Life's a picnic

This is a little brag post. I'm riding high after a job well done for Mini Me's christening picnic we held on Sunday.

If only I could control the weather, it would've been perfect. A little too hot for my liking.

But everything else was exactly like I imagined it. Nicely presented food. Lots of tasty food. Full bellies. A game of footy for the boys. Playground for the kids. Wine for the ladies. Shade and blankets to lounge on. Perfect.

What's the recipe for this successful little party? Well here you go.

Getting into the spirit - pumpkin carving

Ha ha... I crack me up. Get it, spirits. It's Halloween (well the day after). I know. I'm a riot.

I love America. And not in a Team America 'F*** yeah' sort of way. I love that everything is big. Big Apple. Big steaks. Big on Sex and The City.

They really throw themselves into it, and largely seem to be having fun as they do it.

I know Australians whinge 'Halloween is so American'. In fact, most of the traditions came from Ireland or the UK. In fact, it's a Catholic thing before All Saints Day on 1 Nov. In fact, it was a pagan holiday before that.

So what? Who cares? It's fun and that's what life is about.

I've always wanted to get into Halloween, but life is too jammy and I run out of time. This year we have Sister S's engagement party, so I can't join the festivities, but I could knock number 11 off my 101 in 1001. Carve a pumpkin.

Bake test: Zumbo's Salted Caramel Macaroons

Australia was wowed by Adriano Zumbo's macaroon tower on Masterchef and since then the French biscuit has become the treat of choice when impressing guests.

So of course it featured in my 101 in 1001. Number 67 - learn to make macaroons.

Cooking something that requires attention, finesse and delicacy is impossible with a four month old who keeps you guessing - is this an hour nap or 15-minute cat nap? All I can manage is a 'throw it all in and hope for the best' slow cook meal or a 'throw food around and hope for the best' Jamie Oliver 15-min meal (my godsend).

During a sleep deprived stagger through Woolworths I thought I saw a mirage. Could it be true? Zumbo has created an equivalent to the pancake shake and bake for his famous French treat? And it's on sale? Sold!

Zumbo has a small range of add two ingredient packets and, hey presto Masterchef, you have an instant dessert. 

 

All Fired Up!

Since every day seems to be about dads, Father's Day should mean they have to change every nappy, attend to every cry and get her down for every nap.

You see, kids are excited when daddy comes home. 'Da' is generally their first word. Dad is the 'fun one'. Dad is head of the household (well not in this house). 

That cynicism aside, Hubby is a pretty good and hands on dad. So we had to celebrate him a little bit for his first Father's Day.

Boy did he get spoilt. I made him a cherry ripe slice, breakfast, he got to open a new date envelope, received a West Coast Eagles  membership and drank coffee from his new mug, created at Fired Up in Joondalup.

1: My attempt at a hand print card (fail) 2: The rich cherry ripe slice (thanks Taste.com.au)
3: Hubby and Mini Me with the spoils.

 

Creating the personalised mug was a brilliant suggestion from one of my Yummy Mummy Group mums.

With a range including plates, coasters, mugs, cookie jars and ornaments, and most around $20 with a $5 per 'painter', Fired Up helps create a great DIY gift with none of the mess or effort.

Given the area is not big and probably holds 20 people, we booked a table, and I suggest it's the same for even small groups on weekends.

At home I had tired to capture Mini Me's hand and foot prints with little reward for all the smudging and hot pink paint that got everywhere. But Fired Up made it easy.

The finished product and Hubby's present wrapped in a brown paper package (one of my favourite things).

The staff are super friendly and helpful. They actually did the print for us, cleaned up any smudges and we just had to decorate the rest. And given they do this a lot, crying bubs is no worry for them and they can calm them down, or still manage to capture the print from a fussy bub.

You then leave your piece with them to 'fire up' and seven days later you can pick up your dishwasher, microwave proof ceramic.

Given it was a week before Fathers Day they were super busy we didn't expect to get our pieces in time, but I think they moved mountains to make sure as many dads had their own personalised hand and foot print mug, plate of piece of art.

I loved the outcome and think my Christmas presents are all sorted this year!

To top it all off, Fired Up makes a good little coffee and has a few snacks on offer as well.

