I'm doing it!

Look at me go - I've been sewing! My brand spanking Gingher scissors are smooth as silk, such a dream to work with after the old pair.  More photos soon to show you what I'm working on.

Might need a cuppsy to get through this kind of inspiration without needing this -

Sweet Lovin'

Hope you had a sweet lovin' Valentine's Day.  These Valentine bickies I made looked like just the thing to go with a cuppsy and a cuddle .... but tasted awful!  I like to stuff something up now and then, it lets me know I've experimented too far away from the recipe.  : )

Potty fun, or not

No sooner was I off the crutches than Toddler Cuggles was definitely wanting out of nappies.  It started by 'accident' on Monday.  She ripped the nappy off, as she has been doing a lot, so I put the potty out and when I saw the tell-tale 'about to wee' position I raced her to the potty.  Bingo, a wee!  Half an hour later she brought the potty to me to show me she'd done it again all by herself.  I thought we were both pretty clever at this point.  Then she went of to daycare for 2 days, where they are wonderful and gave her lots of opportunity to practice, though with not much success.  On Tuesday night she did a poo in the toilet, mid bath time and was really excited to flush and wave bye bye poo and to wash her hands.  Since then we've had less success, with only one gold star on the potty chart.

My poor baby caught a cold Thursday and has been miserable.  I don't mind saying I've coped pretty well with the irritability and the aversion to taking medicine.  I even kept calm when she did what she did today.  I put her down for her midday sleep, then she took her nappy off and had diarrhea through the cot and, somehow, on the floor.  Yep, it happens with toddlers, yep, she is sick.  But this is not the first time we've had midday baths and sheet washing sessions because the damn nappy doesn't stay on.  Even Granny has had a turn in dealing with this at her place.  So that's why I think I've done well to get the hot soapy water and mop bucket out with patience.

I was less controlled when 10 minutes after being returned to a freshly scrubbed bed with clean sheets my little angel took her nappy off again.  Luckily I got a new one on in time but she was told to put that head down and to stay quiet because I wouldn't be coming back till she had a rest!  Of course she then needed a drink which I gave in to and then called for other things but eventually fell asleep.  Sigh, been so busy I've only had one cuppy tea today!

*PS. I had been out on Friday to stock up on some all in ones with snaps at the crutch, if these don't work I'll have to try a modified straight jacked for her bum. : )
* PSS. Very soon I'll stop procrastinating and will have some sewing to write about.

Thanking Mr Wonderful

How do you thank a beautiful husband?  Hubby Cuggles has been coming home from work, cooking dinner, cleaning up the kitchen, washing the clothes, tidying the house, keeping up the house cleaning, attending to Toddler Cuggles when she wakes in the night, and falling into bed, exhausted, at midnight.  That's usually just when I ask for a drink of water.  In the morning he gets up, empties bins, puts more washing out, makes all our breakfast and changes Toddler Cuggles nappy before having his shower, ironing his shirt and hopefully getting to work on time.

Yes, we have had lots of help from friends.  Yesterday the girls changed all the sheets, put another load of washing on, hung more washing out and made all the food and drinks for the day.  When Hubby Cuggles got home there was a little less to do, but still it must seem never ending to him.  I know how to thank the girls, but how do you thank the Man in your life?  I have written him a love note which I will tie to the dog's collar so when she wags her tail and runs out to greet him tonight he'll receive my letter via puppy post.

When I can drive again I'll go out and get him a present or organise a baby sitter and take him out to dinner or something. 

Tell you what though Mum's, I know it's been questioned many times before but doesn't it make you think (again) about how the hell we do all this stuff during the day while looking after kids and some of us working and running businesses as well?  Perhaps I'll need a present too!!

Lucky break!!?

Being a BIG procrastinator, I hadn't been able to decide on which topic to blog about as a first post for the new year.  Then I broke my foot (well, chipped a bone) on Thursday.  I thought that's as good as any place to start, here's a nice picture to illustrate....

