Scrap stuff | A Lil' Somethin'

So I mentioned a couple of posts ago that I went to a scrapbooking retreat last weekend.  I thought I better start sharing a few layouts otherwise I'll forget and move onto the next thing!  There were a heap of challenges set over the weekend, and they were great starting points. I managed to tackle all but three of the challenges, and here's a couple of them...

This first layout was for the ROFL challenge... ribbon, October Afternoon, flourish, and lace. lol.   I have had these photos of Seth and I in my stash for quite a number of years. Andrew took them for Mother's Day 2008.  We were sitting on the front porch, and Seth was telling me stories and giving me kisses and cuddles. I just adore them. There's more with Eme and I that I'm yet to scrap.  Each time I look at them, it makes me realise how wonderful it is to be their mum. Man, I am so lucky!

The bunting was created using October Afternoon chipboard buttons.  I swear I could make bunting out of anything and add it to my layouts...just love it! So whimsical and isn't limited to just boy or girl layouts.  See below for the details on that gorgeous bottle top embellie!

This next layout was for the TLC challenge...tearing, lace and calico.  These pics were taken on my iphone using the retro camera app, and I'm amazed at how well they printed out. Here's the tip...print as 6x4, select "crop" then "do not crop". That way you still print the whole photo (learnt that the hard way first time around!). Back to the photos...Seth LOVES his DS...and no, I don't mean Dear Sister, although he loves her too.  That bloomin' hand held game platform is permanently by his side. Poor Eme doesn't have a DS yet. I have a rule that you have to be 7 to have one...don't ask me why; I just have random rules that I stick to. Anyway...the poor little chicken has to live vicariously through her brother and will sit next to him for hours watching him play and pretend that she's "helping".  He does let her have a go occasionally, but only if he wants to play on my iphone instead. Who rules the roost here? Seriously though...how cute are they!!

To achieve this bunting, all I had to do was turn to my friend Susan..."Hey Susan, I just saw Kris's layout with the bunting? How can I get my hands on some of that!!?"   "Here you go Lis...no probs." replies Susan. Brilliant! Love a no fuss, pre-made, handmade embellie!

So as you've guessed, there's a couple of things in common with these two layouts...they both feature bunting (love.love.love) and product by A Lil' Somethin'!

A Lil' Somethin' is the baby of Wendy Smith and Susan Longman...sisters, and mums of sons. Frustrated after years of not being able to find "boy" embellies, they decided to make and sell their own! Brilliant. Products are limited, and sold in batches. The next sale starts tonight at 7.30pm and features green and orange product, so check out their fb page for details.  You'll have to be quick though...it will sell out fast!

These two lovelies (Wendy on the left, and Susan on the right, with my mug in the middle) were my roomies and car buddies for the weekend and I can't remember the last time I laughed so hard!  I have to thank you both for an amazing time.



Disclaimer: This is not a paid review...I just love the product and wanted to share!

Review & Giveaway | Disney Junior dvds...Mickey, Minnie and Handy Manny

"Its the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse...come inside, it's fun inside! M-I-C-K-E-Y  M-O-U-S-E..."

Oh, how many times have we sung along to this? Both Seth and Eme have been fans of the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse for as long as I can remember, and its on in our house nearly every afternoon at 5pm (thanks Austar and Disney Junior).  They love Handy Manny too, and Seth takes great delight in telling me that the voice is Fez from That 70's Show...every.single.time. lol. So, imagine their surprise when a set of dvds turned up in our letterbox to review...yay!!

These days, Seth's viewing is more likely to consist of Spongebob, Ben 10 or Pokemon, but there's always room for Mickey Mouse, and Eme was thrilled that there was a girlie dvd featuring Minnie! Let's visit each one...ladies first...

Mickey Mouse Clubhouse - Minnie's Bow-tique

"Packed with all the coolest bows and bow-ties you could imagine, including a mood bow that magically changes colours and a flutter of beautiful butterfly bows, Minnie’s pulled out all the stops to ensure her boutique has something for everyone. But don’t forget to bring your Mousketools because the Clubhouse gang will still need your help to find the perfect gift for Pete’s Aunt Mabel!"

