Halloween in Australia….   is it starting to become a big thing?  do you “trick or treat”?

When i was growing up, I had never heard of it, except on the TV shows, that of course were American!  These days though, in Australia, there seems to be more and more Halloween commercialism of this American tradition.  Our daughter was invited to a Halloween birthday party recently, she went as a witch.  All the stores have Halloween merchandise for sale and even a local area where we live have started a trick or treat in their street! 

So… no, I wasnt suprised whilst grocery shopping Tiana saw a pumpkin and asked if we could make a jack o lantern!  I have never even attempted to make one before, but thought would be a good opptunity to make pumpkin soup at the same time.

Tiana and I gathered in the kitchen and I decided  I best sharpen the knife…  yep sharpened the knife alright… and cut wide open my hand!!  fleshy, deep cut…. “oh no surely not stitches”  anyway… thank goodness Tiana’s big brother Bryce was up for the weekend… so they took over and I took a few snaps!

Here’s what to do when making a jack o lantern for Halloween…. a tutorial of sorts… whilst I tried to stop the bleeding on my hand!

STEP 1   RESEARCH

Bryce got out his laptop and he and Tiana searched on the type of faces they could make.  Bryce had just cut out the top and scooped all the seeds out (which Tiana and I will try and grow) and the rest to make some pumpkin soup.  Together the 2 looked at lots of different Halloween faces… my word some are so intricate!!

STEP 2  CUTTING OUT

Yep… marked out a face from seeing a few different ones online… keeping it simple is the key.  Tiana had a job of trying to see if the eyes were “scary”.  Note: the chocolate mouth… we also made chocolate cupcakes.  A real baking day we had!

STEP 3  FINAL TOUCHES

Must say Tiana thought it was the “COOLEST” thing she had ever seen and helped with, Bryce was pretty chuffed at himself too! I loved the mouth… a “happy” scary thing!

STEP 4  AHHH ALL DONE

and of course must give the jack o lantern some atmosphere,  pop in a tea light candle, dim the lights and he comes alive!!

 was certainly a fun day…  despite my poor hand!   Tiana got an old sheet and at dinner dressed as a ghost and took a bag around the table “trick or treating”.  Of course I had pre planned this and had a small treat for everyone to pop into her bag!  lol…  was such fun for everyone… though I think Bryce had the most fun at all!

Here is the dress Tiana wore to her first Halloween party recently!  Of course this childs witches costume is available to buy online at La Toriana!

 What ever you do, however you spend today… we hope you and your family have a wonderful one. 

Warmly

Elizabeth xx

 La Toriana’s Profile

At La Toriana we have a passion for kids fashion.

Our labels include, Alimrose, annieB, Lambykins, Princess Allure, FairyFloss Creations, Eternal Creation, Vanchi, TikiBoo Kids, Little Pearls for Little Girls, Tea Princess, Three Little trees, Tummbear, Dolly Up, babyjo bamboo baby wear, nest organics, early birds premature baby clothes, teeny weeny premmie baby wear, Oopsidaisi, boxy design, anamalz, Briit design, Bump buddy, cheeky little soles, Sounds for silence, Deshabille, eco peko, fINNIGAN fINN, gertie and me, Hey baby, huggalugs, i candy, lazybones, locolili, miniwhisk, mon tresor, nana huchy, nanny pickle, OOBI baby, penny scallan, Tabitha Emma, Tippie Toes, Princess Ratbag, Alannah Rose stationary, Mulberry Muse, Vintage Kid, Wild Things of Noosa, YmamaY, Xanna,  and so many more!

We have one of the largest and most stylish, affordable collection of premmie baby clothing, premature baby gifts and keepsakes available to buy online. If you have a baby born early, or are a friend/family looking to give a premmie baby gift… contact me and I can help

We showcase great Australian and New Zealand designers as well as neonatal and NICU appropriate baby clothing as well as organic premmie clothes and accessories.  Checkout our vast range of premmie wear and newborn baby items in our secure online baby boutique.  If you are looking for a  premmie baby keepsake doll, or organic baby wear for a bub that has been born prematurely, then you have come to the right online store.  La Toriana specialise in providing great quality, stylish and affordable designer label products for low weight babies and babies born early.

Premmie Families Giving Back

Featured site www.lilaussieprems.com.au

There are 1000’s of families who have experienced the NICU & SCN hospital journey around Australia after giving birth prematurely. The hospitals are a savour not only to our children but also to the families.

The medical teams create miracles everyday saving our premmie babies and even some born as early as 22 weeks. Their dedication and passion shines through our childrens smiles and laughter.

As a community of families touched by the premature journey we want to give back to hospitals around Australia to say thanks starting in 2010. The community here at L’il Aussie Prems are very excited to announce that once a year we will be collecting gifts from around Australia to send to one hospital chosen by the public. Each year a different hospital will be chosen to spread the good will from families. We enourage families of premature babies and the public to join with us in “giving back”.

Please vote in our poll currently on the website for your chosen hospital. The list of hospitals have been chosen by our members and will be rotating each year so every hospital will benefit.

Please feel free to join the forum and let us know what you would like to donate. You can donate books for families to read to their babies whilst in hospital, if you are crafty you can create name tags for each baby, sew or knit, the list is endless.

