tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91485682991151764362024-03-05T18:22:10.086+13:00Cookies, Cakes and Condimentscookies_and_cakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08122033592798373052noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9148568299115176436.post-51052801596079955422014-09-04T22:48:00.000+12:002014-09-04T22:48:35.968+12:00Origami Cookies - With Added Foxiness!Hey all,<br />
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This weeks cookie theme is Origami.<br />
<br />Exciting!<br />
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My very best friend recently went up to Wellington and stayed with her friend for the weekend, who is the most amazing Origami artist. To say thank you she asked me for some help in designing and making Origami cookies for him.<br />
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What we came up with is actually pretty awesome!<br />
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I actually used cookie cutters this week, such a novelty, after trimming and handcutting quite a bit lately. I used a Betty Crocker cat face cutter for the fox and a simple 10-point star for the others.<br />
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I did hand cut some cranes. See below.<br />
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It's possible I forgot to take a photo of them finished. But in all honesty, they didn't live up to the excitement of the foxes. How could they?<br />
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So, first plain sugar cookies. SO boring. Then I drew my lines on, as above.<br />
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I piped the lines in the browny-orange, filling the cheek and centre piece in shortly after. If you are hyper-vigilant about colours running, you might want to wait until the piping has dried completely before putting the white in.<br />
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Likewise, with the pinwheels I did 2 pieces at a time, and then let this dry completely (overnight), filling in 2 more pieces the next day, and then the last piece when they had completely dried.<br />
If you fill any joining triangles before the other is dry, they all run together, and you just end up with a royal icing puddle.<br />
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Looking good.<br />
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I must say, in this instance, the black piping over top at the end, really made these.<br />
It worked perfectly with the Origami look, and I just really think they are especially adorable.<br />
Next weeks theme is roller skates, so check back in soon!<br />
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Loucookies_and_cakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08122033592798373052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9148568299115176436.post-4611266265713721592014-08-24T22:48:00.001+12:002014-08-24T22:48:34.566+12:00Cookie Theme - Coffee with Love!<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This week, I used some inspiration AGAIN from <a href="http://www.sweetsugarbelle.com/" target="_blank">sweetsugarbelle.com</a>, as she is so thorough, and the finishing touches on her cookies are absolutely awesome. One day people, one day!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You can find the original piece she did on these cookies <a href="http://www.sweetsugarbelle.com/2014/02/lattecookies/" target="_blank">here</a> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, this is how i did it!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I actually don't own a coffee cup cutter, so used a baby onesie cutter, and chopped the sleeves and bottom bit off. Inverted, it gave a great angled look to my cookie.</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I did cut in the round on the top by hand, just to give a better definition of the lid once completed, and I must say I am glad I did. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Above, you can see where I have used a food-safe marker to draw out where I wanted to run each section. This is really useful when you are going to be using multiple colours. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You can also see above the coffee bean cookies, which I hand cut as I just had nothing that I could see that would work. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Note to self to stop taking photos on our wooden table. Will move to a white background for better colour I promise. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the right you can see where I lined the coffee cup sections, using a tan colour I made using mint green, lemon yellow and super red. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Next, I flooded the tan sections of the coffee cup in. At this point, I let them set for about an hour, so the colours wouldn't run when I added the white mid-section and top. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I just used a straight white for these ones, but in hindsight I would have tracked down some Ivory colour to add to the royal icing, just to offset quite how white this icing is. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There is really only one shop in our city that sells the Americolor brand gel colours and they carry a limited supply, so everything is ordered online. It just means I have to think ahead and stay on top of colours, which obviously didn't happen this week. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I piped around the top edge and sides before flooding in the white. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For the coffee beans above, I used a thicker icing in favour of not lining and then flooding, simply filling one half of the cookie, waiting for it to semi-dry, then filling in the remainder, as you can see here. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Added in some lovely hearts, lined with white, filled with a icing which was a mix of electric pink & super red. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These found their way to someone who totally deserved some coffee cookies. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Check in later this week for this weeks theme. ORIGAMI!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">See ya then, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lou xoxo</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>cookies_and_cakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08122033592798373052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9148568299115176436.post-63520366448455092652014-08-10T12:27:00.000+12:002014-08-10T12:27:24.397+12:00Lego Brick & Lego Man Cookies<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">It's a rare Sunday that I have time to sit down and catch up on blog and coffee, all by myself. Josh has taken Miss 4 to the movies, and Mr 2 is asleep.<br />Look at me go!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">We are off to a friends birthday party for her own Mr 2 this afternoon, and I wanted to contribute some awesome cookies to the festivities. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">So, Lego Brick cookies!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I got this easy, awesome idea from over at <a href="http://www.sweetsugarbelle.com/2012/02/easy-lego-cookies/" target="_blank">here</a>. I am obsessed with her whole website, and her lego men look a lot more clean than mine, but that's ok, practice makes perfect!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I really like them. Next time, I think I will just suck it up and buy Black 5mm beads instead of doing the eyes myself, and I would bring the eyes down a little. But I think they are pretty cool dudes!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjunajy673PTD8g2V2qcBJLCvhJLBF7rRwrVlWRXx4wZOnvWVjJhdBkfa4m5k6u79HgDnKlURFtfEGSfnzb9LXNph1hFNVwr1WxVlpbNiinKMuz7OdpuakcYYHEw6kmEdvUfCPVb_U9Ko8/s1600/20140810_095929_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjunajy673PTD8g2V2qcBJLCvhJLBF7rRwrVlWRXx4wZOnvWVjJhdBkfa4m5k6u79HgDnKlURFtfEGSfnzb9LXNph1hFNVwr1WxVlpbNiinKMuz7OdpuakcYYHEw6kmEdvUfCPVb_U9Ko8/s1600/20140810_095929_1.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The Lego Bricks came together so easily, and although there are some I like more than others, I am really happy with the presentation of them overall. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Only one test left, and that's to let them all loose on a 2 year old birthday party. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Miss 4 was my taste tester this morning, and reckons they are "the bee's knees". </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Mr 2 didn't agree, but he's not my sweet tooth, so I try not to take it to heart. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br />The plan is to get my portfolio of cookies bigger & better and to start selling over the next 18 months. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">So, if you are on the hunt for cute, quirky, fun cookies then I am the lady to talk too. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Got some eyes made up and ready to go for another project later in the week! Keep your eyes peeled!! HAHAAA eyes.. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Peace out. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Lou</span>cookies_and_cakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08122033592798373052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9148568299115176436.post-7088227072687237112014-05-11T23:50:00.001+12:002014-05-11T23:50:40.488+12:00Mother's Day 2014<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">A perfectly normal, quiet Mother's Day. What more could I possibly have asked for?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">We have had a VERY long week in our house, involving sick kids, MRI's for Mr.1 (scheduled, so no big drama) and general havoc. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">It was so nice to wake up this morning (albeit after a largely sleepless night last night with Mr.1) and have a cup of coffee in bed!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">We went out for brunch with family, we caught up with everyone and took the obligatory family photos, we drank more coffee (a staple in any family outing!). I chilled out with my kids and watched a DVD, I took Miss.4 to a birthday party (at Chipmunks, so easy work for me) and I got to have coffee with my best friend. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">It's days like today, so lacking in drama and issues and busy-ness that make me feel blessed and peaceful. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">It's a light at the end of the tunnel, after a long week and not enough sleep, I remember why I do it, and if I can walk away from anything on Mother's Day, I am really glad it is that. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Today, I feel thankful for happy, generally healthy kiddies, a hard-working husband and a great friends & family network. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br />A very Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers out there, young & old, new & more weathered, you are all awesome and do what you can, and I think you are swell. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>cookies_and_cakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08122033592798373052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9148568299115176436.post-23825971963173120612013-08-19T21:11:00.000+12:002013-08-19T21:11:00.801+12:00Purchase of the week (pre-wedding #2)So, this week has been all about wedding prep.<br />