In this dvd, Minnie is the star for four episodes! Minnie's Pajama Party, Minnie's Bow-tique, Minnie's Bow Story and Minnie's Picnic.  In each episode, Minnie and her friends engage in a series of problem solving exercises. I love that Disney are sneaky that way...the kids don't even realise they're learning!  I personally loved the Pajama Party episode, where they learn about fractions...from dividing up the sleeping space, to sharing out the pie evenly.  The episodes are colourful and fun, and Eme loved dancing along to the catchy tunes. In the last couple of weeks, this dvd has been watched approximately 5+ times. I'd say that makes it a winner!

Mickey Mouse Clubhouse - Road Rally

"It’s time to rev your engine for a journey that will have you movin’ and groovin’ all the way to the finish line! Everyone’s favourite mouse is back in an all-new full length movie that takes the Clubhouse gang, and you, on a wild ride through Mickey Park, the dessert, Mistletoe Mountain and even the depths of the jungle! Jump on board to find the special ‘Mickey Markers,’ see the sights and meet new friends."

Here, Mickey, Donald and all your favourite characters participate in a road rally (if the title didn't already give it away...lol). Like all Mickey Mouse Clubhouse episodes, this one follows the same pattern.  There's problems to solve and hidden learning (colours, counting, memory building), as well as positive messages about friendship, patience and good sportsmanship.  I love that the characters ask the audience to help decide which "mouseketool" to use...the kids always yell their answers at the tv.  I also like that the characters have to work together and it encourages a bit of resourceful thinking.  This one was a winner too and would be played more often, if we could get Eme to give up Minnie for a little while! lol.

Handy Manny - Big Race

"It’s back to Sheetrock Hills for more high-speed fun with our favourite handyman, Manny Garcia! Join Manny and his team of trusty talking tools as they try to turn a broken down old car into the fastest four wheels on the road, and win Wood Valley 500 race! But before they can cross the finish line to victory, it will take a lot of teamwork, a “can do” attitude and your help!"

Its thanks to Handy Manny (and Dora) that I stopped understanding what Seth was talking about when was a toddler, because he started speaking Spanish to me! lol.  Seth adored Handy Manny when he was a bit younger, but he tells me he's outgrown it a bit now.  Just between you and me, he still loves watching it if its on...especially if it means cuddling up on the lounge for some tv time. Eme loves it though...all the talking tools just crack her up!  Like Micky Mouse Clubhouse, Handy Manny has loads of hidden lessons for the kids about friendship, working together, and family. Its a great watch and we loved singing along with Handy Manny and his tools. This dvd suits the 3-5 age bracket, and is definitely worth a viewing. I'll be passing it down to my nephew (nearly one) when he's a little older so that he can enjoy it too (you're welcome Beth. lol).

Thanks to the good people at Disney Junior and Porter Novelli, I have a dvd pack to giveaway containing all three dvds!  Mickey's Road Rally, Minnie's Bowtique and Handy Manny's Big Race...

To enter, leave a comment which Mickey Mouse character is your favourite and why.

Entries close midnight, 19 August 2011 and the winner will be chosen at random.

For extra entries, become a follower of this blog and my fb page. Share the news of this giveaway on twitter, facebook and/or your own blog! Make sure you leave a separate comment if you do so. If tweeting, please use @heyLisaWarren so that I can keep track.

btw - I personally adore Donald Duck, but if anyone can explain to me why Donald Duck doesn't wear pants, but everyone else does, I'd really appreciate it.  Also, why is Pluto a pet, but Goofy isn't...and what animal is Goofy anyway? lol.

Disclosure: I received complimentary DVD review copies courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment and Porter Novelli via Digital Parents. No financial payment was offered nor accepted for this post. All opinions expressed are purely my own.

Mum stuff | missing my babies...

