My Milk & Cookies Baby Shower

Ever since I stumbled across the idea of a 'Milk & Cookies' themed party {and blogged about one I loved here}, I have wanted to either attend or host one :) 

So, when deciding if I'd have a Baby Shower or not for this little bundle of ours, I knew it was the perfect opportunity to have fun with this theme!

So.....an afternoon of MILK & COOKIES at my house was had :) It was simple & a very affordable theme to play with. I sourced most jars, baskets & platters from the '$2' shops. I asked friends for help. I designed & printed all of my own invitations & labels. And I ordered & bought from other fabulous work-from-home Mummies :) 

And...this was the end result:

I was really happy with how it turned out! I went with a 'chocolate brown & bright baby blue' colour scheme to not only go with the 'milk & cookies' theme, but also to represent our baby BOY :)

As I said.....simple, yet effective & very affordable! I had a great afternoon! 

Printables by me; Scissors Paper Rock. Cute polka-dot bags from Ebay. Tall Milk Bottles from Ikea. Delicious, custom made BABY-BOY COOKIES by Katena @ Taylor Made Baking. Brownies baked by my friend Kirsty. Tim Tam Cake Pops by my talented friend Monica from Sweet n Sexy Scraps. 

Cute Paper polka-dot straws from Sharnel Dollar Designs. 

I made the personalised Chocolate Wrappers myself. The white round cake stand is from Sharnel Dollar Designs. And I baked the Giant Cookie Cake myself using a silicone cake mould I bought on Ebay for only $19.

Paper Bags from Ebay. Labels by me :) 

I love Katena's Cookies! Not only do they look FABULOUS but they taste amazing too! 

Monica made the Marshmallow Slice & The Tim Tam Cake Pops......So So So GOOD!!!!

Once the dessert table was styled & set, we cleaned up outside & set another table full of platters & dips & salads & chips, with drinks on ice. And then enjoyed an afternoon of girly chats, relaxing, eating {way too much}, drinking {non-alco for me} and presents. It was perfect! Casual, simple, fun! I was surrounded by the most important women in my life {minus my beautiful Mummy.....boo hoo to me planning something whilst she was interstate with my Dad & his band} and with kids invited too....they played & celebrated as well! I felt so blessed to have so many amazing ladies in my life who truly care about me, my role as a Mummy & the upcoming arrival of our little baby boy :)

Some of my best girls: Tiffany, Me, Jackie, Mon!

And when the dessert table had been polished clean of cookies & treats, and only crumbs remained......it's the perfect hiding place for 2 sweet little cousins to play :) {Ella & Elina}

Fun Times!!

And a big thank you to my friends & family who not only showered me with presents & love.....but who helped set up, clean up & everything else in between :)

Almost 36 weeks........yahoooo!! Not long til we meet our little man YAY!!

P.S. I had a maternity shoot yesterday with the talented Carly Webber....I will share her lovely shots with you as soon as I get them! She's a delight to work with & I've already booked her in for our Baby Boy's Newborn Shots :) Head over here to see her work!

A Roadtrippin' Getaway to the Beach.

Sometime last week, as I relaxed at a picnic with a couple of close friends, and the freedom feeling of Spring & school holidays & Maternity Leave sunk in; I said a simple sentence without much thought; "This weather is gorgeous!! We should go away to the beach!! Maybe up the coast!!" It was just a random, impulsive thought!

A few days later; Monica sends me a text; "Accommodation up the coast organised, do you want to go Tuesday?"

Me: "Ummmm.....hell yes!"

So, on Tuesday, we packed up the car with bags & sand toys & bed sheets & lots of {unhealthy} snacks & headed off on a 'girl's {plus 1 baby boy} getaway". 

I love last minute plans....they always seem to be the most fun, don't you think? We headed up the North Coast to the lovely Caloundra. The road-trip up, should've taken 1.5 hours.....but it took us 3! Coz we made a selection of stops on the way {We picked up Mon, then I had to pick up some prints from the printers, then send them off to clients at the Post Office, then stop in at an old friend's, then refuel our tummies & petrol tank!} It was nice....just taking our time.....no hurry, no timeline.....we just cruised!

