How Pinteresting.....

The next few weeks are b.u.s.y with both Heath's 30th (don't him I told you) and Macie turns two.  I always made a pact to myself to make my family's birthdays special so I have been racking my brain to get creative and passionate to make their days memorable. 

All I can say is "Thank God for Pinterest". 

It is because of Pinterest that I found the recipe for this for Heath's birthday cake for a special dinner for him on the weekend....



Baked Vanilla and Salted Caramel Cheesecake - requested by the birthday boy and thanks to Donna Hay!
Link

and apparently because he is turning thirty (he uses this excuses when it benefits him) he is worthy of more than one dessert so he has requested this too.  Homemade ice-cream is definitely in the 'Too-Hard' basket so I am offering my famous rocky-road instead.  However I must admit that these look SO delicious!

 Link

If I had my way....we would have had our front driveway to the cottage filled with friends and family from far and wide....

Link

but after strict instructions from the Boss, we are having a fun, small and intimate affair with his parents, sister and brother-in-law on our Dalli patio while Macie sleeps peacefully in her bed.  Hopefully the rain gods will be kind and I can create some kind of ambience with the beauty of fairy lights and candles....

Note: my patio is nothing like this....but never ever stop dreaming!!
Link

and the rest as they say.....will be history!

The Nap Time Bandit

Nap times in the Dalli Cottage are becoming increasingly frustrating for me - and highly entertaining for a certain toddler who resides here (I wont name any names except call her the Nap Time Bandit).  You see, I have our laptop set up on our dining table adjacent to the said toddler's room so I can sit and observe the little one's antics and prevent her from getting out of bed and playing with her toys.  Thanks to this little Bandit - I am now addicted to Pinterest due to waiting it out until she goes to sleep....yep that's right - I am blaming a nearly-two year old for my addiction.  Bad mum right??

She is cheeky - she will cunningly place one leg outside the bed and wait for a reaction from me.....if nothing, she will then place her other leg over, ever so slowly as to not grab my attention and then act like a statue.  If no further reaction she makes a run for it.....which usually results into me finally realising and the rest I will leave up to your imagination. 

She will lie with her bum against the wall and her feet in the air and drum out a song with her heels, she will climb on her bedhead, she will play peek-a-boo with her pillow and she will bang her teddy (Elmo) hard eyes against the wall....all while waiting for me to relent, declare my patience shot and label it a "No Sleep Day" - because I have done that once in her 23 months of life....and clearly she has never forgotten it!!

The last few days has been a contest of the fittest, strongest and most patient.....who is willing to wait it out the longest to watch the little one's limbs stop moving and to hear the songs and chatter cease.  Once asleep - she will sleep for 2 hours of deep, beautiful sleep to re-energise those busy little feet and mind. 

Perhaps I am holding onto these daytime naps like I am holding onto the little bit of baby she has left.  Maybe she is trying to tell me "I'M NOT TIRED MUM".....but then the 2 hour snooze doesn't really back up her declaration does it?

God Bless her little Bandit cotton socks.....and please god, let these daytime naps last a tad longer.....it's not too much to ask is it??  Really??

My creative burst....

Today, I have managed to do more than just play with Macie and sleep.  Yep - I am happy to report that I climbed a ladder with a hammer in hand, hung special bunting for Macie's room and rearranged just a tad. 

I even got my craft on just a little bit and made Macie a quick hair clip holder.  Seriously - this is the easiest thing to do with a canvas from your Dollar Store, cute ribbons and a hot glue gun.  Admittedly, Moo did have one before however I wanted to revamp it up and use reds and pinks.....so 5 minutes later - here it is! 


I purchased this Canvas from a cheap store for $6.  All you need to do is choose your ribbons and measure to size. 

Glue the ribbons to the inside of the canvas....

And Voila....you have your very own pretty Hair Clip Board for under $10. 

Since Macie is going to share her bedroom with the baby, I am looking for inspiration to make this room gorgeous aswell as give them their own spaces.  In order to do so....I joined Pinterest.

If you are looking for me....you know where I am.  Either addicted to "Pin-ing" or admiring my beautiful flowers from my beautiful friends for my birthday......