Point + Shoot – Shoe Love

I’m practicing wearing these super hot babies for a Christmas ‘do coming up. I am in love with them. L. O. V. E

What have you fallen in love with lately?

You can Point + Shoot too!

Oooh, that’s pinteresting….Party Dresses

 

The party season is nearly upon us and I am keeping my eyes open for something gorgeous. I have no idea what I’ll actually like until I try a few things on. I am loving some floaty summer beauty, but also get caught up in the idea of something more structured or modern. They may not turn out to be a winner for me in reality, but here’s some lovelies that caught my eye.

Source: witchery.com.au via Kylie on Pinterest

 

Source: portmans.com.au via Kylie on Pinterest

 

Source: forevernew.com.au via Kylie on Pinterest

 

 

 

Source: forevernew.com.au via Kylie on Pinterest

Source: jacquie.com.au via Kylie on Pinterest

Source: jacquie.com.au via Kylie on Pinterest

 

 

Source: gifts.myer.com.au via Kylie on Pinterest

 

You can see what other’s are pinning here.

Santa Claus is coming to town!

The decorations are up, the Christmas shopping is all but done, and the family bookings are locked in, Eddy! I’m finally starting to relax about this whole Christmas caper, and next comes the best bit…. enjoy!

This year I’ve managed to swing it so that I’ll be seeing almost everyone I love in the three days over Christmas, including a Christmas Eve gathering at our house. I’m pretty excited about that – I think it’s our first time hosting any kind of holiday festivities, and while it’s not the whole turkey palaver, it’s still feels rather grown up. At least…. I think it’s not the whole turkey and trimmings deal…. friends tell me I’m not expected to cook a turkey!?

For the first time in YEARS I’ll be seeing aunties, uncles and cousins of mine at Christmas time (and some for the first time in years, Christmas or not!). It’s the perfect year for it, in my opinion, as we have our little girl to meet and greet everyone. I’m sure she’ll charm the pants off them with her head shaking, booty bouncing, drunken walking antics. Not to mention the clapping! Oh, the clapping is just too cute. Pebble is clapping at everything – happy things, sad things, angry things. It’s too, too precious.

I’ve just spent several hours online shopping for presents, trying to get as many goodies as possible without setting foot into the crrraaaazzzzzy shops. I detest Christmas shopping. Well, not the actual choosing of gifts part, but the crowded, pushing, irritable and impatient humans part. I can only imagine how that sort of thing would work out with a stroller and 10 month old in tow, so I’m saying a big No Thank You Siree, Bob!

So, Christmas, I’m here and I say BRING IT BABY! I’m ready!

Are you ready for Christmas?

Lollipop, lollipop, l-l-l-lollipop!

As I mentioned earlier this week I had a fabulous time at the launch of Lollipop Markets on the weekend. I had a little shopping list in mind, Christmas is coming, everyone around me is having babies, and Pebble’s first birthday and Christmas are just around the corner!

I love many of the sellers that were represented at the markets, who mostly sell their wares online. However, I am not the most confident online buyer (which is probably for the best – for my credit card at least!). I find it really difficult to commit to an online buy. I love to see up close, to touch, and to chat to the sellers. So a market is perfect for me – I get to do all of that AND this market had EFTPOS facilities. How awesome (and deadly?!) is that!?

I arrived as the market opened, keen to get in and out before Pebble had her morning nap. I wasn’t at all prepared for just how BIG the market was, and how many beautiful stalls there would be. Just when I thought I’d seen it all I turned a corner and there was more, and more, and more!

One of the very first stalls I came across was the talented fellow blogger Cat from Wouldn’t It Be Loverly. I have been so removed from the blogging world lately that I didn’t realise she would be there, and it was truly a lovely surprise. Cat was selling some beautiful things, including one of my favourites, customised children’s handprint embroidery. Check out her Facebook page for a sneaky peek! (I did take a photo of the stall but it’s blurry and doesn’t do the gorgeousness justice!).

I toured the whole market and took note of a few pretty things that I had my eye on. I was on the look out for a Christmas sack and stocking for Pebble, and there were lots of those to choose from. After much deliberation I chose this pretty little sack from Little Boombalada, and this stocking from Sassilu.

