The Throwdown

It was one of those days yesterday. I had to wake Tiny up from her afternoon siesta. I surprised her with her wee tutu. She instantly curled up in a ball on the floor and cried 'No!' How do you like them apples? Surely she was acting it up. I mean, Matt and I already know that both the Doctor and Tiny, while we have no idea what school they will go to, have full scholarships to NIDA because their acting skills are so damn good, but surely this was just fluff.

NOPE! She cried and threw herself like a wobbly jellyfish until I hid the tutu out of sight.

Well then, fine. I'll wear it.

Thankfully once we'd picked up the Doctor, just-woken up Tiny had come 'round to the idea (she has a small tutu already which she adores), and popped the tutu on just in time to play with the snails the Doctor had brought home from pre-school.

Who knew snails could be so much fun? Highly recommended these upcoming school holidays. Get a snail and while away the hours. Good for a Christmas gift? Not so good for the garden though.

You're Tutu Kind

It's that time of the year folks when I turn a little batty and get the idea that I can make things. I know, it's funny isn't it? But I'm turning my hand to a tutu for my beloved baby girl. She loves dressing up. In anything. Including her brother's swimmers, my necklaces, swimming cap and goggles, a vintage fur stole, and skirts skirts skirts. And it's her second birthday in a couple of weeks.

The ever-delightful Cindy hooked me up with a link to a no-sew tutu that even I can make. These were my words, not Cindy's.

If you make this tutu, do me one favour and take a small piece of advice from me. Do not cut the lengths of tulle while on the phone to your sister. Don't do it.

And now that that's been said, here's my little tutu in progress. Hopefully will get it finished tonight. And will probably not be able to wait 'til Tiny's birthday so she can spin 'round and 'round until she gets dizzy.

It's Too Darn Hot

You know the song running through my head right now. Yes, you do, you know it, even if you don't know where it's from.

We've mostly been trying to sit as still as possible, while running out to water the plants in the evening (cherry tomatoes - ripening - check!), to hang the clothes out (dry in less than an hour - check!), and run to and from the car (air-conditioning - check!).

We're living on a diet of mangoes, nectarines, grapes and all manner of icy treats.

And just for fun the Doctor has had a wee fever. That's nice on a stinking hot day, innit?

I've been unpicking some stitching, sneaking in some early morning baking, watching Empire (phew! so glad I wasn't born during that time), and saying hello to Jonathon Cake's pecs.

Yesterday the four of us went to help with the start of Lara's Garden.

What have you been up to this weekend?

Gifts Under $15:: Christmas

I hate crummy Kris Kringle presents that one person thinks are wildly amusing and I just think they could have given that money to charity instead of sinking it on junk. Bah humbug.

So here's where it's at. If you'd like to receive it, chances are, others would too!



France Magic Butterfly - designed to make them fly! Send A Toy $7.80 For the gardener, glass cloche. Heaven in Earth $12 Credit/ticket card holder made from original vintage images. Georgie Love $15 Delicious candle. Kit Cosmetics $14.95 A pile of poo? Oxfam $15
These are no ordinary socks. These are possum socks. (Hello Possums!). Mongrel Tasmania $15.50
Very vintage, very pretty hair pins. Tutti Fruiti $10
Pen a card from the heart. A limerick? Haiku? Rhyming couplet? Cute card from Little Jane Street at Moda Muse $6.50
Notebooks from Poppies for Grace $9.95
Can't go wrong with Hank's Jam via Tables 'n' Tots $9
Burt's Bees Lip Stash Pack. The Honey Farm $14.95

Get a Penguin Classic. Booktopia (around) $9.50

Tweens Got You Stumped:: Christmas

Tweens. Tweens. Tweens. What will we do with them? Not small, but not big. They're tweens. I have some ideas to solve your gift-giving woes. No Hannah Montana. No belly-baring tops. Nope. Just nothing but sweetness and light. Heck yeah! I'll even try to go heavy on the cool factor, you dig?

Babes in the Shade sunshirts (1-12) $39.95

Get your little lady stitching with the Sweetie Petite from The Red Thread $20 + postage

Or perhaps they'd like to try their hand at stitching their own brooch? Prints Charming $15

Try old school cool with a classic from Booktopia $16 These IOU cards are a super idea from Lark Made $19.95

Some new treads? Raben $20
get creative. Wreck This Journal. Booktopia $14.90

Hungry? Don't want to cook? Get the kids in the kitchen. Alwaysonsale.com.au $35


Lexon rubber AM/FM radio. Top 3 $149
Animal index for books or CDs. Top 3 $29.90

iPod cover. House of Jam $USD11.50

Stormtrooper iPod cover - who better to protect your tunes? Nokomomo $USD16

This gorgeous FIONA dress. From Buckets & Spades. $89.95

Or a FIONA by Fiona Scanlan voucher.

Action bed set from Kideko $85 (on sale)
Plenty of time over the school holidays to work on the dance moves from Thriller. JB Hi-Fi $17.00
Make a wish? Two dandelions wall decal from JaneyMacpress $USD27.50

Headphone Owl decal from Janey Macpress $USD13

Flying birds wall decals from Wall Decors $USD27

Perhaps a ticket is just the ticket? Try this or this or this...

PS - New LMNOP is out. For shizzle.

My Place and Yours: My Collezione

It's a two for one deal here today and here ladies (and gents?) is my collezione. I wracked my brain when Kate from Foxs Lane nominated this as her theme.. And here's my answer. My vintage clothing. I used to always wear vintage this or that, but since having bebes, some of it is a little less than practical, and other bits just don't fit these hips, and other bits are starting to fall apart.

Here are just a few pieces. I won't bore you with the lot. You might have other exciting things to do. Like housework.

Looking for more collections? Hit up this lady.

My Place and Yours:: My (Late) Front Door

Hello doves!

I am posting something that I should have done last week. And that is, show you my messy front door. Shelley from Femme de Montmartre chose the theme. She can rap me over the knuckles later Kelly Slater.

So here you have our front door. A doll house serves to house our shoes (thanks Mum!). A pram at the ready. And a basket full of stuff. Interesting stuff, non?

More front doors (which are undoubtedly more interesting) here.