Nothing beats the Breakfast Muffin!

Im a big breakfast fan, but often fall into the old routine trap of eating the same thing every day for six months. Or worse still, I feed the kids and then a few hours later having got caught up in 'other stuff' realise I havent had anything except my habitual morning coffee. 

The children have a mix of fruit or toast or both…but some mornings even they struggle to eat a substantial breakfast (so easily distracted by thoughts of play!). Thats when its time to whip up some muffins. And when I say whip up, I do mean that- they are quick and easy to make and with some imagination you can basically add whatever you have fruit wise lying around and jazz it up with pantry staples. We usually make some form of a banana muffin (like these)- such a great way of using up fruit thats on its way out!

This is a recipe adapted from here. Ive used the mixture as a base for the muffin mix, then added in sultanas and finely chopped almonds for some extra goodness. Be careful not to add too much as you dont want a dry mix.

The mini muffins were baked at 180 deg celcius for about 12-15 minutes- keep checking them as you dont want then to overcook and dry out. I also baked some larger size muffins which took about 20 minutes. 

Best served at our house- straight off the cooling tray, outside where the kids can crumb all they like!!!, and with a cup of cold milk to wash it all down. Our batch of 24 lasted 10 minutes!!!!

No more excuses for not having a relatively healthy breakfast……..happy days……

Catching Up with Yvette from The Stylist Splash…

Today I would like to introduce you to Yvette Wilson who is the colourful and talented writer behind one of my favourite blogs- The Stylist Splash!

The Stylist Splash is a lifestyle blog where Yvette shares lots of great ideas and her finds on food, styling and decorating tips, interior design news, fashion, home living, kids stuff, just to name a few. I love how every day she has something new to read. Yvette has a real flair for styling and colour. Her photos are always a visual treat! You may have come across her in Adore Home Magazine, Inside Out magazine, Sunday Style magazine, Interiors Addicts Seven Vignettes and she even won a styling competition for Kiki K. I think this is definitely a blog to watch as Yvette's talents are discovered by all. 

So, some questions for Yvette…..

1. How would you define your style? 
I would define my style as contemporary with pops of colour 

2. Can you tell us what is currently inspiring you?

Muuto wall dots and big rustic dining room tables with coloured chairs. 
Inspiration from The Block (Channel 9).  I am coveting all of them at present.

3. What is your favourite colour and colour combinations?

Fave colours are yellow and pink.  I adore yellow and grey together.  White, taupe and duck egg blue and currently loving coral, navy and gold together. 

4.Name three things you couldn't live without at the moment? 

Three things I could not live without would be my iPhone, lipgloss and my running shoes.

5. Your favourite room at home? and why?

My favourite room at home would be my home office space.  I can hide away in there away from the hustle and bustle and no one is allowed to touch anything so it always stays the way I left it.

6. Your ultimate job?

My ultimate job would be to own a little coffee gift shop and only run it in school hours. 

7. A quick summary of your blog "The Stylist Splash'?
My blog The Stylist Splash is a place where I share all the lovely things I come across in the world of design,interiors, kid style, cooking and lifestyle and just a place I can be creative and share what I love.

8. Have you a favourite designer/s that you seek inspiration from?

I have a few favourite designers.  I love Rachel Castle from Castle and Things.  Her colour and mantra to life are happy and bright and I always admire her work.  I love the work produced by Lovestar, those vases are to die for.  The Brown Trading Company for its bright, colourful homewards and gorgeous cushions

9. Favourite holiday destination? 

My favourite holiday destination is Noosa.  I love the relaxed, warm environment and the fact that we really have some beautiful beaches and resorts right here in Australia.

Below are a handful of Yvette's images - a mixture of her recipes, vignette's and home styling

(source- The Stylist Splash and Yvette's Instagram)

(found here)

(recipe found here)

(found here)

 (found here)

 (found here)

(found here)

(recipe round here)

So be sure to pop over and visit Yvette at The Stylist Splash…..

it always brightens up my day, and Im sure it will do the same to yours!

6/52 Weekly Stills

1. Its been such a long hot and dry summer and Im officially now saying that I am looking forward to it ending! Im still madly in love with these colours though.
2. In contrast to the first photo…..morning sunlight on our crepe myrtle tree- lovely shades of pinks and greens. Every morning (very early- poor neighbours!!!) the kids race outside to play whilst its cool. They love picking flowers and these are the only ones left in the garden!
3. Easily entertained- waiting for the garbage truck to come!
4. Gorgeous fresh plump figs given to me by our dear friend Jane! They have Fig paste written all over them!!
5. My instagram photo made it to the Sunday Style magazine again…very excited! #sundaystyleloves

4/52- Weekly Stills

1. Stealing a very quiet moment to sit down and read my new favourite mag- Renegade Collective- incredibly inspiring! Filled with stories of people who have turned their dreams into reality and the importance of never giving up on something you are passionate about.

2. Ive had a bit of a thing for beetroot this summer. Having eaten it boiled, roasted and freshly grated, I finally got around to pickling some….heavenly! Hellooooo…hamburgers!

3 & 4. Our eldest flower fairy (all frocked up) exploring in her grandparent's garden…her happy place!

5. Gorgeous Salvia 

6. Happy Australia Day…..the flower fairy is back!

7. Lamington Cake to celebrate Australia Day and our 5th year anniversary of getting engaged! What a great combo- freshly made sponge cake, jam, cream, chocolate icing and coconut sprinkled on top! Yum x

1/52- First Weekly Stills for the 2014!!!!