 

I can’t share with you the pressie I bought for my step-sister’s baby shower, just in case she sees this! But I can tell you I snapped it up from Mon Petit Cherie and it’s terribly, terribly cute!

Finally I bought two outfits for Pebble – one for Christmas day and one for her birthday. I rarely buy Pebble clothes, as we’re very lucky to have many hand-me-downs from her friends and cousins, as well as still working our way through many cute pressies from when she was born. So this was a great treat (for me!) to buy such beautiful things. I decided on a Gracie Lou outfit, as I was so pleased with the last one that we were gifted. This is the top, and the matching pink and while polka dotted skirt is on order.

The other beautiful outfit is from Muddy Ruffles. I love that Pebble will be able to grow into it, as this dress can later be worn as a top.

To top off both of these I couldn’t resist picking up a headband from Nooni and Boo. It looks beautiful on Pebble, and is nice and stretchy for her little (or not so little) head.

Finally I bought a treat for both Paul and I – a cupcake each from Lulu’s cupcakes. Oh my goodness, my little cupcake was divine! So moist and sweet and yummmmmm.

   

A quick shout out to those that I loved but didn’t indulge in on the day: Pink Apple (pretty fabric necklaces for grown ups!), koochie koo (beautiful fabric covered notebooks), and Miss Amali’s Things (gorgeous fabric activity clutches). And many, many more…

You simply must yourself to the next Lollipop Market if you’re in Adelaide… dates and venues are on the website!

Family, friends, markets, oh my!

What a busy and fun weekend we’ve had! I feel absolutely exhausted, but in a good way. On Friday night we celebrated my little sister turning 21 – hip hip hooray!! We went to a pub, some of us ate schnitzels larger than our own heads, and enjoyed a very pretty butterfly covered chocolate mud cake. The baby cousins fell asleep like the little angels that they are, aren’t they sweet?

On Saturday I zipped into the Big W for the one day sale. Bedlam! There were people everywhere, LOTS of mums and dads with their trolley loads of nappies (Huggies had a big special). I got my nappies and got outta there! In the arvo Paul trimmed and re-staked our rose bushes while Pebble and I played, and I got a little bit more party planning done. The poor young rose bushes were so heavy with roses that they were falling over! The growth this year has been fantastic, but the bushes can’t quite cope with it.

Update on the party planning – the first guest list was for 116 people. Um. NO. The second still-large-but-more-conservative list is for 55 people including children and babies. That’s just close family and close friends! I’m still going with the duck theme, more of an indulgence for mummy than for Pebble. I know she won’t remember any of it, but I’ll have fun getting it all ready, and she’ll enjoy it on the day. Pebble loves busy, loud, and lots of people, thankfully, and I think she’ll have a good day.

On Sunday morning, while Paul helped my Dad and step-mum move into their lovely new home, I stopped in at the launch of Lollipop Markets. It was so pretty and organised, and stuffed to the brim with gorgeous, handmade goodies for kids. I bought my step-sister a cute-as-can-be shower gift for a few weeks time, as well as a few (ok, quite a few) little things for Pebble. More about that later …

Sunday afternoon we went to a good friend’s engagement party, where we relaxed on the grass at the local national park and whiled away the hours in their honour. The wedding is in February, how exciting!!! I can’t wait to celebrate with them some more. When all the celebrating for the day was done we went home and tried out Pebble’s new toy – on loan from her cousins while they’re both too big and too little to use it. This walker is just perfect for Pebble at the moment, she’s loving the chance to walk up and down the lounge room. She’s not quite got the turning thing sorted yet, so that’s mum and dad’s (constant) job. Thanks Aunty Skye, big kisses from Pebble xx

Perhaps all that fresh air and walking was just the thing that Pebble needed. Last night was the first. night. ever. that Pebble has slept from 9pm to 7am without waking up. No midnight feed. Only once did I get up to put her dummy back in, at 5am. Wow! I’m not holding my breath for more, I’m not expecting a repeat performance. I’m just enjoying the one night that we had, and I’ll remember it fondly always.

How was your weekend?

