Just Like Martha

Around here lately....

Around here lately...also known as a "blog catch up"....here goes...

Taylor has been baking and creating again...oh my she is getting so good and the cake this time was delicious (not that the others haven't been lol but this one was hmmmm exceptional!!!)

This was an "order" but lucky for us she experimented with the cake mix so we got to enjoy our very own at home...almond cake with cinnamon buttercream frosting! (okay so ours didn't have all the pretties on top but it still tasted yum!)

Lots of Birthdays over the next few months so I am getting super organised. I am using up lots of my craft stash too which is always rewarding...

My recent scrapbook photo project of our holiday in New York and the Carribbean saw me print out more photos than I needed so its nice to 'share our memories' with some of my card creations..

Last weekend was a long weekend in Sydney, the perfect time to catch up with lots of friends.....lunch with girlfriends on Friday...brunch Saturday morning...dinner party Saturday night...High Tea Sunday morning...friends for dinner Sunday night...hmm maybe I should add gym on Tuesday lol!

John received a voucher for "High Tea" from friends for his Birthday in August..lucky me I got to join him. It was at a venue called Soiree Cakes and was amazing...the food was delicious and we were surrounded by cakes that were truly 'works of art', a lovely way to spend a few hours on a Sunday morning x

There seems to be a cake theme happing here...truly it happened by accident but Sunday nights dinner was to celebrate a Birthday of a dear friend...it definitely called upon Taylor to make one of her creations...(I couldn't go passed another almond cake with cinnamon frosting...yummo!)

I promise you the cake was our dessert AND I did insist that our friend take the leftovers hone to enjoy!

A weekend of entertaining inevitably means a weekend of flowers (lucky me) our home does resemble a florist (not that I am complaining!)

There you have it a catch up on whats been happening around here lately....time for a nap I think!

Its almost Mothers Day...

Mothers Day is just a few days away and I thought I'd share some inspiration....

Yum I would LOVE either of these cakes baked for Mothers Day, I love the simplicity of the cake, rough icing and pretty fresh flowers but oh my the ricotta cream layer cake with berries and edible flowers looks amazing....

There is no better way to say I LOVE YOU MUM than with flowers...and it doesn't have to be an expensive bunch of flowers I love these great ideas....love the flowers in the tea cup incorporated into the afternoon tea stand...

Adore the simplicity of this wrapping, again a few flowers or greenery from the garden can transform the gift...

No sure what to get your mum...how 'but putting together a lovely hamper...

 

This Sunday I am hoping for a sunny day and a family picnic, what are you up to???

Source: Photos Pinterest

Card making and a Valentine xox

I love that my card making never seems to slow down...there is always something to celebrate!

The start of many 21st I am sure.....

A lovely engagement to celebrate....

Love to incorporate some vintage goodness wherever I can, this vintage sheet music book always gets a work out!

And finally something for MY VALENTINE...picked up a few yummy treats and sewed them into a big paper heart, donned some lippy and kissed some white card and the perfect gift tag was created..and yes don't die of shock I purchased a card....whilst recently in America I saw this card and just loved the words....xox

Happy Valentines Day to all you romantics out there, have a great weekend and thanks for stopping by x

 

And so this is Christmas....

Christmas is almost here and in its usual frenzy December has gone by way too quickly in a flurry ...I thought this year it was best to perhaps capture the last few weeks in photos....

Although this year we didn't manage to go into the city as a family to enjoy the Christmas decoration and lights (the girls were busy working and we never managed to find a suitable time for all - ahh there is always next year!) I did accompany Lilly on a few of her choir 'gigs' and manage to capture a few beautiful Christmas scenes!

"Tis the season to be jolly" and entertain constantly!!! Lots of catch ups with family and friends, I love this "tree" antipasto platter that my sister in law created for our Christmas get together...and I think I nailed the brief for John's secret santa..the theme was "French" and as you know I LOVE a beautifully wrapped gift!

Some serious chocolate making kept me very busy for a few weeks, these were a special gift for a work colleague of John's...

I love that you are never too old to hug a Christmas teddy....this special bear enjoys Taylor's attention every Christmas x

Lilly and her friends enjoyed their annual Christmas sleepover and started a new tradition, decorating a Gingerbread House! They did such a great job ad no-one wanted to eat their creation - it looked too good to eat LOL

I had lots of fun creating this chocolate nativity scene for them, completely edible and devoured by morning!!! I discovered this great idea on a wonderful blog called The Plumbette lots of fun and so easy to create.

 

And of course finally another tradition, Carols in the Domain, Friday night was the dress rehearsal where we gathered with a picnic with to enjoy with friends, then on the Saturday (the actual performance) we enjoy curled up on the lounge in our pjs singing along to all our favourite carols (until of course I have to head out in the car at midnight to collect Lilly after the performance - and oh get changed out of my pjs!!)

So there you have it, that was the month of December, now all that is left is to enjoy Christmas Day celebrations with family up north....safe travels to all travelling and wishing you all a wonderful Christmas - enjoy x

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!

Date night...and the Birthday celebrations begin!

Late Friday afternoon  headed in to the city to meet John, a friend had surprised him with tickets to the theatre for his Birthday (next week), we were off to the amazing Sydney Theatre Company to see Cate Blanchett and a wonderful cast perform in "The Present" a play adapted by Chekov.

We had time for a quick drink before the play started and we unearthed the amazing "The Theatre Bar at the end of the Wharf", wow what a find, hidden away at the end of one of the old wharf's is the most incredible space with the most amazing views of Sydney....it offers a great selection of wines by the glass and enough tapas style and finger food to keep everyone happy for choice...we settled for fried cauliflower with tahini dressing and of course some thick cut fires with smoked paprika aioli...delicious!

We will definitely be back!!!

It has been some time since I wandered that part of Sydney, the Barangaroo Development is coming ahead in leaps and bounds and the entire area is changing we have put it on our list of things to do in spring would love to spend the day wandering the streets and checking out all the local bars and restaurants.

The rest of the weekend is busy, we are off to celebrate another friends Birthday tonight, then tomorrow more Birthday treats for John!!!!

Photo credits: Sydney Theatre Company

Birthday Breakfast @ The Boathouse

This week I celebrated my beautiful friends Birthday by taking her to The Boathouse for breakfast before work.

A delicious breakfast, yummy coffee, stunning views, surrounded by stunning flowers and decor....a girly Birthday catchup AND a surprise Birthday treat from the wonderful staff...whats not to love!

Its a shame we had to head to work LOL!

If you live in Sydney and you haven't already checked out this place run don't walk!

Card 'Wrap-up'.....

I seem to have been busy making lots of cards lately so it must be time for a Birthday update!!!

Yes, its ALL about the presentation folks...couldn't resist this little 'flower adornment' for this present.

This cute little card accompanied a gift for a teacher at school who is leaving to have a baby.

Turning 18 is very special, and ALWAYS worth a celebration and a special card.

And another one.....

A quick and easy Birthday card using wonderful wash tape (simple but oh so effective).

I recently found these cute little 3-D embellishments they are the perfect additions to my card making!

Well thats it for me for today...I'm off to visit the postman LOL x

 

 

 

A card catchup....

Busy catching up on a few Birthday cards and the like today.....

 

Taylor is barely 18 and the rounds of the 21st parties have already started...even after all these years of making cards for their friends I still cannot bring myself to let them get a store bought card LOL.

Ahh yes its ALL about the packaging!

Have you got your craft on lately??