The Good, The Bad & The Bump(y) - 17 weeks

The Good

• Having working internet again.
• Finally being able to bake again without wanting to throw up.
• Corey working his last night shift last night.
• Gold Class movie dates with Corey.
• My fun new maternity exercise class that I started this week.
• New cloths and new hair making me feel refreshed.
• My nice new heat pack which helps to ease my back pain slightly.

The Bad

• Missing last weeks bump post due to broken internet.
• Not being able to buy cute clothes for Squishy because we don't know the gender yet.
• Grocery shopping with cravings. I spend way too much money!!!
• Back pain. It is killing me. Especially when I get it in the middle of the night and it wakes me up.

The Bump

And here is little Squishy at 17 weeks. The bump doesn't look as big as I feel which I always find funny when I take these pics.  I always feel huge then I see these pics and think I'm not really that big. It's a vicious cycle that I go through each week.  But, I am learning to accept my new body and stop obsessing over every kilo and just embrace this time in my life. I found it hard at first because I was so used to eating perfectly and going to the gym consistently with Corey and keeping track of my weight every week.  It has taken me a while to realise that I need to put on weight in order to have a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby but I think I am starting to get there.  I think one thing I still need to accept is that every pregnant women is different and I need to stop comparing myself to every other pregnant lady I know and see.  Getting my hair dyed and cut on the weekend definitely helped me feel a little bit better about myself. Now I just need to hold onto this feeling for the next 5 months!

Pay It Forward...Handmade Styles

I saw this post over on Melissa's blog on the weekend and I was so super duper excited that no one had commented yet.  I had seen pay it forward go around a few blogs I read but I am always too late to join in.  I snapped up the chance to be involved this time and I am so excited.

So here are the details.  I will send a surprise gift to the first three commenters on this post.  The gift will be handmade by me.  It will be sent sometime in the next 365 days.  It will be a surprise.  All you need to do is:-

1. In your comment, tell me your two favourite colours (that will help me make an appropriate gift).
2. To sign up and receive a gift, you must play along too.  Pay It Forward on your blog, by promising to make a surprise for the first three people who comment on the post.
3. You must have a blog (this is to help me figure out what to make for you).
4. After commenting here, you must re-post this or something similar to your blog in 48 hours.  If not, I will chose the next person who comments...
5. I will need a way to contact you so please leave your email address.

I am so excited to get a chance to take part in pay it forward.  So, who wants to play?  

Pyjama Party Reveal

Today is the big reveal day for Karen's Pyjama Party and I finished just in time.  I was hemming my pj's this morning before I headed out to the hairdresser.  I am so glad I got these finished today because it has been rainy gloomy weather all day so it's the perfect time for cosy new winter pj's.

I bought the fabric from Spotlight and it is so amazingly soft and warm I think I could live in these. Especially if this weather keeps up! I wonder if pj's are considered too casual for casual Fridays???  I love super baggy pj's so I went up a size from what I made last time and I am so happy with the cosiness.

Another part of the pyjama party was to share what we are currently reading.  I have become addicted to my ereader and I read a lot more now that I have it.  I keep it in my handbag so I can read whenever I have a spare moment.  It's amazing how much you can read in all those little moments.

I am currently halfway through Wicked by Sara Shepard.  This is the fifth book in the Pretty Little Liars series and I am totally addicted.  These books are only like 200 pages each and are so quick and easy to read.  I think after these though I am going to need something a bit more meaty to read so my next series on the list after these is the Millenium Trilogy.

And because Veronica Darling asked so nicely here is a quick pic of my new hair.  My hairdresser took this before and after and text it to me after I left.  I love the difference!

Squishy's First Blanket

I have been wanting to make some things for Squishy but am finding it hard since we don't know Squishy's gender yet.  I thought to stay safe for the next 3 weeks while we wait to find out that I would stick to making toys and homewares type stuff that I could make unisex.

First up I decided to crochet a quick blanket for the stroller.  The stroller we bought is red so being anal about colour coordination I had to have something that would match.  I chose red, teal and blue because I thought it could be unisex.  Also, it goes perfectly with the red stroller.

I decided on a simple granny square blanket.  I used a 5mm (H) hook and 8 ply yarn.  I made a bunch of squares then lined them up inside the stroller and decided that 5 squares by 4 squares would be the perfect size.  I love granny squares because once you have made them a couple of times they are so quick and you can make them while watching tv.  I have so much more that I want to make for Squishy and am having loads of fun crossing things off the list.  I just can't wait until we find out the gender so I can knit up some cute jumpers and sew some cute clothes.