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Figuring out what I need to figure out is really hard work. So its nice that in between all that, I get to buy cool things and play with them. It makes it all seem awesomely worth it, makes all the stress and busy-ness seem totally justifiable. There is method to my madness after all.<br />
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So, my favourite web store of the week:<br />
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<a href="http://www.poprocparties.co.nz/">www.poprocparties.co.nz</a><br />
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Picked up the gear I needed to get my goody bags under way this week, and I could have spent soooo much more money than I did.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZys53OfuEahvs_QwLBRcD3rrj-onNLxPcILEFPtr5-PjCyA-An-6hvU99GX0h1t1CJGG7qxBJGWDBNvVoQn6B8aT8ZAG8dKDbd2KUe7uNTSMObKGQkjjJKroWdCaszPyqfGlGkwInPek/s1600/DSC_1305.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZys53OfuEahvs_QwLBRcD3rrj-onNLxPcILEFPtr5-PjCyA-An-6hvU99GX0h1t1CJGG7qxBJGWDBNvVoQn6B8aT8ZAG8dKDbd2KUe7uNTSMObKGQkjjJKroWdCaszPyqfGlGkwInPek/s320/DSC_1305.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
These bags were a really affordable option for the goody bags. At only 0.35c a pop, I didn't break any budgets buying about 70 of them.<br />
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You can see here my special treat of the week. I bought a full stamp set of the alphabet, in upper and lower case. In the photo above, you can see we have stamped each envelope with names. They are even more adorable on the bags than I thought they would be. And yes, the bags did come pre-stamped. So handy.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkP886DcnbPlSSXGObKJBTjE-oUSVS64SUOpdLz8ATOicN9M6umg74ZV7x59L1J-vIQVEuHUhrQlZfE-6R9odXI3NFkKDDqBe51pN6ZFuzXDD7QCVwY8gaBtXo87R1yvd2kdChRaU8lFs/s1600/DSC_1306.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkP886DcnbPlSSXGObKJBTjE-oUSVS64SUOpdLz8ATOicN9M6umg74ZV7x59L1J-vIQVEuHUhrQlZfE-6R9odXI3NFkKDDqBe51pN6ZFuzXDD7QCVwY8gaBtXo87R1yvd2kdChRaU8lFs/s320/DSC_1306.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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You can see a little taster of the washi tape I bought too. It's a mint floral washi tape, and it was worth all of the $5.00 it cost me, to liven up my little bags just enough.<br />
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We had the fantastic idea of rolling out a little paint, and making labels (3 for each person), which will go inside the little goody bags. As we are having a BYO wedding, we wanted a way for people to be able to label their drinks. Yay for sticker sheets, cute alphabet stamps and paint!<br />
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The magic of using the paint with the labels is that even once the alcohol or drinks get chucked in the chilly bin, the paint wont run everywhere and make a horrible mess. It is also a cost effective way to make 180 labels, so that always makes me happy!<br />
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So, busy week all round. I am slowly working my way through these one by one, putting together these very cute little bags and counting the days till I get to give them out. I know everyone will see the effort put in and appreciate that we are doing what we can to make a cheap wedding, still awesome and cute, and very much suited to us as people.<br />
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YAY! General celebration excitement!!<br />
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Lou xoxocookies_and_cakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08122033592798373052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9148568299115176436.post-23446805616063013042013-08-18T20:33:00.000+12:002013-08-18T20:33:00.021+12:00Bakerella Red Velvet & Wilton 2d cupcakes<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I am a massive fan of the <a href="http://www.bakerella.com/red-velvet-cake/" target="_blank">Bakerella</a> recipe for Red Velvet cake.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A few weeks ago, I was planning my wedding cupcakes (an alternative to a wedding cake), and went immediately back to this awesome recipe. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This is a favourite for me, because it consistenly makes a beautifully flavoured, well cooked, moist cake. My general rule of thumb is that pretty much any cake recipe can be turned into cupcakes, but not all cupcake recipes can be turned into cake (in fact, not many at all). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This was the first time I had made this recipe in cupcake form though, and man it was good. These were just as beautifully flavoured, moist and well cooked as the full cake version. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This is definitely a flavour I want within my wedding cake. Not so long ago ( a few weeks), the plan was that I would make my own wedding cake/cupcakes, due to our tiny budget. However, I am very lucky, and my dad has offered to pay for a proper cake now, so I don't have to stress over it. YAY! One less thing to worry about is totally ok in my book.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As I was doing this for a wedding trial run, I invested (I use the term invested very lightly here, because it cost me $5.00) in a Wilton 2d icing tip. I have always really loved the rosette piped cupcakes created by this icing tip and wanted to recreate this tip at home. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I did my usual thing and watched about 18 Youtube videos on the subject (how all the greats learned, I am sure) and then gave it a go myself.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Wow! This is so easy, like I am pretty sure I could have gotten Josh to do it, and he could have rocked it (no offence to him is meant here, he just really isn't a baker, especially not a cupcake decorator).<br />This icing tip may be my new favourite icing tip, and I do not say this lightly.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">How cute are these?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Please excuse the poor lighting, this was a night time venture, and my photography skills are severely limited. Whenever possible I use my mums partners camera, but usually I have my silly smart phone, and that's it. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I will totally accept sponsorship from a camera company, and make you proud, but until then, this is all you get. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I dusted the top edges with gold lustre dust, and it just finished them off perfectly. For a first attempt, I am stoked with how these came out, I will be coming back to this one again and again.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD5aYvy9reY8uco2xeOJc8RKTsDw3hc4p0JJCxtOgJdIjtpC-cBlKhzzHC-bsJlMLz9GLpbHHLTWeRDplVCWfxEzh0tYslqXNbl2ujnuhCgzeoR135EHimVvWF_KzxDd6ral5UAL6SC7c/s1600/DSC_1288.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD5aYvy9reY8uco2xeOJc8RKTsDw3hc4p0JJCxtOgJdIjtpC-cBlKhzzHC-bsJlMLz9GLpbHHLTWeRDplVCWfxEzh0tYslqXNbl2ujnuhCgzeoR135EHimVvWF_KzxDd6ral5UAL6SC7c/s400/DSC_1288.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The frosting is the cream cheese frosting that comes along with the Bakerella recipe. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">DO IT. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Bakerella Red Velvet Cake</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">2 cups sugar</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1 Tablespoon cocoa</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1 teaspoon salt</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1 teaspoon baking soda</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">2 eggs</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1 1/2 cups oil</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1 cup buttermilk</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1 Tablespoon vinegar</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1 teaspoon vanilla</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Red food colouring</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Preheat oven to 180 degrees C. Or 350 degrees F.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Grease and flour 2 x 20cm cake pans (8-inch). If making cupcakes, prepare 2 x 12-hole muffin pans with papers.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Lightly stir eggs in a medium bowl with a wire whisk. Add remaining liquid ingredients and stir together with whisk until blended. Set aside.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Place all the dry ingredients in your mixing bowl and stir together really well, with another wire whisk.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Add wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix on medium-high for about a minute or until completely combined.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Pour cake batter into prepared cake pans or muffin pans.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Bang muffin pans on benchtop to get any air bubbles out and to the surface.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Bake for 30 minutes for cake, or 18 minutes for cupcakes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">After about ten minutes, remove cakes from pans or muffin pans and cool completely on a wire rack. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Make the frosting!</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">CREAM CHEESE FROSTING</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">8 oz. cream cheese (240gm), room temperature</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1 cup (226g) butter, room temperature</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1 teaspoon vanilla</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Sift sugar and set aside.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Beat cream cheese and butter on high until creamy. Add vanilla.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Then, add the sugar in batches. Scrape down the sides in between each addition.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Frost away!!</span></li>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJszXmSjU0DzOD2b9yAMmVREvK-Zojhc6PosQ7-BO5M3yEiWmdxrLUpyDc3whrREDgO-FhauwozJdyvhdBf62YLnjwKTaQJV9KDng8otwejjtluvNSu-mFACBOAhVLzIgaAvosMWYFQ1E/s1600/DSC_1289.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJszXmSjU0DzOD2b9yAMmVREvK-Zojhc6PosQ7-BO5M3yEiWmdxrLUpyDc3whrREDgO-FhauwozJdyvhdBf62YLnjwKTaQJV9KDng8otwejjtluvNSu-mFACBOAhVLzIgaAvosMWYFQ1E/s400/DSC_1289.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Lou xoxo</span></div>
