Last minute gift

Here is a last minute gift idea that is simple to make as the receiver does all the work! (originally coming from http://www.bakerella.com/)

A "Cookie in a Jar" is all of the dry ingredients for Christmas Cookies that all you have to add is an egg, butter and vanilla. Roll them out and bake. So simple!

SUCH an asesome looking gift that tastes great too!

And as a Christmas Gift, the Printable Instructions for all of my readers...

Merry Christmas,
Rebecca ox

Still not yet wrapped?

Still have the present wrapping to do? Stuck for ideas? Here are some lovely and SIMPLE ideas that I have been collecting as well as what I ended up doing- with step-by-step instructions- easy peasy!

Simple brown paper and twine...

Scrabble tiles- how cool!

(www.homelife.com.au)

Pretty laces and paper flowers...

(entertainexchange)

Simple brown and red paper and twine...

A simple bel and ribbon...



And here is what I ended up doing...

Step 1:

Step 2:

Step 3:

Voila!

Rebecca ox

Gingerbread Advent Calendar

If you need an excuse to eat a gingerbread biscuit every day of December, then you need a GINGERBREAD ADVENT CALENDAR!

We had so much fun making these- yes there is a lot to make, but that means there is a lot to eat :)
I simply cut out number chapes from the mixture and baked them, then when they first came out of the oven I made a small hole at the top of each one with the blunt end of a skewar.

I then strung them up along the Christmas garland that I have hanging from the fireplace and thats it!

We have one each day which is much more fun when you reach double didgits as there is a biscuit for each of the kids :)

Here is the recipe...
Ingredients:

340g (12 oz) flour
115g (4 oz) butter
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda
1 beaten egg
4 tablespoons of golden syrup
175g (6 oz) soft brown sugar (I use dark brown sugar here)
Method:
Melt butter, sugar and golden syrup over low heat.
Sift the flour, ginger and bicarb soda into a bowl. Add the syrup mixture and the beaten egg.
Mix everything together and then knead it into a ball.
Chill the dough in a plastic bag in the fridge for 30 minutes.
Preheat oven at 190c / 375f / Gas mark 5.
Grease baking trays (I just use baking paper).
Sprinkle flour on bench top and rolling pin and roll out dough to a thickness of 1/2 cm (1/4 inch).
Cut out shapes and place on a baking tray. Decorate with currants and then bake for 10-15 mins until they are golden brown. Lift them onto a wire rack to cool.

ENJOY!

Rebecca ox

And one for the transformer lovers...

How awesome is this put-together-cardboard-transformer!

"This robot with movable arms will entertain your child and capture their imagination. Colour with paint, stick on recycled bottled caps, dry pasta, foil remnants - whatever you can find to create your very own robot!   Designed by German company Calafant, the robot is freestanding and slots together with no glue or scissors required!.  At the end of its use, simply recycle or place in your compost!  Recommended for ages 3+. Brushes and paint colours not included.  Parental assistance required for assembly."      

Its only $40 and available here: http://www.stateofgreen.com.au/shop/Calafant/baby-and-child/playtime/Robot/
(found via http://lilmagoolie.com/)  

Molly's pony party...

... is not until March NEXT YEAR but she talks about it daily, often a couple of times a day! Not helped with her current obsession with all things horse related. So when I saw that Ikea had some horse-shaped cake tins I was in like Flinn. We had a ball this afternoon wearing our Little Spunky Monkey christmas aprons for the first time as well as baking not one but TWO pony cakes- yes it is a horse and her foal set ha ha ha...

So I think we are stuck with the strawberry flavoured pony cake with pink icing for Molly's pony party (yes, she has even picked out her cake flavour and icing colour). Watch this space...

Rebecca ox

What better way to celebrate Cup Day...

that with buying a new hobby horse.
Molly is OBSESSED with all things horses at the moment and is permanently attached to her hobby horse at home.
I have been thinking about for ages getting her a new one for Christmas and today spurred me on, being Melbourne Cup and all of that!
I have been eyeing off the Calamity Bold horses for months- they are just the most divine horses ever. The fabrics used are delightful...

To check out her Madeit store click here
Rebecca ox

For houses with no chinmeys...

