A Collection of Thoughts

Special Offer

As a very special offer for our lovely Hip Hip Hooray readers, Quilt Fabric Delights have put together another super deal for you all, running until Friday 4th February 2011:

20% off all orders!!

You will need to enter the following code at checkout to receive your discount:

Valentines

Go HERE to start shopping!

Enjoy

Hip Hip Hooray For Valentines- Day One

Welcome to our  week long posts for Hip Hip Hooray for Valentines. Mel and I had so much fun bringing you our holiday edition we are back again with some projects filled with love.

This week I'll be sharing quite a few paper crafting projects. I used in total about 8 sheets of coordinating papers - keeping the left over bits each time to use on the next project. So do pop them to one side as you will use them up!

We have a mix of adults and children projects to suit you as well.

To kick off I have a layout for you. I have started setting up a little corner in the family room to display all my treats I am making and this layout is going there too :)

 For this layout you will need

•  4 sheets of  coordinating patterned paper
•  adhesive
•  5 x7  landscape photos
• some ribbon or cord
• decorative scissors or a punch to make a scalloped edge
• rhinestones
• alphabet letters
• hole punch

 Choose your papers

Cut three of your patterned papers to be strips of approximately 2 inches wide

 Scallop one of them if you have a decorative punch or scissors.

Cut 9 or so  hearts from the same papers - I have a cutter but you can just hand cut a heart shape if you don’t have one

Layer your strips  down the bottom of your layout

 
Cut a mat to fit the size of your photo

Add your photo to your layout

 

 

Layer your hearts over the top

Add your title and add some rhinestones at the bottom of each heart

Hole punch down the side of your photo - and thread through some ribbon or cord

Tie the top in a bow and pop the bottom through to the back

 

Hang up somewhere to begin your Valentine display :)

Don't forget to pop over to Mels blog to see her first  project too- hand made stamps :-)

See you tomorrow night for our next project .  Make sure you let your friends know that we are running our series again.

The Kings Speech

On Sunday afternoon  when Richard headed up to the temple with the girls I took myself off to the movies- totally decadent -  armed with peanut m and m's and a coffee I sat enthralled with the Kings Speech.

Totally wonderful movie. Makes you cry in some parts and gasp in others.  People can be so awful.I love his interactions with his daughters and his wife is wonderful.

 So so good - you must go see it.

 

 

 Here is the official website

 Tamar x

 

School lunch posts :)

via pinterest.com

I have had lots of request for lunch ideas - just letting you know that it's coming but not for another week. This weeks blogging will be devoted to our hip hip hooray for valentines day posts.

Tamar xx

New Dresses

Along with Chinese New Year this year the girls also had to visit the temple for the Reverends birthday. Traditionally their grandma - Pohpoh requests that they wear a red dress. Some years its easy others not so - and the older they get the more they want input into what sort of red dress. I think I mentioned earlier - I spent two hours visiting every single store at Robina to find the perfect thing for both of them. In the end it was all good -   Sofia's we found at Best and Less  and Tals we found at  Pumpkin Patch which was having a sale - and all sale items were reduced by 20% again. I was thrilled! Tals wore  her black patent mary janes ( best shoes I ever bought her! ) and white ankle socks and Sof wore her little blingy heels her Aunt  bought her for Christmas. They looked so lovely and were so happy in their choices. Poh Poh was very happy too ;)

 I have learnt over the years that is the main thing- gotta love MILs!

So please indulge my  photos - we shot them before everyone arrived and these are a couple of my favourites.

 

 Talia - eek how old does she look ???

This dress has black tulle under it so it sits so pretty - The necklace was from Diva and she added the flower to it - She said it was her stylin ...

 Sof fell in love with this dress instantly- she said it reminded her of Minnie Mouse -I have to agree

Also with pretty tulle

My beautiful girls- I love it when they are this happy. They adore Chinese New Year - all the celebration and cooking and decorating. Sad for it to be over for another year.

 Tamar x

Chinese New Year Quick Wrap Up

Another year over :) We had a wonderful time - we worked out this is our 14th year of celebrating. we started with just 6 of us Margie and Phil ( Our godsons parents )  Nana Eve and Great - the girls Great Grandparents and Richard and I.

