December 26, 2011

christmas day.


the day started with belgian waffles for breakfast and ended with a big bowl of trifle watching jurassic park in our pjs. i was a little apprehensive about how the day would unfold, but i can honestly say it was one of the nicest days i've ever spent with my sister. we pottered in the kitchen cutting up veges and baking yorkshire puddings, drinking delicious cider and laughing uncontrollably at dinner whilst wearing paper hats and eating far more than our bellies could handle. after a bit of present opening we thought the smartest thing to do before dessert would be to take our bikes out for a spin. with all the kids out in the street with their new toys, we didn't want to feel left out. the weather was beautiful, warm as always in december but the humidity held back and so did the rain. this made for a perfect christmas sunday with my partner in crime. there's a lot of change and a month or so of a nomadic lifestyle ahead for me so it was lovely to cook my last big meal in the flower house and to spend time exploring my neighbourhood. thank you bertie, for making christmas memories that i know we'll tell our children about. your potatoes kicked ass and your friendship, one in a million.



thanks mr brenner for a tasty breakfast.

prepping.

the meal i've waited all year for.

the british girl in me squeals at the sight, everytime.

sunny early evening biking behaviour.

pink lady.

moustache cookie cutters! my favourite present.

i'm still working on it.


December 24, 2011

it's ok.


i'm eating ambrosia rice pudding and watching 'the holiday' for what feels like the 17th time this week. today the table has been set, presents have been wrapped, the trifle made, tea and whoopies consumed, many baby hugs had and i even snuck in skype dates with my besties. it'll just be my sister and i tomorrow indulging in christmas lunch baked here at the flower house. there will be enough yorkshire puddings to feed an army and the trifle will last me all week. we'll be eating food served on my nanna's crockery and i'll be engulfing a trifle recipe that was my grandad's favourite, all whilst wishing mum and dad were here. it's undeniably a sad time at the moment but we can only soldier on...the yorkies won't cook themselves and i've been craving them for months! next year we'll make sure we're reunited because christmas is all about family, so wherever you are or whoever you're with, enjoy. i'm off to bed to wait for santa.



my christmas eve.

one of my most favourite presents/purchases in the last week.

mum's present.

thanks to secret holiday co, i can wake knowing it will all be ok.


December 20, 2011

hello christmas!

evening all! with only a few days till christmas and an already bulging belly (and a few requests), i thought it incredibly appropriate to share the new baked love in my life. the gingerbread whoopie pie. a few have asked what a whoopie* is...i however, just love saying the word whoopie. i even half close my right eye like i'm some kinda gangsta talking about some sweet new drug i just scored. what am i even talking about? i must be high on baileys fudge. i scored this sweet recipe online (thank you pink parsley) and it totally delivered. not only is gingerbread the taste of christmas for me, the uncooked batter is to die for. i don't recommend eating too much of it if you want something to show for all of your hard work (unless you have a kitchenaid and it's all done for you!) these were a complete darling to make. they held their shape in the oven and made the house smell divine. the key to whoopies (and cupcakes for that matter) is to keep an eye on them. with 24 or so whoopie discs in the oven at a time, they don't take too long to cook. there's an art to baking and it's kinda like a relationship, you have to stay committed and you will be rewarded. probably explains why i'm boyfriendless as i clearly put baking before boys! i would LOVE to see what you make if you do decide to grab yourself some festive whoopie action. they're well worth the effort...if only for the taste testing of the lemon cream cheese filling..YUM!



gingerbread whoopie pies.

3 3/4 cups plain flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda (bicarb)
1 1/2 tsp ground ginger
1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground cloves
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened (1 1/2 sticks)
3/4 cup lightly packed brown sugar
1 egg
3/4 cup molasses (golden syrup)
3/4 cup buttermilk

Lemon Cream Cheese Filling

12 ounces (340g) cream cheese, cold
8 Tbs unsalted butter, softened
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp lemon extract plus more as desired
zest of 1 lemon
3 3/4 -4 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted




Preheat the oven to 180 degrees. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, baking soda, and spices. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar at medium speed until light and fluffy. Mix in the egg, beating until incorporated, scraping down the sides of the bowl if needed.

With the mixer on low speed, mix in half the dry ingredients. Add the molasses (syrup), then the remaining dry ingredients. Finally, add the buttermilk, mixing until just incorporated.