{The view from the back deck....as the sun set!}

{The view from the front deck as the sun rose.......GORGEOUS!!! I liked those apples, I tell you!}

The days just flowed from there! We had no plans, nowhere to be!

So we dined & wined & beached & parked & shopped & lazed & swam & played & simply enjoyed being sun-kissed, sandy & in the presence of gorgeous souls. 

Above: My Beach Babe :)

{Ella & Baby London}

{We 'balanced' inside play with lots of outside time!}

{I found a pretty little Mermaid on the rocks!} {Lucky me!}

{I braved the 'springtime' water temps to swim with my girl! I guess being in a pregnant state & having a higher temp than most people helped because I actually enjoyed the chilly sting:))}

{But Ella bailed on me....she was happier on the shore in the scorching sun!}

And on the 3rd day after a morning of beach & pool & 'just being', we packed up!! Jackie headed back a couple of hours before us to allow Baby London to snooze on the car-trip. We changed bed sheets, mopped floors & lugged everything down to the garage.....to discover I had lost the car keys!!!! YEP....they were in Jackie's car....2 hours back South!! Ooooops......let's blame it on Baby Brain ok?!

We made a few frantic calls to Jackie, Chris & Tiffany!! No-one at that time could come to our rescue due to the distance!! So....ANOTHER NIGHT in paradise was to be had....life's tough :)

We lugged it all back upstairs to the apartment & settled back in for another cruisey night :) {once I forgave myself for 'being so stupid', we laughed about it & picked up right where we left off {but without access to a car!}, we walked to the local shops & restaurants, we dined & wined, we went to bed late & slept in {if you can call 7am a sleep-in?} and we beached, pooled & relaxed for another day whilst awaiting the keys in the mail {that Chris express posted!}.

As late afternoon {Friday} rolled around, we cleaned {again} and packed up {again}, we chased the postman to get the keys that he was attempting to shove in the tiny letterbox, and we eventually headed home as the sun set :)

Perfect Getaway really!!!

{The apartment had so many mirrors, perfect opportunity for a Portrait Baby Belly Shot! 35 weeks & counting!!!}

{Above: and this morning view made me smile :) It was low tide....so there was an array of sand banks all through the bay! But check out that lone fisherman on the teeny tiny sand island in the middle of nowhere......just chillin'! No idea how he got there or got back.....but he looked happy!!}

I'm already missing this morning view!! But happy to be home, with Chris & Ella, slipping back into some sort of routine & enjoying the little comforts of home!

Happy Weekend All....no matter where you are!

Celebrating Life DISNEY style.

Wow, we're in July already!! Can you believe it? We're half way through the year already! It's winter....but some days, you just wouldn't know it here.....coz we still get to enjoy fun in the sun & ice cream:

Just a couple of months ago, I was struggling so miserably with all-day morning-sickness, and although I'm not one to wish my life away....I was sure as hell wishing away those months & holding on to hope that the sickness would relieve & life would return to some sort of normalcy & a beautiful baby would greet us at the end of it all :) And...now...it's July! I'm 23weeks pregnant!! I have my energy & a zest for life again. My bubba is growing nicely, our trip is just 4 weeks away & the school holidays have been GREAT! 

Chris celebrated his birthday last Tuesday! We went out on Sunday night with family & friends to commemorate his special day, and then stayed home for some family time on his actual special day! Ella & I made his favourite dinner, baked him a chocolate mud cake {even though he doesn't even like cake....let alone chocolate cake lol}, decorated the house with balloons & set the table ready for a party for 3. It was nice! Ella loves LIFE! Like most toddler, she embraces life for all it's grace & glory & lives it 100%! She loves to celebrate & the girl loves to PARTY! So, as we celebrated Chris's 37th year of life, I smiled & cherished all that we have at this moment! I'm so very grateful! 

On Friday, my Mum took Ella & I to Disney On Ice! IT.WAS.AWESOME!! I've been to a Disney On Ice once before when I was about 13yrs old with some friends & I also saw Cinderella on Ice a few years ago. But this one was PURE MAGIC! I don't know if it was the pregnancy hormones or because I'm weakening in my old age or if it's because I see the world in a whole new light now.....but the show was so entertaining & I even shed a tear....a happy tear of course!