We now sit 21 around the table- and that number and those people have been constant for the last 6 or so years give or take work schedules and birth of new children :)  The year the girls had just turned one Iwe went to a restaurant as I couldn't cope with toddling little people and cooking - but we still celebrated at home when the gils wee just three months old.

So the day in photos - random I'm so busy in the kitchen I rarely get to get on the camera -and you know I so need to learn to get my camera off auto- thats another story.

our place settings - I found little golden rabbits :) which we popped inside the teacups

 here is the children's table- up to 5 now -  Mia sits up - she is so cute :)

and the main table - before - I've realised I don;t have a photo of all the decos hanging and our golden rabbots  my MIL found for us :(

Our girls got in on the celebrations too-with their own read dresses from Janelle- this photo doesn't do them justice - I need to take some more!

 

We also always decorate up our glitter tree - which is where the girls stayed safely for the night. This year we used printouts of pretty scenes from this site and of course lucky coins.

 

 

Mid afternoon -  I think this was the second course going round

 

 

and towards the end of the night

 This year we had glow sticks and sparklers for the kids  which were a big hit

and here is our zert part of the night :)

 The menu :)

 Happy New Year

Tamar x

Snapshots

We are in getting ready for tomorrow's chinese new year celebration mode.

I've just zipped around and taken some photos of our preparation - The girls are only just snugged up this is their most favourite tradition and talk non stop about it for months every year.

 Tals dress with a little alteration to be made

 Washing up to be doen from raspberry coulis making

I was so excited to see these when I came home from work this afternoon - Richrad went shopping with his Mum at Sunnybank and bought home the coolest decoations - save me making anything :)

Im not sure where we got these from but have had them for many years - they look so cute on the table with wine bottles under them -I'd really love a second red one :) But have never seen them anywhere

 Red packets and scratchies ready to be sealed - thats the girls first job in the morning

I love this lantern :)  We hang it over the table

A peak at one of our girls - with her cutey outfit courtesy of  Janelle - but more on them later :)

and the girls last task before bed tonight was to write up a breakfast menu and ingredients list as friends are staying over

I still have the menus to print, some cute things for our blythes, some deocs for our glitter tree and then im all done for  the night :)

Tomorrow I really want to find some chocolate lindt bunnies - you know the ones in gold paper ? They'd be perfect for on the table - being the year of the rabbit and all. I'm not too hopeful though I have seen easter eggs out and about already.

 Tamar

 PS photos taken on my iphone with format

 

Alice In Wonderland goes to China

Chinese New Year is on us earlier than usual this year . We are having our Annual Family banquet this Saturday. The timing isn't great at the end of a week one back to school  but that’s the way it flies. We have had a date claimer in for some time  but I quickly flicked out the official invites the other night.

Yes that is an Alice rabbit - how could I resist ? LOL  I’m a little behind on working out our decos - It's tricky being the year of the rabbit - Haven't found anything I like - I may have to settle - you know I don’t like to do that.

We do have a super special treat planned for all our Blythe girls :) I'm excited to share that with you :)

I’m thinking our menu won’t change so much from previous years - I get into a cooking zone.  We do have something different planned for dessert. I'll just have to see what fruit and vege is available on Saturday morning when I hit the markets - It's been a bit light on lately.  You can see our previous banquets 2010, 2009, 2008, 2006- Im missing some years but you get the idea :)

So what does the Year of the Rabbit have in store for you?

No rabbits in our immediate family but one of our best friends is a rabbit. We are threatening to make him wear bunny ears on the day :)  Details on the personality traits of rabbits can be found here

Are you looking for some way to celebrate ?

Here is a website which outlines all the festivities around Australia

 

Or if that  is all a bit much for you how about a simple dinner of fried rice and chicken wings -  wear a red shirt and grab yourself a packet of  fortune cookies from the supermarket :) finish with some oranges - sweet and they are a symbol of good luck add some sparklers for the children and you are set!

We are celebrating Saturday but the official day of chinese new year for 2011 is February 3rd.