Use a medium cookie scoop or a pastry bag fitted with a round tip to form the cookie shapes on the prepared baking sheet. Space the cookies a few inches apart, and bake 9-12 minutes, rotating the cookie sheets halfway through, until the cookies are cooked through and spring back when lightly pressed with your finger.

Remove from oven and allow to cool 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Repeat with remaining dough.

Meanwhile, make the filling. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the cream cheese and butter until smooth and creamy. Add the vanilla, lemon extract, and lemon zest, and mix to combine. With the mixer on low speed, slowly add the sugar. Once it is incorporated, increase the speed to medium and beat until light and fluffy.

Match the cookies together by size, and pipe or spread filling over half the cookies. Form sandwiches with the remaining halves, and serve or store in an airtight container. Makes around 28 pies.












*whoopie pies are a dessert that consists of two cake-like cookies sandwiching a creamy, frosting-like filling. it is easy to think of them as a more portable version of a cupcake, where the frosting is inside of the cake and there is no wrapper to contend with.

December 17, 2011

cake & christmas.


this could quite possibly have been the longest week, ever. not a lot of overtime was done at work but the days just seemed to drag. this made me sad for another reason too. the weather has been GLORIOUS here in brisbane. i was stuck inside when i could have been pottering about in comfortable temperatures. cooler temps, beautiful bright blue cloudy skies and chilly evenings which call for a cardigan...IN SUMMER...IN QUEENSLAND. shouldn't say that too loudly, the humidity gods are probably going to surprise us with a scorching christmas day and make my whole day of oven use completely unbearable. bring on the trifle...which outta save my boiling ass if need be. woke this morning after being subjected to a god awful dream (think death, think family...not cool) and then an early morning boxing session which saw me throwing up in a sweaty mess 40 minutes in. again, not cool. a caramel latte from a sweet as pie coffee vendor and a market wander later, i was back in business. kate and i hit my local oppy and second hand store (totally helped cure my nausea) before stocking up on christmas day supplies and baking ingredients. white christmas and gingerbread whoopie pies were on the menu today, and with the cooler temps (but no lack of sunshine as i got totally burnt earlier on) i had an absolute blast baking up a storm! the fruits of my labour can be seen below. this was all done whilst watching the holiday and hanging washing on the line. tomorrow sees me off to the coast for a little gang get together and then monday night sees me gathering with some of my favourite ladies for a christmas feast. let's see if the whoopies & white christmas last that long. hope you're all having a lovely last weekend before christmas. loving all of your baking adventures and to all my lovelies on instagram...love! happy sunday all.



cooler temps have brought us beautiful skies.

eating so much zucchini slice, graffiti in my hood, nanna's crockery to be used for christmas lunch & what i believe 2012 will be for me.

deer in the mail (thanks kylie!), sorting my teapot collection, setting up christmas on the piano and eating festive pretzels.

billy buttons, country style recipes, weekend reading & mid week max brenner love.

market wanderings today, blue is beautiful, pastel love & a present for an 83 year old.

my find of the week...beautiful floral johnson plates in 3 sizes.

snowflakes and turquoise on pyrex? yes please!

couldn't resist more bubba clothes, johnson cake plates and that wonderful rose pattern.

white christmas & gingerbread whoopie pies with lemon cream cheese filling. yum!



December 13, 2011

oh christmas tree.


call me lazy, but with an impending move and living on my lonesome, i've decided that a traditional christmas tree just won't do this year. i might end up grabbing a branch from the garden and whipping up a dottie angel creation but after stumbling across the most perfect tree last night...ladies, i'm sold. i've had a peek at a few of your christmas tree projects and i have to say, although very pretty, mine has to take the cake. albeit a more delicious tree than yours, i have a feeling i'll be keeping this one for years to come...not one you'll find in the back of an oppy under the winter doonas. i'll be back over the weekend with some christmas baking pics and ideas, but until then...enjoy!





