Op Shopping For My Daughters Gifts

In the past 2 weeks I have op shopped but not purchased much as I have tightened my belt.

However I am buying a few gifts for Dolly's Christmas present. I'm not into Christmas but I really don't want her to feel she's missing out when all her friends are being treated to lovely gifts. She is soooo excited about Santa, so I need to make an extra effort. I will organise Santa to leave 1 "new" toy such as Rapunzel or something similar which I know she will adore.

This is what I have found for her which will be part of the gift from me. A spend of $8.25.

$$$ Break Down of Stash:

• Charlie and Lola book $2.00
• Katie Meets the Impressionists Book .25c
• Plastic snap together toys to create creatures. $2.00
• Ceramic bath tub for her doll house (This was a candle which I removed) $2.00
• 2 handmade ceramic plates from Thailand to add to her tea set $2.00

I'm trying to keep it eco frugal by buying local second hand wherever possible. It's hard at this time of year. There is a lot of psychological tactics employed by shops and it's hard to not get sucked in. What about you? Are all or some of your Christmas items secondhand too? Do you find it hard at this time of year to being frugal or even eco, due to the mayhem of parties every couple of days?

LAST DAY TO WIN $200, $100 or $50

Hi to all Readers in Australia! 

Today is the LAST DAY to ENTER my WONDERFUL GIVEAWAY from the AIR WICK and SOUP people.

Lovely DANA from SOUP will be the judge!

You don't have to be a follower - (but I'd love it if you were). Even lurkers can enter. I average 160 hits a day - so I know you're out there. Come on, enter and wish upon a lucky star.....

So quick CLICK HERE to enter.

And Good Luck.

Keep in Frugal :-)

Reliable Bills

There is one thing most of us have in common at that is regular bills. Don't you love them... That piece of paper in the mail box or in your inbox that asks for money.

Letter in the Mail Box.

Today we received our Power and Water bill. $239.50 is due. It's too high for my liking, but we are below the National Average and half the Regional Average. We also went down compared to this time last year. But a little higher then the last bill.

I Love These Graphs To Keep Track.

I know I can do better. Some times those lights are on with no one in the room. Too many times I forget to turn off the hot water switch after our morning showers. Another tap washer needs changing. What a waste of our lovely planets resources mainly due to laziness and a disorganised mind. And what a waste of my money that I earn sitting in an office away from my family each day.

Money Dripping Down the Drain.

I don't think a lower bill will be possible next time, as we will be on holidays from work. We will spend more time at home watching movies, sewing, cooking, crafting, playing, relaxing, eating, hosting and reading. So that means more time running fans, lights, ovens, sewing machines, computers and the rest to make our stay at home holidays lots of fun. And that is okay because our life needs to be frugal but of good quality too.

How about you? Will you have a lower or higher bill next time round? Please tell all in the comments below.

PS: I want to remind my Aussie Readers the Air Wick - Soup GIVEAWAY ends tomorrow so don't miss out on scoring a fancy voucher! A $200 Coles Myer voucher! Tool cool for words! ENTER NOW :-)

Decluttering With Ebay

I listed 7 items on Ebay this week in the aim to declutter a few items and make some extra cash for our Borneo travel fund which we originally wanted to do in January 2012. However we will wait 1 more year for Dolly to be a little bigger and a little stronger to be able to do a small trek to see Orangutans.

So far my vintage 1970s scrabble pieces have happily reached $16.50 and there is 2 days left. Cross my fingers they reach $20. I had intended to use them in crafting projects but I wasn't moving on it. So out they go as I will come across these again at op shops when I want them again.  This will allow me to free up valuable breathing space in our cluttered home.

99 Vintage Scrabble Pieces

I also listed 6 books, one is out of print. I made an extra effort to make my photo's look attractive. Blogland has shown me the beautiful pictures and extra effort people make. I have been inspired to try and do the same for my decluttering Ebay listings.