 Tamar x

 

A lovely day

 and I'm afraid not much to show in photos :)

I had a super late night last night - cause I could :)  The girls and I wtached Snow Queen

It was ok - a bit slow in parts but got there in the end - The girls enjoyed it :0  Visually very impressive and a clever story as it goes round but its LOOOONG

I'd suggest that you watch and do something else at the same time - which I didn't cause my brain was hurting LOL

I looked for a trailer and could only find this one with music and extracts from the movie. You can read an overview here

Then after they went to bed I stayed up and watched Matching Jack

 

Official Trailer - Matching Jack - 

Get your tissues - So sad sad sad sad  -But its a good watch

Then  this morning we celebrated our lucky country with our neighbours and a traditional  BBQ breakfast.  After that we hit the shops to start our prep for Chinese New Year which for us is this weekend coming.

I spent two hours and 10 minutes trawling the shops for the perfect red dresses for the girls for Chinese new year and for their visit to the temple on Sunday its also the Reverends Birthday celebrations so Poh Poh needs the girls there with her. - 10 minute on one child and 2 hours on the other - ack I tell ya soooo different .   We had a win in the end and I'll share their finds when we get dressed on Saturday.

Richard then took the girls home for a lie down ( for him! LOL ) and I stayed on to meet friends for coffee. I called into Laura Ashley - they have a beautiful new store at Robina . I love it in there - and I found a  bargain .  $159 dress down to $44.95  YAY me. I really like it.

Dinner tonight was home made pizza - I'm keen to get another pizza stone we have one and I make the girls then I make ours we usually have different toppings .  Tonight we had pesto chicken and mushroom  - so good. Its official I am no longer scared of cooking with yeast.

and for zert in honour of Australia Day we made a little banner cake.

A packet of Australian flag toothpicks cut up and strung onto a banner . The recipe is one from the delightful Miss Bella - simple and always delicious - especially if you serve it warm with hot tea:)

Great Grandma Ivy's tea cake

• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 1/2 cups self raising flour
• 3/4 cup milk
• 60 grams butter

Moderate oven
Mix all ingredients together with electric beaters.  Cook 20 mins in my dodgy oven
Turn cake out while warm and sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar

 

Got to love a public holiday mid week - Also had to make the most of it - the ONLY ONE THIS TERM - Twelve weeks - heaven help us  LOL

Right time to get on and get some school work done :0

Thanks for visiting

 Tamar xx

 

 

Back to School - Day One

Yesterday the girls returned to school. Lots of firsts for them and me:)

• First time in separate classes.
• First time Richard and I were able to drop them off together
• First time there was no disaster getting out the door
• First time Tals said to me - photos you got to be kidding me Mum - do we have to? Sigh that’s not good is it?
• I had my third day back - first day back with students that was on Monday though  - 
• Three hours of parades  across 3 year levels
• Three hundred thousand Miss my timetable isnt right questions 
• Three classes for Year 12 English Communication - not sure Im going to survive that ! LOL  First time ever to have three of the same classes.
• I text the girls at 3.45 to find out how their day was and i got a  AWESOME!!!!!! as a reply.
• First time coming home from work to find kids home and happy and dinner cooked - YAY  working from home husband ( still on hols but soon to be ! )

So a quick rundown from each of them

Talia

• I’m sitting next to  V and A but we are going to be moved around later
• Miss R says my books are e best shes ever seen ( YAY Mumma ! )
• I got to go do sa special project recording a video for a teacher cause I can read :) ( YAY  that she volunteered and was chosen! )
• Don’t give me too much lunch I need to do stuff at lunch hour ( Huh whats that all about ??)
• Miss R Likes Betty Boo, Red and she reads Roald Dahl - She is the best teacher ever  (YAY)

 Sofia

• I Love Mrs S - she is the best teacher ever ( YAY for best ever teachers ! )
• Mrs S loves my covered books she says Im very lucky to have a clever Mumma ( LOL YAY Go Mumma )
• We did a find a word with all our class friend in it - It was so cool Mrs S made it herself
• We had to write a cube about who we are - Like our special talents and the things we like - My special talent is I can do crafty things. ( Yay Sof for knowing you have a special talent and yay Mrs S for asking what they are )
• Lunch was yummy you can make the same again.

 

So far so good

and so ends Day one of Year Three

 Tamar x