White Chocolate & Raspberry Muffins

So our internet went a little wacky this week and the only way I had to post was via my iphone which I can tell you right now I am not exactly skilled at.  I gave it a whirl to post for Anzac Day but I have no idea how to add more than 1 photo or to format my posts so it was a no go for anything more detailed.  Which was a bit of a bummer cause last weekend I made some delicious muffins that I really wanted to show you.

 

This muffin recipe was in the latest Donna Hay magazine but was actually a part of an ad for a car.  A little bit random but they sounded delicious so I gave them a whirl.

I decided to go a little bit fancy and buy some nice white cafe style muffin cases while I was in Woolworths.  The girls at work were very impressed telling me they looked just like proper muffins from the cafes.  If you are looking for a quick easy but delicious muffin then you must give these a try.  I had to remove them from our household before Corey and I ate the entire batch.  

White Chocolate & Raspberry Muffins

2 cups plain flour

2 tsp baking powder

3/4 cup caster sugar

1 cup sour cream

2 eggs

1 tsp finely grated lemon rind

1/3 cup vegetable oil

1 1/2 cups frozen raspberries

1 cup chopped white chocolate

Preheat oven to 180*C.  Line a 12 cup muffin tin with non stick baking paper making sure the paper is 5mm from the top of the tin.  

Sift flour and baking powder into a bowl.  Add the sugar and stir to combine.  In a seperate bowl combine the sour cream, eggs, lemon rind and oil and whisk together.  Stir through the flour mixture until just combined.  Carefully fold in the raspberries and chocolate and spoon into lined tins.

Bake for 40 minutes or until cooked when tested with a skewer.

Lest We Forget

Today we all take a moment to remember those who came before us and fought for the beautiful country we call home. We also remember all our soldiers who are still out there fighting and we pray that they all return home safely. Lest we forget x

Pyjama Party Sew-A-Long

I have been meaning to post about this for so long and keep forgetting.  I decided to join in with Karen's Pyjama Party to try and get back into sewing a little bit.  I don't think I am really going to be sewing myself too many clothes until after Squishy is born but I think pyjamas are definitely something I can do.  I also have a bit of a weakness for pyjamas so I can't resist adding a pair to the collection.

I am going to be using the pattern above which I have made once.  I made myself a summer pair of pyjama pants quite some time ago and they are still going strong in my pj stash.  So I figure why not add to the stash with a nice pair or winter pants.

I was hoping to use some fabric from my stash until I realised that there is nothing suitable for winter pyjamas that I have a enough of to cut the pattern pieces from.  So my plan is to hit up Spotlight on Saturday so that I can get started.  I am a bit behind but they have only cut the pattern out and sewn the inner leg seam so far so there is plenty of time to catch up.  Which means there is plenty of time for you to catch up to.  So if you want to join in make sure you pop over here and sign up!

March Reading List

I just realised last night that it is over half way through April and I still haven't posted my books that I read in March.  I am trying again to read 52 books in the year.  So far (including March) I have read 9 books.  That leaves me with 43 books to read in 9 months. Not too sure how that is going to go especially with Squishy due at the start of October. Anyways, here is what I read in March...

I could not for the life of me gets these to go in order so they are going backwards instead.  Damn blogger was not playing nice this morning.  The month of March was taken over by reading the Shopaholic series.  I really love these books.  They are light and funny and so easy to read.  There is a few more in the series but I only have 1 more on my ereader which I just finished last night.  If you are after a quick easy read I would recommend giving these a go.  And for anyone that is a little shopping obsessed the first book definitely helps to bring your spending into perspective!

The Good, The Bad & The Bump(y) - Week 15

 

The Good

• Spending Sunday with my mummy in Brisbane watching Annie.
• Using above outing to get all dressed up. I figure once Squishy comes along there won't be as many opportunities or as much time to do my makeup so I should take every chance I get.
• Finding the bassinet that I have been wanting on sale at the baby shop.
• Discovering how much money I can save by making a few things instead of buying them.
• Having our second ABC Date (C for Coffee Club). We had a lovely breakfast out on Saturday morning but I didn't take any pics.

The Bad

• Getting majorly confused in the baby shop looking at car seats. So many choices!!!
• Not being able to sleep when Corey works night shift. Luckily it doesn't happen often.
• Back pain.

The Bump(y)

I don't really feel like there is much difference from the last two weeks in this picture. Although during the week when I am in work clothes I have been feeling massive! I kind of just wish my belly would hurry up and pop so I would actually look pregnant. At the moment I just look a bit pudgy.

Squishy's Booties

Last weekend I sat down and knocked out some booties for Squishy while Corey  was watching the footy.  These are so super quick to make.  You can make a pair from start to finish in under an hour.

