Wow - what a weekend!  Lots of fun and exciting things have been crammed into this extra long three day weekend, including a big cyclone which caused quite a bit of damage and flooding in our area, an amazing bush adventure with the family (more about it tomorrow)... but best of all, guess who came to visit us for dinner over the weekend...

Blogging Buddies!!

We had the most coolest time as bloggers united once again (see here and here for last time). Simone from Greatfun4kids, Gail from Delightfully Diva-ish! and my good friend Jackie from Jacksta-B (along with our husbands, kids and dogs) got together for a BBQ at our house, after plans to meet at the beach were thwarted thanks to Cyclone Wilma's fury.

It was fun, busy, loud and so good to be able to meet up again.  The kids got on great, the dogs didn't (Boo wasn't a very friendly hostess) and us blogging girls got to have a bit of a natter here and there.

It's a strange experience to meet up with people you know so well yet haven't met much in real life. The strange world of blogging friendships... I love it!!  Thanks you guys for a great night ♥ Simone's take on the weekend here.

Here's hoping you had a wonderful weekend too. 

Joining in with Life Made Lovely Monday.

I wholeheartedly believe that no matter what is happening in your life, there is always something that you can be thankful for... no matter how simple it is.  

Here are a few things I'm loving at the moment...

Chocolate Azteca - this stuff is CRAZY!  Imagine drinking hot chocolate that has pepper and chili in it! I love it (reminds me of all the amazing Mexicans we hung out with while on our Israel trip).  Thanks to my darling husband who comes home with sweet surprises like this.

I'm loving the way you can 'zhuzh' up plain old cucumber sandwiches with a cookie cutter... and the way kids gobble up those sandwiches like they're candy. Yusssss!

Lastly, I'm loving Boo and the strange places I find her... doing strange things!  Here she is having a little nap with Cookie Monster.

Here's how you can join in.... 

Link up below with your blog post telling us what thing/s you are loving, and don't forget to link back to here in your post (or use this button below).  Linky open until Sunday!!

I tried desperately to make something less 'granny-ish' this week after last weeks disaster... but alas, my attempts to make softies or totes went out the window and I found myself whipping up some coffee cup sleeves!  Here are a few...

They are rather sweet though don't you think?  I'm going to slip the mustache one in my bag for myself, and a few in the shop for anyone who isn't ashamed to display a bit of crochet in public.

I have a couple of surprises coming up soon too... a weekly "Things I'm loving" linky you can all join in with tomorrow (so get your posts ready) and another softie giveaway on it's way soon (just because you guys are awesome).

For more crafty makings go here. 

Joining in today with My Creative Space here. 

I recently helped my Dad make backup copies of some of his photos to our computer.  As I looked through the pictures, I was reminded of how much I love his photography.

My Dad loves old things (remember here),  he loves flowers and plants, he loves to surf and take beautiful photos of the sea, water and anything unusual.

He doesn't always have his good camera on him, but even with his cheap digital he seems to capture beautiful images... he has an eye for a photo, as they say.   

So I thought I'd share a few of his recent photos that I love... and say thanks to my Dad for inspiring me to look for beauty in the 'normal everyday' of life...

Okay, okay!  I've given in to your demands to share the Ginger Crunch recipe.  But I warn you, once you've made these delicious morsels of ginger goodness, they will cry and wail at you from their biscuit tin every time you walk into the kitchen.  Just don't blame me if you eat them all and regret it later. 

I didn't have to beg my Mum for the recipe in the end either, as I discovered it in my Edmond's Cook Book.

  

Ingredients

125g butter, softened 

½ cup sugar

1½ cups standard plain flour 

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon ground ginger

Ginger Icing

75 g butter

¾ cup icing sugar

2 tablespoons golden syrup

3 teaspoons ground ginger 

Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.  Sift flour, baking powder and ginger together.  Mix into creamed mixture.  Turn dough out onto a lightly floured board. Knead well.  Press dough into a greased 20 x 30cm sponge roll tin.  Bake at 190°C for 20 to 25 minutes or until light brown.  Pour hot Ginger Icing over base while hot and cut into squares before it gets cold.  Makes 24.

Ginger Icing

In a small saucepan combine butter, icing sugar, golden syrup and ginger.  Heat until butter is melted, stirring constantly.

For more delicious recipes, visit here.
Joining in with Life Made Lovely Monday.

The heavens proclaim the glory of God.  The skies display his craftsmanship.
Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make him known.
They speak without a sound or word; their voice is never heard.
Yet their message has gone throughout the earth, and their words to all the world.  