To other Yummy Mummy Groups out there, Fired Up should be on your list of places to meet up to capture those little hands and feet before they start running around.

Fired Up!
29 Winton Road, Joondalup
P: 9300 1811
E: info@firedcafe.com.au
W: www.firedcafe.com.au

Year of dates - Barrel of laughs at Charles Hotel

Mini Me had hardly slept and was over-tired, over-stimulated and I was over her. So it was with great pleasure that I handed her over to my mum while Hubby and I went out on our first official date from his birthday present.



Not knowing what sort of child we would have, or whether this would be the first time we'd leave her with someone else, I chose a date night that would be close to home, low key and inject some humour into our lives (in case we had forgotten the tinkling sound of laughter).

Turns out I didn't need to worry about any of those things.

But there is something nice about going to a place where you know what to expect when you step in, the beers are cold but the chicken parmas are cheesy. The Charles Hotel in North Perth has all of that.

Every Thursday the Charles hosts a comedy night that either has the building quivering with laughter, or stone cold silence.

We've been to some of the nights before and have experienced both and for $18 per person you don't mind either way. Thankfully on our date night we were laughing loud and hard. It was a great line-up and the parma and steak sandwich didn't disappoint.

Though the laughs were great, the best thing about the night was chatting to each other. Surprisingly we had lots to say that didn't revolve around Mini Me, which is my biggest fear. And thankfully Hubby put his mobile phone down for an hour to focus on me.

At the end of the night we were glad to get out, share a meal, have a laugh and get our sanity back a bit.

To top it off, we got home and Mini Me was fast asleep, the kitchen cleaned and bed was calling.

The Charles Hotel - Comedy Lounge
509 Charles Street, North Perth
Every Thursday night - doors open 7pm for 8pm start
P: 9444 1051
W: http://www.charleshotel.com.au/

Baby boom! Gift ideas

There's been a baby boom in Perth.

I have a list on my phone of 'Preggo due dates' with 13 women on it. That is 13 people I directly know popping out a little human. That doesn't include all the women I've met since with babies.

What my own Mini Me and 13 other babies has taught me is the art of present buying for expectant first, second or fifth time parents.

So I stop reinventing the wheel, here are my never fail gifts (sorry to those about to pop out a bub, you know what you're getting):

Pregnancy gift

Being pregnant can be a dream run or nauseous nightmare for some. For those on the long nine month (but you generally find out with six months left) I put together this little Preggo Pack:

• Bio oil - maybe it's my genetics, but I think it was this oil that saved me from stretch marks
• Chocolates - because they are for any celebration
• Raspberry Leaf Tea - for drinking after 36 weeks to help bring on labour
• Necklace/jewellery/accessory - to remind the mum to be she's still a woman
• Book for dad - really depends on the type of dad. Could be a funny, mushy or with helpful tips, but something to help him connect
• Fruit/veggie to show the baby size - depending on what week you give the present, this will also help dad visualise the little growing bub

Almost new mum / baby shower gift

Aside from the gorgeous clothes and toys, I found these few items the most helpful as a new mum, and hardly anyone brought them for me:

• Nipple cream - a horrible truth about being a new mum is ALL the breast feeding. This cream was the only thing that saved my nipples
• Water bottle - I was surprised how thirsty I was and always needed water on hand
• Packet of muesli bars - I was also surprised at how hungry I was and how hard it was to eat. These are good easy snacks
• Travel pack of baby wipes - aside from nappies I used so many baby wipes. Perfect for almost any emergency
• Pre-bub massage/pedicure - a final chance to relax or pamper those feet she lost sight of months ago

New parents

While flowers, more baby clothes and champagne were all lovely gifts, the best gifts were gifts of food. Anything in the freezer packed full of healthy goodness and easy to reheat were greeted with the most enthusiasm. Yes it doesn't last forever and you can't say 'blah blah brought you that' but it will go a long way to helping a new parents sanity.

These are my little tips. I wonder what other's go to presents are for new parents...

 

No card required - why we love you birthday print

The past two years have been flirty 30s, dirty 30s, murky 30s and hurty 30s. Now even more so with many of my close friends turning the big 3-0.

Trying to keep each gift personal, fresh and new means the ideas are running low.