cookies_and_cakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08122033592798373052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9148568299115176436.post-51494956201927634892013-08-17T20:30:00.001+12:002013-08-17T20:30:25.470+12:00Pre-wedding #1<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Hello!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">How I have missed you.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This week has marked the 3 month mark for wedding, and now with officially less than 3 months to go, I have gone into crafty overdrive and general wedding prep.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We bought Lily's flower girl dress fabric and I bought a pattern. I bought her some super cute shoes too in the Pumpkin Patch sale online! Only $13!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8WIfHpr2jgnKYUqKLDcu06LKtC3Ho_5Ogj3gfYdvVKflZMck_Bu7zIkQz7eWZFIEUHOpMCILnBAATrpT7wX9-IBEBafOYgiqb6rP1QgH96PEBkjU8Y-U1ZufPHEu2KWPdbvz8uxAg3ek/s1600/DSC_1302.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8WIfHpr2jgnKYUqKLDcu06LKtC3Ho_5Ogj3gfYdvVKflZMck_Bu7zIkQz7eWZFIEUHOpMCILnBAATrpT7wX9-IBEBafOYgiqb6rP1QgH96PEBkjU8Y-U1ZufPHEu2KWPdbvz8uxAg3ek/s400/DSC_1302.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">These have been my big excitement lately! We have been quietly making these little beauties for a while now. Basically, a flower made from an old book page, felt leaves and a brooch backing. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Upon arrival at the wedding, each of our guests will receive one of these little babies. It's definitely taking time to put it all together, but god they make me proud and happy. They just look so cute. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd7JbnyCJn4ZX7eX4ORNGNkaOn-MLjdhBpDezOj9BRjIu9N0diIh8EcCEhSyj2K5L9A5cg6exWzwyadry7PmzotRrYIU-Z0R3ALmRg9oAH0RPsju7TannogdGvFzOgWs5E0REgVa_SMrw/s1600/DSC_1303.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd7JbnyCJn4ZX7eX4ORNGNkaOn-MLjdhBpDezOj9BRjIu9N0diIh8EcCEhSyj2K5L9A5cg6exWzwyadry7PmzotRrYIU-Z0R3ALmRg9oAH0RPsju7TannogdGvFzOgWs5E0REgVa_SMrw/s320/DSC_1303.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">They have been so cute to put together, and I promise a tutorial will be on the way!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNye2_QruRODOM2FobIsiWN_Jg6UIlcX0NrnVGilk_TqosgOnkeJ0qCYmd1w18NItTu2cifiuox_Ky9Q7LOJPYVudcGQ2hiF2iu_GFnD4UqZaZX59edCBHFOvacdE01XRaWdgLzb3hoFg/s1600/DSC_1305.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNye2_QruRODOM2FobIsiWN_Jg6UIlcX0NrnVGilk_TqosgOnkeJ0qCYmd1w18NItTu2cifiuox_Ky9Q7LOJPYVudcGQ2hiF2iu_GFnD4UqZaZX59edCBHFOvacdE01XRaWdgLzb3hoFg/s400/DSC_1305.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This is the pretty little bag that the brooch's will come in, along with another couple of awesome pieces, details on the way!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We have a tiny, tiny budget for our wedding (about $2500), we are having a potluck dinner, small numbers (as it is at my mums house) and its BYO. But that doesn't mean that with what little money I do have, we can put together a really beautiful day, filled with little bits of Josh and I everywhere you look. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">These little bags that I am putting together are a perfect way to show everyone how appreciative we are that they are there for our special day. It's definitely a "its the thought that counts" situation, and I am going all out to DIY as much as possible, putting my personality into everything I can. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I am so excited to share with you all as I put this day together from scratch, saving money where I can and I am just so excited that we will be married at the end of it, YAY! At the end of the day, that's what truly matters, everything else is just extra.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Lou xoxo</span>cookies_and_cakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08122033592798373052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9148568299115176436.post-343650629932285992013-07-30T21:28:00.001+12:002013-07-30T21:28:38.415+12:00Homemade Oreos <span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Josh is away up north for the next few days, and I am hanging out with my kiddies and making the most of a chance to catch up with friends. But missing my man!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I sent some of these with him to do his practice presentation run at my mums last night, and they were very well received.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Although I have my Kenwood kitchen mixer, its nice to have recipe where you don't cream anything, you just whisk, and stir. Very refreshing!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This one has been on my list for a while. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This is a Bakerella recipe, oh man, I love this woman. She is SO dam clever.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I should admit... I sorta forgot to get a picture of the finished product. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Noob mistake, I know, I got pictures leading up to it... And now, they are all gone!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Cos they were pretty dam good. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> I went for a super cute scalloped look for my oreos. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And they were super cute.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And super yum.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">They stretched out a wee bit once cooked. CUUUUUTE!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">BUT....</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Although these were awesome, they were a bit of work. And the thing is, I didn't feel like they really tasted quite like Oreo's... at all... I can't put my finger on it, but I couldn't seem to get the cookies hard enough, crunchy enough... Especially once iced, and after a few hours of sitting, the icing soaked in a little and made them more soft. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">DO NOT CONFUSE THIS.. these were good, just not good oreo's. Good cookies.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Check out <a href="http://www.bakerella.com/homemade-oreos/" target="_blank">Bakerella</a> for some much more adorable photos than I can provide, or remember to take.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">These reminded me of my dads chocolate slice, which is way faster to make, like WAY faster, but these are worth a go. Let me know if you have better luck with the crunchy factor.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">HOMEMADE OREO'S</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Cookies</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">228 g unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">3/4 cup sugar (150g)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1 cup (200g) milk chocolate chips, melted and slightly cooled</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1 egg</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1/2 cup cocoa</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1 teaspoon salt</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1/2 teaspoon baking soda</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Filling</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">114g unsalted butter, softened</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1 2/3 cups icing sugar</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1 Tablespoon milk</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Pinch of salt</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Food colour, optional</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In a medium bowl, whisk together the butter and sugar until well combined. Whisk in the vanilla and chocolate. Whisk in the egg until combined.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In another bowl, whisk flour, cocoa, salt and baking soda until combined. Stir flour mixture into the chocolate mixture. Mix well, using your hands to combine if wanted. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Let the dough sit for an hour to firm up.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Transfer the dough to a sheet of wax paper. Shape into a log about 2 1/2 inches in diameter. Place log along the edge of wax paper. Shape as you roll to maintain a smooth cylinder (it's a little harder than you would think :S).</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Twist ends of paper to secure and help keep the shape compact. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Refrigerate for at least 2 hours, I did mine overnight. If log begins to settle on one side, turn slightly every 15 minutes until hardened more, so as to not end up with a flat side.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Preheat oven to 160C (325F) and line baking sheet with parchment paper.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Cut dough in quarter inch thick slices (this is where I cut my shape out, because my log was not pretty...)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Place on prepared baking sheet and bake for around 20 minutes, or until cookies are firm to the touch.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It's really hard to tell when they are done, because they are so naturally dark.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Cool cookies, and prepare the filling. In a mixer, beat the butter until smooth and creamy. Add sugar and vanilla and beat until smooth. Add milk and salt and continue beating until smooth again. Place about a tablespoon of filling on the bottom of one cookie and sandwich with a second. Repeat with remaining cookies and eat them all.... or try not too... </span></li>
</ul>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">YUMMO</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Lou xoxo</span></div>