December 11, 2011

JACKPOT!


soooooo the packing is going well, as you can see. may have picked up a few treasures this week, but as you peruse over them for the next few mintutes, you'll know why i couldn't have left them behind! i think i screamed JACKPOT! this morning when i tried on the teal sandlers...not long before i stumbled across the embroidery that made me yell out 'holy embroidery!' right there, in the middle of the shop. the young female volunteer laughed out loud. it was pure gold. beautiful vintage crockery and floral fabrics are always on my thrifty finds list...so the collection building continues. having nanna's beautiful old bureau, i am able to keep all of my favourites together, ready for an afternoon tea and cake bonanza or johnson appreciation dinner party. i have never joined the pyrex party of collectors (with only one other in my cupboard) but this beautiful coral number, perfect for the odd vege pie or apple crumble, was a real steal. the box of retro recipe cards has been on my wish list for some time now and on thursday, before my dentist appointment, the thrifting gods delivered. i have been adoring them and their quirky pictures for the past 3 days. cannot wait to try some of them. will report back as soon as i do but until then, happy thrifting and happy sunday! linking up with sophie with all the cool kids again today.


a sunny johnson plate, a coral floral pyrex dish, lovely old vinyl document wallet and turquoise suitcase.


a peachy tea cosie, floral staffordshire bowls, retro recipes and beautiful floral barkcloth.


lovely floral NZ ironstone dinner plates.


love a retro photo album.


some mint green johnson lovin'.


the embroidery of the year!

i hate shoe shopping but within 5 seconds these shoes were on my feet and then bought for 15 smackeroos! i'm in love. LOVE!


December 10, 2011

the week that was.


with my 3 day weekend off to a good start, the week that was looked to be hopeful and breezy. instead, there were big changes and a long awaited visit to the dentist. not a bad week at all, but a big one in the scheme of things. there was some mid week thrifting (to ease the nerves pre-dentist, and this turned up some real treats) and there was a big decision made in regards to my move post exiting the flower house. a promise was broken but my heart was followed and i'm happy everyone seemed to come out ok. i will be a northsider from the end of january and living with two wonderful girls much closer to work and my sister. i got so caught up with the idea of saving money for europe, i neglected to work out a living option that would lead to me living a happy, easier life in the mean time. i am a day to day 'beauty lies in the simple things' kinda woman. i feel like i have made the right decision and so the remainder of the packing and sorting begins. 10 metres of bubblewrap and 10,000 odd sheets of butchers paper await me. home alone 2 is on the tv and the french earl grey is overflowing today. had a lovely wander through a couple of oppies this morning on my morning drive around and the treats i stumbled across, i will share with you and the rest of the flea market finds gang tomorrow. the weather is looking very undecided indeed, so the washing will have to wait. a few more of my vintage sheets ordered from etsy arrived this week too, to many squeals of excitement and about 300 instagram photos. hope this finds you having a very happy saturday and i'll see you tomorrow!


the beautiful zara sent me love in the mail (a fork bearing my nan & grandad's initials), i admired many a floral couch whilst thrifting this week, shopped for bric a brac and wandered my local streets waiting for my dentist appointment.

i ate mince pies, snapped a thousand instagram photos, grabbed a bag of christmas for $2 and loved seeing vintage sheets still in their original packaging.

found some retro recipes, began planning my trip to paris with my girls next year, thrifted some pretty floral sheets and admired this toadstool cake!



December 6, 2011

For the love of fabric...on the iphone.


i've compiled a few photos of my favourite fabrics at this late hour. instagram and some new apps made me do it. i've been running around the house & ferreting through fabrics in a complete frenzy. it just cements the fact that one day (in the near future) i will be a surface designer. inspired to sell, make & print my own textiles and ALL for the love of fabric. happy wednesday all!










December 4, 2011

sunday best.


sunday really is the best day. especially when you have a three day weekend and the evening can be spent wrapping presents, drinking cider and watching sex & the city instead of ironing work clothes, folding washing and realising you really should have swapped out of that 6am start. it's been a rather chilled day. a morning skype with my nearest and dearest, the biggest bowl of muesli after an extended sleep-in and then a bus ride into rummage for a potter and the last of my christmas shopping. if only i hadn't decided to head into the city just as the cricket crowd were exiting the gabba = loudest and sweatiest bus ride of my life. bus driver was clearly pissed off so on the plus side we got to the city in around 45 seconds. it was a pretty warm day, started off cool and has ended cooler, but holy moly...there were times i was walking through the city and the sweat was fogging up my sunnies (love you qld.) i soldiered on through the rummage crowd to visit my favourites and pick up some loveliness. although rummage prices aren't as cheap as they used to be, i scored some bargains. off into the city i went with a bag full of treasure to grab some last minute christmas treats. the girls in T2 were rushed off their feet refilling the iced vanilla slice tea as the balmy temps had brought many tired shoppers in for a cool down. best idea ever as i've never seen so many orange T2 bags walking around queens plaza. our sunday saviour! here's to a lovely sunday evening for all.



