sunday agenda

S U N D A Y

There is no pleasure in having nothing to do;

The fun is in having lots to do

And not doing it.

Take it slow;

Give your soul a chance to catch up with your body.

I make my pancakes from scratch.

Tipping flour from the canister into a large bowl.

Adding milk. And egg. More milk.

Some sugar. A bit more...

Whisking.

Mixing.

Tasting.

It's not an exact science.

In fact - it's the only time I work without a recipe.

Everything else I bake is weighed and measured.

I am usually so precise.

But not on a Sunday morning.

Not with pancakes.

There's a special kind of freedom in the guesswork.

And they taste delicious. 

Every. Single. Time.

xx

twelve things you would know about me ...

( ... I F   Y O U   K N O W   M E   A T   A L L )

O N E

I write a blog.

T W O

I stand in front of my freezer and eat icecream straight out of the tub.
Or tubs...
Let's be honest - There are multiple containers of various flavours to choose from.

T H R E E

I spend a lot of time at the beach. A Lot.
Running. Playing with Miss Emmy. Sitting. Thinking. Crying (!) Contemplating. Reading.
Rain, Hail, or Shine.
Because the beach is my happy place.

F O U R

My big sister is my bestie.
We are polar opposites; yet somehow scarily similar in many ways.
We communicate multiple times a day; 

Through text, old-fashioned phone calls, or social media -
Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat.

F I V E

I light candles throughout my house every night. 

I like the warmth and ambiance of the flicker of a flame.

S I X

I don't seem like the 'Sporty Type' but I like to run. 

And I sometimes practice Yoga. 

And although I haven't done either for a while, I also like to ski - Water and Snow.

S E V E N 

I own an electric drill and a power sander.
I am quite handy around the house...
But I struggle to sew on a button.

E I G H T

I HATE wearing flat shoes. 

Unless I am wearing workout clothes with sneakers - I'm either barefoot or in heels.
Yup.. I wear heels on the weekend.

Flat shoes make me feel short and fat.

N I N E

I could give up watching television in a heart beat; 

But I would cry if you took the music off my iPhone.

T E N 

I sometimes eat chocolate and drink wine for dinner.

E L E V E N

I still believe a Pinky Promise to be a legitimate, binding, contractual agreement.
Thou shall not break a Pinky Promise.

T W E L V E

I sing in the car. 

Always.

xx

that time i made a wedding cake

Making someone's wedding cake wasn't on my Bucket List or anything.

But now that I've done it, I'm totally writing it on The List..

Just so I can have that sweet satisfaction of ticking it off!

∙ Make someone's Wedding Cake  ✓

But it wasn't just someone..

I honestly don't think I could make a wedding cake for just any old couple..

This was probably a good thing though..

Because it meant that it wasn't your standard, fancy, fondant-frosted, rose-piped cake.

This cake was a special order.

For a special pair.

T H E   C L I E N T

Lady P and The Thomas

T H E   O C C A S I O N

Their Wedding! (eek!)

T H E   B R I E F

Make a cake.

Any flavour.

Any frosting.

Put dinosaurs on top of cake.

C R E A T I V E   L I C E N S E

The part where I decided to create a 3-tiered cake despite never stacking cake on cake before in my life. Ever.

Each layer a different flavour.

Playing dress ups with the dinosaurs...

Because even dinosaurs deserve to look a bit fancy for a special occasion.

T H E   F L A V O U R S

Tier 1. Chocolate Fudge Mud Cake

Tier 2. Chocolate and Coffee Mud Cake

Top Tier. Orange and Almond Meal Cake

M I D - C R E A T I O N   M O C K   U P

T H E   F R O S T I N G

Vanilla Cream Cheese Buttercream

It is the ideal “crusting” buttercream to create cakes with a bakery-style smooth fondant look but with the classic cream cheese buttercream taste everyone loves!

1 cup (226 grams) butter, slightly softened

12 tablespoons (144 grams) organic palm shortening

24 ounces (680 grams) chilled cream cheese

2 kg icing sugar

1½ tablespoons (22.5 ml) pure vanilla extract

½ teaspoon (2.5 ml) pure almond extract

Beat butter and shortening on medium speed until creamy. 

Add cream cheese and extract(s); beat until fully incorporated. 

Gradually increase mixer speed to high and continue beating until light and fluffy.