Isnt this the coolest thing ever? A personalised key for Father Christmas to use so he can get into your house on Christmas night!

I can remember being a child an wondering “how does Santa come inside?” We didn’t have a chimney. We had a creaky backdoor. So what was his trick? Let your little ones know that you have it under control. You and Santa have worked out a little plan. You have left Santa his own special Key to your house, hanging on the door knob (or on the Christmas tree), so  that he can come inside to work his magic. 

You can buy them from Palomas Nest here
Rebecca ox

No more squashed cupcakes...

... because I just bought a CUPCAKE COURIER!!! Woo hoo!

(http://www.thecupcakecourier.com.au/shop-now/the-cupcake-courier/the-cupcake/)

I now can not wait to try it out- holds 36 of the finest too- now THAT is a party!!!

Rebecca ox

First Christmas present bought!

How awesome are these! Perfect for my coffee-loving brother.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/43289336/french-press-coffee-cozy-scooter-style

Hope to bring you some other cool pressies in the coming weeks :)
Rebecca
ox

Remember me?

I haven’t blogged in so long you probably thought I fell off the face of the earth.
Quite the contrary actually! I have been so flat out that I havent had time to blog nearly as much as I should (or like to).
I am hoping to ramp it up leading up to Christmas and might even...ghasp...send out an email newsletter. Its only been, oh, 12 months since the last one!!!

This Saturday I have the Mathilda's Markets coming up- new location so should be exciting!

Then in 2 weeks Time I have the all new Lollipop Markets

SO... busy busy getting ready with a few new items ready to launch at the LOllipop Markets!
Will be back very soon- I promise!!!
Rebecca
ox

FREE {Printable Cupcake Toppers}

The AFL Grand Final is this weekend and there are a few Saint Kilda crazy members in this family so to help celebrate the big day on Saturday I have created some FREE {Printable Cupcake Toppers} to help set the mood.
Simply print them up on an A4 piece of card and either use a scalloped punch or cut them out as squares, stick onto toothpicks and place in the top of your cupcakes! Voila!

GO SAINTS!!!

Rebecca ox

Opertaion PLAY ROOM with FREE downloadable labels

Its time for another playroom clean-out/tidy up/general re-arrange.

The last one was back in January (here) and the tub labels were so successful that I am doing them again with the addition of a tub each for the kids for all of the random toys that dont belong anywhere else (and I have caved and now even have a "barbie" tub- kind of unavoidable with a 2 1/2 year old in the house!)

I have again attached the file to DOWNLOAD so you can print them up and use them in your place.

Happy organising!

Introducing our latest product...

STICKY BELLIES!
I am very excited to introduce you to this ingenious product for all of the snap happy parents of under 1 year olds out there.
I am also very excited to announce that Little Spunky Monkey is the ONLY supplier in Australia! How exciting is that!!!
Sticky Bellies are removable stickers to use with your "month photos" that you take of your little ones as they grow up. Placed on their clothing on their tummy area, the stickers can tell you how old your abby is in each 'month' photo that you take, making for cute memories and gorgeous photos to email to all of your friends.
Here are some of the months...

They will be uploaded to the website soon, in the mentime if you would like to order any, please email me at linfo@littlespunkymonkey.com.au

Rebecca ox

We're going on a wabbit hunt...

With Molly toilet training, we have L O T S of used toilet rolls in our recycling box (just today, a whole roll went down the toilet in one flush). So with 2 bored kids and finally some sunshine outside, I decided what better way to use them up than make binoculars out of them!
So easy and they were great fun to use afterwards as well...

The items you will need (this was enough for 2 pairs)

Hold 2 rolls together and join with sticky tape...

Colour to your heart's content...

 Make sure they work...

Now lets go find those wascally wabbits...

Rebecca ox

Ladybird ladybird, fly away home...

... to my home!!!
With the huge interest lately in LADYBUG parties, and to compliment my {DIY Ladybug Invitation} and {DIY Ladybug Party Pack}, I have collected some ladybug party inspiration photos. I hope that all of those undertaking this theme will find something sueful in this lot (all photos courtesy of etsy.com)...