While having a bit of a baking afternoon with Miss 4 the other day, I smiled as I watched her happily licking the cake batter off the rubber scraper and bowl... remembering doing that myself as a child. Definitely one of the best parts of baking with my mum as a kid! Thinking about that reminded me of another baking memory as a...
I am about to give away a secret recipe... the best chocolate cake ever. Once you have tried this, I doubt you will ever use another chocolate cake recipe again! I use this cake for all the kids birthday cakes (unless another type is requested) and love it! The amazing thing about this recipe is that it is so easy to make, so...
A few of the latest softies that have been created over the last week (some are still awaiting adoption in the softie shop). Below are (listed in order of photos)... Bluebell, Muffy, Muriel, William Wallace and Norman (poor Norman). ...
Three of our eggs have hatched into beautiful little chickens, and you should have seen the kids eyes when they first saw them and held them. The wonder of new life is amazing, and the pure fact that such a cute little animal could have grown and developed in an egg shell still makes me amazed and once again, I think God is...
I have had an awesome afternoon going out for coffee and Ten Pin Bowling with the most awesome group of ladies! Each of these people (a couple of them couldn't make it) are involved in working with youth at our church, being mentors, rolemodels in various ways. You guys rock! So as a tribute to you all, thank you for all that you...
When we peeped at the eggs today, we noticed that there is a tiny little hole in one (see the egg at the bottom right) and saw some movement! The hatching has begun - yay. We have never had baby chickens before, and think our broody hen has done very well! She was off the eggs for a bit too long the other...
A few random things that caught my eye this week... These cool fabrics I came across on special at my local Spotlight (still thinking up things to make with them). I especially like the two on the right. This crazy toaster cover called the 'Heartfelt Toaster Cozy' from a book called 'Material World' by Cat Wei. I am not sure why a toaster...
So often I find myself marveling at how amazingly clever God is. Mandrake took this awesome photo of a spiders web outside our house the other day (you need to give the house a wash darling - said with the tone of Edna off The Incredibles)... and I was struck by it's beauty and also the miracle of the spider web itself. I...
After being inspired by Nina's 'White Chocolate and Date Muffins' (see post here) I decided that I just had to try them out... they sounded too good to be true. I turned to my most favourite muffin book aptly named "The Muffin Book, the only muffin book you will ever need" and found "Date and Oat Bran Muffins" which I just happened to...
Yay - Paisley Jade's Softie Shop is online! After heaps of encouragement from friends and family, I have created (with alot of help from Mandrake) a place to list my softies that are for sale. This is really only a hobby thing... as with 4 kids I don't think I would ever have the time to go into 'proper' business... but it's a...
Mandrake bought me a really nice new mobile phone last year for my birthday... it's a pink Vodafone LG KP202. I feel really posh having a nice phone, and the added bonus is that now Mandrake isn't so keen to borrow it, due to it's lovely light pink colour. The only negative thing about this phone is that it has a really quiet...
Last week a friend sent a little surprise in the mail (thanks Stacey!)... some awesome brown and blue paisley-type fabric. I also came across some really cool flowery fabric last week as well - so here are a couple of little beanie bunny's from the two fabrics. Not sure if I will continue with this shape of bunny... tell me what you think??...
Today the Drake family ventured out to the Serendipity Farm Park in Whangarei (NZ). We had a really good time, feeding and patting (or is it petting?) heaps of different animals... goats, llama's, pigs, possums, donkeys, geese, ducks, chickens and the list could go on and on. We only had a couple of moments with tears... one when Miss 1's fingers were too...
Paisley mugs... I couldn't resist buying two today when I spotted them while browsing the mug isle in the Warehouse. I am sure they make the coffee taste better. ...
The natural progression of water play... thankfully not in the toilet this week! ...
I am now the proud owner of the best shoes ever... according to Symon that is! My 'gift-giving-can't-miss-a-bargain-husband' came home today with a little surprise for me. Now to understand my excitement before I go on, you must realise two things... 1. I don't own that many shoes. I am probably a bit of a cross between a tomboy (hardly wear skirts or...
Another pink bunny softie finished today just for Miss 4. She had specifically requested this one in this fabric, and was very pleased with it. It has been named... wait for it... "Pinky". Pinky is snuggled up in bed right now with Miss 4, and as I kissed her goodnight, I also gave Pinky a goodnight kiss, only to hear my realist daughter...
I was recently inspired to make some gingerbread men and we had heaps of fun yesterday decorating them and eating them. I decided to get the kids to decorate theirs before they were cooked, as I think at the moment I can only handle a certain amount of sugar-hype around the house... the less the better. A great idea for the holidays! It's...
Sometimes (particularly today) it is so easy to get busy, stressed and quite overwhelmed with life in general, so busy in fact that we forget to take the time out to enjoy the simple things... to be thankful and just to smile. The best way to do this is to watch and be around small children... so I decided to help little Miss...