wordless Wednesday


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This post has the wrong title



My post is supposed to be called "Win a New Ford Territory for a Year and $5,000." I really, really wanted to call it that because that's the rules in the Kidspot Top 50, but something in me drove me to say


No.


I don't want to call it that.


This is my problem, you see. I can't do the rules. You say go left, I instantly want to go right. They say do this and, you betcha, I'm doing that. Most of the time I wake up to myself and manage to tow the line, but sometimes...


I think I think too much. I don't want to be a wolf, but I'm not too keen on being a sheep either.


I can't just accept things at face value, I have to ask a million questions and run a few thousand scenarios through my head. It drives LOML to distraction at the best of times and dunks me in some hot water at the worst.


Outwardly I must seem like a nice, normal sort of person, but inwardly I'm a kind of anti-establishment, boot-wearing F You Mo Fo kind of gal. I'm not sure why that is, but it is. 


So that's why I'm saying that as much as I'd love to drive around in the latest Ford Terror for a year with a tasty 5K in my back pocket, I just can't have a headline like that on my blog. It's just not what I do around here.


Don't hate me, Ford and Kidspot. 


And, pretty please with maple syrup on top, vote for me if you haven't already. I clearly need all the help I can get!





With thanks to Kidspot and Ford for supporting the somewhat-unhinged Australian blogging community.


* Disclaimer: Just so you know (and not that I couldn't use a free one!), I am already the driver of  a seven seater Terror. See, I'm just soooo anti-establishment! It's the only car that would fit three car seats across the back seat when Badoo was born.  It's easy to clean (number one important car criteria), has lots of storage (number two) and comfort-wise (number three) it's like driving around town in your Jason Recliner. On the not-so-sucky-up-to-Ford side, it guzzles fuel like Charlie Sheen AND his two girlfriends on a bender. That $5K would definitely come in handy for the winner... x


[Image from here]

Gluten-free mint choc chip cupcakes

Mint Choc Easter Cupcake

Gluten-free mint choc chip cupcakes (makes 12 muffin size cakes)

Ingredients


Cooking instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 160-180 deg C (325-350 deg F)
  2. Line muffin tray with paper cases
  3. Place chocolate and milk in a small saucepan and stir over low heat until smooth
  4. Beat butter, eggs, peppermint essence and sugar with an electric mixer until the mixture turns a pale colour
  5. Stir in flour, cocoa, and warm chocolate mix until mixed thoroughly
  6. Divide mixture among cases
  7. Bake for 25-30 minutes
  8. Place cakes on a wire rack to cool


To decorate (24 cupcake size cakes)

What you will need


Instructions
  1. Spoon green buttercream into a piping bag or bottle fitted with a nozzle attached
  2. On top of the cakes, starting at outside edge and working in circles, pipe buttercream by squeezing a small amount onto cake at 90 degree angle, pulling up and away when icing strand is long enough (about 3 cm) stop squeezing and pull tip away at various angles (see pics for how-to)
  3. Push fondant flowers and butterfly lightly into iced grass

Have a sweet day!

Meet Vesna from My Little Jedi

Late last year I met the lovely Vesna from My Little Jedi at Mathilda's Markets where she was showing off the beautiful wares she sells in her online store.  We had another opportunity to meet up recently the ABCD Bloggers catch up and today I am delighted to give you the opportunity to get to know her a little better and find out a little more about her business.


Tell us a little more about My Little Jedi and how you started your business.
“My little jedi” label was born from my love of cards, beautiful paper and passion for all things pretty & vintage which basically started when my son Aniken was born. Since I discovered "blogosphere", it has definitely opened more opportunities and my perspectives have changed. I am now providing party printable invitations, birthday banners, food labels, party favours boxes, envelopes as well as a range of lovely stationary in my online store. My goal is to become ‘one stop shop’ for fun, trendy and accessible stationary for the busy mum that wants to celebrate her child’s special event in style.
 
What are your favourite 3 products you sell.
My top 3 favourite products are:
o   Apple and Pear memo pads
o   Iomoi pencils
o   Chevron printable envelopes


How would you describe your style?
A delicate mix of girly and vintage with the right amount of modern and whimsical touch!

Tell us a little more about your day to day life.
Where do I start! I get woken up by little man Aniken, we spend time together in the morning and watch his favourite shows while he eats his breakfast.  Shortly after I start to get ready for work. I usually arrive home around 6.30pm. After dinner and bath we spend time with Aniken reading books and put him to bed. I get most of my designs/orders done after Aniken goes to bed.  I am a night owl; I spend many hours on my laptop, looking for inspiration, sourcing new products and processing/packing orders.

