Friday Finds - Deliciousness for the Holidays!

Some projects for the holidays - you can tell I'm feeling a little hungry :)

No Yeast Cinnamon Rolls from Iowa Girl Eats

Cinnamon French Toast Cookies from Bakers Royale

Make at home Caramel Frappuccino from The Marathon Mom

Glazed Donut Muffins from My Baking Addiction

French Toast Cupcakes with Maple Buttercream from Bakingdom

Find the recipes here and here and here and here and here

I will be back after a break, but for now I hope you all have a great Christmas and a very Happy New Year!

Crafty Goodness

Today's post is a little different to the usual Thursday travel post, but I had to share this with everyone. The 3rd issue of Tickle the Imagination came out a few weeks ago and for some reason I have been putting off reading it. I think probably because it is so inspirational and has so many great crafters/artists/designers in it that I end up just getting depressed that I can't do what I love full time!

Check it out - the magazine is free to view online and this issue is 140 pages of gorgeousness!

Tickle the Imagination Issue 3

Going Back to My Crafting Roots

Recently I've found that I am going back to doing the crafts I did when I first started making things. I've been telling you about my crochet craze over the past couple of weeks (and it continues with new supplies arriving this week!), but I have also started cross stitching again. I find it quite relaxing and love that I can just sit in front of the TV and do it.

I bought some plastic canvas like this:

Plastic Canvas - this one is from Ebay

and I have done a couple of small designs on it - I can't wait to finish them off, cut them out and see how they look! I will post some photos when I have finished. I have had to put it off for a while as I am doing some photos for my family for Christmas. I found some pretty material and have covered the frame insert, so now I just have to stick the photos on and wrap. I will try and remember to take some photos and post next time!

Here is one of my cross stitches that I did a couple of months ago. You can see some of my other ones for kids here

Treasury Tuesday - Life in Miniature

Gluten Free Monday - Buta Kimchi (Kimchi Pork)

This has to be one of the easiest, most delicious meals out there and it's healthy! Though you can make it a little less healthy (and a little more delicious) by using super fatty pork belly!

Ingredients
2 cups rice (I use a combination of brown rice & white rice)
about 300 - 500g pork (pork belly if you don't mind the fat, a less fatty cut otherwise - it's great from Asian supermarkets as you can buy it very thinly sliced)
1 tub kimchi (approx. 400g)
a dash of soy sauce

Method
1. Cook rice as per instructions
2. Finely slice pork if not already done and cut into bitesize pieces
3. Cook pork in fry pan
4. When cooked, add kimchi and soy sauce. Stir to mix everything together and cook until kimchi is heated through.
5. Serve over rice.

Sorry, no photos today - I have been a little lazy!

Just remember to check that your kimchi is gluten free. I haven't come across any so far that have gluten, but you never know!

Friday Finds - for the Market Stall

I recently mentioned that I need some new ideas for my market stall - that I wanted some 'walls'. This is what I have found - it is a bit of a mix of styles, but I like the contrasts and I think it would work well. They would all hang from the sides of the stall and have stationery and jewellery pegged on.

from flickr.com

from Pinterest

from Typo

from notonthehighstreet.com

from Lemonade Makin Mama

Now I just have to find me some supplies!

Enjoy your weekend.

Canada Adventure Part 6 - More Big Things

In Australia there is a website and a book called Things Bogans Like. What is a bogan? Basically it's Australia's version of a redneck. Bogans apparently like big things. I like big things..... My husband likes big things..... Does this make us bogans? God I hope not!!!

Anyway, here are some more big things from our trip across Canada. We had a great day driving around Manitoba checking them all out.

Husky the Muskie in Kenora

The Big Garter Snakes...I'm not sure exactly where, but near Narcisse which has snake dens!

The Big Mallard Duck in Petersfield

The Big Catfish in Selkirk 

 



The Crochet Craze Continues!

I seem to be crocheting non-stop at home. I went through my collection of wool and started using it and I also bought some more supplies last week - some wool and some baker's twine! Our lounge is covered with crocheted flowers, crochet hooks, cotton and wool!

