Mum's Birthday Cake

Mum put in a request for her birthday back at the start of the year.  She had seen a cute cake my aunty pinned on pinterest and asked if I could recreate it for her.  Now of course I couldn't say no.  I love to make cute cakes!  Plus when the women who has made you all of your amazing birthday cakes for the 25 years of your life asks for a cake you deliver!

Now if this isn't the cutest little cake ever I don't know what is!  Look at those little pigs bums poking out of the mud.  Adorable!  The pigs were the hardest part of making the entire cake.  I have never modelled with fondant before so I was just winging it.  I made the pigs a couple of days prior to mum's birthday so they were set properly before putting them on the cake.

I used the Planet Cake Chocolate Mudcake recipe again and made two 8" rounds.  I then made a simple chocolate ganache to cover the cake and for the mud on top.  Now the original cake used kit kats around the outside but I used those cadbury chocolate fingers instead.  It took 2 packets to surround this cake.  The ribbon around the outside is both decorative and helps to keep any loose biscuits from falling off the cake.

And that, my friends, is that!  This cake is really quite simple!  The pigs are a new terrain for me but they are pretty simple given they are just balls of fondant basically.  If you are wanting to try working with fondant and don't want to take on covering a whole cake this design would definitely be a good place to start.

Happy Birthday Dad!

I don't usually blog on the weekend but I had to jump on today and wish my dad a big happy birthday. You are the funniest, craziest and most random person I have ever met! You never fail to make us laugh.  You have been an amazing dad to me and an even better grandpa to Imogen.  We love you with all our hearts and we can't wait to celebrate many more birthdays with you.  I hope you have an amazing day!  The sunshine has come out just for you.  Love you xx

Handmade Gifting

This week I finished up a quick handmade gift for my niece or nephew to be who is due in about 5 weeks.  The mum to be decided not to find out the gender as this is going to be her last baby so she wanted it to be a surprise.  So I decided to keep the blanket nice and simple and gender neutral.

Corey and I have sneaking suspicion that they are having a girl and they know and just aren't telling anybody but only time will tell.  Either way this blanket will work.  However, I do wish I knew what she was having so I could have put a brighter ribbon on the blanket.

I used this pattern which is available for free via Ravelry.  If you are a knitter or crocheter and you aren't on Ravelry you need to join now.  It is basically a massive online library of patterns.  Making blankets for the new babies in Corey's family has become a bit of a tradition for me.  Each time I have used a different pattern and I love all the different blankets that have resulted.  Hopefully there will be a few more babies to come that I can make blankets for.

52 Weeks Happy (11/52)

I am really needing a little bit of happy today so looking back on the photos from the past week has been doing me some good.  You know how you have those days where everything feels shit?! I am having one of those today.  But enough of the complaining and onto the happy....

I think my formula for happy is becoming really obvious each week.  It involves lots of baking, sewing and family with a few other things thrown in.

1 - Going to mummy's group is one of my favourite days of the week.  I love watching Imogen interact with the other babies especially now that they are all getting their personalities.  And having a group of mum's to vent to and to help you realise you are not going crazy is a great help to a first time mum.

2 - I did a bit more baking this week.  I love baking and baking while wearing a pretty apron is even better!  This week I made banoffee pie to celebrate Pi Day (post to come tomorrow) and my sisters engagement party cake.  Both were delicious and I am so happy with how they turned out.

3 - I started sewing my Tessuti Competition dress this week.  I really need to get a wriggle on with it.  I am thinking I will dedicate tomorrow to working on it.

4 - This new vintage dress is the happiest thing in my wardrobe.  The yellow floral just screams summer and sunshine to me and the button back is to die for!

5 - I finally cast off my green cardigan! It is currently blocking and hopefully will be ready for photos tomorrow.  I have been plugging away on this cardigan for a few months but I was determined to make it my first successful garment for myself.  I usually only make myself hats and scarves so this is making me very happy.  I already have plans for my next knitted garment!

6 - Happy flowers!  Yellow flowers just scream happiness to me.  If I am every in a downer just bring me some yellow flowers and I will perk back up again.  They are so pretty and cheery!

So what has been making you happy this week?

