happy hookers (& chocolate slice!)

my friend pippa is the shiz when it comes to crocheting. like really... the shiz. i swear she barely even has to look at what she is doing, and everything she makes always comes out perfect. every time. she's my beautiful friend that made maddie's star shaped blanket that i love, and which maddie still sleeps under each and every night. adorbs.

my grandma was an avid "hooker" (haha i love it!) and made all of us granchildren a blanket - and yes - of course i still have mine. i couldn't ever part with anything sentimental. you all should know that by now. i kind of feel like i got ripped off though, she died just six weeks before my seventh birthday :( and so i never got to learn the craft - although my oldest cousin dion told me the other day that grandma taught her, so at least one of us has it!

anyway - to the point of this post - pippa has finally decided to share this talent with a bunch of her girlfriends - and i was one of the lucky chosen ones. on monday last week (yes i am well aware that this post has been a long time coming...) we went to pippa's house for "crochet club" - or the happy hookers as pip and i are now affectionately calling it... where pip taught us some of her moves. okay - so the orange "thing" (granny square - yes i know...) above - pip started off for me and then showed me how to continue it, but i am pretty sure with a little more practice (and by little, i mean years and years... har har harrr) i might one day be able to complete a blanket.

maybe.

it was great fun though - and i can't wait for the next one!!

anyway - my contribution to the crochet club is here:

chocolate slice

250g butter

1 cup caster sugar

3 tablespoons cocoa

2 cups desiccated coconut (i used shredded - it was fine!)

2 cups cornflakes

2 cups plain flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon vanilla essence

preheat oven to 180 deg celcius

grease a 20x30cm baking tin

melt butter in a saucepan (make sure it's big - there's a lot of stuff going in here!)

take off heat and stir in sugar and cocoa

when sugar is dissolved, stir in coconut and cornflakes

stir in flour, baking powder and vanilla

stir well until completely mixed

press all firmly into a tin and then bake for 20mins

when cool ice with chocolate icing

(1 cup icing sugar, 1 1/2 tablespoons cocoa, 1 tablespoon butter, add water and mix until smooth)

yummmmm!

caramel popcorn - an oldie but a goodie

when i was little, mum used to make caramel popcorn on the odd occasion. my brothers and i loved it (and i still do...). i used to think she was so clever making caramel out of honey - i still think she's very clever, only now i know how to do it too! and the best bit - the recipe is on the back of the "popping corn" brand packet

even if you don't have the packet - here's how it's done...

you will need:

1/2 cup corn kernels popped into corn (i use a popper - but i am sure you could use unflavoured microwave popcorn if you wanted to!)

2 tablespoons honey

3/4 cup white sugar

125g butter

1/2 cup peanuts (these are optional - i never use them)

pop your popcorn and set aside after removing any unpopped kernels

stir honey, sugar and butter in a saucepan over low heat until sugar is disolved, and then boil uncovered for 4-5 minutes (keep an eye on it!! make sure it keeps a golden colour - if it starts to go brown it's burning and won't taste any good!!)

remove from heat (mix peanuts through if you want them - here!) and then pour over popped corn, be sure to stir it whilst pouring (use two people if you can - one to stir and one to pour) and coat it as evenly as you can. spread over larged greased trays to cool and then break into pieces. store in airtight containers.

yum!

seven months!

she's seven months old! where on earth has the time gone? unbelievable.

she is now rocking back and forward on her hands and knees and sometimes making a little bridge on her feet and hands, pushing up like crazy - as of a week ago... and two days ago crawled (not well... but crawling nonetheless) towards the toy that i kept putting just out of her reach, both legs at once and both hands at once, but hasn't quite gotten the hang of moving them in sync just yet.

she also makes mmmmm and daaaadaadad noises, but not really mum and dad yet...

she's eating rice cereal mixed with breast milk and as of this week apple from a baby food tin (keeps screwing up her face like it's sour) and mashed banana in her cereal today.

eyes still haven't set, but i am 99% sure that they are going to be brown, hair - red. definitely red. smiles non-stop and loves people. i am so glad she's come to us and made our little family complete ♥

first day!

fix your own damn power!

doug started his new job with western power on monday - he is training in jandakot for the next 6 weeks (meaning i have no car and am forced to keep myself busy... we'll see how i go) we are very excited for the possibilities it's opening up for our little family and i am so proud of him for being chosen from such a big group of people. he'll be an apprentice linesworker for the next 4 years, based at the depot in balcatta.

just kidding, i'll do it with a smile! :)

and seeing as i am training to be the best mama i can be... here is doug's "first day at school photo!"

wiws 2

sunday is here again - and today i wore...

ruffle neck blouse - portmans (in my case gsi)

skirt - chain reaction (vinnies!)

peep toe wedges - target (gsi)



pearl earrings - forever new

resin and pearl ring - kul kul (hay st subiaco)

check out kul kul - it's a red store close to the subi hotel, they have really different jewellery and homewares, and a lot of one-of-a-kind pieces... i love it! don't tell the boss but i used to sneak across the street sometimes for a peek when i did the banking! ;)

til next time... x

yes please!!!

oh my goshhhhhh

yes please!!

if only i had a spare $50000 laying around. this glittering piece of wonder would be on my finger. better go and buy that lotto ticket now.

ready to go!

last week, miss madeline and i received our passports, ready for our trip overseas in may! i was so excited that I had to go and buy all three of us these gorgeous passport holders from wild lily empire's online store. (it takes every ounce of self control I possess to not buy everything they have!) we are very excited for maddie to meet the rest of the family-

can't wait! :D