Ninja Bake - Bakers Registration 2013

-Registrations are now closed-

It's back! The second annual Sisterhood Ninja Bake! 

Get your whisks, beaters and camouflage gear out ladies! You have received the call up!

October 18-19th 2013

The Ninja Baking weekend is all about blessing someone with a fairly simple gift: Our love in the form of bikkies, scones, muffins, cakes, or a secret recipe!

Last year's Ninja Bake saw 77 bakers dropping off 170 batches of baking - I think this year we can at least double that. So go on, blow me away (I know you will anyway!)

Tell everyone you know that they have the opportunity to become a ninja for a weekend (*costume optional*) and get baking!

The Sisterhood are a (large and growing) group of women all around New Zealand, our sole aim is to bring smiles and bless others, we love to surprise nominated women with gifts and love, sent from strangers "just because". Anyone can be involved! 

There are two parts to this mission, first, we need bakers, then, we will need nominations. 
Here are the details for the bakers:

The Bakers:

• Commit to baking for a deserving Sister(s) in your neighbourhood

• You have until September 25th to register

• Its your job to be an excellent ninja. Keep their details private, move in stealth, don't be seen!

• Bake as much as you would like but you will need to inform us so we can allocate you the right number of nominations

• You can bake anything, but have it cut up into pieces for easy family sharing

• Once you sign up, you will be sent Sisterhood poems and ribbons to decorate your baking with if you would like them.

• Its your responsibility to package the cookies in a clean container and make them presentable.

• You can bake for people you know or request to receive nominations of strangers, it's all on the rego form.

• Baking will need to be labelled (incase of allergies, tastes etc) and dropped off on the 18th or 19th of October

• You may be asked to take photos of your baking and write a small blurb about what its like to participate and be involved in The Sisterhood. These are both optional :)

The Nominations:

• Once we receive all of our baking registrations we will open up nominations, these will only be available in particular regions of NZ (depending on where our bakers are and how much they can do)

• Nominations for cookie drops will be open from 1st-7th October (so check back here later)

• Baking will be dropped off on the 18th-19th October

You can register to be a baker using this form below (you'll receive a confirmation in due course, along with some extra special details that we'd love you to know about, so please register if you intend to bake!)

(Registrations for nominations will be open from October 1st-7th - check back then!)

-registrations for bakers are now closed-

We had such a brilliant response to this event last year, people have been talking about it for the last 12 months, so I really hope you'll get on board and join in the fun this year! Woohoo!

If you've got this far and you've already registered as a baker, THANK YOU!

Please email me on sophieslim AT moo2.co.nz if you have any questions!

Love you all, seriously.

-Sophie

READ MORE:
the 2012 Sisterhood Ninja Bake

End To A Long Week

And so ends a long week. There's been many times where I have banged my head against my wall of limits and dragged myself begrudgingly out of bed. It has felt like I have had no rest this last fortnight. I get up in the morning tired and go to bed tired. I am tired. (but no Mum, I'm really fine. Seriously.)

I'm looking forward to the weekend. Last weekend was busy for the hubby, he was barely home. I'm hoping things will be a little quieter and more restful this time 'round. You know, Mamas need "weekends" once in a while too. Just sayin'.

I'm also trying not to think too hard about our car that is currently stationary in Avonhead, all alone on the other side of town not starting. (And my phone that wont charge. And my TV that isn't turning on...) (EDIT* Ive been told the car is sorted and we can pick it up tomorrow!)

Instead, what's good?

• The sun is shining, there are two loads of washing on the racks outside waving in the breeze. 
• Milla is playing with Duplo which she got for her birthday. She loves it. 
• She's been getting up 3 times a night for the last week, I think it's time to cut out her lunch time nap (she didn't have one today). I thought I would mourn this day, and I kind of am, but if it means she'll stay asleep at night then I'll be much happier. 
• She is so tired right now as a result. So so tired. Here's to a good sleep tonight!!
• I'm thinking about all the ingredients for a Jamie Oliver chicken korma that I have ready to go for tonight. Delicious!
• The sun. Thank God for the sun (again)
• The Sisterhood. Ya'll have raised $1300 dollars in two nights for two families (this post for more info).
• The upstairs neighbour currently cutting his toe nails off the balcony (they're falling onto our front door step). But hey, he's an older guy with a lovely partner and they are quiet and friendly. I'll take them as upstairs neighbours any day!
• Milla currently screaming at me for water in a different cup. So i'm thankful that our water is so accessible I can get her another cup of it. 

