Seth's Adventure Time birthday cake

This week, our son turned ten. TEN!! I'm still a little in denial that my baby is only a few short years away from becoming a teenager. Each year, I make a special cake based on something they really love...it's purely their choice and usually the cake discussions begin at least 11 months in advance (or the day after your birthday if you're Eme). Seth currently has two cartoon obsessions...Phineas and Ferb, and Adventure Time. I was really hoping to create an Agent P cake (love me some Perry the Platypus), but no. Seth wanted Jake and Finn. If you're not sure who Jake the dog, and Finn the human are...do yourself a favour and avoid it like the plague ask your kids. Seriously, I wonder if the writers are on smack...it's pretty out there! However, who am I to deny my son his birthday cake. I'm a good mum like that (sometimes).

Like last year's "Ninjago" cake, I searched for inspiration on Pinterest and google first...images of the characters themselves, and cakes other people have made.  There's some AH-MAZ-ING Adventure Time fondant covered cakes out there, and I'm not about to even try to replicate them. I stuck to what I know best...cakes on boards covered in frosting. I printed out an image on A3 paper, and trimmed around the outline, ready for cutting out the design on the cake. Normally, I would bake, but this week I have been struck down with the flu and had to resort to buying an un-iced sponge from the supermarket. To get the size cake base I needed for the design, I trimmed four round sponge cakes, square, and joined them together with frosting. Hey, sometimes you have to get creative! Decorating with frosting is a little like painting by numbers...section off the areas and work on one colour at time, leaving the white for last.  I normally outline my cakes with trimmed licorice at the end, however this time I experimented with black writing icing. It was definitely much quicker, though my hand wasn't too steady thanks to my carpal tunnel. It didn't matter though...it's the effort that counts...

...and here's the finished cake based on this drawing!

Seth was thrilled! Not only did his cake end up looking like the actual characters (yes, Jake the dog really does look like a zombie-eyed piece of toast), the bought sponge was really tasty too. Phew!

...and just because mumma is a little anal about these things...I colour coordinated the candles to the frosting...hoping they'd disappear. I hate sticking candles into a character cake! lol.

Seth had a fabulous birthday (more on that in another post), and the planning has begun for the next birthday cake. Sweet!

Do you make special cakes for your children? What inspired the last birthday cake you made?

Attempting to find my voice at Kidspot's Voices of 2013 Masterclass

I find this little ol' blog of mine is an ever evolving beast. What began as a space simply to share my scrapbooking layouts with family, has become so much more. Over the last couple of years, I have been endeavouring to find my voice. To make this blog reflect who I am. I think I'm definitely headed in the right direction. If I ever stop trying to improve how, why, and what I blog about...it'll be time to close the doors.

Last Saturday, I attended the first Kidspot Voices of 2013 Masterclass, with a view to inject some extra enthusiasm and passion into my blogging. While I was nominated as a Voice of 2013 (thank you lovely readers!), I really wanted to find out what more I can do to lift my game, and one day become a finalist.

The Masterclass was held at Megan Morton's The School; housed in the same warehouse complex as Koskela, and Kitchen by Mike, Rosebery NSW. For me, the venue for any blogging event is just as important as the content. It sets the tone of the day. You want to feel like it's going to be a special experience, and Kidspot picked the perfect spot. This is my kind of place! Inspiring, urban and eclectic. I wish I had more time to explore Koskela, but I suppose that gives me an excuse to return!

Gratuitous food shot --> before the Masterclass began, my bloggy buddy Tina and I had a bite to eat at Kitchen by Mike. Casual dining at it's absolute best. That salad was amazing...just simple ingredients, but perfectly combined. I'm going to try to recreate it at home!  I so wish Wollongong had fab cafes like this...perhaps they exist, and I just haven't found them yet?

Blogging events are a great way to meet the person behind the profile photo, to catch up with friends, and to make new ones! Belinda and I have been friends since high school, and with life getting in the way as it does sometimes, we haven't had the opportunity to see each as often as we'd like. Belinda began her own blog last year, The Hungry Mum, were she blogs her delicious recipes, and photos that will have you drooling! It was so lovely giving her a big hug! As a new-ish blogger, Belle enjoyed the Masterclass immensely, and took loads away from the content of the day. I'm so happy our friendship has stood the test of time, and we can now enjoy it on another level through blogging.

