225-237/365 I think I have caught up??

I am sure that by now anyone that still stops by to catch up on my photos probably doesn't want to, or needs to hear my usual reason for not posting regularly.  My habit of being on the computer each evening has changed and I tend to try and wind down by reading.  I do really like how Foxs Lane posts regularly each week so I am going to give that a go.  I feel like that is probably a better fit for where I am with my routine of life at the moment.  So here is a snapshot of the last couple of weeks around here.  Chat with you again soon in a week, fingers crossed.  May you have a wonderful week. 

 

First Week Back

Boy did we hit the ground running with our first week back to school. The girls started back at school last Wednesday, year 12 and year 7 so a big year ahead for both of them.  I can't quite get my head around the fact that my little girls have grown so much.  Just tonight my youngest was looking at photo albums and it's hard to believe so much time has gone by...  The first week was short for which I am very grateful, a nice little start back.  I did though have a busy week, preparing for the school year and then for a special birthday.  My youngest celebrated her birthday on Saturday so there was some baking to be done.  We ended up only having a small gathering with a couple of school friends and two grandmas (my Mum is pictured). The birthday girl enjoyed her special day and was full of smiles just how it should be.  Happy 12th birthday my darling.

258-260/365 'Crochet and Celebrations'

I have to confess, (maybe I have done this before?) I am a procrastinator.

My little niece was having a party on the weekend and rather than have everything all ready and wrapped way before the party I was still working on it the night before.  It was finished on time luckily and I was so happy with the end result I might have to make another for my other niece who turns 4 next month.  Sunday came and we all gathered at my brother's house for afternoon tea and Peppa Pig birthday cake.  I love it when we all get together, it feels good though we didn't talk about it, we all missed Dad not being there with us it feels wrong for him not to be there.  Despite his quiet nature, his presence was always felt, I miss him and his quiet ways.... Miss 10 with her sweet nature entertained her cousins and was exhausted when she got home. A lovely way to end the weekend.  How was your weekend?

Joining Ginny today for her yarn along.

Party Plans

When I was thinking of the finer party details I really wanted to make sure that I kept in mind I was planning for teenage girls.  The parties that my oldest has gone to have been mostly sleepover parties (which she goes to but doesn't sleepover, I'm a party pooper!!).  At these parties they usually watch a few movies, eat pizza and just hang out.  The  tea party will be going for just a couple of hours but I really wanted to make sure that they could hang out as well as be involved in a couple of activities. So the plan for the party is:

● to play the chocolate game, a big favourite and one I enjoyed playing at my 13th birthday party.

● to keep with the theme of the party I bought some cheap mugs from Spotlight, a few jars of ceramic paint and brushes so they can decorate their own mugs and use them later at home.

● outside under the tree I will lay out the vintage sheet I found at the op shop with a few cushions, some magazines and a basket with some embroidery thread cut and ready for for them to be made into friendship bracelets.  I found this great tutorial, printed it out and laminated it for the girls to follow.

● haven't checked with the big girl but it was suggested that a game of celebrity head might be a bit of fun too.

That's about it for the planning, I'm sure they'll chat away and eat too so that should cover the duration of the party.  To keep costs down when it comes to decorating I've been using mostly scrap fabrics I already had at home just buying a little bit here and there, using party decorations from other parties and jars that I have been collecting will be used as vases and for their take home present.  So to answer the questions on my last post in those jars are ingredients to make cookies.  I used this idea as a gift a little while ago and I thought that girls of this age love to cook, it's affordable and just a little bit different to the usual take home party bag also the big girl thought it was a great idea too so it's a win win idea I thought. I cut a circle and stuck it to the top of the jar, this included the ingredients list and on the thank you tag I wrote a short list of the ingredients still to add and the method.  There are lots of cookie in a jar recipes but I used this one, I did alter it slightly and choose not to add the cranberries only because I couldn't fit them in the jar.  

I hope you are enjoying your day it's been a warm one here I do wish that we got just a little bit of rain, I can't believe I'm asking for rain in Queensland but it's been over a month now since it's rained and it's starting to get a little dry sadly.

Hi! It's been a while, I'm sorry for not being around.  It's been difficult getting back into the groove of blogging this year.  My hubby has been home so I've been spending time with him, enjoying having him home and not at work.  

Last week my sister in law and my little niece when off on a plane overseas to be with family.  We won't be seeing them for 3 months so when my niece returns she'll be 6 months and will be so big and doing so much.  As a little gift for the long plane ride I made this quick and simple tag toy using this tutorial but I didn't add the crinkle element of the toy.

I've also been a bit busy doing party planning for Miss 7's birthday party with friends. I really wanted to make her birthday as homemade as possible so I was kept busy making decorations, cooking cupcakes, jam drop biscuits and the birthday cake, making play dough and bubble wands ( thanks to my darling hubby), sewing bunting and notebooks for the party bags.  It was all worth it, the birthday girl loved having her friends over and all the girls happily played for most of the party in the cubby house and on the swings.

This week it should be a quieter week at home planting some vegetables in the garden beds my hubby made me:), it's been a while since my garden has been productive.


Have a wonderful week, see all of you soon.

My Creative Space

In my space today there's been a bit of work happening for my little Miss 7's birthday party with friends.  Pass the parcel is a favourite party game and with all the guests being girls I decided to make some hair accessories as the prizes.  They were quick and easy and inexpensive to make which is always good when you're hosting a children's party. Can I ask whether you have any other good party present ideas?  I find these days children expect to get a prize when they play a game.  Do you give them all a prize or just the winner? I'd love to know what you think:)

I have long admired fabric bunting and haven't made any so I thought I would give it a try and make some scallop bunting and the bonus is after the party she can have it hanging up in her room looking pretty.

To see what everyone else has been creating stop by this lovely space to check everything out.