Just Like Martha

Taylor's 21st...

Well the last balloon has been popped and the cake almost gone....but the memories will last.

Our little girl is all grown up!

Taylor turned 21 on the weekend and we had a "Mexican Fiesta" themed party with family and friends to celebrate the milestone.

Pops of colour everywhere with balloons and our Mexican tissue paper "Day of the Dead" decorations (all the way from Mexico thanks to a friend), a quick dash to the flower markets for lots of colourful flowers which we placed in tins. We had a "Pizza Station", "Soft Taco Station" and of course a "Dessert Bar" featuring the beautiful layer cake made by the Birthday Girl herself.

So many people got into the spirit of "dress up" (even the grandfathers with their 'accidental' matching moustaches)...we had a photographer come for a couple of hours, cannot wait to see his photos!!

I still cannot believe that Taylor is 21..we are truly blessed to have two wonderful daughters...

John made a wonderful speech which included this wonderful quote which I love...

"For beautiful eyes, look for the good on others; for beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness and for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone..." Audrey Hepburn

"Twelve Days of Christmas".....December Daily

December is in full swing and Christmas is only a short time away....I have been 'enjoying' the season and making sure I capture a "photo a day" (its s easy to get caught up in the panic of Christmas and not enjoy the little things...) so here you have it a 'snapshot' of the month so far...

Day One

Our tree went up early (any excuse really will do - but we were entertaining on December 1 so wanted to be nice and organised)

Day Two

The first of many 'gatherings' to celebrate the festive season...we invited John's "team" over to spread some Christmas cheer..and a gathering deserves the best nibble platter ever!

Day Three

The first of the Chocolate Treat boxes were packed and wrapped...lots of orders this year to complete...

 

Day Four

Taylor has been busy again with her amazing cake creations...this one a custom order for a Family Christmas gathering...what do you think?

Day Five

Lots of Christmas entertaining means lots of flowers...a local gum tree provided me with the base and a bunch of pretty hydrangeas completed the effect!

Day Six

Starry, starry night...a starry display on my entrance table, so pretty.

Day Seven

More flowers...these beauties came from a friends garden...stunning..and the smell...!

Day Eight

A picnic rug, bottle of wine, cheese platter and good friend kinda night...oh and a carol performance in Manly followed by a fireworks display...starting to feel like Christmas!

Day Nine

My mum's famous shortbread has been popular once more this year...lots of orders...lots of amazing decorated boxes...

Day Ten

Perfection in a magnolia flower...wish they could last longer...but hey a day is better than none at all...

Day Eleven

The centrepiece of our dessert buffet this year at our annual Christmas party...introducing RUDOLPH, he is pretty cute (yes the clever Taylor has been at it again)

 

Day Twelve

Every year we try to go to the city to enjoy morning tea and do some Christmas shopping, even more important now as the girls are older and we lead such busy lives...this year we managed to sneak in High Tea at the Queen Victoria Building...John joined us for a few hours and we sat and talked, drank copious amounts of tea and reflected on the year that was...there may have been lots of yummy treats to enjoy as well....after all it is Christmas.

Hope you have enjoyed "Twelve days of Christmas"...I am hopeful my December Daily will continue for the entire month so I'll be back soon with more photos...in the meantime enjoy the Festive Season one and all xxx

 

Another successful Christmas Market!

A few weeks ago a group of lovely ladies gathered for a day of fun and Christmas shopping. The closer to Christmas the car parks get more full, the traffic crazier and the Christmas shopping more desperate so we decided it was time to arrange a unique shopping event. An array of wonderful gifts was put on display ranging from the most exquisite silk flower arrangements I have ever seen, homewares, children's gifts, the gift that keeps giving back to the communities that make the products - Afribeads and of course Just Like Martha.

A very successful market that saw me drive home almost empty handed when it came to my Mum's famous Shortbread and my Chocolate Treats. Also got to catch up with lots of local mums that I had not seen for ages, most of us had children that attended the local public school but now as the kids get older they move to different high schools and of course universities making catchups that much harder.