Last weekend I had the opportunity to spend a whole four days thinking of and looking after nobody but myself. No one asking me for drinks or where their shoes are (oh wait, that's usually me asking Andrew...oops). A scrapbooking retreat is just what the doctor ordered to refind my mojo...at Camp Mojo to be precise.  But, as it happens, all I did was think about my babies! Why is it when you're presented with some "adult" time, your kids still invade your thoughts...but in a good way iykwim.  So, here I was in the company of about 80ish women, and reminiscing about all the wonderful things our family has done over the years, and sharing my photos with my friends.  It made me so homesick...I never get homesick.!!  In fact, when I went overseas during high school, I didn't call my parents for nearly three weeks and they were sick with worry (sorry!). Go figure.  I will share some of the layouts I created over the weekend over the next couple of weeks.

First up... "Sweet Dreams"

This photo was taken approximately 5 years ago.  We'd been out for a long drive...no doubt to mum and dad's house, and once again, the kids had fallen asleep in the car.  What I wouldn't give for a comfy car seat with side head rests some days...anyhoo, I digress.  Both Seth and Eme have always been great sleepers. We could get them out of the car and put them into their beds or onto the lounge without ever waking them up. I'm so glad we captured this special moment. I wish I could squeeze those chubby baby and toddler cheeks one more time. Oh, and the dummy...sigh.  It really wasn't that long ago...but it seems like a lifetime. I know we won't be having any more babies, and it makes me a little sad that those days are gone.

This layout was created for a vintage pack challenge. I managed to use every single piece from that pack! Vintage book paper, doily, Prima flowers, shipping tag, lace and calico.  I found a sheet of Girls Paperie paper in my stash, and the colours matched the flowers perfectly!  My friend San has a thing for unfinished buttons and always bugs me about not sewing them down...and now it turns out I have a thing for unfinished flowers! I had fun digging through my embellies for flower centres...brads, little resin flowers, etc.  Don't they look pretty...

Next... "Two Cheeky Monkeys"
These photos were taken on the morning of Seth's 8th birthday. The birthday photos are generally the same every year.  The pile of presents, the portrait of the birthday person, the unwrapping of pressies (usually blurry because its hard to capture the lightning speed tearing!), then a shot with the sibling.  Seth and Eme are always happy to oblige with at least one smiley photo and then they go crazy! lol.  I had thought about not using the blurry one at the bottom, but that is SO them!  I was showing Andrew my layouts once I got home, and he agreed that although the top photo is most definitely a keeper, its the bottom one that warms both our hearts. So sweet.  Its hard to imagine that those two babies in the first layout, are these two ratbags now. lol.

This layout was also created for a challenge at Mojo...using orange, a diecut and something else (can't remember what it was, but its on there. lol), and is based on Inspired Blueprints sketch #75.  I have coloured Scrapware Impact chippy letters in pink marker and glaze, then scored the top to add a little interest.

I've also used a Scrapware bookplate and butterflies. btw - those Girls Paperie crepe paper flowers are one of my new favourite products...even if they have been out for a while!  So very pretty and fun...

So, I guess this is where scrapbooking and family collide.  Scrapbooking is a great creative outlet for me, but deep down I've always known that scrapbooking is more about documenting your family stories.  For me, its also a way of making me appreciate my family even more...particularly when they're not around.  Its good to reminisce.  People, get out those photos, and step back in time...

Inspired Blueprints | Sketch #77

Inspired Blueprints Sketch #77 has just gone live, and here's my take.  I have used a mix of girlie papers to document this little impromptu photo shoot by my sister. The kids were mucking around and posing for her...too cute.  I replaced the heart element on the sketch with butterflies, and hand stitched through the centres.

Want to play along...here's the original sketch.

While I was in a creative mood, I also tackled Sketch #73 which was released back in May, but I haven't had an opportunity to use it for inspiration until now.  These photobooth style pics were taken on the night Prince William married Kate Middleton. Eme and I watched the entire wedding dressed in tiaras and veils.  While the wedding was proceeding, I was playing along at an online forum discussing all the ins and outs, the fashions, and more. It was so much fun, and I'm so glad Eme stayed up late to share the experience with me.

Here's the sketch...as you can see, I've stuck pretty close to the original.  The photos were taken using "Incredibooth", an iphone app.

I'm actually at a the Camp Mojo scrapbooking retreat at the moment, and creating away with loads of very talented scrapbookers. My count so far is 9 and there's still plenty of time to go...better get started for the day...

