Always Something Different

I have my parents (VIPs) up from (cold) country Victoria for a visit.  Both girls are enjoying having a couple of different faces stay and so are MrL and I.  

Monet's school held their annual 'Grandparent's Day', the day after they arrived so everyone was happy about that.  Considering in Abu Dhabi schools, such a day isn't held,  it was good for Monet to be able to have two Grandparents visit her school and stay for the morning.   And by all accounts it was an enjoyable event.  

Yesterday I took the VIPs to the Flecker Botanical Gardens.  I swear, every time I visit (and the last time being early last month), I see something different.  

I guess this tree doesn't want anything climbing it's trunk!....

And look how long this flower is! Wow...

And I love seeing flowers that are not of usual colour, like black for instance...

I love seeing tall trees set behind lower ones.  Would make a gorgeous painting...

And then my Mum and I spotted these flowers and could not believe the colour....

Spearmint colour I suggested.

Lily wanted to pose on the little 'stage'.

And both my Mum and her wanted a photo (or two) taken on the park bench.

I wonder what I'll spot next time I am there?

A Productive Sewing Week

I never thought I would actually follow through on a project that I found on 'Pinterest' (google if you must), but the double-sided headbands I had pinned onto my board drew me in.  I found the instructions easy to follow (a miracle for me) and gave it a go, using my scrap material.  

All lined up and ready to sew.  Fun!

This was my result!  

Monet loves them and they just fit her (they are aimed at ages 8+) so she's bagged a couple, which she wears proudly.

My other project this week was to make complete outfits for girls.  And of course Miss Lily is my model (and my inspiration).   I spruced up a tshirt adding rosettes and buttons and Lily adored it.  You little ripper.

After a successful showing to my mother and sister-in-law via iPhone I decided to do a complete outfit for my Lily.  The photo below has had 600+ hits on Facebook so I think I could be onto something (or probably because the just-about-3-year-old is impossibly cute!)

I am hoping they are a success, as I have just posted my first available whole outfit on my Page.  =)

I'm a Sucker for Advertising. (Banana Muffin recipe)

I've always said that Advertising works and yesterday those words rang in my ears again as I took Lily to the local news agency to purchase something we had seen on the telly.  The new Dora 'Little Cook Collection'.  How could I resist the $2.99 price tag for the two year old who is Dora mad (just like her big sister once was).   Of course the first issue sucks you in with a low price tag and then the future issues jump up to $7.99, then $12.99!

Miss Lily insisted we make the muffin recipe inside the magazine straight after walking back in the front door.  So, being the obliging mother I can be at times, we did.  A very simple Banana Muffin recipe with easy to follow instructions and the result?  Delicious.

Here's the recipe - it only makes 4, but I didn't mind that as I know that none would go to waste and they were very simple, easy and took no time to make....

You need...
1 large banana
40g soft brown sugar
2 tablespoons rapeseed oil (I used olive oil!)
1 small egg
65ml milk
100g self-raising flour

1.  Peel and mash the banana in a bowl using the back of a fork.  Mix in the sugar and the oil.

2.  Crack the egg into the bowl.  Pour in the milk and stir.

3.  Sieve the flour into the mixing bowl.

4.  Gently stir in the flour into the rest of the ingredients.

5.  Spoon the mixture into four muffin cases.  Fill each case almost up to the top.

6.  Place in a 190 degree C oven for 15-20 minutes.  Take them out and leave to cool.

As Dora would say, "Delicioso!"

Skirts for Little Girls....

It started with a 'one off' and a 'tester' skirt, made especially for Monet.  And now it has snowballed into my obsession and I just love making them for my girls and for sale...

And then the last time I visited Spotlight (fabric store), I spied a little gadget that helps you make fabric rosettes.  Awesome little gadget it is too.  With a button sewn into the centre of the rosette and then hand sewn into the corner of the skirt front, I think it really finishes them off.

I think I am addicted to looking at fabric too.  Online or in stores.  Oh there is so many lovely fabrics out there and I am always on the look out for something a little different.  When I spied the fabric below I knew it would make a gorgeous skirt.  I think it ended up looking more gorgeous than I possibly imagined.  Definitely a favourite and both girls have said they want one each.  Lucky they have a mother who is obliged to make them one each....