Vogue Art Book from 1986 Now Out Of Print

With Christmas coming up it's a good time to list collectables and special vintage pieces. Are you listing anything for sale this week to increase your money for a special event or simply to get clutter out?

Do You Crave To Pay?

Hello there global bloggers,

I've been thinking again about how activities that are FREE often don't get a full turnout and yet when people have to pay there is often a waiting list or queue. Is it putting on monetary value on something makes it more desirable?

A couple a weeks ago I took Dolly and myself to a couple of fantastic eco craft classes at the public library. They ran for about 2 hours each, both on the same day. The program was well organised. The teachers skilled and professional. And they were really in line with my aims in life.

This Is Me - My Daughter is My Photographer :-)

The 1st class was a Rip Wrap class where we Ripped old pieces of salvaged fabric and clothes and Wrapped them around old coat hangers and foam to turn them into amazing colourful creatures.

Coat Hangers

Add Foam Bits

Wrap Ripped Fabric and Decorate

The second class we used recycled bits and pieces such a cardboard tube, plastic, broken jewels, recouped beads and butterflies cut from magazines to turn them into exquisite dream catchers. It's amazing what you can do with discarded items and a little know how. And a great way to spend Saturday. (I don't know about the feathers and I should have asked as many craft feathers are obtained in extremely cruel circumstances from our feathered friends).

Dolly Working Hard to Catch Her Dreams

A Couple Of Others Created By Other Older Children

Now my query above about a monetary value is because all these wonderful FREE events I go to, don't have a huge turn out. However any similar payable event with all the bells and whistles always have queues miles long.

Do you find that events that need to be paid for seem more desirable to attend? Is it because the quality is better or are we all so sucked into the buy buy buy ideology, that we think FREE means B-Grade or Charity. Tell me what you think...

I'm Cheap On Friday Night.

Hello everyone hope your all well and not too stressed over the festive season. Once again my Aussie readers don't forget my wonderful GIVEAWAY that is ending on Tuesday - $200 Coles Myer Voucher up for grabs sponsored by Air Wick and Soup.

Most of my colleagues are under the weather with this terrible cold we have all shared with each other. I spent the day sniffing, blowing and coughing at work. Very classy.... I now spread if to my family so both The Rambling Expat and Dolly have been feeling miserable. On our arrival home this afternoon we were all exhausted. So I decided we would go into the bedroom as soon as we arrived, watch a movie in bed on the laptop and eat fruit and popcorn for dinner. No fuss, super slack but very relaxing :-)

Thanks Bev - Great Movie.

The Rambling Expat fell asleep instantly. As for Dolly and I, we enjoyed the movie Nanny McPhee, a colleague at work gave me. After the movie, Dolly still had a little energy to use up so I pulled out these wonderful stamps in a box I was given by a Freecycler this week!!! Dolly had a wonderful time stamping and then colouring in her work while I caught up with some of my blog reading. And don't worry I'm planning on decluttering a bag full this weekend.

Fantastic Vintage and Modern Stamps and Ink Pads - Thank you Louise!

So I just wanted to say how we had lovely new items to entertain us and yet we didn't have to spend a cent. Friends, family, colleagues and Freecycle are wonderful sources for items you may need or simply want. And don't forget to give to others too. It's good Karma.

Happy weekend :-) In Frugal Solidarity.

Home Sick Odd Jobs

Hello wonderful people. A reminder to my Aussie readers to don't forget to enter my Giveaway - a $200 Coles/Myer voucher! I know what I would spend it on... groceries. And then place $200 from my usual grocery budget into my mortgage.

I stayed home sick today. I should have seen it coming. The sore ears, unbalanced and all the sleeping I've been doing. My nose is like a running tap and my ears are so blocked I feel like I'm under water.

I spent the day feeling hot and sorry for myself. Drinking lots of water and taking a couple of Panadol to ease the aches. Luckily the fridge was full of cooked food so no cooking had to be done - just heating up.