I bought pink, yellow, green, blue and lavender baker's twine and it arrived yesterday. So far I have used the blue, green and pink - it is thicker than I thought it would be and I am still unsure of the results, but I think I will come to like it.



From Koko Vanilla



I will try and take some photos this weekend and post next week.

Madeit

Some more gorgeous things from madeit (Australia's version of Etsy), this time for women. Check out my post from 29 November for things for kids from madeit.

Partridge in a Pear Tree T-shirt by Kate Ward



Little Trees Coin Purse by Lille Kusine

Island Flower Bird Brooch by Little Viking Girl

Laser Cut Leather Cuff Bracelet by Emily de Molly

Rainy Day Earrings by Apooki

Japanese Cherry Blossom Brooch by Under the Shade of a Bonsai Tree

Cloud Brooch - Cream Bird by Red Revival

The Sterling Silver Dandelion Earrings by Bird of Play

Gluten Free Monday - Spicy Rice

I love this dish - it is so versatile and it gives you all of your vegetable servings for the day in one hit! It's so easy to make, though clean up is a bit of a pain. We often have it with chicken, but it is also good by itself.

Ingredients
2 cups cooked rice (more or less depending on what your ideal rice:vegetable ratio is!)
2 carrots
1 capsicum (any colour)
5 shallots
5 or 6 jalapeno slices (not the fresh ones, the ones they sell in jars in the Mexican section of the supermarket)
1-2 tsp soy sauce
1 tbs lime juice
chilli sauce to taste (I use the Byron Bay Green Jalapeno Chilli Sauce with Coriander as it is delicious and gluten free, but if you don't need gf the green Tabasco would work well too).

These vegetables are my base. After this it is just whatever I have in the fridge/cupboard. I'll list everything I have used - you can use any or all of them or make up your own!

1 can corn
green beans (about a handful)
1 tin bamboo
1 tin bean sprouts
2 sticks celery
1 zucchini
1/3 eggplant

Method

1. If you don't have rice already cooked, cook as per usual (I usually make 4 cups of rice in the rice cooker - I don't use all of it, but our rice cooker works best with a minimum of 4 cups)
2. Put all vegetables into the food processor and process until very fine.
3. Heat oil in a large pan. Add the chopped vegetables and fry until cooked.
4. Add a large scoopful of rice at a time and mix in with the vegetables. Make sure it is well combined.
5. Add the soy sauce, chilli sauce and lime juice. Mix well.
6. Cook for another 5 minutes.
7. Serve on its own or as a side dish.

I used green capsicum, beans, corn, carrots and shallots in this one.

Friday Finds - Sweet Things for the Kitchen

I am cheating a little today - I won't be home all day tomorrow, so I have decided to do tomorrow's post today.

While having a look online for supplies I somehow managed to come across the sweetest store - Emerald + Ella - and I had to share some of the gorgeous things they have for sale.

Sweet spice tins

Vintage inspired coffee, tea and sugar tins

Wood cake stands

Apothecary Jar

Bud vases

Not for the kitchen, but so cute that I couldn't resist - I haven't made paper chains for years!

I hope you have a great weekend!

Canada Adventure Part 5 - Some Firsts

My first hummingbird



The first bonfire I've been to in a long long time,
and the first time I've toasted marshmallows on a fire!



Laclu in Kenora - an absolutely beautiful part of the world!



Market Day and New Bracelets

Last week I told you about The Young Designers Market - well, it went pretty well for me on Sunday. It seemed a little slow, but I sold some of my more expensive items, so it ended up being a good day. I am a bit annoyed with myself as I think I missed a couple of opportunities - for example, one woman said my flower coasters (see my post on 16 November) were exactly what she was looking for, she just wanted them in a different material. Silly me didn't ask for her details and say that I would give it a try. I was kicking myself afterwards. But still, she has inspired me to try a couple of different things and I will see how they go at my next market.

I forgot my camera again, so I don't have any photos of my stall. I need some new ideas - I want to hang different things on the sides of the stall, so I need some kind of 'wall' - does that make sense? Any ideas?

