Mondays can be a drag at the best of times, but just one week out from Christmas, it can take super human strength to stay on track and stay motivated. So I’ve created something especially seasonal to give you a bit of a boost in your breeches.

SKM’s Christmas Coffee Heart Starter!

You will need:

A French Press / aka Coffee Plunger

A jug of boiled water

Fresh ground coffee

Ground Cinnamon

Spiced Rum

A Candy Cane

Whipped cream if you’re so inclined

Sweetened condensed milk

To Make:

* Boil your water and let it sit for one minute.Add the required amount of coffee grinds to the french press for as many cups as you intend to make.  For 3 measures of coffee, add a half teaspoon of cinnamon. Add these dry to the French press.

* Fill the French press with the (just off) boiling water, stir the coffee grinds and cinnamon into the water and allow to brew for 5 minutes.

* Measure 30ml of spiced rum per mug and add to mug.

* Plunge and pour coffee into the mug.

* Instead of milk we use sweetened condensed milk to whiten and flavour; add now to desired colour.

* Stir with Candy Cane and allow hook of the candy cane to adorn the edge of the mug.

* If your calorie content is not yet met (hey you might be trying to rival Santa), top with whipped cream and a very light sprinkle of extra cinnamon.

* Delight!

Enjoy your Monday!

*This is a Nuffnang sponsored post. Courtesy of Vodafone*

**For the latest Super Kawaii Mama post, simply scroll down!**

Images – The June image from my Some Fancy Ladies™ 2012 calendar in my portfolio, The cute matching iPad and iPhone cases, my page of temptation on Pinterest.

For someone who is in many way, so very vintage (and that’s not a reference to my age wink), I’m such a high tech kind of girl. I love my auto coffee machines, my bread makers, my massage machines, iphone and just about anything that makes life simpler, easier, smaller to pack more in and simply just more fun.

Being that so much of the work I do is sitting here in front of this computer screen, it has kind of taken away so much of the fun I used to have just wandering round the internet; and now I find that when I sit down at the keypad I feel compelled to work. I just wasn’t getting anywhere near enough down time.  Then I got myself an iPad and it’s totally changed the way I work and relax. Thanks to Vodafone, I’ve been given the opportunity to review the latest iPad and see just what it can do for me.

Being small enough to carry around, it is the perfect thing for working away from home, but it has also replaced my Sunday morning newspaper and is the perfect way to catch up on my favorite blogs in my RSS reader. It comes with me everywhere and acts as a portfolio, a publishing platform, a productivity tool and the perfect playmate. Here are…

My Top 7 Must Have FREE iPad Apps

1. Wunderlist – Without a doubt, the best app I’ve used for making and sharing simple lists.  I’ve tried a number of them and they usually have too many confusing features and not the ones I actually use.  I keep track of my work, to do’s, ideas, plans, shopping… basically every thought I need to track ends up in here and it has increased my daily productivity immensely!
2. BlogPress – I used to lug my laptop around when I was travelling, always worried something would happen to it.  When I discovered how simple it was to shoot, write and publish new blog posts with Blogpress, my laptop now only comes on long haul trips.  I’ll admit, I was a bit suspicious of this app because I didn’t believe it could be that simple – but it is!
3. Instagram -  Kind of like Twitter but with images instead.  All the cool filters make just about any ordinary thing look 10 times cooler, and its loads of fun to see windows into other peoples world all across the globe.
4. Pinterest – WARNING Highly Addictive! Pinterest is like a virtual scrap book pinboard. You find images you like anywhere on the web, click to pin them and add them to your categorized virtual pin boards.  They retain the link of where they came from so when you start exploring other peoples beautiful inspiration boards, it opens up a whole new world of great new blogs and sites you’ve never visited before.
5. 8mm – Simple app to film your videos from you iPad camera with awesome retro effects. Want to star in your own 70’s style action flick? You need 8mm!
6. Handy Convert – This isn’t fancy. No flash graphics of bells and whistles, but when you’re standing at the fabric counter, vintage pattern in hand, not knowing how to convert metric to imperial, this is a life saver! It does all kinds of conversions from food measures, to areas and temperatures.
7. Westfield app – Surprisingly I don’t use a lot of fashion aps. I find most of them less than inspiring. But because my local shopping mall is a Westfield, this one is super handy. Being short on time, the more I can plan my attack the better. This app allows me to live track available parking, best locations, stores, specials, floor plans… basically I can turn my shopping into a military attack on bargains.

This Christmas, Vodafone have a range of iPads and other tablets available with the added bonus of paying nothing upfront! No opening payments, nothing, nada, zero. You simply choose the right tablet for you, figure out how much data you think you’ll use and get yourself the right plan. That way, it is the Christmas gift that keeps giving all year and doesn’t kill your hip pocket.

They come in the most fabulous array of colours, but if you like to go all matchy matchy the way I do, I’ve treated myself to a matching iPad case, phone case, wallet and passport carrier from Forever New. They look so cute together. The 10 hour battery life has been excellent for me, because I’m often faced with long periods of time away from power outlets when travelling, especially on those road trips.

The brightness of the screen has been another great feature that I hadn’t really considered until this summer, when it is wonderful to be able to work outside, but the old laptop screens just don’t cope with how bright our sun can be. The iPad on the other hand, is bright enough that I can sit under a tree, relaxing in the breeze and comfortably read away without getting nasty squint wrinkles.

You can find out more about Vodafone’s offer and the range of different tablet plans available here, and should you have any questions about how they work or other peoples experiences with them, check out the Vodafone community page.  Thanks Vodafone for giving me the opportunity to improve not only my working day, but my kicking back time.

Attempting to look composed whilst reading this hysterical piece in public.