While I had a small burst of semi energy I cleaned and painted 2 small vintage wooden frames that I had sitting around for over a year. I had purchased them them for about $1 each, maybe $2, but no more then that. I placed inside them pages of a damaged 1966 children's book I purchased for 50 cents at the op shop last week. I think they look lovely and will make pretty presents for Birthdays and new babies. At $2.05 a pop these revamped old frames are looking fresh and sweet with a vintage touch. Plus I have many more pictures left to use. Each prettier then the next. Swoon.

Pretty as a Picture.

One other job that caught my eye today was the stack of medicines we had. So I decluttered the fridge door compartment where they all live. 6 items had expired in 2010 and 2011. So out they went. However the compartment still looks just as full! How does that happen?

I hope you are well and keep frugally fantastic.

Slow Cooker Left Overs

I'm back into some slow cooking for time saving and frugality due to cheaper cuts of meat working well slow cooked.

I prepare and place everything into the slow cooker by 7am. Dress for my busy working day and Dolly for her school day. Turn it on Low as we leave the house and dinner is ready when we return 9.5 hours latter. We plate up and eat. Easy and Fuss Free for a Busy Household.

I slow cooked a roast, a couple of small steaks and vegetables in one pot. After we ate dinner, I filled containers with left overs for 4 quick meals this week.

• Fall apart steak to serve with rice.
• Left over roast and veggies to eat with salad night 1 and pasta on night 2.
• Roast and veggies for Rambling Expats lunch.

Home Made - Take Away

I'm keeping within the budget of $100 a week shopping for groceries. My aim is to cut back to $80 the next 4 weeks and use up everything in the fridge and freezer to start the new year afresh with a nice cleared and clean fridge.

I'm tightening the belt again money wise and need to stop buying any frivolous junk food. If/When I go part time my wages will be slashed by 30%. That is huge and scary. How's your budget coming along? Does it need tweaking and reworking like mine does?

Note to my readers in Australia, Don't Forget to Enter my Air Wick Aqua Mist Giveaway HERE to go in the draw to win a $200 Voucher!

$$$ Air Wick Aqua Mist GIVEAWAY For Australian Readers

THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR YOUR ENTRIES. THIS COMP IS NOW CLOSED. I WILL LET YOU KNOW WHEN THE LOVELY DANA FROM SOUP HAS CHOSEN THE WINNERS.

As many of you know I was sent bottles Air Wick Aqua Mist (Air Freshener) to sample with family and friends, so I hosted a sniffing party with my neighbours which I mentioned here. I also handed bottles to each of my 6 work colleagues in the team I work with.

Many of these people regularly purchase air freshening products. I myself don't as I'm on a tight budget and use ecalyptus oil, bicarb and vinegar to clean. Plus I keep my windows open when I'm home. Also air fresheners sometimes trigger asthma in The Rambling Expat. However I put up my hand to try a product for FREE and give it a Review, so I tested it myself at home.

I found the new Air Wick Aqua Mist to be mild and soft. I hasn't triggered coughing in my family and the smell is not as throat grabbing intense and artificial smelling as other popular products from the supermarket shelf which I smell at work or friends homes.

These are the three scents I received and tried out:

• Wild Lavender & Mountain Breeze (lavender, herbs, chamomile and precious woods.)
• Fresh Waters (ocean waters and sparkling citrus.)
• Magnolia & Cherry Blossom (magnolia, cherry blossom, apple and jasmine).

I found all 3 scents to be very pleasant. My absolute favourite is Fresh Waters. It's a very light scent that doesn't smell overly feminine. It smells fresh and uplifting. I placed brackets around (Air Freshener) because these can actually be used on some fabrics such as clothing and furniture. I know I will find my bottles of Air Wick Aqua Mist to very be useful when the wet season is in full swing and our clothes get that musty mouldy odour when it rains day, after day, after day. And I could have done with this is my wild and crazy nightclubbing cigarette smoking heydays.

