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the nativity scene

November 28, 2010 By corrie 23 Comments

Earlier in the year I ‘won’ a Little People Nativity Scene on ebay. I had sooooo wanted one the year before after seeing it on Skye’s blog but I couldn’t find one anywhere. So I got it for my own little people and last week let them play with it. However, by the second day of play they had already lost Joseph and a wise man. Sure, I had some fill ins like the Little People bus driver or airline pilot but it wasn’t a good sign…………oh they were found later in the week under the couch!

So I’ve set it up high on the mantle and out of little hands. Now that might sound a little cruel but these are hard to find before Christmas and I would like it to last a bit longer than one Christmas. And the cutest thing is that when you press the angel the star lights up and plays a little song…………so cute!

So have you started decorating your house yet? This is all I’ve managed so far!

Filed Under: catholic, christmas, nativity, parenting

my gingerbread house

November 26, 2010 By corrie 17 Comments

time to show off my latest creation……………………so much better than last years effort and honestly if you can buy a kit go for it! Don’t think I’ll be baking my own pieces ever again. The thing is that last year, I decided I HAD to do a house less than a week out from Christmas. Learnt my lesson. Get in now, you can find Australian stockists for the kits we used here,

So my church were doing a fundraiser and I could only go to the night time session which meant Liss came instead of Keira (and boy did I pay for it when I got home and keira saw my house – the niagara falls of tears). So we found a table, introduced ourselves to the fellow gingerbread makers and got started….

Decorating is the fun part and there was lots of variety in the lollies but cheeky kids were coming and trying to clear out our lolly bowls as they’d emptied their own bowls…….. before we had even started decorating! I know, so cheeky! So Liss became the self appointed lolly guard telling kids ‘yes, but only a few’ or ‘no’…..don’t mess with her, I tell you!

I love to cover my house in lollies while liss was channeling her inner martha stewart/donna hay and produced a very chic house. Everyone was in love with her roof!

Now for a few tips if you’re making your first house – I’m no expert though -ice the bottom of your house as you put it on the board, I noticed the chef on BH&G last night on TV didn’t do that which seemed a bit silly. My favourite lollies to use were freckles on the roof, smarties, marshmallow trees, red jelly rings, jubes, raspberries, dolly mix, jelly beans, mini candy canes……..you get the picture, just go crazy. And best of all you can eat what you don’t use.

And I’ve got to say wrapping up the house takes it to a whole new level – I’d almost want to give it away……..well almost! I wondered how long it would last with the kids around but trust me, I’m the one walking past it just wanting to tuck in! So I hope all you budding gingerbread house makers will share your creations with me so we can all ohh and ahh together…………

Filed Under: frills in the hills, gingerbread house

winners are grinners

November 24, 2010 By corrie 12 Comments

Cheesy title I know! So there were 530 entries in the sweet broderie giveaway. W-O-W! You guys love a good giveaway….so I’ve picked 3 winners and 2 runners up. So drumroll please……..3 winners are

304, 39, 229 Living the Dream, canadian kristin and Jantine and 2 runners up for a couple of fat quarters are 11 and 160 Joanne and Mary.

I think you all live overseas so I’ll get those parcels made up over the weekend and in the meantime drop me an email with your address. And I have another $1,000 cash giveaway starting tomorrow and a couple of small giveaways each week in the lead up to christmas as I clear a path into my sewing room! Stay tuned and thank you for entering EVERYONE. I’ll have the range up in the store soon…..I’m in need of sleep till then!

Filed Under: giveaway

waiting, waiting

November 23, 2010 By corrie 34 Comments

I know you’ve been waiting for me to draw winners of the sweet broderie giveaway and they are coming later today, I promise. It’s been a tough week so far with retro daddy away and Finn’s asthma and croup seeing him back on the redipred (for the 3rd time). I’ve been sleeping on the couch so I can keep a close eye on him and am pooped!!!!!!! But on a happier note let’s look at my favourite flower, the hydrangea! One of the nice surprises when we bought this house was when I discovered a huge plant out the back AFTER we had moved in. We don’t really have a backyard, we have a large house and pool instead but having this gorgeous flowering plant out the back makes up for the lack of a yard.

and the little people who are partial to picking leaves off everything out the back are under strict instructions to leave mummy’s plant alone. Because everyday without fail I come out to inspect how my pretty flowers are going. I can’t wait till they are all opened up……………

My second most favourite flower might have to be a gardenia! We only have one plant out the back but I could smell that flower for hours…………………….

What’s your favourite flower? I know some of you don’t share my love of the hydrangea – what is wrong with you people???

Filed Under: gardening, hydrangea, parenting

twin love

November 22, 2010 By corrie 27 Comments

having twins is a very special blessing and something I never could have imagined would happen to us. But any mum of multiples will tell you those early days are not all peaches and cream. It’s not like looking after two siblings close in age (as some people would like to tell you), you have 2 newborns, 2 little personalities, 2 hungry mouths, 2 cranky babies in the late afternoon and one set of hands.

