Opshop Finds On My Birthday

Yesterday I turned 26. It doesn't feel like another year has passed and that I'm a year older and only four more years away from the big three-O. In my head I still feel like a giddy 18-year-old. We had a quiet celebration with the family on Sunday night. The Wednesday before, Wyld Man and I had a special night out to celebrate both our birthdays-we're both July babies. I got a Mileni bag as a present from the family, as well as a gift card at Suzannegrae.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="450" caption="Mileni bag"][/caption]

It's a huge bag-I carried it around yesterday with one of the compartments with my stuff, and the other half with William's stuff-nappy, squirt bottle, a bottle of water, nappy change mat, bib, hanky and a stuffed toy!

Anyways, yesterday morning I caught up with a playgroup mummy and she brought me to her favourite opshop! It's run by the Uniting Church and is quite small, but I still managed to bag quite a haul. I got a few things for myself...

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="301" caption="Opshop outfit"][/caption]

The tan crossover top was AUD1.75,  and the angora wool skirt was AUD3.  I especially love the skirt, with is a thick stretchy knit, quite warm and perfect for winter outfits. The only thing is that with tights, it tends to ride up unless I make a lining for it, which I shall.

I also got myself a couple of belts for 50cents each-I keep wearing mine out.

I got William a few things-lots of bibs and some little outfits like...

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="450" caption="Marks and Spencer red striped 2 set"][/caption]

...for AUD3. And a couple of Wondersuits...

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="450" caption="Wondersuits"][/caption]

...for a dollar each.

I also picked up 2 metres of a lovely winter weight wool twill.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="450" caption=" Twill fabric"][/caption]

I'm in the middle of cutting it out for a skirt. I've decided to make another Vogue 8426-inspired skirt.

When I came home later that day, I had this given to me.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="450" caption="My Little Wyld Man's card for me"][/caption]

He'd even signed it!

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="450" caption="Signed by William"][/caption]

Isn't it the cutest little scribble ever?

And this was his and daddy's present to me.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="450" caption="365 Day Cookbook"][/caption]

A friend on Facebook reminded me of how blessed I was to have my very own knight and prince.*Sigh*. Happy.

A Wedding Anniversary

One year. That's how long we've been married last Sunday. On Sunday last year was the last day of autumn and the happiest day of my life. It had rained all week but on the Saturday we were married on May 30th 2009, it was a beautiful day with piercing blue skies and light breezes. We were married at St Laurence's Catholic Church at a Solemn High Mass with three priests.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="486" caption="Virgil of Pentecost -Solemn High Mass"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="680" caption="Me paying very close attention."][/caption]

Or so it seems. Actually, I recall being rather distracted.

I loved my wedding dress. It was custom made for me, and I picked the pink and silver threads for the embroidery. The bodice was laced up and it cinches the waist beautifully-as well as not needing any adjustments for any fluctuations of weight. I made the veil out of tulle and sprinkled pearls randomly through it. If anyone wants to order a custom made dress in any design, I can get one for the price of a rental. Just email me.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="485" caption="My family"][/caption]

They flew all the way from Malaysia and arrived the day before. I've never seen my brothers in suits...I don't know if I ever will again...

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="All the siblings."][/caption]

After the ceremony, we left for a few select locations for a bridal photo shoot. Nothing staged in a studio for me.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="424" caption="Montefiore Hill"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="483" caption="The cloisters at Adelaide University"][/caption]

I thought our photographer did a great job. I don't think the photos were touched up too much, yet they turned out really well.

Photos by Ricky of CTR Photos, flowers by Donna Lovell, menswear by Ferrari Brothers.

Sigh. Well, that was a year ago. I love reliving it though. Everything went without a hitch. It was just such a beautiful day.

On Saturday we celebrated with a simple dinner at home with the family.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="450" caption="One year later-Our budding family"][/caption]

The Little Wyld Man is 3 and a half months old now. He's cooing and gurgling all the time and likes to talk back! He's developing motor skills and tries to touch things with his hands-although he's not quite there yet. He recognises a smile and will smile back at you when you smile at him. And his cheeks! They jiggle when you pat his back to burp him, they're that chubby! He's just so beautiful.

Here's the Little Wyld Man and his grandma.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="301" caption="Gwemma and the Little Wyld Man"][/caption]

That cake was the top tier of our wedding cake. My lovely mother in law made it and had it iced by a very talented cake lady. Here's a closeup.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="450" caption="The Wedding Cake"][/caption]

There were three tiers. One tier was used at the wedding. One at the Little Wyld Man's christening, and now the last one for our anniversary. It had been staying in the freezer for all that time, but it tasted lovely and just as fresh as when it was first made.

I cooked Corn Soup, JFC, Pork and Pumpkin, and Cream Chicken and Vegies. JFC stands for Joyce's Fried Chicken, and was so named by the Wyld Man's younger brother-he raves about it-and it's pretty yummy, if I do say so myself. I'll post the recipe up sometime.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="301" caption="A simple dinner"][/caption]

It's been a womderful year, and here's to many more to come.

Grandma's 80th Birthday

Yesterday we celebrated Grandma's 80th birthday.The whole thing had been in the works for 2 months. We wanted Grandma to have a really posh birthday party. She had asked that we go to one particular restaurant, but we thought it wasn't nice enough for her birthday-everyone thought she'd like to go to the Naval and Military Club where Grandpa had his 80th 2 years ago (and also where Wyld Man and I had our wedding reception.)  The Club is a very classy establishment and men are required to wear a jacket and tie to enter. We had to keep mum about it-didn't even tell Grandpa for fear that he might let slip. We did tell him to wear a jacket and tie-although when he did, we were afraid that Grandma might figure it out where we were going. We also had another surprise for grandma-Uncle David had arranged for a stretch limo to pick us up-she thought it was going to be an ordinary cab.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Family photo in front of the stretch limo"][/caption]

Here's what it looks like inside.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="A bar and dvd player"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="People living it up"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Grandma and Grandpa"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Wyld Man and me"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Wyld Man and his brother"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Another look at the limo"][/caption]

We rode in the limo for an hour around the city and really enjoyed it.  We arrived at the Club at 7pm.

