What's new kitty cat?

Thought I should do another little catch up post for anyone who is remotely interested!

Just like your garden variety nutjob, I am asking myself some questions. You know what they say about talking to yourself...

1.What have you bought lately?

Not a great deal because we are on an economy drive at our house trying to save up for the big garden renovation which I will tell you all about soon. I did manage to grab a few bargains on Saturday at Kirribilli Markets. For the little Tinker I bought this sweet lilac cardigan, handknitted from alpaca wool. Isn't it gorgeous? It only cost me $36.50. I love a bargain.






2. What's on the menu?

Well the other day Stella McCartney tweeted about Meat Free Mondays and I think this is going to be something we will do in our house from now on. My husband and I are both fatter versions of our former selves and today we began our healthy new eating plan to lose some weight. I think Meat Free Mondays will assist in that. I promise to keep you updated (bored) about our new diet as it progresses... if it progresses! I'm not great at sticking to new regimes so don't hold your breath.

Tonight's dinner is this hearty vegetable and lentil soup that works out at $1.25AU per serve!





3. What are you reading?

No books at the moment, no time! Two of my friends are now bloggers so I am enjoying reading their posts. I thought I might share the links with you. It's funny because the nature of their blogs couldn't be more different. Both fabulous mummy bloggers, I think the subject matter will appeal to my lovely readers:

Apathetic Housewife

Super Organizer


4. What's new with Stepford Dreams?


Some of you have noticed I now have the http://www.stepforddreams.com/ site. Not sure if it makes any difference to anything but it sounds cool doesn't it?

Also I'm very excited about our Monday giveaways, so far they have been really fabulous and I'm pleased to say we have lots more scheduled.

If you have an interesting product you think other Stepford Dreams readers would love to hear about, please shoot me an email!

5. What's the Tinker been up to lately?


She is now 18 months old and every bit the tinker. She is incredibly cheeky and ever so beautiful. She really amazes me with her memory and her sense of humour.

I can't help but compare her to other children sometimes and I often feel so lucky to have such a bright and engaging girl. She has always been that way, never one to stare off blankly like a lump of child.

Even as a tiny baby she would really engage with people. Now that she is such a fabulous talker it is even more apparent how clever and complex she is.

Here she is looking up at the navy helicopters that fly over our us all the time. She was saying "Touch heycopter mama? Nooo! Too high ha ha. Touch? Nooo, silly!"





I have just enrolled her in Mandarin classes and I'm awfully excited about it. Learning languages is something I have always loved and I hope it is something my little Tinker enjoys.

The classes are held in a playgroup type format for parents and children and run for an hour and a half with painting, songs and stories. 90% of the session is in Mandarin and they are designed for children and parents who do not speak Mandarin at home. I'm so looking forward to it. We will do a trial session first to see if she likes it and of course I'll share our progress on the blog.


She had her 18 month vaccinations this morning and she was so brave because I bribed her with a jelly bean. It worked. I'm off to wake her up now because we are going to see the Playschool show live in concert with her BFF and her mummy. A fun play date. I will pack the camera!

See you later!

Simple (sometimes sticky) Things

Here is my little Tinker in the sweet little knitted woollen hat, top and pants I bought at the craft store in Bowral on Sunday. I adore handknitted things especially paired with something really dressy. A little handknitted piece always adds a bit of love to an stylish store bought outfit. I couldn't resist decking her out head to toe in this pink woollen outfit. It is her "leisure suit" to rival my "not to be worn out of the house" velour leisure suit. Stop snickering. I swear, I haven't left the house in it. Ok fine I did go to the letterbox but never over the boundary line.

Yes she is playing with some sticky masking tape. It is a thrilling and complex game. Have I mentioned my child is a genius? I tear off bits of tape and stick them on her and she laughs herself silly as she takes them all off one by one. Then she says "again?" and we repeat the process a few dozen times.

What are the simple things that amuse your little one?

Tinker always loves a peg from the washing line or a key ring full of keys. An iPod or a mobile phone is a sure thing but nothing beats the plastic container drawer. She will amuse herself for ages pulling out the boxes, taking off the lids and then rearranging the cupboards.

My shoes will keep her happy for about 10 minutes. First she goes to the shoe cupboard and chooses a pair. Always a pair she never mixes. Then she takes 5 mins getting them on and then she proudly walks through the house in them clonk clonk clonk. Here she is tonight in some sensible flats:

She also loves a pad of Post-it notes and nothing beats freshly pressed and/or folded washing. There is something magnetic about neatness that draws her in. She must find it, and mess it all up. It is as though she is under a trance. Neatly folded pile of fitted sheets? Perfect.

She tires of proper toys quite quickly but these simple things always amuse her. So I'd love to know what your little ones love when it comes to simple things. I'd like some new ideas for the Tinks.