Happy Easter

Hoping your having a lovely Easter and enjoying a hot cross bun....or two!

YUM

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Happy Valentine's Day

 

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Love Potion

As Valentine's Day aproaches it's got me thinking.....

If your like me and need a little help in the love department why not try a little magic? 

Get out your cauldron and whip up a batch of Love Potion to get the "juices" flowing!

adapted from www.magic-spells-and-potions.com

Rose LOVE Potion

Three hearts of precious wild pink rose
that under sun and starlight grows;
Three silver spoons of honey gold
awakens powers of the old;
Three silver spoons of brandy wine
you shall be mine, you shall be mine.
You shall be mine till I you free
This is my will, so shall it be.

Method:

Put all the ingredients in order into a pot reciting the spell and then, with a SILVER spoon, stir them together on the last three lines. 

Then you have the Love Potion ready to use.

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Or if a delicious cocktail is more your type of potion then this recipe is sure to cast a spell....

 

LOVE Potion Cocktail 

• 30ml  strawberry or vanilla vodka
• 15ml white crème de cacao
• 1/2 cup fresh or frozen strawberries
• scoop of vanilla ice cream
• 1/2 cup ice
• strawberry for garnish

 

Method:

1. Pour the ingredients into a blender.
2. Blend until smooth.
3. Pour into a chilled glass.
4. Garnish with a strawberry.

If the mix is too thick, add berries or milk; too thin, add ice or ice cream.

SOoooooooo goood !!

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Perfectly Pretty Purple

Ahhh....*sigh*... how I envy all you lucky girls born in February.  AMETHYST is your birthstone and it's an oh so pretty hue.  

If you're LOVING this colour as much as I am here is some inspiration on how you can Pack a Punch with a Pinch of Purple!

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The Sketchbook Project 2012

Sketchbooks for the 2012 Sketchbook Project have to be post marked by 31st January and I've finished just in time!......phew.
The theme I chose was TREE HOUSE.


I've always loved the idea of living in a tree house in one of those amazing Morton Bay Fig Trees with the crazy big roots.  It would be like living in "The Faraway Tree" (but with all the mod-cons, of course).

Morton Bay Fig Tree, Sydney

  Anyway.... below are the little artworks that went into my sketchbook.  I love using ink and making mixed media collages.  I like gathering up all sorts of bits and bobs - that on their own might not be that interesting, but put them together make and they make something unique.

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Being in the ZONE

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Resolution # 2 - Take a Leap

The beginning of a new is like having a fresh start.  Forget about what happened / didn't happen in the year that's past and keep moving forward.

This year it's time to turn over a new leaf and take a leap.....

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Christmas Swap Time - Part 3

I think it must have been a super busy year for the postman this Christmas, as I also finally received my parcel from my Secret Santa Swapper!  But it was well worth the wait.  Danielle sent me such a thoughtful package especially for me (and my little fur babies!)  Included were:

Adorable Bandanas & Leads for Daisy and Hugo (that she handmade and embroidered herself!).
Shiny silver tree ornaments.
Wind in the Willows (to add to my reading list)
Scrummy Peppermint candy swivel sticks to have in a hot cup of coffee or hot chocolate (so cool).
Festive flavoured tea.
And a beautiful hair clip with a little bit of sparkle too ;)

Thanks SO much Danielle for your lovely gifts!

Daisy in her Bandana...

Hugo in his (so cute)

Daisy LOVES to have her picture taken!

Hugo's a little bit impatient ;)

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Foxy Swap - Part 3

YAY - they finally came - albeit a smidge late, my decorations arrived!  They are so cute, I LOVE them all!  (but I think a have a teeny crush on the adorable Santa....sooo cute).  I can't wait for next Christmas so they can hang proudly on my little tree.  Check 'em out >>>

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Resolution # 1 - Be Happy

This year I would like to fill my days with happiness.  Take more time to "stop and smell the roses",  take better care of myself, do more of the things that I love to do, trust my intuition and stress less!

I believe that happiness lies in the little things that make up our everyday like.... sitting in the sun eating an ice cream, taking my doggies for a walk, twinkle lights in the garden, singing in the car.....

sewing!

 

a chat and a cup of tea

baking

What makes you happy?

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Happy New Year!

All the very best for 2012.  I hope it is a wonderful, happy, healthy, love filled & adventurous year for us all!  

God bless xxx

The Eternal Question...

As the year draws to an end and we are preparing to celebrate the New Year  - the eternal question looms...
             
                    "What will I wear???"....