Onto the Masterclass...

Keynote speaker: Hailey Bartholomew
"It's not about ideas. It's about making ideas happen."

Hailey's talk was beautiful, and she had me captivated from the very first word. Hailey shared her story, and what led her on the path to becoming an award-winning photographer and film-maker. It's very rare to find a person who has as much passion for their work as Hailey does. Hailey's short film "Picket Fenced-In" was such a wonderful piece (I may have welled up with tears of joy), and while Hailey said she could see all the flaws in her film, it gave me an insight to the type of woman she is...passionate, creative, and dedicated. Truly, dedication is an understatement...she is currently working on a project that is over 9 years in the making! (The only project that has taken me that long, just turned 10 this week...his name is Seth. lol)

Hailey spoke of writing down your goals, working towards them, loving what you do, and never giving up.  Each slide reinforced these words...deeply resonating with me...so much so, I had to draw up a little word picture to hang near my blogging space to remind me.

Panel 1: Blogging 101 - the nuts and bolts
Convenor: Pip Lincolne (Meet Me At Mikes / justb.)
Panellists: Rebecca (Wee Birdy), Jen (Interiors Addict) and Vivian (Ish & Chi)

The Panel had plenty to offer for both new and experienced bloggers alike. I never dismiss an opportunity to attend a "101" type session. You should revisit the basics occasionally, and let's face it...you can never learn too much. The blogosphere is a changing place, and what was "desirable" a few years ago, has changed dramatically today.

The discussion began with what makes a "good looking" blog. The consensus was that bloggers need to resist the temptation to over-clutter their space...keep your blog clean and simple, with user-friendly navigation. Since this session, I have started redesigning my blog (what do you think so far?). While I loved my old design, I felt that I had outgrown it. I'm in the middle of cleaning up my sidebar as well, and thinking (again) about moving to a different platform. Interestingly, a show of hands indicated a 50/50 split of Blogger v's Wordpress bloggers (with a few using other platforms). I wrote down a tonne of notes, so I'll condense it for you...

• Be yourself, and stay humble.
• Try to create a conversation with your readers, and build your community.
• Connect with your readers across different networks such as facebook, twitter, pinterest, instagram etc,
• Be realistic with how much time you can devote to your writing.
• As always, content is king! Step away from your computer and do some research. Explore.
• Be original, and put your spin on it.
• Add alternate text to your images, which describes your images thoroughly...and don't forget to rename your images from the generic "IMG1234.jpg".
• Create Pinterest images that people with WANT to repin. Make it easy for your readers...include a killer headline that people can't resist. Think "how to" and "step by step".
• Lastly...your blog can take you any where you want if you let it...so let it!

Panel 2: Blogs & Brands
Convenor: Maxibella (Maxibella Loves)
Panellists: Lexi (Pottymouthmama), Stacey (The Veggie Mama), Louisa (Brand Meets Blog and Louisa Claire) and Brian Gliesen (Director - Social@Ogilvy)

Like the first session, I wrote lots of notes...so dot point it is!

• Be choosy about who you work with. Pick brands that are relevant to your blog and readers. You don't want to struggle to talk about a brand. For example, at Life as we know it, if I were to start blogging about baby products, you'd know there was something seriously wrong.
• Connect with your readers and focus on them. Add value their experience on your blog.
• When you decline work, don't burn your bridges!  Don't talk badly about brands online...you never know who might be reading. Remember...bloggers and PR agencies belong to very small communities.
• Not all posts need to be paid. Build relationship with your brands. You may have noticed that I am now blogging for The Block Shop each week. This is the 3rd season of The Block that I have blogged about. The previous two seasons were purely because I love the show...this season, sponsorship is the ultimate icing on the cake!
• Consider building long term relationships with PR's and brands. Research the brands you want to work with, and pitch innovative ideas to them. Build relationships with your PR reps...pick up the phone and have a conversation...they're people too, not just an automated email.
• Work out what you're worth. It's not just about your statistics. Some PR companies take into account your expertise, your influence, engagement and relevance to the brand or campaign.
• Plan ahead and consider how much you blog is reactive v's proactive. Are your blog posts a daily brain dump, or carefully planned and considered...perhaps a mixture of both? Are you confusing your readers because they never know what to expect?
• Lastly, work towards a WIN, WIN, WIN solution...an outcome that is going to benefit not just you, but your readers, and the brands you work with.