We had a private room all ro ourselves.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="The Colonel Downes Room"][/caption]

The boys wanted to play a round of snooker before ordering though...so us ladies had to wait. A loooong time. I don't think they knew what they were doing.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Playing snooker."][/caption]

We finally got to order at 830pm.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Marron and King Prawns."][/caption]

I had marron and king prawns in garlic butter as an entree-marron being a crablike crustacian, but more meaty that crab. It was delicious.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Butter Chicken"][/caption]

For mains I had the special, Butter Chicken. I love anything that comes with rice.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="We brought the cake out and sang Happy Birthday to Grandma."][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="A group picture before we wrapped up the evening."][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="321" caption="And of course, a picture of me and Wyld Man"][/caption]

Baby Shower

A few weeks ago, a friend offered to host a baby shower for me. Sharon had my write out a list of friends I wanted to invite, and a list of items I need for the little Wyld one. The baby shower happened yesterday and we had loads of fun!

I woke up late yesterday-nearly 11.30am-I've been feeling my pregnancy symptoms more and more-swelling in my feet and hands, tiredness and general malaise.  I'd gone to the midwife earlier this week and had no symptoms then and I thought I had escaped it. Seems like I spoke too soon. Anyways, I woke up late and realised that I had nothing prepared! The house had not been cleaned, the carrot and celery sticks I had intended to serve had not been cut, things were still strewn around in the lounge and kitchen, the dishes were not done, we hadn't had lunch, and the nursery was not fit to be seen and the baby shower was supposed to start at 2!

So I went into a frenzy of preparation to get things ready.  Wyld Man helped me loads. He had planned to scoot off with his brother to a brew shop to spend his voucher (which I had given to him as a Christmas present-what was I thinking? More booze!), but he stayed to help me get ready-like the darling he is.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="425" caption="Darling husband before he escaped the hoards of females for some male-bonding time with his brother."][/caption]

I was undecided as to what to wear-mum had sent me some lovely summer shirred skirts that doubled with a dress, and I had previously thought to wear it with a little crochet shrug, but then I decided to wear my newly sewn denim maternity skirt and broderie smock top with a velvet ribbon. (G0t that top from a Salvos op shop at Goodwood Road-love it!)

My lovely hostess, Sharon, arrived early to help me set up.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Hey Sharon! "][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Sharon baked the colourful muffins!"][/caption]

So did my wonderful in-laws. Grandma and Carol brought more food! Phew-I had only prepared carrot and celery sticks and a dip. Thank goodness for them!

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Taking a rest after doing all the things to help me set up."][/caption]

Then the other ladies arrived.



We played some games that Sharon organized. First we had a list game-we made a list of all the baby things we could think of-the one who thought of the most items won. Bethany won hands down with 47 items in 4 minutes. She had things like colic powder and lavender oil, things I had no idea a baby would need-but she has 5 younger brothers and sisters, so she would know.

Second game we had was to make a list of words starting with all the letters in my and Wyld Man's name- and those who had the most number of same words that I thought of wins. The words could be anything baby related-but I had baby THINGS on my mind, so my list was rather noun oriented. I wrote:

J: Joy-others wrote  jumpsuit, jumping jack

O: Onesies-others wrote Ogling baby, Obstetrician

Y: hmm...can't remember what I wrote for this one. Others wrote Yelling (baby), Youth

C: Cot. Others wrote Cotton Buds

E: Elephant softie. Others wrote earache.

D: Dummy

A:  ....I've forgotten what I wrote. Pregnancy does that to you.

M: ...

I: Ipecac.  Somebody said yuck when they heard this one.

A: Apply Puree.

N: Nappy.

Everybody took a break from games and I opened my presents.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Baby basket with bath stuff from from Grandma."][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Baby fleece jumpuit from Carol."][/caption]

Next game up was nursery rhymes. I started with Sing a Song of Sixpence. Then everybody had a go-Mary Had a Little Lamb, Humpty Dumpty, Jack and Jill, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star... We had fun singing.

We had a group photo before we wrapped up things.



Nina took this photo, so she is in the next one.



Sharon had also prepared door gifts for the ladies to take some-chocolate! Always a winner.

I had good time arranging my baby shower gifts today in the nursery.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Piles of baby things to sort out."][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Sharon's gift basket with safety plugs and snack cups and bottle brushes for me."][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Grandma's gift. That basket will be getting lots of use as a baby bath things basket to keep next to the bath tub."][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="I got muslin wraps and squares, baby onesies and jumpsuits, a baby album, a nursing cover..."][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Baby singlet-I can't get over how tiny it is!"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="I got lots and lots of bibs. I'll never run out of bibs. Ever."][/caption]

One of the ladies sewed me a Winnie the Pooh floor blanket, and I also got a beautiful luxury blanket for the cot. Other things I got were organic cotton blanket, fleece blanket, Neways Generations  Baby Lotion and Body Wash.  I have some lovely friends and family!

And today at church, a lovely old lady gave me her grandson's clothes-some of which are brandnew. She also gave me some cot sheets and bassinet sheets, as well as a lovely 50-year-old Italian-made shawl in near perfect condition.

I'm so grateful.