My neighbours have also enjoyed the scents and their favourite has been diverse. Some like Lavender, others Cherry Blossom and some prefer Fresh Waters. My work colleagues have also given lots of positive feedback on the scents, packaging and dispersion of the Air Wick Aqua Mist.

Don't worry, I have not buried my head in the sand. I will say ecologically/sustainably, purchased air fresheners and many of those home made varieties are not environmentally sound. However, if you already purchase air fresheners this seems to be one of the better choices on the supermarket shelf. The new Air Wick Aqua Mist is non aerosol so that is a major plus. You can also re-use or recycle the spray plastic bottle, which is a good thing. As for the ingredients listed, there is a lot of debate on the web and a lot of it is heavily chemistry jargoned and hard to understand. I have learnt the ingredients are not great however they are not the worst in the air freshener world. So my neighbours and friends who LOVE air fresheners can make baby steps to be slightly more eco with their supermarket choices and now select Air Wick Aqua Mist. And hopefully as demand for ecological products increase, popular brands will rise to the occasion and offer better choices.

As for me and my 3 bottles. I will use them sparingly and they will last 2 or 3 years. I will then reuse the spray bottle because I'm eco frugal like that. And I'm glad Soup and Air Wick gave me the opportunity to put my hand up to Try, Review, Giveaway and Educate myself on Air Wick Aqua Mist and other household products in the process.

Now for my BEST GIVEAWAY EVER on my blog, for Australian Residents. Soup and Air Wick gave me some money to run a Giveaway Comp, so this is it!

You need to leave a comment below telling me "What is your best tip for keeping your home looking and feeling fresh."

The Best Entry will win a $200 Coles Myer Gift Voucher!!! How cool is that! A bit of cash to spend now, so you can get ahead with your budget for those important things in life. And that's not all!!! I have a second prize of a $100 Coles Myer Voucher and amazingly a 3rd Prize of a $50 Coles Myer Voucher.

Terms and Conditions:

• To keep it equitable, I've asked lovely Dana from the Soup team to select my winner. 
• If you are not one of my lovely followers you must leave your email address in case you're the winner. But best to follow me to save yourself the hassle ;-)
• Open to Australian residents only. (Sorry to all my international followers and readers)
• One entry only per person.
• Competition ends on Tuesday 29 November 2011, 11:59pm Darwin Time.
• If my winners do not respond to my emails within 7 days then the prize will be redrawn.

Disclaimer: I received a package of Air Wick Aqua Mist in order to complete this review and did not receive any form of payment. All opinions expressed are completely my own.


Good Luck :-)

A Little Japan On Our Weekend

Saturday was hectic as usual as most of our Saturdays. I keep saying to myself, Stephanie slow down - live with thought, live slow. But I just don't want to miss any of the fun stuff and my home becomes a screaming mess.

One activity we did in our full day was we headed for the library to participate in the FREE Japanese Cultural Day. There was food to taste, drumming to listen to, lollies to sample, paper to fold, toys to try, Japanese writing to master and traditional dress to parade in. Dolly had a great time and I bumped into 6 friends in the short time and small space. So I was able to squeeze in some socialising too.

Dressing Up

I'm Looking Japanese - I Really Think So....

Japanese Drumming

Fun Origami

On our return home at 4pm, The Rambling Expat was also home after a fishing trip and was cutting up a tuna he caught. He cooked a delicious meal of tuna, onion, tomato, garlic and herbs in the wok and dished up with rice. He is not usually proactive in the kitchen so this was a pleasant and welcome change. (Click on the link above to see the playing dolphins he saw - lucky duck - Dolly is still too small to take on a full fishing day out to sea.)

Today was somewhat frugal but I did spend money... $13 at the op shop, $12 on a glass measuring jug and $7 on junk food. It's the junk food that is a huge problem with me in the last few weeks. I need to get over the terrible hurdle and be better organised and willpowered to not fall in the junk food trap.

