dessert | CREPE CAKE


Have you ever seen something that you really wanted to make and then when you do, its all very disappointing?  Well that was me and this crepe cake.  Whilst it was nice, I guess I had so much anticipation about how wonderful it would be that it didn't quite live up to all my expectations. And it took such a long time to make. I was literally exhausted after it was all over! 

I got this recipe from the Gourmet Traveller website and the sauce was a Suzette. 


 



Mechelle

celebration | 2011 CHRISTMAS ON THE CLARENCE


It's the simple things.  I just love showering when I'm camping.  I think it must be the feel of the fresh clean air against your skin.  This year was family Christmas year and we all headed down to the Clarence River in New South Wales. My brother and his family has camped here a few times and I can understand why. It is about a six hour drive but well worth it. This truly is an amazing part of the world.  Whilst I believe there are other places to stay on the Clarence, we stayed on a working cattle property called The Gorge, which has been owned by the Winters family for more than 100 years.








Before we left, my niece asked if we could have blue and white as our Christmas theme. She loves her craft just as much as I do and wanted to be involved in the decorating.  A little bit of camping didn't stand in our way, so armed with our supplies we spent Christmas Eve getting everything sorted. Apart from a bit of a surprise storm and gusty winds, we managed to put almost everything together - there were a few casualties, it seems ink runs when hit with a deluge of water!







Before Christmas lunch though, of course presents had to be opened.  And once again, just because we were camping, didn't mean the man in the big red suit didn't find us.  In fact, it would seem by the stash that he overcompensated.  Seriously, you should have seen the pile, I don't think these photos will do it justice!






Lunch was fairly traditional.  Each family had responsibility for a course.  My sister put on a platter of pickies, Mum and Dad were responsible for main course of lamb, pork and ham all cooked in the camp ovens, my brother and his wife served up roast vegetables again cooked in the camp oven and I did dessert of fruit cake, trifle and mini cheesecakes.







And here's the two littlest members of our family - my sister's son James and my brother's daughter Mia.



I hope everyone had a fantastic Christmas and safe New Year!  Here's to an amazing 2012!

Mechelle

inspiration | FOOD LOVE ON PINTEREST


I assume its safe to say that just like everyone else, I'm addicted to Pinterest.

Not only do I find some amazing photos on there, they lead me to the most amazing blogs written by some of the world's most talented people, doing some incredibly creative stuff!

I'm a bit addicted to the food and drink type stuff and of course all of the party planning ideas out there - its all just endless.  I've even created a board that my Secret Santa can check out - hint hint! 

Here's a cut of my food board.  The biggest problem is deciding which one will inspire me this weekend!

Happy pinning friends!

design | A SISTER'S ROOM


So this week, a lady at work - Diana - showed me the room she has been decorating for her sister for her 50th birthday.  It was so pretty, all of the little touches held special meaning for her and her sister.  The personal touches were amazing.

She had placed books around that her sister loves.  The handmade cushions were flawless.  She collected perfect shells from the beach.  She used a piece of lace that belonged to their grandmother. She found a tea pot similar to one that was owned by their grandmother.  She put paintings on the walls that their grandfather had painted, including one of their mother. She made an antique necklace out of seed beads that belonged to their great great grandmother and left it in the room. She even made a replica dream catcher that had a lot of meaning to both of them. 






What makes this room even more amazing is that all of this is in miniature, in the form of a Room Box!  I'd never heard of it before and I honestly couldn't stop looking at it and taking photos of it and saying 'OMG Diana'.  It really was so perfectly done.  Its not quite finished yet, there will be glass walls around the other sides but Diana is going on leave and we all wanted to see it so she had to bring it in unfinished.  Still pretty darn impressive!




I could never do this.  I don't have the patience.  It would have been smashed into a thousand pieces a thousand times and then some.  I'm just in awe of people who can.  

Well done Diana!

Mechelle