For Ms Z's milestone birthday she received a '30 sucks' card the day before her birthday. And I was part of the surprise she received at lunch when our fabulous Sydney friend flew in for her special day.

DIY: 30 sucks card

I LOVE my birthday. It's my favourite holiday. A day dedicated to me, people are nice, there's gifts, there's lunches and lots of free drinks.

The number means nothing.

But for many the number is worse than the childhood monster in the closet. It's ominous, judging and going to expose their life like a bad tabloid journalist would.

I've had a lot of family and friends reach milestone birthdays lately. My young family members use it as their badge into the adult world. My friends fear the big 3-0.

One friend if celebrating her pearl birthday this month and there are a few surprises in store.

And one went in the post - a 30 sucks card.

Breakfast picnicking

I love picnics. Perth just makes it so easy to have them.

For the second time this week I found myself on the South Perth foreshore soaking up the winter sun.

Bringing together my favourite pastime and meal, breakfast, Mini Me and I caught up with Ms Lou on Sunday for a good catch up.

For this breakfast picnic, I stocked my picnic basket with:

• strawberry yoghurt parfait (in a jar of course)
• scrambled egg, avocado and tomato relish wraps
• mugs of hot water and teabags
• Mini Me's brunch of defrosted mummy milk

This was thrown together that morning and is such easy, healthy and portable food for a picnic. And they look impressive to.

I really have to get better at taking photos of my outings, or remembering to at least.

 

It was another perfect Perth day. Clear skies, a content baby and juicy gossip while runners pounded the pavement and cyclists zipped past to make us feel like blobs of lard as we chowed down out brekkie.

Once again Ms L was full of stories of her booze-filled night causing unknown bruises and we talked about a week of news. 

You'd think we'd run out of things to talk about considering we chat every few days. But that's what's brilliant about besties; there's always something to chat about. Plus Ms L is always good for a story. In Robin Hood days when stories were told by master orators, Ms L would've had that job. She captivates you with the right amount of intrigue and embellishment without corrupting the truth of the story.

As Mini Me and I strolled back to the car we were accosted by a mil (Man in Lycra). Unfortunately it was Hubby puffed after his once a month bike ride. Bless him for trying. At least his over priced bike's cost per ride is finally going down!

 

DIY Sharpie mugs ideas

Finally Mr Picnic proposed to my blonde bombshell friend, who shall now be referred to as Mrs Picnic.

Engagements are exciting. They are the start of something shiny and golden, before the potential angst of wedding planning, families and post-honeymoon blues can begin to creep in.

I love giving friends a little something soon after the announcement, and rather than the standard bottle of champagne, this time I created a 'his and hers' mug set (especially since she loves tea).

Personalised his & her mugs made easy with Sharpies

DIY This Little Pig nursery prints

When I was setting up Mini Me's room I scoured the net for DIY projects because I wanted to be that mum.

They all looked hard and time consuming. So I came up with my own and I'm giving it to you for free. All you need is a printer and five frames.

This little pig prints to brighten up the nursery wall

A year of dates

What do you give a man who has everything? A year long gift.

To show my gratitude Hubby got a leave pass, Liverpool game tickets AND 12 gifts... How great am I!

12 gifts in one - a year of dates!

After 13 years of gift giving I needed a special idea. Yep 13 years. It's not always smooth sailing. Sometimes I've hated him. But he is my best friend and no relationship - romantic, family or friendship - can survive without work and quality time.

That's why rather than one envelope with a card, Hubby was given 12 - each with a monthly pre-planned date of mostly things we've never done, just for us.

The plan is to open the envelope together at the start of the month, look at the calendar and decide on a date.

It was really easy to put together. 

 

An easy idea that anyone can pull together.

The ideas were things we've never done before, some inspired from my 101 in 1001 and others from the Entertainment Book (gosh I love that book).

The brown blank cards and envelopes were from Kmart. The date cards were adapted from free, downloadable Mad Men inspired save the date cards from Wedding Chicks.

Hubby was pretty stoked and being impatient ripped my nice packaging open for July and wanted to crack into August.

Our first date is actually a pre-planned weekend away. He can't get too spoilt now can he?

30 notes in the post

Does getting writer's cramp and posting 30 baby introduction cards mean #82 is almost completed?

30 thank you/announcement cards sent to family and friends