Hello Kitty - So Kawaii!

Some of you may remember that the Cheeky Monkeys family had the opportunity to travel to Japan a few years ago, and my did it fuel my small Monkeys' already huge love of Hello Kitty and all things kawaii!  And just quietly, I was loving the opportunity to express my love for Hello Kitty through my small Monkeys too.

Therefore, it has been a long-standing wish of mine to include some cute and gorgeous Hello Kitty buntings in Domum Vindemia if I could find battered, old Hello Kitty storybooks.  This week, my big wish came true and I have started on the journey of creating Hello Kitty cuteness!

There is only one bunting in-store at the moment, so get in quick if you love it.  But there will be a few more added to the store once I have the energy to create them and get them listed.  Hands up if you love Hello Kitty too!

Healthier Sweet Treats

I have been assiduously watching my dietary intake for the last six months or so due to ongoing health issues, and it's such a drag to attend functions and not be able to indulge in treats as often as others do.  So today I've gathered a roundup of sweet treats that are healthier than the average dessert but still hit the spot when you have a craving for something sweet.  Enjoy!

1. Blueberry, banana and quinoa pancakes

2. Wagon wheel-inspired slice

3. Yoghurt and berry gelato terrine

4. Fig tart

Are you a superhero fan?

I wrote about super mums the other week, and this week I'm writing about supers again, but this time Marvel's superheroes in particular.  Regular readers may remember that I started adding superhero buntings to Domum Vindemia last year because of my love for superheroes and in response to requests from superhero-loving fans.

This past couple of weeks I have been adding even more superhero buntings to the store, with the addition of Spiderman and Iron Man buntings and the popular Avengers bunting is now back in stock!  Which other superheroes (or heroines) would you like to see in-store?  And are your favourite the popular heroes or those slightly left of centre?

Vanity Fair

Today I am showing off the newest addition to Two Cheeky Monkeys' literary range, the start of our Vanity Fair range of jewellery and accessories!  I've chosen to start with our popular earstuds, creating a Becky Sharp set of earrings for those who see Thackeray's main character as an anti-heroine rather than a conniving social climber.

There will be more Vanity Fair pieces added to the store in coming weeks, but I wholly welcome suggestions and commissions for pieces you would love to see in-store.  So tell me, which characters did you love or hate in Vanity Fair?

Chinese New Year Recipe Roundup

With Chinese new year just around the corner (Feb 16th), I thought I'd share recipes for some of the Cheeky Monkeys family's favourite south-east Asian Chinese treats!  Some of these are easier to make than others, but they are all delicious and don't require one to be too adventurous if you have cautious or fussy eaters.  Enjoy!

1. Jiao zi, also called pot stickers by some, is a fan favourite here!

2. Ditto marbled tea eggs, they always get eaten very quickly.

3. Don't be alarmed by the striking green colour, this pandan sago pudding is DELICIOUS.

4. Fried beancurd rolls (lor bak) are Grandma Cheeky Monkeys' specialty.

Are you a super mum?

As a busy mum to my Cheeky Monkeys who struggles with tiredness, forgetfulness in keeping track of school forms and the various other jobs that keep mothers the world over feeling like they're about to collapse, it's lovely to have my family show their appreciation for all that I do.

Which got me thinking about fun ways to celebrate mothers with Two Cheeky Monkeys jewellery.  The mother-daughter locket sets are already very popular, but in order to celebrate mothers, I have created a brand new locket, just for mums.

For all the super mums out there, who keep loving their families and getting them going on their way each morning even when they've slept badly or are sick, we now have "Super Mum" (or "Super Mom" if you use US spelling) locket necklaces available!  Who do you know who is a super mum?  Is it you?

Valentine's Day Finds

As the "day of love" approaches, I thought I'd share a collection of fun, love-themed items which you can spoil loved ones with all year round.  Each piece is handmade by an individual creator, meaning that it is unique and supports a small business - enjoy!

1. Star Wars-inspired keyrings

2. Rose bath melts

3. Love magnet set

4. Bird art print

Travel the world

Hello my loyal readers!  I've had a lovely break from blogging as I spent the school summer holidays traipsing around with my Cheeky Monkeys and Mr Cheeky Monkeys.

But now we're back to real life and I'm back into the swing of our school term routine and blogging!

I'm starting the new year with the unveiling of new buntings to Domum Vindemia.  I've had a few requests for map and atlas buntings of late, and now that I've taken time off from creating these beauties, I'm ready to start again!

Each bunting is created from retro maps and atlases from the early 1980s and is, of course, one of a kind.  They're perfect for decorating school classrooms, or for sending off a friend on their travels and newest adventure.  How many countries on this map have you visited?