Even after the market day a few people contacted me realising they needed another small gift and a few more goodies left Just Like Martha headquarters..

Attending a shopping event like this has become a Christmas tradition and I look forward to next years!

Gift for Teachers....

Just a quick post today to share a present I recently put together for Lilly's wonderful teachers...

Most of you that follow my blog will know that at Christmas time I make lots of Christmas treats and always loads of Rocky Road! This year I purchased some pretty boxes that matched 'my theme' and gathered together some of my rocky road, some of my mums famous shortbread and a hand made concrete candle and voila a teachers got was created!

Something yummy to eat over the festive season and then a little reminder to keep all year around - a simple but heartfelt thank you!

Nan's Marshmallow slice

Nan's Marshmallow slice is ALWAYS a bit hit so when we were asked to 'bring a plate' to share recently for a school Musical Night it was the obvious choice.

With its crumbly biscuit bottom and its soft and gooey marshmallow top once people get started there is rarely any leftovers...oh and did I mention its easy to make.

Last year "Nan" turned 90 and Lilly put together a book of her family recipes as a keepsake. Its a fabulous book with all the children, grandchildren AND great grandchildren favourite recipes from Marshmallow slice to her famous Sausage Rolls. There are photos and stories but most importantly some amazing recipes that will now be enjoyed for generations to come.

The weekend "Cook-a-thon"....

Last weekend we headed off bright and early to the Sydney Markets to purchase lots of fresh fruit and vegetables...the car was filled with lots of goodies and we set off home to begin the "cook-a-thon".

Lucky we had lots of wonderful new cookbooks to inspire some tasty dishes! Gwyneth Paltrow's great book "Its All Good" was a Birthday present, "The Happy Cookbook" by Lola Berry has become a family favourite and last week I picked up "The Chef Gets Healthy" by Tobie & Geogia Puttock and we have already fallen in love with their healthy twist on a few old favourites - definitely a good find!

A yummy breakfast (or Sunday night dinner in our case).... snow pea, pea and feta salad (yummy)....raw beetroot and pine nut salad (there were no leftovers) and lots of marinated yellow peppers (and we still didn't make a dent in the box we bought)!

Healthy sweet potato muffins (divine, they are amazing hot and almost didn't make it into the lunch boxes)....ricotta pancakes which we served for dessert with a honeycomb butter....and plant of protein balls for when we need a pick me up or healthy snack!

The fridge is full, the freezer overflowing and still there are half boxes of vegetables sharing my office space, I can see I am going to have to have another cook-a-thin on my day off tomorrow...hmm back to the recipe books I go to find more delicious healthy creations!

Birthday Celebrations...Time to Drink Champagne

The theme for my Birthday party was "Time to drink champagne and dance on the tables", there is oodles of inspiration out there and as usual I headed to Pinterest for lots of ideas. First things first was designing the invitation which for me 'sets the scene' and decides on my colour palette...

Ahh yes PINK and GOLD was the choice so I set about to make some decorations..a photo booth so inspire lots of great memories of the party and a backdrop for the dessert buffet which came out later in the night after the savoury treats had been devoured.

Lilly put together an amazing array of photos (black and white) in the shape of a big 50, so much fun to look back on the fashion (and hairstyles) of the past fifty years!

The cake was AMAZING, a six layer pink ombre cake from Martha Stewart of course...sadly it was a the end of the night and I have learnt as much as you plan for people to take photos it never happens LOL.....

So finally (yay says my family) my Birthday celebrations are over...tme to take down the decorations, write my thank you notes and reflect...I am truly blessed to have such a wonderful family and to my special friends..."you are the family I choose"..thank you for spoiling me xox

Birthday Celebrations...Vintage Tea Party

For those of you who are regular readers you will be aware that a few weeks ago I celenrated the big 50 Birthday....first a Vintage Tea Party was planned to celebrate with a few girlfriends.

Of course like all party planning the invitation sets the scene...

A trip to the Flower Markets was a definite must and with the help of a beautiful friend lots of vintage flower creations emerged.