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cookies_and_cakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08122033592798373052noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9148568299115176436.post-60182327750308645632013-07-29T17:41:00.005+12:002013-07-29T17:41:56.603+12:00Candy, Pecan & Chocolate Chip Cookies<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Yum!!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It's been a busy week in our house. Josh has been SUPER busy prepping presentations and entries for young retailer awards, and will be spending the next 4 days in Auckland, whilst the kids are busy and I am working! We miss Josh while he's away, he doesn't go away often, so when he does, everyone misses their dad, and I miss my better half, even if it is only for 4 days. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Over the weekend, my Mother-in-law (to be), has been unwell, and ended up in hospital overnight with a cough so bad shes ripped muscle/tendons (or something?) in her ribs just from coughing. She is an amazing woman, a surgical nurse at the hospital herself, mother to 8 kids and just generally lovely!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I have a new cookie dough in the oven for her as I write this, and the post will follow sometime soon. But first:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Bakerella has been sucking me in with her amazing, fun, happy looking recipes for weeks now, and the other day seemed like a perfect time for some fresh cookies, filled with M&M's, crushed pecans and more chocolate. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I don't often use pecans, but man these were good. Pecans aren't that big a thing in New Zealand, and it cost me about $4.00 for the little bag from the supermarket, but that little bag had pretty much exactly the right amount in it for this recipe, so there ya go. And the crunch they gave to this recipe was perfect! That combined with M&M's and chocolate, what more could you possibly ask for!?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">ANSWER: not much.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimGka8q4mVhw_Bs4-e3hOG1B48bzGqK6KOZ3oayvTTxWqV5jXpP-FW7jkZxsydnaBRz-iFqcDkd1QDYCCakKfZWS3RmUHkc9DRlm8T7It0INcbAUsA0WDlV4bSC4xRdsTxCv30WTKvrGU/s1600/Chocolate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimGka8q4mVhw_Bs4-e3hOG1B48bzGqK6KOZ3oayvTTxWqV5jXpP-FW7jkZxsydnaBRz-iFqcDkd1QDYCCakKfZWS3RmUHkc9DRlm8T7It0INcbAUsA0WDlV4bSC4xRdsTxCv30WTKvrGU/s320/Chocolate.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I prefer the larger chocolate melts in these biscuits, just suits them to a tee!!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0UD-hlu-vw_hQDVvk3wN4LNSaZQRyxyzjEAXjhgciVZhSI-Am385x35qrjXYxenmNQEUaGCcJtrb5MLYLu-W4KvcKc9ZsEDFl8LBuKFJ8OyoyeieRBV0fTMtVNSXYZXQSFzqZ0EksCM8/s1600/M&M's+&+Pecans.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0UD-hlu-vw_hQDVvk3wN4LNSaZQRyxyzjEAXjhgciVZhSI-Am385x35qrjXYxenmNQEUaGCcJtrb5MLYLu-W4KvcKc9ZsEDFl8LBuKFJ8OyoyeieRBV0fTMtVNSXYZXQSFzqZ0EksCM8/s320/M&M's+&+Pecans.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">M&M's!!!!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi65LuVsabQJCKvOLBloKL_enB13uhQRQOv-TIUxLc0Y92JIcQRpAdvhF0v1vs-O7hgduVkJ2dHvKY1-72cDX6rZA54mGlOHTrw8cgJ-aTyP2hffjeMhS4V4uueC4k87THwQrUzgLsOznA/s1600/Nescafe+Melts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi65LuVsabQJCKvOLBloKL_enB13uhQRQOv-TIUxLc0Y92JIcQRpAdvhF0v1vs-O7hgduVkJ2dHvKY1-72cDX6rZA54mGlOHTrw8cgJ-aTyP2hffjeMhS4V4uueC4k87THwQrUzgLsOznA/s320/Nescafe+Melts.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> You can see here I went with Signature Range Pecan Halves from Countdown, and this bag was just the right size!</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyttWUqqEIwEEdhKUciH-EZPD5TAWmC2I3JrbO62Syakxx7JUA-cjM0trVZgVeG6XfSJ4g0gWhkkUiU-dbl4Uoqr98GoVaa0WWJlfY-tRLRnfC9_DbuOThg48HnIFxefwa8zMHAbPdSVA/s1600/Biscuits.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyttWUqqEIwEEdhKUciH-EZPD5TAWmC2I3JrbO62Syakxx7JUA-cjM0trVZgVeG6XfSJ4g0gWhkkUiU-dbl4Uoqr98GoVaa0WWJlfY-tRLRnfC9_DbuOThg48HnIFxefwa8zMHAbPdSVA/s320/Biscuits.jpg" width="312" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And cookies</span>. </div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Sorry for the horrible pictures. One day I will get an awesome camera, until then... </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This is all ya get!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The biscuit on top was slightly over cooked, but still amazing. But as per my usual ideal, the undercooked cookies, were by far the best, the disappeared long before any others. Undercooked biscuits! Best. Thing. Ever!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I adapted this recipe slightly from <a href="http://www.bakerella.com/chip-chip-hooray/" target="_blank">Bakerella</a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Serves 24 cookies.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">2 3/4 cup all-purpose flour</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1 teaspoon baking soda</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">3/4 teaspoon salt</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1 cup butter, softened (227g)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">3/4 cup sugar</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1 cup packed brown sugar</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">2 teaspoons vanilla</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">2 eggs</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">3/4 cup pecans, finely chopped</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1 cup M&M's</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">2 cups Nestle milk chocolate melts</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">INSTRUCTIONS</span><br />
<br />
<ol>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Sift together flour, baking soda and salt with a wire whisk and set aside.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In a mixer, cream butter and sugars together for about two minutes until light and fluffy.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Add eggs and vanilla and mix until combined.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">On low, add flour mixture and mix until combined.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Stir in chopped pecans, M&M's and chocolate melts.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Chill dough in fridge for 30 minutes.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Preheat oven to 350 F (175C).</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Scoop cookie dough onto parchment paper and place 4cm apart (2in).</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Sprinkle tops with sea salt if desired (I didn't for these ones.)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Bake for about 16 minutes or until lightly brown. If you make them a bit smaller, then bake for 12-14 minutes. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Transfer cookies to a wire cooling rack and repeat with remaining cookie dough. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Enjoy!!! </span></li>
</ol>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
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<br />cookies_and_cakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08122033592798373052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9148568299115176436.post-56550628265307512162013-07-20T20:23:00.000+12:002013-07-20T20:23:21.178+12:0011-Layer Rainbow Jelly<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Is there anything more fun than jelly? I don't even think it is about the taste for me, but the total aesthetic quality of this fantastic substance. It is just filled with childlike nostalgia. I bet almost everyone could tell you their favourite flavour right off the top of their head.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For Mr. H's 1st birthday party last week. It was absurd to not serve jelly. But I wanted something different, something exciting, and something that was more than your usual. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And I found it. In a fantastic post over at <a href="http://craftyc0rn3r.blogspot.co.nz/2011/04/rainbow-layered-jello.html" target="_blank">crafty c0rn3r</a>. This tutorial was pretty easy to follow, with heaps of photos to help me along. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Me and gelatin have a bad history together. Last time we met was over a raspberry sponge cake, that should have had a raspberry, gelatin infused filling. Alas, it did not, christmas day instead was greeted with a cheesecake, and gelatin and I went our seperate ways. This recipe/tutorial uses quite a bit of normal, unflavoured gelatin, which scared me. Adding extra to the jelly mix was easy enough with all the boiling water and what-not, but mixing it with condensed milk... (please don't freak out on me!)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Irrelevant to all this, it was super easy (although a little time consuming), and I succeeded most excellently with this recipe. I don't think I need to be as scared of gelatin as I have been... Maybe I will suck it up, be a brave girl and give something else a go while my ego is feeling good after this. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAsfFd5SI6d_DX9nUursPgKAz2v9nkbmZumNUgGnNcqYE2snidqDdFuJHVpJ48-Y2CTK1UOG792BjIeqHlfn1aU0-z5_Z3GbPsB7-luumtKI5yiUyamZqe4WJ9LxZX19w_DBl9CnjkMKg/s1600/DSC_1176.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAsfFd5SI6d_DX9nUursPgKAz2v9nkbmZumNUgGnNcqYE2snidqDdFuJHVpJ48-Y2CTK1UOG792BjIeqHlfn1aU0-z5_Z3GbPsB7-luumtKI5yiUyamZqe4WJ9LxZX19w_DBl9CnjkMKg/s400/DSC_1176.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How awesome are these!? I was so excited, and I am not bragging, but these were easily the favourite item of any at the party. And the party was MAINLY adults, only a couple of kids. I just think displaying jelly in a new and fun way is so worth it. I am so glad I took the time to make these and give them a go. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUYANzATnkgpxLtZmKmyz2GIWHtrXQ3EWgq0cjZQWgzTvVwOkOAiSf74Un8t6ji53TXtT_uLwYiZECsUJ-BF_qmuzyrtpaAzO3f1qAJdW-6Bv9BgQRajlCpk1feHhYBU_LoypordGHIAw/s1600/DSC_1177.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUYANzATnkgpxLtZmKmyz2GIWHtrXQ3EWgq0cjZQWgzTvVwOkOAiSf74Un8t6ji53TXtT_uLwYiZECsUJ-BF_qmuzyrtpaAzO3f1qAJdW-6Bv9BgQRajlCpk1feHhYBU_LoypordGHIAw/s400/DSC_1177.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They will be a regular at following parties for my kids, or so I am told by Miss. L, who is very disappointed these were not supplied at her previous parties (isn't it always surprising where the jealousy appears?)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">RECIPE:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">6 normal size packets jelly, any flavours are fine (I just picked the most "boyish" colours)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4 1/4 Tablespoons unflavoured gelatin.**</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 can sweetened condensed milk</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mix your condensed milk with 1 3/4 cup really hot water (basically boiling)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mix 1 1/4 Tablespoons gelatin with 1 1/4 cup boiling water.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Combine this with condensed milk, stir and set aside.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Combine your first layer of jelly with 1/2 Tablespoon of gelatin, and 1 1/2 cups boiling water. (this will create a firm enough jelly to stand like in the photos above. Cool your jelly a bit, then pour into a large dish. (I used 2 x 20 cm square baking trays, and it worked well). Place in the freezer for 15 minutes or until firm. While your jelly, make up your next colour using the same measurements (1/2 Tablespoon gelatin and 1 1/2 cups boiling water), as it will need time to cool before pouring on top. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Once your first colour has set, pour enough milk mix on top that it covers, I didn't measure for this part, just eyeballed it, as in the linked tutorial. Freeze again to set. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Once milk mix has set and is firm you can add your second layer. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If your milk mix starts to gel a bit while you are still using it, chuck it in the microwave for 15 seconds, just re-softens it all up, long enough to get you through.