How was your day? Leisurely or hectic? Did you keep your spending down, saving for those important things in life? Wasted some hard earned cash like me?

Oh Obama, Please Don't Come Again.

Hi there everyone. I have been back for a week but have been so tired everyday after work that I have gone to bed with Dolly and slept 11 hours most nights. I have a blocked ear and feel like I'm on a boat trying to hold onto my balance. I catch myself swaying when I'm standing a little like person on too much champagne.

Our big 2 years plus, project at work, came to a head this week as we rolled out new data systems. We have been busy teaching people how to use it and learning at the same time. I feel that our stress and frayed tempers has eased and happiness is swirling the air again. It's been a huge learning curve for me and my brain feels overloaded as I try to retain so much IT and database processes.

Yesterday our small city was visited by the Leader of the "Free World" (USA - Obama). The day before he arrived for his 2 hour visit on his way to Bali, our city began to remove our own freedom with blocked roads and preparations with 190 police on the job. They barricaded the area where Obama would lay a wreath and covered the the fencing with black plastic so no one would be able to see, except for the live TV coverage. Some people were unable to go home for a couple of hours due to all the extra security.

Here is my office window pic of Airforce 1, Arriving.

Landed. Within minutes he was in the City Centre. No baggage waiting for him.

I'm not out to offend any of my readers but personally I think it was all way over the top. I've never ever seen anything like it in our city and our Prime Minister certainly does not receive the same fuss when she visits. Obama also had the population excited over his visit in real celebrity style. It was like a virus had swept through and infected everyone with Obamamania. Here is my 2 favourite local Bakery ladies getting in on the Obama action.

The press has told us Obama said he will be back for a longer visit with his family. And I only hope not. Our city and lives were disrupted for 2 days for a 2 hour visit. I can only imagine a massive disruption if he heads to our city again with family in tow. I feel nothing against Obama, but the mayhem and control over people that follows him is just not pleasant in my busy private frugal world.

On a Happy Note the winner of my magazine giveaway is Blogger "Saving For Travel". I used Radom.org. SFT, please email me your address so I can post your Australian Geographic Mag with our lovely Kakadu region. Maybe Africa will be off the cards and Darwin will be your new focus ;-)

Speak to you all tomorrow. I have lotttttttsssss of blog reading to catch up on.

A Giveaway Because I'm Going

I'm leaving for a work trip for 3 days. I'm off to Alice Springs. Some of you may remember my last work trip was a year ago to the Kakadu region.

I enjoy work trips because it allows you to refocus on your job in a different light. And being out of the office is a very nice change of the sameness grind, day in - day out.

My little Giveaway is this lovely magazine July-August 2011 Australian Geographic I picked up for $1 at an op shop with an article on Kakadu in the wet season. This magazine retails for $12.95 so I was thrilled to find it stuffed amongst the kids books.

My Giveaway is open to all of those OUTSIDE OF AUSTRALIA and I will use Random Generator to pick my winner next Monday. So just comment about one simple eco frugal living idea you have.

I will be hosting a HUGE Giveaway for my Readers In Australia sponsored by Air Wick and Soup in the next couple of days.

Is my giveaway frugal for me... NO. But I really want to share my piece of Australia with someone out there. And I like to give gifts. Plus you guys keep me plodding along with my aim towards frugality so I can have those things I really want; A house, part time work, early retirement and a simple life that includes travel.

So type in your ideas and share the wisdom.

No Blogging

I've done my Blog reading. Now I'm off to bed to do some of my library reading. Bliss..

Goodnight or maybe Good Morning where ever you are :-)

Bargain Galore

I load my arms with some of the best goodies on offer, head to the self service machine, swipe my card, bag up my items and leave smiling. I get that same "entertainment feeling" that shopping gives without the guilt and gloom as my bargain was FREE. I shopped at the public library and the card was the good old fashioned library card.

