they get shin splints from walking around the shops for too long? Do they suffer from Agoraphobia – fear of shops and open spaces? What could possibly make them hate my favourite thing so much?
Apparently there is no big reason. Basically, they just can’t be bothered. Can’t be bothered? Now this is definitely a foreign concept to me. I am totally out of my depth here. The only thing in my world that stops me shopping is lack of funds. I have back-up plans though. Oh, no cash – Do you take credit card? Sold! I can justify any purchase. Seriously, try me.  If I literally don’t have any cash or cards left, I can always window shop for next time.

Nothing can deter me from satisfying my shopping and spending needs. So what, I love shopping, I’m superficial… whatever. It makes me happy.