God has made a home in the heavens for the sun. It bursts forth like a radiant bridegroom after his wedding.
It rejoices like a great athlete eager to run the race. The sun rises at one end of the heavens
and follows its course to the other end. Nothing can hide from its heat.

The instructions of the Lord are perfect, reviving the soul.
The decrees of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple.
 

Psam 19:1-7 (NLT)

All images via weheartit.com 

As I always say, no matter how good or bad your week has been, there is always something you can find to be thankful or grateful for.  Here are a few of the things I am loving this week...

The fact that I fell off the 'cool crochet horse' but got up and back on again with this very cool pink crochet coaster and coffee cup sleeve... well, I think they're cool anyway (and thanks for all your encouragement yesterday!!).

My Mamma's Ginger Crunch Slice... it is so delicious, crunchy and gingery.  I might just have to steal her recipe and post it here for you all!

I am loving Sarah London's amazingly cool idea to Crochet a Rainbow to help out everyone affected by the recent flooding in Australia.  If you can crochet, check it out here.

The way that Boo and Barney are getting along at the moment... this was them last night (it was also Barney's 6th birthday... so I think Boo was being extra nice letting Barney share a bit of her couch space).

This awesome Frank & Dean Stationery that I won in the recent Kiwi Mummy Blogs 'I Love Your Blog' competition.  I love it!!

Last but not least, this Vanilla Rooibos Tea! What's not to love about it... it's South African, caffeine free and has a beautiful vanilla flavour!!

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

Okay - I've gone and done it.  I think I've turned 'un-cool' on you all.

A few weeks ago I saw these sweet crochet coasters here and decided I'd love to make some myself. They are fun to make, and look really cute... or so I thought.

Today I proudly showed Symon my creations, and a horrified look came over his face.  "They're doilies" he exclaimed with fear in his eyes.

It was at that exact moment that I realised I've crossed the line... I have turned into a total Granny (no offence to the grandparents reading this).

So, I think I'll still use them (in private), and I've popped the red ones in the shop for any older people out there who need something to catch the tea and coffee cup drips.

*Gulp*

For more crafty makings go here.

We live in an old 'doer-upper' bungalow house which we are slowly renovating.  When we first moved here a few years ago, the bathroom/toilet was the first room that we renovated.  It was tiny - so tiny in fact that the door couldn't close because the bath got in the way!  Would you believe that sometimes all 6 of us end up standing in here (brushing our teeth of course!).

Since the first renovation, we have recently had a quick re-do of the bathroom after the shower curtain needed replacing and I also felt like a bit of a change.  Symon surprised me with this really cool Kiwiana bus blind inspired piece of art (for a great deal) to go with my favourite cow print shower curtain!

So I decided to share a few before and after photos just for fun (and because some of you were keen to see the rest of the room).

I must add - thank you so much to my amazing husband for all your hard work renovating.  He nearly killed himself while working on this room when he fell off a ladder (breaking the new toilet and sending a hammer flying into our new bath). 

Warning: If you don't like photos of toilets, look away now :) 

Before renovations... 

After first renovations... 

Recent re-do... 

 

When I have no idea what to make for a meal - these are my lifesavers.  They are quick, the kids love them, and I calm my conscience with the fact that they are rather nutritious (thanks to the rolled oats)!

Usually made like pancakes in a frying pan, you can also use your waffle maker too.  Make them as big or small as you like - great for breakfast, brunch, lunch, whenever!

For 4 servings 

¾ cup rolled oats

¾ cup milk

1 egg

½ tsp salt

2 Tbsp sugar

½ cup flour

1 tsp baking powder

2 Tbsp butter, melted

Put the folled oats in a bowl.  Add the milk and egg and beat with a fork to mix.  Leave this mixture to soak while you get all the other ingredients.  Add the salt, sugar, sifted flour and baking powder and the melted butter and stir only until the ingredients are dampened and not until smooth.

Heat a frying pan (or waffle iron) until a drop of water runs around its surface.  Butter surface lightly with a little butter on soft paper, toprevent the pancakes sticking.  Drop spoonfuls of the mixture onto the hot surface and when bubbles appear then break on the surface, turn and cook the other side.

Serve drizzled with golden syrup, or with fruit, or with jam. 

Thanks to Alison Holst  "Dollar and Sense Cookbook" for this fabulous recipe.

Joining in with Tasty Tuesdays here.

For more delicious recipes visit here.