Pattern: Chausson Mignons
Yarn: Moda Vera Marvel 8 ply
Needles: 5mm
Time Taken: under 1hr per pair.

I read the notes from a few people in Ravelry about this pattern and a lot said they were small.  Obviously not having a child before I was unsure whether they would be too small or not.  I decided to make a few pairs in the original size just in case we have a small baby.  I am also going to make a few more pairs in a bigger size using the mods available on Ravelry.  They are quite stretchy so even if the small ones don't last long they will probably be ok to take to the hospital.  Now that I have started making things for Squishy I have a massive list of what I want to do.  The motivation is finally kicking back in!!!

Hot Cross Buns

Last weekend I decided to make hot cross buns for Easter.  I made them a few years ago but haven't made them since.  I figured with 4 days off what better thing to do then spend a day baking hot cross buns.  I made the traditional and I also made some chocolate chip which were very popular.

 

I used a recipe that I got out of the now not in print Notebook magazine.  I totally forgot I had it until I saw a digital version of the recipe pinned over on Pinterest the other day.  I loved their magazine and the recipes that they shared because they would put in step by step pictures.  I actually really liked Notebook magazine so was a bit bummed when they stopped printing it.  But I digress.

 

If you would like to make some the recipe can be found here. And even though easter is over for another year I say make them anyway.  Nothing is better on a cold morning than toasted hot cross buns for breakfast with a cup of tea.

The Good, The Bad & The Bump(y) - Week 14

The Good:

• The end of the morning sickness.
• Buying fun yarn colours to knit and crochet some projects for Squishy.
• Finally having everyone at work know I'm pregnant so I can stop trying to suck my belly in.
• Making booties in fun colours for Squishy (which I will post about soon)
• Cadbury Creme Eggs!!! I love easter time.

The Bad:

• Being bitten by mosquitos a million times on my foot making it swell to a retarded size.
• Getting dizzy if I don't drink enough water. Must remember to take a bottle of water with me when we go out on the weekends.
• Getting the flu for a week just after finally getting rid of the morning sickness.
• Not fitting into the majority of my wardrobe anymore. That is the peril of wearing/owning mainly clothes that are super fitted in the waist.

The Bump(y):

I don't really think that there is much difference from last week. I actually think the last week looks bigger but that may be because the photo is zoomed in more.  I cleared my wardrobe out of all the items that don't fit me and have finished with about 10 items left in my wardrobe. I may need to invest in some roomier clothes!

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter everyone! I hope you are all having a fantastic weekend.  We have spent the past two days relaxing at home, baking and crafting and now we have family gatherings for the next two days.  I hope the Easter bunny was good to you all. Enjoy the rest of your weekend!!!

ABC Dates - B is for Byron Bay

I saw the idea of ABC Dates over at The Daily Everythings a couple of weeks ago and Corey and I thought it would be a good idea to try and do before Squishy joins us.  Basically we have to come up with a date for every letter of the alphabet.  There are so many things we talk about doing on weekends and never get around to.  They are all pretty simple but won't be as easy for us to do when we have a little one to think about as well. We won't be doing them in order as there are a few that can only be done at certain times of the year or on certain weekends.  Last weekend we started with the letter B and headed down to Byron Bay for the markets.  Here are a few photos I snapped with my iphone...

 

from topt: bibs for squishy from Byron Bay markets, chicken satay and rice for lunch, Corey at the markets, chai latter and baby name reading.

Byron Bay markets are always so much fun!  When we got there we wandered around and checked out all the stalls before grabbing some lunch.  Then we did another lap and picked up these bibs for Squishy from Wana Wara.  She had some gorgeous fabrics but we tried to choose a couple that were unisex.  We then headed into town for a bit of a wander and to check out the beach.  I picked this baby name book up in the local bookshop and we stopped for a coffee and to debate names.  I have a feeling it is going to take us ages to agree on a name!

Projects For Squishy

Firstly, let me start of by saying a massive thank you to everyone for all your lovely comments on my last post. It made my day to read all your gorgeous comments. This is exactly why I love the blog world and I am so glad that I back amongst it all again.  I had a question from one commenter asking if I had started any sewing/knitting projects for Squishy yet.  The simple answer to that is no.  Because I haven't been feeling well for so long all I have wanted to do is lie on the lounge and watch tv.  I do, however, have a bit of a list of projects that I would love to do before Squishy comes along in October.  I have found some great tutorials and patterns and I am just hoping I get time to do them all.  Click the photos below to be taken to the tutorials/patterns.

See, there are quite a few. So not quite sure if they will all get done but it'll be fun to try.  My energy levels are slowly returning so hopefully I will be able to get some stuff done soon.  Do you know any good baby tutorials that you would like to share?