Blogmas Day 24... Merry Christmas!

Christmas eve in my house is not the most exciting, on Christmas eve I am usually stressed trying to create the perfect Christmas.  You will often find me in the kitchen prepping veg or zooming around my home with a vacuum cleaner telling everyone I really don't like Christmas!  But once I get to the evening, when the jobs are done, I can settle down with a glass of wine and a hot mince pie.  I have take back all the anger and admit that even with all the cost, stress and running about I do really love this time of year.   Not so much the gift side of things but more the getting together side of it all.  I love having friends over to visit for boozy nights catching up on one anothers year,  I love the traditional feast of turkey and the signature sprouts that most people eat only one day of the year.   But most of all I love having the family pile into my clean house on Christmas day only to mess it up with in 5 seconds of arriving.   But with them they bring love, smiles and laughter and this for me is the bets bit off all.  Just getting the entire family together and spending real old fashioned time together.  I guess I am just a little old fashioned. But it makes it all worth wile and I honestly would not change a single thing about it. 

Merry Christmas I hope you all have a most wonderful day.

Xx

Blogmas Day 23... Last nights OOTN

Last night I was at my husbands Works Christmas party and I have to say I had a really good night.  Someone brought along glow sticks and that has got to be a recipe got a fun night right? 

I was between two outfit choices and here they are.  This is the first one that I didn't end up going with as it is a skirt and top I felt it was a little more casual then I wanted.  Lets face it I don't get to dress up that often and Christmas is a time to get out the party dresses right. 

 Top - Vero Moda
Skirt - Topshop (My sister-in-laws)
Shoes - New Look

This was the second option and the one I went with bar switching the shoes. 

Dress - Oasis ( again my sister-in-laws)
I changed the shoes for some from Dune ( again borrowed from my Sister-in-law) & added my silver fiorelli purse.

What can I say she has way better clothes then me and as she is in Oz they are sat not getting worn.  So really I am doing her a favor... right?  Hehe!

Here are a few over exposed shots from the party.  My camera is out of action atm so all of these had to be taken on my phone but you get the idea. 

As for today I have been and got done the dreaded Christmas day food shop.  I hate this shop everyone is stressed and the shops are so busy you have to wait to pay for an age.  It took us a while and cost us a small fortune but we got it done and not have enough food to feed an army of goblins... or my family (both are quite similar) hehe!   After the shop was done I went for a time out and a treat at Starbucks.  Gingerbread latte (Half the syrup as its so sweet) , a mince pie and whipped cream.. Lush!

I also went with my family to see The Hobbit and being the fantasy freak I am I of course loved it.  I cannot wait t see the next one.  But as I don't want to give any spoilers I will leave it at that. 

I hope you are all sorted for Christmas!

Blogmas day 22... 22 down 2 more to go!

Wow I can not believe I have made it this far.  Honest I thought I would quit after a week.  But I am pretty proud I have stuck to blogmas and posted every day.  I really feel like it has helped me get into this whole blogging thing.  I have also realised that some days its ok to keep it short simple and sweet.   But I really am enjoying posting every day.  I know some days are better then others and some days I have more time and other days I forget till 5min to Midnight.. whoops! But all in all its really quite fun doing this. 

Today has been a lazy day last night I had friends for mulled wine, mince pies and game but silly me didn't even think to take any photos.  So today I have just chilled out and painted my nails ready for heading to my husbands works Christmas party. 

I used OPI's Start to Finish for my top and bottom coat then one of OPI's Muppet's collection in silver (I can't remember the name) then topped with Avon's Silver Plated for a little glitter. 


We are popping over to my Mum and Dad-In_Laws soon then I will be getting ready.  I will try remember to take a "Outfit Of The Day Night" photo for you to see tomorrow. 

Have a fab evening!

Blogmas Day 21... Simple cake gift decoration!

Here is the last installment of my cake decorating tutorials mini Christmas presents.  Now I know this is called life and lies of a domestic goddess but I feel I have to make a confession to you all.. as my cakes are mini ones I had 8 of them to do as gifts.  I kind of lost my temper with this last part and ended up throwing a hissy fit in the kitchen... sooooo my wonderful, amazing husband swooped in and did the last bit for me.  What you are seeing below is infect his handy work not mine.  But I am pretty sure many of the people who are receiving these don't read my blog sooo I may just have to pass it off as my own.  Hehe just kidding its a joint gift and a joint effort from us both.  Made with love!

You can see how to make your cake "here" marzipan it "here" and ice it "here". 

Here is what you need to do..

