Kilakee Christmas Tree Farm

We had such a lovely day today, thanks mainly to Killakee Christmas Tree Farm. Ever since I first saw National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation I always wanted to go to a place where you got to choose and cut your own Christmas tree. Little did I know I a place existed only about 10 minutes away. The girls had a blast walking up and down the slopes of the hill, finding and picking the exactly right one and I have to say I did too. I did get a terrible pang if guilt as our little fella was felled, felt a bit like murder, but at least he'll be loved as I think its the best looking, most stereotypically perfect Christmas tree I've ever seen, a real beaut. And as it was freshly cut, just for us, and we have a base that stores water, the tree should last right through to the 6th. Here's hoping anyway.And one of the best parts? Aside from them being exceptionally nice and friendly, and giving the girls little chocolate decorations to hang on the tree when we were leaving, all trees under 9ft are €40, so no annoying haggling which always dampens my Christmas spirit.

Highly recommended. Check out their website for opening hours and directions

Babies!

I so very much want to see this piece of gorgeousness on the big screen! What a fantastic trailer. And what a magnificent track too, it's Sufjan Stevens and its called "The Perpetual Self, or "What Would Saul Alinsky Do?"' from his album 'The Avalanche'.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N009QUWUy7I

Threadless T-shirt Sale

Just found out Threadless are having a sale. I am trying to not spend on anything other than essentials, but man, $9! It's hard to say no. They even have the ones I wanted to get the girls at the start of the summer.

French Toast

The weather has been just *awful* here in Dublin. Wet, windy and altogether indoors only all around. So what to do with the kids? I revert back to what I always do on days like this. Feed 'um.

As Mi is wheat free, cooking can be a bit limited, and as we were out of wheat free flour, I had to come up with something quick. Enter gluten-free french toast, and may I say, this is the first thing that tastes better without the gluten than with. Seriously, gluten free bread is made for french toast. So much so, this was Mi's plate at the end of her second helping.

Li left that little bit more.For anyone unsure as to how to make it, I keep it really simple - eggs mixed in a bowl with a splash of milk and a dash of caster sugar, dip in the bread, turn and dip again then straight onto a hot oiled frying pan until brown, off onto a plate and sprinkle with a wee bit more sugar as mine don't like maple syrup, much like myself. Simple. For variations, try this here

Felt Christmas Tree Decorations - Little Stockings

Finally up on Etsy, my Christmas Tree Decorations

I Felt Like It - clips

I bought a set of fantastic clips from Laura at I Felt Like It at the Christmas fair. Mia's thrilled with them, so I've ordered some more as they are very reasonable in price. I sent her on some of my teal felt as I love hot pink & teal together, can't wait to see what they look like

Thankfully not one of my girls artworks

This brightened up my day when I read it on a blog today. It's from this tumbr page.

Etsy

So its just a quick post to say I've opened a ETSY shop. Nothing much in it at the moment, I have a lot to photograph first, but it's finally up and running. Check back at the weekend and hopefully you'll see it far more populated :)

teenyhelpers's etsy shop