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what do tigers dream of……

July 14, 2010 By corrie 6 Comments

Maybe it was because it was after 11pm, maybe it was because I was in a silly mood, maybe its because I love the hangover or maybe it was just because the student yelled and carried on at me about the internet (we’ve shipped him off, thankfully). So for whatever reason, watching this song on Ellen this week just had me in hysterics….

The Hangover is one of the funniest movies I’ve seen, sometimes it was so wrong in parts but gosh it was so funny. And to set the scene they’ve all just woken up from the bucks night…the room is trashed, the groom-to-be is missing, there is a tiger in the bathroom and they can’t remember a thing. Hoping to be uploading photos tomorrow.

Edited because retro daddy thought I should warn some of you that the word ‘sugar honey iced tea’ comes up at the end of the song

Filed Under: funny, youtube

The Craft Room at Amitie

July 14, 2010 By corrie 5 Comments

In very exciting news, Notebook Magazine’s The Craft Room is launching at Amitie in Melbourne this August. And only at my favourite patchwork store…..ever! You can choose from knitting, design your own knitwear (I so want to fly down and do this class with Jo Nathan who designs for Cleckheaton), embroidery, beginner sewing, a quilt as you go log cabin cushion and paper piecing.

You’ll find some familiar faces amongst the teachers and I know they are getting excited about sharing their skills too. So to see the timetable just go here (click through to next month for August) and to book your classes just go here…………………Too easy! In September we’re adding crochet and hand carving your own cute stamps to the class list too.

Filed Under: notebook magazine

today was a new day

July 13, 2010 By corrie 23 Comments

I woke up this morning and said a little prayer that today was a new day and I’m going to start it happy and not let the little things get to me! Oh if only I knew how I needed that prayer to get through the day and the challenges that lay ahead. No hot water for either retro daddy or myself! Not the best way to start your day…so retro daddy asked our new homestay student (a 16 year old boy – say no more?) Did you have a shower today? was it hot?. Oh yes he said I had a lovely hot shower at 6.30am….which I guess is code for ‘long use up all the hot water’ shower.

But I wasn’t going to let it get to me, I was going to keep smiling eventhough my hair needed a wash and I didn’t feel awake yet. So I switch on the computer to check emails….oh so slow. No photos coming up on my blog. This is odd. Haven’t had this happen before. I had to duck out for a little playdate. Note to self that taking a tray of cinnamon rolls to your friend’s oven will just cement your friendship and make sure you’re remembered by her husband. Mike, I hope you enjoyed them!

So I get home, feed everyone and ring telstra who tell me that my ‘unlimited’ plan (I think they use the word ‘unlimited’ loosely) has been exceeded in one week. The guy was like ‘wow, its just shot up to 4000 MB a day and thats pretty huge’. That meant nothing to me but I knew the culprit. So despite changing plans immediately and banning the culprit from the internet I’m still running slow, oh so slow, and can’t download for another week. Blogs are no fun to read without pictures……trust me!

Cut a long story short I’ll be sharing photos already on my computer for the next 7 days. I’ll also try to be nice to my student who has obviously been downloading and skyping to his heart’s content in his room each night instead of reading the house rules!! But we’re still smiling and tomorrow is another new day……… and of course when your children are this cute tomorrow is always a new day to enjoy with them.

Filed Under: everything else

cinnamon roll city

July 12, 2010 By corrie 17 Comments

This is what your kitchen looks like after baking a batch of PW cinnamon rolls. I ended up with 5 big full trays to be exact. We ate one straight away and once these babies had cooled, I wrapped up 3 of the trays tightly in foil as per the recipe and popped them in the freezer. We are working our way through the other tray for breakfasts and snacks. So as you can see, don’t be frightened by baking 40 to 50 rolls….they will go quickly!

And let me tell you…….breakfast of champions when you have one with a cup of tea! And I needed all of that sweetness to fight the two not so nice emails I woke up to this morning. This is the ‘I love retro mummy blog’, people!

To end on a sweeter note, I was so thrilled to receive an email later in the day from the marketing manager of Samaritans Purse thanking me for mentioning them on my charity list. They asked me for any good patterns for their site so if you have one drop me an email – think cute soft toys and handmade items for children!

Filed Under: baking, blogs

church + cinnamon rolls

July 11, 2010 By corrie 19 Comments

Firstly, thank you from the bottom of my heart for all of your beautiful comments yesterday. I’m determined to reply to each and everyone of you to say thank you and I really hope you enjoy the issue. I’ve kept it a pretty good secret, don’t you think?

And so it’s Sunday. For some people that means sleep-ins and relaxing but to me Sunday morning means one thing – getting 3 little people fed, dressed in their Sunday best and out the door in time for 9am mass. No sleep in’s here and I’m always so happy when we arrive and the music hasn’t started meaning we’re early (no such luck this morning, late again). Here is Keira this morning with her pretty new hairclips from Gymboree…..

