Smash It

For Eliza's birthday invites I knew I wanted to do a cake smash. I had a whole board on Pinterest dedicated to them.

Eventually I picked out my cake design, an outfit for Eliza, and organised a photographer to take the photos.

I was thrilled with the end results, and received many lovely comments about the invites.
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Birthday Cakes

As a testiment to how busy I am these days, I haven't been able to sit down and write about planning Eliza's birthday party, something I have been planning for months (and pre-planning for years!).

So, as I have a few spare minutes, I am going to share with you some of my favourite cakes, courtesy of the Pinterest.

Source: hello-naomi.blogspot.com via April on Pinterest

Source: google.com via April on Pinterest

Source: bing.com via April on Pinterest

Source: hello-naomi.blogspot.com via April on Pinterest

Source: karaspartyideas.blogspot.com via April on Pinterest

As for what we have ended up with? Well you will just have to wait and see... Pin It

Birthday Wishes

It was my birthday a few weeks back, and we took a family trip to buy my present, but that wasn't the most exciting milestone of the day.

It was Eliza's first trip to Tiffany's!

I was given free choice of anything I wanted, and it was a tough choice. Eventually decided on this (with Eliza's help - she started her screaming thing when I tried this on, which meant I wanted to get out of the shop quickly)

I am having the husband and my wedding date engraved on the large heart, and Eliza's birthdate on the little heart. I am in love with it.
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Birthday Hint

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Bows

I currently have a thing for bows, and am desperatly sending hints for these for my birthday

 And in my fantasty world where money is no object, I want this ring - think I might be dreaming though

What are you currently wanting?
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Do you love chocolate?

I loooove chocolate, and so does my mum. So when thinking of a birthday present for her, I remembered a friend telling me about a walking chocolate tour in Melbourne. Fantastic, the walking would counteract the chocolate consumed, meaning it was a guilt free present!

A quick google search found me Chocoholic Tours, where I was amazed to learn there were several options. I decided on the Chocolate Lovers Walk, which took us to Lindt (my favourite), Haigh's (my second favourite), The Chocolate Box (my mum's second favourite), and KokoBlack (her absolute favourite!)

To mark the day as a special occassion for my mummy, I decided to make it a suprise - which meant that she was only told to wear comfortable shoes, bring water, and an umberella. I picked her up and we drove to the train station, boarded a train, and took a short stroll up Collins Street, all whilst she kept making guesses as to what we were doing. She guessed the zoo, Luna Park, going to a day spa, going to high tea, and going to a play. Her final guess, as we stopped outside Lindt, was shoe shopping. She spotted the shoe store, but failed to see the giant Lindt bunny.

(I so wanted to take him home, but he was $100, and I didn't think the husband would agree as to his essentialness)

Anyway, because she was starting to head towards the shoe store, and the tour was about to start, I told her the news, which she was ecstatic about. Some tour highlights included:

Ever seen a pregnant rabbit? 

I love the Collins Street KokoBlack store, it is so beautiful.

What was even more beautiful was the chocolate mousse and cake. It was devine! The pregnant bunny may have eaten half their mums cake too.

Both my mum and I raved about the tour to the people on the train on the way home, and thoroughly enjoyed every moment of it. If you are ever in Melbourne, and have a spare 3 hours, book in for a chocolate tour - well worth the walk!
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26 by 26 - Somwhat complete

I started this when I turned 25, and thought I better do a post about how it was going after I turned 26.

1. Renovate the kitchen

2. Start a herb garden

3. Go to a weekly exercise class majority of weeks

4. Learn to take photos in manual properly

5. Lose 20kg

6. Convince Brian we need new scanpan saucepans

7. Buy a new mac

8. Use my mobile less

9. Laugh more

10. Spend more time with my friends

11. Finish my diploma

12. Be on my way to getting pregnant

13. Read more, watch less

14. Visit C in Tassie

15. Buy new designer sunnies

16. Learn to cook a new dish a month

17. Stop being a hormonal bitch to the husband (I kinda like being a hormonal bitch. It works for me! LOL )

18. Have a fashionable new wardrobe

19. Finally take my mum to a high tea

20. Get to know my neice and nephew

21. Find a new hobby

22. Save more

23. Donate more to charity

24. Start a HR course

25. Donate blood

26. Go away with husband for some 'us' time.

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New Bling

Last Wednesday I had some time to kill in between doctors appointments, and couldn't think of anything that I needed to do, so I went shopping. As you do.

For my birthday, a month back, my parent's gave me some money, which my mum was most concerned about. She has never given me cash for my birthday, preferring to give me a physical present (even if I have chosen it myself), as she thinks it's the easy way out. However, the cash came with a condition. I couldn't spent it on our house or something for us both to use. It had to be something for 'just me', preferably a piece of jewellery.

I ummm'ed and arrrgh'ed over it for weeks, trying to decide what I wanted. Did I want the matching bow necklace to my earrings? Or did I want an item from the Tiffany Love Notes range? None of them really grabbed me as a gift from my mum. Husband yes. Mum no.

