Buddy, totally original right? But S loves Will Ferrell and the movie Elf so my suggestion of Twinkle got overridden pretty quickly.

We introduced Buddy last year when E was just 2 and lets just say, it was a good idea to start while he was young and not really all over it because it taught us we'd better lift our game for this year and make sure we're on the ball... panicked Elf placement while the other distracts the children is not going to cut it this year.

With this in mind, I've decided to get prepared, did some research and have come up with a list of placements and gimmicks for our Elf along with a purpose.

We love Christmas, like really really love Christmas - our tree has been up since the 8th of November! But the things we love most are the cheer, the giving and the spirit of the season more so than the presents and its really important to S and I that we teach the boys about this.
We want our boys to have a strong social conscience and be aware that while they are very blessed to be spoilt by those around them and want for nothing, others aren't so lucky and its important for them to do what they can to help others, especially at Christmastime.

We have a wooden Advent calendar of little boxes and a hanging fabric one so my plan this year is have Buddy make a big arrival and with him he'll bring a list of tasks for the boys to complete each day of December.
Once they complete Buddy's task, they can check the stocking and see if he's left a treat - a sticker, matchbox car, chocolate elf etc.


The tasks we have this year are:

1. Choose a Christmas book to give to the Wishing Tree
2. Bake and deliver treats to the local Police Station to thank them for looking after us
3. Leave a thank you card and gift to the garbage man for collecting our rubbish each week and always smiling and waving
4. Choose a gift for a little boy and for a daddy to leave at the Kmart Wishing Tree
5. Christmas cards for kindy friends
6. Bake and deliver treats to the local Ambulance station to thank them for looking after us
7. Choose 5 toys and books to donate to charity 
8. Choose and give gifts and thank you cards to kindy teachers for educating us
9. Visit Santa and have a family photo taken
10. Attend Christmas Carols with family
11. Make a donation of food/blankets & toys to the local RSPCA
12. Make & decorate a gingerbread house
13. Write a letter to Santa
14. Go to the park and pick up any rubbish to help keep our environment clean
15. Light candles and talk about great grandparents
16. Choose and take some non perishable food items to a local Christmas food drive
17. Make a list of 3 kind things to do for others before Christmas Day
18. Say good morning to everyone we see and wish them well
19. Visit local Christmas light displays
20. Leave a candy cane on 5 cars at the shopping centre
21. Give swimming coach a thank you letter and small gift
22. Take a cold drink to someone working in the hot sun
23. Donate some money box money to a charity at the shops
24. Buy a bunch of flowers and give them out to make people smile

And for Buddy's morning arrivals from the North Pole so far we have:

1. Decorate the boys' rooms with tinsel, swinging from the end of one piece in Cs room
2. Riding in Mack Truck with snowman drink cups for the boys (from Kmart - $3 each)
3. Sleepover with the Ninja Turtles in Es socks
4. Swinging from the Christmas decorations
5. Popping out of the Christmas stocking that hangs on Es bedroom door - spoilt first child has 2 stockings
6. In the fridge drinking from the boys' milk
7. Riding a reindeer (decoration) on the shelf
8. In the Christmas lolly jar
9. Being eaten by a toy shark
10. Riding the boys' toy train with the animals
11. Camping out in the mini teepee with the Dino Train crew
12. Taking selfies with the Toy Story camera & Toy Story crew
13. Making a snow angel with 100s & 1000s
14. Reading a book in Cs reading corner
15. Colouring in a colour book with crayons
16. Flying with Toothless the dragon
17. Tea party/picnic with Olaf
18. With a rolled up Christmas scavenger hunt for E

and I have to come up with a few more in the coming days. Any ideas or suggestions?

Little early to be posting about Christmas you say? Not really given it's less than 22 weeks away until Christmas Eve and the toy sales are already well underway if not almost over. If you're a long time reader here, you also know that I'm big on lists and organisations so I like to get a jump on Christmas and add slowly over a few months than suffer the mad last minute scramble.

Does anyone else have a heck of a time trying to find the perfect Christmas gift for their parents and inlaws? It's never so much about the money for us (although I always have a budget), it's more about finding the perfect gift that tells them just how much we love and appreciate them both now and always.