Gradually add icing sugar, beating on low to medium-low speed, until well combined. 

Beat on high speed until well combined and smooth. 

Buttercream will be very stiff and thick. 

Before frosting cake layers, rebeat buttercream to ensure smoothness.

If not using immediately, keep bowl covered tightly to keep buttercream from drying before frosting cake or cupcakes.

The buttercream can be refrigerated for up to 1 week in an airtight container. 

Before using, bring to near room temperature before beating smooth again.

T H E   U N V E I L I N G

C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S   
P I P P A   A N D   T O M   

xx

man vs gentleman

Hands up who else hates this new upgrade to Facebook which sees memories from your past shoved in your face at the very top of the feed, so if you're anything like me, it's the first thing you see when you wake up in the morning?!

Yeah. I knew I wasn't alone.

BUT

This new functionality did notify me recently of a status update I posted in 2011 -

I know what you're thinking...

I was profound in 2011, wasn't I?!

And I stand by this statement 100%.

In fact, this 'memory' combined with today's Season Premiere of The Bachelor are the catalysts that inspired today's post...

The Difference Between  A  M A N  and a  G E N T L E M A N

Here's a little eye candy for those of you who are inspired by 'visual examples':

#youarewelcome


Much like Bee vs Wasp - 

A gentleman can usually be distinguished from a man on appearance alone...

[If you get close enough]

A sense of style.

A signature scent.

But it's a gentleman's behaviour which really sets him apart from a 'regular' man.

A gentleman is evolved.

He has manners.

And confidence.

And ambition.

He yields a sense of power without the entitlement or the ego.

A gentleman understands the difference between saying and doing.

And most importantly - he knows how to treat a woman.

(unlike 2014 Bachelor Blake Garvey...)

Yes, Young Andie/Grasshopper.. 
There is a difference between a hot guy in a suit and a wanker in a suit who thinks he is hot.

Let's see what you've got Sam Wood.

xx

the trust equation

I attended a training program through work recently, during which I was introduced to
T H E   T R U S T   E Q U A T I O N

There's a whole theory behind it;

And I found it very interesting particularly applied to professional scenarios.

But honestly, the equation makes it appear much more complex than it needs to be.

It's really very simple - 

T R U S T  . . .

H A R D   T O   E A R N 

E A S Y   T O   L O S E

The same week that I was introduced to The Trust Equation, I also found myself involved in a conversation about rock climbing.

"Are you afraid of heights?" I was asked.

Well, look, ummm... you see, I'm not a huge fan...

But the honest truth??

There's a better chance of me coping with heights than trusting someone to hold the ropes and pulleys to keep me suspended in the air whilst rock climbing....

I guess you could say that I suffer from Pistanthrophobia.

Which, despite sounding like an incurable disease, is

"the common fear of trusting people

due to past experiences with relationships gone bad."

To trust is to be vulnerable.

And vulnerability terrifies me.

(But that's another post for another day.)

Trust must be deserved.

I do not sprinkle it freely.

  

Thankfully I don't believe Pistanthrophobia is incurable.

I don't by any means think it is easy to overcome.

It just means I am cautious when choosing who to trust.
And sometimes my little protective shell takes a bit of gentle persuasion to crack.

And so... Here's a memo to everyone in my life;

Perhaps it's a memo you may wish to send to everyone in yours - 

xx

hey you! pay attention...

N O T E   T O   S E L F

To Me.

To You.

Listen Closely.

Pay Attention.

📷 In My Home

You yourself, as much as

anybody in the entire universe,

deserve your love and affection.

                                                          -- Buddha




House bound and recovering from surgery this week has given me the time to
1. Analyse every detail of my home; and
2. Take a few photos of the pretties that surround me.

Oh.. And

3. Remind myself that I am singularly responsible for my own health and happiness.

More so, I have come to realise that I DESERVE my own affection.

As much as anybody else.

It is fascinating (and somewhat heartbreaking) that I am not willing to give my own body the time and patience that I would afford to anybody else in my life to recover from this procedure.

Instead, I have found myself feeling frustrated at being tired and drowsy from the medication.

And ironically, pushing my mind and body through the pain has resulted in what is probably a slower than desirable recovery.

What a shitty cycle to be in.

And so, having learnt this lesson myself during the week (and because I wanted to share with you that very pretty photo from my very own living room) I am going to remind you one more time -

xx

nice girl seeks adventurer...

