Jikana Damaru

Colic Baby.

My child. Colic. Who would have thought? It's one of those "oh that won't happen to me or my baby" thoughts. I remember thinking that yeaarrss ago while watching A Baby Story on TLC. But life is full of unexpected surprises. And we have to manage it.

We spend a lot of time doing this...

Standing by the sink with the water running. Yeah, it's not very environmentally friendly but it works. Any hey, it's for a good cause.

This works sometimes too...

and helps me get things done! Like dinner.

She also has silent acid reflux. Between the two it's not very often we get sweet smiles like this...

and this...

So they're all the more rewarding when they do happen. I love those times.

We've tried and are still trying almost everything. She has started on Zantac and we've gone through 6 different formulas I believe. My last stop is Enfamil Nutramigen. We'll see if it works!

Because of the colic and reflux she's not a great eater, she nibbles a lot, doesn't sleep well, and constantly grunts and wiggles around trying to relieve her tummy. Needless to say we get worn out. And most mornings we look like this...

It's tough. The hardest thing I've ever done in my life. Sometimes I think I just can't do it anymore, but I know that one day it will get better. It won't be like this forever.

And she's so worth it all.

Any advice for colic & reflux babies? I think I've read just about everything but it can't hurt to seek more advice!

More pretty baking supplies

I plan to make lots of sweet treats in my kitchen this Christmas using my beloved duck egg blue Kitchen Aid, a Christmas gift from last year. Oh, how I love it!

I have wanted American style, retro striped paper straws that I am sure you have all seen in wonderful blogs the world over for ages now. Christmas seemed like a good excuse to finally get some, so I opted for pink, turquoise and green to fit in with my Winter Wonderland Christmas colour palette and will be using them to make my lollipops sticks super cute!

I also bought some bakers twine in matching colours to tie around my cookies, hang my hand made tree decorations from, and to adorn gifts!

When I saw these pretty twist ties on Etsy I just had to have them! I mean who knew they came in such sugary colours? I will be using them to keep my sweet treats fresh and pretty!

Winter Bird Tin, because I needed somewhere to store my mince pies, and it was too perfect for me to resist...

Have a sweet day!

at the moment

i am a little addicted to my iphone camera & taking photographs of food..........see?!

The bones of volunteering

Last Saturday I found myself roped in as the official photographer at the School Gala Dinner. I'm not joking. Now, you know how shite I think my photographic capabilities are, so I think we can officially surmise that I've never met a volunteering job I could say no to. I'm a Helper, aka a Sucker.

In a couple of weeks the school's P&C is having their AGM where the entire executive - President, Vice-President, Treasurer and Random Official Office Bearer Number Four (I don't exactly know what she does) - all need to stand down having served their allocated three year term. The campaign to rope us Suckers into the top jobs has already begun. In fact, I could barely perform my official photographic duties on Saturday such were the vultures gathering to pick over my volunteering vulnerabilites.

I want to be on the executive for the P&C next year about as much as I wanted to be the P&C's Website Co-ordinator, PR and Marketing Co-ordinator and Official Photographer this year. That is to say, about as much as I want a leech to suck my blood at 120 km/hour, but...

... they're circling. They're coming. They make me feel guilty because "the school needs inspirational people like you" (see, they've got some serious moves!) and (less compelling) "if you don't do it, who else will?" Soon I'll be nothing but raw, bleached bone abandoned in a desert and even then how will I say no?

Are you good at saying no?

What do you tell yourself that I need to start telling myself?

[Image via weheartit]

More Winter Wonderland dessert table ideas

Winter Wonderland dessert table ideas by Torie Jayne

A few weeks ago I showed you my inspirational board for this year's dessert table in my Winter Wonderland colour palette. Since then I have been pinning lots of lovely ideas on my Pinterest board, Christmas Winter Wonderland dessert table. So today I am sharing some more of my inspirational ideas. I am thinking intricately decorated sugar snowflake cookies are a must!?!