Review Part 3 | Easy Bakers Delight sourdough recipes and a giveaway!

The challenge was set...create delicious and easy recipes using only three ingredients plus Bakers Delight sourdough. Its amazing what you can come up with using very few ingredients. I don't think I'm ready to try out for Masterchef yet, but these recipes are so yummy and easy, even the kids will want to make them!

First up, the most important meal of the day...breakfast.  For this yummy starter, for each person you will need a handful of diced bacon and mushroom, one egg and one Bakers Delight authentic sourdough roll.  Preheat your oven to about 220c.  In a frying pan, brown the mushrooms and bacon.  Cut the top off the breadroll and scoop out the inside.  Place 3/4 of the bacon/mushroom mixture into the bottom of the bread, then crack an egg over the top. Bake in the oven until egg white is set...cook longer if you don't like runny yolks.  Top with the remaining bacon/mushroom mixture and serve. mmmmmm....

Looking for some lunch ideas? Try these fillings on a Bakers Delight authentic sourdough vienna loaf.

• turkey, brie and cranberry sauce
• roast beef, chutney and rocket
• roast lamb, roasted sweet potato and caramelised onion
• chicken, coleslaw and shredded lettuce
• roast pork, apple sauce and swiss cheese
• salami, baby spinach and chargrilled capsicum
• curried egg, mayonnaise and mixed salad leaves
• melted ham, gruyere and semi dried tomato...a classic with a twist

Sourdough toasts really well in a sandwich press as well...give it a go!

Next up, dinner.  This meal is so very simple, yet absolutely delicious. All you need is pasta, fresh prawns and your favourite pasta sauce...I picked one that was full of flavour with chilli, basil and garlic. To accompany these ingredients, grab a Bakers Delight authentic sourdough olive baguette.  Slice the baguette on the diagonal, approximately 1 inch thick.  Lightly drizzle with olive oil and place in a gridle pan (its the fancy lines that make it look extra special. lol).  Meanwhile cook your pasta as per the instructions, and saute your prawns until they are just pink. Add your pasta sauce to the prawns, stir and heat through.  Plate up your pasta, and top with prawns. Drizzle extra sauce around your plate and serve with toasted sourdough.  We like to dip the sourdough in the sauce or pile the prawns on top like bruschetta. Yummo!

Now, this recipe has way more than three ingredients, but its a family favourite.  We used the Bread and Butter pudding recipe found on the Bakers Delight website, but eliminated the brandy (the kids don't really fancy boozy desserts).

Are you salivating yet? I'm having trouble typing, I've made myself that hungry!

Thanks to Bakers Delight, I have two vouchers to giveaway! One for $15, and the other for $10.

To enter, leave a comment revealing what your favourite sandwich filling is.

Entries close midnight, 5 August 2011 and the winner will be chosen at random.

For extra entries, become a follower of this blog and my fb page. Share the news of this giveaway on twitter, facebook and/or your own blog! Make sure you leave a separate comment if you do so. If tweeting, please use @heyLisaWarren so that I can keep track.



Disclaimer: I received a complimentary Bakers Delight products for review purposes. No financial payment was offered nor accepted for this post. All opinions expressed are purely my own.

Review & Giveaway | Zhu Zhu Pets & Accessories

Are you looking for the ultimate pet for your child?  A pet that requires very little attention, never needs a trip to the vet, and doesn't cost anything to feed? Not to mention no "business" to clean up. lol.  Welcome to the world of Zhu Zhu pets!

Did you know there's a whole Zhu-niverse out there?  I had no idea there were so many Zhu Zhu pets and accessories available.  Seth has been a fan of Kung Zhu for quite some time...they're the boy'd up version that fight battles and train like little hamster ninjas. Cute stuff. Eme has just started loving Zhu Zhu's...mainly because there's now babies available. Its ALL about the babies.