Lots of "pretty" flowers were chosen.....

 

 

We filled jars with lace, vases and bird cages with stunning floral creations....

 

It was a suoer hot day in Sydney, a scorching 40' so we waited until the last possible moment to set up the backyeard (for fear of melting LOL)

 

Alas the weather had other ideas and only minutes after we stepped back to admire the setting the rain came...the temperatures dropped about 15' which was pleasant but the rain, thunder and lightening was perfectly times to my guests arrival!

 

Consequently I am a little light on photos of the afternoon tea...the rain eventually went only to reappear an hour later, it was just one of those days but we all laughed as we enjoyed the celebratios both inside and outside!

 

Lots of yummy 'afternoon tea' goodies to wash down with champagne (and the odd tea and coffee)...

Taylor was in charge of the Birthday cake and decided on a yummy yoghurt and lime coconut cake....delicious!

All in all it was a wonderful afternoon (despite the weather not cooperating), a great way to kick off my Birthday celebrations and I was thoroughly spoiled by my beautiful girlfriends.

Long overdue.....

Another long overdue post! Seems like there are just NOT enough hours in the day for me at the moment.....well that is MY excuse and I am sticking to it!

My annual Christmas shopping event was a success, a few days later I was still wrapping orders to go and be collected and I am happy to say that I sold out of all my chocolate treats and goodies and my other stocks are well depleted! We had a lovely day I was so thrilled to share the day with some lovely ladies and encourage you to check out their wonderful wares...

Deb - Debstar Mosaic creations

Rachel - Tealight Australia

Mamie - More Than Cards

Laura - Pin Ups Noticeboards

Chrissy - Christine Chadwick

Karen - Adrift Decor

Clare - Deers & Dots

After the markets came the baking and treat making for friends and family....lots of these yummies were delivered over the lead up to Christmas...

A last minute decision to gather a few friends for DESSERT and DRINKS...! It was lots of fun and I think is sure to become a new tradition...my style for sure, baking, decorating and a party!!

Then a mad dash to finish off the Christmas shopping before my last (busy) week at work....I had fun wrapping my presents this year, the theme was red (with a touch of vintage)...

Even the gift cards had a makeover.....

I think I am now officially DONE! One more day left of work, all my cards have been posted, the chocolates and treats delivered, presents wrapped, baking complete, drinks and catch ups mostly done, work gatherings attended...all that is left is to sit back and enjoy special time with family, and a few weeks off....yes please, bring it on!

I will leave you with one last photo...its tradition to send a photo of the girls with the Christmas card to update those we dont get to catch up with on a regular basis....here is 2013!

Here's hoping the last few days before Christmas are not too crazy and you too get to enjoy!

MERRY CHRISTMAS XOX

 

 

To Market to market....

Hello Friends,

its been quite on this little ol' blog of mine lately...I have been very busy preparing for a unique shopping event to be held in my home next week....Facebook and Instagram have been updated so head on over there is you need a Just Like Martha fix....here are a few photos of what I have been up to getting ready for the market...

Vintage Music paper wreath

Fun Animal jars ready to fill with toys or treats...

Cute fabric tassels to jazz up your Christmas wrapping or just beacuse.....

Lots of wonderful soy candles to choose from including some Christmas designs and fab Kitchen candles, along with my vintage china teacup candles....

Herb Marker anyone? Vintage cutlery repurposed into herb markers presented in a hessian bag ready to give...

Grandma has been busy baking and decorating...there will be limited boxes of her yummy shortbread available...a m a z i n g!!!

And I have been VERY busy with all my yummy chocolates and special treats boxed and ready to give...yum!

Lastly dont foget your four-legged friend this Christmas...this dog treats will be sure to be a hit and made from fresh and tasty ingredients with no nasty preservatives, they'll be a hit with you too!

So there you have it a few photos of what I have been up to getting ready for our UNIQUE SHOPPING EVENT....if you live in Sydney and would like to pop along send me an email and I'll forward you an invite....Tuesday 3 December 6-8pm and Wednesday 4 December 9-4pm