Friendly Children's Area - Where Kids Can Play and Read.

People need to use their libraries more. The more people use them the more books will be on offer and the less risk of libraries closing down due to the lack of use. This particular library I frequented today has a eclectic group of patrons. It's Sunday afternoon, there is nothing to do and it's balmy hot. The library offers a friendly, airconditioned facility, furnished with chairs, desks, computers and lounges. And best of all it's full of reading material for all types of people and tastes.

As I've mentioned before I love the fact that I can take a whole pile of books and movies home and return them when I'm done. A great solution to my hoarding behaviour. And because it's FREE, I take a risk in my book choices knowing if I don't like my pick it's not a problem as I can swap it for a better choice.

I use 3 libraries and they come under the 1 city council body. This means I just need one card and I can return my books to any of them at any time through a outdoor slot. I love the ease. Our local libraries have also recently added the offer of WIFI. Today I saw a blue collar worker sitting back chatting to a mate through Skype. And I thought how wonderful the facilities on offer are. They really do allow for people to come together under one roof without the need to spend $$$.

Here's my very interesting loot today. I've already dipped into The Spend Less Handbook. Gittinomics looks super interesting, click here to read a few pages. Daddy's Little Earner is one of those sad life stories of abused children. Soap making still on my mind...

All Non Fiction and 3 DVDs

Here's Dolly's pile to expand her imagination and reading knowledge. How lucky we are to have access to books and to know how to read.

Charlie & Lola, Unicorns, Santa's Birthday, Fairies and Talking Animals

The Rambling Expat still has 8 popular and recent French books to get through that I purchased earlier this year for 50 cents each at the op shop!!! Top score, as I must admit the library can be lacking on recent books in French. But look at this great community announcement on the noticeboard.

FREE Japanese Cultural Day and Activities.

Have you been frequenting your library in search of those eco frugal living books such as money, crafting, cooking and the likes? What's been a great eco frugal inspiring book you've read lately? Mine has been Radical Homemaker. LOVED IT!!! Ask your library for it as you might enjoy it too. By the way, I'm a Feminist and do not view this book as move away from Feminism. I see the world issues of global warming needing new leaders, new ways of doing things and that also means new waves and theories of feminism. So what book has inspired or interested you lately?

Stuff Upcycled into Earring Display Frame

I stash all my earrings and other jewellery in bowls. They become a tangled mess. So I thought what/how could I make something to organise them, without spending money and came up with the idea of a Picture Frame Earring Display.

Roughly 1.5 years ago I picked up 6 vintage wooden picture frames for 50 cents to 1$ each. Also my ex Boss-Lady also gave me 4 plastic blue frames she was going to throw out. I already had a small sample pot of white paint at home that I use, here and there. And my neighbours recently put new fly screen in their windows and gave me a large piece of left over screen. And Dolly has plenty paintbrushes I can use.

I scrubbed 4 frames. Painted them front and back, attached fly screen and hooked in my earrings. Cute, Practical, Eco and Frugal. I love upcycling and I have been working on upcycling a few items in the past week when Dolly and the Rambling Expat are fast asleep. It gives me time to think and appreciate "quiet" that I so desperately crave while feeling satisfied with my creations.

Frame Ready for a Makeover

Favourite Classic Colour for This Type of Project - White!

Attaching Fly Screen Before Last Lick of Paint.

Ready To Use - Displaying Market Items.

My 1st Bottle Top Earrings I Made - I Might not sell them. I STILL LOVE THEM

Do you upcycle anything?

By the way this is Dolly when she discovered the Toys had come alive during the night! She was sooooooo excited she thought maybe our cat had set up the tea party. "No" I said, "I'm sure it was the toys because I saw Toy Story and I know the toys come alive when humans don't watch". So she said I was right and told her teacher and class mates exctitedly her morning discovery. This kind of stuff is frugal and priceless for long happy memories and experiences.

In Awe and Wonder!

