the weekend {& cake}

Oh the weekend is here...Hooray!  I love the approach of Friday afternoon, the cheerfulness that only Friday afternoon school pick up in imminent rain cannot diminish because it's that time that the weekend truely begins.  Two little days that bring so much joy, and the night before that is even considered part of the weekend for the hair gets let down, the kids are allowed to stay up a little later having learnt the term "not a school night"....

...Not much is planned for the weekend, we'll do a lazy Saturday breakfast, head out and about! Oh we have tickets for Jesus Christ Superstar Spectacular and I'm kinda excited about a night out sans kids with my man.  Sunday is free as a bird and that's how I like it.

What are you up to this weekend?

Oh here's a fabulous cake recipe...I never thought of mixing carrots with lime.  Turns out to be quite the surprise combination!  It's a winner in my book.

What you need....


200 g butter, softened
240 g caster sugar
4 eggs
180 g self raising flour
1 tsp baking powder
200 g carrot, grated (that’s 2 medium carrots)
60 g coconut, shredded
60 g walnuts, crushed
zest and juice of one orange (or lemon)

Icing:
200g cream cheese
100g icing sugar
juice one lime (more if your icing needs more liquid)

Preheat the oven to 170 degrees. Grease and line a 23cm springform cake tin. Place butter and sugar in a large bowl and beat with an electric beater until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each. Sift in flour and baking powder then mix to combine. Add carrots, coconut, zest, walnuts and orange juice. Mix to combine and pour into cake pan. Bake for 40 - 50 minutes, or until a skewer comes out clean. Let cool in the tin for 10 minutes then move to a rack. Let the cake cool completely

To make the icing combine the softened cream cheese, icing sugar and lime juice and spread over cake.

Enjoy
xx

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making memories

Flittering through week after week, swim classes and piano classes, school and kinder, this term is coming to an end and if I'm honest, I'm looking forward to the break.  This week I endeavoured to get into the Easter spirit with some inspired craft and general happy stuff slotted in-between the mundane. It's reminded me again of the joy of watching my children create memories I hope they keep with them forever...when they look back as adults and laugh at the silly stuff we did together.

1. Crochet hooks..I'm hoping to make a beanie for all of us this winter.
2. My gorgeous little felt angel I won in a giveaway by this spirited blogger
3. A cr-afternoon painting Easter delights and chatting to my girl
4. Just like her brother, she finds wonder in listening to music
5. The "receipts" from the very successful Art Exhibition that was held on the weekend*
6. Trying on their new swimmers thanks to Grandparents that ventured to warmer climates on their holiday**
7. Since moving the keyboard out of the spare-room and into the dining area, watching you play and practise is quite a joy.

How are you feeling nearing the end of the term..ready for the break?

Linking up with Em @ The Shack

*Check back tomorrow when I post about the Children's Art Exhibition in more detail. 
** The town of Mulwala were I grew up and my parents still live was severely damaged in the tornado that struck North East Victoria on Wednesday.  The clean up will be long and the emotional effects lasting.  Please keep those affected in your thoughts and prayers.   

The Cats Pyjama's

This is the Cat, 

And these are the Cat's pyjamas. 

On Tuesday the Cat wears ocean pyjamas and dreams a dream of humpback wales, swishy tails, sea turtles, eels and flippery seals.  What a dream of ocean delight for the Cat in the night....

....On Thursday the Cat wears road pyjamas...and dreams a dream of a big red rig, diggers that dig, a tractor, a trike and a fast motorbike.  What a dream of road delight for the cat in the night. 

On Sunday the cat wears Monster pyjamas and...stay awake all through the night! 

__

After many a trip to the local library to borrow this book and read it umpteen times a day and each night before bed, I finally purchased a copy for my daughter.  Before giving it to her, I crafted the idea of bringing the book to life...the story of Cat and his pyjamas.  So I set to work with a little Cat toy that was in our collection and with a snippet of fabric here and there, seven matching pyjama's in the same theme of the book were made.  Cat can now wear Space, Ocean, Garden, Jungle, Road, Sky and Monster pyjamas whilst enjoying the book.  A little carry bag made from the scraps to transport his night time wardrobe around.

Have you ever brought a book to life?  Created something to help tell the story?  Now that I have, I'm looking at my children's books in a way I never have before...

And if you have children and haven't read this book, please do.  It's one of our favourites.  The Cat's Pyjmamas by Catherine Foreman 

Joining in with this creative community. 

xx

pictures of you...

You know one art that we are all apart of?  Portraiture.
If you've ever held a camera or phone at someone and taken a snap then you are a portrait photographer. This week I've taken the liberty of friendship to those close to me and asked a few to let me take some portraits of them.  In all sorts of light, in many different ways.
Oh and lets not forget the prop holders, those two wonderful girls were such fun 'on location' so they get an honourary mention.

I'm usually just a happy-go-lucky snap when I can kinda girl, so it was a challenge yet fun having some planning, thought and visualising going on for these images.  Whilst some were disasters, there were a few I really like.

Do you have willing friends to assist you with your crazy projects?
And can I ask, which image is your favourite?



xx

weekly stills

Our final week with all of us on holidays is coming to a close.  I know it will still feel a little bit holiday mode right up till School and Kinder start, but it's been oh so lovely having....absolutely no routine, work or appointments.  Just one glorious day after the other. And when the weather hasn't bee too hot, I must say most of our adventures happen outdoors.....

1. My trusty apprentice (scantily clad) doing much baking...
2. The two of them spent quiet time at the local library making craft then enjoying them all afternoon
3. A thrifted embroidery cloth, some necklaces and earrings
4. Her bike....those streamers
5.  In such excitement to get to the swing, there is no time to remove ones helmet
6.  Me (one out of focus, one in focus) - teaching my husband the art of shooting on Manual too
7, 8 and 9 - My trusty collection of necessities for a twlight market, setting up is always so much fun,

Joining in this lovely lady 

Don't forget to enter my giveaway for a chance to win a years supply of weetbix! 

I'm grateful for {inspiration}

This week I've come across some wonderful inspiration to be grateful for....

Gratefulness can't always come from within...perhaps sometimes it needs to be an external source that makes you take stock and go "gee...that made me think!"

A girlfriend stopped by earlier this week and provided the much needed friendly face, coffee and chat that we both needed.  A gentle reminder that friendship is so importnant. Value it, hold it and don't take it for granted.

I read this wonderful post, and my heart broke into a thousand pieces and made me want to rush and hug my children and whisper secretly in my mind that they would never experience this type of hardship but still be mindful that some are not so fortunant.

I found not one but a few lovely new(ish) blogs that I love exploring and feel the excitement I did when I first started blogging and finding kindred spirits in the blogging community.  This post made me value motherhood at its core and I really appreicated the honesty with which it was written and could relate on many levels.

So this week I'm grateful for inspriation from near and far.

Joining in here.

Happy days to you all

xx

way beautiful day

When it's a sunny bright day, my kids deem it a "way beautiful day"-  It's there way of saying it's going to a great weather and well, it's stuck and we all use that saying now.  Today is no exception.  It's a way beautiful day.  It was spent outside with friends, soaking up some vitamin D, sharing baked lemon brownies, enjoying treats dropped off by delightful neighbours, picking flowers, napping and reading, planning for new adventures.

Enjoying this way beautiful day!
What's your perfect way to enjoy a bright sunshiney day?

xx