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">BASICALLY, you are now going to alternate jelly and milk mix, freezing well between every layer, and making every packet of jelly exactly the same.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is imperative that every layer is frozen seperately for about 15 minutes or until firm, or when you pour on your next layer it will just mix with the previous layer and will stop you from getting the lovely clear layers.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">PLEASE NOTE: Do not leave in the freezer for any longer than needed, as if it freezes right through, upon defrosting it releases a lot of the liquid and sugar out of it, and it will not be salvageable.... please learn from my horrible mistake. Yeah, I lost one of my square baking trays worth to the freezer. LUCKILY, I had 2 and it worked out just fine!!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Once you have all 11 layers (6 of jelly, 5 of condensed milk), it will need to refrigerate as a whole overnight to really set in place, at least mine did. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">** (in the linked tutorial, they used KNOX gelatin which comes in envelopes, which we do not sell in our little town, and I purchased McKenzies gelatin, and figured out that each KNOX envelope is equal to 1/2 Tablespoon of gelatin)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am sure I have forgotten something, and I am sorry I didn't get more images of the process, but as I say over at crafty c0rn3r, they have done a much better job and have all steps laid out. Big up's to them for a fantastic tutorial. Thank you!!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Talk soon,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lou xoxo</span><br />
<br />cookies_and_cakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08122033592798373052noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9148568299115176436.post-38190649105997245092013-07-18T00:19:00.000+12:002013-07-18T00:19:51.808+12:00Sick and Tired (and Vanilla cupcakes w/ chocolate buttercream frosting)<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Not even a whingy post. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I am genuinely sick. Like genuine article, snotty and gross, headaches and all sick. No fever, because I basically never do, which does somehow minimise the seriousness of my ailment. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">If this is all looking like gibberish, which is possible, I have become crazier and more over tired than I had originally imagined, and will delete this as soon as I have come to my senses.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The point is, I have been unwell, and lookingly lovingly over photos from Hartley's actual birthday day last week, kindly sent my way from a friend. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCS9wMCh-HYCHT2rh8dmod6resSmJ_FoNOAAmz5oCkfYIae1fpZj9RbmzYBB-8c_4lPmfVZyZI0Q1NzTFEwr5PhkueDsJ7dBhNPt1MwYV80PHtUdax0ZrPTzx6wGHfGr32g6BBnISGYqU/s1600/DSC_1151+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCS9wMCh-HYCHT2rh8dmod6resSmJ_FoNOAAmz5oCkfYIae1fpZj9RbmzYBB-8c_4lPmfVZyZI0Q1NzTFEwr5PhkueDsJ7dBhNPt1MwYV80PHtUdax0ZrPTzx6wGHfGr32g6BBnISGYqU/s400/DSC_1151+(2).JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTb2q-ML4Xy2sdxtmfnRFxPcil88yLKylCi6F11ABG_Yg0sfdsBu9HUQPybbBqU8M7o-474rdw5LzcutnfEPdUURt1lSFARJ75sJvxv73-U-Od_39I_YIDSN8_8qY-Pmppg5gf-NXjM5c/s1600/DSC_1157.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTb2q-ML4Xy2sdxtmfnRFxPcil88yLKylCi6F11ABG_Yg0sfdsBu9HUQPybbBqU8M7o-474rdw5LzcutnfEPdUURt1lSFARJ75sJvxv73-U-Od_39I_YIDSN8_8qY-Pmppg5gf-NXjM5c/s200/DSC_1157.JPG" width="200" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Although we had his party over the weekend, his actual birthday was slightly quieter. Both kids managed to get ear infections, were both on antibiotics and tired and grumpy (much like myself at this particular moment).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Nevertheless, I made vanilla cupcakes with chocolate vanilla buttercream (and sprinkles!), stuck in a candle (that was kept out of his reach), and we opened some presents. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I even made Dukan friendly chicken nuggets and roast vege chips for dinner, in hopes I would not succumb to the desire for a cupcake (successful btw).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The cupcake recipe was from <a href="http://joythebaker.com/2010/12/vanilla-cupcakes-with-chocolate-buttercream/">Joy the Baker</a>, and although they are overpriced in our little town, I bought good quality essence and vanilla pods.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The chocolate buttercream had ovaltine in it, taking away from it becoming too chocolatey (I don't know how this is possible, but I am told by the Lovely Fiance, it is very common).</span><br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Vanilla Cupcakes with Chocolate Buttercream</span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Makes 24 cupcakes</span><br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">227g (1 cup) unsalted butter, softened</span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 3/4 cup white sugar</span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4 Large eggs</span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 cup whole milk</span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 Tablespoon vanilla essence</span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/2 vanilla bean, seeds scraped out</span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 3/4 cup all-purpose flour</span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder</span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/2 teaspoon salt</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Position a rack in the middle of your oven, and preheat to 180 degrees Celsius (350F). Line 2 cupcake pans with papers. Set aside.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In a small bowl, whisk together milk, vanilla essence and vanilla bean seeds. Set aside.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In a stand mixer, fitted with a paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. This may take 3 to 5 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as required. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Add the eggs, one at a time, beating for 1 minute after each addition. If the batter looks a little curdled, that is just fine!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With your mixer on low speed, alternately add the flour mix and vanilla milk mix in 3 batches, starting and ending with the flour. When the batter is almost done, stop the mixer and finish mixing the batter with a spatula, making sure any floury bits at the bottom are incorporated. ( I like doing this especially because it minimises the chances of over-mixing)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Divide into prepared cupcake pans and bake for 20 minutes or until golden and a toothpick inserted into the centre comes out clean. Allow to cool in pan for 10 minutes before placing on wire cooling racks.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Please be aware, this recipe seems prone to over cooking, there really is a fine line. One minute you have beautiful fluffy vanilla cakes, the next you have rock hard over cooked things that once resembled cakes (please note, they were still all eaten, just not till the next day).</span><br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Best Chocolate Buttercream Frosting</span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Makes enough for all 24 cupcakes or 1 x 8inch layer cake</span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">170g unsalted butter, softened</span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/2 cup cocoa powder, unsweetened</span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/2 teaspoon salt</span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 1/4 cups icing sugar, sifted</span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 teaspoon pure vanilla essence</span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 Tablespoons milk</span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/2 cup cream</span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/3 cup Ovaltine or any malted milk powder</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cream together butter, cocoa and salt. It will be super thick. Turn off your mixer, scrape down the sides of the bowl and icing sugar. Turn mixer on low and mix in icing sugar while adding milk and vanilla. As the sugar mixes in, raise the speed of your mixer to beat the frosting. Beat until smooth. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In a 1 cup measuring cup, stir together cream and Ovaltine. Turn mixer speed to medium and pour cream mix into frosting in a slow, steady stream, until you've reached your desired consistency. You may not need the full amount of Ovaltine and cream (but I did for mine). Spread or pipe onto cupcakes. SUPER YUM.</span><br />
<br />cookies_and_cakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08122033592798373052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9148568299115176436.post-76670953427106236042013-07-16T15:43:00.000+12:002013-07-16T15:43:15.984+12:00The Big 1We had such a fantastic weekend just been! Celebrating with our lovely family and friends, our little man (not so little anymore!) turning 1!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrj2TPIqUpb_s2ij5cKSBZNG3OOiT3NslosxIakW_DXfV3KudFpundnH4gE4E9unYnCGz8456BcdIq7C-qgOsZ4Wo9O5bkWCtAsBM8p7Z-CSSWYSfdLTX7FlAlzpGZz-vfdK13LrSxXec/s1600/DSC_1166.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrj2TPIqUpb_s2ij5cKSBZNG3OOiT3NslosxIakW_DXfV3KudFpundnH4gE4E9unYnCGz8456BcdIq7C-qgOsZ4Wo9O5bkWCtAsBM8p7Z-CSSWYSfdLTX7FlAlzpGZz-vfdK13LrSxXec/s320/DSC_1166.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
I actually found it all quite confronting. You see, we really do not plan to have anymore kids (not that I would be upset if we did), so this is most likely the last 1st birthday for my own child I will get to throw. Seems silly I know, but this means no more first years... It means hopefully more sleep, and a life with slightly more freedom as our kids grow and we become braver and begin to do things like travel and all that stuff that comes with having big kids. But no more first years also means no more super cuddly new borns, no more first giggles, or the AMAZING womanly feeling that comes from giving birth.<br />
<br />Anyway, aside from my melancholy nature, this weekend was amazing. It was almost like he knew it was his day on Sunday morning, and the big grin you see on his face above, was pretty much plastered on his face all day long.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzMGzqqMF3PO58pWlxLQ5LtvbrDULJxRtgXjiU_uWr1beuVMnsQjPhEo3teGXc9weA9ROQVMrezBE66a4i3P1BEDMOgggqaFDDRi-bPHFj7T5lTRvjn0TX5R1GXZKC9AUsehDQLk48uAw/s1600/DSC_1168.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzMGzqqMF3PO58pWlxLQ5LtvbrDULJxRtgXjiU_uWr1beuVMnsQjPhEo3teGXc9weA9ROQVMrezBE66a4i3P1BEDMOgggqaFDDRi-bPHFj7T5lTRvjn0TX5R1GXZKC9AUsehDQLk48uAw/s320/DSC_1168.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Almost as important (not really) as the birthday in general, is the birthday cake. And since we celebrated in the style of little monsters, seemed only fitting we celebrated with a furry, orange 3 eyed monster.<br />