I would love to show these photos to the new twin mummy I was back in august 2008, I would have stuck them on my fridge…………a way of saying look at how cute and happy they are and you’re doing a great job. This will all be worth it!

Because I can now look at these photos and kind of forget how hard those early days were because they are just the cutest little playmates and entertain each other all day (and night) long!

Oh I love these two……….

Filed Under: parenting, twins

Elodie’s baptism

November 21, 2010 By corrie 35 Comments

Well, I always get my babies baptised when they’re little bubbas and I say I’ll never do it again. And then the next baby arrives and I do it all over again.

This time around things were a little easier as I outsourced a few things and also had it at 11.30am instead of 9am mass and it made for a much more relaxed day. Little miss was wearing Keira’s baptism dress, a little Petit Bateau linen number from Paris.

Pretty, simple and no frou frou. I accessorised with a last minute headband from the french kids store near home and some little shoes too but they didn’t last long. She might need a few pointers from Keira on accessorising outfits.

Miss Elodie wasn’t a happy girl this morning and as soon as we arrived at church I was getting nervous. I had a little chat to her that her brother and sisters didn’t cry at their baptisms so if she could do the same that would be lovely.

And here is her special moment…………..keeping her from crying kept me from getting teary and emotional.

After the ceremony and posing for photos (and having my priest tell me how tired I am looking and that I should rest up!) it was time to race home and open the house for lunch. And to make this as easy as possible I had the lovely Liss from Frills in the Hills do the catering. It was gorgeous, everyone loved the food and as retro daddy put it, it was the least stressed he’s ever seen me before a party at our house.

We had blinis with smoked salmon and cream cheese, frittatas, gourmet sandwiches, homemade dips and crudites and lemon slice. And as you know food tastes so much better at your own party when you haven’t made it! I even squeezed in a glass of pink champagne after feeding the little miss……oh how perfect that was! A big thank you to Liss, it was just what we wanted!

After lunch it was time for the cake, oh my the cake! I almost think it deserves a blog post all of it’s own it was so special. Julie the cake decorator had made the cake for our wedding (and my sister’s) and this was so much prettier than I could have imagined.

Pretty in pink and white with a lovely rich chocolate mud cake underneath…..it was perfect!

Just like the day! Elodie was a little doll and there were plenty of people to get cuddles from. All in all a most perfect day and definitely the most relaxing baptism and party we’ve had here.

Filed Under: baptism, catholic, frills in the hills, parenting, retro mummy

new shoes

November 19, 2010 By corrie 15 Comments

Tomorrow is Elodie’s big day…..no, don’t worry it’s not her wedding, it’s her baptism! So we are running around (ok I’m not running around, I’m delegating) getting ready for tomorrow. And one of the jobs today is to get Finnie some new sandals to wear as he’s been living in his crocs. Me? I’ve got my footwear sorted……..

They are so perfect, don’t you think? I think they are the prettiest shoe I’ve ever had and I’ve had plenty of shoes in my time. I bought mine here (because I know some of you want some…….)

Filed Under: baptism, sambag, shoes, shopping

gingerbread house school

November 17, 2010 By corrie 18 Comments

We are very excited here at the retro household as I saw that they were running gingerbread house making sessions at my church again this year. So keira gets a day off preschool and we’ll each do our own house. I am seriously more excited than keira!

And making the house from scratch like I did last year is not going to be an option with a new bub strapped to me. Plus I had serious house envy last year with my friend francine, wowee, I’m talking about little figurines inside her house windows peering out and a very beautiful house. And I might need to talk to my mum nicely if I want this crocheted house! This was from last year’s Crochet Today mag…..weight watchers friendly!

But I think I’d also like to try the house from the latest Super Food Ideas…………..its a gingerbread cake and looks very cute with step by step instructions and pictures. And if you need some gingerbread inspiration check out flickr or this website. Check out this lady’s work………w-o-w! Anyway share links to your favourite gingerbread houses or your work in your comments. I’d love to see them as I’m looking for some inspiration before next thursday!!!

Filed Under: christmas, gingerbread house

over for another year

November 16, 2010 By corrie 23 Comments

Phew, ballet concerts are all over for another year and this is how we’re all feeling this morning ………..exhausted!

one of the highlights for my big miss would have to be the makeup and wait for it……..mascara! Oh yes, being allowed to wear mascara is a big thrill when you’re 4 and the excitement almost eclipsed the excitement of dancing!

And if you’ve ever seen 3 and 4 year olds in a dance concert you’ll know how cute and funny they are performing. Tears were rolling down my face watching them and especially when keira had to stop to ‘scratch’ her nose.

oh and we were bluebirds this year! So now I can get my saturdays back and enjoy a break from rehearsals for another year!

Filed Under: everything else

my crazy day

November 14, 2010 By corrie 15 Comments

today is one of my crazy days, you know those days where you have too many things on and all out of your control??? First up was getting keira to school orientation at 9am. And I better get used to it since I’ll be doing a lot of that next year.