I usually keep a running list of  gift ideas for everyone eg. My go to for mum is theatre tickets and Swarovski ornaments but sometimes there is nothing showing and none of the crystal appeals. This year has been one of those years. Scott and I haven't had a single idea for our parents ... Until tonight! It all came to me while watching Scott cook dinner funnily enough.

I heard on the radio today (between wiggles CDs) that Dragon were on tour and scheduled to play the Gold COast in 2014 ... You know, the 1980's band that sung 'Young Years' ... Which is also one of my dad and my all time favourite songs. Dad and I share a big love of music, especially all things 80s and have been to many a concert together including The Eagles and Richard Marx to give you an idea so Dragon tickets are completely perfect.

Consultation with my sister led us to deciding to organise a family sitting over our family holiday with a photographer mum loves for her gift. The photographer did my sister's wedding and niece's first pictures so we know his work well. She's been desperate for an entire family portrait, especially since the babies came along so she will love this. Pity the pictures will be out of date come May when B2 arrives but we can always just repeat next year.

The in-laws were proving impossible this year. Never easy to buy for at the best of times, they don't like clutter, have just returned from an OS holiday and have absolutely everything they need. We were tossing up books, box sets and not much else when my brainwave struck! I was thinking of an experience for them when I put two and two together and came up with a full day wine tour with lunch at our very own local wine country, Mount Tamborine. I did some research and found a great one that does pickup, drop off, 2 course lunch and 4 wineries. I can't believe I've never thought of this before as it's right up the ILs alley given they love wine, food, Mount Tamborine... It's perfect.

We are breathing a big sigh of relief tonight knowing that we really have completed all of our Christmas shopping.

How's your shopping going?

1. Make nuts and bolts - it's an Aussie thing involving nutri grain cereal and curry powder amongst other things.

E started daycare this year and has the most lovely educators. Even through drop-off tears he will still put his arms out for either of them which of course warms my heart.

So with Christmas coming quickly and my love for buying gifts, I have been on the hunt for the perfect gifts to say thank you to E's educators for taking such good care of my boy.

I just can't ever go passed Glasshouse candles and the Christmas scented 3 pack is ideal ... because there are 2 carers and 3 candles, I get a little gift too :)

As a first time mumma and with lots of friends with babies or having babies, my favourite gifts for Baby Showers are:






Books - We love anything by Mem Fox but our all time favourite is On The Night You Were Born

Sleep suits - woombies, love to swaddles or ergo pouches are a new mum's lifesaver

Toiletries - go with something natural where possible like Gaia, nappy rash cream like Desitin or Curash, baby oil, baby sun cream,

Toys - Lamaze or B. toys are our favourites

Boon products like their drying grass/garden are cute but very practical as are their feeding range of spoons, bowls, plates and sippy cups

Feeding products - babies start solids anywhere from 4 months and need a whole lot more gear to get going so things like little pots for freezing purees, smock bibs, little diner placemats, spoons, Inglesina chair

A lambskin - we use bub's under the fitted sheet in Winter and also on the floor all year round to sit/play/tummy time on

Clothes - my favourite to buy are Sooki Baby snapsuits otherwise singlets and undersuits are always appreciated. Knitted pieces like cardigans are also beautiful and appreciated.

Bright Starts Cart cover - you may laugh at first but this is ideal for shopping with bub once they can sit up and gives some padding and germ protection from supermarket trolleys. It also has little pockets to hide sultanas and dummies and keys plus loops to atatch toys so they don't get tossed to the ground every step

A bumbo or if putting in with a group, a jumperoo

A nappy pail with lid for soaking - one of the best gifts ever

Hooded towels and washers with embroidered names/animals/designs

A digital thermometer - we like the Braun one but I hear the touch one is good too

Nappies and wipes - you can never have too many but I recommend sticking with brands like Huggies Pure or naturals (my little boy got terrible rashes from any other)

A voucher to have hand/foot impressions or newborn photos done

A baby sling, ergo or bjorn

A highchair - the one from Mocka is the same design as the Stokke and Leander but less than half the price

A Gro Egg to act as both a nightlight and monitor room temperature - especially helpful in those early and uncertain days of how to dress bub appropriately

Gifts for mum - a Glasshouse candle, ABA membership/book, some lansinoh nipple cream and gel pads, nipple shields, a breastfeeding basket with healthy snacks magazines a journal and pen etc, a toiletries pack pjs or robe for hospital


What is the best gift you received and what is your go to gift for a new baby?