We were recently sent Cacee the Zhu Zhu and a hamster stroller to play with and Eme is in love!  I always know when my kids really love a toy, because they try to take it to bed with them.  Little Cacee and her pram have been going everywhere with us...to Granny's, for drives in the car, to the shops...you name it.  Eme doesn't have any Zhu Zhu babies yet, but she's put her order in for a couple for her birthday. In the meantime, she's improvising with some other little toys that fit in the pram.  You can flip the cover on the pram too so you can choose whether the babies are facing their mumma, or looking out.   Eme prefers her babies facing mumma Cacee so she can keep on eye on them while she pushes them along. lol.

Zhu Zhu pet accessories are great! All you need to do is place the guinea pig in the guide, and the toy does the rest, propelling itself along the floor.  It moves forwards and backwards, and without the pram, the Zhu Zhu spins around too. It doesn't work very well on thick pile carpet, but on timber floors, it works a treat!  Zhu Zhu's come with batteries too, and they last ages!!

This is such a fun toy, but gee that guinea pig can talk! Thankfully Seth showed us where the off button is so we can get some peace occasionally. lol.  Here Eme's giving little Cacee a kiss...because everytime you press its nose, it makes a noise. She loves that little rodent!

Do you think your child would have as much fun with a Zhu Zhu pet as Eme?  Here's the fun bit for you!  One lucky blog reader will win "Harlow" the Zhu Zhu pet as well as a Zhu Zhu ice cream truck (which includes an adorable cap for your Zhu Zhu to wear)!!

To enter, leave a comment revealing what your favourite toy was as a child.

Entries close midnight, 19 August 2011 and the winner will be chosen at random.

For extra entries, become a follower of this blog and my fb page. Share the news of this giveaway on twitter, facebook and/or your own blog! Make sure you leave a separate comment if you do so. If tweeting, please use @heyLisaWarren so that I can keep track.

btw - My fav. was Barbie. I would build little apartments for her out of Mum's nesting tables, and use my rollerskates as her car. I would sit there brushing her hair for hours until it was perfect. Those were the days...sigh.


 

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary Zhu Zhu pet and accessory for review purposes. No financial payment was offered nor accepted for this post. All opinions expressed are purely my own.

Review | Vaseline Dry Skin Conditioning Lotion

Product talk by Nuffnang

Let's face it...this winter has been a bit brutal. From freezing cold temperatures to wind that cuts right through you. Not only does it reek havok with your hair, but your skin too. I didn't realise how neglectful I had been of my skin until I knelt on my black work chair recently and left behind leg dandruff! Seriously! LEG DANDRUFF!! Sorry for the bad mental image there...lol.  But seriously, how dry do your legs have to be to do that!?!! Not only that, the amount of static I was producing could have provided the whole of the Illawarra with electricity for the next decade. It was time to take action.

Thank goodness for Vaseline's new Dry Skin Conditioning Lotion!  I was recently sent a bottle to test drive and boy was I surprised. Before I shared my findings with you, I wanted to give it a fair chance.  I'll admit I am very lazy when it comes to beauty regimes, and anything that smacks of too much effort is quickly eliminated from my routine. Moisturisers that leave my skin feeling sticky or take forever to rub in, swiftly get the boot.  Here's the product in question...there's loads of options to choose from.

I have dutifully been applying the lotion every morning for the last couple of weeks, and the difference is remarkable! Here's what I've found...

• The moisturiser feels really light, not thick like at lot of lotions on the market.
• It rubs in with very little effort, and absorbs into your skin quite quickly, whereas other moisturisers I've used either take forever to sink in or have to be wiped off with a tissue.
• I have very sensistive skin and I haven't had any reactions at all, which is a major bonus!
• The fragrance is pleasant, and not too strong.
• A little bit goes a really long way, therefore making your purchase really economical.
• It comes in a handy pump bottle, which is great because there's nothing worse than trying to put the lid back on something with a hand full of lotion.
• It actually does what its meant to...moisturise dry skin. My legs feel so much better!

This is one beauty product that I can highly recommend. Vaseline, my skin thanks you!

 

Disclaimer: I received complimentary bottle of Vaseline Dry Skin Conditioning Lotion for review purposes. No financial payment was offered nor accepted for this post. All opinions expressed are purely my own.