{Above: My Mum & Ella: aka Tinkerbell, walking into the Centre}

{Above: My girl & I waiting for the show to begin!}

{Above: Mum & Ella....and one of Ella's scores for the day: a $30 Princess Light Wand! Total rip off....but hey, how often do we get to be Tinkerbell at Disney On Ice?}

Ella was in complete awe the whole time! She clapped & cheered & was screaming out at the top of her lungs "Just kiss her" to the prince in the Little Mermaid :) She loved it! And so did Mum & I :)

Today, Monday, Kirsty & I packed 3 kids, 3 esky bags, 2 nappy bags, a stroller, several grocery bags & the NavMan into her car & the 5 of us headed into the Northside of town to meet our lovely friend Kim & her 2 kidlets! It was the first time we went to this park....and Oh.My.Goodness. we'll be back!! It was so cool! The kids had an absolute blast! Four hours later, we re-packed the car, however this time with empty eskies & VERY dirty yet VERY content kids back into the car & headed home! IT WAS FUN!! One of those perfect days really!

{Sophie, Jet & Ella}

These three have been friends since babyhood. Ella was 6 weeks old, when I nervously stepped foot into the local health centre & joined a New Mother's Group! One of the best decisions I ever made....coz Ella has lifetime friends from it...and so do I :) 

And below: This is one of their first park play dates back in 2008 when these kindred little souls, were just getting to know each other :)

{Ella, Jet & Sophie in 2008!}

And now in mid 2011, that 3 has grown to 5....and later this year I can't wait to see our little man in his pram, making it 6, amongst this crew :)

It's been a great week!

School holidays ROCK....even if it's only teachers & kids who agree with me lol! I love being off work with my little lady! We've been busy enjoying life, seeping it all in & I couldn't be happier! We've baked & played & rekindled friendships & slept in {well....kind of}, we've laughed & loved & everything else in between! I wonder what this week will bring? 

Week-A-Boo.......{a clean house & pony rides}

Oh hello there!! And yes....sorry {again} for my Week-a-Boo not making it online last night.....another busy weekend was had, so I decided to enjoy another early night & save my weekend posting for this morning :)

How was YOUR weekend?

Ours...all summed up.....contained goodbyes, dinners out, a rainy trip to the Mountain Markets, pony rides, runny noses & a VERY clean house!

Saturday night we went out for dinner down the coast to my new favourite Mexican restaurant! Oh.My.Goodness....the food was AMAZING!!!!! I'm still in a full-tummy, mouth-watering daze over it :)

We were farewelling Chris's Brother Matthew as he is about to jet-set off to New York to live the dream....chase his dream! Ella's going to miss her Uncle Matty:

{Matty, Ella & Brian (family friend)}

{Enjoying the GOOD food!}

{And, yep...there's that signature pose again! Haaa}

Ella's strawberry tee from KASIABEAR.

{Ella had a play with Mummy's camera!! A pretty decent shot of Chris & I, by our little budding photographer}

Sunday, then greeted us.....at 5:20am in true Ella style :) I wasn't feeling too crash hot {I think I over ate at the restaurant.....but hey those chocolate nachos were just too good haaa} and Ella awoke with a runny nose, weezy chest & a cough :( A day of cleaning was needed.....our house is on the market & the real estate agent is coming around today to photograph. We have bought & sold property before & moved house a couple of times, but never with a child in toe! And as most of you would know....where there's children, there's mess & clutter & 'stuff'. However the stars all aligned this weekend for me :) Chris told me not to worry about cleaning....he would do it all while I was took Ella out on Sunday morning :) {yep, he's a keeper lol}. So Sunday morning, Ella & I piled into the car with several of my closest friends & we headed up the mountain! Of course, it rained as soon as we got to the lovely mountainside markets, so we huddled under umbrella stalls & waited it out. But then the rain eased so we enjoyed a stroll around, bought a few goodies, pigged out on roasted nuts & fresh fudge & mini profitjes. I loved getting a bit of a 'break' whilst Ella chatted the ears off of my girlfriends, and I loved watching her being loved by them!! To end the morning, Miss E enjoyed a $5 pony ride :) 

{Ella's gorgeous tee from Sweet n Sexy Scraps}

And then we saw this little fella, and had to give him some attention! Whilst the other ducks were fairly 'good looking', this little dude had a very cool {but hilariously funny} mullet-do happening! Hey, even the ugly duckling deserves some lurve!

