Just a bite.....

 

At the moment I am making the ultimate sacrifice.

I am abstaining from biscuits!

(Sob! Sob!)

No delicious, buttery, crunchy, heavenly  biscuity goodness shall pass my lips.

And I'm not missing them a bit. Nope, not at all.

OK, at this point I would probably eat a biscuit crumb from the bottom of a muddy gumboot, but that doesn't mean anything!

I am staying strong though by convincing myself that my summer dresses are thanking me.

So instead of eating these yummy snacks I will live vicariously through others and share two of my favourite bikkies for you all to eat and enjoy.

My two brothers recently celebrated their birthdays and both fella's are single (why are two gorgeous blond blue eyed boys still bachelors I don't know!) and so  I baked them a batch of biscuits each.

And yes, as there happened to be some left, we ate them. It would have been disgracefully

 wasteful not to.

 

 

These are my own version of  a delectable  Greek almond cookie called a  Amigthalota  which I found here and are meant to look like this.

 

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 And the first lot I did TRY and make them just like the pic, but I got lazy on the next batch and I liked them better this way with a sprinkling of icing sugar on top and flaked almonds inside instead of on the outside. (Or I just couldn't be bothered rolling them into crescents and almonds.)

And this is what happens to children after they eat one.

 

 

 

(What is up with kids only wearing one sock? Mine live in perpetual states of one sockedness and I just don't understand.)

 

So yeah, there is some sugar in these biscuits.

 

 Amigthalota

3 cups of almond meal

I cup of caster sugar

1 teaspoon of almond essence (the original recipe calls for only 3 drops but I like them with a little more almond flavour. I also add 1 teaspoon of vanilla essence because I am wild and crazy and live on the edge)

3 egg whites, lightly beaten

1 cup flaked almonds

 

Preheat oven to 180 C. Combine almond meal, sugar and almond essence in a large bowl. Add lightly beaten egg whites and stir until mixture forms a firm paste. Roll level tablespoons of mixture into flaked almonds then roll into logs. Press on the remaining almonds. Shape into crescents.

Place  on baking paper and bake for about 15 minutes.

 

Trust me, they are heavenly and addictive and gluten free. Hurrah!

Another delish little morsel are these Afghans.

I had a friend in high school whose mum was from NZ and made unbelievable Afghans and a couple of years ago I was inspired to make a batch and found a great recipe here. It was either a really bad move or a wonderful one because I am always whipping up a batch for treats in lunchboxes.

The recipe calls for a chocolate icing but these are wonderfully decadent, like chocolate shortbread, and lets face it, I really don't need any more chocolate.

 

 

Afghans

200g room temp. butter

1/2 cup caster sugar

1 1/2 cups of plain flour

2 tablespoons of cocoa powder

1 cup corn flakes, slightly crushed

1/2 cup desiccated coconut

 

For icing;

1 cup of icing sugar

I tablespoon of cocoa powder

3 tablespoons water

walnuts to decorate (optional)

 

Preheat oven to 180 C. Using an electric mixer, cream butter and sugar. Add flour, cocoa and coconut

and mix well. Add cornflakes and mix until just combined. Use approx. I tablespoon of dough per biscuit and place onto a tray lined with baking paper. Bake for 15 - 20 minutes. Allow to cool before icing and topping with nuts. 

 

And this is what happens to children after eating these delicious Afghans .

 Or maybe it is just my messy brood!

 

 

So if you are feeling like a treat to enjoy with a cuppa, try these lovelies.

I promise you won't be disappointed.

You can thank me later!

What are your favourite baked goodies?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Is this a form of child abuse or just a sign of love?

 

I have become that person.

We all know these kind of people.

They are the one who dress themselves and their children in matching outfits. (Shudder!)

Usually horrific parachute material track suits but often the outfits feature lots of denim. (Shudder!)

Sometimes those people even try and match outfits with their animals.(Shudder! Shudder!)

These kind of people

 



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(You see, I know I have become one of those people because that last pic with those adorable dresses is fantastic. I would totally wear that dress! )

I didn't mean to become one of those people. It was completely unintentional I assure you!

But, intentional or not, there I was yesterday, in Drouin for my Mother-In-Laws birthday celebrations, all decked out matching with my Little Miss.