1. Clean and dry your work surface
2. Dust with icing sugar
3. Work red and green icing in your hands till it is pliable similar to play dough. 
4.  Roll out and cut the red icing into strips

5. Brush with a little boiled water to help the icing stick.
6. Lay strips onto your cake to create a mini ribbons.

7. Cut the green icing into little holly leafs, we my husband did this by hand but you could get a cutter I am sure.

8. Brush the underside with boiled water and stick to the cake.

9. Roll little berrys from the red icing and stick onto your cake.

Ta daaa!  One wonderfully iced cake.

A huge massive thank you to my wonderful husband Adrian and all his hard work with this last bit he really is amazing.  He has so much patience and always saves the day.  I am the luckiest girl in the world to have married such a wonderful man.   

Blogmas day 20.. How to Ice a Christmas Cake

Here is the next step with my Christmas cake how too's!  Again as I have said before I am sure you will find other ways of icing cakes out there but this is what I do and what works for me.  My Cake recipe is "here" and marzipan how to "here"

1. Clean & dry your work surface.

2. Cover in icing sugar.

3. Work icing until it is soft and pliable similar to play dough.

4. Roll out to a size a little bigger then your cake (including the sides)

5. Brush a light coat of boiled water onto marzipan covered cake to help the icing stick.

6. Gently lay the rolled out icing over your cake and with your hands smooth down.  Unlike the marzipan icing is a little better at mounding to a shape so you can pat and smooth the corners without having to cut any triangles.

7. Slice the edges off.

Tadaa! One iced cake.

Blogmas Day 19.. How to Marzipan your Christmas Cake.

 As promised here is my HOW TOO! on marzipaning your Christmas Cake.  For a Christmas cake recipe please check out another post "here"  To be honest this is something I have only done a few times before.  I am by no means an expert and I am sure others will have better ways of doing this.  But this is what I do and it works for me.   Some people like to trim the top off but I never bother as it just seems like more work to me and as my cakes are for friends and family I think a little rustic charm helps with the whole homemade thing! 

1. Clean and dry your work surface. 

2. Cover work surface with icing sugar.

3. Squish marzipan into a ball working like play dough till it becomes supple. 

4. Roll out to a little bigger then the size (including edges) of your cake.

5. Coat your cake in jam. (many people say to use apricot jam but any works well I used plum) 

6. Lay the marzipan over the cake. 

 

7. Cut out little triangles at the corners so the marzipan sticks smoothly.  

8. Smooth marzipan down with your hands.  You can be a little firm to ensure it is stuck well. 

9. Trim off the edges & smooth.  ( If you are covering with icing don't worry about a few little cracks as once the icing is on you will never be able to tell. 

Tadaa!

Blogmas Day 18.. Winterlicious tag

I follow a few people on you tube including Anna Saconne's The Style Diet and Macbarbie07 and they have been answering the questions to the winterlicious tag.  So I thought it might be fun to answer them too. Kind of like those email I would get as a teenage.  You would have to answer a bunch of random questions and then send the email onto other people who would answer them too and then send it back.  It was a fun was to distract your self from doing home work and you got to know random stuff about your friends. 

Questions!

1) Favorite Winter Nail Polish?  As it is Christmas I have been wanting a little glitter in my life so I have been using these two from Avon.  There glitter one is lovely as it has both large and small bits of glitter in and the silver metallic twinkles in the sunlight too.  I can't remember the name of the glitter one but the metallic is called Starynights. 

2) Favorite Winter lip product?  Another winner from Avon is this lipstick in a nude.  It is perfect for day and night.  Its called Sparkling nude.

3) Most worn Winter clothing piece? Do shoes count?  I live in these over the winter months.  They are from timberland and are so good in the slippery weather. You can see them in a OOTD post here!

4) Most worn Winter accessory?  My Scarf in this photo.. its so huge and snuggley.

5) Favorite winter scent/candle? Yankee Candle Sparkling cinnamon, its like Christmas in a jar! I love it.

6) Favorite Winter beverage? Mulled wine. Its is best served outside in the snow at a German Christmas Market.

7) All time favorite Christmas/Holiday movie? The Muppet Christmas Carol, This Movie never fails to make me smile.

8) Favorite Christmas/Holiday song?  The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl - Fairytale of New York

9) Favorite Holiday food/treat? Oooh this is a tough one.  I love so many of the foods at this time of year.  Over all though I think it has to be the good traditional mince pie and brandy cream. This is a good recipie for them here!

10) What is your favorite Christmas Decoration this year? This one I bought this year and you can read why in this blog post here!

11) What's at the top of your Christmas list?  I have always said I would sooner not bother with the gift side of Christmas and just have a Christmas dinner.  I really do just love to have all of my family over laughing making fun of one another.  But if we are being materialistic I would really like a copy of the hummingbird bakery cookbook and a copy of Nigellissima.

12) What are your plans for the holidays this year?  I have got both mine and my husbands family over.  Its kinda become a tradition that everyone comes to us.  My in laws bring the starter, I cook the main meal and my family bring homemade Christmas pudding.  Then after dinner we all squeeze into my tiny livingroom and play games like charades.