It was my turn to host our regular Thursday playgroup and all I did was step off the back deck, onto the grass, with a bucket of water to fill up the kid's pool.  It's one step down, onto a flat surface yet I fell over and some say they heard a crack!  Still cannot believe I did it.  The moral of the story is, I'm doomed to crutches for a while and all the girls have put themselves on a roster of mornings and afternoons to come over and help with Toddler Cuggles and whatever else needs doing.  They all have at least one and many of them 2 small kids of their own, including newborns, but are still willing to find time to help.  That's why I cherish their friendship so dearly.  Whenever any of us are in need, the rest gather round without hesitation. 

Yep, it is an absolute pain in the butt to be incapacitated, especially at this time of the year with so many goals and desires and 'to do' lists, however it has really made me think about how grateful I am not only to have such great friends, but to generally be a fit and healthy person who takes it for granted that this is only temporary.   

There is a small perk to this situation - all cuppsy teas are made for me and brought to me.  : )

Sunday morning blogger

I started this blog at 6.30 am today thinking I would actually get it finished before the pitter patter of little feet demanded my attention, hence the title - good one, it's now after 8pm.   'All day blogger'?  'Sunday night blogger'? 'The frustrated blogger!'

Anyway, above is a gardening apron  which I was very proud of, it is sporting an enormous flower brooch and being modelled by Hubby Cuggles' golf clubs.  This was my gift to give at the Bloggette Party a couple of weeks ago.  (Yes only blogging it now, naughty Mummy).  I loved how it came together and was a bit sad to give it away... until Bec who received it wrote a blog about how much she loved it too.  Good on you Bec, you're very welcome.

Thank you Bubba Chenille for my blogette party gift!  A beautifully scented wardrobe sachet, a patchworked pin cushion and a cute little book to keep track of expenses - goodbye dog-eared envelope with receipts stuffed in!  Hello chic organisation. 

There has been lots of other things happening which I could have blogged in the last week or 2, no photos of course.  I think I'll make a New Year's resolution to be a better blogger, I need to schedule myself for a regular time to make it happen and I need to carry the camera with me everywhere.... and remember to use it of course.

I will just mention that I delivered my best work yet to the shop on Friday, 'Little Chef' Aprons and matching 'Little Chef' hats - Aprons are either crisp white with soft pink/white polka dot pocket or vice versa and the hats have the soft pink/white polka dot band with crisp white tops.  The aprons are lined in crisp white.  Of course aprons and chef hats are my thing but these are particularly good if I do say so.  One set sold as I was hanging them up!  I will take some pics on Tuesday while manning the shop.

Now, where is that Hubby Cuggles with my cuppsy!? 

An award? For me?!

Thank you Liesa for nominating me for this award!

This is what I'm required to do:


1. Copy picture and post on your blog.
2. Thank the person who gave it to you and link to their blog, thanks again Liesa from Handmade Heaven

3. Write 7 things about yourself we don't know, ok -
i) I can't cook but I can bake!
ii) I used to have a belly ring (pre baby!)
iii) I love storms
iv) I grew up at the beach and can waterski
v) I took my Dad skydiving when he turned 50
vi) I get myself a Xmas present every year (this year I'm getting new scissors from the Cuggles! fund.)
vii) Mum taught me to sew when I was about 7 or 8 and I topped the class at school for home ec (sewing, not cooking) in Grade 10.

4. Choose 7 other bloggers to pass the award to and (5) link to their blog.  Here they are:

1 Created By Kylie

2 Just this side of Chaos

3. Buttons by Lou Lou

4. Little Brown Doggie

5. Gemma Joy

6. Holi Goddess - Great time to check this one out as she just happens to be having a giveaway of gorgeous vintage bunting at the moment.

7. Sunny Street Designs

All good reading and lots of positive energy coming from this lot.