(Prepare yourselves people. The next image is shocking!)

 

 

Hot pink and black for moi, and hot pink and black for the Little Miss.

(She doesn't look happy does she to have to share the spotlight!)

But wait, it gets worse!

 

 

 

To make matters even more tragic it wasn't just our pink and black outfits that colour coordinated.

You see on a little jaunt to the Waverley Antique Bazaar  not long ago I picked up this lovely thoroughly modern black faux fur capelet (yes, another!) that perfectly matches my daughters awesome black jacket.

 

 

I don't have a mini me, she has a maxi me!

Despite our embarrassing wardrobe mishap a lovely day in Drouin was had with a little bit of Spring like sunshine to warm the day and frolic in.

 

 

 

Some delicious cake was eaten.

 

 

(I'm pretty sure my son was trying to do some crazy mind trick to teleport the cake to his plate!)

And we got to share a special celebration with the people we love.

Great Sunday!

Now I must be off so I can try and track down where I can get those amazing matching mother and daughter 50's dresses.

If we are going to match why not look fabulous whilst doing it?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Show and tell - op shop treasures

There is something so exciting about rummaging through donated racks of clothes and poking around someone else's discarded bits and bobs, hunting for the treasure and hoping to find the gems in amongst the rubbish.
It feels like peeking into the lives of others.

As far I am concerned you can keep your sky diving and bungee jumping!
I want no part of crocodile wrestling or fire jumping!

I will take the exhilaration and adrenalin pumping past time of op shopping any day!

And up until I started reading blogs I didn't really know anyone else that shared my love of op shopping, charity shopping or thrifting. The moment I realised there was a whole tribe of us treasure hunters was a momentous one. Huge. Reading of others and their great finds and cool refashions made me feel like I was coming home.

So I thought I would do a show and tell of some of my favourite treasures that I have unearthed from opportunity shops far and wide.

 

From left; 40's crepe dress, sparkly bag, vintage pink wool cardi.

From left; handmade frock, red patent retro bag, 50's velvet and pearl hat.

From left; 80's dress, beaded 50's clutch, pink 50's dress.

From left; old desk that now is our TV cabinet, wicker bag, plush faux fur collar (called Barry)

From left; Martin Moddel capelets, pink dress and rockabilly frock.

 

I could go on and on (and on and on....) because I really have found oppies to be treasure troves. Sure, it is getting harder and harder to find the gems in amongst all the cheaply made imported clothes and nasty plastic toys, but every now and then, if you dig hard enough, a wonder is revealed.

And finding a treasure at a charity shop somehow feels better than finding it at a vintage or antique shop where someone has already done the hard work for you.

You feel victorious! You feel like a winner!

This isn't a brag post (I do enough of those!) and I won't go into prices because although most of my scores were bargains in my eyes, it is more about finding pieces that are "you", finding the pieces that you will treasure and love and make them live again.

What are your favoutite op shop, charity shop, or thrift shop scores?

 

 

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Beige and blah!

 

Whilst I love Coco Chanel and all she did for women and fashion, I never really understood the whole less-is-more ethos.

What is the fun in taking one thing off before you leave the house?

Before I leave my abode I usually have a brainwave about another piece of frippery that I can add to my ensemble.

More is definitely more!

So when I found this summer frock in Savers ages ago I adored the homemade love that went into it and how well it was finished.

Respect to the gal that put all that effort into creating it!

It fit like a dream but that just couldn't take away from the glaring truth that it was  bit.....blah!

Maybe it was the beigey  back ground colour, or the Amish style cut of the neckline or it could have been the length.

I just felt frumpy and dull.

I tried to add a bucket load of hot pink to brighten the dress up, but still it resisted.

(How could it battle pink and still lose? How?)

 

Can you see what I mean?

 

Cool swirly pattern with some pretty shades of pink .

 

So the poor dress got put back in the wardrobe. For a long time.

I rediscovered it and having just been reading some awesome refashioning blogs like

The ReFashionista and Wearing It On My Sleeves, was inspired to pull out the frumpy frock and attempt a minor refash. This dress desperately needed MORE!

