Super- cala- fraga o you know the rest

As the years roll on I find it increasingly harder to buy imaginative gifts for my parents. 

They want for little, other than good health and a happy life and are constantly telling my sister and I not to trouble ourselves and overspend. All I hear is blah blah blah.

I think I've said it before I'm big on birthdays and Christmas. Presents, wrapping and surprises I love them all. Of course I love presents being given to me but I also get so much joy from giving presents as well. 

This year was easy. My mum and my eldest niece both received tickets to Mary Poppins.

That was also my excuse to purchase a ticket for myself. I mean hey, my company was the biggest present of all! I also told my cousin to buy his mum a ticket as well (bossy aren't I).

So yesterday we jumped on the train, did a little shopping had a bite to eat and headed down to Her Majesty's. 

The lights went down, the band started and I shed a tear. I can't explain why, but when I go to big shows (sometimes even football matches) as soon as the crowd cheers or there is a big musical production the tears start rolling. Most of the time I can hide it in the dark but it's a bit embarrassing, try explaining to you're friends at a Jay Z concert why you are crying. 

Oh well at  least it keeps people entertained!

So Mary - I have to say by the time interval rolled around I was feeling a little disappointed. The last musical I saw ( and shed a load of tears at) was Wicked, so the bench mark has been set high, really high, but Mum was loving it so that was enough for me.

Then the second half started. I was SOLD. The routines were awesome and YAY Matt Lee tapped. I love a good tap set. 

The cast were all amazing, but in my mind Matt Lee as Bert stole the show.

Now I wonder who I can convince to put Hairpsray tickets are on their wishlist....

Remember me

Forgive me readers for I have sinned.
Well not it's not actually a sin ( I don't think) but it has been about two weeks since my last post.
While computer issues and a clingy toddler are partly the reason for my absence, I would be lying if I said it wasn't due to being totally consumed with party planning for Sadie's 2nd birthday.




I think I may have gone a little overboard but hey my baby is only 2 once, and I guess from here on in she isn't really classed as a baby anymore.
So we are have a garden tea party with lots of colour lots of sugar and LOTS of fun. The countdown is on as it is next Tuesday ( thank you Melbourne Cup for the public holiday by the way). I'm a tad bit excited, can't wait to share.

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Testing testing

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Things I Love Thursday

In It To Win It

Lots of love today

I love competitions

I love Modish Market and

I love Black Milk

Ok so I'm a little late with sharing this competition, but you still have a few hours to head over to the Modish Markets facebook page and "LIKE" them to go into a draw for a Black Milk voucher.

Oh should I really be sharing this? I want to win!

I only buy soy candles and when I discovered Black Milk I fell in love.

The prices are great and oooh the smells, so divine.

I really shouldn't go on about the different flavours (?) as lovely as they are I ALWAYS 

purchase the peony rose. I usually stock up at each market and my beloved family and friends, just incase you were wondering, yep you probably will find that Santa has left a little something from Black Milk under your tree this year

point and shoot : can't keep a secret

Hello Monday, wow you were speedy with your arrival!

I'm super excited to share my point and shoot with you this week.

 A few weeks ago the lovely Chantelle of fatmumslim wrote about a photographer she had discover Alexandrena Parker. I instantly fell in love with her photos and was beside myself when I found out she was a Melbourne girl. 

When Sadie was born I chose to buy a really good camera rather than having professional photos done. It was a decision I haven't regretted but I still liked the idea of seeing her through someone else's eyes. I also knew I didn't want your typical type of posed photo. I have seen some great family shots done in shopping centres etc, but they aren't for me. 

Alex's style was what I wanted so I quickly booked a date with her and tried to keep it a secret. I thought I had Christmas sorted as the session was for my Sadie and my three nieces.

Mum and Dad check, Nan, Aunties, the in-laws done done done. Well I was too excited and blurt out my little secret the day before, but I'm glad I did so I can now share a sneak peek.

After looking at the photos I took on the day, I am eager with anticipation to see what Alex has done

I can't recommend Alex highly enough, I want her to come and live at my house so we can have fairy bread and photo and tea parties everyday.

See more of her work here or here

Oh such cuteness and joy

Movin' to the country, gonna eat me a lot of peaches

Lately I feel like there aren't enough hours in the day, days in the week etc.etc.

So it was nice to take the foot of the pedal and spend a couple of days out of town.

The kidlets had a ball. 

Finding fresh eggs in the hen house, making sweet treats, quad-biking and toasting marshmallows by the fire.

There was of course a visit to the makers market and Lark with goodies for all.

  

I could totally lose myself in Lark, the shop is like a whimsical dream full of goodness. 

