fresh and tasty...


I had a big bunch of fragrant basil that needed using up today...after rest time we grated 1/3 cup of parmesan, chopped a large bunch of basil, crushed some garlic, opened a packed of raw cashew nuts and placed it all in my new mini blender.
Slowly whizzed...added olive oil and together we stood at the kitchen bench munching away on
 crackers and crunchy cashew, parmesan and basil dip.


No preservative or anything nasty added - just fresh and tasty ingredients for the 2 of us and my growing baby bump...

photo of the day : a little country lane

I took this while enjoying a weekend away in Daylesford recently with a new lens I look forward to sharing with you soon.

Glamourous Pink and Green Dessert Table

On Saturday I had the pleasure of creating a dessert table for Jade who was celebrating her 13th birthday at home with friends - her favourite colours were pink and green and she loves all things glamourous.  So with the colour theme set we then decided to put a focus on designer bags - Chanel, YSL, Gucci and Prada.  The amazing cupcakes made by the very talented Jacki from Blissfully Sweet Cakes were the focal point of the table and also served as the birthday cake.



 Beautiful "J" cookies with Chanel style quilting (also made by Jacki from Blissfully Sweet Cakes) looked stunning alongside the pink and green candy.
 Strawberry Milk and cookie pops
 The backdrop was made with strips of co-ordinating fabric.

Thank you Jade for asking me to put together a dessert table for your special day.

Special thanks also to Jessica from Oscar and Ruby who helped me out with some of the fabric used in the backdrop.

Leanne

Bling on love



My simply scrummy friend Felicity of Gifts of Serendipity and I are linking up to bring you a fun and fabulous Valentine's Day linky.

Now, we know that love is not all about the bling. But it kind of is.

So, during this week in the lead up to Valentine's Day, we'd love you to do a post on your favourite bit of 'luuuuuuurve bling'. Your jewel might be an Engagement or Wedding ring, but it might also be a special little bauble that your man has lovingly bestowed during your love journey.* If you like, you can share 'your story' in the post as well.

So, write your post anytime before or on 14 February and on Valentine's Day Felicity and I will have the Blog Hop linky up on our blogs. Link up and hop along to oooooh and aaaaahhhh over each others' goodies. Add our Blingy Button as well if you can.
<div align="center"><a href="http://maxabellaloves.blogspot.com/2011/02/bling-on-love.html" title="Maxabella loves..." target="_blank"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5019/5417454733_5da587f150_z.jpg" alt="Maxabella loves..." style="border:none;" /></a></div>

My picture above is of my wedding and engagement rings (remind me to at least slap on a bit of hand cream before my next EXTREME HAND CLOSE UP! I look eighty!). They are actually a 'step up' wedding and engagement ring because when we actually got engaged we were in London, mid-travel and rather penniless. So I had a simple Cartier ring (obviously not penniless penniless!) as my 'substitute' engagement ring until we decided we could afford something more... solitaire. I designed my rings myself and I adore, no wait, ADORE them. When I first wore them I could hardly drive as I kept getting distracted by the 'dancing lights'. Couldn't take my eyes of them.

So, join in the Vali Day fun and share your wares! Post sometime this week and link your post on 14 Feb.

* Note my 'Love Doctor' language. All for the smoozy smoochy smoonchiness that is Valentine's Day.


Disclaimer: With apologies to my darling co-host, Felicity, I must reveal that Valentine's Day and I are generally not lovers. Greedy, vacuous, try-hard Valentine's Day... I would kick it out of bed in a heartbeat.

But, hey, any excuse to fling the bling, right?!!

Stylish Laundry Room

Laundry room
This week on Flickr Faves Sunday, I bring you just one totally adorable laundry room pic from Decorology. I love the glass jars and the stylish ironing board hanging from the wall, and will be using this for inspiration for my laundry room that we have just started work on. Check back soon for some more of the most inspirational photographers on Flickr.

A beautiful shot from my Flickr favourites:

Have a sweet day!

taking a little break..

..for just a little while. I'll be back very soon x