Happy

So, I have attempted many postings over the last few weeks, but they have all been waaaay to negative for my 'happy place' blog. I am back at Uni for my FINAL year, and things have been crazy hectic. I am a frazzled, stressed, anxious ball of a mother, who is trying my very hardest not to raise my voice or throw a cranky glance at my darlings when they do the slightest irritating thing, like forget where they left their shoes.

Oh.... the Mummy guilt, it is crippling me at the moment. There are two forces at war inside of me, the Mumma who wants to be the best Mumma I can be, providing a warm and safe and calm, loving environment for my darlings, and then there's the Mumma who's been around alot longer, before three darlings arrived, the one who has her own dreams and goals, and who has worked damn hard at them. So, here I am, only a few monthes from realising a very big, lifelong dream, to become a Registered Nurse... I should be on top of the world. But the guilt is winning out at the moment. And I have a MOUNTAIN of work to get through...

So.... here's some inspiration I went and found (on my beloved youtube!) just puts a little perspective back into my day. Thought I would share and spread some positivity!

Butterfly Beauty

Latley, the kids and I have become quite obsessed with our butterfly vine out the back. We pass under it each time we go out in the car, walking slowly with our heads turned to the sky. We find caterpillars muching away, and new chrysali pop up every day.

We check to see how many have vacated and flown away, and we have even been lucky enough to stumble across a beauty emerging from the chrysalis.

I would love to know more about who is who in the zoo... do you know what any of these beauties are called?

Aren't they gorgeous! I could sit and watch butterflies all day...

x

Play Dough and Bread makers.

I have a breadmaker.



But, if I am going to be honest... I have to say I haven't baked actual bread in it for years. But I am in no rush to re-home or do away with her just yet. You see, I discovered a new life for her, she is my mess-free playdough maker! My kids love playdough, but I hated making the sticky messy concoctions up, mixing and kneading. Blech!

So here is my no-cook recipe, which I was given several years ago by my mother, who is a dedicated child care worker.

2 cups plain flour (plus about another 1 cup to add later as required)
4 tablespoons of cream of tarter
2 tablespoons cooking oil
1 cup of cooking salt
Food colouring of your choice
2 cups of boiling hot water

• Add all ingredients to breadmaker in order specified by your model (Mine specifies wet ingredients 1st, with dry ingredients poured on top.)
• Select "Dough" mode on your breadmaker, press start and leave it to do it's business. I find that 2 cups of flour is never enough, so I add more as required.
• Once dough is formed (about 5-10 minutes) I removed in a neat ball from the non-stick bread pan, and gently knead on the bench to make sure it isn't too wet. (BE CAREFUL, the dough is very hot still at this point due to the boiling water!)
• Keep wrapped in cling film or sealed in a container in fridge and it should last for weeks.
• Straight from the fridge, dough tends to be quite hard and firm, so let come to room temperature first.
• Dough becomes softer and more pliable the more it is manipulated

So when my kids want playdough, it take me 3 minutes to prepare, and very minimal cleanup! Hoorah!

ENJOY xxx

A pink pig!

love Mummamoments xxx

Flood of tears.

Many of us have watched from the comfort of our own homes, as evacuation centres filled with families, many who have lost everything. I held my three little ones so tight as I listened to tragic stories of families who have been torn apart, and I worried for my husband as he went to work in the emergency services each day or night during the awful weather. 

It really has been a heart breaking start to 2011, and there is so much more to come as we as a nation recover from the astounding damage to lives and property, however, as I continued to read my favourite bloggers, and I cried as they opened their hearts and found many individual ways for us all to help out.

For example, I am so inspired by the amazing and talented participants of the flood auctions. 

 But the one blogger who has really touched me and bought the tears to my eyes several times, is the gorgeous soul Corrie, aka retromummy, who truly opens her heart with the Quilts for Queensland event.  

What a star!

We really do live in the lucky country, when you see the love and compassion that flows from stranger to stranger in times of crisis. I hope to contribute something to Retromummy's Quilts for Queensland, but as a very new quilter, this may be the best contribution I can give at this point, a dedicated blog posting! Never know who might see it! I am thankful for the Retromummy's of our world xxx



I did it!

So, I am well chuffed with myself right now! I have finished fussing over the finished product, washing, tumble-drying, trimming and tidying, and running my fingers over the soft frays. I have never, ever completed a quilt, and I am so excited that I did it! Okay, so it's just a small baby quilt, and a rag quilt at that, but I made it! Would you like to see?

I have a new camera and I am trying to get the hang of all the functions, so the pictures are a bit average...

Cotton prints, bamboo batting, flannel-backing.

It is far from perfect, but you can't wipe the smile off my face. I made this! Also, I received an update today about the dear boy whom I made this for and he is growing stronger and stronger by the day. He is just amazing, and so are his parents! I can't wait to give this gift to them, and see this precious baby home in his Mumma's arms! xx

Diving in!

Some very dear friends of ours have been through an extraordinary difficult time in recent months. Their third child has arrived at a frightening 23 weeks and 6 days gestation, (yes, 16 weeks and 1 day prematurely) and so far he has been an absolute battler. He is over 2 months old now, but still has a long road ahead before he even comes home. I am endlessly inspired by their courage and love as a family, and I really wanted to gift them something special, so I am attempting my first baby quilt!!! I have decided to do a rag quilt, as I imagine it will hide the multitude of sins of a first time quilter.

I chose two pre-packed fat quarter selections in blues and greens, and a dinosaur print flannel for the back in similar colours. The batting is a bit of a mystery to me, but I went for the more environmentally sustainable bamboo batting.

I am having so much fun cutting and sewing, and it is especially rewarding to put some love and energy into something for a very special little boy and his family. They are just amazing! Living in rural areas means that the family (Dad + 2 older kids) will be living almost 3 hours away from the inner city hospital where baby is staying with his beautiful Mum by his side for about 3 months. I am endlessly inspired xxx  

Santa Sacks

Whilst on summer holidays from University, text book piles have been replaced with fabric and sewing tools. January 2010 I came across some Santa panels in a post-Christmas sale and bought loads of the stuff with great intentions. However, I was back on campus by the end of January and sadly, the sewing was put away for several monthes. I came accross a bag of purchases a few weeks ago, turns out that I had also bought other treasures that same day, including fabric to make my daughters kindergarten chair-bag. Sorry sweet girl, perhaps Mumma will make it for you ready for 1st class in 2011?

A few metres of red fabric as well, should get 3 good sized sacks out of this lot.

I can't believe how much easier it is to cut when you have a few little tools!

My confidence grows with each panel, as I have been day dreaming about really getting into quilting

and my sewing is suprisingly neat and straight!

Viola! Bigger than I had anticipated, however, Santa managed to stuff a few toys AND a boogie board into each!

I am sewing again, and I am happy. Most of all, I love that my three little ones have their very own Santa sack each, lovingly created by their Mumma's hands. I love you my little chickens, Merry Christmas!