A Garden Tea Party

Here are photos from the Garden Tea Party for Angel. It's amazing how much effort goes into a simple party. It was mostly fun preparing for it. I woke up VERY early that morning and my mind was racing with all the things I still needed to do to get everything ready by that afternoon. I knew I wasn't going to go back to sleep, so I just got up and started doing things. It's rather nice being the only one up in a quiet house, while it's still dark outside. Very peaceful indeed.

So, shall I give you the tour?

Bubbles and nail polish for the young ladies to enjoy during the festivities.

They all loved having their toenails polished. We didn't do fingernails because they aren't allowed to wear it to school, so it was kind of pointless.

Afternoon tea set out for the girls to choose what they'd like to eat.

I bought this at the op shop. It's a bit yuk on the inside and is not salvagable to use for tea. I started out putting roses in it, but it leaks, so I put a pot plant in it instead and it now lives out in the garden.

We HAD to have roses for the tea party. You simply can't have a garden tea party without roses.

Marshmallow teacups. Yum! And so simple to make. They were a big hit!

I wish I had made more paper flowers, but I ran out of paper and time.

Of course, you can't have a birthday party without Cheezels. One on each finger.

Very special 'tea'.

The trampoline was a big hit with the girls. They jumped and twirled and threw around their feather boas. There were feathers EVERYWHERE!!! So colourful and so fun.

I made some bunting with fabric napkins that I sourced from op shops. It was my first time making it. Who knew it was so easy.

I put out Angels dollhouse for the girls to play with too. Those two playing with it in the picture had so much fun and stayed there for ages.

Oh, I must add that my darling hubby threw together this child height table last week after work. It was perfect for them to all sit around. It's WONDERFUL having such a handy husband. Thank you darling!

This was the only game they played...pass the parcel. There wasn't time to play any others as they were having fun eating, trampolining, doll housing, nail polishing and present opening.

She chose this birthday cake for me to make for her. I know you'll love it, but I'm not happy with how it turned out. I was in a rush and didn't do it properly. She loved it though, and that's all that matters!

Pressie time!

She LOVES opening presents.

Who doesn't???

My Angel, my Princess. All dolled up for a tea party.

She had a great time, which to me makes the party a huge success!

She's 6! Can you believe it? Where has the time gone???

~ Ky x

A Blog Award - So Fun!

I am privilaged to recieve this blogger award from one of my favourite blogger friends, Donna of Comin' Home. She's a Mum to five kids, loving wife, grandmother, DIYer, very energetic, positive christian lady. I love her and wish we could hang out, but she lives on the other side of the world. Whenever she reads one of my posts that she really likes, she always leaves the loveliest comments. This woman is a gem and true lady!

So the deal is, I now have to tell you 10 things that you don't know about me and I have to choose 5 of you to pass this award on to. Only 5? That's going to be hard.

If I choose you, then you have to do the same...write a post telling us 10 things about you that we don't know and you have to pass on the award to 5 more people and so it goes....

So here goes...

1. If you haven't already worked it out, I am actually the world's greatest procrastinator. Always have been, even as a kid. It's one of my flaws that I just can't seem to get on top of.

2. Being with people I either don't know or barely know

 terrifies me. I'm not good at introducing myself and I'm not good at the art of chit chat.

3. I love to watch something really funny. Having suffered the depression for 20 years and cried a lot of tears, I crave things that make me really laugh. It's my favourite thing to do with my hubby.

4. I am a stubborn, rebellious person who does not like to be told what to do. Ask any of my family or closest friends. They'll just shake their heads in despair.

5. I wanted to be a photographer when I was a teenager. It's one of the dreams I never followed (I'm a bit of a dreamer). I know it's not too late, but I love it as a hobby.

6. I'm a life long vegetarian. Born and raised. I've never eaten anything that had a face, and I never will. Not by choice anyway. The thought of putting dead flesh in my mouth makes me physically ill.

7. The only place I have ever travelled to outside of Australia is the USA. Back in 1985. It was the most fantastic trip and I always vowed I would go back, but never have.

8. I love clomping around the back yard in my gumboots. I really should live on a farm. I even hang the washing while I'm wearing them.

9. I love trees! All different kinds of trees. I feel an inner peace when I am around trees, under trees, looking at trees, sitting in trees, watching the breeze move the leaves.

10. I didn't want to have children until a couple of years after we were married. That biological clock bit hard! I'm suffering for it now though. Just kidding!!! I can't imagine life without my two monkey's. They make my heart explode!!!