You know I’m not really one for writing about parenting on this blog, after all, I think some of my techniques may be a bit suspect. However, today is an exception because this is something you should all know about whether you have kids of your own or not. We all know someone with children or someone who wants to have them, and giving them a copy of this book may be the best thing you ever do for them.  In fact, it is so good that you may find yourself written into their Will / given a holiday home/ keys to the city.

Dr. Madeline Hamilton became a friend of mine after writing her book Our Girls about Australian Pinups in WW2, so it was with surprise that I first began to read her blog about being a Mother; Sh*t On My Hands. Now Madeline and her co-author Bunny have combined their observations and experiences to bring you this gem of a book. When I first opened this up and began to read, it was like that moment in indian Jones when they open the Arc of the Covenant. All gobsmacked revelation, awe and joy / horror shared.  This is the book that I wish I had been given before I had kids, the book you should give others planning to take the plunge.

In fact, you can read one of my own tales of sh*tful woe here on Madeline’s blog.

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It revels in the joy of parenthood, but pulls no punches when it comes to giving you the frustrating, maddening, hysterical truth of it all.  If you think that having kids will be all about how to decorate the nursery, what type of eco friendly brand nappies you need and which school of parenting your style will spring from – You.Need.This.Book!

Handbag sized, this is perfect for taking anyway and reading on the go. The stories will have you laughing until the tears run down your legs, so I warn you to be prepared. To top all that off, the book is beautifully presented with a gorgeous array of vintage baby advertisements that make the dreamy romance of the situation all too clear in juxtaposition to the reality.

You can get your copy of Sh*t On My Hands from Arcade Publications as either a hard copy of ebook, and from good book sellers all over the country. I think I’m going to order a box of these in bulk and send them to every new mum, expectant parent and clucky friend. You’ll thank me later.

(not my family, but a gorgeous picture of the Halvorsen family that represents just how Christmas looks in my head…)

Last week a friend sent me an email with this message, capturing what I been thinking in a very succinct way…

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1. Alice Jean’s Soda Pop Shop for locally made, beautiful soaps and vintage inspired children’s clothing. YUM!

2. Melbournalia is not only filled with wonderful Australian made wares, but these are even local to MELBOURNE! (Yes, that’s the city I live in). Lots of ephemera, postal goods and fancy wares.

3. Sukin - natural, organic hand and nail cream that smells heavenly and has been doing wonders for my hard working hands.

4. If you hadn’t already figured it out by the avalanche of blog posts  on Some Fancy Ladies™, we are all Australian grown, shot here, produced and printed here! So adorn the walls of those you love with some home grown pinup art.

5. If you’re looking for something truly magically for the children in your life this Christmas, I think I’ve discover the ultimate in one of a kind, love them forever gifts.  Handcrafted from local gumtree timber, Bentsticks creates these incredible fantasy mini tree houses and gnomes that have to be seen to be believed! They even now have a range of night lights. These are guaranteed to ignite the imagination.

6. For totally Australian made, stunning looks to get you through your Christmas parties or even for great gift vouchers, take a look at Peta Pledger, Powderpuff Boutique & Hot Couture – Gorgeous, locally made, vintage inspired apparel.

There’s loads and loads of great ideas out there. In fact, if you spend a few minutes on Facebook, you’re likely to uncover some fantastic local businesses with all sorts of gift vouchers on offer. How about portrait sittings with Finessence Photography or your own classic pinup shoot with Helen McLean. You could even treat yourself and a friend to Personal Shopping tours, Vintage Styling Sessions or Vintage Makeup lessons with me over the holidays. Want to learn how to be Charming? Book a gift voucher for the Lindy Charm School for Girls next workshop in your city.

It goes without saying that wherever you live in the world, this message applies. No doubt there will be some things on your wish list that you can’t get at home, but there are loads that you can. There are so many wonderful, creative, keen people out there that are more than happy to help fulfil your Christmas gift list. Your local economy and the tables of those at home will thank you for it!

Occasionally, only once in a while, an album comes along that is everything you dreamed of and more.  An album that gives you the familiar rush of a teenage fan who plays each track over and over, never tiring of the sound.  That album for me is the latest offering from Nico Duportal and his Rhthym Dudes – “Going Back to Ya”.

A good friend of mine introduced me to Nico’s sound via a phone conversation, where his enthusiasm was so strong that he sat and attempted to play me several tracks over the phone. Now while the sound quality was lacking with this method, it did nothing to dull the passion in his voice. As he said to me, “You know when music just makes your heart sing?”  and I sure did.

Since getting my hands on a copy of this album two months ago, it it a rare day that I have not listened to it or at least one track. I can honestly say that it is simply impossible for me to pick a favourite tune. Every time I think I’ve landed on one, the next one comes around and I’m torn.  Nico’s sound (in very technical music terms), is to die for!  His voice is rich, lush, gritty and has a hefty does of ‘come hither’ mixed in. A sound known to my friends and I as “swoon worthy”. Officially you’d have to categorise the sound as Jump Blues or more commonly, Blues (but I like mine better).

The recording quality of the album is spot on for the feel of both the era and the mood. That wonderful, less than perfect sound you’ll remember from 1950′s produced vinyl albums. It’s funny because when I hear this album on my all too modern iPod, all I can see in my head is a great black and white, lo-fi clip of girls screaming for their idol. It’s that kind of good.

Here is who should buy this album- Guys who want to get a girl into their arms for a dance then a drink afterwards, Girls who like to sing in their cars, Babyboomers who want to remember their heyday, Aspiring blues singers who want to hear from a modern artist just how its done, Women who want the perfect soundtrack to their 50′s fantasies, Musicians for the appreciation and anyone who thinks that music these days has gone to the dogs.