Harry Potter Nights: Butter Beer Recipe (Two Ways!)

Posted on by

Super easy butter beer

Potterheads- I know you’re out there…’cause when I posted about my schweet HP satchel from the UK on instastories, you all wanted in on that! And I love that. But its also no surprise, because WHO doesn’t love Potter, right? Well, this one is just for you…

So, long time readers would know how big we go on all holidays, and just how much of a nut I am about Halloween, and all about our Annual Halloween Bash we host. You’d also know I’ve been wanting to throw a Harry Potter themed since 2015, but each year something has come up. This year, a little surpise pregnancy has definitely thrown a spanner in those plans. But what I’ve discovered since last year’s Potter night (see here), is that whilst it may not be this massive bash with props, frills and spills I had envisioned, it was still very well received.

We spent a lot time last year trying to get the Butter beer recipe just right for our shenanigans. The girls even tried using their Continue reading →

Baby Number 4’s Gender Reveal: Let’s Do This!

Posted on by


OK, fine…So, yes…we’re doing it! Round four and we’re finding out if it’s a girl or boy…I know we shared with you that it was still up in the air at the beginning of the week, but in a follow-up to my last post about this baba’s gender and where I was on it all, we decided we’re doing it…

I want to say the kids pressured us into it…but not really. I mean, they were the initial reason for us even thinking to ask the technician to write down the gender for us. But I think it was more that Mike cracked a bit – even though he totally denies that! 🙂 And then I kind of got swept up also in the excitement of it all. Seriously, our kids are SO contagious with the excitement!

And then even so, even with me being on board with it, and saying yes to it all again…you wouldn’t believe how Continue reading →

Yuriko-Mae’s Birth Story Part II: The Midwife, The Doorbell & The Cable Guy

Posted on by

So in the last post, I shared just how excited our whole home was for baby girl started making some rumblings…keeping us all on our toes as to whether she was coming that day or not. And all about how nadly we were actually caught with our pants down this time, as she was coming MUCH earlier than the others. (37 weeks), but also how it was all just working out for us beautifully. SO much faith, laughing at ourselves and enjoying the unfolding…if you haven’t read that post yet, first go catch up over there, then come back here! 😉

Warning, this is a super long post…with lots of photographs! It’s the story about our third child, our little Rainbow Baby’s coming into our world, and how her arrival touched us in ways beyond what we were prepared for. I suspect I will not accurately be able to ever convey those emotions in words to another..No canvas broad or bright enough to contain it. Nor do I think those words even exist…To tell how it shook me to my core, and filled me up…expanded me in ways that only love could as it pours all of itself into your soul. But here’s her birth story anyway. And is more for me to remember all the details than anything else…but I hope you enjoy it too!X

Sunday night, into Monday’s light…

Yeah, so sleep came easily that Sunday night…but as things go, when it’s all dark, and comfy, and you’re feeling good…it’s the trifactor of stars aligning in the birthing world: you’re essentially ripe for Continue reading →

So, Are You Going To Find Out The Gender this Time?!

Posted on by


If there has ever been a question we’ve been asked the most about this pregnancy – aside from, “are you SURE it’s not twins?”, it would have to be, are you going to find about the gender with this one? And I get it, we have three girls..somehow everyone assumes that we must somehow on some level be HOPING for a boy… So they assume that we must be on edge about finding out. And also with us, you never know how we will roll – because we’ve done the waiting till birth (Parker-Grace), finding out as soon as possible (Morgan-Lee) because Dad just couldn’t take the suspense, and we’ve also done the whole gender reveal (Yuriko-Mae). So we’ve done the full gamut of “gender experiences” as such.

And I’ve got to say the best for me was waiting till birth. There is nothing like it. Nothing. And what was more, was that the midwife left it up to me to find out the gender, she immediately passed Parker to me to discover it for myself. And I was actually Continue reading →

20+ Ways to Keep Halloween Fun Going All Month Long

Posted on by


Welcome to October, folks! Not only are we in the thick of my favourite part of the year, a season of gathering and celebrating, but we are also right smack bang at the start of one of my most beloved “holidays” of fun: Halloween!
But that’s old news to my regular readers…

Also if you haven’t noticed yet, I love a good countdown calendar aka Seasonal bucket-list for special holidays or even mere themes that the kids may be enjoying at the time. Eg. When I first started out blogging I shared with you our Dinosaur themed activity list that the kids and I ticked off for a month. They were still young ( 1 and 3 years old) when I first introduced it to them, but they freakin LOVED it. (They clearly take after their mama). So I knew I could kick off other little countdown activity based calendars for them in other areas.

And don’t get me started on Christmas! The kids and I have a special count down calendar I put up every single year that gets us all excited about the little Chrismassy things we plan to do, that we treat as treasures, and have become a much anticipated annual ritual…This of course is something that Continue reading →

Our Halloween Book List – 2018

Posted on by


Ghoul afternoon, my lovelies (muhahahahaha…)….yes, I totally hit you with the Halloween cheese straight off the bat…and it’s not even October….Sue Boo me! All I’m saying, you’ll have to get used it real quick, ’cause when October hits I turn into a full blown Halloween dork…snorts and all.

Now, whilst I am breaking every Halloween dork blog covenant here (that I just made up) by breaking the blog seal by posting something spookalicious a whole FOUR days early! Gasp! (They’ll have my head for that!) But the truth is, I actually wanted to Continue reading →

Yuriko-Mae’s Home Birth Story: Part I (Third Babies are WildCards!)

Posted on by


[EDIT: Part II (the finale) link has been added at the end]
Guys, where to begin? I mean, yeah sure from the beginning, but the the problem is: Just where is the beginning of it all?..Because all the different parts leading up to this birth is what really brings the charm to it all, you know?

First up, maybe you don’t remember, but guys, I was having nightmares about not being prepared for this birth…and not like psychologically prepped – ’cause ya’ll know my deal with birth and how I look forward to it as a time of celebration and joy. So, no, I’m talking logistically prepared here – we were planning a home birth, but all we had done really in terms of planning (at about 3 days before the birth) was just Continue reading →

Winner of Our Sweet Pure Beginnings Giveaway

Posted on by


[UPDATE: NEW WINNER ANNOUNCED DUE TO PREVIOUS WINNER NOT CLAIMING PRIZE WITHIN STIPULATED TIMEFRAME]
You all breathing a sigh of relief with me as the school closes today? Not that the pressure is ever off for one, as a parent, but there’s just something so wonderfully relieving and celebratory about the end of a school term. Right? And what better way to kick off the school holidays than with announcing the winner of our Pure Beginnings Hamper?!

So, firstly thank you to all of you who entered. If you weren’t the lucky one today, trust me, there’s Continue reading →

Easy, Convenient & Delicious Snack Ideas :Rocking this Last Week of School!

Posted on by

…And when these snacks are sugar-free, gluten free, dairy free, and yet still crammed full of taste that kids (and adults) go gaga for…it’s an even a better idea!!! Kiddylicious makes it that you just can’t lose.

Now, folks, we’ve entered into the last week of school… and whilst I’ve not covered myself in much glory with the whole school lunches thing in the past, I have to say that I do start off strong. Every term. I go in gung-ho every damn time with visions of cookie-cutter sarmies, and matchy-matchy silicone cupcake molds that house only healthy wholesome snacks. But that soon dwindles the first week into school, till eventually I’m not even Continue reading →

Follow

Get the latest posts delivered to your mailbox: