Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Banana Bread

Do you get Banana's like these in your fruit bowl ?


I do and it drives me crazy....LM won't eat a banana when is starts to go black so usually they just end up in the bin....

Not no more.

I was given this recipe from a mother at LM's orientation day and have made it twice now and both times have been a great success.

The LM loves to help make this up which is good because this is a very easy recipe..



                                                              Michelle's Banana Bread


2 cups plain flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 brown sugar
2 eggs lightly beaten
1/3 cup (80ml) oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 ripe bananas mashed
 butter and honey to serve

preheat oven to 180c
grease loaf pan

mix flour baking powder and cinnamon into large bowl.stir in the sugars
in a  separate bowl combine eggs oil and vanilla -add to the  dry ingredients with mashed banana and fold till just combined-do not over mix


Place in loaf pan and bake for 50minutes or until a skewer inserted into the middle of loaf comes out clean.
Cool for 10mins ( yeah like that is going to happen in my house )
Slice thickly and spread with butter and honey.

The LM just eats it plain and quite enjoys it....Come to think of it he enjoys all food  

Saturday, November 24, 2012

25 Weeks but who's Counting....

We had a lovely family dinner last night.

The parents to be be and the new homeowners..

 I am still running on empty well that is how I explain it .I am going into hospital for an iron infusion on 4th Dec so hopefully that will perk me up....anyway

I didn't want to do the "Traditional Baked Dinner" so I cooked baked chicken  a potato bake fresh corn and a Cesar salad and OMG it was delicious....or so I say my self....

Any way made Kerry let me take her side on view photo.Can you believe she is 25 weeks.Not long till Nana's little boy is here...

 
Kerry said she feels "fat" and is hating it at the moment.
I think she looks beautiful and that's what Kev keeps telling her as well.

 
Manny just looks so happy..Proud Dad to be

 
Young love.I give them 2 years and we will hear the pitter patter of little Datsun drivers from these two...

 
I couldn't resist this.
 
I love them both so much....xxx

Thursday, November 22, 2012

Washi Storage.

I have told you all before about how much I love washi tape well it is still a great love of mine except I was having trouble with storage of the tape.

I had them in a box -No good I love to see the colours and it was just a tangled rainbow.

I had them on paper towel stands -  out grew them

Then help arrived via Ashley's blog -Under the sycamore tree  she also loves washi tape and found a great way to store hers while on her adoption journey in China.( A must read story)
 
What an amazing vision.....60 plus rolls of washi tape.


I got a broom handle and screwed it to a  piece of wood to form a base ( I say I but mean Kevin he he he )  I love  my pink washi tape....
 
Then I put all my washi tape onto the broom handle it making sure it was all colour coded properly.
 
"Hey LM red stars do not go next to green spots"

                                    "I don't care if you like yellow spots  next to blue stripes"

                                                             "URGGGGGGGH"...............


Now Ashley put a base on her top??? do you know what I mean  but I left mine off not because I want  easy access to my tape to change them around....

No that would be common sense...NO mine doesn't have a base on top because I forgot to buy one so until I do the tapes  can be taken off "oh NO".... " LM do not mess up my tapes "

                             "I said DO NOT MESS MY TAPES AND CHANGE THE COLOURS AROUND......I AM WARNING YOU ...."

The best part of messing up my tapes is--You get to put them all back on again and  remember all the ones you forgot you had.

This is just a very quick basic idea on a storage issue I had  and I love the result and I will add the cap to the top and guess what I need another one  real soon as this one is   almost full and I have another 15 rolls on order.

                                                           Yep I am in Wash Heavan.....

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Where's the bed????

Ok so you go away for 3 days 2 nights and book a really really nice motel to stay in.

All OK there no problems.....

Mmm yum we even had a hot breakfast each day included in the package...

Once we arrived we got a nice surprise that we had been "upgraded" from a garden view  2 bedroom suite into a ocean view 2 bedroom suite....And the view was brilliant.

The suite was really nice and  clean ,big a TV in both bedrooms a lounge ,dinning table and kitchen on the top floor....Bedrooms were downstairs and did I mention CLEAN.....

Our room had a spa bath in it  which the LM loved. Why we even had a washing machine and dryer (which I used so I wouldn't have a heap of washing to do when we got back to reality.)

The second room had 2 king single beds and was a really nice room.The LM liked this room and was excited about "HIS" room.

So why the whinge? Everything seems good .....Well it was except for one little thing...

The Little Man.......now where do you think he slept?



 
Yep......not in his room.
The first night he slept on the chair in the lounge room in various positions.....



The second night-at least he made it into a bedroom "Ours" but did he sleep in our bed.?

Nope he slept curled up under his favorite blanket with his best friends....At first I didn't realise it was him and was about to pick up his blanket then I saw the blanket move.He gave me such a fright.So we left him there.

In the morning when he woke he told us he had been camping...gee he is a funny little thing.

So next time I am not going to bother booking a 2 room suite just get a double room for Kev & me and the  LM can and will sleep where ever he wants ha ha ha

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Monogram Christmas Balls





Ever since I started blogging one thing that I have discovered about myself is I love "monograms" I didn't realise this until I took a look around my house.
I have initials everywhere and now I have started the monograms ha ha

I love them on towels ,sheets,pictures anything that can be monogrammed I love...  and now I have discovered "Monogrammed" Christmas Balls....PURE LOVE....

I found the idea while surfing the net (what a weird term) at The Creativity Exchange .

So the following are my beautiful monogrammed Christmas balls......
 I bought the large balls from the reject shop $4 each. The large rhinestone letter in the middle were bought from England via eBay $3 each,the letters either side are from Spotlight $2.50 each.

These balls are quite big.They aren't what I had in mind when I thought I would make a couple...But I am very happy now...
 When I got the large rhinestone letters (gulp) Too big...Kev is going to kill me I just spent all this money on something that I can't use cause I didn't check my sizes..... I thought .'New plan '...So I found my large balls- then changed the sides letters (the side ones were originally going to be the main initial blah blah blah who cares it didn't go to plan but has turned out better than I thought.....
 Don't the colours look so good..I normally don't like gold or red but in this case I have been wrong they look stunning...
This is my monogram ball......Love it..... I am going to get a stand for it to display it from or I might just get some fishing line and hang it on my dresser who knows where it is going to end up but one thing is it will be hung with love....and treasured for years to come........
These are my mini balls well actually they are normal size -I mean about the size of a tennis ball...
So I think this may be the end of all my rhinestone balls for the year.

Talk about an easy project
peel and stick then add a bow.

I hope you have a go and make one for yourself or for gifts....



3

Monday, November 19, 2012

Craft update

Hi Friends

I have been missing in action lately not bad sick but just felt like someone has pull the plug on me and I am deflated...Sounds weird but I can't describe it any other way.

Today when I felt like #%7* FOR THE 5TH DAY IN A ROW I got out my little notebook and went through my list

Pills -yes taken all of them on time every one of them (hate them 25 a day yes I had them but I guess they are keeping me alive so suck it up and keep taking them ha ha )

Fluid-I have to watch my fluid intake very carefully.I cant drink more than 1500mls a day -that includes yoghurt's ,gravy .So I write down my intake and out take (is that a word) everyday.It was weird at first but now I just do it without thinking...

Weight- I have to watch my weight -Yeah like everyone does.but I need to ensure it doesn't lose to much in a day or go up kinda hard to explain but it is to ensure I don't get the fluid in my lungs again

OK all checked everything is fine.No changes so why am I feeling like #%*&.  I think I will go see my local Doctor tomorrow..

So to take my mind off of me being sick I thought I would show some of the craft I have been doing lately what with the Christening and the first birthday party  I think I am so over pink cupcakes and pink cup pops....Please I beg  of you give me a rest from the pink....he he he

 
I am not sure if I showed you the candle for the Christening.Really happy with it- it turned out pretty.

 Yeah something different  BLUE train for Lucas christening.I love this style of print as you can tell
Frames are from the reject shop for $4 each so for under $5 you have a really nice gift.



I love cupcakes so I really loved this sign for the Birthday girl or as you see the picture below for the Christening,Frame from the reject shop $4.Another pretty gift...


I made this for my granddaughter's christening and like I have said before I like this style of picture.It always turns out differently depending on the papers I use.
 
 These are new for me I have done blocks before but not with names on them.....

 My dad cut them up for me then I painted them green/ pink alternately.
I then stenciled the girls name on the blocks and put a green block with heart at either end.
 I didn't take a photo of the back of the blocks but Kev suggested I put other letters on the back and side (great idea Kev but I should have thought of it ha ha )
 Now how cute are these? I made these for Chloe's birthday as little favours to take home.

I used my best friend (pic monkey ) to put the heart on and if you look carefully I have put words around the wings  such as Happy Birthday little Miss Chloe.....One year old today......Daddy's little princess and such on..just made it a little more personal.

  If you click onto this link  Butterfly's you will be taken to where I got the idea from.This site also has a flower head which i want to do...similar idea...

Also I made my first butterfly the same as hers but them I thought Chloe  is only one so I reduced them down in size and used the mini chupa chups that you get. Turned out too cute.Oh I forgot to say I glues a couple of google eyes onto the lollie head way too cute.
 Christening cupcakes and cupcakes ....Guess what they are PINK ha ha ha .....



 Here's something different.I made these up for my mum and Dad for their market stall.There are about 40 different verses but these are all that I had finished when I took the photos but you get the idea....
It is just a single piece of card with envelope .I printed the verse onto the card then added the little charm and ribbon bow and presto nice little gift  for someone and something fast and easy for mum and dad to make and hopefully sell lots of.
Finally the last lot of pink,cupcake cake pops and pink tea cup biscuits all for the Birthday girl..

So I guess when I look at things I have been busy and  I still have heaps more I am in the middle of making...so until my next craft post bye.....

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Birthday cake

Hello -yes it's another Birthday post too many things to put in one post so I thought I would break it up abit....

Anyway-- due to family drama (tell me does your family have dramas right around special events ? well mine do ...and this is just another day in The Old Fat Hen's life....) my nieces 1st birthday party was about to be called off.