Back home again for an hour to let the cleaner in, back out again to collect miss keira, back home again to wait for grandma jill. Back out again to buy a new jug which broke last night and grab some sushi for lunch.

Back home then back out again for keira’s dress rehearsal up at the theatre. Thank goodness it’s only a 10 minute drive for us. Hang out there for a couple of hours and thank goodness for my lovely ballet mum friends to chat to and also grandma jill watching the twinnies for me.

Back home again to feed everyone then send retro daddy, grandma jill and keira out for ballet concert (I’m going tomorrow night). PHEW………………I might not have time to exercise but I do get around a bit and I might need that ‘mum’s taxi’ sticker soon.

Filed Under: large families, parenting

sunday best

November 14, 2010 By corrie 23 Comments

Well for the first time my little miss wore a dress today! At our church we have our babies ‘presented’ to the church and they receive a little blessing a week or so before their baptism. It’s very sweet but I really thought we wouldn’t make it on time as trying to get everyone dressed very nicely, fed and out the door with a new baby is no easy feat

after church

but somehow we got there with a couple of minutes to spare. Elodie sleeps through mass at the moment but the twins…..oh my. They had children’s liturgy which kept them busy but when they came back in they were fighting over the tiny teddies, coins, craft activity they had made….just everything. It was their worst day at mass ever! Thank goodness they look so cute is all I can say.

still my top model

And now we’re back home and trying to get through all our jobs before grandma jill arrives tomorrow…..I think we’d rather be in the pool which is looking very inviting today.

super hero stretch

Filed Under: catholic, church, gymboree, retro mummy, sundays

summer clothes on a budget

November 13, 2010 By corrie Leave a Comment

If you were in sydney yesterday then you know it was HOT HOT HOT. I was madly pulling everything summery out of my wardrobe finding something to wear to take keira to ballet…..you know where I’m going with this don’t you. Yep, nothing was going to fit my generous new body size and it appears I must have lost my weight by the time summer arrived after the twins were born…..but still I was trying them on. I settled on a black elastic waisted skirt I’d made last summer, a black lace singlet and my new muffin top.

Usually I just buy a few great pieces from trenery and country road each season but I’m no longer an XS and I’m not going to buy new clothes till I’ve started to lose weight because I’m motivated to be a skinny minny this summer! DILEMMA! So I went to Target and picked up some black capris which are the perfect length for $39 and then went to Cotton On and got 2 ruffled t-shirts for $30. Crisis averted, 2 new summer looks to tide me over for the grand sum of $69! Oh I was so proud of myself!!!

Filed Under: clothes, diet, shopping

sweet broderie giveaway

November 12, 2010 By corrie 542 Comments

It’s about time for another giveaway from my store! So this time I’m giving away a fat quarter in each of the Sweet Broderie fabrics that have just arrived here. That’s right, 14 fat quarters and even better I’ll pick ~~two~~ three winners!!

It’s a very sweet and pretty range by the lovely Rosalie Quinlan. And as you know I do like sweet and pretty (lucky I have 3 girls!). It’s perfect for us girly girls and little girls as well as sewing and quilting projects where you want to use a few co-ordinating fabrics. I can’t wait to make up some little projects…….I’m thinking tiered dresses and skirts, patty young patterns from the store, quilts and bags. And, no wait…….. log cabin cushions too for the girls bedrooms!

So what do you need to do! Well just mention the giveaway (linking back to here) on your blog and leave a comment when you’ve done it! Too easy really! Competition closes next Sunday night 21st November and is open to everyone, wherever you live! Don’t have a blog just leave a comment! I love all my readers! The range will be up in the store tonight as fat quarter packs and by the half metre…………

Filed Under: giveaways, japanese fabrics, lecien, retro mummy store, rosalie quinlan, sweet broderie

four weeks

November 9, 2010 By corrie 18 Comments

what? really? has it been 4 weeks already! I remember with Keira that things got a whole lot easier when she was 6 weeks (3 months for the twins) so I’m hoping this little miss is following the same path as Keira. We’re still getting through the days (and nights!) and we have good and bad ones. Good is when I get a shower and remember to put deodorant on…………

and bad…….well probably last night when retro daddy was away, Finn was having what I thought was his worst asthma attack as well as a fever and I had to take him to the hospital at 4am! Turns out he has croup and my mum is an absolute lifesaver as I almost bundled all 4 in the car to the hospital but she came to the rescue and minded the big girls for me. Don’t you love it when these things happen and you’re on your own!

But little Elodie is still as gorgeous as ever and slept through the whole thing, bless her. Yes, I could still go back for one more baby………..

Filed Under: baby, parenting, retro mummy

monday morning mummy love

November 7, 2010 By corrie 29 Comments

There hasn’t been much time lately to take lots of happy snaps of Elodie since I’m the one who takes the photos and a little someone is generally attached to me. So as retro daddy left for work this morning I asked him to quickly snap us together……

and I’m so glad he did!

Filed Under: everything else