And...yes....on returning home on Sunday afternoon, the house was SPOTLESS! The man can clean! Vacced, mopped, scrubbed, tidied, de-cluttered....he'd done the LOT!!!!! Thank you Chris xo! 

With a trip to the Doc's to check out the little Miss, she has a bout of bronchitis again! So a new puffer, some liquid steroids and some antibiotics & we're already on the mend!!! Does anyone else's child seem to constantly catch anything & everything from being in care? Oh the joys of kindy-germs :(

Please, tell me all about your weekEND!! Link up below if you're a blogger or even if your have some photos on Facebook, Flicker or Photo Bucket!

Have a great Monday everyone!

Busy & Slow {week-a-boo}

Sunday Sunday Sunday! How the heck do you get here so quickly Sunday?? Does anyone else fell like Sunday nights just seem to appear way quicker than other night of the week? :)

Our weekend was a nice mixture of busy & slow!

Saturday consisted of 'jazz shoe' shopping, dancing lessons & visiting Baby Indi for some more cluckied up cuddles :) The afternoon was then spent lounging & lazing....just chilling at home:

{Ella's ABSOLUTE favourite read at the moment!! Where is the green sheep? By Mem Fox & Judy Horacek}

Here's my girl in action:

A lot of Saturday afternoon was spent reading 'Where is the Green Sheep?' & playing Barbie dolls :) 

Today, Sunday, was a little bit more full....a different kind of full from Saturday.....and that balance is what makes the 2 day 'holidays' always feel so good! We headed off early this morning to the markets, to grab some bargains, hang out with friends & see 'Aunty Mon's' stall; Sweet n Sexy Scraps:

The coffee smelt good, the food was delicious, the vintage finds were amazing & it was nice to hang out with great buddies! Ella & Tiffany:

{Above: 2 blonde beauties}

And seeing Ella being loved by her Bestie always makes my heart sing:

He's always looking out for her :) 

We then headed home {slightly exhausted but still looking for adventure} and hung out with Chris! He took his girls {us} out to lunch & we had a pretty cruisey, sleepy evening at home!

Ahhh! Another weekend done & dusted! And a new week begins! 

What did you get up to this weekEND? 

I'd love to know :) Link up below!! Have a magical week!

Today, I'm Grateful for......{Celebrations}

It's 7pm, I'm absolutely exhausted, I've just downed some Nurofen Plus for a shocker, post-party migraine, my feet hurt, my brain is aching, my house is kind-of-clean-and-back-in-order, yet kind-of not :) Ella is still sugar buzzed & go-go-going and we still have enough lollies & junk food in the house to last a lifetime....BUT....I am so happy & so content from the day we've had :)

Today was Ella's Party! And yep.....I'm all rainbowed out :) I will provide lots of details & photos of her party tomorrow night in week-a-boo, so make sure you pop back Monday morning!!

However...today, I'm grateful for...... reasons to celebrate & grateful for people going that extra mile to make celebrations more special & more memorable! Today, amongst the noise, the chaos & the sugar-filled buzz, was a gathering of special people, loved ones & the 'things' that truly matter in life! And they were all there for 1 reason.....to CELEBRATE!!! Celebrate OUR little girl! Our little girl's entrance into this world....3 years ago! We laughed & drank & 'pigged-out' & made messes & cleaned up & played games & mingled.....and all to CELEBRATE the most special little Soul in my life! And that makes me happy....and ever so grateful! Parties are so much more than just games & candy bars & presents....they are about loved ones gathering, people expressing happiness & love and TOGETHERNESS being the driving force!

What are you GRATEFUL for today? Head over to Maxabella's to see a whole-lotta gratefulness :)