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Tag: Birthdays

Aussie Giveaway Linkup #77: Birthday Recovery

Last week was Ella’s fifth birthday party, which had a Wizard of Oz theme. She had a bit of an obsession with the book and movie for a while.

The kids at the party were all so incredibly well behaved. And I had to laugh, because every time we asked a question, they all raised their hands and when someone did something well, they all applauded. Credit goes to their teacher for that one.

I have so many blog posts to come:

How to make the piñata

Lessons on making a Wizard of Oz house with rainbow insides

Yellow Brick Road take-home boxes

Party food ideas and Wizard of Oz party entertainment

The thing is, I’m still recovering. I can confidently say it will be another five years until Ella’s next birthday party. Phew!

So stay tuned for the posts to come!

Do you have a theme for birthday parties? What themes have you gone with before?

OK, onto the important stuff now – how to win yourself some gifts for Christmas.

Aussie Giveaway Linkup instructions:

If you’re a blogger or business wanting to take part in the Aussie Giveaway Linkup:
1. Only link directly to the giveaway post/s and include the prize and end date in the linky tool below. Link each giveaway separately. If you need to delete it, hover over your link, wait until the red “x’’ appears and click.
2. Giveaways must be open to Australian residents and be run by Australian-based bloggers or businesses.
3. Grab the button below to add to your post.
4. A new list is added each Sunday so bloggers need to add their links weekly.
5. Start entering the giveaways! Entry is at your own risk. We do not take responsibility for unfulfilled prizes or a blogger/business not abiding by their own terms and conditions.

Hosted by Three Lil Princesses

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November 25, 2012
Happy 5th birthday to my Princess Ella

Happy Birthday to our gorgeous girl Ella.

It’s hard to believe five years have passed since this photo.

And that we now have this:

I can only shake my head…

Love you, love you and a big Happy Birthday. x

November 12, 2012
How to make a Dolly Varden Cinderella birthday cake – without it ending in tears
Why I choose the most difficult cakes to bake, I don’t know. This time it was a Dolly Varden cake for Holly’s second birthday. Not only was it a Dolly Varden cake, but it was a Dolly Varden Cinderella cake.

As you will have read yesterday, I had some challenges. Here are some points from my cake making exercise:
- The recipe calls for one and a half quantities of cake mixture, so I had enough mixture left over to make cupcakes as a backup. Thankfully I didn’t need to use those.
- Fondant ready roll icing I think is easier than butter icing. It’s just like playing with Play Dough. Hence, my mouse!
- This one definitely needs to be made a day before. Unlike last year’s princess castle cake. It took a long time and plenty of things can go wrong.
- After making the recipe and having all sorts of trouble and stress with the Dolly Varden tin, I’ve since read about cooking three square cakes, piling them on top of each other, then trimming the edges to form a cone. Now that would have been a heck of a lot easier.
- Never open the oven to check on your cake when it’s in an incredibly unstable Dolly Varden tin. Never. Read this to learn why.
- I have to thank Donna Hay Kids Birthday cookbook and Pinterest for helping me come up with the design.
Here’s how I made it:

Dolly Varden Cinderella Cake by Kellie O’Brien on Scribd

Would you attempt to make something like this? Or have you already?

Please note: some links are affiliate links. This means if you choose to become a customer of theirs in the future, I may receive a commission. This doesn’t impact what you’re charged at all.
October 8, 2012
Letter to my daughter: Happy 2nd birthday

To my darling Li’l Holly,

Two years ago today you had me in a great deal of pain. You were on your way to greet the world and you were making sure we knew it.

Two years on, you’re at “school’’ (child care) with your friends, probably telling them to “come on’’ as you run off to the sand pit. Or asking you carer if you can “go to toilet’’. You’ll sit on the toilet, ask for “Paper. Wipe’’, but not actually wee. You’ll repeat that about 10 times throughout the day – never actually doing a wee. But we answer your call. Next time, you might just succeed.

You’ve grown into this incredibly smart little girl. Your language skills – how you can string together sentences – astounds me. A lot of this you’ve learnt from your sister. You’re both chatterboxes, fighting to be heard.

Just so you know: we hear you.

Both.

While learning to walk took a little longer – and you still manage to fall flat on a regular basis – you can dance like no other two year old. I’m sure the hip wiggle chicken wing dance will catch on in the dance world one day.

And you sing. Boy, can you sing. Like your big sister, you are destined for the stage. You know ever word to the entire High School Musical album. I think it’s time to start showing those videos.

Combine all that with a smile that can melt any heart and we’re not sure how we got so lucky.

Happy birthday, beautiful.

And one more thing before I go.

Love you, love you.

Love Mum-Mum x

October 3, 2012
Beautiful last-minute Mother’s Day gift ideas (+ giveaway valued just under $400)

Last Mother’s Day I got this beautiful plate of food for breakfast.

Initially, I thought it was a plate of fruit with excrement on it. You know, some sort of joke. It turns out, after uploading the photo to the blog, it’s a We Love You written in chocolate and mandarin. I feel a tad bad for criticising my little Masterchefs now.

This year, I’m hoping for something a little more beautiful. In fact, here’s my little wish list:

Rose gold Swarovski Crystal edge pendant, I Love You & Baby Feet coin and single ball chain from InnerPower (RRP: $255)

There is such a heartwarming story behind InnerPower. Sonia Merlino, at age 24 and pregnant with her first child, was told by her parents she was adopted. Her mother told her that as she passed Sonia’s cot Sonia wriggled her hand out of her tightly wrapped muslin as if to say `pick me’. Sonia’s mother walked past her cot – but soon turned around. “Then she picked me up and, so she says, ran for her life,’’ Sonia said. It was the start of a special bond between her and her mother – the woman who is her support and inspiration for her business.