So there you go, you now know me a little better.

Ok, so here are the people I am passing this award on to.

Nic at by marie-nicole. I've known Nicole for many years, but only caught up with her in the past year on Facebook. It's been such a blessing to ignite our friendship. She is such a talented designer and creator of her craft. She makes the most beautiful, unique treasures.

Lilian at Mothering Misadventures. This lady can write! She makes me laugh. She makes me think. I feel like I'm reading about myself as a mother sometimes. She is so fluent in her writing style. I wish I could write as well as her.

Georgina at perpetual one. I love this lady dearly. She is one of a handfull of girls that I call my best friends. She is following her dream of having a second hand goods shop. Currently she goes to the markets and sells things out of her 1960's Sunliner caravan. Such a unique, gorgeous idea. This girl is full of brilliant ideas!

Artemis at tales of a jUnkaholic. I've been following Artemis's blog for quite some time now. I really look forward to her posts. She leads a great life. Has a jewellery shop with her hubby, creates things, goes to the markets and picks up the coolest stuff and her photos are always so fantastic!

Becky at Life with Kaishon. Becky found me a few weeks ago and I've been following her ever since. This girl can use a camera!!! I love her photography style and always look forward to new posts.

If you choose to accept this award, then just copy and past the award button to your new post.

Hope you all have a great day. Catch you soon.

~ Ky x

Pancakes A La Lindz

A few of my really good recipes have been given to me by my sister. They are easy, but oh so good. This pancake recipe is another of my favourites...or should I say, another of my family's favourites. I've started making these most Sunday mornings. It's quite a treat for the kids cos it's the only time they are allowed to have icecream for brekky.

They are by far the fluffiest, lightest pancakes I've ever had. They turn out the same every single time too. I love them with sliced banana, maple syrup and cream...icecream too if I'm in the mood for it.

So, do you want the recipe? Do ya? Do ya?

Ok, ok! No need to yell at me. It goes a little something like this...

Mix together 2 egg yolks, 1 cup of sifted SR flour, 3/4 cup of milk and 1/2 tsp sugar.

Beat  2 egg whites until stiff (just like you would if you were making meringue or pavlova).

Fold the egg whites into the pancake batter (I'm assuming you know what it means to 'fold' when it comes to cooking).

Then just spoon the mixture into a heated pan and cook till golden on either side.

This mixture will give you about 6 small pancakes, so just double or triple the mixture if you have a few people to feed.

I have even made these as a fun dinner on a Friday night. The kids thought they had hit the dinner jackpot when I started making these. No veges or salad. Just pancakes, maple syrup and icecream.

Hope your family enjoys them as much as mine does.

Thanks Sis for sharing!

~ Ky x

Banana Cake

Do you like banana cake? I do! I love it in fact, and I have the perfect recipe(I think) that was given to me by my sister. It's really easy and comes out the same every single time and better still, the kids love it!

Unfortunately it never lasts long in this house.

Ladies Day Out

This week I was fortunate enough to be able to have a day out with a wonderful friend of mine. Without the children, I might add. It was so very therapeutic to be able to hang out together without constantly disciplining, giving commands, refereeing or apologising to strangers.

We met up at Buderim. I love Buderim. Gorgeous boutiques(I bought a new sun hat in one), cafes, book stores and the views are fantastic. It would be so very nice to live up there. We browsed through some op shops and antique stores while up there.

We then decided to go down to Cotton Tree for more browsing and to find somewhere to have lunch. We ended up at a great little cafe called Sister Organic Cafe. The food was just divine! I ate everything on my plate. It thrills me to find a cafe or restaurant that serves really good vegetarian food. There are alot of cafe's out there that have no idea how to make vegetarian food taste great. I am disappointed all too often, but not this time!

I also bought a bottle of water, which is not so unusual. What was unusual was the name of it. I was greatly amused and it is now living in my fridge, refilled.  

After lunch we continued on with our browsing. We visited a few op shops in the area. Op shopping is alot of fun if you like to score a bargain. You never know what treasure you are going to find. I bought quite a few books for the kids and my greatest score of the day were some perfectly good, 100% wool blankets for $4.50 each. I still can't believe I got them so cheap and in such great condition! George thought it was very amusing that I was buying wool blankets on such a very hot day.

It was a truly special ladies day out and I can't wait until we can do it again.

A special thank you to my Mum for looking after Monkey and Angel so that I could have some time out.