Red Velvet Layer Cake

I spent most of yesterday in the kitchen with a friend making a Red Velvet Layer Cake for her fiance's birthday. It must be love . . . this took us close to four hours in total, but was so worth it!

We separated the red velvet cake mix into four greased glasses to make sure each layer would be the same size.

Before baking each individually:

Once all layers had cooled they were then wrapped in cling film and popped in the freezer, to make them easier to ice.

Yummmmm this looks (and tasted) just amazing, a work of art! 

 

Summer of Cider

The variety of ciders available these days is craaazy!

Recently my Husband celebrated his 30th birthday and for the special occaison collected 30 different ciders for a little cider tasting. It was a lot easier than you'd think! The most unusual flavour was a Tutti Fruti cider from the UK. 

My current favourite Cider is Rekorderlig, a Swedish cider. The flavours are amazing! These are in pretty high demand and seem to be in short supply so can at times prove to be hard to your hands on.

Stocking up on strawberry and lime:

And the pear in action:

If you havn't already done so, you should give it a try.

You won't regret it!

 

Available in Tauranga from Liquorland wholesale and Za Bar.

Little bits and pieces . . .

Finally got my chance for involvement in the Rugby World Cup! My Husband took me along to the Ireland vs Russia game in Rotorua last Sunday. What an atmosphere! It was so fun I didn't even mind getting rained on a little :)

And look, a double rainbow!

We have an english friend staying with us at the moment, making for a little friendly rivalry rugby wise! As he's been living in Malaysia/ Thailand the last year I am looking forward to his cooking nights as am sure he will have a few interesting and authentic recipes to share!

Finally got my hands on the newest Frankie . . . it was about time! 

Absolutely love the jam recipe with free jam jar labels! It is getting to the time of year when I start to think about possible christmas present ideas and I think a little picnic hamper with homemade jam might go down a treat!

 
MIL has been experimenting with painting native plants onto corrugated iron for hanging in a friend's bbq area . . . isn't she clever?

And (drum roll please) tomorrow I start the Lemon Detox Diet. I am half excited, half scared, but determined to finish the full 14 day program and come out the other side feeling am-a-zing!

 Wish me luck! x

Much Love Monday: Something different

I've been thinking about changing my hair colour for a while now, going a little bit darker. But it was turning into one of those things I go on and on about doing, but never do, so over the weekend I just went and actually did it.

My hair is my pride and joy, I have been growing it a few years now since an incident right before my OE when I thought it would be a good idea to go all low maintenance and cut my hair really short, and absolutely hated it. And I haven't coloured it in years, this philosophy sprung half out of necessity -my hair gets a pretty rough deal as it is with straightening it every few days, and half out of laziness and not wanting to colour it on a regular basis until I actually have to, when I go grey!

I do sometimes need a little (ok, a lot) of encouragement to step out of my comfort zone, but I am almost always glad when I do. I love my new look now I have gotten used to it, but it did take a little while for the love to kick in - and yes, there were tears. Silly I know.

Anyway. This is my before shot:



And after!

Ta Da!

What do you think?

What I am loving and looking forward to this week . . .
trying new things and changing up my look a little!  

Daffodil Day

Today. Love daffodils, such a pretty flower!
And such a good cause -  

Wonder how much will be raised for the Cancer society this year? 

Wedding Gift Ideas

We are off to a wedding in Brisbane in a few weeks, and I am trying to come up with gift ideas for the Bride and Groom.

They have chosen not to use a gift registry and are heading over to the UK for their OE in the near future. Homey stuff/ homewares is therefore not really appropriate unless it is the kind of thing they could pop in storage to hold on to forever, and anything too heavy is out of the question as we are travelling with carry-on luggage only. Plus we arrive in Australia the day before the wedding, and with a lot of catching up to do I wouldn't think we will have the time to shop for a gift once we get over there.    

So . . . I have narrowed it down and this is my shortlist:

A piece of personalised art - Etsy

A bottle of vintage Champagne - Duty free of course!

Engraved glassware - Trademe

Or my least favourite option - a
local department store gift card
and let them choose for themselves?!?

  

 . . . decisions, decisions!

Thirsty Thursday: El Diablo

Cocktail hour, mexicano styles. Thanks to the mix for introducing me to the El Diablo a while back. Fill tall glass with ice. Add one shot of tequila, then almost fill glass with ginger bear, leaving enough room for a dash of blackcurrent cordial. Squeeze and drop in two lemon or lime wedges.