The cake was red velvet, the recipe from <a href="http://www.bakerella.com/red-velvet-cake/">Bakerella</a>, who I just love. I used the frosting recipe also, just tinged it orange using Americolor orange gel colour.<br />
And it was DELICIOUS. I took a break from Dukan long enough to eat a piece of this, to celebrate!<br />
Its been almost a month, I have lost 7.2kg, and I totally earnt a piece of cake.<br />
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This week, I will be posting all about the cool stuff we did for Hartley's birthday! Stay tuned for information galore, recipes and tips on dealing with a 1 year old who has just had an ear infection, head cold.<br />
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Lou xoxo<br />
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cookies_and_cakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08122033592798373052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9148568299115176436.post-24845123894110522052013-07-13T16:53:00.002+12:002013-07-13T16:53:25.566+12:00Party is tomorrow!<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In our house today we are prep, prep, prepping for a very special little boys first birthday party. Mr. Hartley turned one this past Monday, but we are celebrating tomorrow. Having been sick all week, both kids with ear infections, Hartley getting a head cold at the same time, I am really glad to see them both getting better now, to enjoy his special day tomorrow.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />With big families, it's always nice to get together and celebrate the kids birthdays, and I always inevitably go overboard.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I have baked the cake, just need to decorate. I have baked the cookies, just need to decorate. And I am 8 layers into my 11 layer surprise jelly!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Truffles are in the fridge at mums, and my grandma is making cheese rolls.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It's going to be a lovely chance to catch up with everyone, get dressed up and take some cute pics of the kids. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">There will recipes galore, and cute photos as of tomorrow, so keep your eyes tuned into this channel.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">For now, I am going to add layer 9 to the jelly and make some royal icing!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Happy Birthday party eve, Little Monster!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Lou xoxo</span>cookies_and_cakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08122033592798373052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9148568299115176436.post-64962277542507795292013-07-01T21:22:00.000+12:002013-07-01T21:22:33.343+12:00Dukan Week 3I have weighed in today, signed off on week 2 of the Dukan Diet. I never thought I would have the willpower to just give up pretty much every food I enjoy, but here I am... 4.7kg lighter! My skin is clearing up a wee bit, the waist is a bit smaller, my jeans are a wee bit baggier and for the first time in a long time, I feel quite empowered to be me.<br />
<br />I feel capable.<br />
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My aim is another 26 kg over the next 19 weeks, before wedding day, and then another 10-15kg after we get back from honeymoon, as I refuse to diet whilst away.<br />
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The first few days were horrible. I didn't know what to eat, I just wanted carbs, but now its becoming more normal, more stable and part of my daily routine.<br />
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For those of you who aren't aware of the Dukan Diet, it's worth a google. The idea is based around the idea that you eliminate basically all carbs, fat, sugar, starch, all the other stuff out of your diet, and after an initial attack week where you essentially only eat Pure Protein (meat, eggs and non-fat dairy), you alternate days of eating Pure Protein and Protein and Vegetables. Not all vegetables though, as things like peas, corn, potato, kumara are too high in sugar and starch to be allowed for now.<br />
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This seems restrictive, but once I hit my goal weight I will slowly reintroduce all food into my diet, with celebration meals, daily servings of fruit, wheat and all that.<br />
This very restrictive section is designed purely for weightloss, and its working.<br />
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Talk tomorrow<br />
Lou<br />
xoxocookies_and_cakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08122033592798373052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9148568299115176436.post-68960839771198624362013-06-29T20:45:00.000+12:002013-06-29T20:45:15.650+12:00Long time no talkies!<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Well, it was Lily's birthday last year (November 4, 2012) that I posted my last post.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It's been an amazing year, yet I just sorta ... forgot... to keep up my writing. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And the thing is, this was quite therapeutic for me, good to get the words out. Feels nice to reach out, connect, make a wee bit of effort. And once you start, when you don't do it, it weighs on you a little bit now and then. And to save myself from continually thinking "gosh, I really should just put some words on my screen and splash it across my blog, it's not that hard." </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I feel really, sincerely bad, that last year I signed up for the Christmas advent giftiness, did all my gifts and posted not one thank you, not one picture of all the amazing gifties I was given from the lovely Amy. She did such an amazing job of putting together 25 gifts that excited me every day for that month. SO, thank you Amy, you did an amazing job, and I have been so horribly neglectful to have not mentioned that before now. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Hartley turns 1 in just over a week, and I am so not ready to see my (once) tiny baby turn 1. He is so very ready to turn 1. He is crawling at the speed of light, and will pull himself up on just about anything. He is oh so very busy, oh so very handsy, and just a little bitey. He is full of life and so adores his mummy, daddy and big sister Lily (if only in small doses on some days). </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIdqSJsUYtcosCCg3xHM20I7TfNE7a0JQWw2kC0uPb3dxsBNBMWpk16BX25OHATzhkSu9R-k-szqRrLQgscLJdUzf_XGyApZ5L7igMeGEaXBRgBEXoptJLJYEG6pB5lpx0SCNMZfQDV0M/s640/FOT19C2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIdqSJsUYtcosCCg3xHM20I7TfNE7a0JQWw2kC0uPb3dxsBNBMWpk16BX25OHATzhkSu9R-k-szqRrLQgscLJdUzf_XGyApZ5L7igMeGEaXBRgBEXoptJLJYEG6pB5lpx0SCNMZfQDV0M/s320/FOT19C2.jpeg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I have a new job, a job that for so long I thought would elude me without more training or learning clever people stuff, which I just could not fathom affording or finding time for. I work for Forest Management now, in a fantastic staff, doing office work. Goodbye retail! The hours are just so much better, and it makes me feel truly productive and useful.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">One of the biggest excitements for us over the past few months, was taking Lily along to Disney on Ice, which was absolutely amazing, I would be lying if I said I didn't tear up slightly at the sight of all the dancing princesses and fire-breathing dragons, and my very excited 3 year old daughter. I also went all out and made Lily a Rapunzel dress from scratch. I may be one of these people who gets a little excited at the prospect of any sort of celebration, and an excuse for costume!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDcCXBjNl8_72gKb5DnqaGSrymf4tFckIq6iyT0vs3-8-4dMV1_Iqp_ukuToGfzfoyfYyIN-CUu5MzByJZbAanVl6hGtKCWchObx6zJzax-9O-_7dPIx82rtzf8lj1BICct_o50HDlGl8/s1600/20130525_190250.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDcCXBjNl8_72gKb5DnqaGSrymf4tFckIq6iyT0vs3-8-4dMV1_Iqp_ukuToGfzfoyfYyIN-CUu5MzByJZbAanVl6hGtKCWchObx6zJzax-9O-_7dPIx82rtzf8lj1BICct_o50HDlGl8/s320/20130525_190250.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The photo almost does it no justice, but I am so genuinely proud of the effort. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">More tomorrow!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Lou xoxo</span><br />
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<br />cookies_and_cakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08122033592798373052noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9148568299115176436.post-42095964620554181762012-11-04T22:10:00.002+13:002012-11-04T22:10:50.595+13:00Happy Birthday Lily! 3 Today<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">3 years ago today, I gave birth to my first child. A beautiful little girl weighing only 6 pounds 6 ounces (2.9kg). We named her Lily Mae Tasker, and she had blue eyes and dark hair with little ginger tips. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirqwi_WKeVO8a5eQDz3ldZmeLA8iNKkNowG5lPp-TVSormDheuH-xyrvbCr1yRYQNQMDtglzRqR9_YaRccZmIo8WqajW5zr1Rg6phIAXtVx0lcbq7KeSJxzJt63hykMC5NM4Eo_BvPAP8/s1600/5-6+hours+old+(3).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirqwi_WKeVO8a5eQDz3ldZmeLA8iNKkNowG5lPp-TVSormDheuH-xyrvbCr1yRYQNQMDtglzRqR9_YaRccZmIo8WqajW5zr1Rg6phIAXtVx0lcbq7KeSJxzJt63hykMC5NM4Eo_BvPAP8/s320/5-6+hours+old+(3).JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">5-6 Hours Old </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">She came on her due date, and she was lovely.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKj3jsmgln4hrUeQksp1kbMMfDowWcS3H6ZOF0pndGhrsExtmp-eOhkSgdcIAAHvDd27cgjC40p1mxm65xhMBvnkA_1STuOfHVrTm0C8pKDIn2sQAVwoehmcwPgGUeSuFUDwNZV_UPllE/s1600/DSCF9625.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKj3jsmgln4hrUeQksp1kbMMfDowWcS3H6ZOF0pndGhrsExtmp-eOhkSgdcIAAHvDd27cgjC40p1mxm65xhMBvnkA_1STuOfHVrTm0C8pKDIn2sQAVwoehmcwPgGUeSuFUDwNZV_UPllE/s320/DSCF9625.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">She is full of life, and has brought great happiness to our little lives!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitmLPmCmEwxao4TaP2eqd8XDnvooqrux8XmZ1KDXaDrLI6HP-q5hbgxBy9_brx8JOtOKhPZCHdDy2Z9Ci4S1yl3aG3pTL9isKt3oi84MQD0-8d9z5u3BBLum8hIntR3Re-NvzXivzCRPc/s1600/IMG_2257.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitmLPmCmEwxao4TaP2eqd8XDnvooqrux8XmZ1KDXaDrLI6HP-q5hbgxBy9_brx8JOtOKhPZCHdDy2Z9Ci4S1yl3aG3pTL9isKt3oi84MQD0-8d9z5u3BBLum8hIntR3Re-NvzXivzCRPc/s320/IMG_2257.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">She is funny, witty and absolutely gorgeous, and I feel blessed to have her in my life. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Today, my little girl turns 3, and has never been more loved, more funny, more witty or more beautiful.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It has been a long road here, full of many trials and errors and many more successes, and I am loving watching her nurturing instinct come out in caring for her baby brother, she is just amazing.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXEotdkA2YPGFa2tbr1EwnvtXcSpY0IpNty4Rf2LyPaE5Y28WS2pY_RqPEfJt7Y46fiutyL9XHEQQo5U6dfDxP9uCRMsu6-w_5h0AYAfd4gPRS3Nu-f1TTX0pF0mRvo0xV6LBbAmP-r20/s1600/lily.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXEotdkA2YPGFa2tbr1EwnvtXcSpY0IpNty4Rf2LyPaE5Y28WS2pY_RqPEfJt7Y46fiutyL9XHEQQo5U6dfDxP9uCRMsu6-w_5h0AYAfd4gPRS3Nu-f1TTX0pF0mRvo0xV6LBbAmP-r20/s1600/lily.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Happy Birthday my not-so-little girl. We love you very much!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Love Mum xoxo</span></div>