1. Glazing of the second ham…. my Mum's trusty recipe!
2. Starting the new year with some delicious homemade ice cream. See link here.
3. This weeks harvest of tomatoes…..they look too good to eat! Think we might have this recipe here from Catherine at Farmhouse Home's blog tonight….
4. Our New Year Eves afternoon tea party with the children-Chocolate mud cake and a table full of crumbs!
5. NYE Champagne on ice for the grown up's…..
6. Daily bouquet of flowers my daughter picks for me everyday. Thankfully the geranium has a never-ending supply of flowers for her to pick! Such happy colours….
7. Siblings playing happily on New Years Day…. a lovely sight for any parent x
8. A firework display of cornflower coloured aggies with a pretty pink crepe myrtle backdrop

Hope you have had a good start to 2014…..

See you soon, kx

Raspberry & Honeycomb Ice Cream

Summer has now officially hit us, which means for us lots of running around under the sprinkler, splashing in the blow up swimming pool, kids jumping on the trampoline with the sprinkler underneath, lazing under the cooler watching kids movies and …… 

ICE CREAM!!!

One of the perks of having children is that guilt free pleasure of serving up dollops of ice cream on cones to the kids and having a scoop or two for yourself. After all, one in, all in, I say!

Its a fun treat which we all look forward to each afternoon, and with this becoming a daily event, the best way to keep up the ice cream supply is to make it yourself. I am fortunate to have been given an ice cream machine a few years ago, so thankfully the most difficult part of the task is actually deciding which recipe to make.

With a few punnets of raspberry's and a craving for honeycomb, the decision was fairly easy to make.

Within an hour the ice cream was made and freezing its way to tummy heaven.

The recipe for the ice cream can be found here, and the honeycomb here.

Frozen raspberries can be used instead of fresh and a crushed up violet crumble bar instead of making the honeycomb. But trust me, the honeycomb is incredibly easy and takes all of ten minutes.

So now that I have rediscovered how easy it is to whip up this summery treat, I am getting excited about making some passionfruit ice cream with fruit off our vine, and some sorbet with fresh lemons from the tree. And don't even get me started on how to feed my chocolate addiction……

Have you a favourite ice cream flavour???

Until next time……kx

52/52 Weekly Stills- Wrapping up 2013……

1. Christmas Eve excitement
2. Christmas lanterns in the garden
3. Oh, where to start first……
4. A favourite Xmas decoration…been dropped, broken and lovingly repaired.
5. A boy and his dog
6.  Overly loved up little friends- Kaloo & Kaloo two!
7. Pile of towels at back door waiting for the spontaneous swim in blow up pool
8. Passionfruit growing on our vine
9. Our teeny tiny (yet productive) veggie patch
10. A pretty 'pop up' plant found in our garden- Im guessing it's a noxious weed because they keep popping up everywhere. This one got away from me but Im glad…the flowers are so pretty and the colour so festive
11. The gorgeous mix of Aggies and clusters of old white roses
12. Watch me grow- I have no idea what this is…Any ideas? Ornamental Pomagrante or persimmon perhaps???

Hope you had a lovely Christmas and enjoying this festive period……kx

Girls' Bedroom Dresser-This week's Project!

As of 3pm yesterday afternoon, I became the proud owner of this ugly duckling......



Purchased on Ebay for a mere $30 (and within easy pick up range!!!), this little treasure is soon to have a complete makeover and find a new home in our girls bedroom.

The week before last I wrote this post about decorating our girls room.
Small steps, but Im slowly getting there.
Confetti spots on wall- tick!
Bed/ cot/linen- tick!
Dresser- now ....tick!

Keeping to a strict (and small) budget, I am now on the lookout to find a floor mat or rug and some artwork to complete this room.

Ive been searching on Ebay for a while now trying to find a tallboy/dresser (actually need two-one for our son's room as well) to revamp that we can place in their room for extra storage and somewhere to put some special treasures on. This dresser ticked the box for all requirements (although I would have loved for it to be a smidge taller).

Ive also been spending a bit of time on Pinterest and in magazines looking for fun idea's for our dresser makeover.

The images below are some of my favourites, and if you are in the makeover mode, perhaps their might be something there you like too.

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Love the soft pink colour which suits the style of dresser so well. The raw timber detail left untouched as a reminder of what it once was. And how sweet are those confetti spots- nice colour combo! From a store in the US called KNACK Studios. If you are interested in restoring furniture, its worth visiting their blog/online store...very inspiring!

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Although this one is being used as a nursery change table, I love the simple cream/white base with the gorgeous gold handwriting that swirls over each drawer. And how sweet are the rose handles in varying pink tones????? Could easily be transformed to be more age appropriate. Click on the link above and check out what a sweet room this is (yes, more beautiful photos!)! PS note coppery-gold confetti spots- Im addicted!

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Another nursery change table.... but how fun is the chevron look and colour palette.
Goes to show you can have fun playing with some masking tape and your favourite colours.

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I could imagine this would have been a very daggy looking dresser and one that could easily get looked over at a garage sale. But how great does it look painted yellow? Such a happy colour and would brighten up any room!

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Two examples of the 'ombre' look.....the first one taking on a more old, distressed style and the second more contemporary. Buy a handful of your favourite colours in sample pots or buy one colour and gradually mix in white to mix your different shades. Pretty!

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Perhaps Im being a bit boring but Im in love with this raspberry colour (just by itself) and think I will paint our new dresser, similar to this one. Might try and find some new drawer knobs.

Hopefully next week (or week after next!!) I will have some photos to share of our new dresser!

Have you given a makeover to an old piece of furniture 

and given it a second (or third, or fourth) lease of life?