Snowflake sugar cookies by Annie's Eats
White Christmas dessert table by Merryl Brown Events
Classic vanilla butter cake by Sweetapolita
Make a wish birthday by Frog Prince Paperie

Have a sweet day!

Meet Emily from Candy Couture

One of my lovely customers is Emily from Candy Couture in Perth. Emily puts together some of the most gorgeous candy and dessert tables for her customers so I thought I would ask her a few questions about how she got started and where she finds her inspiration. Pictures of her most recent party are included so sit back and meet Emily from Candy Couture

How did your business get started?

A friend of mine introduced me to the concept of styled dessert tables / lolly buffets; I fell in love with it straight away. Who couldn’t love something that looks that gorgeous and tastes that yummy?

I love design and styling and have an insatiable sweet tooth as well, it seemed to be right up my alley.

I created my first table for my daughters ‘fairy princess’ 1st Birthday party, complete with cupcake tower, floral arrangements, stationary, backdrop…the works. It was just going to be a one off for her special day, but I got so much enjoyment out of putting it all together and seeing the end result that I decided this was something I would really love to do.

I had been searching for ideas of something that I could do work wise that wouldn’t impose too much on my duties as a mother of 2 children under the age of 3. This was perfect, something I can do primarily from home and at my own pace, and a way to be creative and expressive in my work.

My business ‘Amani Candy Couture’ (Candy Couture) specialising in creating, one-of-a-kind, beautiful, custom designed dessert table and candy buffets for special occasions, I like to incorporate a cake or cupcake tower, delicious sweets, chocolates and candy. I want the table to capture the essence of a particular event, be it a theme such as my ‘Casino’ themed party I did recently or a vintage style for a gorgeous vintage / shabby-chic wedding.

The best thing about having my own business is being in control of how little or how much work I do, having my own business allows me to put my family first if need be. It has also been so amazing to put in the hard work and gain recognition for everything I am doing for my business, I have become incredibly passionate about it and have high hopes for it to grow and expand into the future.

What do you draw on for inspiration?

I draw inspiration from a range of things,

: Different seasons, gorgeous bright flowers and coloured candy for summer or icy blues and whites for winter wonderland ideas in winter

: A gorgeous piece such as a bird cage or a beautiful backdrop can inspire the rest of the table

I like to follow along the gorgeous blogs of very talented ladies working both in Australia and the United States. I love looking at etsy to see all the different; on off things they have which can be incorporated into dessert tables.

I like to be involved with my clients and use their own personality for inspiration by asking questions about different styles and colours that they love to see what I can come up with.

One of my most recent favourite tables I created was for a ‘Burlesque’ themed 30^th. This style was right up my alley; I had so much fun designing it. I went for a sexy, demure look: Black lace, pink satin ribbon. Crystal candle sticks and tea lights gave it a gorgeous dimmed lighting effect. A manikin wearing a lace up corset as a backdrop and a custom made black ruffle table cloth set the scene.

All candy was pink and black displayed in gorgeous lolly jars from Sweet Style.

How do you like to relax when you are not working?

When I am away from work there is nothing better than spending time with my family, in summer we take our boat out and spend as much time as we can at the beach and have bbq’s and picnics.

I also say on occasion you can’t beat putting the kids to bed, getting a babysitter and going out for a nice dinner and a few drinks just my husband and I.

You can see more of Emily's beautiful work on her website here

or find her on Facebook here

Photography by Nicole Duncan Photography Perth

Stationery by Raspberry Lime Paperie

Corset Chocolates by Gorgeous Gourmet

Corset Sugar Cookies by Sweet Cheeks Gifts and Treats

Felted Mice

This week on Flickr Faves Sunday, I bring you the adorable intricate needle felting work of Felted Mice by Barby Anderson. I adore the toadstool house with the pretty pink shutters, delicate lace windowsill and embroidered flowers.

Some beautiful shots from my Flickr favourites (clockwise from top left):

Have a sweet day !