cookies_and_cakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08122033592798373052noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9148568299115176436.post-32581440258788542072012-10-30T15:53:00.001+13:002012-10-30T15:53:30.904+13:00Cherry Goodness<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">YAY!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Only about 4-5 weeks ago, I planted my first ever miniature fruit tree (of the cherry variety). This was given to me as the coolest tree present ever, by my lovely friend Katrina.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And today, I found my first fruits!! I am really excited, as I wasn't really expecting fruit this year, being the first year in its new home, I was more looking forward to my bounty of next year! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As you can tell, I am a little bit excited! We have always had strawberries, but Josh has always been the main carer (and as anyone who knows us knows, he really loves his strawberry plants). But having a real life fruit tree, makes me feel so ... homely and fruity and fun!! </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk0Biiy92oyRGp9qsu-MG0O6BX_DzT5yprsVS3OQ60f3fTW008Y5umSJMwIfVDfoMutCNXEepjAKInF2HAQ_vRttx8gL4m00WGzP0l_HEkiTTdTBTn7DiOcu8hJ4PpcWWdFw73gwg4D0k/s1600/IMG_9454.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk0Biiy92oyRGp9qsu-MG0O6BX_DzT5yprsVS3OQ60f3fTW008Y5umSJMwIfVDfoMutCNXEepjAKInF2HAQ_vRttx8gL4m00WGzP0l_HEkiTTdTBTn7DiOcu8hJ4PpcWWdFw73gwg4D0k/s320/IMG_9454.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is one of the TWO budding cherries on my tree!! TWO PEOPLE! That's more than 1. After a long couple of weeks mood wise this is exactly what I was looking for to cheer<i> (get it cheer *cherry* !! it's ok, I think I'm funny)</i> me up. I have been lovingly watering and feeding this tree every 2-3 days for the past few weeks, planted it all by myself and added extra potting mix (and I really do not garden), and I feel like I have achieved!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yay for achieving! It really is the little things in life that can you lift you up sometimes!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Expect to see more of me, I will not neglect my lovely blog any longer. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">PLUS, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Make Cafe opens this Saturday, opposite Bush Inn, and they will have fabrics and coffees, I may never leave. And this will fantastic inspiration for new projects! Check it out www.themakecafe.co.nz</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">LouLou xoxo</span></div>
cookies_and_cakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08122033592798373052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9148568299115176436.post-77438567087270706652012-10-13T19:08:00.001+13:002012-10-13T19:08:38.470+13:00Saturday Family Day<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Wow, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What a lovely day. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Days like today I feel blessed and lucky for the family and friends I have got.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We went out for breakfast today, went to Drexels at Riccarton. Such good food, such friendly service. They always have colouring in pages for kids, they have bottomless coffee. Its like heaven!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After breakfast, Lily and I, along with 2 friends went to a musical performance by the "Polkadots" singing group. It was a fantastically noisy, free, children-fun event, that highlights that you really don't need to spend money to have great fun with your kids. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After an awesome boogey with my girl, we picked up Hartley and went to the Encraftment Market at Addington School. Such beautiful handmade items, and such lovely local business owners. And such cool fabrics! Went with my mummy, so nice to catch up and get out of the house. Dropped by a friends house on the way home.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now all thats left is to make some pudding, get the kids in bed and put a DVD in the player. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I love weekends, and I love my family. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Days like today are why we have weekends. To embrace every chance to do something different, to be busy but not stressed, and to enjoy each other.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">LouLou xoxo</span>cookies_and_cakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08122033592798373052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9148568299115176436.post-53415315685442935552012-10-11T22:42:00.000+13:002012-10-11T22:42:30.391+13:00KCWC: Day 3 & Day 4<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I finished the dress!!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTjniS91oZ0T7XDTUSig0rF33stRQRekbfZOwAHsIHefOA5PhHR0PvLmDJvZ3cz8VL1vVBKqNvMSCbPX_r2-oi1WHmFqlghAwxEIprPbFOAOPgtXxSFyjdyIQFrMwbpmVU9FdUISG5CH4/s1600/IMG_7937.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTjniS91oZ0T7XDTUSig0rF33stRQRekbfZOwAHsIHefOA5PhHR0PvLmDJvZ3cz8VL1vVBKqNvMSCbPX_r2-oi1WHmFqlghAwxEIprPbFOAOPgtXxSFyjdyIQFrMwbpmVU9FdUISG5CH4/s200/IMG_7937.JPG" width="133" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's taken a bit of time over the last 2 days, I made a sash for it, and I also had to figure out a way (without a pattern!! :S) to make it more comfy for her, as the top of the netting skirt and tulle on the inside was quite scratchy. So after a fair bit of mucking around I installed what is essentially a sash on the inside, that will stop the itchiness from now on!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I feel really invigorated by this project! And Little Miss 2 is so excited! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am onto making some more bandanna bibs for Little Mr 0 now, as he currently has 3, and that is absolutely not enough!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Loving this week of project sewing goodness!! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Really needed a focus and some drive to continue creating. And the more I make, the more confident I feel.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Note to anyone ever planning on making a skirt using chiffon btw: do not buy polyester chiffon. It frays! Nylon chiffon does not. I wish I had waited longer, found the nylon chiffon online or something, because it made this project A LOT harder. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My sewing machine was pushed to the limit with this one. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Feeling good, great in fact! I finally have Josh home for 2 whole days! 2 DAYS!! Yay, I have missed him, and so have the kids! The new Mitre 10 Mega in Hornby is up and running, now I just need to shop up in the kitchen department!! I wish...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Talk soon, </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">LouLou xoxo</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>cookies_and_cakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08122033592798373052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9148568299115176436.post-21320125818396530482012-10-10T23:29:00.003+13:002012-10-10T23:33:19.860+13:00Foodie Penpals<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, I just discovered this fantastic idea over in the US, on the Lean Green Bean. </span><br />
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<a href="http://www.theleangreenbean.com/foodie-penpals/"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">http://www.theleangreenbean.com/foodie-penpals/</span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Take a look at the link above. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you don't find the time, the basic idea is that on a monthly basis you are given a "penpal", on the 5th of the month, and by the 15th of the month you post a package of foody goodness, whether it be home baking, local goodies or whatever (use your imagination). Then on the 30th of that month, you post about your received goodies! You must also include something written, whether it be a little letter, information about what is enclosed, or a cool recipe that you would highly recommend. Maximum spend is $15, so you avoid over spending.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am super interested in this concept. Do you know anyone who is currently doing this here? Or who has tried previously? Would you be interested in being involved in a system like this?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Let me know your thoughts on this, if your keen, if you have any further information, because I am always looking for cool stuff, new ingredients, local goodies from around the country. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">LouLou xoxo</span><br />