The double sided I Love You and Baby Feet coin (top photo)is enclosed in a Swarovski Crystal edge pendant (above) and thread on a matching single ball chain

and is just perfect for new mums on Mother’s Day. What I really love about the three-piece collection is that you can customise it to suit your style or mood by adding a different pendant, coin or chain each day. There are over 100 coins on the website at the moment, 12 pendants and many options for chains. Sonia herself admits to changing from leather to ribbon and even solid choker chains to mix it up.

For more information, visit www.innerpower.net.au and make sure you follow them on Facebook and Twitter.

***

Nana Huchy full apron with stripe ($33) and set of three linen tea towels with stripe ($37.50)

As Nana Huchy owner Lucy Morrison put it, the apron is good enough to wear to the table. I have to agree. I’ve been fortunate enough to be sent the full apron with stripe and set of three tea towels and they’re exquisite. It’s made of linen, features a blue stripe at the side, a pocket at the front and has been superbly designed. I just love the French classic colour scheme. This is not how I remember aprons to be.

You can also purchase a set of three matching tea towels with stripe.

These are very sweet. I just love the luxurious linen feel.

Make sure you view the entire range at http://www.nanahuchy.com.au/ and follow them on Facebook.

***

flowershop.com.au Mother’s Day bouquet (RRP: $69)

Who doesn’t love flowers on Mother’s Day? While it’s nice to pick fresh flowers from the garden, they’re never quite presented to the same standard as a florist can. Especially when children are involved! Then there’s the sheer variety on offer. The Mother’s Day Bouquet is a gorgeous bunch of fresh flowers with a pink theme that any mum would love. Well, you all know we love pink here.

The bouquet can be delivered anywhere in Australia and if you order before May 10 you’ll have them in time for Mother’s Day. Flowershop.com.au also sends internationally. The flower shop is based in Brisbane, but has an easy process to order completely online. Flowershop.com.au offers such a huge variety of bouquets, there’s sure to be something to suit every occassion and fit most budgets – with same day delivery free. If you’re unsure of what to get, there’s plenty of categories to go wandering through. You may just get lost with the choice!

Check out the full range at www.flowershop.com.au and be sure to follow them on Facebook.

Would you like to win ALL these gorgeous gifts? For a chance to win a Rose gold Swarovski Crystal edge pendant, I Love You & Baby Feet coin and single ball chain from InnerPower; Nana Huchy full apron with tea towel; and flowershop.com.au Mother’s Day bouquet VALUED AT $394.50, simply leave a comment telling us the best thing about your mum. The most creative answer will win. The giveaway closes Tuesday, May 8 at 7.30pm and winner announced on this blog and via Facebook and Twitter. Australian residents only. One entry per person.

Feel free to share the post via Facebook and Twitter and don’t forget to sign up to my eNewsletter so you nevere miss any of these fabulous giveaways.

**DISCLOSURE: I received a Nina Huchy apron and towel to review ONLY. I was not paid for this post. All opinions expressed are purely my own.

ENTRIES ARE NOW CLOSED. Visit the WIN page for the winner.

May 1, 2012
How to make a princess tiara birthday cake in two hours

WHEN I say you can make a princess tiara birthday cake in two hours, I’m including the baking of the cake too. Oh yes, this was definitely not in the realm of the princess castle cake.

It’s fair to say she was pretty impressed!

Although, that only took about an hour longer and heaps of extra muscles.

I actually was super organised and had the cake cooked the day before for Princess Ella’s birthday on Saturday. However, due to a teething Li’l Holly who refused to let me put her down while I cooked the cake and a recipe that I really doubt was up to scratch, the cake ended up feeling like rubber.

So Saturday morning, the day of Princess Ella’s fourth birthday, I ditched the rubber wheel and went for my trusty old Women’s Weekly rich chocolate cake recipe. I swear it’s foolproof. If you need that recipe, visit the princess castle birthday cake tutorial.

Adding to the drama of the morning, we realised we didn’t have a tiara anywhere in the house. Kind of crucial for a tiara cake. The spin off was I got some free time while The Bloke in The Shed and Ella went off to buy one. They came back with a pretty tiara and a rather ugly princess wand.

This is what happened while they were gone:

After the cake is baked, knead and then roll out the ready roll icing on a bench dusted with icing sugar. Lay the icing over a rolling pin and transport it to the cake so it doesn’t break. Smooth it down around the edges and cut off any excess.

Add some colour to leftover icing and knead in well. I had two small batches of icing and put more colour in one than the other deliberately. Cut out letters with cookie cutters and any other shapes. The word “princess’’ was spell checked before assembling.

Boil some sugar water (one part sugar, to two parts water). Brush over cake and letters. Add silver balls in a pattern. You can add lines with a knife as a guide. I started to do this, then changed my mind. Hmm, always a nice effect.

Add the tiara. And presto, a quick birthday cake

Oh, and I forgot: blow out the candles

and then lick the tiara.

Need a tiara? Click the image below to grab this gorgeous one!
How long do you usually spend making birthday cakes? Or does the local supermarket do your cooking for you?

NB: Please note, some links are to products I’m an affiliate of. This means if you click through and choose to become a customer of that business in the future, I may receive a commission. This doesn’t mean you pay anything extra.

November 14, 2011