{thermomix} the arrival . . .

Last week I had a thermomix demo at home with some friends and was totally convinced that I needed this machine in my kitchen. Today my new thermi arrived at lunchtime with my fabulous consultant Sarah. After a quick run through of how to operate it, I put Master 3 to bed and got busy cooking.

I started with Anzac biscuits. Simple and easy to make and quick to bake. These will definitely be a go-to recipe for biscuits and everyone was happy with the result. Anzac's are also hubby's favourite biscuit, so thought this might help convince him the thermi was money well spent ; )

Then some pizza dough, which was equally quick and easy to make and after a short amount of time proving in the serving dish I made the kids dinner - a ham & cheese pizza, as well as a herb and garlic pizza to go with our dinner.

At dinner time while Master 7 read me his reader book at the kitchen bench, I put on a pumpkin, tomato and spinach risotto. 20 minutes later and it was done - no need to stand there and stir as it did it all for me - yay! The risotto turned out ok - not fantastic as it seemed a little gluggy, so for next time I need to check it as its going, as to whether it needs a splash more liquid. But otherwise, yum!

And finally for dessert - hot chocolate custard - which was awesome!

I'm looking forward to another busy cooking day tomorrow - I wonder what will be for dinner tomorrow night?!

{I'm back} and I'm busy . . .

So once again its been a while between blog posts but I am determined this time to continue on with blogging about all sorts of things - not much business wise as I've decided to take a small break from my business for a month or two or three to concentrate on everything else that has been happening in our lives and what is still to come over the coming months.

Since my last blog post my 3 little people have all celebrated birthday's and now they are 7, 5 and 3 - how time is flying!!!

We have also made a huge decision to move back into town - buying a block that will put us inner city living. It will fantastic not having to drive into town sometimes 2 or 3 times a day. We will be able to walk everywhere now - just a few hundred metres from school, a short walk to kinder and the town centre not even 15 minutes walk away.

Just under 800m2 and a odd shape with all sorts of easements around it, has made it tricky to find a house plan big enough to accommodate a family of 5, but we finally found a builder and plan which we have modified slightly to suit us. Once bonus is that it is in a quiet court overlooking a park, so what we will loose in backyard space, we will have little traffic coming in and a beautiful park to play and picnic in. And we are definitely putting in a pool with the build - so we are excited!

roughly how the front/back of house will look

rough guide of how the ground floor will be (still waiting on the official plans).

upstairs will be 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and a huge retreat area for the kids.

As far as business goes, I am still doing a little creating - but mostly just for me for once. I've decided to put the business on hold to create time for the more important things in life right now - which is my family and everything we have going on.

I've also decided to go back to University this year and am studying to be a Librarian through online learning part time. My plan is to have my qualifications completed to Diploma level by the time Mister 3 starts school (most likely sooner) and then find some part-time employment in a library as a library technician, while I continue on with my Bachelor degree qualification to a fully qualified Librarian. I'm enjoying studying and getting my brain working again on something different.

So stay tuned for more regular blog posts about all sorts of things; my family, building our new home, what crafty things I am making, tutorials I am happy to share about how to create small craft projects, recipes (as I've just purchased myself a thermomix this week and can't wait for it to arrive!) and anything else that takes my fancy.

Thanks for reading x

{swimsuit giveaway} re-draw . . . and the winner is . . .

If this is your comment below - you are our re-draw winner.

AnonymousDecember 9, 2012 10:20 AM

And I already like and follow you on facebook :) Renae Moseling

Congratulations Renae - please email me; hello@tillytom.com.au ASAP with your chosen size/colour and postal address so I can get your new swimsuit for your little princess in the post before the big man in the red suits arrives!

{swimsuit giveaway} and the winner is . . .

If this is your comment - congratulations you are our winner!!!

JessieNovember 30, 2012 5:03 PM

The Aqua would look gorgeous on my little girl. Tanks for the chance.

Please email me: hello@tillytom.com.au letting me know your preferred colour/size and postal address and your new swimsuit for your little princess will be in the post this week, just in time for Christmas.

Thank you everyone for entering the competition, stay tuned for more regular comps via the blog in 2013 : )

{tillytom swimwear collection 2012} giveaway time!

I recently launched my first release of girls Swimwear. A new direction for my tillytom label - stayed tuned for more styles in 2013 with the introduction of a boys line as well as some more new styles for the girls.

