Happy Birthday Holly

Holly turned 3 today!!  How quickly those 3 years have gone...but how awesome they have been.

Having just had bubs, I decided early on that we weren't going to have a "party" for her. Instead just immediate family over for lunch.  It was a great idea and so relaxing...we all enjoyed it.

Dora the Explorer is flavour of the month at the moment. And of course, first pick for her party theme.

Here's a snapshot of the party...

The invites were magnets which I designed and printed.  I love the A4 magnet sheets you can purchase and have used them so much for invites.  I think it is so much easier to give to guests so that they always have the party details on the fridge.

I made my own "Happy Birthday Holly" bunting sign using cut out Dora pictures.  It is hard to see the detail in this photo but Holly was pleased with it!

Dora party supplies are thankfully for me pretty easy to come by....

 



I made Holly a special t-shirt to wear using an iron on transfer.  I designed the image, purchased a plain white t-shirt, ironed on the image, and then added the bows to match the t-shirt to the skirt.  She loved the shirt and insisted on sleeping in it!!  I don't know how I am going to get it off her.

And of course opening presents is so much fun...

I previously blogged about buttons I had purchased off etsy.com.  Well, I used my first lot to make wine glass charms for the adults (of course).  I was really pleased with how they turned out.  They were so simple to make with just buttons, ribbons and a glue gun.  And they got heaps of comments.

I ordered my first cake from Suzanne McLeod of Creative Cakes.  Chocolate of course.  It was beautiful.  By the end of the day the whole lot was gone.  I have to admit I ate a huge amount but I thoroughly enjoyed it.  I can't wait to the next party to have an excuse to order another one.  Yum yum.

And then of course we can't send anyone home without favours.

The kids got these...

And the adults got these, "Holly's Wholesome Chocolate Bars".  These were so simple to make just by designing a chocolate bar label and wrapping it around a cadbury chocolate bar.  We can't forget the adults after all.

It was such a great day.  Holly really enjoyed herself.

What a wondeful three years we have had with her!!

Melt Candles

I love scented candles.  There is nothing nicer than having the house smelling delicious.

I'm currently using a candle by "be true".  The flavour is "sensual" which is a blend of Patchouli & Ylang ylang.  It is lovely.  It was given to me by my mother in law when I had bubs.  I had it sitting next to me at Birthcare when he arrived, so it is a bit of a sentimental smell now.  It's burning now...and makes the house seem so cosy on a cold winters day like today.

But now I have discovered "Melt Candles" who make luxury scented soy wax candles, hand poured in Queenstown, New Zealand.

My first parcel of goodies arrived today.  They smell awesome and are my new favourite candles!!

I ordered 4 delicious sounding flavours in Travel Tins to get a sample of the flavours and which I preferred...Coconut Lime, French Pear, Lemon Verbena and Pomelo Grapefruit.  They also sent me three free samples:  White Tea & Berries, Lime basil & Mandarin and Sweet Lemongrass.  I just don't know how I am ever going to decide which is my favourite when they all smell so good.

Have a look at all the other delicious flavours they have...I would recommend any of the flavours listed above.  http://www.facebook.com/MeltCandlesNZ or http://www.meltcandles.co.nz. 

Handmade Soaps

I came back from my walk yesterday, checked my letterbox and as soon as I opened it the smell coming out of it was just amazing!

The parcel of handmade soap I had ordered from "Honey and Spice" had arrived. The soaps are amazing. They smell beautiful and leave you feeling clean...which is always a bonus.

I ordered two different soaps and I will definitely be trying more.

　Pineapple Salsa Translucent Soap

"Think pineapples, coconuts, fresh ginger,apples strawberries, oranges and mint. Think golden summer days, garden tea parties with a hint of a tropical breeze. Beautiful sweet smelling soap with julienne orange peel for the faint colour, scent and exfoliating qualities".

　

Milk and Honey Baby Gingerbread Soap

"Made with soothing manuka honey and creamy goats milk which makes the soap super mild" And they look super cute!

　

Check out the sites.  I definitely recommend these products: http://felt.co.nz/shop/honeynspice or  http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/Honey.and.Spice



My new arrival

Drinking a cappuccino, watching a peaceful baby sleep, listening to two little girls playing hide and seek with Daddy...PERFECT!!

Hunter arrived safely on Wednesday 3 August.  Here he (and we) are....

I am so proud of the girls.  They just adore him.

I am so pleased too to be back in the land of the Internet...not sure when I will resume blogging...but I am pleased to be back ;)

Cooking up a storm

The girls and I have been cooking up a storm.  With bubs about to arrive any day now we have been trying to stockpile the freezer.

I have had a pie maker for a while, but while I was out in the weekend I spied a mini savory pie maker.  I had to have it.   This is our first attempt at Italian Mince Savouries.  A treat to put away in the freezer for the girls lunches. 

So they are a bit uneven but they taste good!!  Practice makes perfect - so next on my list, mini apple pies.  Yum Yum!