So after church today I knew it was time for some baking. And don’t you love it when you think you have all your ingredients and I discovered I was missing cinnamon, only like an essential ingredient for the cinnamon rolls I had planned. And a warning if you let your children help you – be prepared for the mess! Flour…….EVERYWHERE

Meanwhile, Retro Daddy was still a little concerned that I was baking 40-50 scrolls and that we would have to eat them all. I assured him I would give some away to family and friends during the week but I must admit the dough mixture was huge and I needed to upsize bowls twice as my big tupperware mixing bowl just wasn’t big enough.

I really liked the tip about using aluminium trays to bake them in and then pop them in the freezer or give away. The trays cost a couple of dollars at the supermarket for a pack of 3 and fit 12 scrolls nice and neatly, then stack up in the freezer easily. But if you have room in your freezer you might be hard pressed to give these babies away because I think they’ll be perfect when you need a morning tea or special treat for breakfast. So here they are as I’m filling up the trays…….

and here is how quickly we almost demolished one whole tray for afternoon tea. Oh my they are so good. Retro Daddy was coming back for seconds, thirds….and well let’s just say he just loved them. Worth the time and baking……..

we ate the rest of the tray in one sitting

and let’s get a nice close up…..mmmmmmm……so yummy. A few tips would be to start them before 12 o’clock so that they are coming out of the oven just in time for afternoon tea, have all of your ingredients out and ready to go, use your biggest mixing bowl, melt 2 x 250g butter sticks when you’re rolling out your dough so you have it all ready and lastly have a nice stack of fresh tea towels out to cover up the dough and then the rolls when they are in their tins. I left out the coffee as I know retro daddy and the little people don’t like it so my icing was a bit paler than the recipe.

Lots of time (and washing up) went into these but oh so worth it! I definitely think they’d be a winner at your house………..you can find the recipe here by Pioneer Woman

Filed Under: baking, church

I’m in Notebook

July 9, 2010 By corrie 73 Comments

I still remember my very first meeting at Notebook with the lovely Caroline Roessler, the editor. I was so nervous (oh so nervous). I was wondering was Caroline going to be like Meryl Streep in the Devil Wears Prada – thankfully she is so lovely, so sweet and nothing like that at all!

Hubby was waiting for me in the cafe below minding the twins. And I came out and told him they want some help with their new project The Craft Room and would I like to write some patterns for an issue of the magazine. Would I ever!!!!!!! Me, little old me, the stay at home mummy who loves to craft and be the best mummy in the world.

So that was last year and yesterday I trotted out to the letterbox in my pregnancy leggings and ugg boot slippers (very attractive, I know!). I thought I’d get some bills but it was the Notebook issue I’d been waiting all year for. The one with my patterns in there. Too much excitement for one day. I hope you like them. We’ve been over them with a fine toothcomb and those Notebook sub-editors are amazing at finding things you thought were perfect……..and weren’t!!!!!!

So rush out and get a copy (well I think it will hit the newstands next week)! If you live overseas and would like me to buy you a copy and post it out just let me know. I know quite a few of you have been asking me for my dress patterns so here they are! And now I need to get my little butt into gear to design a new dress for my markets this summer. Happy reading………………..

Filed Under: me, notebook magazine, patterns

I love glee

July 8, 2010 By corrie 21 Comments

Oh I really do! At first it took me a while to remember it was on tv and to watch it but it’s been such an enjoyable show. Always funny, a little bit corny and oh the banter between Sue Sylvester and Mr Schuster – hilarious. It hasn’t always been suitable for Keira but she has sat there watching some of it with me as she just loves the singing and dancing. And I just love this song which was the perfect end to the season………………I had to fight back the tears.

It also helped cheer me up after the shocking elimination of Marion from Masterchef. I don’t normally get into reality tv shows (but I do watch too much tv at night time while doing my craft on the couch) but I’d been hoping she’d win the show!!!!

And thank you for your lovely comments about keira, she is getting lots of rest and being spoilt by her everyone!

Filed Under: I love tv

one sick pup

July 8, 2010 By corrie 23 Comments

We have one child down here…..I saw it coming and the crying about her ears soon ended in projectile vomiting all night. But this girl just makes the easiest patient…..no crying when she’s being sick and the only tears came when she screamed out ‘eeeeeeeeewwwwwwwwwwwwww I have vomit in my hair’…..poor little princess. I had to translate for retro daddy and we all quickly raced her into the bath to clean her hair. I think we need an emergency sick shelf where clean towels, sheets, pj’s are all located in the one spot with a bucket, some panadol and the thermometer. Anyway, Miss Keira and I fell asleep in a bed of towels at 4.30am…..yawn…..

