christmas cooking plans

I'm a creature of habit when it comes to the yummy things that come out of my kitchen in the lead up to Christmas. Every year I do rocky road (white and dark chocolate), rum balls, christmas cake baked early (so not happening early this year), chocolates and on christmas eve I always do shortbread, cookies and fruit mince pies. Phew!

I take this very seriously and have been doing it since my early 20's. Sometimes I try a new recipe like a different shortbread recipe but I do like my old favourites. And let me tell you ladies this is one way to keep your man happy. Yes sir, retro daddy is chief taste tester and I often have to buy more supplies because a batch of rocky road earmarked for a special person gets eaten by 'someone'.

So starting tomorrow I'll be sharing with you my recipes and hopefully trying out a few new ones - and I'll also be preparing myself for the fact that I have a few more taste testers this year who like the sweet stuff. And so tell me, what is coming out of your kitchen this Christmas?

the nativity scene

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!

six weeks

Littlest miss is 6 1/2 weeks old now. I know, can you believe it! It has gone so quickly and we've almost outgrown the newborn nappies so I must be doing something right.

Well, she does feed 24/7 so it doesn't surprise me! She still doesn't like to be put down and sleeps in the hug a bub during the day or in my arms. But Elodie loves a good smile and gurgle now which of course makes up for everything..... and she just comes everywhere with me. Lets see she's been to the hairdresser, to get my toes done, tupperware party, gingerbread house making, sushi train a few times, a meeting with nuffnang, ballet concert............she really gets around

And in breaking news......she has been asked today to play baby Jesus in the nativity play at our Christmas eve mass at church. I think that will make her very holy indeed!

my gingerbread house

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............

Win $1000 with Magnum Temptation

Sponsored by Nuffnang

I've been asked by Magnum to think of my most indulgent fantasy.................mmmmmmmmmmmm George Clooney springs to mind. Is it just me or is that man getting better with age! Deep breaths, retro mummy, he's just a person. And this a mummy blog so I'll keep it clean and not about a weekend away 'getting to know' George. Because let's be honest, I'm no hollywood hottie and more importantly, I love my retro daddy more than anyone. Yes that's right.

So my thoughts (after I get George out of them, of course) turn to my fantasy of being that housewife with the full time housekeeper living in my waterfront mansion. There is no way I'd live in a mansion without a full time person to cook and clean. No more picking up the toys all day or wondering when it will stop raining in Sydney so I can get my laundry out on the line. My time could be spent with my 5 children (oh yes 1 more baby would be in my indulgent fantasy) and retro daddy would work from home at Retro Mummy Incorporated. He'd do the school run and bring me coffee in bed every morning. I'd go to the gym each morning, have my stylist come over every day for some hair straightening and make up and life would be easy. Oh and I'd have my charity work of course...........

Well, didn't I get carried away with that and you just wanted to find out how to win $1000 all thanks to Magnum. Ok, sorry about that. So to win $1,000 cash, play the little game down there, try to get the highest score you can, tell me 'What will you indulge in with $1000' and include your highest score in your answer. Competition closes December 14 and a winner will be selected across the participating blogs and sorry this is for Australian residents only. Full T&C can be found here. Don't forget to include your email address in the answer! Too easy! Good luck...............

winners are grinners

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!

waiting, waiting

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???

twin love

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..........

Elodie's baptism

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.  

new shoes

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.......)

my hair

I love my hairdresser, she always works miracles and knows exactly what I need....like a no fuss hairstyle for this busy mummy of 4. And you can't beat hairdresser hair which in my case is blonde, straight and frizz free. And yesterday miss elodie came with me and slept in her ergo while I had my foils, cut and blowdry.

and aren't you glad you don't have to run a brush through this today! Oh man, it's not going to be pretty!

Tillie, I love you dearly but could you perhaps lie still in bed all night and keep your hair tidy? 

gingerbread house school

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!!!

over for another year

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!

my crazy day

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.

sunday best

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

babywearing love

Firstly, wow thank you for all of your entries in the sweet broderie giveaway! I'll have to do a few runner up prizes of a few fat quarters to share the love. Thank you and keep the entries coming.

