mumma love...

a big happy mothers day to all mummas, nanas, and dads doing it on their own for last weekend.  my day started with the little lady crawling into bed to tell me she loved me and having snuggly, under doona, cuddles with my 2 favourite people (all while my 3rd favourite wriggled away in my belly not wanting to be left out!).  i treated myself to my favourite breakfast - yes, even though i cooked it myself! - and baked a yummy spinach pie to take up to my parents for lunch.

the little lady had her first ever solo sleepover at her nana and grandads while husband and i heading into the city for the night for an actual (gasp!) grown up date night.  we stayed at the adina apartments with fantastic city views and a buffet breakfast that had me going back for thirds (or possibly fourths - c'mon, it's a buffet!!!).  we headed into the emporium for one of my favourite dinners at mecca bah, and of course had to follow it up with a freestyle dessert and coffees.

the next morning involved a much anticipated stop at woolloongabba antiques which left me jumping up and down and squealing with delight.  from industrial furnishings, eames, vintage crates, textiles and knick knacks aplenty, it was a tiny piece of monday morning paradise.  no treasures were bought this time, but i left with a few new things on my lust-list and plenty of inspiration.  i did manage to snaffle this sweet vintage bedlinen from a local thrift shop before we headed back with lots of cuddles (and a cupcake) for our gorgeous girl.

i hope you're weekend was as lovely as mine, spent with loved ones and remembering those special to us that we couldn't be near x

turning 3...

a fortnight ago my baby girl turned 3 *sniff*, she is growing up so fast and is such an amazing and captivating little person.  at the moment she loves making up stories and songs, and making a big production out of delivering them, playing shopkeeper 'excuse me ma'am, whatchu want??', and listening to titanium over and over whilst belting out the chorus as loud as she can.  she tells me we will be best friends for 'all days' and i could not love her any more for it.

we also recently went public with the news that she will be big sister in august and she is so chuffed!  today she kissed my tummy and proclaimed 'we all love you so much, baby!'. cue the waterworks, right there.  it's not just mothers love talking, i swear...this kid is something special.

i asked her if she wanted a theme for her birthday and she said 'pink'.  phew.  pink i can do, as we've done it before and it's so easy to just throw everything together in my usual last minute style.  i bought the cute polka dot balloons and martha-esque tissue paper pom poms from the $2 shop, as well as paper gelati cups (used for popcorn portions) and pink and white striped paper straws.  there is some good party stuff to be had in those discount stores nowadays!  the white tulle pom poms i made years ago and get a lot of use - i've since found this super easy tute on youtube, which is so much quicker than the cardboard donut i used to make mine!

she thinks birthdays are all about cupcakes so i thought i'd make her a giant cupcake cake, using a $4 cake mould from Kmart.  *baking tip* cook each half of the mould separately as they are different volumes and don't cook evenly!  a friend passed this onto me and i'm so glad they did.  the cake turned out well and i tried a rather poor effort of ombre piped icing, which in all honestly was really just two-toned.  oops.  it looked super pretty though and the little lady loved it.

i am so much in love with my little family and can't wait to see what adventures are in store for us when our new addition joins us in a few seemingly short months...and getting the chance to celebrate all these birthdays all over again!

xx

hot cross buns + free warm fuzzies...

when i was contacted by bakers delight, i thought...how did they find me?  did they know about my weakness for their scrummy finger buns? (for what it's worth, i'm strictly a white icing and sprinkles kind of a girl).

whatever the reason, when they approached me about helping spread the word about the upcoming bundraiser day, i was only to happy to jump on board.  every year $1 from every 6 pack of hot cross buns sold on bundraiser day, saturday 16th march, gets donated to childrens hospitals around australia and new zealand.  last year $105,000 was donated to help purchase much needed medical equipment, and this year they're aiming for $130,000.  and all you have to do it consume delicious easter bun goodness!

i did so with gusto, along with two enthusiastic helpers - the husband and miss almost-3.  we also all did something for the very first time - tried the choc chip buns!  i was rather taken with them, they still taste like a 'normal' hot cross bun, without the fruity bits, and with a subtle chocolate addition.  crazy delicious!  i went back for seconds (*ahem* thirds) while husband decided he was a traditionalist and scoffed the fruit buns.

we loved them and will definitely be going back for more on bundraiser day, and for easter too.  do yourselves a favour and pop to your local for a yummy helping on saturday 16 march - free warm fuzzies for helping charity too!

