Ag May ...

Back to front... let's start with Blueberry Custard Pie. A buttery homemade pie crust, encompassing a custardy blueberry filling; topped with a streusel topping.  Once the pie crust has been made (which can done in advance) then this pie comes together quicker than you can say "a buncha munchy crunchy carrots"  (Octonauts, anyone?). This pie is awesome straight out of the oven, served with a scoop vanilla ice-cream, tea and Mark Harmon in bed, or warmed in the microwave served with a dollop of cream for breakfast the next day.  But better with Mark Harmon. I have written about this already ... actually almost a year ago today!  But I think it's worth writing about again. My little ones are growing up quickly.  Besides all the exasperated sighs, the telling off, rule after rule after rule, we're doing aw-right.  I have been having more energy, am more organised, and more open to laughing with the girls.  Something recently just clicked with me.  And, if

Bunk beds, loft beds… they’re pretty cool.   Awesome cubby houses; magical castles; huge hideaway spots; in-house cinema.   Just an awesome place to be.   Why wouldn’t you have a bunk bed or a loft bed?   Especially with three kids!   Especially in a small apartment. Well, here’s a couple of reasons why not… If you’re the wrong height and you can’t reach the top bunk from the ground, do you know how difficult it is to change those bed sheets? Or what about when you want to air out the mattress?   If I can’t put on the bedsheets from down there, how do you think I’m going to lift the mattress high enough to go over the railing and then down to the floor?   WATCH OUT BELOW! And what about when your kid falls asleep in the car?   Yep – you can maneuver them out of the car.   Yep – you can carry them up the stairs.   Yep – you can turn this way and that so that you don’t bump them into the furniture.   But what about getting them UP to the top bunk? And then

I'm a sucker.  And I've got an addictive personality.  And I rationalise and justify everything I do.  So, it's never a good idea for me to pick up a new hobby... aka addiction... unless it's truly good for me. I picked up the capsule wardrobe thing... good. I picked up the skincare/makeup thing... not so good ($$$). I latched onto the no shampoo thing... good. And now I'm onto the Kikki K thing... so NOT good. I'm into it.  So so so into it.  My life can be soooo much better with the help of stationary and vision boards and stickers and pens and yep... workshops. It's mid-year and I'm goal setting.  I've never been a believer in the New Year's Resolution movement, but mid-year goal setting... I'm all over that like a rash, baby. I've "invested" in a planner so that I can live each day with purpose. I've "invested" in a vision board so that I can keep motivated. And I've attended a

I asked Little Miss M - Do you want to have your birthday at a play centre and you can invite lots of friends, or do you want me to plan an at-home party with just a few friends? After all the fun that she had been having at her friends parties being held at a play centre, I was very surprised when Little Miss M opted for an at-home party.  Apparently, I'm loved because I plan the birthdays. And so a birthday party was planned... A FURBY PARTY!!  Dah-Noh-Lah!  Party party!! We had games... A photo booth with props... (and we printed out the photos for the guests to take home) We had cake... And we sent the party guests home with a furby key chain, a photo from the photo booth and some homemade love... Yes, I had to take a few days off from work to get everything done. Yes, the Furby cake was filled with smarties and m&m's (not sure why we don't have a picture of it).  And I really don't want to think of how much butter was used to make

Hello there world and all of its lovely people.  I've indulged my laziness and procrastination tendencies enough and I'm ready to face the world.  What have you been up to in the past 6 months? I think I've found a pattern... I think it takes me about half a year to get going; to get my mojo on; to get off my arse.  After a quiet six months, all of a sudden, I have inspiration boards and I have time planners and I have goals..  and it's already July. Anyways, here are a few handmade goodies that have graced my craft table in the past six months.  Either I've been really non-productive or I've been really lazy with the camera.  Probably both... never mind.  Let's work with what we've got... Origami (Christmas) Baubles - it helps if you have a circle cutter Origami Baubles paired with white chocolate stuffed Snickerdoodle cookies - white chocolate stuffed anything *swoon* Hairclip/Headband holder My gorgeous niece asked for a box for Ch

My little girls are growing up.   They’re catching up with each other, and then they’re racing away as they go through their developmental growth spurts.   But whatever the case, they are growing together.   And it’s the joy of my life.   You know that feeling?   When you’re just sitting there, watching, enjoying, with a goofy smile on your face.   Yeah – that feeling.   It’s awesome. One day, after Little Miss M and Dear Husband had already left for the day, I was lounging around in bed – ok, I was wallowing in self-pity over my head cold.   Before he left, I think Dear Husband had a quiet word to the two little one to let me rest. And so they did.   I heard some shuffling.   I heard some whispering.   I heard some furniture being moved around.   I heard some “help please Ditse”.   I heard some “Ssshhh, mama’s sleeping.” Of course, who can resist that?   I had to get up to see what was going on.   And this is what I saw…   Little Miss Independence and Little