52 Weeks Happy (10/52)

There are a few main things making me happy this week -

1 - Baking! I love to bake and I am always happy being in the kitchen.  This week I made healthy banana muffins and baked a chocolate cake which I turned into a cow print cake for my niece's birthday.

2 - Sewing! I am loving getting bake into sewing this year.  Last year was a bit of a bust on the sewing front due to my pregnancy.  This year I have really gotten back into it and I am so glad that I have.  It's so satisfying seeing completed projects that I have made myself.  This week I finished a lemon print skirt (post to come), my tessuti competition fabric arrived and I finished my Sew for Victory project.  Hopefully the weather is good this week so I can get some pictures to share.

3 - Family! Watching these two together brings me so much pleasure.  They are so cute to watch together.  Imogen is a massive daddy's girl and Corey is so sweet with her.  He is an amazing father!  The start of the NRL season gave me an opportunity to get Imogen into her roosters jersey that my aunty bought her.  I had to send this pic to my aunties and uncles as they are massive roosters fans.  My cousin's gorgeous girlfriend gave birth to the most perfect little boy last week.  They named him Max Joseph Smith and he is adorable.  I can't wait to watch him and Imogen grow up together.

A Sad Goodbye

I have been debating whether or not to write about this but I wanted to share the sad news with you guys.  Yesterday my parents had to have our adorable little Roxy put to sleep.  She had been a bit slow the past week or so so they took her to the vet.  It was discovered that she had cancer in her spleen.  It had ruptured and bled into her stomach and was causing her a lot of pain.  The nicest thing to do was to put her to sleep.  To say I was devastated when I heard the news would be a major understatement.  I loved this dog with all my heart.  We spoilt her like crazy.  She had a rough life before we adopted her and we made sure to make up for it.  She was the craziest, funniest dog in the world.  I loved when I would get to mum and dad's and she would "talk" to me.  We would curl up in the corner of the lounge together.  She would lay all over my knitting and climb all over my in an effort to get more snuggles.  She was the greatest dog in the world!  I am absolutely shattered that she is gone but I know it was the best thing to do.  I hope she is happy now and in a better place even though I will miss her with all my heart!

Rainbow Sprinkle Cake

If you follow me on instagram then you would have seen that I was working on a cake over the weekend.  It was my niece's 17th birthday yesterday and my sister-in-law asked me if I could make her a cake.  Of course I jumped at the chance.  Any excuse to bake and I am in!  She requested a rainbow cake and I decided to try out a sprinkle covered cake as well that I had been wanting to do for a while.  I was a little bit excited to finally get a chance to try it.

After covering the cake I decided it needed a little added touch so I made a quick fondant bow to go around it too.  I think it just makes it look a little bit more interesting.

Cutting this cake was the most nerve wracking thing I have ever done.  All I could think was if this cake doesn't look good inside I am going to be devastated.  But the collective gasp from my niece's friends as I cut out the first slice made it all worthwhile.  I love how this cake turned out! It has got to be one of my cake making highlights.

The other great thing about making a rainbow cake is how pretty the whole process looks.  Heres a few pics I shared on instagram that you may have missed.

I really hope I get another chance to make a rainbow cake because they are so much fun!  Or maybe next time I will do an ombre one.  That would be fun too!

Melbourne Via Instagram

Oh Melbourne! I miss you already.  We arrived home last night from a wonderful week and a half in Melbourne with my sister and her fiance.  We had so much fun and it went way too fast.  Here is a quick roundup of what we got up to via my iphone. 

 

Imogen did so well on the flight down.  We fed her on take off and she fell asleep.  She woke up with about 40 minutes left of the flight and spent the rest of the time hanging out with Corey.  Once we got to my sister's house we just lazed about and waited for her to get home from work.  That night we went to this cute little restaurant in St Kilda that has games that you can play while your there.  We had a game on Uno over dinner which was super fun.

Day two we ventured into the city for a bit of shopping and I just couldn't resist hunting out Tessuti Fabrics.  That shop is gorgeous and the staff were so lovely.  I could of hung out there all day but Corey and Imogen were getting a bit bored so we had to move on.  That night we met my sister and her fiance in the city and had dumplings for dinner. I love holiday food!