The poll will be visable on the website for a period of 3 months. We will be updating this page as details come to light so be sure to keep checking back.

for more information… please go to www.lilaussieprems.com.au

At La Toriana we have one of the largest and most stylish, affordable collection of premmie baby clothing, premature baby gifts and keepsakes available to buy online. If you have a baby born early, or are a friend/family looking to give a premmie baby gift… contact me and I can helpWe showcase great Australian and New Zealand designers as well as neonatal and NICU appropriate baby clothing as well as organic premmie clothes and accessories.  Checkout our vast range of premmie wear and newborn baby items in our secure online baby boutique.  If you are looking for a  premmie baby keepsake doll, or organic baby wear for a bub that has been born prematurely, then you have come to the right online store.  La Toriana specialise in providing great quality, stylish and affordable designer label products for low weight babies and babies born early. 

Wow… did you watch ch9 last night?  the TV show Money For Jam?

I am in awe of Julia and what she is doing for premmie baby families all over Australia.  The show was great last night and if you missed it, here is a copy… its so inspring.  Julia does a wonderful job with www.lilaussieprems.com.au and so many families really benefit from this site.

8 years ago when I had my first premmie baby there was nothing like this… only American sites, so its great to see Australia, and Julia doing great things!

If you are a business and looking to put your $$$ into a worthy cause, please contact Julia at lilaussieprems … I know she would really support you as well.  If you are a friend, family or parent touched by the birth of a premmie baby… jump on the website and you will be so pleased to make contact with others in a very similar situation.  The support on this site is so friendly, and inspiring.

I was sitting there watching the show last night and almost spluttered out and choked on my cuppa.  There… the La Toriana banner was larger than life and my hubby couldnt believe it either!!  La Toriana’s very first television appearance!!  Thank you so much for that little plug!!! 

I am so honoured to be associated with you.  Read the blog post here about premmie support

Anyone that knows me will know I support premmie babies in lots of ways, but truly I have a few special people and what they are doing for families of premature babies is amazing.  Julia is one of these very special, inspirational and well deserving people.

At La Toriana we are all about supporting families of babies born early.  We have a wide range of premmie baby clothing, toys and accessories and continue to expand the range.  A % from all sales goes directly to a couple premmie groups and we will continue to support them.

see the La Toriana premmie baby clothing range online here. 

please indicate in the comment box if you would like my donation from your sale to go to lilaussieprems, National Premmie Foundation or Loddon mallee Kids.

 

 

 La Toriana’s Profile

At La Toriana we have a passion for kids fashion.

Our labels include, Alimrose, annieB, Lambykins, Princess Allure, FairyFloss Creations, Eternal Creation, Vanchi, TikiBoo Kids, Little Pearls for Little Girls, Tea Princess, Three Little trees, Tummbear, Dolly Up, babyjo bamboo baby wear, nest organics, early birds premature baby clothes, teeny weeny premmie baby wear, Oopsidaisi, boxy design, anamalz, Briit design, Bump buddy, cheeky little soles, Sounds for silence, Deshabille, eco peko, fINNIGAN fINN, gertie and me, Hey baby, huggalugs, i candy, lazybones, locolili, miniwhisk, mon tresor, nana huchy, nanny pickle, OOBI baby, penny scallan, Tabitha Emma, Tippie Toes, Princess Ratbag, Alannah Rose stationary, Mulberry Muse, Vintage Kid, Wild Things of Noosa, YmamaY, Xanna,  and so many more!

We have one of the largest and most stylish, affordable collection of premmie baby clothing, premature baby gifts and keepsakes available to buy online. If you have a baby born early, or are a friend/family looking to give a premmie baby gift… contact me and I can help

We showcase great Australian and New Zealand designers as well as neonatal and NICU appropriate baby clothing as well as organic premmie clothes and accessories.  Checkout our vast range of premmie wear and newborn baby items in our secure online baby boutique.  If you are looking for a  premmie baby keepsake doll, or organic baby wear for a bub that has been born prematurely, then you have come to the right online store.  La Toriana specialise in providing great quality, stylish and affordable designer label products for low weight babies and babies born early.

warmly

elizabeth xx

 

Thursday, 15th October is International Baby Loss Awareness Day. Across the world people whose lives have been touched by the loss of a baby during pregnancy or after birth, will be attending memorial services, balloon releases and candle lighting in remembrance of those children who never had the chance to grow up.

In Australia, the Australian Community of Child Photographers (ACOCP), a non-profit organisation that gives the gift of photographic memories to families who have lost a child, is urging people to recognise the many families that go through the tragic loss of a young child,  read more here

October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance month and 15 October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day.

Please remember to light a candle at 7pm on the 15th to remember all the babies lost through miscarriage, stillbirth, SIDS and other causes. And please post here when you have lit your candle.

For more information visit Remembering Our Babies, Pregnancy Loss Support – Official Site of Pregnancy & Infant Loss Rememberance Day October 15th.

This is a special month and a special day for me…  having lost my girls… soon after birth…  after a hard and torrid time….  I am here to help support other mothers and families who have had the loss of a baby.

Its even more heartfelt right now, as our dear daughter is asking lost of questions almost daily about her sisters, why they live at the cemetery…. about her sisters being angels and why they are not here today to play with her.   It makes me miss the girls even more so than ever before… for me… but also the loss of Tiana not having her sisters… it is so hard.

please…

7 pm… light a candle for anyone you know who has lost a baby…. or to support those who have.. it need not be a formal thing… maybe a candle at dinner, whilst watching tv… its an acknowledgement that will touch the hearts of so many mothers around the world… many who have heavy hearts and empty arms.

warmly

elizabeth xx