I began blogging in February 2006, and my thirst for knowledge about blogging has never waivered. A reader friend of mine recently commented that "I am so lucky" for all of the opportunities my blog has afforded me. The truth is...it's around 10% luck, and 90% hard work. Writing posts takes time. I consider my words carefully. I work hard to create beautiful images. I negotiate with PR's and brands to outcomes that benefit them, me, and you. Where I consider myself truly lucky, is the friendships I have made along the way. Meeting bloggers you've long respected, and catching up with my bloggy friends at events like this, are some of the best perks (oh, and a great goodie bag is always appreciated).

Pictured with Katrina (Katrina from The Block) ; Dani (Danimezza);
Pip (Meet me at Mike's); and Tina (Tina Gray {dot} me)

I'll leave you with this quote by Howard Thurman that Hailey shared with us...

Blogging makes me come alive. I feel incredibly blessed to be a blogger, and to be a part of the Australian blogosphere. I wonder where the future will take me? Join me, won't you...

A big thank you to Kidspot and the sponsors of the Voices of 2013 Vogue Australia, Taste.com.au, justb and Kidspot, Ford, and The Good Guys for a fabulous day out!

How to update your bathroom with fresh towels and accessories from Target

Brought to you by Target Australia

This is the Seth and Eme's bathroom. It's as boring as can be, with it's white walls, and royal blue floor tiles. When we selected the tiles 12 years ago, these square tiles were incredibly popular. I know many people who built their homes at the same time as us, that have identical bathrooms! As much as I would love to have floor to ceiling subway tiles, and a neutral over-sized floor tile (The Block has a lot to answer for!)...the bathroom is in excellent condition, and we won't be replacing the tiles any time soon. The easiest way to update the look, is to choose new bath linens!

Royal blue is a difficult colour to match. To help me make a decision, I snapped a photo of our bathroom tiles on my iPhone, and carried it with me to Target! I held up the photo on my phone against every single colour Target towel available. This was a great way to choose a colour...though, it might have looked a little strange to the other shoppers. lol. I narrowed it down to three colours...the Manhattan towels in winter berry red; the Grandeur Linear towels in grass green; or Manhattan Contemporary towels in mimosa yellow. Then...

1. Manhattan | 2. Grandeur Linear | 3. Manhattan Contemporary
4. Reflection | 5. Grandeur Classic | 6. Egyptian Luxury

I happened upon this Target Essentials 8 piece towel set, which included a laundry basket. It contained two different shades of grey...and when I held it up against the blue tiles in the photo, the greys seemed to tone down the brightness of our floor considerably! The price was too good to pass up as well. Given that this bathroom is used by the kids, the standard towel size is perfect for their little bodies. It will be quite some time before we need to upgrade to bath sheets. Don't you think this would make a great house warming gift as well?

Eme decided there should be one of each grey towel hanging on the rail, so that they could tell who's towel belongs to whom. For the record, Eme's towel is dark grey...do not touch! lol. The laundry basket is nice and sturdy, and will hold a full washing machine load. Having the basket in the bathroom discourages the kids from leaving their clothing all over the bathroom floor. Winning! With our new Target Towels in place, a little decoration was needed. I found the ceramic "Wash" letters in Target's bathroom decor section, and thought they'd add a little fun! They have mounting holes on the back so that you can hang them on the wall, however I really like them sitting on the edge of the bath. The kids are under strict instruction not to touch! Let's see how long they last before I have to move them.

Our large white vanity needed addressing too. Cute storage was on the agenda. Try thinking outside the standard "bathroom" accessories, and check out the kitchen area as well! To store the kids toothbrushes, I chose Target's Owl utensil holder. A utensil holder is perfect for toothbrushes...nice and deep so that most of the brushes are hidden (I hate them on display, but if they're not out in plain view, they won't get used!). Like the "wash" letters, the owl adds a little more whimsy to the room. I also picked up a Salut footed dip bowl in silver from Target's tableware section to store the body sponge. I love flowers, and Target's Magnolia in glass vase were too lovely to pass up. This cluster of items works really well together...varying heights, complementary colours, and different textures.

