Hello Spring! Welcome to my world.

Although it is not officially spring for a few more days, spring has defiantly been in the air here the last few days. This is the littlest one's first spring and I think I can safely say, she is gonna love it. 

Now that she is on the move the world is her oyster. The beach has lots of new and interesting experiences and although she discovered sand is not as tasty as it may look, she also discovered that paddling in the ocean IS a lot of fun (especially when you have your Pop there to help you)

Even though the water was still freezing, it was fun to pretend that summer is not too far away.

Roll on Spring!

My Creative Space

In My creative space today is the beginnings of the waldorf doll I am making as part of Crazy Crafter NZ's Waldorf doll sew along. It doesn't look like much yet but this will form the inside of the head of the doll. The string around the head will form the eye line and the stork will give the neck stability.

Looking forward to sharing more photos of her as she develops.

Wardrobe Wednesday

Oh the joys of trying to take a photo of ones self. To get this very average photo, I had to balance my camera on top of the girls doll pram, which in turn was on a table. Anyway, this is what I was wearing today, as the weather slowly hints at spring. The singlet is witchery, the dress is from element and the cardigan is from just jeans.

For more wardrobe inspiration, check out here. 

Chocolate Chip and Chickpea Cookies

Since a few people asked about the recipe for the cookies I made yesterday, I thought I would post it for you. It is From the book 'Deceptively Delicious' by Jessica Seinfeld.

Chocolate Chip Chickpea cookies 
Ingredients-

• 1 cup of firmly packed brown sugar
• 3/4 cup of Margarine
• 2 egg whites
• 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract
• 1 can of chickpeas (drained and rinsed)
• 2 cups of chocolate chips
• 2 cups of flour
• 1/2 cup of oats
• 1 teaspoon of baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt (I left this out)

Directions-

• Preheat oven to 180 degrees.
• Beat sugar and margarine in electric mixer.
• Beat in egg whites and vanilla, then chickpeas and chocolate chips.
• Add flour, oats, baking soda and salt.
• Mix on low speed until thick dough forms.
• Drop tablespoons full onto baking tray then flatten with a fork.
• bake for 11-13 minutes until just set.
• place on rack to cool.

Enjoy!

My Creative Space

If a picture paints a thousand words then this picture would have tell of little angels with trumpets singing a chorus of 'allelugh', while fireworks explode in the background. Why? Because I baked something and it actually worked!!!! It is not burnt AND it tastes good. You might remember a few days ago I told you about how terrible I am in the kitchen. Well I cracked out my new cook book today, Holly and I made these chickpea and chocolate chip cookies. Sounds like an odd combination eh? But they actually taste really nice- kinda nutty. Best of all, my little picky eater wanted seconds.

For more creative genius pop over here.

Wardrobe Wednesday

Ok, so I thought I would join in the fun of Wardrobe Wednesday. The weather has been pretty bloody awful here this week and I am so over rain. I am dreaming of long summer days where all I need to wear is a summer dress, sigh.

My outfit today is cheap and cheerful. An ezybuy singlet, a glassons cardigan and a pair of jeans I got for free at the swaporama. The boots are my favorites from Hannah's and my scarf is a lovely felted wool number from chalkydidgets.

Domestically Disabled

I have come to the conclusion that I suffer from a serous affliction.. I am domestically disabled. Sure, I can knit and sew. I can clean, and for the most part I keep a tidy house, mostly because of my dislike of clutter, which makes my house probably appear tidier than it really is. I hear you saying "that all sounds great, not at all like a domestically disabled person. What are you on about?" So, here it is, my dirty little secret- I am a terrible cook and I almost never bake. I do try but I think maybe it is something genetic, maybe I inherited a defective cooking gene. See my mother (and her mother before her) were terrible cooks too (sorry mum!). It is not like I don't try. Every so often, I forget I have this disability and think 'hay, I might bake something'.....