I'm thankful that it is out of town as it takes a lot of will power to not just fill up my car and max out my credit card. I now have a month before my next visit to save my pennies for some more goodies. Woo Hoo

Point and shoot: A not so subtle hint

You may have noticed over the last few weeks there has been a lot of photos of cupcakes popping up, and I may have hinted of a new venture, it' nearly time for an announcement. 

I'm sure if you read between the lines you'll figure out what I'm up to (the photo is a BIG hint) but I'll fill you in more in the coming days as soon as I can get my head straight.

My point and shoot for this week is my first proper PAID job for this new venture

YUMM. I was a little nervous and forgot to take my "good" camera, but these little babies are Lemon cupcakes and Milo cupcakes for a little engagement lunch.

Oh so much to share.

Note to self - find 5 minutes this arvo to share my Daylesford goodies!!!

Things I Love Thursday

Having a bestie that lives just outside of Daylesford.

For those that are not familiar with Daylesford, it is Victoria's spa and retreat centre, and so stunning. Possibly one of the most beautiful spots in Victoria.

Unfortunately there will be no time for spa treatments but a visit to Lark and the Maker's Market are definitely on the cards. As well as lots of brain storming for a new venture.

Warning : A bit of self advertising 

As I speak of new ventures I'm going to plug myself a little here. To help fund my new venture 

and taking on the challenge of making plastic cool, I am now your friendly neighbourhood Tupperware lady. Yeah I hear ya, like I don't have enough on my plate but my current job is a bit further from home than I would like so I'm needing a bit of flexibility.

So please feel free to contact me if you're up for some fun times.

And to counter balance my cheekiness I will even bring along a batch of cupcakes if you book a party...

More Sunny Sunday

Hi, my name is Belinda and I'm a photoholic!

 

We spent Sunday at the in-laws for a birthday celebration.

I have to be honest, I'm not a fan of their chosen location but Sadie loves running around chasing the chickens and trying to get the sheep to the fence. 

I did manage to pass the day buy taking over 300 photos.

Do you think I have a problem????

Point and Shoot Sunny Sunday

Sunny Sunday

followed in true Melbourne style by miserable Monday.

I didn't think this kid could get any cuter. But put her in a Collingwood jumper OMG!!!

And look she has all her front teeth, see such Collingwood supporters do exist.

Holy Moley what a day. What a game. I think I am still in a state of shock.

I thought my heart was going to pop out of my throat.

A draw. ARE YOU SERIOUS!

We have to go through this all again, the tension, the anxiety, the stupid collingwood jokes.

And I am one of those people that is in the midst of changing and rearranging to be able to sit through the match again. 

I did have loads more to share for point and shoot today, but my internet isn't being my friend today, so I'll have to share some more of my sunny sunday a bit later

Serendipity

Serendipity - (ser-en-dip-i-ty) . The faculty of making fortunate discoveries by accident. The fact or occurrence of such discoveries.




Milo cupcakes

I mentioned that I attempted macarons (macaroons? They both seem to be correct). Big fail all around, but I am not going to let my one failure keep me down. I will try and try again, and for every fail it means we get crushed up bikkies to crumble on top of vanilla bean ice-cream. Win




The failed first attempt ( note to self - don't think of comparisons).
I will not let them get the better of me....
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Point and Shoot: GO PIES

I have a confession to make. I am a Collingwood supporter. 

I'm not fanatical by an means but I am trying to keep a lid on my excitement in the lead up to the AFL Grand Final. Although that hasn't stopped me from spending a few bucks on balloons, streamers, a cardboard premiership cup and a ridiculous inflatable hand.

My love of football has waned over the years. The man of the house is a football freak. 

I can't tell you how many tipping and fantasy footy comps he is in and during football season I usually have to compete with the game for a bit of attention!!!! 

This is not helped by the fact that he is a Carlton supporter and despises my team, 

he even commented once that if he knew I was a Collingwood supporter before hand there probably wouldn't be an "us". (How rude)

So my point and shoot is from Friday nights game at the G. 

I was there amongst the 95,000 people having a great time with my lil sis. 

(Rolling out of there after a super healthy dinner of Hot Dogs, hot chips and jam donuts for dessert. Oh boy, oh boy).

One more to go.........

Luckily I have a few distractions to keep me calm this week.

The first is catching up with the other point and shooters over at fatmumslim.

Looking for a remedy

Ok so I am trying to cure a big case of the Can't Be Bothered's.

Got any tips?

I am hoping the weather will help. 

With the temperature (slowly) on the rise it's much easier to crawl out from my doona cocoon at 6 a.m. I'm hoping that will give me a head start before Cyclone Sadie starts her day.
A big spring clean is on the cards. Cleanse, clean and tidy. 
I need to make space (and funds) to create create create.