Review | Bakers Delight pt2

This is Seth. Quite possibly the cutest baker in the world (imho).  Seth's favourite food is pizza. Pepperoni pizza to be exact.  While I was having a tour of the Bakers Delight bakery, Seth was getting his own private tour, which included getting to make his own designer pizza! Lucky boy.

Seth was really keen to come to the bakery and was waiting in my bed when I got out of the shower. It was still dark, but he was wide awake and raring to go.  I don't often get to do things with Seth now that he's getting older. Every weekend is filled up with footy at the moment, either playing or watching (he's a long suffering Parramatta Eels supporter just like his Dad).  Sunday felt like a real treat, sharing this experience with my boy. We had a great time together!

First up, he had to don the bakers hat and apron, then Sarah (Terry, the owner's daughter) took him under her wing.  Sarah was so lovely. She showed him the massive bucket of icing they use, and I'm pretty sure he would have liked to have dived in there head first.  Then she took him out for a hot chocolate...spoilt much. After that it was down to the serious business...making pizza.

Did you know that Bakers Delight now has their own pizza bases available for sale?  Nothing tastes as good as homemade, and Bakers Delight have taken the hassle out of making your own dough.  The bases come par-cooked, so you only need to add your own delicious toppings.  Not only that, you can roll them out thinner if you like a thin base. Sounds good to me!

The bakers set Seth up with a pizza base and then let him go to town adding his own toppings.  First up he smothered the base with Bakers Delight pizza sauce. I swear, if they sold that stuff in a jar, they would make a fortune!! So good.  Then he added his favourite topping...pepperoni. The bakers were encouraging him to add more toppings like mushroom, feta, pineapple etc, but he wasn't having it. He did relent though and threw on some ham.  Loads of shredded cheese was piled on top, then a pepperoni face was added.

One of the bakers put Seth's pizza in the Bakers Delight oven and he waited patiently until it was ready.  Check out that golden melted cheese on top of that pizza (bottom right pic above).  It smelled so good, but it was only 10am. Who eats pizza at that time of the morning? Well, I would, but I was trying to be a responsible parent. lol. We let it cool down a little on the rack so we could take it home for lunch.

Here's the gorgeous Sarah.  I think Seth had a wee crush on her. She knows the way to a boy's heart...hot chocolate, yummy treats and computer games. lol.  Thank you Sarah for entertaining my boy. He had a great time!

...and just for comparison, Seth weighs less than two bags of Bakers Delight flour. Yeah, he's 8 years old and only weighs 21kg.

As one last treat, Terry iced a freshly baked finger bun with strawberry fondant and handed it to Seth for later, then offered him an apprenticeship in 10 years time...awhhh.  When we got home, we shared the pizza between the four of us, although Andrew's slice had a mysterious bite mark in it...looks like someone had a nibble in the car on the way home! lol.

If you're looking for pizza topping ideas, head on over to the Bakers Delight facebook page.  They're currently running a competition to create the best pizza, and some of the entries look absolutely delicious!  First prize is $5000! Enter your own pizza idea to be in the running.  Mmmm, what's your favourite pizza topping?

Stay tuned for part 3 of my Bakers Delight experience...creating yummy recipes featuring sourdough as the star!

Disclaimer: I received complimentary Bakers Delight products for review purposes. No financial payment was offered nor accepted for this post. All opinions expressed are purely my own.

Lessons from Libra...

I love a good factoid, and I have an amazing memory for useless information...so good in fact that we recently won a local trivia night (woohoo!).  Unfortunately a lot of very useful information has had to be forgotten to make room for such stuff as what are the names of the Kardashians, and why Posh and Becks chose to call their baby Harper Seven. lol.

Now girls, at that time of the month (yes, that time), when you're sorting yourself out (gosh I'm good at not using the actual words), you would think that the last thing you would be doing is learning new facts. Not true! For years, Libra have been adding factoids to their packaging and its a very interesting read. Here's what I learned today...

There is more than 25,000km of neon tubing in the signs on the Strip and downtown Las Vegas.
Hmmm...someone should be talking to Vegas about the carbon tax!