I have listed all these skirts on my Facebook page (link on the right) and are priced at $25 each.  I'm sure you must know of a little girl (sized either Small, Medium or Large) who'd love one?  *wink wink*

A Two Night Getaway

A few weeks back it was a 'Cairns' long weekend.  Instead of us going stir crazy in our apartment MrL suggested we go and stay up at Port Douglas (a 45 minute drive north from our place) for a couple of nights.  We found some cheap accommodation (cheap by Port Douglas standards) in a fabulous spot, opposite 4 Mile Beach and just off the main shopping strip.  

We got up to Port a bit too early so I suggested to go up to the 'Lookout'.  The view up there is stunning.  Below is a photo of the 4 Mile Beach....

After lunch and finally being able to check into our apartment, the girls could not wait to get themselves down to the beach.  They had a fun time running about, paddling and playing in the sand.  It was a bit too windy though and the wind did get the better of us so we left after an hour or so...

Saturday morning we took a walk around the main part of Port Douglas.  It is a very photogenic place to visit, if you enjoy taking photos...

This boat is off to the Great Barrier Reef

I think I have mentioned time and time again on this blog, how I love a Marina.  This one is no exception.  

In the afternoon we ventured to the beach again.  It was windy again.

In typical Melody and MrL style, Sunday morning saw us all set and packed to leave early.

It is always pleasant to visit Port Douglas and we are fortunate that it is a short (very scenic) drive from our place.  It was nice to go and stay somewhere else for a couple of nights and the girls had a blast.

Lily and Rainbows

As Miss Lily and I were walking and chatting the other day, she started on about eating a Rainbow Cake.  She *loves* rainbows (especially of the ice cream kind!) and when I suggested that we could make a Rainbow Cake together she got very excited.  

So, true to my word, we did.  And Lily enjoyed every aspect...

Her favourite part was the taste testing (along with the pink icing and 'rainbow sprinkles'.)

My sister and I used to make 'Rainbow Cakes' quite often on cold Saturday afternoons after Netball and Monet and I have baked a few in our time too.   It was nice to be able to do this baking with my baby. =)

The Love Boat - Lego Style

A few weeks back, I took our Lego fan (Monet) into Cairns Central to see a display that was on.  Made entirely out of Lego was a 'lego-sized' ship, based on The Love Boat.  It was pretty awesome.

One half was the exterior of the ship.  On the other side was the interior.

Pretty sure if there was no one else around, we could have easily spent a good half an hour looking at all the cabins and discovering all the things which were built inside the ship.

It is amazing at what some people can build out of Lego.  We loved the 'mini-Berlin' we saw last year built out of Lego in Berlin and hopefully one day we get to see the real Lego Land in Denmark.  One day....

Cairns Show

Last week I had the misfortune opportunity to visit the Cairns Show.  This show runs for three days and is the largest regional show in Australia.  Monet's school sent home a letter, saying that if your child was in the Ukulele Club (ahem.  Which Monet is.), then parents could meet with the club at the entrance and gain free access.  You little ripper.  

Even though Monet's school had already entered the Show (me not knowing) I just asked if her school had entered to the gate attendant and was told to go on through.  Bonus.  

I guess the payment was sitting for an hour, listening to another school's choir, then Monet's Ukulele Club play five or six songs (all in the Chord G) on those annoying little guitars...  

Considering Monet's only been playing for a couple of months she did really well.  She did look bored after about two songs but at least she was up there on stage, strumming along.

As soon as we could escape, we went for a stroll around.  Being opening day it was relatively quiet, but I forgot how many bogans and carnie folk there would be.  Belch.  The girls had a couple of rides (rip off) and then I let them pick out a Show Bag each.  (At $26 a pop!!! Heck!!)

I must say, even though the Show Bags cost a small fortune, there were squeals of delight coming from the back seat on the drive home, as they peered in their bags.  That, my friends, was worth it. =)