I work in advertising...

So you'd think I'd be a little more across things like the latest brand relaunches and multi-platform campaigns.

But I'm not.

#sorrynotsorry

Turns out this tv commercial has been on air since March.

But I only saw it for the first time this week..
So let's pretend it's brand new and not judge me for bringing up old news.

Besides... given the product being advertised -
I'm probably not the target demographic.
The ad really wasn't meant for me...
(Yes. Telling myself that does help me sleep at night.)

Anyway -
the core message appeals to me.

It is how I try to live my life.

Spending time and money on experiences rather than things.


I F   Y O U ' R E   N O T   C O L L E C T I N G   E X P E R I E N C E S

T H E N   Y O U ' R E   N O T   L I V I N G

S P A R K   Y O U R   P A S S I O N

Work, play, rest, repeat. 

Life can feel a little routine sometimes but it doesn’t take much to mix things up and break the mould. 

Tap into something that gets you excited and push yourself beyond the everyday. 

Who you are tomorrow, is born from what you experience today.

Are you an Experience Collector?

📷 Follow The Blackline by Lauren

xx

the best kind of tart

A little bit of sweet; 

A little bit of sour.

When life (or that lemon tree you have been dutifully watering for the past 18 months) gives you lemons -

M A K E   L E M O N   M E R I N G U E   T A R T S

Who doesn't love a tart?!

The kind of lemon tarts that give you that buttery tart base crunch;

And tangy lemon curd perfection;

Topped with sweet marshmallowey meringue caramelised just a little bit from the quick flash of a blow torch flame.

ahhhh...

T H E   T A R T   C A S E S

125g chilled unsalted butter, cut into cubes

30g caster sugar

200g plain flour, plus extra for dusting

pinch of salt

4 tablespoons chilled water

Combine dry ingrediants (flour, sugar, salt) in a bowl.

Using finger tips - gently rub butter into the dry mix until it resembles breadcrumbs.

Slowly add water, rubbing together until it forms a rough dough. 

Tip the dough out onto a floured surface and gently knead to form a smooth firm dough. 

Flatten the dough into an inch thick

Wrap in plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour.

THEN

Roll out the dough and cut round disks to line your pre-oiled tart cases.

Bake at 180C for 10 minutes or until golden.

Allow to cool.

T H E   L E M O N   F I L L I N G

50g (1/3 cup) cornflour

125ml (1/2 cup) water

250ml (1 cup) fresh lemon juice

215g (1 cup) caster sugar

60g butter, coarsely chopped

4 egg yolks (save the whites for the meringue)

Combine the cornflour, water, lemon juice and sugar in a saucepan. 

Use a balloon whisk to stir over medium heat for 4 minutes or until the mixture boils and thickens. 

Continue to cook, stirring constantly, for a further 1 minute. 

Remove from heat. 

Whisk in butter and egg yolks. 

Transfer to a bowl. 

Cover with plastic wrap and place in the fridge for 3 hours or until cooled completely.

T H E   M E R I N G U E 

4 egg whites (left over from the Lemon Filling process)

1 cup caster sugar

Use an electric beater to beat the egg whites in a clean, dry bowl until soft peaks form. 

Gradually add the remaining sugar, 1 tablespoonful at a time until the mixture is thick and glossy.

T H E   A S S E M B L E Y

(to create little tarts of delicious)

Fill cooked tart cases with cooled lemon filling.

Pipe meringue over lemon filling on each tart.

Use a kitchen blow torch to gently brown the meringue.

Let's Blow Torch These Babies

I'm not gonna lie - I love any excuse to play with fire...

But if you don't have a blow torch on hand, popping these in the oven to turn golden brown will also work a treat. 

(Not as fun.. but still delicious!)

Love At First Bite

xx

bee or wasp

Unlike the story of the Birds and the Bees.

This is a story of another kind.

This one's about Bee's and Wasp's.

It's easy to mistake one for the other.

Both have wings.

They fly.

And look kind of similar in passing.

Even if one is sitting right near you it can be hard to tell the difference.

Sometimes you have to get quite close to figure out what it really is.

You might spend some time with this creature.

Maybe even then it takes a while for you to realise.

Everyone can be categorised as either a Bee or a Wasp.

Just remember that one deserves your time; and the other does not.

xx