Day 3 took us to Queen Victoria Markets.  On the way we drove past this random house that has Pamela Anderson's face plastered on it.  Apparently it was built by Sam Newman.  We also took a detour via The Block.  We loved this show so it was cool to see the houses in person.  Queen Vic Markets are a feast for the eyes. I loved the colour in these flowers and macarons.  I also couldn't go by a spinach & cheese borek.  Delicious!!!

Day 4 we took a road trip out to the Yarra Valley.  The Yarra is such a gorgeous place.  We stopped in at a few wineries and did a few tastings before heading into this adorable little town for a wander around.  I love country towns!  They are so cute and fun to wander around and you always discover the greatest little treasures.

New Years Eve we hit up Brunswick Street during the day and I did a spot of shopping.  Brunswick Street is my favourite shopping spot in Melbourne.  There are so many cute shops and a heap of vintage.  Needless to say I bought a few too many things.  That evening we had a few drinks and some nibbles at home before venturing down to the park where we had a great view of the city skyline to watch the fireworks.  The fireworks from the city were amazing! A great first fireworks experience for Imogen.

 

New Years Day is the Hanging Rock Raceday so we took a trip out to watch the races.  It was a fun afternoon and a great setting.  It was all a little too tiring for Imogen who crashed out when we got home.  I also got to start my 365 diary that I bought on sale from Kikki.K.  I am hoping I can write in this everyday this year.  7 days in I am doing well so fingers crossed I can keep it up.

The next day we decided to have a slow day and start with a sleep in.  Then we ventured into St Kilda (which is where my sister lives) for some lunch and a wander along the beach.  That night we went to the Queen Victoria Night Markets.  The night markets are so much different to the day markets.  It is more unique crafty type markets with a few vintage stalls thrown in.  Then there is a massive food section and live music.  So everyone goes for the night for dinner and a few drinks and to watch the music.  It's a great idea and the perfect way to spend a summer night.  I had the most epic monster pancake in the whole world!  The literally use a bottomless cake pan as a mould to make the pancakes. They are giant and delicious! I think I need to recreate these at home somehow.

The next day we popped down to Brighton Beach for a swim and to check out the beach huts.  The huts are so super cute!  I love all the different colour schemes that people have chosen.  I would love to own one just so I could repaint it every summer. 

 

Friday was so ridiculously hot it was unbelievable!  We went into the city and spent ages roaming around Myer in the air con.  We also checked out their Christmas windows which were super cute but not at all what I was expecting.  We also saw this busker in the city who was playing a piano.  How the hell did he manage to get a piano into Queen Street???  I would love to know.

 

On Saturday we took another road trip.  This time we ventured out to Red Hill to visit the markets.  The markets were giant and loads of fun.  Afterwards we headed down to Portsea to go to the beach and have some lunch at the pub.  We walked in to see that Daryl Braithwaite was playing that afternoon so we hung around to watch.  It is actually the second time I have seen Daryl play.  It was loads of fun and the crowd when crazy when he sung horses.  

 

The last day in Melbourne was bittersweet.  We slept late, had a late brunch and hung around St Kilda. We got free ice cream in the park from Ben & Jerry's and then headed off to the airport.  It was a bit of a bummer to go home but it was loads of fun to spend time with my sister.  I just wish we could have stayed longer!

Happy Birthday Corey

Happy Birthday Corey!  This past year has flown by and I am so lucky to have been able to spend it with you.  You are the most amazing husband and father in the whole world.  I love you to the moon and back.  I hope you enjoy your day.  Imogen and I are going to spoil you like crazy!!!  Love you millions and millions.  Heres to many more birthdays together.

Introducing...

Imogen Hayley Lane
9th October 2012
9 pounds 1 ounce

Regular posting will resume once we have settled into our new life. Thank you to everyone who has sent their congratulations via facebook and instagram. We are feeling very loved!

Weekend Adventures

This past weekend we enjoyed a weekend away with my family.  My sister & her fiance came up from Melbourne to join my mum & dad, grandma & her husband and Corey & I in Woolgoolga for the weekend.  Most of our time was spent by the beach and then Monday we hit the hinterland of Northern NSW to check out some wedding venues for my sister.  It was a very nice relaxing start to my maternity leave.  It was really lovely to be able to spend this time with my family.  The next time we take a trip like this there is going to be one extra person and crap load of extra luggage :-)