My Birthday and Some Lovely Surprises

Yesterday was my hap-hap-happy birthday; my first as a newly completed family of four! I was thoroughly spoiled by everyone I love, and ate just a little bit too much cake (surely a rite of passage on one's birthday? !) I scored some Oroton sunnies and some Lancome goodies:

Dan also took the day off work (and it wasn't even an eclipse!) so we could have a family lunch together. We ventured down to Terrigal Beach where I scarfed a Barramundi burger and delicious chippies -- all guilt free because it was my birthday!

My hubby backed that up by cooking me dinner -- marinated barbequed prawns and octopus on a bed of freshly picked greenery from the garden, followed by a lemon syrup cake! YUM.

My parents-in-law visited in the early evening, gifting me with some spending money and an order to buy myself something special, something I struggle with these days. I used to be tremendously talented at shopping; these days I wander aimlessly and disparagingly through the stores with no idea... and end up carrying bags of goodies home for the kids and nothing for myself! I could use some new clothes in my post-pregnancy state, but to be honest I am tempted to buy myself something else; something extravagant and unnecessary and oh-so-decadent!

I can tell you are intrigued so I'll share with you: I'm talking about the Jasper Conran for Wedgewood Chinoiserie range; specifically this plate which I have had my eye on forever and which I have no intention of eating off of, and every intention of hanging on the wall as the start of a collection!:

Love love love this plate... and the entire collection in this range, really. Should I do it??

In other very exciting news, yesterday I noticed in my reader bar the title 'Nursery Inspiration' at one of my favy blogs, Made By Girl. Clicking on the link, you can imagine my surprise and excitement to see Elliott's nursery which features one of Jen's LOVE candy prints profiled on there!!!

What an honour -- thanks so much, Jen!

... and THEN I discovered that another fave site of mine, and one in which I gained lots of ideas and inspiration for my nurseries, had also profiled Elliott's nursery! You can see it here; thanks, Spearmint Baby!

All in all, it's been a great birthday! Have a great weekend my loves, see you next week! x

Here is what I bought!

Thanks to everyone who provided advice to my little quandary yesterday about what to buy Fern as a 'gift' from her new little brother or sister when they arrive... taking your advice on board, I bought a little doll last night on Etsy!

This is her:

Isn't she cute? She is a Love Lulu doll from Nooshka, the designer I profiled on my blog last week! I almost bought a doll from the department stores, until I realised that what I really want is something that Fern will keep. Something a little bit special. Something made with love. And a plastic doll from KMart didn't quite fit the bill (for Xmas, however, I'm sure I will succumb!)

So, I am really happy with my little purchase and I can't wait til she arrives! Oh, and I bought those pink glass drawer handles I previously mentioned on Etsy today too, so I can't wait to put Fern's new chest of drawers together!

Thanks again for your help, ladies -- where would I be without you?

x

Handmade with Love - Rabbit Softie

It was my niece's birthday last week, and I realised this... a couple of days ago. I am a bit hopeless like that. If you WANT me to remember your birthday people, please do me a favour and send me a courtesy SMS a week or so before hand. I am then more than happy to bestow birthday love upon you! Anyway, things are a touch hectic at the moment, and I had absolutely no time to get to the shops and buy her a present. So yesterday whilst Fern was sleeping I found some scrap material, dusted off the sewing machine and whipped up this little rabbit softie!

It is sort of meant to be a sort of cushion that I picture sitting on my niece's bed. It is a tad smaller than intended, but with no pattern and a quick naptime window to complete the task it was the best I could come up with at short notice! I have made a few softies before, but this one is the first I've made on a whim, with no real plan of how it will turn out. Do you think she'll like it???