Perfect accompaniment to mexican food.

Unfortunately this picture proves all too clearly why I feel

the need to invest in a tortilla press, quick smart. Cheers!

Little bites!

First of the season Kiwifruit:

Brumbys - Best Bran Muffins. ever. and less than 3 bucks!

Yoghurt covered raisins:

I actually ate way too many of these and felt really sick 

An effort to 'posh up' my cup of soup lunches with blue cheese crostini -

 

Strawberry Oreos!

Yum

Much Love Monday . . . Mr Tui Bird

This week I'm Loving the view out back . . .

This is our resident Tui!  Isn't he gorgeous?

 

♥ Starting the week with a Little positivity thanks to Much Love Monday ♥

 

Bargain Hunting in Tauranga

Did a quick whip around a few of the Tauranga Op Shops this afternoon. 

These are a few of the Bits and Pieces I picked up:

Two dollars

Three Dollars

One Dollar, Fifty Cents

Five Dollars

All up I spent less than $20 . . .

Now that's what I call Retail Therapy!

Much Love Monday

Today is my first Much Love Monday,

What a lovely way to start the week!

♥

I'm loving my new vege cutters, especially this heart shape. 

♥

Have become slightly obsessed with browsing all the awesome
Bento pics on pinterest . . . can't wait to get experimenting.
Makes me wish I had a little person to pack lunch for! 

Rugby World Cup fever

 

Wandered down to Red Square this morning to ogle the actual Rugby World Cup. Incidentally as we left the house my husband's new All Blacks t-shirt was discovered, sat waiting for him in the letterbox. The source of which has stirred up a bit of a of controversy in NZ this week - as it was purchased online from rugbystore.co.uk - for, get this, half the price it would have cost in NZ, even including postage. Madness. And it arrived a matter of days after the order was placed. Success.

Unimpressed.

via

A Little List

Inspired by the Lovely Lauren Conrad

Bargain Hunting in Tauranga

Since moving to Tauranga I havn't settled into the routine of having my hair done at one particular salon. The place I was frequenting in Papamoa shutdown, I was going to Lesley James for a while (but only because I felt like I had to commit to someone), and have brought a few vouchers on GrabOne and similar websites.

I also have a really bad habit of snipping out any split ends I spot in my hair between cuts (drives my Husband craaazy!)

Anyway, as I walk past Hair to Train everyday and their prices seemed just too good to be true, I thought I would try them out. Basically this is a hairdressing/ beauty academy where the students practise on customers. A little scary, but I reasoned that my hair is long enough that they couldn't muck it up too much. Luckily I was right!

The salon was pretty crammed and a little noisy, nothing flash. The girl who cut my hair was lovely, but painfully slow (on a positive note very, very careful, which is a good thing). I had my hair washed, cut and straightened. Took 1.5 hours. Cost me 8 dollars. I repeat, 8 dollars.

Not sure that I would have a colour done here, 1. as they don't open on the weekend or do late nights so I would need to take time off work and 2. a few of the students working in the salon didn't have very nice colours (and I assume they must also be practising on each other?) 

Will definately be doing this again sometime soon . . . saving 50 or so dollars a cut is just too good to pass up! I do love a good bargain.

I am even contemplating booking myself in for a one hour facial later in the week, which will set me back another $12. Awesome. I am not brave enough to test the waxing services though! 



Why, Hello weekend. I've been expecting you!

The weather forecast leaves a lot to be desired, Sooo I am planning to huddle up and be a bit of a homebody this weekend . . .

 

Will be spending lots of time here . . .

. . . drinking far too many of these.  via

 

My weekend reading material.

 

Ready to keep the fire going all weekend.



Off to get my hair did today,

So thought I might whip up a DIY

hair mask to treat my tresses post chop!



I'm planning a closet clean ala gala darling
Summer = out of sight, out of mind.    via

 



And in the kitchen . . .
Something hot and spicy to ward off the cold!



 TGIF!

gawker.com

Oh, the excitement.

While planning our wedding I spent literally half a lifetime browsing weddinggawker. I obsessively checked into this website every single day over about a six month period. So, just imagine my excitement / shock at discovering that the gawker.com websites extend beyond just mere wedding planning these days. There is a whole empire . . .

http://www.foodgawker.com/

http://www.craftgawker.com/

http://www.dwellinggawker.com/

And, just for old-times sakes:

http://www.weddinggawker.com

Uh-Oh! Inspiration Overload!