Thank you for reading about me and my frugal living. Have a great day or night.

Blue the Budget on a Gift

A friend had a baby girl about 4 months ago. And I was slow at delivering our gift. But this is the hamper I created and gave last Sunday. Over our usual budget as baby's mum is the person who hooked me into the community garden and has saved me a lot of money in produce and health costs by eating my own organics and getting exercise. Plus the gardens give me a fantastic mental health boost.

My $3 secondhand basket has:

• A new dress $15 (on super discount), 
• Lovely local hand made soap $4, 
• Op shop (higher end brands) clothes $3 
• A few of Dolly's gorgeous outgrown clothes and books.
• Gift tag is a picture cut from an old diary and glued to a piece of card.

I love the hamper and Dolly was very proud to present it. She made the mum change her baby's clothes 4 times during the morning. I'm currently preparing another baby hamper for another friend. I found a gorgeous baby, designer dress at the op shop for $2. Retails for roughly $180!!! This time I'm going to try to stick to budget.

My frugality has been a bit poor this week as I feel the blues. I feel exhausted from work. I just want to eat junk food and not cook. I want to sookie-la-la. I don't want to buy stuff though (just chocolate). Instead I've wanted to purge and have been able to declutter 1 or 2 small items per night which is freeing up more space. That feels good.

Do you think you spend more when you are over tired or have the blues? 

Virtual Vintage Tea Party

Hello lovely people I'm linking up to The Bloggy Mum here. She's hosting a Virtual Vintage Tea Party today and I have joined in the fun.

I set up my pretties with:

• A tablecloth from Grandma - Fabric from 1960's/70's, Grandma's stash.
• Vintage Doily - from op shop.
• Dolly's Tea Set - pieces from op shop yet again.
• 1940's Biscuit Tin - from op shop of course.
• 3 Babushka's - 1 op shop, 1 gifted from 1970's, 1 new in 2009.
• 1 Wise Old Owl - op shop; are you surprised?
• 1 Vintage Mirror - op shop, yes it's my source of all the good stuff.

Of course there was food on offer:

• Fortune cookies - with secret scandalous message's.
• Lemongrass and Basil Herbal Tea - fresh from the garden.
• Chocolate Biscuits - to practice our maths.
• Sweets - for desire.
• Jugs of water and juice - to quench our thirst.
• Giant Cup Cake - decadently made of recycled stuff.

Ready for Ken, Snow White, My Little Pony and the Virtual Vintage Tea Party Crowd.

What a lovely time Dolly's dolls will have tonight at the virtual tea party hosted my Mum while Dolly sleeps. Tomorrow morning Dolly will see the scene and her heart will beat with the excitement that something extrodinary happened while her little eyes fluttered with dreamy dreams. Those toys do have life in them in the midnight hour and tea party's are their favourite pastime. Ken, Snow White and My Little Pony will all be gathered around frozen scared to be discovered as she walks in as the sun rises. Psssst Mum don't spill the beans. Catherine do you think your toys would like to chatter with my toys?

And here is Tif and I at our other Cake and Tea party. However someone else grabbed the pretty red and white polka dot table :-(  I was too greedy to wait like a polite gentle damsel. So we too took the nearest table and bit down into the delicious home made cakes and slices. We sipped our refreshing nettle tea to relax the nerves and licked our lips. Here Mum please help yourself to a rich lemon slice. Anne would you like a cool ice tea to relax your nerves too?

Modern Vintage Tea Party - Banana leaves, hundred year old tradition - As vintage as it gets.

Don't be shy, help yourself.

SFT I'm worried the beans may make me ummmm, smelly :-), but here take a little fortune cookie and see what your saucy travel future holds or maybe a frugal fortune cookie from Christine. Claire come this way, let me pick a bit of paint out of your hair. Here, put your feet up and have this lovely cup of tea.

Mmm what a pleasant way to spend our time. Thank you for the invite :-)