Secret Santa and the lighting of the tree

Our little family went off to the lighting of the Christmas Tree in the city last night. It was lovely for the kids to see it and be amongst all of the excitement. I was amazed at how many people there were there.

Yesterday was the first time that Ellyse has shown interest in wearing dress up clothes outside of the house. In fact she isn't even a really big dress up girl unless we have visitors, but yesterday she wanted to wear the hidious purple sparkly plastic high heels out, I was prepared and took some spare shoes which we did need. I don't think she will ask to do that again. The last night she wanted to wear her fairl dress. Seeing as she has had it for a year and hasn't really worn it I was only too happy to let her wear it. She looked gorgeous!

Tonight we are off to our Mother's Group Adults Christmas party (the kids one is next weekend), I decided to sew up this bag as one of the gifts. So many of the mums have asked about the one I made myself. This fabric is just from SL, it is a nice heavy canvasy type fabric.

Cherry Ripe Mud Cake

On Kylie's request here is the recipe. I got it from EB, but it is actually a Woman's Weekly Recipe. It was so yummy and got better over a few days. Next time I would make it 2 days before the event, and I will be making it again.

Cherry Ripe Mud Cake

Preparation Time: 35 Minutes (plus standing time)
Cooking Time: 2 Hours

Ingredients:
250g unsalted butter, chopped
1 tablespoon instant coffee powder
1 2/3 cups (400ml) coconut milk
200g dark chocolate, chopped coarsely
2 cups (440g) caster sugar3/4 cup (110g) self raising flour
1 cup (150g) plain flour
1/4 cup (25g) cocoa powder
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla essence
2 x 85g Cherry Ripe bars, chopped coarsely

200g dark chocolate, chopped coarsely, extra
125g unsalted butter, chopped, extra

1. Preheat oven to slow. Grease deep 22cm round cake pan; line base and side with baking paper.
2. Melt butter in large saucepan; add coffee, coconut milk, chocolate and sugar. Stir over heat until chocolate melts and sugar dissolves; cool to room temperature.
3. Whisk in sifted dry ingredients, then eggs and essence; stir in half of the Cherry Ripe. Pour mixture into prepared pan. Top with remaining cherry ripe; bake in slow oven about 1 3/4 hours.
Stand cake 10 minutes; turn, top side up, onto wire rack to cool.
4. Combine extra chocolate and extra butter in small saucepan; stir over low heat until smooth. Refrigerate until mixture is of spreadable consistency.
5. Spread chocolate mixture all over cake

Happy birthday Daddy and a few other bits and pieces

It was Keiran's 35th birthday today and I think Ellyse was more excited that anyone!

At her request the party had to include

- decorations (care of the story Seven More Sleeps by Margaret Wild)

- balloons

- party hats

- chocolate cake

How could I refuse?

We made decorations through the week using this idea (scroll down to baing tray prints) from Kids Craft Weekly. Ellyse really enjoyed this printing and I think they worked out really well. Best thing is that it is painting that she can manage herself.

Now for anyone reading this who knows Keiran, you will know that any kind of cake, icecream or desert make him thirst (a lovely term his niece and nephew came up with) so you will find it unusual that I would make him a Cherry Ripe Chocolate Mud Cake - trust me I was thinking of the other 14 people who were going to be here! I can highly recommend this recipe, it was absolutely beautiful.

And a photo of my gorgeous family, yes that is me wearing a jumper in Brisbane in November (almost December), it was so windy here today and the breeze was quite fresh.

In other news, Ashton weaned himself this week. I was planning on stopping the last feed soon anyway, but kept delaying it. I am not too sad about it though as I am hoping to be able to have another little bundle and do it all again.

Here is his last ever feed!

This is a little set I made for Ashton a while ago, not the best photo but you get the idea. I am really happy with it, although the top is in the handwashing pile as the first (and only ) time he has worn it he got crayon on it.

Ok I think that is enough of an update today. I am working on a few little projects at the moment for Christmas gifts, baby showers and birthdays!

I can't believe how close it is getting until Christmas, better get my skates on.

Secret Santa Questions

Would you like something handmade as a gift?
I would love something handmade, but also understand that we are all busy and anything that is sent with me in mind will be truely appreciated!

Do you have a favourite Christmas Colour?
Red and gold are the Christmas colours in our home.

Do you decorate the whole house or just a part of it?
We decorate the area where the tree will be, as well as ornaments etc in the play area and lounge room.

Do you have any Christmas Traditions?
The kids have a stocking which is gifts from Santa. Last year they were given gorgeous sacks, we will pop those in their rooms this year and might become a tradition that they can look in there as soon as they wake up. Other than that none have really been established yet.

What sizes are your children?
Ellyse is a size 3
Ashton is a size 1

Do you like quick projects or things that take a little longer?
I love quick projects, I hate having WIP laying around, I forget about them and start something else!

Is there anything that you like to collect?
We don't collect anything specific, we definitely don't have a lot of Santa, snowmen etc around our home, I prefer stars, angels etc.

Is there anything you don't need?
I don't use FQ much, I find they sit in my stash as they are too small for a number of things I like to do.

Have fun, I can't wait!

Bias Tape Tote

I used this tutorial to make this gorgeous handbag. It is a gift for a friend whose birthday is on Thursday. I think the pattern is upside down and it is not centered, but I love it anyway. I only had just enough fabric left from making these bags last year. I will definitely be making more of these bags, if I had all of the supplies it would have only taken me about an hour all up.