So, there you go. Trying to look at the good things. Also thankful for this blog. And for everyone around me. And my Dad, coming to rescue me in Avonhead today, despite his recent hip replacement (oopsies), also thankful for that new hip too!

Better get that cup of water...

While I'm doing that, weigh in on this! I posted this photo ^^ on FB a few weeks ago, this is the girls at 7weeks old. I think they look really similar (mouth, nose, eye colour, hair) but my Dad doesn't think they look anything alike. He's crazy, right???!

Peace xxx

Mokopuna [snuggly] Sleep Suit Review

Katie has been wearing her merino Mokopuna longsuit every third day for the last few months (as soon as I can get it out the wash its back on her!) Its so cuddly, soft and warm for her, I love putting it on. Also, the pink (we have the magnolia) is so nice and soft and a really lovely colour for a baby. (Her Grandad gifted it to her, good choice Grandad!)

[You can see Katie in her long suit in her 1 month update post ]

I loved it so much I went onto the Mokopuna website (Baby City amongst other well known stores stocks it if you're looking for a retail outlet) and had a look at the rest of their range.

We're now proud owners of a Raspberry Sleep Suit (as pictured), it's 100% New Zealand merino, super soft and an extra handy piece of baby clothing to own.

I'm not a devoted swaddler (I did in her first few weeks, but I seem to have extra wriggly babies so gave up pretty quickly!), so these sleep suits work perfectly for us. It means an extra warm layer, especially when those arms are up around her head out of the blankets. 

There's no annoying chords around her feet too which seem to be frustratingly common for sleep suits. I much prefer the stretchy elastic on this one which makes changing really easy.

We have the 0-3 month size, but it seems to have a lot of room to grow in it, its long, and there's quite a bit of space in the arms so I'm hoping this will fit for a while after the 3 month point!

Mokopuna's quality and snugglyness has so impressed me! They would make a perfect gift too, most of their items come gift-boxed when bought from the website. *hint hint*

Thanks Grandad, and thanks Mokopuna for such superb NZ clothing for Kiddos!

Have you ever had a Mokopuna item for your kids? Leave a comment and let me know!

Intro: Homestitchness and a Giveaway!

I really wanted to introduce you to my new love, Homestitchness and to tell you about her giveaway (at the end of the post)! I have fallen head over heels for these designs!

(classic kiwi bach)

I was in contact with Jenny at the beginning of this year when she told me about her plans to start her business selling her cross stitch designs. I've dabbled in cross-stitch in the past so have a love and appreciation for the art, but I know there are some pretty daggy designs out there.

Jenny's designs blew me away when I finally laid my eyes on them!! As a kiwi living away from home (she's now based in the USA) she has completely channelled her love of Aotearoa and embroidery floss to create these iconic, collectable cross stitch designs.

They are perfectly reminiscent of the Kiwi summer, homes and landscape and would look great in my home. I love the series of little cottages - they are the perfect mix of colonial and Maori. Much like our own whanau, actually.

The fabulous thing is she sells them in her Etsy store and they are sent to you on high quality cardstock and are shipped world wide for free. I haven't seen them in person yet but I imagine the pattern alone could be framed and displayed like a piece of art.

(Pohutukawa House) (Possibly my fav!! Whats yours?)

The exciting thing is to celebrate, Jenny is giving away 2 opportunities to win a pattern of your choice! The first winner will get a full kit with pattern, floss and linen, the second will get a pattern of their choice.

All you need to do is visit the Homestitchness blog and enter!!! 

If you've never cross stitched before this is the perfect opportunity to start, or pick up some skills learnt a long time ago. The patterns come with detailed instructions on how to create the piece, and you'll be able to hang it with pride in your Kiwi Home.

(Kowhai Cottage)

Thanks Jenny!