Just Like Martha

Its been a busy week.....

Where do I start its been a busy week! Somewhere in between work and mum's taxi I managed to sneek into an op shop for a spot of shopping....

Op shop Treasures

 

 
 
 

Promise next week I shall show you what I have done with all these treasures!

There there has been some serious card making...lots of Birthdays and reasons to celebrate coming up!

Cardmaking

 
 
 
 

A Few Presents wrapped

 
 
  

Phew, I told you it had been a busy week...last but certainly not least...this week there was a buzz in the 'blogasphere' for the word had got out that our dear blogging buddy Kim Archer had a very special announcement...she has decided to launch her very own on-line magazine called "ETZCETERA" and I couldn't be more thrilled for her...

 

Do yourself a favour and head on over to visit, and make sure you leave your email address so Kim can keep you up to date with the launch details....oooohhh I am excited!

That is it for me for today, back to work then I am packing my bag and heading down to Melbourne...brrrrrr...(more on that next week) Bye for now, thanks for stopping by x

Shadow Shot Sunday

Its that time of the week when shadow chasers from all over the world embark on "shadow chasing"...here are my lucky finds this week...

 
 
 

Thank you firstly to this little critter who found his way to my back deck today to bath in the afternoon sun...and thanks to my mum who surprised me last week with this lovely plant to show off in my special birdcage...it just happened to catch the sun also today and cast some wonderful shadows...

 

Pop on over to say hello to Tracy for this weeks shadows and a collage of last weeks shadows (check out my last week shot in the wonderful collage)..that's it for me today I am off to put on my flannelette jammies and settle down for some Sunday night tele and a home made nachos...yummo!

A "Martha moment" - lots of baking!

There has been lots of opportunities for "Martha" moments here lately with Birthdays and Mothers Day and of course the cookie jar that needed a refill.

We have been enjoying the new Donna Hay show on television, lots of inspring and yummy receipes to try...first up the Ultimate One-Bowl Chocolate Dessert Cake to celebrate a friends Birthday.

 
Recipe source: www.lifestylefood.com.au

Then Donna's Carrot and Spice cake to celebrate Mothers Day and my mum's Birthday..

 
Recipe Source: www.lifestylefood.com.au

And finally the 'neglected' cookie jar got a refill...just in time for Nan and Pop to visit!

Cinnamon Biscuits

1 cup caster sugar            100g softened butter

1 egg                               1 tsp vanilla

1 1/2 cups plain flour           1 1/2 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp baking powder            cinnamon & sugar mixed to coat

Preheat oven to 180'C (160'C fan forced). Grease and line 2 baking trays. In a medium bowl, cream together sugar and butter then add vanilla and egg. Add flour, cinnamon and baking powder and mix well. Roll into 3cm balls and coat in cinnamon sugar. Place on trays and press lightly with a fork. Bake 15 minutes or until light brown. Cool on trays.

 
Recipe source: "Saving Mum"

 

Shadow Shot Sunday

Today's Shadow Shot co-incides with Mothers Day here in Australia...Happy Mothers Day to all, hope you had as wonderful a day as I did! My day began early with the annual Mothers Day Classic run/walk to raise money and awareness for breast cancer. Last year I ran with a girlfriend, this year I gathered the troops and we walked "singing" all the way with the Australian Girls Choir (Lilly is part of the choir)...

 

Hmm lots of pink...usually the Australian Girls choir (who have a pink uniform) stand out but not in this crowd! Now being a Sunday and being the day for shadows I had my trusty camera with me...I wasn't disappointed!

 

The shadows even appeared for our "yay we did it photo"!

 

We went home and enjoyed a late brunch follwed by a lazy afternoon then dinner with my mum....ahhh a perfect Sunday!

Don't forget to visit Tracy to say hello to the other shadow chasers.

A quick "card" catchup

Lots of card making at in my crafty corner at the moment..first up some Mothers Day cards (mum if you are lurking out there you can come back and visit after we see you on Sunday!!)

 

And another...

 

A card for someone special expecting their 'second little bub'...

 
 

Yet another 'little person' to welcome to the world...

 

And some Birhtdays to celebrate...

 

 

 

That's it for me for today, I am off to the shops to get some yummy ingredients then back to make not one but TWO cakes for the weekend celebrations....A friends Birthday tomorrow evening (back to our place for cake and coffee, yummo) then of course something special for Mothers Day and a belated Birthday treat for my mum! Bye for now x

An Easter debrief ...Hello Good Life Wednesday!

 
Yes, I know what you are thinking Easter was weeks ago...well I have finally caught up on washing and ironing, the kids are back at school and settled back into routines, John is back at work (not after he had a painting frenzy and redecorated two rooms!!) and I have been busy working four days a week.....

I have managed to do some blog hopping and came across GOOD LIFE WEDNESDAYS over at A Beach Cottage and have decided to join in (never mind that is is now Thursday..oops) at least it will encourage me to post something mid week and after all we do live the good life and hey it is worth celebrating!

Our recent celebration was of course Easter and a Mills Family Reunion. John's dad was one of 16 children (yep..16!) and many years ago John organised the first reunion when he realised he hadn't met half of his first cousins! Years later (and loads of extra additions) we reunite every 3 years in Coffs Harbour where the family grew up.

 
Image Courtesy www.dashanddapper.com.au

This year 215 made it along to the three day celebrations which were kicked off my a seafood bbq on Good Friday evening, followed by a church service (just for us) Saturday lunchtime then group photos and dinner Saturday night and finally a picnic on Easter Sunday and loads of old fashioned games. Relatives come from far and wide and we all wear name tags to save confusion, its lots of fun.

 

On the Saturday night after dinner we have an official' cake cutting ceremony' and the eldest remaining sibling (just happens to be Jack, John's dad) has a photo with the youngest addition (tiny baby just two weeks old) Not sure where I was when this happened so I missed out on a photo, did manage this one though the following day - John's dad having a 'rest' with the new addition to 'our chain' of the family, little baby Memphis just 4 weeks old..

 

Sunday was a little overcast and rainy but it didn't stop all the fun games that had been planned...

Good old fashioned "tug-o-war"...(Taylor looks like she should have joined in with the adults!)

 

Nothing like a gool 'ol "egg toss" to bring out the cheeky ones..

 

All the kids loved the "egg and spoon race"...

 

And the little ones didn't miss out...for them there was loads of bubble fun!

 

So that's it over for another 3 years, I wonder how many will be at the next one?

Don't forget to visit Sarah over at A Beach Cottage, tell her I said hi!

Shadow Shot Sunday

A beautiful day here in Sydney today, just back from a HUGE walk....I am so lucky I live close to the harbour (the BEST harbour in the world for sure) and close to some lovely walks through the bush along the harbours edge, extra special when the weather is co-operating!

 
Tracy has been busy with her weekly Shadow Shot Sunday collages, pop over and say hello.

This week my shadows were taken over the recent Easter break (pop back in a few days and I promise to share some of what we got up to..)

 
Lots of picnics and catch-ups in parks, all the kids had a ball (hmmm have I mentioned yet we were at a FAMILY REUNION and there were over 215 people...so yep plenty of kids!)

 
We found this 'critter' at one of the parks went we were out having a picnic on Easter Monday, I think its meant to replica a "Blue-toungued lizard" the kids found a few amongst the bushes whilst they played.

Enjoy the rest of Sunday x