There are definitely not enough hours in a day, trying to balance spending time with my family, full time work & running business from home and its definitely challenging and lot of hard work but very rewarding at the same time.

How do you like to relax.
My time to relax is after my son is tucked in for the night. I make myself a cup of T2 tea, put my soft pj’s on, warm socks and I relax while reading online magazines, browsing through inspirational blogs and writing posts for my blog. 


Some of Vesna's lovely styling work can be seen here.  The first is a collaboration with Suzanna from Mon Tresor and the second with Niki from Candy Soirees


Don't forget to check out Vesna's lovely blog here
Also her website is here or Facebook

Leanne

Maxabella Hearts Life too



Yesterday (yes, YESTERDAY) the lovely gals at We Heart Life asked me over to play. I can't believe I forgot to link up with them. Carly interviewed me about the things I love and it was so much fun talking about myself. You know how it is...

So, please, head over and say hi. We Heart Life is a great site full of positive vibes and great advice.

I need you to visit so they don't think I'm a bad bloggy friend. C'mon gang, let's rally!

x

[Image via weheartit]

22 Week Bumpdate

So this update will be a little different from the rest. I'm tried of answering the same questions, at least for this week. I feel the need to break it up a little.

Update on Baby
  • Addison kicks a lot more often and I watch her make my belly dance on a daily basis now. She's always awake and crazy around in the evening. I also feel her a lot throughout the night and first thing in the morning. You know, when I already have to urgently pee and she's kicking my bladder! And I can make her move now by lightly nudging my belly :)
  • She is approximately the size of a papaya, around 11 inches long and almost a whole pound! Yay! Her little face is fully formed, her taste buds are forming, and she now has regular sleep cycles!
  • Like her momma, she clearly does not like the dentist office. She literally kicked from the time I walked in the door to the time I left the chair! It's one of the longest periods of time I have felt constant movement! 
Baby, fetus at 22 weeks - BabyCenter

Oh, and here is her nursery theme!
When I became pregnant I immediately had a love for giraffes. I saw this bedding online and liked it but I thought it may be too 'zebra-ish' and wild. Then I saw it in store and knew it was the perfect set. It looks a lot 'calmer' in person, I love it! This past weekend we put the primer paint coat on the walls and next weekend we will be painting! The bottom half will be a light tan and the top will be light pink. I also have a decoration or two in mind, I can't wait to put it all together!

Update on Momma


22 weeks 1
  • My emotions are at an all time high, just ask my husband (he will also note that I'm "losing my mind")...and I will agree, somewhat. I realize when I'm crying over spilled milk or I am frustrated over nothing, but I just can't help it...my emotions poor out. I'm starting to understand why pregnant woman are stereotyped!
  • I still take a half pill of nausea medicine every night. If I miss a night I'm doomed in the morning. 
  • My "inny" belly button is now nearly flush with my tummy. (Yea, I'm definitely going to have an "outtie" soon). And so it was time...I took my belly button ring out. Sigh. I guess I have some sort of attachment to it since I've had it for ten years. I look strange without it, but oh well, I'm more comfortable now! I'm planning on putting it back in afterwards...we'll see how that goes. 
  • My belly itches a lot. And even though I know there's nothing proven to prevent stretch marks I lather on that cocoa butter formula every day. So far, so good!
  • I'm starting to actually feel pregnant, as my bump grows and as I feel Addison move more. Though there are times I still don't believe I'm actually pregnant, that there is actually a little girl...our little girl...growing inside me. It's surreal. It's exciting. And it's a little scary. But more than anything it's amazing. I can't wait to see her sweet little face, give her a million kisses, and snuggle her to sleep. But for now I'm content knowing she's safe in there, growing big, and with me every day. 

Here is my sister and I on Sunday! She is having her baby girl THIS Thursday!! I am so excited to meet my newest niece!
22 weeks and 37 weeks

Heelllo Autumn!

Fears that Autumn had passed us by were put to rest on the weekend. What glorious weather! We went for brunch at our favourite cafe and then across the road to a secret little neighbourhood park that no-one ever seems to go to but us.



Crunchy leaves under-foot soon become a mist of confetti.

Leaves in the mouth, leaves in the ears and, oh, what's that! Leaves in the nose!?



Washed down perfectly with a sunny orange and a little Cappers cheer.


One day you'll regret your refusal to pose for a picture, Badoo. When you come all sad to Mumma saying "why are there more pictures of Maxi and Cappers than me?" I will remind you of this day.

Can't I just get ONE decent photo of all three of you? Just one?



Ah well, two outta three ain't bad.

Are your children willing models? Or do they go crazy and refuse to comply like mine?
Any tips for getting them to be 'nice'?



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