Here's our newly redecorated bathroom. For less than a $100 investment, our bathroom now looks so much better! Gone are the mismatched kiddie towels and Ice Age stickers that surrounded the bath. It feels more grown up, and the kids love it! It's a space to be proud of once again.

Just a reminder of the small additions we made...

...and now there's a lot more hand washing going on! Even better...the towels work. :-)

How long have you been hanging onto your towels for? Is your bathroom overdue for a mini makeover as well?

The Block Sky High | Week 1 Bedroom and ensuite reveals

Brought to you by The Block Shop

This week on The Block Sky High, the couples were tackling their first bedroom and ensuite. Looking at the basic floor plan for the apartments, there's still plenty more to go! The first room is usually an indicator for how the rest of the home will develop...let's see what direction The Block couples have gone in...

Bec & George - VIC
This week's reveal winners! Bec and George delivered this stunning bedroom, with a bold striped wallpaper feature wall that gives the room the illusion of extra height. It's striking and graphic, yet not too overpowering in this space. I love that it's not placed behind the bed, where you'd normally find it. The bed, simple linens and bold side tables look quite restful together. This is an impressive and mature bedroom, with just the right amount of whimsy. Bec and George have made great use of space, recessing a bookshelf underneath the window...styling the shelf with a few books in the same colour scheme, finishing it off with a fun pair of Skipping Girl bookends.

The stand out feature of this bedroom is an original Bally poster...the first thing you notice when you walk in the room. The poster was the jumping off point for the colour scheme of this space, and Bec and George must be commended for their restrained use of red...just little hints sprinkled around the room. Bec and George were able to incorporate a small study nook in this bedroom, without compromising on storage space in the wardrobe. This would make a great dressing table as well, simply by adding a small mirror. I love that they also showed restraint in their styling here. The Three Wise Bunnies are seriously cute! It's a beautiful room, and well worth the win.

The classic clean lines of the bedroom extend through to the ensuite. White subway wall tiles, combined with the oversized dark grey, work really well together. The high gloss black vanity looks sophisticated, and perfectly sized for this space. If this is Week 1, I can't wait to see how the rest of their apartment develops!

1. Bally vintage canvas print | 2. Three Wise Bunnies | 3. Skipping Girl bookends

Trixie and Johnno - NSW
Trixie and Johnno came in a very close 2nd...just half a point behind Bec and George. I adore this room! The colour combination is so fresh and gorgeous. The stand out feature of the room is the hand painted wood tile feature wall, giving this room a modern Moroccan feel. If I were to replicate any of the rooms delivered this week, this would be it. The artwork and feature wall work so well together. The judges suggested that they didn't need to add the timber wall vases, but I disagree. That natural element helps bring this room alive; softening the hard wall, and adding a little extra dimension

My favourite accessory in the room has to be the Sulphur Crested Cockatoo lamp...it's kitsch, it's fun, and it seriously works! Trixie and Johnno have a great eye for design...raising the height of the doors, and installing flush skirting boards, lift this room to another level. They are THE couple to watch imho.

The quality and attention to detail continue through to the ensuite. The tiles Trixie and Johnno selected blend seamlessly with the carpet in the bedroom. This ensuite is well appointed, and dare I say, sexy. The teal cage pendant light above the sink reminds us that this couple may have a load of style, but are still fun! This ensuite doesn't have a door, and judge Darren Palmer said it best that you need to consider the "acoustic privacy" and "visual privacy". I would prefer a door, that's for sure. A girl needs her privacy occasionally.

1. Timber wall vase | 2. Sulpher Crested Cockatoo lamp base

Madi & Jarrod - NSW
My home team! Madi and Jarrod are the youngest couple on The Block, and their first room delivery is fun, young, and hip, just like them. Their colour scheme of hot pink, orange, and yellow works really well together, in what is essentially an all white room. This room does feel a little immature in it's design, and that's not a bad thing. Given that this is a three bedroom home, this room would suit a tween/teen to a tee.