pottering about my neighbourhood, christmas in queens plaza, suitcase action & a blue rose beauty.

rummage delights and some mail love. just call me santa.

a lovely 60's polaroid album and a present for a special someone.

no, i'm not pregnant. these beauties bought from kellie are for the treasure box. we spoke about jinxing ourselves and ending up having boys. either way, too much cuteness to pass up.

a lovely piece of blue rose barkcloth was snapped up and a pretty vintage italian dress for $5!



December 3, 2011

tis the season.


to be blessed. because ladies & gents, i am one lucky mf. i don't want to break blog etiquette with that kinda language but since hearing emily say shit on her blog a while back i thought it may just be ok. that's not the point though, but just how lucky i am, is. this week has been a long one. adding some overtime into the mix seemed like a great idea for the added $$ at the beginning of the week but by the time friday came about, i was suffering from friday sickness rather than fever and just wishing for it to be over. i'd even lost my instagram mojo (for all of 15 minutes, but still) and the bubble of the lovely weekend i had planned just seemed to burst, right there in gallery 12 around 3pm underneath nolan's mrs fraser. boo freakin hoo. so i put my sorry arse on the 204 and stopped off at coles to buy the essentials. quality street chocolates (christmas in a tin), yorkshire pudding mix and the december issue of country style.

mood had begun to lift (helped a bit by the smell that was emminating from the chocolate tin) so i wandered home and stumbled across a little pop up shop, right there, smack bang in the middle of my neighbourhood. screaming footy/cricket/whatever fans aside that were bustling about the place...i had uncovered a treasure and so i stepped inside. australian flora and fauna, fabrics and christmas decorations, vintage signs and letters, napery, vintage stationary essentials and even a moustache on a mug were to be found inside. i walked away with a couple of pressies but knew a quick once over wasn't going to be enough. arriving home in darkness and to an unlocked gate (this always means the postie/courier has come), i squealed at the sight of TWO parcels awaiting me. vintage floral found on etsy in one and a love package from mama in the other. a truly perfect end to a rather abnormally average friday.

the first saturday treasure hunt stop for kimberley, amy and i was returning to the pop up shop. in i went, girls in tow to show off the treasure i'd found the night before. more goodies purchased and off we went to my lovely local oppy and where many finds over time had been uncovered with my two best friends (who are currently living their dream lives in europe). the 20c price tags aren't the only thing that keep me coming back. the ladies who volunteer there are completely charming. a few giggles about me not quite fitting into the mini powder blue smocked purchase were exchanged and then we were off to apples for brunch. avocado on organic sourdough which rested upon retro melmac was the icing on the morning's treasure hunting cake. the opportunity to catch up with the gorgeous owners (hi kim, if you're reading this in your car) and the chat of possibly becoming the new owner of their johnson mug collection, was delightful.

since having my iphone and falling completely head over heels in love with instagram and it's 1977 effect awesomeness, i am able to capture the simple beauty that surrounds me, everyday, everywhere. it didn't take an iphone for me to work that out, but it makes capturing it and sharing it so much more fun. so, i come to my photos from the week. i've compiled a 'few' collages for you to gaze upon and for those of you following me on instagram, thank you, thank you and thank you. your feedback has been lovely and i am completely inspired by your happy places too. your comments on here and on the gram mean a whole lot to me and always have, so thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts with me. you make me want to explore more corners and delve deeper into the beautiful life that i lead. and yes, my life is completely beautiful and i feel so blessed to be living it, for having you in it and to be driven to move forward and discover more of it. i am a very lucky girl and i thank you for coming along for the ride. i'll be back tomorrow with some snippets of my afternoon pottering about the rummage and general sunday behaviour. happy weekend all!



my saturday.

my week's florals.

my hood.

my gallery.

my christmas!

my other gallery.

my baking.

my thrifted finds.