But I'm going to talk about babywearing and in particular wearing my baby around the house. This little miss just loves to be held 24/7 and I use my baby ergo for out and about and love it! But I was finding it a little bulky for wearing around the house and getting things done. At a market earlier in the year a lovely lady from canberra (whose name has totally escaped me but I know who you are) had a hug-a-bub and I was amazed at how lovely and comfy it looked. So it was the first thing that sprang to mind when I knew I needed to buy another sling this week.

They are DVD's on the floor behind me, courtesy of Finn who got bored!

And let me tell you............life changing!!!!! When I put this baby on and my baby in she slept for an amazing 2 1/2 hours in the afternoon, something that she hasn't done since she was a newborn in the hospital! Wow, we did the washing together, had a paddle pop outside and played with the twins, photographed fabric, picked up toys, took a photo of us together in it. Oh my she was so comfy, I was so comfy and we got things done.

And I joined weight watchers today (so I will stop eating biscuits by the packet, I wish I was kidding) so this can be my before photo!

sweet broderie giveaway

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............

The Search for Santa Paws DVD Giveaway

Sponsored by Nuffnang

As you know we love DVD's here (especially to get us through rainy days and long afternoons) and the very kind people at  Disney sent us The Search for Santa Paws DVD to review! The DVD and Blu-Ray are due for release on November 10 and is just the ticket to get us all in the Christmas mood. 

Paws is a super cute pup (and I mean super cute and fluffy) who helps Santa in his workshop. But when Santa loses his memory in New York it's up to Paws and his little puppy friends to find Santa and of course save Christmas. Its a sweet story and got a little bit scary at times for Keira but the talking dogs are the highlight of the movie and kept the twins mesmerised.

And if your dog or pet could talk what would it say it wanted for Christmas? We don't have a dog here (4 children are more than enough work for me) but my sister's gorgeous terrier Mia would probably say leave me alone children this Christmas as my twinnies love to chase her EVERYWHERE!!!!!!! In fact, any dog they've played with would say that! They'd like a break from my children. And to win your own copy of Disney's The Search for Santa Paws all you need to do is just tell me if your dog or pet could talk, what would he/she want for Christmas? Competition is open to Australian residents only and the most creative answer wins. Don't forget to include your email address in your answer.

four weeks

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...........

keira's funnies

Oh my, maybe it's because I'm only getting 3 hours sleep these days but some of the things that come out of my keira's mouth just make me laugh!  Here are a few funnies from this week:

Keira says to the twins 'now I'm going to show you some pictures from the olden days, when I was a baby!'

Keira says to mummy on watching me get dressed, 'your undies are way too small for you mummy!' (a polite way of saying I'm fat, perhaps?).

and on looking at a picture of Elodie on a purple fluffy blanket - 'why is Elodie lying on a cat?'

off to the park! styled and photographed by retro daddy!

and since I need a good laugh (especially in the afternoon when everyone is getting tired, cranky and hungry), let me know what your little people have said to you that was funny!

monday morning mummy love

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!

new in the store and naptime

Righto, I'm trying to get organised this afternoon but with a baby on my shoulder, I'm not getting too far! I'm adding all the new fabrics to the store that have been sitting around including this very popular one....it sold out in 48 hours last time!

New magazines including Cotton Time, the Christmas edition and new books including some gorgeous baby sewing books. And then I'm going to try to catch up on orders by putting little miss in the ergo so I can get a few things done while enjoying some choc mint slices and peppermint teas. I'm too embarrassed to tell you how many of those biscuits I've eaten today.....I need my energy for the round the clock feeding!
But before I do that here is a little pic of miss elodie today....she is sooooo not an afternoon napper let me tell you! And she will last about 5 minutes in her bassinette before she 'tells' me it's time for a cuddle or feed again.

and will you look at that finger and one eye open....I'm sure she's saying don't you leave me in this bed for a nap. I'm on to you and I'm gonna cry as soon as you walk away! And sure enough as I was uploading the photos she was getting my attention and out on my shoulder again.