I added a hot pink bow to the neck and a cute crochet collar that had been lurking in the bottom of a drawer.

In a matter of minutes my sad dress had been brightened up. A little.

 

 

 

It still needs MORE!

  I would love to find more of the fabric to make some sleeves edged in crochet lace.

But for now I will pile on some more pink. Then pile on a whole lot of pink accessories.

Then add some more bits and bobs before heading out the door.

Because more is more!

Are you a fan of more or less?

 

 

 

 



Zombies are go!

 

What a stunner! Do you think they would let me use this as my passport photo?

As promised, here is the video clip that my pals, my son, the husband and I are in that was filmed a couple of months ago and that I wrote about here.

The song is called "Feeder" by some Melbourne fellas called Broozer.

Can I tell you how excited I am! Really really!!

Can I tell you how excited my son is! Really really!!

(And yeah we watched it first to make sure it wasn't too violent and we explained there was a little bit of blue language in it. All my son could focus on was that HE was in it!)

Enjoy!

 

 

I'm pretty sure I am going to have to quit my job now and become a full time zombie actor.

I may have found my calling!

 

 



New specs and new sleeves.

 

Just a note to say I FINALLY got new glasses and now am noticing so many details that I couldn't really see before.

Was the floor always so dirty?

Have there always been those cobwebs in the corner of the lounge?

Was the stitching I did on this dress always so wonky?

Ahhh, maybe 'tis better to live in my blurry haze!

 

 

I do love this dress though, because there are so many colours to match with and now that I finally hacked off the offending sleeves I am finding the dress much more me.

 

 

See - new sleeves! This length is infinitely better.

 

 

Oh, and in case you could miss it..... pussy bow perfection!

 

 

Do you like my new specs? Don't I look smarter?

 

 

 

I just love the shape and that little star burst sparkle at the corners.

I bit the bullet and ordered my new lovelies through the on line store, Eye Buy Direct.

It was incredibly easy, wonderfully quick, and best of all, fabulously cheap!

After scouring shops and wincing at the $300-$400 price tags, I ordered my glasses (with all the extras like anti scratch and anti glare) in my prescription for about $70. Huzzah!

More money to spend on vintage dresses, capelets and bags!

And talking of frocks and capelets, my new specs and I headed over to the Waverley Bazaar and because of my improved eyesight, spotted some pretties. Which I had to buy because I'd saved money on my glasses. Of course!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



A fabulous 40's find

 

 

There I was, all dirty hair and red cape, just minding my business at the Savers 50% off sale

when it happened.

IT HAPPENED!

Something I had heard of only in vintage blog land yarns.

Something I had thought was mere fantasy, vintage urban myth, possibly even a fairy tale.

Something I had yearned for and dreamt about and hoped for.

(Drum roll please.......)

I found a divine 1940's dress in immaculate condition!!!!!!

 

 

Woohoooo!!!

 

 

So we danced to celebrate such a momentous occasion!

Oh what a beauty she is with her gold sequined leaf design around the beautifully draped neck.

And she has the sweetest peplum and side detail.

Such a cut and crepe that hangs like a dream.

And I could gush about the sleeves all day long but I wont, I will just show you all a few more pics of my new love.

 

 

 

I had to lighten the photo's as I just can not capture black properly.

After dancing with my lovely and generally faffing about, I did try her on.

OK so we had some issues there.

My new frock obviously doesn't love me as much as I love her and I may have to have some kind of experimental hip, thigh, and butt removal surgery for me to fit into her (damn those narrow hipped, no junk in the trunk gals of yesteryear!).

Despite the not fitting the bottom half of me problem I adore my new dress and am still amazed I found it at an op shop for such a ridiculous price and I got thinking about my best vintage buys and where I usually score great vintage lovelies.

For me, my purchases can be narrowed down to 5 categories;

1. Op shop (obviously my fave place!)

2. Antique/vintage shop

3. Markets

4. Gifts from people

5. Ebay/Etsy

So I thought that each week I might bring you some snaps of my fave vintage treasures from all of the above.

How about you? Where do you find your vintage beauties from?

 

 

(I am ashamed to say that this modern op shopped dress cost more than my 40's frock! What is going on in this mixed up crazy world!)