This happened yesterday. Now these were out of a box, one of those just add an egg and water. Not hard to stuff up, right? WRONG! If George Bush had found these cupcakes in Iraq, he would have declared that he had indeed found 'weapons of mass destruction'. They are like very small, horrible tasting rocks. The only reason we even bothered to ice them was because Holly really, really wanted to do the sprinkles bit. Poor child took one bite before quickly handing it back to me and shaking her head.

I will not be defeated though. 

Today, I bought a cookbook full of recipes that small children are meant to like. Lord knows I could do with the help, wish me luck!

Flea Market Finds

I found these lovely little stools a couple of weeks back but because of the death of my computer, I have been unable to show them to you until now. They were one of those finds that makes your heart skip a beat and you cannot believe that someone has not snapped them up yet.

And because I am enjoying adding a little duck egg blue into my current colour pallet, I bought this set of Crown Lynn. It is just so much nicer to drink tea from a proper tea cup, don't you think?

My Creative Space

This week in My Creative Space, I am knitting a tiny cardigan to go on the doll I am planning to make as part of the Waldorf doll sew along. I ended up buying a harmony knitpick circular to knit this on and I can see why people rave about them, they are very nice to knit on! Please excuse the shoddy photo but I don't currently have my computer as it has been ummm.... ruined. All I can say is 2 years olds, computers and a cup of coffee is never a good combination! Thank goodness for insurance.

My Creative Space

This week in My Creative Space, I am knitting my very first, bionafied, full size, adult knit- all for myself! It is a cardigan, using this pattern . I am almost done, just finishing the second arm, then I only have the collar left. I so hope it looks ok on when it is finished, eeekkkk!!!

Winter Wonderland

Turns out skiing is a lot like riding a bike, once you know how, you never forget. Last week I spent 2 amazing days at the Cardrona ski field near Wanaka. Much to my surprise, having not skied since before the girls were born, I can still do it!

The main reason we went up was to support Simon who was taking part in the Adaptive Snowsports National Festival. He did well but unfortunately did not place in the elite class. He did however, manage one almighty fall which was apparently spectacular to watch. Luckily I was not there to witness it myself.

The girls spent the day in the on-field nursery, which was great as it meant I could easily come and go during the day. They had an absolute blast playing in the snow. Holly kept repeating "So cold" between big smiles.

Turns out that granddads are pretty handy things. They will pull the sledge for far longer than Mummy or Daddy.

And they will even make fools of themselves by letting 2 year olds take them for sledge rides.

Even Isla got in on a little of the winter action.

Fun times. 

Ramblings from Toushka

A friend of mine is doing a giveaway on her blog Ramblings from Toushka She is giving away the book '25 Simple Sewn Gifts' by Helen Philipps

You need to hurry though as entries close today!

Welcome to Paradise

Paradise. 

If I was going to re-write the dictionary, I think I would just post this picture beside the word paradise. After all, a picture really does speak a thousand words but none say it quite as perfectly as this. A sweet little soul, sitting peacefully staring at the beauty that she is lucky enough to be able to call her homeland.

And then she realises she is being watched, and lights up the picture just a little more by gracing us with her sweet smile. Paradise I tell you. And just what does paradise taste like? I am not sure it tastes too good, but Isla was sure keen to try it out. 

We spent last week on a little winter holiday in the southern lakes. Enjoying the wonders of the deep south and boy did the south put on a great show. Freezing cold, frosty nights and beautiful, crisp blue sky days, meant for exploring.

There were seagulls to be  chased. Although, given how very far away from the sea we were, we thought it a little silly to be calling them seagulls, so Holly and I renamed them lake-gulls. Isla didn't care what they were called, she just really, really wanted to play with them.

The southern lakes are the most striking, crystal clear waters, that reflect your image back to you like a mirror, they are so breathtakingly beautiful.

Perfect for watching fish... if you can stand still long enough to not frighten them away.

Perfect for throwing stones, just so you can watch the little circular ripples that spread across the waters surface .

Perfect for climbing on big rocks just so you can jump off them again.

Or perfect to just to stand in wonder, as the only people on this entire lake front, to have this whole little piece of gods-own to yourself.

Paradise.