* hot cross bun tip - a wise lady taught me how to ensure a delicious, butter-to-bun-ratio, way to eat fresh buns - instead of usually slicing them in half and putting on a slathering of butter to ensure the perfect balance, slice them into 3! yep, you heard me, 3 slices, butter each slice lightly, and sandwich them back together.  honestly, is that not the smartest thing you've ever heard?!  try it!

how do you eat your hot cross buns?  fresh? toasted? with slatherings of butter, jam or something kooky?

xx

a sleepy weekend...

or, as it will always be known, the weekend of the lizard.  if you've been with me for awhile you may know of my debilitating fear of these creepy nightmare inducing reptiles.  so when a 1 metre goanna showed up the yard of the holiday house we were staying in one of our favourite sleepy little towns, you can imagine the therapy i'll be needing for years to come.  special mention and thanks to my husband who tried to distract me by shaking a packet of salt and vinegar chips under my nose, the way one shakes a set of keys at a crying baby, or a bone at a dog.  but i digress.

the weekend was otherwise lovely, despite the rain, which actually provided the perfect opportunity for magazine catch ups, copious amounts of chai and basically doing not very much at all.

holiday home loveliness.

it only took a small amount of convincing for my lovely husband to detour home through one of my favourite towns, bangalow, for visits through the awesomeness that is heaths old wares, and lazybones (ps. they're having a sale, people!), amongst the other gorgeous antiques, boutiques, opshops and cafes on offer.  this is one of the prettiest areas around and makes me want to pick up and escape to the country.  there aren't lizards in the country, right??

teacup flowers and mossy place settings at lazybones, retro lamp lust, and beautiful byron shire.

where do you like to escape? xx

from madeit with love...

recently the handmade  and madeit community lost a talented lady in tragic circumstances.  this wednesday 13th february sees the start of from madeit with love - a fundraising event for the Boorer family by fellow madeit sellers.  designers will be listing special items to purchase through their individual stores, with 100% of the sale going directly to the central church ipswich Boorer family support fund.

tea for evie is selling this one of a kind reversible market tote bag, please check in on Facebook for more details or pop into the tea for evie store from wednesday night.

my thoughts go out to tammy's husband, children, family and friends x

welcome 2013...

i'm back!  from a lovely, impromptu, extended break that was much needed after christmas to spend time with my little family, regroup and start focusing on what i wanted to achieve this year, both at home and within tea for evie.  there is going to be lots happening and i'm soooo excited!

i've started working on the new collection and i'm so pleased.  i've gone to my happy colours for inspiration and am drafting some new patterns, as well as tweaking a few favourites.  it's bright and fun and will be hitting the store next month!

i hope everyone has had a safe australia day long weekend.  all thoughts to those of you battling wild weather during this time.  we have been hit with wild winds and rain here on the coast, but are very blessed with our dry, safe home.  if you would like to help those who haven't been as fortunate, you can donate to the Australia Red Cross 2013 QLD Flood Appeal here.

xx

the best things about christmas...

fairy lights. plums. present wrapping.  the best cookies you'll ever taste. christmas music. seriously.  finding the perfect gift.  watching carols. champagne for breakfast.  family. ferrero rochers.  ferrero rochers for breakfast.  watching people open their gifts.  secret santa.  homemade decorations.  christmas specials on tv.  those danish butter cookies in the tin.  kids santa requests.

i love everything about christmas.  and having a little person in my life has completely reignited the excitement and spark in the holiday season.  christmas eve spent with my family is still full of the magic i felt as a kid and it's so beautiful to watch the magic grow in our children.  i hope your christmas is spent with those you love and is safe, joyous and merry.

happy holidays,

Be x