Blogmas day 17.. The best Christmas cookies in the world.

These are a wonderful homely cookie made with wholesome rolled oats, nuts and dried fruits.  Although I call them Christmas cookies they are yummy any day of the year, but I like to bake them in the winter as they fill the house with a lovely warm cinnamon smell. 




What do I need ?

270g Room Temp Butter
160g Caster Sugar
160g Soft dark brown sugar
2 eggs
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
380g Plain flour
1 tsp Salt
1 tsp Bicarbonate of soda
1/2 to 1 tsp cinnamon
110g rolled oats
220g Mixed dried fruit ( I like to use half raisins half craisins, but any of dried fruit will work)
1/2 Cup of roughly chopped pecans



What do I do now?

Pre heat the oven to 170c and grease 4 cookie sheets.  Or if like me you only have two cookie sheets just cook in two batches.

1. In a large bowl mix together the sugar and butter until light and fluffy. This is best done with an electric mixer or whisk.
2.  Beat the eggs in one at a time.
3. Mix in Vanilla

4. In another bowl sieve in flour, salt, bicarbonate and cinnamon.
5. Mix oats into the dry ingredients
6. Add dry ingredients to butter mix and combine.  This will turn into a dough and may need to be finished off with a wooden spoon or spatular.

7. Add Fruit and nuts mixing well until evenly spread through out the dough.
8. Roll small hand fulls into rough balls, flatten a little onto the cookie sheet.

9. bake in the oven for about 12 - 15 min until done.

10. Cool on cookie sheet for 10min before moving to cook completely on a wire cooling rack.  

Enjoy!
 

Blogmas Day 16.. Alcohol Free Hot Toddy

Over the past week my darling husband has been sharing his rather nasty cold and much to my resistance I have gone and caught it.  So I figured it is time to bring out the toddy recipes.  This is the simplest of them all as my head is not feeling up to much right now.  So something simple but effective is what's needed. 



What do I need ? 

1/2 Lemon Sliced
1inch squared ginger peeled and sliced
1/2 tsp cinnimon
1/2 Nutmeg
2 Cups of Water
Honey to taste.




What do I do now?

1. Add all the ingredients except the water & honey into a pan. 

2. Heat on a low till lemon starts to sizzle
3. Add water
4. Bring to a simmer and cook for about 3 - 5min
5. Add honey to taste
6. Share between two cups. 

A tot of whiskey can be added at this point if you like but when I am ill I tend to leave it out. 

Blogmas Day 15.. Pecan Spiced Blondies

Blondies are basically brownies without the cocoa.  They are perfect for an afternoon treat with a cup of tea in front of a cosy fire.

What do I need?

Dry Ingredients -

200g Plain Flour
1/2 Teaspoon Bicarbonate of Soda
100g Plain Chocolate Chips (Optional)
60g Chopped Pecans
1tsp Cinnamon
1tsp Ginger

Wet Ingredients -

115g Butter
75g Soft Demerara Sugar
2 Large Eggs
2tsp Vanilla essence

What should I do?

1. Preheat Oven to 180c / 350f & grease a square or rectangle brownie tin.  About 9inch.
2. In a medium bowl combine all the dry ingredients with a fork or whisk.
3. In a large bowl cream together butter, sugar & vanilla.
4. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and beat in eggs, blend well.
5. Gradually fold dry ingredients into the butter mixture.  As this is similar to a cookie dough in consistency I find it best to use large spoon. Mix just long enough to combine - DO NOT over mix!
6.  Spread batter into greased tin, smoothing the top with a spatula or the back of a spoon.
7. Bake on the center rack of the oven for 30 to 35min.
8. Blondies are ready when batter it set and a toothpick comes out clean.  Careful not to over bake!
9. Cool in pan for 15 min before turning out to cool on a wire rack for about 1hr.  Cut into portions and enjoy!

Blogmas Day 14.. Happy Pinning

 So anyone who knows me knows I am a little obsessed with Pintrest.  Being the visual creative person that I am I have always loved idea collecting and mood boards,  I am also a little bit of a tidy freak so the fact that I can now keep all my inspiration and ideas tidy online is wonderful.  Don't get me wrong I have not ditched the mood board I still have a cork board above my desk where I add images, patches of fabric and anything else that happens to catch my eye.   But now I have a way of storing all the links to interesting website in one place with a photo to remind me what it was I found interesting about that site.   So I have decided to share a few Christmas ideas I have pinned below but if you are interested "here" is a link to my pintrest account feel free to follow and re-pin any pins that catch your eye. 

Oooh and Happy Pinning ! 

I always loved making paper snowflakes when I was little... who am I kidding I still do! 

Festive window displays. 

What's not to love about these cute reindeer cupcakes.