The swimwear is all handmade here in Australia, using the most gorgeous bright swimsuit fabrics that are manufactured here in Australia.

The fabrics are chlorine resistant and UPF 50+.

The swimsuits offer generous coverage for a halter style swimsuit, are fully lined both front and back and feature the cutest ruffles across the bottom as well as a single ruffle across the bodice.

Finished in white binding, the swimsuits are available in 3 colours; yellow, pink and aqua in sizes 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.

Swimsuits are available to purchase from the online store now - www.tillytom.com.au

------------------------------------------------------

If you would like to win for the little girl in your life one of our gorgeous new swimsuits - simply enter to win following the instruction below. Open to Australian residents only : )

For one entry - Please comment below, by simply telling us which colour swimsuit is your favourite!

For a second entry - please like and follow us on facebook!

For a third entry - please share our original facebook post about the giveaway on your personal or business facebook page! (Find the post here; https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151111755790836&set=a.171153710835.130666.114861185835&type=1&theater )

The prize - winner's choice of 1 (one) swimsuit chosen from available stock.

Prize included registered trackable postage within Australia to the winner.

Competition closes Monday 10th December 2012 at 7pm (Victorian time) - with the winner drawn at 8pm (Victorian time) here on the blog. Winner will by chosen by tillytom via drawing names from a hat (bowls or other suitable container). tillytom's decision of the winner will be final, no correspondence will be entered in to.

Thank you and good luck!

{Dolls Quilt Swap 2012} Sent and Received

I once again participated in a Dolls Quilt Swap (DQS) with some quilting friends this year. My fourth year I think now, and I love the challenge of coming up with something interesting, colourful, to the taste and requests of the recipient.

This year I was making for AJ, who requested a wall hanging. So my mind wandered through AJ's blog, checked out what she had received in past years and also spent quite a bit of time on pinterest for some inspiration!

I made AJ a small rectangle size dolls quilt with scrappy houses, a rolling hill, dark skies with the sun poking through and some pretty rain drop quilting with a combination of variegated and metallic threads which sparkle in the light.

I received this year from Rachel, who made a little dolls quilt for Miss 4 - which quickly found a new home on her bed keeping a selection of her dolls all snuggled up for bedtime.

{how to . . .} make a storage/cutting table combo

After posting a photo of my new storage/cutting table combo on my facebook page a few days ago, I've had quite a few requests for info on how to make/what it cost? So here it is!

Your shopping list!

(you'll need to go to Ikea and Bunnings)

Ikea - 2 x Expedit Shelving Units

http://www.ikea.com/aa/en/catalog/products/30195204/

$119.00 each

 Ikea - 1 x Vika Amon Table Top (150cm x 75cm - perfect fit!)

http://www.ikea.com/aa/en/catalog/products/30162227/

$59.00 each

Bunnings - Length of Structural Pine - MGP10

70x45mm 2.4 length (and ask the lovely sales person to cut it into 3 x 750mm (75cm) lengths)

$7.39 for the 2.4m length

Bunnings - Double Sided Tape (any will do). I used an outdoor strength one by Norton.

$8.56 roll

How to make!

Assemble your two expedit units and place them in your desired location on their sides, and side by side to each other to create your rectangle bench.

Lay your table top with the wrong side facing up and place your 3 lengths of pine cut to fit just in from each end and in the middle and mark with a pencil where they are.

Cut your lengths of double sided tape to fit the length of each piece of pine and attached to one side (the 45mm width side of the timber). Stick these down on your marked areas of the wrong side of the table top.

**NOTE: If you are a s shorter person, you may find the finished height of this table too high, so you could put your tape on the 70mm width side of the pine lengths to bring the finished height down 2.5cm.

Cut 3 more length of the double sided tape to fit the pine and place them on the side of pine that will rest on the expedit unit tops. Remove the backing and with the help of a friend, flip the top over and position correctly on top of the expedit units to centre the table top.

The way I positioned my pine pieces was so there was an overhang of the table each end and two shelves in the middle (great spot for storage of rulers, pattern pieces, etc.)

Total cost: $312.95

The finished height of the table is 90cm, which is the same as our kitchen bench and I find a good working height for cutting out fabric.

Any questions please don't hesitate to ask. Happy crafting : )