To me, the bedhead and side tables reinforce that idea...they're raw, unfinished, young, and yet to develop. I am not a fan of the metal reinforcement attached to the wall, and I can imagine this would be the first thing removed by the new owner...though, how cool do the pendant lamps look threaded through the metal.

Madi and Jarrod's youthful design extends through to their ensuite. Classic subway tiles, laid out in a more modern design. You've got to love a bathroom in classic white with clean lines...with just pop of colour to lift the space. Love their choice of a pink neon dot towel, with little baubles around the trim.

Alisa & Lysandra - SA
As with their room challenge, Alisa and Lysandra have delivered a soft and feminine bedroom. I really want to like this room, but for me it's a little flat.  I really like the glass pendant lights, and artwork, and unfortunately not much else. Don't get me wrong...this is a nice room...but this is The Block, and I want more than just nice. This space has been restyled since the room reveal. The original room featured the most stunning teal floral bench seat at the end of the bed. The judges commented that it was too large for the space, which was true, however it could have been moved where the mirror is, perhaps? I hope it turns up again in another room. On the plus side, the girls did pare back the pillows...down from eleven to eight.

Like Bec and George, Alisa and Lysandra added a small desk nook beside the wardrobe, which is a great use of space. I love the dark wardrobe surround, and how the twins have mimicked the same colour in their bed linen. The styling of the nook needs a little work though. The items they've selected, while fab, don't gel together all that well, nor coordinate with the feminine bedding. I so hope Alisa and Lysandra add a little more pop in their next room reveal! I really like them as contestants, but so far their styling hasn't been as great as it could be.

The saving grace for this room reveal is Alisa and Lysandra's ensuite. This space is bang on. Love the over sized tiles, love the basin, and I particularly love the recessed mirror cabinets!  One of the worst things about bathroom storage, is the inability to stand up bottles of hairspray, deodorant etc. The girls have addressed this in spades! The textured white feature tile in the shower is just gorgeous, and helps to bounce shimmery light around the room. Kudos too for addressing the sometimes ugly extraction fan issue, by inserting it into a bulkhead above the shower head.

Matt & Kim - WA
Drumroll......
THE single most controversial room reveal in The Block history! I'll admit, this room scares the living daylights out of me. Matt and Kim had serious guts to deliver this Jackson Pollock inspired space. This couple certainly thinks outside the square. I'm surprised that twitter didn't collapse last night, with the number of Blockheads expressing their opinion...to me, it looked pretty divided. You either love it, or you hate it. I will be honest and say that I could never sleep in a room that looks like this...however, that's not to say there aren't some elements worthy of mention. The simple white bed, with built in storage, and floating side tables are fab, though I would have liked to have see them stay white.

The concept of this room is really interesting...clean white in one corner; crazy colour in the other. Let's address the "white" side. Matt and Kim have installed floor to ceiling wardrobes, with shelving at the end to display the room owner's favourite knick knacks. This is a great use of space...a plethora of usable storage. Matt and Kim have styled the shelving well, showing restraint with their carefully chosen objects. The ceramic high top sneakers (love!), and ceramic jam jars are perfect for their white on white scheme, while the pink flamingo just screams fun!

Matt and Kim's ensuite continues the white on white theme. I'm so glad they didn't go colour crazy in the space as well...though tell me, where can you buy hot pink toilet paper? Looking from the ensuite back into the bedroom is a really nice vista...the over-sized hot pink pillow and wall-mounted television are a great touch. Matt and Kim were the only couple to install a shower/bath in their ensuite, and I think it's a great addition. With each of the apartments featuring several ensuites, and no "main" bathroom, a bathtub could be easily overlooked.  I am a little scared about the future room reveals by Matt and Kim. If this is Week 1, where will they take us next?

1. Ceramic Jam Jar | 2. Ceramic High Tops

This week, the couples will be tackling the "his and her's" bathrooms of the master bedroom. Will they remain gender neutral to cater for any couple combination? Will they stick to one bathroom, and use the remaining space for another purpose? Stay tuned for the next reveal.

So, which bedroom is your favourite? And more importantly, what do you think of THAT room?

[Room reveal images sourced from the official The Block website]