Op shop bargains

I’ve been feeling a bit bored with my usual walking routes, so this week I decided to try walking somewhere a bit different. I drove Pebble and I up to the town centre to walk up and down the main street. I started at the pub (no, I didn’t go in – a nursing mother nursing a beer is not a good look ;P) and walked to the other end of town and back. The timing was perfect for Pebble to fall asleep as we arrived at the op shop, and I got to have a nosy around. I tried on a big pile of clothes, but left empty handed in that department. I did score four new board books for Pebble though.

They were only $1 each and in great condition. My favourite is My Dad by Anthony Browne. His books are always a hit with the children at school and the Dad in the story loves football! Proper round football, just like Pebble’s Dad.
Have you been op-shopping lately? What treasures did you find?

Tooth!

Yesterday I tried to do my first proper clothes shop since having Pebble . I attempted to do this with Pebble (my first mistake). She’s usually a pretty good shopper. She hangs out in the pram, people watching. I get vocal updates on her tummy and sleepy status, but apart from that she’s pretty good.

However, yesterday, she was NOT. She cried most of the time, a whiny little cry and was just not happy. It was time for a sleep and I tried and tried and tried to get her to sleep. I tried the usual pram rock and roll. I tried the pick-her-up and rock. I tried the cover-the-pram and rock. I tried the jaunty back and forth. I tried a feed. I checked her bum. I tried all of these again.
She just kept crying and fighting and crying.
I was at my wits end. I had finally got a grasp of this kid and now I had no idea what’s going on (welcome to motherhood, I hear you say). I stopped in the middle of the shopping centre and gave Pebble a big cuddle. She stopped crying and snuggled up to me.
I’m not sure what made me do it, but I had a look in her mouth and felt her gums. I’ve been doing this every other day for about two months, as she’s been drooling and rosy cheeked on and off.
There it was. A sharp little white bugger, poking it’s head through her gums. Oooooooh! Poor kid, there she was dealing with her first tooth coming through, and her mum was dragging her round the shops all day.
Big sigh of relief from me, and big sigh of relief from Pebble. I know what’s going on and she’s finally going home! Some panadol and bonjela that night made her day.
My little girl is growing up!
p.s. I still managed to buy a cute coral cardi, a floral print top and a pair of silver sequined ballet flats ($13!).

To market, to market

This past weekend I was lucky enough to visit two markets for the first time: Mathilda’s Market and the Baby and Kids Market.
I was most excited to go to Mathilda’s. I love drooling over Etsy and MadeIt stores for gorgeous handmade things, but often stop at purchasing because I like to properly shop. I like to touch and really see.
Mathilda’s was small but plentiful. There were lots of things for girls. Lots and lots. Hair pretties, clothes, dress ups, soft toys. I saw a few pieces of clothing that I quite liked, but I just couldn’t justify the cost. I know that these sellers deserve their money, their blood, sweat and tears go into each piece. But I just can’t let myself spend $40ish on a onesie just for fun. I’ll admit that I’m a Target girl at heart.

Owl Softies from Little Luv

So I browsed. I tried to take photos, but I felt guilty because I think the sellers thought I might be trying to steal their work. I spoke to one about my blog and she was all too happy to help me out and gave me her card. I thought perhaps I should have a card too, but then thought that a bit silly. After all, this blog is just my little fun zone. It’s not anything proper. However, it’s much easier to hand over a card than to quote my lengthy http address. And much cooler too.
I digress. My sister ended up doing better than I at Mathilda’s, and came out with a bag full of loot. I bought the gorgeous hat that I blogged, which I still love. I will definitely go to Mathilda’s again, but next time will have in mind something that I want to get, instead of wanting just a sneaky peak.
At the Baby and Kids Market I did much better. Now this is my comfort zone. $2 here, $5 there. I walked out of there heavy with what I consider to be bargains. Here’s what I bought.

   

Fabric books (2) and fabric box $10
Bedtime for Bunny interactive fabric book $5

Puzzles, $3 each

 
Stacking cups $5

Soccer goals + Ball, $10
(I couldn’t walk away from this, Paul is a big soccer fan)

 

Where are your favourite markets?