My first step towards a cure for my Can't Be Bothered's has been enrolling in the 
Small Crafts class run by the ultra cool Elsie and Rachel from Red Velvet

I'm a bit excited about getting stuck into this, I am running a little behind as I only registered a day before the course started so I need to do some gathering but I can't wait to get stuck into some of these projects. The first is a puppet theatre. I can't wait to share my finished projects, and I'm telling you about them so I have to be bothered!!!!

.

Point and shoot: No rest for the wicked

I've lost count of amount of cuppa's I've half finished this weekend. 

 With a house full of kids my intentions of sitting down for five minutes was a bit of a fantasy.

My little house felt like it had a revolving door!!

But as they say No Rest For The Wicked, now where did I park my broomstick?

Busy times make it harder for me to choose just one pic for point and shoot so here's a bit of a weekend round up

• A trip to the maker's market to purchase some goodies, have faces painted finished with a sausage sizzle. Seriously how good does a sausage sizzle smell!
• An afternoon of tea parties, fairy bread and colouring in
• Dutch pancakes for breakfast (Best 19 bucks I've spent at Kmart)
• Celebrating a 1st birthday at a Candy Shop themed party
• Fun times with family and friends

For more point and shoot fun head over to Fatmumslim and hey why not join in

A taste of things to come

Since doing a cupcake class with the wonderful Cathie from melbourne epicure a couple of weeks back I've been a little obsessed. Not only with making cupcakes but with playing around with recipes.

 I've had no complaints about my red velvet but I think they still need a little tweaking. 

I'm attempting to keep my cakes low fat and healthy for little munchkins but still tasty.

I'm sure I'm not the only one that would reach for a chocolate cupcake over carrot, but I promise you, these are REALLY good. Thumbs up all round. I suppose you could even have two!! If I was being totally honest I would admit that I just wanted a healthy cake option so I could load up the cream cheese icing.

Carrot cupcakes

Ingredients

• 225g self-raising flour
• 1 tsp mixed spice
• 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
• 75g sultanas
• 50g brown sugar
• 115g grated carrot
• 1 TBsp olive oil ( I would have replaced this with apple sauce, but was all out)
• 2 eggs, lightly whisked
• 250g yoghurt
• 
  

  Cream-cheese frosting

  
  
  I have to be honest, I didn't measure my ingredients for this.
  I just beat the cream cheese I had and added icing sugar until I got the right consistency, with a drop of vanilla essence. In hind sight I would probably just squeeze in some lemon juice.

Crushed walnuts

Method

1. 
   
   Preheat oven to 160°C (fan forced). 
2. 
   
   Line twelve 80ml muffin pans with paper cases. ( My mix made 12 "normal" size plus 10 minis. 
3. 
   
   Sift the flour, mixed spice and bicarbonate of soda into a bowl. Stir in sultanas, sugar and carrot. Make a well in the centre.
4. Whisk together the yoghurt, egg and oil in a jug. Pour into the flour mixture and stir to combine. Spoon mixture among cases. Bake in oven for 20 minutes or until a skewer inserted into centres comes out clean. Transfer to a rack to cool.
5. To make frosting beat cheese and icing sugar until smooth and stir through vanilla essence
6. Spread cakes with cream-cheese frosting and dress with crushed walnuts.
7. Eat and enjoy
8. Try to stop at just 1

   

Bonus : They get Sadie's seal of approval!!!

For every success there is a failure. I had my very first attempt at making Macarons. BIG FAIL!!!

Point & Shoot: Simple pleasures

Simple pleasures all around for this father's day weekend

• Sharing red velvet cupcakes with friends and finding new treasures at Yarraville Market

• Enjoying a  leisurly walk to the local for breakfast (and not having to wait for a table!)

free rides are the best 05/09/10 12.18 pm

•  The sun peaking out from the clouds in between small showers, a taste of what's to come

• Not being able to decide if it was Sadie's laugh/giggle from being up so high or if it was the look on P's face everytime she held his hair that little bit tighter that made me laugh more.

• Spending time with my nearest and dearest as we nurtured our heavy hearts 

And those simple pleasures continue, as I can finally get around to checking out other 
point and shoot entries because I no longer work Mondays, a big YIPEE all round for that!!!!


P.S. How friggin cute is my new point and shoot button!!!!!

Hey Spring, Peek A Boo I see you

Hey hey spring, don't be shy, we know you're out there somewhere.

I'm under no illusion that you can take away the sadness that winter left us with, but I hope that your sunny beams will make the days brighter.

It seems so much easier to be sad when the sky is grey. If don't mind I'd like for you to brighten up our days, just a little.

We have lots of park dates and outdoor activities planned, not to mention a good dose of vitamin D to be had. So Spring, can you make yourself shown.
Pretty please. xoxo
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