Tuna Nicoise

After having a baby you have a heck of a lot less time to go out for dinner, or make a really lovely one at home. Sad but true. However, when you do have a chance to make something truly delicious and spend some quality time with your loved one you enjoy it so much more, so I think that balances it out a bit.

 

We don't tend to eat a whole lot of meat around here these days, but fish? Now that's a whole other story. I have actually woken up craving tuna and salad in the morning?? Most definitely not a breakfast food! (I am somewhat a stickler for appropriate times that things should be eaten) And no, I am most definitely NOT pregnant, but this whole healthy eating thing is making me want weird things.

 

When I was out at the Redliffe Sails restaurant with Cassie the other day I had tuna nicoise (said like: knee-swa) and it was oh so delicious that I knew I had to make it for Chris. We're heading out on the weekend to celebrate our anniversary but I wanted to make something lovely on the actual night. He approved. Immensely!

So light a few candles, pick up some tuna steaks and make this lovely meal for you and your loved one(s)

"Nothing would be more tiresome than eating and drinking if God had not made them a pleasure as well as a necessity."  ~Voltaire

The Best Part

Amongst the beautiful flowers and dresses and the amazing landscape and sunset, I reckon this by far is the best part. This is what we celebrate. These vows and the emotion behind them is the whole reason for the day, the foundation of their marriage, and what will carry them through long after the flowers have dried up and the beautiful dress is packed away.


To all those who celebrate their anniversary around this time of year I encourage you to re-read your wedding vows often and love, respect and cherish that amazing person that you married :)

If a picture tells a thousand words then here is my essay

Happy three year anniversary my love. You mean the world to me and I wouldn't trade the last three years for anything! We've had our ups and downs, traveled the world, lived in a few different houses, driven a few different cars (although our Kombi 'little Joe' will always be remembered fondly). You have supported me through a year without my immediate family living in the same hemisphere, through intense post-graduate study, throughout a draining and painful pregnancy, and through the vast changes that come with being a Mum. You are the best! I don't think I would have had an un-medicated birth without you to coach me through it all and I don't think I would be breastfeeding our little guy if it wasn't for your empathy, love, understanding and encouragement. You really do make my joys greater and my sorrows more bearable. Thank you for being my constant companion, and for encouraging me in my passions and believing that I can do it even when I'm not too sure. You are a constant delight in my life, and I love you so much! Your quirky way of viewing the world and creative mindset is infectious. Here's to many more years of being absolutely madly, crazily in love with you :)

It is Christmastime for sure

Last night we did one of our family traditions and made the Christmas pudding. We're not always this organised but Ash heads away to China in a few days so we wanted to do some Christmas things before she leaves :) We will miss her muchly but know that she will have a great time away and hopefully come back with lots of stories to tell and photos for us to see.

Everyone had to have a stir, even our little baby boy, although he was more interested in trying to get what was inside the bowl...

This will be our first Christmas as a family of three and it has made me think about what I would like to instigate as our traditions, so I'd love to know what YOUR Christmas traditions are? What do you do, where do you go, what are your essential things to make it feel 'Christmassy' to you? I might steal some of them if you don't mind?

One thing I would love to do is to make Tavi a Christmas stocking, we always had them growing up and I'd love to make a quilted one for him. Even though some Christmas Eves I was sure that us kids had stayed awake the majority of the night, there would always be a stocking totally stuffed full of goodies that mam and dad had somehow filled without us seeing. It also satiated our desire to get up and open presents on Christmas day for probably at least another half hour, so as a parent now I like the sound of that too :)

Service with a smile...and surprises :)

I'm seriously loving these little homie pants, I made some for Tavi and wanted to make a pair and matching onesie for Sienna who I photographed the other week.

Hopefully Sienna and her Mama like them and the photos :)

And my little accomplice? 

He busied himself with a top hat and I'm so very glad he did. 

This is why i tend to have my camera close by at all times. I think you can sometimes have all these great ideas for photos but the best ones are often totally random things that happen. Here's to cherishing the fleeting moments, baby smiles, and random happenings amongst the chaos of life!

My gorgeous friend, her proud Daddy, amazing flowers, a memorable day :) 

 

Just had to quickly put up an unedited photo before I go to...zzzzz

Sew look what I made :)

Aside from finishing off Tavi's quilt (except for the binding) I also made an eye mask today. My sister is heading off to China next week and I thought some pretty eye shades might be nice for her trip. The last few times I've travelled they didn't give out eye shades unless you request them but even then they are made of el cheapo elastic and plasticky material, not very nice at all. These are made using material I had from other projects and some of the lovely bamboo wadding from Tavi's quilt, I plan on finding a use for all of the leftovers cuz its just so nice!

These are simple to make once you get your head around piecing it together...I had to borrow Chris's brain because spatial awareness is definitely not my strong point, but the sewing was very straight forward and it doesn't require much material. If you have some material and wadding leftover from a quilt these would be a lovely gift for anyone heading overseas or who just wants to sleep in after the sun comes up (and really isn't that all of us?). If you'd like to have a go at making an eye mask for you or someone in your life I used this tutorial. Quick, easy, pretty, what more could you want?