Then I saw this ring, and it reminded it me of my mum, as she always signs cards 'xoxo'. And that was that, I had to have it. I knew there and then, that it was the right gift, and now it takes pride of place on my finger.
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Birthday Gifts - Part 2

Now for the big reveal of what was in the bag.

I was given open slather in Tiffany's, but bypassed the diamonds. As much as one can dream, I want a new house more than I want a massive diamond. Not that I am a huge diamond person anyway, so I guess that is a moot point.

There were several things on my list to look at, a bangle, a silver ring, and a necklace.

The bangle was too small to go over my massive fist (thanks dad, I have man-hands). The ring wasn't in my size in store (and I am saving it for a christmas present ;) ). And the necklace, well I am saving it for either another present idea, or a certain anniversary to match the earrings I received for our second anniversary.

I was begining to feel deflated, the one time the husband willingly takes me to Tiffany's and nothing feels 'right'. And off of a sudden I saw it. The cuff bangle I have wanted since 2003 when I first fell in love with Tiffany's.

It was love at first feel. It's neither too heavy nor too light. It doesn't clunk on the desk when I type at work (a pet hate of mine), and it fitted over my massive fist thanks to it being a cuff. I couldn't imagine my wrist without it now!

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Point & Shoot

I was about to timestamp the crappy quality iphone picture, but then realised I am standing under a clock. Duh April!!!

I had a bit of a win on Saturday evening, the husband suggested a trip to my old friend to have a look for an extra present for my birthday. Stupidly, I argued and said that there was nothing I needed and that we should just go to the homeshow. Luckily between 1am and 12.20pm on Sunday, I had changed my mind, and a little something was purchased. I do love my husband!!!

What did you get up to on the weekend?

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Tea and Cake anyone?

My niece loves to offer me a cup of tea when I visit. And you can't have tea without cake, so we have cake too.

So I couldn't resist buying a little wooden tea and cake set from Send-A-Toy. We have brought a few toys from them at my work, and they are incredibly well made, durable, and oh-so-adorable!

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Mmmmm, cake!

Last week my sister in law celebrated her 30th birthday. 

Unfortunately we missed her birthday dinner last weekend, as we were at my step brothers wedding, but to make up for this, the husband invited her and her children up for the night and promised to bake her a cake.

Yes, my husband whose idea of baking is buying a cake from Woolies, offered to bake his sister a cake.

This was an offer too good to be true. So she and her two kidlets (her husband was being a super athlete riding in the Murry to Moyne) made the hour drive to our house for the night.

And this is what he presented her with:

A double chocolate mud cake with a thick slathering of cream in the middle, with milk and white chocolate ganache.

What is that picture I hear you ask?

Why it is an Apple symbol for the other nerd in the family!

Oh yeah, this is health food!

Does anyone want some cake? There is still half of it in the fridge, it is so yummy, but waaaaay too rich!
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Cake

Gotta love first birthday cake! My nephew Mr W sure did!

The first part of our year is always hectic, between birthdays, anniversaries, and being prime wedding season, all we seem to do is go, go go. This weekend just gone was for Mr W's first birthday party. So much fun, and food! My stomach still hurts when I think about it.

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A few months back I saw How About Orange blog about how to make your own gift bow. I had never thought about it, and was amazed at how simple it seemed

So, after wrapping the blasted Ikea Table and Chair set, I wondered how to make it pretty. And then it all came back to me!

So here was my attempt at making my own bow. Perfect it is not, it is a start!

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Earrings

I had my ears pierced when I was 6, and again when I was 16. And for every day in between those 10 years, I wore a pair of studs or sleepers. One of my best friends gave me a white gold set of hoops that I loved, and I wore them majority of the time. Then when I got married my parents gave me a set of pearl studs. I have barely removed them for 2 years.

I am the type of person who wears the same pair of earrings every day. And I am starting to feel like a change is needed. Hence I am sending the 'buy me' vibes to the husband in regards to these ones from Tiffany's.

I think they are the cutest things ever!

So are you a 'change every day' or a 'wear the same ones 24/7' kind of girl?

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Winner!

Camarli is the winner of a Buttons By Lou Lou item of her choice! Congratulations Ali, I look forward to seeing you sporting a new accessory.

I want to thank you all for entering, I loved reading what you all would buy. And a HUGE thank you to Lou who kindly donated a gift of the winners choice. It has been a pleasure doing business with you, and I look forward to doing more business with you in the near future.

***ConfussionSoup had issues entering the competition and posting on the list, and was put in as number 1, which was a post about how I stuffed up the rules of the competition. Pin It

Happy Birthday

To my husband. He turns 28 today!

And to celebrate, his sister made him this cake (because I suck at baking, and she rocks!)

Isn't she talented! I know one 'almost-three' year old who was mighty impressed with the lollies and blue icing

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