....a little inspiration

 One things for certain - there should be a bit of sparkle, don't you think?   ♥

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Merry Christmas Everyone! xxx

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A Sing-Song & Some Shortbread

Yesterday my sister and I vistited our Nanna at her nursing home and we took her along to their Carols for Christmas evening.  It was so much fun and there was such a big turn-out (over 100 residents and family members).  

In between songs there was a lovely lady handing out homemade shortbread.  It was so delicious (I've been on a mission to find an awesome shortbread recipe for ages) so we plucked-up and asked for the recipe.  She was more than happy to oblige and said that it came on the side of the rice flour box!

So carrying on with her Christmas spirit I thought I would share the recipe with you here too....

Traditional Shortbread

115g Rice Flour

225g Plain Flour

115g Caster Sugar

1 pinch Salt

225g Butter

Directions

• Sieve flour, rice flour, sugar and salt into a bowl.
• Rub in butter and knead until smooth paste forms.
• Turn onto floured board, roll out to 1 - 1.5 cm thick and make bars or shape as desired, prick with a fork.
• Place on cold greased tray, sprinkle with some extra caster sugar, cook in a slow oven 140-150°C (300°F) 45 minutes to 60 minutes, until pale brown.

Enjoy!.....let me know how you like them.

P.S:  How cute are those shortbread molds that have pretty traditional pictutes on them like thisles and flowers - I want one!

....Happy Baking X

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My Weekend

I had the best weekend filled with some of my favourite things....

Sewing up a storm making lots of Christmas pressies.
Wrapping up all of those pressies
Baking batches of gingerbread men....so cute
Coffee with my Nanna and Sister
Hanging out with my fur babies and decorating the house

- LOVE it

what did you get-up to this weekend?




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All that Glitters *

One of my favourite traditions of the Christmas season is decorating the tree and today I helped my sister with hers.  Simple, but oh so pretty.... love it.



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SUMMER lovin'

 1st of December + 1st Day of Summer = YAY!

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Pomander Balls

I've always wanted to make Pomander balls and this Christmas I'm finally going to make some!

 

Pomanders go back to the 15th century.  A pomander, from the French pomme d'ambre, i.e. apple of amber, is a ball made of perfumes.  They were worn hung from a neck-chain or belt, where they served as a protection against infection in times of pestilence or merely as a useful article to modify bad smells....

If you fancy having a go at making some yourself this festive season see the method below.


To make 2 balls, you will need:
2 oranges (or try apples, lemons, or lime)
Toothpick or pin to ease the cloves into the orange
Whole cloves, at least 1/4 cup, depending upon your design
Spice mixture (see recipe below)
1.5m of Ribbon

For the spice mixture:
3 Tbs. ground cinnamon
3 Tbs. ground cloves
3 Tbs. ground nutmeg
3 Tbs. ground ginger
3 Tbs. orris root powder (the dried and ground root of certain iris used as a fixative)


Directions
Making a Pomander Ball is easy, but can take some time! Simply stick a clove directly into an orange (or any of the other fruits listed above). You may want to use a toothpick or pin to make the first punctures so that the cloves are easier to insert. You don't have to fill the entire ball - try a pattern or design if you feel inspired.

Once the ball is completely studded with cloves, roll it in the spice mixture and set it aside for a couple of weeks in a cool dry spot so that it will dry. Once dried, tie a ribbon around the ball for hanging. Multiple pomander balls also look beautiful displayed together in a large decorative bowl.




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Christmas Swap Time - Part 2

After this weekend I am officially in a festive mood!  I finished making the Apron for my Secret Santa Swap partner.  I really enjoyed making this apron and gathering up an array of fun, tasty, Christmassy "tuck-in's"  I hope my partner likes her goodies......

Now......what other Christmas type activities can i get get up to??  Ah....I LOVE this time of year! 

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honey, honey

Today I had a hankering for HONEY JOYS!  So I gave-in and made the biggest batch ever (to share of course).  They have been one of my favourite treats since I was little and I still love 'em.

So you too can enJOY some of these scrummy babies, I've included the recipe below (yay)....

Honey Joys

90g butter or margarine
1/3 cup sugar
1 tablespoon honey
4 cups Corn Flakes

Preheat oven to 150°C.

Line 24 hole patty pan with paper cases.

Melt butter, sugar and honey together in a saucepan until frothy.

Add Corn Flakes and mix well.

Working quickly spoon into paper patty cases.

Bake in a slow oven 150°C for 10-12 minutes.

Cool.  
  




www.kelloggs.com.au 
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