Mother's Day idea

This year is flying by faster than a ripe tomato at a bad show! Would you believe Mother's Day is just around the corner!? If your mum is anything like mine, coming up with a winning gift idea is more than an evenings work. I know the gifts she treasures most (like most mums) are the ones I didn't "buy" - you know, I either made her something, or the boys did her a special painting, or perhaps I wrote something long and sentimental in a homemade card.... Well, I've found the perfect thing for those types! A telegram!

Perfect right? Old fashioned, personal, steeped in memorabillia... But how? I hear you ask? Well, there's a website (isn't there always a website?) called Telegram Stop that specialises in sending old fashioned messages with "STOP"'s and all! For only a few hard earned clams you can send a message that looks like this...

Now all you need to do is think of something memorable to say!

Christmas wrap mood board inspiration

Perhaps this may seem a little premature? But this is what I do every year. Come October I'm all about Christmas. I start planning who I'm buying for, what I'll give them and how everything will be wrapped. Sounds organised doesn't it? Well, the pattern goes something like this... by mid december it all unravels - nothing's finished, I have loads to do and nothing ends up as great as I had planned. But now I'm onto myself! This year will be different! They say the first step to breaking the cycle is recognising the cycle - or something like that? So here I go, christmas wrapping mood board... And I won't stop planning this perfect christmas until it's done done done!

The paper.

Just $14.95 at InkyCo for a 10 metre roll! 

These two are both in a lovely avocado green and the typo one is silver as well - very christmas.

One of each please! And a roll of plain white gloss in case I run out...

The ribbon. 

For ribbon, the best online prices I've found so are at Ribbons Galore. But these are the types I think will look best with the wrapping paper and these ones are also available from InkyCo (I love the combination packages! So easy!). What do you think?

Lego men that draw!

Okay, so they don't actually draw - but you can draw with them! Would you believe these perfect little lego replicas are crayons?! They probably wouldn't hurt as much if you trod on one either!

Via

If I was the tooth fairy...

...I'd have a kit just like this one from Papermash for all the kids I visited. It comes with a personalised certificate to keep track of teeth lost as well as an "official" envelope to hold the precious tooth, and it is all delivered in a gorgeous drawstring bag. Each certificate is hand-letterpressed and carries the Tooth Fairy Seal. Papermash do ship to Australia and these go for around $28 delivered to your door depending on the exchange rates on the day.

Noosh: Now available at Lilly & Lolly store in Sydney!

From today, Sydneysiders can get a shopping fix of their favourite kids decor brands together in one concept store! That's right! Lilly & Lolly have officially opened their doors at the deliciously designer PYD Building in Waterloo - and let me tell you - it's just divine. L&L's Ashling and Megan have outdone themselves - the store looks incredible.  But the most exciting part for us Nooshies is that L&L called us to ask if they could stock Noosh! Take a look!

Noosh Benny KnickerStickers (top right), Noosh Poppy Teardrops (bottom right)

Noosh Gigi Alphabet (top right), Noosh Frankie Sofas (above)

...and more Noosh Gigi Alphabet 

Another way to save your kids artwork

If the Art Eater idea from Kids in Print didn't tickle your fancy as ways to preserve your children's artworks, maybe this one will hit the spot? Now, thanks to Formia Design you can have that delightful portrait made into a unique piece of jewellery! Too cute! They make pendants, necklaces, key chains and even bookmarks out of sterling silver based on the drawing you submit! I know! Right? The prices aren't ridiculous either. Not any more than I would expect to pay for any custom designed piece really - starting at around $125US for a small pendant and going up to $500 for the whole family's portraits (3 pieces)...  I'd love one of these!

Via 

Shop lust: Pip Studio - Amsterdam

I have just stumbled upon the most divine website. No truly. You NEED to see this. Even the site design is gorgeous... It's called PIP Studio and let's just say, Pip has great taste. She is the creative brains behind all of the Studio designs, which range from wallpaper to handbags and teacups to towels. Here's a small serving of the range...