And boy oh boy do I love school holidays because a quick call to my mum to help me get them all to the dr this morning. And just as I suspected, middle ear infection and unexpectedly one ruptured eardrum. Anti-biotics have kicked in so quickly and little miss had enough energy to do some painting and apologise for crying about her ears last night, awwwwwww. Meanwhile, the twins show no sign of sickness (yet!) as they chase each other around the furniture, and yes Finn is armed with a knitting needle (do not try this at home!). And so now I’ll get back to the towels, oh my, the towels….so many towels to wash and dry today with some sheets and pj’s thrown in too.

And when everyone naps (well I hope they do) and the washer and dryer are humming along I will get back to reading my lovely new book, Pioneer Woman Cooks….which arrived on my doorstep this morning. Oh it’s a good one and great price at the moment too.

I think cinnamon scrolls will be in the oven this weekend and I’m bookmarking a few more delicious recipes which are perfect for busy families. A lovely book, I want to read it cover to cover and the very homely styling really appeals to me!

Filed Under: books

giveaway winners

July 7, 2010 By corrie 4 Comments

I get around to things eventually and here are the winners of my 1000th blog post giveaway! Thank you everyone for entering, I loved reading your comments… and the winners according to random.org are as follows:

Here are your random numbers

37 220 41
Timestamp: 2010-07-07 02:47:34 UTC

So first prize is 37 Kelly from Reclaiming Me

2nd prize goes to 220 is my little birdie

3rd prize to 41 Perri from Stitches from the Bush
I’ll be in touch soon………………………

Filed Under: everything else

one finished bolero

July 7, 2010 By corrie 8 Comments

Finished late last night while watching tv and keeping warm. I just can’t get enough of this pattern, it’s such a winner. So to recap, pattern here and I used Lincraft’s ‘cosy’ wool and 4mm circular needles and the largest size is the perfect fit for miss tillie. Be warned if you use the recommended yarn in the pattern you will have a bigger bolero and that is just what I find with debbie bliss patterns in general.

Miss Tillie loves it and when I showed her this morning she just said ‘niiiiiice’ but getting her to pose was another matter! I think I’ll need to wait till she’s asleep to get all angles.

Now to make a few more hats for custom orders then I can get started on my lovely new millamia books which arrived from london in a week, yes one week! Record speed!

Filed Under: knitting

craft for charity

July 6, 2010 By corrie 7 Comments

I know how it feels, so many worthwhile charities need our $$$’s and we don’t know where to put them or we already feel stretched. You just want to give to all of them. The great thing about craft is that we can use what we have at home, put in our time and skills to donate. And it feels good, really good! So to let you know about a few charities that need our crafty things I’ve put together a list of projects/resources that you might like to get involved with…………

American Yarns Great Charity Knit In being held in Brisbane this August.

Animal Aid – based in Victoria they urgently need blankets and jackets for cats and dogs this winter. Thank you Jenny for contacting me about this. If you want to help just contact Animal Aid on 03 9739 0300 or the website.

APQ 1 million pillowcase challenge organised by American Patchwork and Quilting magazine.

Bev’s Country Cottage – loads of free patterns to knit for premmies and charities and donate yourself. Check out her huuuuuge list of charities to knit for

Craft Hope -I can’t wait for the book coming out in August. I love their description of who they are : ‘Craft Hope is a faith-based, love inspired project designed to share handmade crafts with those less fortunate’.

Guardian Angel Knitting Program co-ordinated by Guardian chemists across Australia

Operation Christmas Child fill a shoebox with a range of recommended items and drop it off nearby (there are plenty of drop off points) and they are delivered around the world in time for christmas. I will not be late and miss out this year.

knitting4africa the name says it all!

Knit4Charities aussie based with a yahoo group too

komfort 4 kids blankets made for children, based in WA

NSW knitters guild has quite a list of charities and what they need

pinafores for an african orphanage just go to Gypsy’s website for more details.

quilts 4 kids this one is aussie too!

red cross trauma teddies knit some little bears which are given out in hospitals around australia

save the children knit one save one

wrap with love although the big knit in’s may have finished there is still time to knit/crochet squares

This is by no means an exhaustive list so if you know of any more do let me know and I’ll add it to the list! thanks for your recommendations already everyone!

Filed Under: everything else

almost finished

July 5, 2010 By corrie 5 Comments

Before I give you the chance to say ‘heh retro mummy, isn’t this a craft blog?’ (because I have to admit there hasn’t been a lot of craft on here lately)………here is what I’ve been working on all week. I’ve been knitting my little heart out every night trying to get this little debbie bliss bolero finished for my little miss.

Tonight, I will pick up the last of the stitches and do the ribbing on the bottom border then it’s all ready to lightly block and seam up. I just love this pattern and you’ll love it too because it’s knit in one piece. And this little number will come in under $6 as the wool is Lincraft’s own ‘cosy’ wool which was on special for $2.99 for a 100g ball. Retro daddy are you reading this? $6! Bargain! See I am always trying to save you money!!!!! Well who am I kidding but I’m pretty proud this cost so little.

And look at my little shadows who follow me everywhere…honestly two peas in a pod these two. Mondays and Thursdays we are without miss keira so these two get to have me (and all the toys) all to themselves.

mind you they don’t sit down long enough for the camera but I’m sure they’ll take the lead from their sister and grow into photogenic little people in no time.

Filed Under: knitting

lazy sunday afternoons

July 4, 2010 By corrie 10 Comments

Trying to find a place fancy enough to treat your mum to a special lunch for her birthday but where you can bring all the little people and feel comfortable isn’t always easy! So today we hit the jackpot with my restaurant choice – upmarket but still very friendly and welcoming. A kids menu which includes pizza with chips on top (well that was always going to be a winner, wasn’t it?)

traditional italian pizzas for the big people – I loved being able to see the dough being thrown up in the air, the pizzas going in the oven and then arriving on our table.

super friendly waiters who smile at all the kids even when they are running around underfoot (not mine of course – actually my little ones were on best behaviour today and I was very proud). I was a little worried that going after church was going to be too much for one day but they were all good as gold.

The magic of pizza, lemonade and ice-cream.

and of course the best part of the day was having all the family together and catching up….what more can you ask for! So my mum had a great birthday lunch, keira sang happy birthday (the version where ‘you look like a monkey and smell like one too’)

and we came home to snuggle up on the couch and watch ‘cloudy with a chance of meatballs’ under a quilt instead of nap time. What a perfect sunday afternoon. We’ll definitely be back up there again and my only advice is book in advance because it books out quickly for sunday lunch!

Filed Under: everything else

a lot can happen overnight

July 3, 2010 By corrie 12 Comments

Well a lot can happen overnight and since my last blog post.! Finn was having a lovely little nap on the couch waiting for his Daddy to come home when Tillie started screaming after Keira took her blanket off her – which made Finn wake up with a shock, roll off the couch, hit his head on the fireplace and have blood streaming down his face. So just picture it….. all 3 children all screaming at the top of lungs…….while I ring retro daddy to see where he is, my mum to come over and mind the little ones, the hospital to work out which one to go to and try to settle everyone down and assure them that Finnie will be fine!

Phew! Thankfully the hospital was so quiet and we were seen straight away, Finnie’s head was glued together (thank goodness for modern medicine) and he was one happy little chappy. My mum and dad were happy watching the footy and the other two and this mummy needed to stay up a bit later for some tea and knitting to calm her nerves. And the good news is that like all little people he is back to his normal little self running around and thankfully not touching his glued head.

And the other thing to happen overnight was that the cheesecake swirl chocolate brownie (what a tongue twister) miracuously turned into a brownie. Oh my it is so good…..so you better go and get yourself a copy of Donna Hay and make it for yourself because it’s almost gone at this house. But the trick is to leave it overnight in a container for it to magically turn into brownie…..just try to resist it for one night though!

Filed Under: baking

cold weather and mickey mouse

July 2, 2010 By corrie 7 Comments

Seriously, could the weather be any colder! Tonight, I am doing a leek and potato soup and a cheesecake swirl brownie for dinner as I’m in need of winter comfort food. The brownie recipe is from the current issue of Donna Hay and is more cake than brownie but very good…….and it goes without saying that Donna’s looks much better than mine (soooo much better)!

We’ve been spending a lot of time indoors this week and that means some dvd’s in the late afternoon to beat the crankies. Our new favourite is Mickey Mouse Choo Choo Express and Keira honestly believes that Mickey Mouse sent it to her personally in the post! Truth is I was asked to review it and that was pretty easy considering Mickey Mouse is often the only way I get a hot meal on the table at night.

In other words someone will be crying outside the kitchen gates for dinner unless there is something to distract them. You will notice that little miss photogenic saw this as a photo opportunity while her poor brother cries for his mummy to hurry up with dinner. She was being a cat all afternoon by the way.

Anyway, this dvd is so cute as I can hear all their little voices calling out to Mickey and it’s definitely our new favourite! I love how interactive it is as they all shout out their answers about time, shapes, colours, counting and more.

So if you have little people then add Choo Choo Express to your dvd list as it’s been the only dvd in the player for the last 2 weeks. And let me tell you we have quite the dvd library going here.

oh and I’ve extended my giveaway till Sunday….I’m leaving it to retro daddy as there are so many entries and he’s the numbers man around here…

Filed Under: baking