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<br />cookies_and_cakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08122033592798373052noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9148568299115176436.post-65140436684653162232012-10-09T16:16:00.000+13:002012-10-09T16:16:49.567+13:00KCWC Day 2: This is getting addictive<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Wow, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I really can't stop myself. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I think I have a sewing addiction. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Have been working on Lily's princess dress, and though it has taken less time than I originally thought it would, I will admit I have done WAY more than my required 1 hour on this one. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am genuinely concerned about what it is gonna be left for me to do by the end of the challenge this week.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The dress is not finished yet, I have a bit of sewing left to to attach bodice and a sash to make. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj06GW7aYy3X55rQ-sog64Gd5QSyMY9t1fogAfVMDL1bXHhdvkhAx9wda1dzTChY8F5AZDjcVBU3Rrc5E0a-TIBnH2giVyLRnm-KCNSbN4lerlBaQIQZg11-cEIA-yczDC-i1JMviIhQ4Q/s1600/IMG_7890.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj06GW7aYy3X55rQ-sog64Gd5QSyMY9t1fogAfVMDL1bXHhdvkhAx9wda1dzTChY8F5AZDjcVBU3Rrc5E0a-TIBnH2giVyLRnm-KCNSbN4lerlBaQIQZg11-cEIA-yczDC-i1JMviIhQ4Q/s320/IMG_7890.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's just kinda awesome!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I really like it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's pink and purple and full of lovely delicious flounciness, perfect for a beautifully girly, almost 3 year old. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I even went back to my sewing machine manual and figured out how to make button holes!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvGfd5-Tv2-iht_WaA5OLqa9b0U4TPLBbTSuUYvkGYV_b_AFzH5mFxbYmd9FDVf4P8yKq1TtXjLyVOuhBfUWInitu3fO2oKEtj0eNjRrGqEgdei4ForkoxIGnGSVGq9mX3DEw86rUzI8Q/s1600/IMG_7887.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvGfd5-Tv2-iht_WaA5OLqa9b0U4TPLBbTSuUYvkGYV_b_AFzH5mFxbYmd9FDVf4P8yKq1TtXjLyVOuhBfUWInitu3fO2oKEtj0eNjRrGqEgdei4ForkoxIGnGSVGq9mX3DEw86rUzI8Q/s320/IMG_7887.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And they worked!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And it looks cute!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Can you tell I am excited?!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I will show you all the finished product tomorrow!! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">YAY! Look how productive I am.. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(still unsure what I am going to do for the other 5 days...)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">LouLou xoxo</span>cookies_and_cakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08122033592798373052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9148568299115176436.post-42245831326962825892012-10-08T19:51:00.001+13:002012-10-08T23:16:33.376+13:00KCWC Day 1<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I may have sort of cheated.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Well, not cheated, just... set myself up for a massive success on Day 1 of the Kids Clothing Week Challenge. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I started a dress last week, and today realised I had forgotten about it, and all it needed was a hem to complete!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, technically, I finished a dress for Day 1. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdvZEWUW37J08rijx4tq5VGW2FS49nOiqD4FMhMbpk66pASsv8nZW6dpSmCJeGlRKbO80t2h5IAbRk2MiMxxqiUKGchgmx9Vny8_7u22cFg6QK04ed0dLKbz08OUKiiYkPCWBYsVNVtHs/s1600/IMG_7880.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdvZEWUW37J08rijx4tq5VGW2FS49nOiqD4FMhMbpk66pASsv8nZW6dpSmCJeGlRKbO80t2h5IAbRk2MiMxxqiUKGchgmx9Vny8_7u22cFg6QK04ed0dLKbz08OUKiiYkPCWBYsVNVtHs/s320/IMG_7880.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To make up my required 1 hour for the challenge, I went to Spotlight and bought all my fabric for the princess dress! When I got home I printed the pattern, cut out the paper pattern, pinned and cut out the pieces for the bodice!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Look at me go! I feel inspired by what the week shall bring!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Kids clothes galore!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">LouLou xoxo</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The awesome fabric for the above dress is from the lovely www.sewpretty.co.nz ! They are about to open their own store right here in Christchurch, opposite the Bush Inn, called The Make Cafe! I am really excited, I absolutely love their range.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For a fabulous free tutorial on this dress visit : </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.theribbonretreat.com/blog/lets-fly-a-kite-sundress.html">http://www.theribbonretreat.com/blog/lets-fly-a-kite-sundress.html</a> </span>cookies_and_cakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08122033592798373052noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9148568299115176436.post-86423382047968257032012-10-06T22:30:00.000+13:002012-10-06T22:30:05.111+13:006 Days Down, 1 To Go... Until Next Week<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's been a long week in our house.<br />The new Mitre 10 Mega opens in Hornby in a matter of days and Josh has been heading the merchandising team for the new store. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Needless to say, it's been a huge few months for him, all culminating into a big stress of a week this week as they get ready to open their doors. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Josh has worked (so far) about 65 hours this week, which is a lot. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's a lot of late nights, early mornings and a lot of time that I have also been at home with a 3 month old and an almost 3 year old. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, our week is almost done.<br />Tomorrow night he will be gone most of the night, but this time next week, it will all be over. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am just so proud of how hard he has worked, and how loyal and consistent he is.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And can still come home and bath Lily and get her into bed for the night while I settle Hartley. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was a bad week for me to pull a muscle in my chest wall, really bad timing. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But that's ok, as I say, we are almost there. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Looking forward to Kids Clothing Week Challenge starting Monday to keep me busy!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Super smiley face,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">LouLou xoxo</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />cookies_and_cakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08122033592798373052noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9148568299115176436.post-34382444812202386232012-10-05T16:08:00.002+13:002012-10-05T16:08:19.111+13:00Kids Clothes Week Challenge<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have had a princess dress pattern staring at me for a couple of days now, and this incentive of Kids Clothes Week Challenge is a great way to ensure that I hash this out over the course of the next week. Starting October 8, I will commit to sewing for 1 hour a day minimum, making clothes for my kids. I really think this is such an awesome way to push yourself to get some new clothes ready as the weather warms up, I know Lily is in desperate need of dresses and skirts for the warmer weather, if we actually get a real summer this year. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And with Lily's 3rd birthday next month, I will be making her an awesome dress that I got a pattern to make off Etsy. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih3GetKKfraiGHw-sdmGPIX4xs56BYZg287qKYxUzzr0vF1Xb8F3s8MwqwRsc6Zem3_PRyNH0YMhDxekrLwhpf0LiOJNX-MJNt2Thv2P2l5Tvx9PJS1k-ezpJR5kc1DboqvcIzJQnAE-k/s1600/il_570xN.283161341.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih3GetKKfraiGHw-sdmGPIX4xs56BYZg287qKYxUzzr0vF1Xb8F3s8MwqwRsc6Zem3_PRyNH0YMhDxekrLwhpf0LiOJNX-MJNt2Thv2P2l5Tvx9PJS1k-ezpJR5kc1DboqvcIzJQnAE-k/s320/il_570xN.283161341.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Because my daughter is ... well, super girly, and she REALLY is, her princess dress is gonna be a pale pink. She wanted hot pink, but I just can't do it, it's all too much for me. Still unsure quite how I ended up my wee sparkle-loving, super pink beautiful girl, but I love her desperately for it!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Wish me luck, and if you want more information on the KCWC, pop over to </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.elsiemarley.com/kids-clothes-week-fall-2012.html">http://www.elsiemarley.com/kids-clothes-week-fall-2012.html</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is where I caught onto the awesomeness of it all in the first place. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">LouLou xoxo</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">image used from Etsy pattern listing : </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/85261502/chloe-dress-pdf-pattern-tutorial-ebook">http://www.etsy.com/listing/85261502/chloe-dress-pdf-pattern-tutorial-ebook</a></span><br />
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<br />cookies_and_cakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08122033592798373052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9148568299115176436.post-75861574155136547792012-10-05T11:49:00.000+13:002012-10-05T11:49:40.585+13:00Little Girls Ruffle Skirt<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-CqlEsL1SSbBp_v1gB4fWPCmDc_Gm5P_i17pqaap4GB4Wxz8nsPWDR6-J9cLNpMSaA3GznYb6MEFy3FkCIdV7vjbNrYbQUAFj7wxOgYvU3Ej0OdgwAFkbhUIpn5KB5gRExc_MlJN4el0/s1600/IMG_7809.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-CqlEsL1SSbBp_v1gB4fWPCmDc_Gm5P_i17pqaap4GB4Wxz8nsPWDR6-J9cLNpMSaA3GznYb6MEFy3FkCIdV7vjbNrYbQUAFj7wxOgYvU3Ej0OdgwAFkbhUIpn5KB5gRExc_MlJN4el0/s320/IMG_7809.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In the interest of all good crafting, it seemed absurd to slowly teach myself all the little tricks of my new sewing machine. It seemed totally sensical to just jump in head first, buy a tricky-looking pattern, and do it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And I did it! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And it is not a massive failure. There are a few mistakes here and there, that I know are there, but I learnt big time from this awesome pattern, and I really feel like I have accomplished with this. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I purchased the pattern off Etsy from a store called ViolaLee Patterns. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This pattern was so awesomely written out, with easy-to-follow directions and step-by-step on how to do a gather stitch and getting even ruffles. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />I am just not at the point yet, where I am ready to jump in head-first without inspiration and direction. I have a lot more fun picking out the right patterns. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am a direction follower though, and I am ok with that. Learning the skills and being able to do it, is just as exciting to me!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I got the fabric for this from Spotlight. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4B5NzQiLWwo-cfA_MqJfqE3qH48gddAHc0wZ7zYltOD1A-2Kr5LBGw_PHOyeKRVywbuH_7_-y_cuOGDfSiK1UjXT6Px-pqNFO2QuK9hxCiVQdleRajYRnRbi-uEiY3fV7VeYgvIPb4nI/s1600/IMG_7842.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4B5NzQiLWwo-cfA_MqJfqE3qH48gddAHc0wZ7zYltOD1A-2Kr5LBGw_PHOyeKRVywbuH_7_-y_cuOGDfSiK1UjXT6Px-pqNFO2QuK9hxCiVQdleRajYRnRbi-uEiY3fV7VeYgvIPb4nI/s320/IMG_7842.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yay! Totally inspired by the fun that I am having with my sewing machine, and how productive and useful I feel!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">LouLou xoxo</span>cookies_and_cakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08122033592798373052noreply@blogger.com1