Aren't they stunning? They make me want to invite all my girlfriends around for a tea party!

Pearl and lace wallpaper. (If I only had a girl!) Check out the detail below...

Have you ever lusted for a bath towel? I hadn't... till now.

And there's loads more where this came from. Get thyself to the store and see for yourself. All prices are in Euros which works out quite well for us at the moment and shipping is reasonable if you buy a couple of things... Hmmm, but how to decide which couple of things?

Found it via Canelle et Vanille

FREE printable christmas tags!

Firstly I have to share with you a blog I've been meaning to tell you about - Creature Comforts. So many beautiful things! But don't go there yet... I have something lovely for you - and it's free!

Camilla Engman free printable gift tags! That's right - no cost! Nudda. Just download and print! And they are cute cute cute! Camilla is an incredibly talented Swedish artist. You might have seen her work - she's been commissioned by Google, Converse and the New York Times to name a few...

Oh, you might also like the gift tags she did for 2006 and 2007

Found it via Creature Comforts

Make it: Best Rocky Road EVER!!!

This Rocky Road needs to be tasted to be believed... It's great this time of year because it's SOOOOO super easy to knock together, the kids can help, it tastes divine and when it's wrapped in cellophane it makes a great little gift for teachers and work colleagues...

You'll need: 

*Cooking chocolate - I used two and a half blocks for this one and the half block was dark chocolate that happened to be in the cupboard. You can use normal chocolate if you prefer but I find the Nestle Plainstow cooking chocolate tastes great for this recipe. 

*Marshmallows - for this amount of chocolate you'll need around 300g

*Jelly lollies - I like to use the Natural Confectionery company Snakes. They need to be cut into small pieces and snakes are easy to cut up with a pair of scissors.

*Desicated coconut - about a cup

* Rice bubbles - about one and half cups

1. Melt your chocolate in a glass bowl over a pot of boiling water. Remember chocolate and water aren't friends so be careful not to get any water in your chocolate or there'll be no rocky road for you!

2. Once your chocolate is completely melted let it sit for a couple of minutes to cool slightly before adding all of your ingredients otherwise they'll all melt in the heat of your chocolate.

3. Add the coconut and snakes first and mix through.

4. Now add your rice bubbles and marshmallows last. Mix until all ingredients are coated in chocolate and well combined.

5. Pour the mixture into a pre-prepared pan (a lamington tin or roasting dish is perfect) lined with baking paper. Level out and make sure there are no huge holes and it's all filled fairly evenly, then refrigerate.

6. Using a sharp knife (this will work best if you dip the knife in hot water before you make each cut as it will prevent too much crumbling and waste - you don't want to waste any of this baby...) 

Note: The quantities are all fairly negotiable - if you hate jellies - leave them out! Or you can add something else you think might be good in the mix... As long as you melt enough chocolate to cover all the ingredients and everything sticks together you're onto a winner.

All that's left to do is eat it! 

Baking fetish anyone?

The ultimate gift for the baker in your life. This one is available through Bake It Pretty (a US site, so might be cutting it a bit fine for christmas now...) but what a great idea! You could easily put something similar together yourself with a bit of careful selection in the baking aisle - and it's a quirky cost effective gift solution for those people who can be tricky to buy for...

Etsy's best! Lovely Lockets

Is it just me or do you end up buying things for yourself when you're supposed to be christmas shopping? I was snooping around the A Cup of Jo blog this morning when I saw this...

...and I have to say, she quite literally took my breath away. She's designed by Alyson Fox, her name is Colour Study and you can buy her here at Verabel's etsy store. It is possible that Hugh's rainbow fetish is rubbing off on me but hello!? Isn't she beautiful? I thought so - and yep - I bought her. Noosh-daddy is soooo busy at work I thought I'd be helping him out... 

You need to hop on over to Etsy and ogle these beauties... 

amelia inspired locket

filigree rose locket

bird lariat

the orb

If you still need more persuasion, the prices on these are really reasonable, and with the exchange rate being soooo kind at the moment.... Go on! Go!!!!