Here are a couple of my new bracelets. I absolutely love the cabochons - they are made of glass, but feel like a ceramic. They are quite heavy and the colours are just gorgeous. I like the contrast of the cab and lacy setting with the leather. At the moment I have them in pink and blue - I will have to see if I can get the cabs in other colours so I can have a rainbow of them!

Treasury Tuesday

These are all so pretty and so delicate - I just want them all :)

Gluten Free Monday - Jackpot Dining

I have been going to Jackpot for lunch every so often for the past 5 years - it is cheap and easy and the restaurant refurb last year really changed their feel (but not the prices which was great). We also use them for catering different functions at work and they have been brilliant and extremely reliable.

For those of you who don't know what I'm talking about, Jackpot is a Chinese restaurant with most dishes averaging about $10. The service is fast and portion size is pretty good.

Something I found out only recently is that Jackpot now has gluten free options! People with coeliac disease or a gluten intolerance will know how unusual it is to find a Chinese restaurant with gf dishes. There are lots of Thai and Indian places around, but not Chinese. It was pretty exciting as Chris loves Chinese food.

We have now had it twice - the first time we had take-out, just in case something went wrong and there happened to be some trace of gluten. The second time we ate in. Both times we had no problems. The gf selection isn't large by any means, but when you haven't had Chinese food in a restaurant for 5 years, that's not a big deal!

Gluten free items are clearly marked on the menu. So far we have tried: chicken fillet in shallot and ginger sauce, kong pao chicken, chicken fillet with cashew nuts and Jackpopt special fried rice with pork and shrimp. The dishes are adapted and do taste a little different to the regular version.

Friday Finds - Angry Little Girls

When we were in Canada we stopped off in Banff for a few hours to have a look around. We found the cutest shop, I can't remember what it is called, but it sold different T-shirts, some jewellery, bags and purses. This is where I discovered Angry Little Girls. I didn't end up buying anything and I really regret that now. Lela Lee, the inventor of Angry Little Girls is brilliant! It all started with comics and she now has a whole range of products which are so funny and sometimes a little naughty :)

Love this make-up bag!



I Hate People bag - sorry, but sometimes I really do feel this!




This one just made me laugh!

 

Profanity Provides Relief - so true!

Just click on any of the links above to be taken to Lela Lee's website.

Enjoy your weekend!

Getaways

It was my birthday yesterday :) Apart from having to work, I had a lovely day. My husband organised some very nice presents for me, one of which was a night at a hotel in the city. It was so nice not to have to deal with the usual after work things.

So today I thought I would put together a list of getaways - for the weekend or just for the day. For daytrips I love going to small towns - they often have some great food and cute shops. For weekend getaways I love privacy and a self-contained place so I don't have to talk to anyone if I don't want to!

1. Barney Creek Vineyard Cottages



We stayed here for our first anniversary. The cottage is actually a renovated railway station. The interior was so cosy and romantic with a fireplace, 4 poster bed and a double spa. It was a weekend of total relaxation - we were in the middle of nowhere (even though it is just under 2 hours from Brisbane), so there were no distractions and no traffic, just the sounds of the birds. I would love to go back, though I do want to keep the memory I have of our weekend.

2. Ketchup's Bank Glamping



My husband loves camping - real camping. Me, I would much rather a comfortable bed, hot running water and a clean working toilet. I thought this place would be a great compromise ;)

3. Banglow, NSW



We went for a daytrip to Bangalow a couple of years ago - it is such a pretty town with historic buildings, great cafes with lots of gluten free options, and lovely shops. It is a little pricey, but hey, it's a daytrip. We had lunch at the Utopia Cafe (their website is coming soon). I don't remember what I had, but I do remember Chris being very happy with his choice. Bangalow also has a market on the 4th Sunday of every month. We didn't manage to make it for the market which is a perfect excuse for heading back there someday!

4. Granite Belt, QLD

Wine country that has a chocolate shop with 18 flavours of hot chocolate! Delicious. Who could ask for more? I've never been to this area, but have heard only good things about it. It is on my list for a weekend trip, though I guess it will be next year sometime before we actually go.