My sister Gail (she is little Chloe's Nana ) said "no way  this party is still going ahead too much has already been done just to cancel it like that " She rang me and between us we worked out who will do what....

Gail was going to do the adult food and I would do the kids food.No problem I was doing that anyway then the BOMBSHELL hit."can you do the birthday cake" I said yeah no problem"
inside I said  #%*! this was on Wednesday night.I had Thursday (but I had school orientation day with the LM-Friday was the wedding and Saturday was the day for cup cakes etc...#%*! what was I going to do????

So on Saturday evening (long story Kev flattened the battery in the car so I had to wait for him to come home ) I went to Woolies to check out what to do.
At this stage I still hadn't worked it out.....

So I thought I would do an Ombre Cake in pinks.....sounds OK but I have never made one I have only seen pictures   HELP......

I used to make  Wedding cakes around 26years ago this should be easy NOT!!!!

So I......

Step 1-  bought two sponge and cream cakes from Woolworth's.

Step 2- put a bit of icing on them to stick them together.

Step 3- I used white icing  lightly to cover the cake with sort of filling in the "holes"..

Step 4-Now remember this was all off the top of my head from looking at a few photo's I started piping roses around the base in a deep pink....
This was the second time photo-first time I used the wrong tube and had to wipe it all off change tube refill with icing and have another go......

Step 5-Using a lighter pink on goes the second layer of roses......not bad but don't say that out loud you know that anything can and will happen.....

Step 6- Final row of white rose piped on sides and then on top of cake and OMG she is done......

Final step put a few little edible Butterfly's on cake (I bought these from Sugar Robot an Etsy shop online.) Sprinkle on some  Sanding Sugar  from Spotlight and Da DA Da all done thank christ.(oops so sorry ....

Put cake in fridge went to bed .....couldn't find a container to put it in so we left it on the floor of the car but the sun was coming in pretty hard and she started to melt (the piped roses.So I got my skirt that i was wearing and hooked it into the glove box-Instant sun shade.

The cake arrived in once piece and I arrived pretty frazzled ha ha  but Gail Kev and I oh and Gail's "friend" Clive just got into it and set it all up.Ended up looking great.Just right for a littl girls party should.

Everyone commented on the cake they didn't take notice of how my poor roses had started to melt.No they just enjoyed the day and so did I...

Moral of the story -next time someone invites me to a party I am going to RUN FOREST RUN ha ha ha.

Monday, November 12, 2012

The Christening...

I think you all know we went up to Coffs Harbour for our Granddaughter Shakira's Christening -boy what a hectic couple of weeks we had in doing bits and pieces for the next 3 events..

First the Christening then the Wedding finally our nieces 1st Birthday party.

I am so glad things are quiet for the next two weeks I can relax (yeah like that is going to happen I have a 2 hour appointment with the dentist tomorrow Yipes.... not looking forward to this one...)  then BANG!!!! it will be on full time  ..

The LM has Graduation Day from Kindy -Mum is coming down for this from QLD  (yeah) and I have tickets for us to see Chitty Chitty Bang Bang....Then Christmas "CAN SOMEONE PLEASE STOP THE CLOCK"I need to get off "

Anyway I forgot to post the Christening photos so here goes....Shakira was beautiful and it turned out quite a nice day....

Ashley and Kerry were part of the Godparent team along with Teala's sister and her friend..( sorry I am so slack but I have forgotten their names at the moment )

 The service was very nice just about right for the time it took.I was surprised by the LM-we told him this is a Church and that God lives here and you have to be good in here.and wait for it.....
HE WAS.....

I love the picture with Emmanuals hand was on LM's shoulder when we had to stand for a Hymmn.
 The LM was trying to read the Bible he found a couple of words he knew so this kept him very happy....

I was a naughty Nana and gave Shakira a pink cupcake and boy did she like that she latched on and sucked and sucked it and wouldn't let go......

Too cute but that is what Nana's are for aren't they ....I know my mum is like that all the Grandkids use to go to her handbag where she ALWAYS had mints and the kids still remember this......

And Kev's mum is the same she has chocolates always in the fridge for the kids so I am just following what all the Nana's in our family do...

I just hope my Grandkids will love me the way our kids do to our mum's....ha ha ha fingers crossed.
 Our family photos of the kids with their partners and Great Grandma and Great Granddad and of course the Happy family.


Cupcake sucking -I love this picture so that is why you got it twice.Pam and Racheal looked good giving Shakira a cuddle....And the LM -Shakira and Luca (what a drama to get this photo..."I don't want to Dee .."."No not now I am playing"...."I want to go to the tiolet....."

So this was the best we could get of the 3 of them.......

 It's all too much for a Little Princess.......Proud Dad and Mum...

So even though it was a hectic time getting ready and making bits it was wortht he hassle and we had some fun on the way up .....

The LM was sooooo good except for when he and Luca locked us in our room  ( a 2 story room so no jumping out the window.....and Mel saved the day by calling  reception to get us out.

We can laugh about it now but at the time GRRRRRRR let me out!!!!!!!!

Hope you enjoyed the photos and once again the Photo Collages are from "Pic Monkey and as always they look stunning you have to try it soooooo easy..