It was my birthday this week... another year passed already. Where do the years go?

As usual, S bought me the perfect gifts without a huge amount of guidance on my part. My wishlist was relatively vague including a new watch and a black leather bag. He surpassed all expectations with a beautiful Michael Kors rose gold watch and the Oroton Alpine Hobo. Both entirely practical and gorgeous. He also surprised me with a drinks urn he knew I had been mulling over to buy for awhile. He picked the perfect style and I can't wait to fill it with water, ice and fruit slices for hot Summer days and entertaining.






I had the pleasure of starting my day with my two boys and Ethan loved getting in on the gift giving and unwrapping. There was something so perfect about having him come running into the bedroom shouting 'mumma mumma mumma' with glee, arms outstretched with my birthday card. It reminded me how truly blessed I am.

Rather than head straight to the office, I attended a morning tea meeting with the Moncrieff women of the LNP at Evergreen where we had coffee and cake while discussing the latest news... a pretty fun way to start work really. When I finally did make it to the office, my very thoughtful boss and assistant had beautiful flowers and assortment of tarts and muffins to acknowledge my birthday and I got to leave a little early too and spend the afternoon with my boys before we headed out for Mexican with my family.

It was a wonderful birthday and I had a lovely day but like I said earlier, where do the years go? In some ways it feels like I was only celebrating my 23rd birthday a couple of years ago, not almost 10 and it reminds me, the days are long but the years are short so make the most of each minute.

With this in mind, I have a few things I want to do before my next birthday:

1. Be thankful - everyday write a list of 10 things in my life I am thankful for and take the time to reflect on those.
2. Take a family holiday - we have two booked already so this one is easy
3. Host a Halloween themed celebration - this is in the works so stay tuned
4. Spend the day at a spa with my mum and sister
5. Have a proper date night every fortnight with Scott 
6. Broaden my cooking horizons by trying one new recipe each week - I used to be good at this but have stuck to what I know the past year
7. Make time to exercise and make healthier food choices
8. Keep striving to be the best wife and mumma possible
9. Go to bed earlier
10. Have baby #2 God willing
11. Challenge myself ... with a new hobby or interest, study ... I'm not quite sure how what or where, this is something to work on
12. Declutter my life in ever area and surround myself with only that which I need or makes me happy

I know, when did the festive season go and sneak up n us like that?

Thankfully, I've done it again ... completed my Christmas shopping for E and the nieces already - and its only September! I'm on a roll from last year I guess and its so nice to have it out of the way which leaves only my parents, Scott and his parents to buy for - talk about easy!

E is getting so far ... I say so far as Scott is a notorious Christmas shopper and keeps going right up till Christmas eve:




The table and chair set is practical as he will be at about the age to sit at his own little table for drawing and eating come Christmas while the Little People set he has is a hit now and I think will be more so at 18 months. The Fridge Phonics set is a great learning toy that goes on the fridge and helps with alphabet and letter sounds - unfortunately Leap Frog have discontinued the set but I picked this one up new in the box on eBay. Scott is obsessed with being able to 'shoot hoops' with E as he gets bigger so tells me the Little Tikes hoop is a necessity. E loves music and instruments so the B. Parum drum/instrument set is going to be a big hit with him I know for sure. The books are all Mem Fox because let's face it, she has some wonderful stories with great sentiment that we can read over and over. The only left to add is some fun pieces for his stocking as far as I'm concerned - what are some good options on this for an 18 month old? I am liking the idea of a children's electric toothbrush... thoughts?

Gifts for the nieces - I won't tell you who is getting what to keep some mystery in case anyone stumbles across this:




These are the main gifts for the girls but no doubt I will come across a few odds and ends between now and Christmas to add to the lot... things like DVDs, books and stocking stuffers.