Friday, July 31, 2009

Biscuits ...

This afternoon I decided to try this recipe ... Neiman Marcus cookies, after reading about them on Amanda's blog.


From their site ...

An urban myth is a modern folk tale, its origins unknown, its believability enhancedsimply by the frequency with which it is repeated. Our signature chocolate chip cookieis the subject of one such myth. If you haven't heard the story, we won't perpetuate ithere. If you have, the recipe below should serve to refute it. Copy it, print it out, pass it along to friends and family. It's a terrific recipe. And it's absolutely free.

Ingredients
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
1 cup light brown sugar
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 large egg
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1-3/4 cups all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1-1/2 teaspoons instant espresso coffee powder
1-1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

Directions
1.Preheat oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C). Cream the butter with the sugars using an electric mixer on medium speed until fluffy (approximately 30 seconds)

2. Beat in the egg and the vanilla extract for another 30 seconds.

3.In a mixing bowl, sift together the dry ingredients and beat into the butter mixture at low speed for about 15 seconds. Stir in the espresso coffee powder and chocolate chips.

4. Using a 1 ounce scoop or a 2 tablespoon measure, drop cookie dough onto a greased cookie sheet about 3 inches apart. Gently press down on the dough with the back of a spoon to spread out into a 2 inch circle. Bake for about 20 minutes or until nicely browned around the edges. Bake a little longer for a crispier cookie.

Yield: 2 dozen cookies


I made the recipe and got 23 biscuits!! I replaced the coffee with Milo. They did take 20 minutes in my oven and the vote is ... "delicious!!!" - from Jack.

Lachlan prefers these ones ...

Leanne's Milo Energy Biscuits

125g margarine
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 3/4 cup SR flour
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg
1/2 cup Milo

Beat margarine, sugars & vanilla until light and creamy. Beat in egg. Fold in flour & Milo. Roll into teaspoon sized balls and flatten with a fork. Bake at 180 degrees C for 10 minutes.


When I make the first recipe next time I will double it and I usually double Leanne's Milo biscuit recipe too.

Just a few snaps!!

Took these this morning as Jack & Lachlan were about to head off to the bus!!




Lachlan was in the toilet for the first ones ;-)

Sunday, July 26, 2009

Photo wallet ...

I saw this idea at ... http://www.livelifecreateart.blogspot.com/ and changed the design to make it bigger ...

This is going to be sent to New Zealand as part of a thank you for a very kind lady who regularly sends parcels to the children! My Mum met her and her late husband on a train trip to Western Australia many years ago (roughly in the 1980's) and she has been very kind and generous to our family ever since.


I created an extra spot for the fourth photo ... on the outer folded flap.

Monday, July 20, 2009

Camera strap tutorial ...

http://www.designspongeonline.com/2009/06/diy-wednesdays-camera-strap-cover.html

Just found this via the Scrapbook Inspirations site ... might have to make one soon!!

Scrapbook Inspirations

http://www.scrapbookinspirationsmagazine.co.uk/

I have bought this magazine a couple of times and I must say it is of very high quality and has some great scrapping for inspiration!!

Oh my goodness ...

I just headed over to the Hambly Screen Prints blog ... they have some delicious new stuff coming out.

These images taken from their blog ...


The colours are amazing ... can't wait for them to hit Australia!!

I so hope my local scrap shops get it in!!

Sunday, July 19, 2009

Tomorrow ...

will be my first Monday at home with just my little girl ever ... Rohan started kindy in January and I have been working every Monday since then so tomorrow will feel a little weird!!

I think we might venture to Port Lincoln for a little shopping!!
Just me and my girl!!

Tonight ...

Image taken from the official site ... Masterchef Australia.

Very soon we will be watching the final of Masterchef Australia!!

The boys have really enjoyed this show and know who all the contestants are and try and guess each night who is going to win the challenges!!

They also love the theme song, "Hot and Cold" by Katy Perry ... I think that may have something to do with the "rude" word in it ... b@*ch!!!

I love to see all the food they cook and think for a "reality" type show it is so much more because you can actually learn something from it and try it out at home!!

Go Poh!!

Go you dogs ...

I love these red shoes ...


Friday, July 17, 2009

Saturday, July 11, 2009

It's wet, wet, wet ...

This is the dam at the start of our drive way ... the water is actually flowing away from it now because it's so full!!


This is a little creek just near our house that rarely has water in it ... not now!!
I have a thing for creeks ... I didn't remember my "thing" for creeks until we started having so much rain in June and now July.

When I grew up we lived on a sheep and cattle station where we didn't get a lot of rain but when it did rain we usually got a lot!! So rarely creeks. But I just love them. Not so much rivers but little creeks and streams!!

This little princess ...

was very naughty today.

While I was on the telephone to my sister, Kirilie, she climbed up onto the dresser and found the bottle of quick drying nail polish, then she proceeded to spill it on the floor boards and the leather lounge!!!

I did a "Shannon Lush" and used acetone to get it off the floor boards ... that worked.

But the leather lounge ... well I tried one of the spots ... you can tell where I did it from the slight discolouration of the leather ... eeekkk!!!

Might try again later on the three other areas ... not very happy with her.

She was carted off to her room and is still asleep now.

She just seems to have a makeup fettish ... now I know I love my lipstick but I never wear nail polish and only ocassionally wear mascara so she truly is a girly girl!!!

Picasa ...

I love you ... now I can straighten my crooked photos and "I'm feeling lucky" them too ;-)

And it's free ... even better!!!

Picasa thank you!!!

4 in the tub ...

They love to play together ...

For Sue's Sketch over at Escape2Create.

Monday, July 6, 2009

Rohan and Hannah ...





Finally a photo of Rohan with his eyes open ... I have been trying for months but he has kept on squinting his eyes with a smile!!
And Hannah with her dirty face ... so often the case!!

Friday, July 3, 2009

Mr Serious ...

I'm a ...

Hannah just came up to me and said "I'm a pirate girl."
I said "Who did that for you?"

Hannah said "Rohan".

He is such a great brother to Hannah!!



Sword and all!!

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Cosmo Cricket Crazy ...

I am posting the following layouts for the DT call!!! Eeekkk!!!



I adore the ribbon in the following layout ... I wish I had metres of it!!



The Snorkel range is so perfect for Summer beach photos


I have the new Cosmo Cricket Early Bird range sitting on my scrap desk ready to be used ... it is very, very nice!! Actually delicious!!!

Go check out their blog for lots of inspiration ... Cosmo Cricket.

And their website ... here ... for their lines, ideas and so much more. So funky it's not funny!!!