Lizards communicate by doing push-ups.
Two thoughts come to mind...one, I'm glad I'm not a lizard; and two, imagine if I were a lizard...my abs would be rock hard!

A newbown hedgehog starts to get their spines within 24 hours of birth.
Can somebody say C.U.T.E!!  Hedgehog babies are not much to look at when they're first born (a bit like mice), but give them a few weeks and they are absolutely adorable! Tell me, can I get one in Australia? No...didn't think so. Bugger. Oh, and wasn't mother nature smart...imagine giving birth to a spiky baby!

The mechanical shark in the movie "Jaws" was nicknamed Bruce.
Wonder if that's why the shark is called Bruce in "Finding Nemo"

One of the best ways to clean pewter is to rub with cabbage leaves.
Well, I often have cabbage leaves in the fridge, but no pewter.  Oh well, off to the compost.

Fish can get seasick.
Poor buggers...imagine never being able to get off that ride! You'd just be praying for the day that you got caught on someone's hook so that you could feel some relief.

Babies have taste buds all over the insides of their mouths, not just on their tongues.
Hmmm...is that why babies are so bloody messy when they eat...they're trying to taste their food all over!

There you have it.  Have you learned something? hahaha. What's the most useless piece of information you've ever had cramed into your brain?

Review | Cottee's Apple Raspberry concentrate cordial

"My Dad picks the fruit, that goes to Cottee's, that makes the cordial, that I like best."  Everybody sing...

Well, that's not actually true. My Dad never did work at Cottee's, but gee I wish he did, because those kids always looked so happy! lol.

Cottee's cordials have been a part of my whole life. There's not many brands that can say that!  They've never once let me down.  Growing up, it was always a treat to have a glass of sweet cordial (we were big water drinkers), and when mum and dad splurged on a Soda Stream years ago, it was Cottee's we used to make our softdrinks, not that syrupy stuff.

We've all seen the new Cottee's ads where the dad says he'll change his name to "Elizabeth" if the new concentrate cordial does what the demonstrator promises.  Well, blow me down and call me Elizabeth...its true!  The good people at Cottee's sent me a bottle of their new Apple Raspberry concentrate cordial to test drive and I was really surprised at the taste difference.  In an effort to conduct a fair "experiment", I filled up one glass with the regular amount of cordial I would add to a glass, and then another glass with the recommended amount. I filled them up with water and gave them a taste.  The regular amount was disgusting!! Way too sweet.  The recommended amount was just right! Listen to me...I sound like the Goldilocks of cordial. The picture below shows you the difference.

So aside from using half as much to get the same amount of flavour, it makes me pretty darn happy that the kids will be having more water in the glass.  I like the new size of bottle too. I cannot tell you how many times the kids have struggled to get the big 2L bottle out of the pantry, or how many times I've had to wipe up spills because the kids couldn't pour it properly.  The 2L bottle never used to fit on the shelf properly either, so the smaller size is much more convenient.  Bravo Cottees! Highly recommended.  Look for Cottee's new concentrate cordials in your favourite flavours at your local supermarket...I know I will.



Disclosure: I received complimentary bottle of Cottee's cordial for review purposes and a $5 Coles voucher for my review. All opinions expressed are purely my own.

Top Design...not quite

I LOVE watching home renovations shows. Love it.  Even when doing a bit of my own home decorating, I have been known to ask myself "what would Colin and Justin do?".  Television design shows are meant to inspire, and make you believe that yes, you can achieve that look yourself.  I guess that's why I love watching The Block so much (go Amie and Katrina!).

Last night's premiere of Top Design held so much promise, but after half an hour of viewing, I had to turn it over.  I couldn't stand the premise.  I didn't warm to the contestants at all.  I hated what the contestants were putting together, and let's face it...who in their lifetime will ever renovate a shipping crate?  Not a fan.  I did go and have a look at the end result pics though just to see how they turned out.  Meh.  Although if someone wants to tell me where they got the white Chinese drum stool, I'd be mighty appreciative...preferrably in teal. ta. lol.

