I love being an Aunty – it is one of lifes wonderful blessings to have nieces and nephews to love on as well as your own children.
Today I was blessed with another nephew. Welcome to the world little one – your Aunty loves you already!!
He was not due till late October so at 28.5 weeks he is very premmie. Weighing in at 1.4 kg he is doing well on the ventilator in ICU and they are pleased with his progress. Even talking about the ventilator coming off tomorrow.
So today I am thanking God for a good delivery, in the right place and timing that this wonderful new arrival can have the best chances at being all he was intended to be.
And I can't wait to meet him for real!! 
There is nothing nicer than sitting down in the shade as the afternoon cools and enjoying a lovely "healthy" summer snack. We have had an abundance of the yummy but unhealthy kinds like homemade shortbread, choc chip cookies and banana cake lately as the girls have been honing their baking skills – not to mention keeping their Dad happy.
This morning I actually went to the supermarket. Not intentionally though as hubby usually does the shopping, just one of the drawbacks fun things about living in a country where women are not permitted to drive.
Anyhow he had taken me in to town to the craft store to purchase some dye as Miss C wants to try and revive some of her old clothes that still fit. All in our push to learn to be better stewards with the blessing we have. We needed salt, and lots of it, for the dyeing process and so we stopped at the supermarket on the way home.
Big mistake, Big, HUGE!
Well, not really, but so much for just popping in to pick up some salt. It has been months since I have grocery shopped and we have been eating out of our pantry aside from the weekly essentials. So when I walked up the store cupboard aisle I knew what we were out of and needed.
Plus they had a whole new range of organic spices and herbs. Place pretty green organic looking bottles with the perfect shape and cute old fashioned brown top in front of me and I'm in trouble. I am sure they call my name! They inspired me though and when I got home I showed the girls how to make dip with some dry ingredients that you would normally have on hand and some sour cream.
I thought I would share it with you.
Summer Onion Dip
This takes about 2 mins.
- 1 Tub sour cream (this one is 200ml)
- 1 Tab Dried Onion Flakes
- 1 Tab Organic Dried Parsley
- 1 Tab Dried Organic Chives
- 1 Tab Dried Organic Cilantro
- 1 Tab Powdered Stock Powder (I used beef as that is what I had. Chicken or veg would be fine too.)
- 2 or 3 drops of Worcestershire Sauce
- 3 Tabs Homemade Mayonnaise
- Salt and Pepper to taste.
Mix it all together and put in the fridge for a couple of hours. Then serve with some carrot, celery and cucumber sticks and a delicious cold glass of homemade lemonade.
The perfect summer snack!
So what do you follow that lovely healthy snack up with.
Why, the totally unhealthy homemade sausage rolls that you fixed with the other ingredients purchased when you went to buy salt.
That was the Daddy/Daughter purchase though.
Isn't this just the cutest little cupcake. I have always loved cupcakes and thoroughly enjoyed making this one as a gift. Not to mention it is a guilt free gift as I don't have to ruin anyone's diet by giving them this.
It was made with a template by the awesome template queen Kelleigh Ratzlaff and the cutest kit call Click by Kelley Mickus.
For the full tutorial and lots of scrummy photos you can view my guest post over at The Hybrid Chick on how to make this perfect and low calorie cupcake for a deliciously divine gift.
Look what my girls made today. Just too cute!
We have been saving the oatmeal boxes up for some sort of project. Both girls were in a crafting mood so I supplied them with cutters and edgers,stamps and ink, ribbons, glue and scrapbooking papers then left them to it.
While it would have been very easy for my to show them what to do, being a firm believer that children can do anything given enough time and encouragement I wanted them to try it out for themselves. They learn more from thinking it through and seeing what works out – and what does not.
Making a "mistake" is fine too. Each time is an occasion to learn something. After all craft is really in the eye of the creator and therefore nothing is "wrong", just unique.
They must have learnt by osmosis or hanging around in my craft spot while I am working because they managed to create these wonderful and useful containers. First they both chose the papers they wanted to use and combine. They stamped their names on, added some cut out flower elements, and one added a 'hair bands' tag to hers. Not bad for a pre-tween and just teen.
Both tubs now hold pride of place on their dresser. I am sure we'll be seeing more craft projects from them very soon.
Been busy editing photo's again so have not had much time to play this week. So there is just one layout this time.
I enjoyed doing this layout. First I altered the photo to be pale and washed out. I wanted to retain some of the colour like the green in my trousers but have it kind of old and faded but without that vintage brown look. I think I got what I was trying to achieve. That is what is so much fun about playing around in Photoshop.
The kit I have use is by Gypsy Couture and is called Quirky Chronicles. It has wonderful elements and I just love that silver frame and old watch surround.
The newest releases at The Digi Chick this week were amazing. So much variety and style!
First up is another kit from Flergs. This one is Samandean and is such a fun summery kit with wonderful colours. Just perfect for this photo of a munchkin having fun.
Second one is Party on the Patio kit by Gypsy Couture. I have also used a template from her Page Genies #4. I just love these photos from DD's birthday and they came together in this layout which is a little out of my usual scrapping style. it's fun trying something new – especially when you like the finished result.
This last one is very special. The photograph is my grandmother and her twin brother. It is in the very early 1900's and I am so thankful to have it. The kit I have used is Forget Years by JM Designs.
For full credit click on any of the images above.
Seems I am far to busy to blog – either that or I just can't seem to get back into it. Maybe it is a mojo issue?
This week has been very busy with two senior photo shoots and also twins yesterday. Then there was the baby shoot from last week to edit as well. It is such a learning curve and sorting out my work flow is essential. I have not discovered all the short cuts and things that must make that job a lot more efficient.
I have not done many baby portrait sessions. In fact this was only my second – so doing it with twins was such a challenge. I am still not confident enough in myself but am happy to have come away with some nice shots. It is so wonderful and I am very thankful that people are willing to let me work with them while I find my feet.
There is so much to remember and of course waiting on babies teaches such patience. Hopefully everything will come together one day with regards to taking photos.
They say practice makes perfect.
Still it will be wonderful when it finally feels like second nature in getting all the things you need in place to take that perfect photo, if not every photograph, than least a lot of them.
One challenge I have set myself is to try and get to the point where I have minimal post processing. So out with the camera and more practice required.
Ok – so this is totally off topic here but I am just so excited I had to share.
We like to watch the Formula One car racing here in this household along with a bunch of others sports, but that is another story.
Anyway today Mark Webber, an Australian of course, took pole postion for tomorrow's race. He has come so close before but one thing or another has stopped him getting there.
This season he is doing so well and so consistently that it is such fun watching him succeed. Now he has pole position for the first time ever! How fantastic is that?
The race is tomorrow and I am sure Mark is even more excited than I am! Go Mark, go Aussie!
