Confessions of a list-lover!

I confess... Im a list-lover !
I write lists and then I write another list and transfer those lists to other lists. I have never ending lists.
Lists for groceries. Lists for crafts to make. List of things to do right this minute and lists for next year and the year after!
I love crossing things off my lists, though they do seem to be never-ending as more gets added then what is taken off. I think it helps clear my mind to have things written down and out of my head - works for me anyway. The only issue I have is feeling pressure as soon as I look at the lists!!
I have had a productive morning - better go cross things off my lists!

fabric challenge - Day 31

I was inspired by this blog today and created my own little tag blankie and it was extremely quick. I cut up a throw rug I purchased from Ikea for the backing. Its great for playing peek-a-boo!
I have been looking over lots of blogs lately for inspiration with my challenge. There are so many talented crafters out there and this is helping driving my enthusiasm.
I am enjoying sewing new things and cant keep up with my ideas and finding the time to stay on a roll is difficult but my enthusiasm for using up my stash is better than I thought after the initial shock!

On my list is another gift I need to make and I am inspired by the scraps I have. I got them out and ironed them to let the creative ideas flow and cook! Im excited to get started on it.

Fabric Challenge - Day 30 (already!)

Well its not called a challenge for nothing.

It is all I can do not to splurge on some new beautiful fabric. I cant help myself then to trawl fabric websites looking for different materials.

I got a big tub and filled it with all the fabrics in the cupboard and brought them out to the lounge to lay them all out and see what I had and what I could turn it all into.

This was quite overwhelming as I hadn't realised just how much I had accumulated, (How could I still have the need to buy more!)  I was shocked at how much I had that was so random and wondering how I could use them together. Im thinking about maybe starting a big quilt project which uses lots of different fabrics, hoping they may draw together in an eclectic way??

I have however started my challenge, slowly! and have been sewing a few things, Nothing too adventurous yet...  A few crayon rolls, and a colour on the go. 

BUT stay posted for more exciting makes!

Wagon Wheel Slice

I love magazine subscriptions. I recently received a new one for Country Style and I am in heaven. Im a little fussy when it comes to my magazines and dont like anyone opening it out of the wrapper before me. I like to be the one to unwrap it and turn its pages first. Strange? Maybe. But thats just my thing. Anyway.... I recently received the latest copy of Super Food Ideas (June 2012 issue), a great subscription which I have really enjoyed alot. It has so many great easy recipes and inspiring ideas, a great everyday ideas magazine.

This months features some Jam inspired receipes and one I could not go past was the Wagon Wheel slice. It looks good, sounds good and I can confirm tastes great. The rest of the family can concur - it certainly did not last long and they cant wait for me to make it again. 

The biscuit base is sweet, the marshmallows slightly gooey and the jam and chocolate are perfect compliments.

My top tip would be to wait for the marshmallow to cool completely if you want three seperate layers. If you dont or cant its not a major - still looks and tastes great.

235g butter softened

1/3 cup castor sugar

1 & 1/2 cups plain flour

1/3 cup self raising flour

145g marshmallows halved

185g chocolate

Raspberry Jam (it says half a cup but I used the last bits I had. I bought a new jar but the grocery bag broke and the jar broke when it fell and I couldn't risk using the jam in case of glass so I had to use what I had for this batch)

Preheat oven to 180degrees C

Line a 16cm x 26cm slice pan with baking paper

using electric mixer beat 185g butter and sugar till light and fluffy

sift in flours and stir until dough comes together. Press mixture into tin and bake for 20 mins until golden.

spread warm base with Jam

cover with marshmallows cut side down bake for 2 mins - cool in tin

melt chocolate and remaining butter

pour over marshmallows

cool in fridge for 2 hours

Some quick PJ pants

My big boy is growing so quickly. With the weather slowly getting colder, we realised he doesn't have any winter pjs, and of course my first thought was to make him some (especially with my fabric challenge in full swing - but more on that later).

 After a quick browse through my stash I found I didn't have enough of one fabric so I used two which I thought was fun - but he raised his eyebrow! He was though very excited I had made him them when they were finished and put them straight on.

 I made a pattern from a pair of tracksuit pants (flipping one leg into another and laying flat) to cut out a pattern and I used this tutorial to help sew them, and they were done in less than an hour (though I did have to feed and bath the little master in the middle of making them!)

Im thinking of grabbing some flannelette material and making more.

Brother Love

We each have our own bonds, but this brotherly bond is so sweet.

Now that the littlest master is on the move, the afternoons are filled with the two boys sharing their love of cars and each other. 

It is very cute watching the joy in his eyes following his big brother around and being able to be there playing with him, he is in awe. 

I am grateful everyday for these little people.

Baby Love

I dont want him to grow up. If I could bottle this cuteness I would!!

My daughter keeps asking if she was like him when she was a baby and I cant remember. I cant stop thinking that I will not remember now either. Is it the lack of sleep? or is it the fast paced life we live when its suddenly Thursday before you have even finished your Monday!

The changes are so crazy quick at this tender age. 

Look at him sitting up munching on toast - CUTE

Hummingbird cake - Egg Free

Ive been baking alot lately. There is something about being in the kitchen that calms me.

We received this beautiful cake stand with a lovely glass lid as a gift and I couldn't resist but to bake straight away. I love a hummingbird cake, especially the cream cheese icing and this time i used a bunt tin  just for something different and it looked (and tasted) lovely.

The receipe is really easy, it uses vegetable oil instead of butter and I just leave out the eggs. I love the combination of the bananas and pineapple - I find we open a tin of pineapple for pizzas and end up throwing out half a tin, so this is a good way of making use of the rest of the pineapple. 

Its a good dairy free cake too with the only dairy component the cream cheese icing which you could pass on or substitute with water or the soy cream cheese.

Have I given you the receipe before?  

Cant hurt  to be twice! - here it is:

Ingredients

1 cup plain flour

half cup of self raising flour

1 teaspoon cinnamon

half teaspoon of bicarb soda

3/4 cup castor sugar

2 eggs (which i leave out!)

half cup of vegetable oil

1 and a half cups of mashed banana

3/4 cup undrained crushed pineapple

100g cream cheese

3/4 cup icing sugar sifted

The How To 

Preheat oven to 180 degrees Celsius

Sift flours, cinnamon and bicarb soda into a bowl. Stir in sugar

stir together oil, banana, pineapple (and eggs if using them) then pour into dry mix. 

Stir until just combined then spoon into tin and Bake for 1 hour or until a skewer inserted into middle comes out clean.

Leave in tin for 10 minutes then turn out on wire rack to cool.

Beat cream cheese and icing sugar till fluffy and spread over cake

Enjoy..... Im off to make Date and orange scones, so I have some morning tea for the week!

Happy Mothers Day

A warm cup of tea at mums always makes things better.

Happy Mothers Day, I love you Mum

One month on...

Im still beaming. Im a MRS! 

Cant stop looking at my sparkle

It feels so long ago now, yet Im still up on a cloud.

Im feeling so blessed with our family 

After quite a quick engagement period, with three full months of planning and organising, I have been enjoying some down time. 

I am quite proficient at dropping "my husband" into conversation!