[image source]

Your's in non-designery home design,

Review | Bakers Delight Authentic Sourdough pt1

What started off as a little review about sourdough, has turned into so much more! I was recently invited by Terry, the owner of Bakers Delight, Dapto, to do a tour of their bakery. Bright and early last Sunday (7am to be precise), Seth and I headed up to the bakery thinking we'd spend maybe 15 minutes with the staff learning about the process of making sourdough. What I found was so much more! Bakers Delight is such a smooth running operation, with staff that are generous with their time and knowledge, and of course, absolutely delicious sourdough! To say I have a new found appreciation for the time and effort that goes into making bread is a major underestimate. I took so many photos, I'll be spreading this over three posts (I kid you not!).

When Bakers Delight states that their sourdough is "authentic", they are telling the truth.  Traditional sourdough is made using a "mother dough", also known as a starter or vein (see top picture).  The bakers at Bakers Delight use a part of that mother dough each morning to add to their sourdough mix, then once the baking is done for the day, they "feed" the mother dough and set it aside overnight to let it grow and ferment.  This particular mother dough has been going strong since October 2010.  I was surprised to find out that some mother doughs have been used for over 150 years! Imagine the delicious flavour in that!!

After the dough is mixed and kneaded in that massive mixer, the baker shapes the dough by hand into the required shape and size.  The third picture down shows the baker marking the sourdough with traditional lines on the vienna, cob and breadrolls.

Next up, the loaves are placed in the ovens where its baked on hot stones.  Let me tell you, when the sourdough comes out of the oven, the smell is absolutely divine!!  The tops are deliciously golden and crunchy.  It takes hours to make a loaf of sourdough and I'm sure it only lasts minutes on the shelves out the front!  Here's the tip: if you want warm sourdough, make sure you hit your local Bakers Delight around 9.30-10am each morning.




The staff at Bakers Delight, Dapto were fabulous and I want to give them a huge shout out for all the hard work they put in every single day! I admire anyone who gets up before 3am to go to work!!

Pictured l-r: Adam, Beau and Shaun...bakers extraordinaire!  Adam is an apprentice and his enthusiasm is going to take him far. Its great to see someone who so clearly loves their job. Beau was looking after the dough prep, and he was so fast! He didn't stop the whole three hours we were there.  Shaun was in charge of the ovens, and he runs that station like a well oiled machine, churning out loaf after loaf. I would have expected that they'd have a written schedule of what they have to prepare and when, but these boys just know. Such a great team.

Pictured l-r: Nicole, Terry and Michaela. Out the front, Nicole and Michaela were busy prepaing the shopfront for the day's trading. The girls take a great deal of pride in their displays to try and tempt you. From the glass displays housing delicious ready made pizzas, scones, scrolls and more, to the many, many different loaves available for purchase, the front of store is the last stop. Its interesting to see it from the staffs' perspective, and to watch the customers try to figure out what they want to buy...its all good!

Finally, Terry. The owner of Bakers Delight, Dapto. What a lovely woman.  She's a kindred spirit you know, but choses quilting over scrapbooking. Us crafters have to stick together! Don't we look spunky together...I was a good girl and kept my apron and hat on the entire time.

Terry is very proud of her store and staff. She ensures that all of her staff are studying to improve their skills either at TAFE or university.  She works together with the other stores in the local area to raise money for charity. Last year they raised over $1million for breast cancer...amazing!  Terry's bakery also supports the local area breakfast programs for high school and donates the left over bread at night to charity.  So impressive.  I feel even better about shopping at Bakers Delight now because they give so much back to the community.

On the way out the door, Terry handed me a freshly baked sourdough loaf, which the family devoured smothered in melting butter. Oh yum!! So good.

From the Baker's Delight website...

No preservatives.
No artificial colouring.
No added flavours.
No added sugar.
No bleached flour (we use unbleached instead).
Made from scratch every day.
If it’s not sold today, it’s not sold.

Its true.

Come back tomorrow to read all about Seth's experience of Bakers Delight, and then I have some delicious and simple sourdough recipes to share with you! Stay tuned...



Disclosure: I received complimentary Bakers Delight products for review purposes. No financial payment was offered nor accepted for this post. All opinions expressed are purely my own.