Christmas Eve: when things don’t go the way you planned

Posted on December 29, 2015 by mommabeartrax

What a day it was. Christmas, that is. It always is, isn’t it!? In fact, Im still recovering from it, so much so I haven’t even gone through any of the day’s pix yet – I know, right?! THAT never happens! So, while I’m still recovering and preparing for our big family reunion, let me share a bit of our Christmas eve with you instead:

“Its, ok, its still going to turn out great!” That was me on repeat to my mom, as each little thing she attempted to make on Christmas eve was “flopping”. Which was quite odd actually, since my mom was the one who taught me about silver linings and not sweating the small stuff.

Christmas was at her’s this year, so as the host she was in the thick of things to get it all Christmassy. And yet, she couldn’t find her Continue reading →

Easy home made gifts: Cranberry White Chocolate Cookies in a Jar

Posted on December 21, 2015 by mommabeartrax

[UPDATE: Amended the flour content to the recipe after three out of five attempts, I discovered the most reliable amount to use for best results.]
I had been wanting to try this idea out for some time now, and with the recent teacher gift season we just had, I thought would be a great reason to get cracking on it. I had also been hunting for jusssst the right recipe for some time now – brownies, cake-in-a-cup, etc., but then I realised I’m actually a bonafide cookie monster (seriously, you should see my posts on cookies already), so why not just stay true to myself and go with that.

Of course, if you throw in a big bag of Christmas, and my major weakness for it, I thought something cranberry-ish would be just the perfect compliment to the season itself. Therefore, Continue reading →

How to recreate the magic of North Pole Party

Posted on December 20, 2015 by mommabeartrax

The magic scroll from Father Christmas

If you haven’t yet read about our new Christmas family tradition, the North Pole Party, then may I suggest you check it out over here. (Warning: it’s magical!)

If you want to recreate some of that magic, I’ve put together a list of all the different facets we used here below: (For all pictures, please see the North Pole Party pix here.)

You certainly won’t need Continue reading →

One Night in the North Pole Party

Posted on December 17, 2015 by mommabeartrax

Fanning the flames of childhood wonder

The excitement was palpable that night. In fact, it had been building up through the whole week leading up to it. The air was thick with it! And I’m not even referring to the kids there – that’s just my sister-in-law and myself alone! We’re total and complete saps for such stuff- Team Sappy, that’s us. But oh, what night of magic and Continue reading →

Gorgeous baby & toddler goods at Leo & Lola Baby Boutique

Posted on December 15, 2015 by mommabeartrax

If you’re on the hunt for gorgeous little dresses, beautiful tiny shoes to cover those irresistable chubby baby feet, some organic baby toiletries , or even the cutest baby ones (cue major ovary aches), then look no further than the newly launched Leo & Lola Baby Boutique, out at the Palmyra Shopping centre in Claremont.

I was recently invited to their flagship store launch, where I met the lovely Continue reading →

Drunk on Christmas Spirit

Posted on December 10, 2015 by mommabeartrax

Oh me gosh!Can you feel it? I sure can! And if you walk into our home right now, you’d even be able to smell it too! What am I blubbering about? Christmas feels, of course!!! T’is the season indeed, and the Porter abode is alight with it! Actually, come to think of it, it’s literally alight with it.

That’s right, we got our shizz together this year, and actually had our lights up first weekend of December. Hot damn- that’s happened pretty much never before. We’re usually your 11th hour decorators, and compact all the magic of christmas into the week and a half leading up to Christmas, and then let it linger all the way till after the new year. (Because its far too much trouble to set it all up without getting your money’s worth out of it right?!) But this year? This year, just call us Mr. and Mrs. Claus, baby, ’cause we are totally ontop of it! (Although, I’m hoping the elves are going to work Continue reading →

My very own easy Gingerbread house recipe, a case of missing candy and free templates!

Posted on December 8, 2015 by mommabeartrax

[UPDATE 1: Ingredients list updated, accidental omission of one item- now rectified. Guess that’s what happens when you’re doing two things at once.]

You, guys!!!…I made my own Gingerbread house! From scratch! Like…wow! Ok, maybe not SO wow for you, but for me? It’s a big deal. Firstly, wow, because I never thought I’d be that person that would in fact bake a gingerbread house, secondly, to be so super proud of a tiny edible house(I mean, what’s up with that, right?)…And thirdly, because I don’t even LIKE gingerbread to begin with, and yet there I was mixing and whisking away!( as opposed to playing at the beach with my babies.) But it seems the Christmas cheer bug has bit me big time this year, so much so , I was practically Continue reading →

Being Interviewed by ‘Becoming You’ Online Mag: some fun honest ramblings

Posted on December 3, 2015 by mommabeartrax

Recently, I had the pleasure of being contacted by the lovely Kathryn, from the well-renowned online mag, Becoming You, which by the way, is an incredible space in the interwebs about everything from family to beauty. If you’re not already a fan of Becoming You, you simply have to go check out her space. She also does a weekly piece that features various bloggers – I love it- called “What I…“. And this week she just so happened to feature lil’ ol’ me!!!

It’s a fun little interview, that I totally Continue reading →

Home-made bubbles and bubble wands

Posted on December 1, 2015 by mommabeartrax

Summer is officially here…well, according to the seasonal calendar, at least. And I don’t know about you, but nothing says summer quite like watermelon, swimsuits, suntan oil and ….bubbles!

Yes, yes, bubbles are for all seasons…outdoor or indoor (if you don’t mind a bit of cleanup thereafter). But it really does for me! Longer days, and more time to play outside…and honestly, whats not fun about bubbles!? It’s an undeniable Continue reading →