Old Fashioned Sponge Cake

Serves 6-8

• 3 eggs, separated


• ¾ cup sugar


• ½ tsp vanilla


• 1 cup cornflour


• 1 Tbsp flour


• 1 tsp baking powder


• ½ cup jam


• 200ml cream, whipped


• Icing sugar and doilies for dusting


1. Set oven to 180C. Line the bottom of a 20cm round tin with baking paper, grease the sides and dust with flour.

2. Beat egg whites until thick and add sugar a quarter at a time. Add egg yolks and beat until mixed.

3. Sift the flours and baking powder and add to the eggs and stir gently until well combined.

4. Place in the middle of the oven for 20-25 minutes until, when touched, it springs back. Do not overcook, or your cake will be dry.

5. Cool cake in tin. Remove, slice through the centre and fill with jam and cream. Replace the top.

To decorate: Place doilie/s on top of the cake. Using a sifter gently dust icing sugar over the top, making sure to get an even coat. Pull the doilies off evenly and admire your pattern!

We are watching, reading, listening, eating...

Kirsty

Listening: At the moment I've had pretty much a solid 2 weeks of listening to the new Paramore album, Paramore (self titled). It's much popper than their last but definitely still worth a listen! My favourite songs off it would have to be "Ain't in fun" and "anklebiters". Oh and the little ukulele interludes that pop up here and there are really good! The other band i have been listening to lately is The Civil Wars. They are a band that I only really started listening to a couple of months ago, but they are amazing! They are a boy girl duo who met in Tennessee and its fair to say their voices will most likely knock your socks off. As a bonus (if your watching the videos) the dude also looks like Johnny Depp!

Reading: Ok so i would like to state here, right now, that i love reading. Give me a good fiction novel or a great magazine and I turn into "that person". The kind of person who forgets that what their reading isn't actually real and that when something great happens you don't actually have to yell and fist pump. Or alternatively stomp around angrily for two days when the book doesn't go your way. There's also those times that you cant help but laugh so hard at something funny that tea comes out your nose and before you realise everyone is staring at you and they all most likely think your totally crazy. I'll be the first to admit, its a little strange and probably a lot awkward for people around you but i think its time we celebrated these awesome written things. Laugh out loud, cry, throw the book on the ground- it's all good!  It just means what you are reading has connected with you in some way and that the author is most likely also awesome for making you enjoy it so much. The first of two things that are making me feel like that person at the moment is my new and seriously awesome Frankie magazine (I like to draw reading this out as much as possible as the mag is only bi-monthly so you have to save the goodness!). Frankie is definitely a snort into your tea and "holy crap that's awesome" kind of a magazine. If you haven't read it yet, go, right now and buy it.  The second is a novel called The Collectors, I haven't got too far through it yet but I think it is going to be a goodin!

Watching: If you had asked me two weeks ago I would have said Revenge, and damn it was good! But sadly the season is over so I had to move on and find something new. So "The Event" it is. Let me tell you right now, if you are planning on watching this, be prepared to use full brain and eye power. You really don't want to miss anything. It's pretty intense but well worth a watch. Enough said. Oh and also if you have a spare 10 minutes, watch the Bravest Warriors on you tube. HILARIOUS. And totally cute.

Eating: The list for this one could potentially be massive so I'm really going to have to edit it down for you. Porridge in the mornings with apple and yogurt. Delicious. And chickpea, almond, lentil and spinach curry. Also delicious.


Lisa 

Listening: I'm a little bit, Ok a lot bit, of a fan of the singing competitions that grace our TV screens, The Voice Australia is the perfect accompaniment to my Friday night snuggled up in front of the fire. I bet you will think I'm waffling, writing about the wrong thing in the wrong section - but just give me a moment here. I love these shows to see how different artists compose and deliver old classics! I'm not a hug fan of the artist to signs the latest Rhianna song - its too fresh in my mind - do not touch it! So what I am listening to at the moment is actually a lot of old classics. These are the songs that instantly make me feel amazing, relaxed and ready to party in the same tune, these are the songs full of memories of cold gin and tonics on the deck after a day of swimming and sunbathing, frosty beers around the bon-fire of a high school party, get my rambling now? So i am re acquainting my self with these ageless tunes. If you are keen to take a walk down memory lane have a listen to these old favs..
Benny and the Jets - Elton John (try this one after some wines with your mates - loud out of tune singing is ALWAYS fun!)
Sound of Silence - Simon and Garfunkle (just a beautiful and moving song - take a quiet moment and think)
Mary Jane's Last Dance - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (swoon, I love Tom Petty and its really there whole collection)
End of the Line- Travelling Wilburys (I don't even know what it is...but I just feel happy when this is playing - Tom Petty's voice I'm quietly thinking!)

Reading: They say you can't judge a book by its cover - but when it has an intriguing young woman on the front and the word tea on it....who's not to judge? The Tea Rose trilogy by Jennifer Donnelly caught my attention in the book store recently so I grabbed me a copy of the first instalment 'The Tea Rose" and set myself up for being entertained - woah! I like Kirsty also become deeply involved in my reads and blur the line of character and actual person I know. I find myself thinking about these characters like they are my real friends and have on occasion had to stop myself short of talking about them like they are a real person in conversation with actual - real people. Any who, this book sucked me in. I found myself racing through the book trying to get to the end s fast as I could, fighting Fiona's cause and her achievements along with her desperate for a happy ending. I cried and I lusted over Joe and I felt at an absolute lost at the end. But its OK, The Winter Rose (the second in the trilogy) is just as amazing and I am about to get my hands on the final instalment - so an update will surely come.

Watching: With renovations and what seems like an active weekday social life at the moment our only moments of telly watching are reserved for the Voice Australia and rugby league.....sports controls my TV set. My Kitchen Rules and Revenge have come to an end - shedding tears at my loss.

Eating: a few things i am obsessed with at the moment...
Roasted pumpkin with dukkah, fresh green beans, pinenuts and feta cheese - ive popped smoked salmon through this before and it was amazing!
Chilli beans - canned chilli beans, nothing exciting but I must be on a bit of a fad at the moment - the boy is beginning to ask me if we are taking on a Mexican lifestyle haha and flowing on from this..
Tortilla's - Ive just discovered how easy it is to make my own flour tortillas - a post soon to come :)
 

Oh happy Friday - Birthday edition!

We seem to have quite a few Birthday's popping up at this time of year (that always seems to be the way doesn't it!) So this Friday we are taking a look at all things cute and awesome in the card making world. Use this for inspiration for your next birthday card making endeavor or to find your next purchase (we won't tell). Happy weekendending everyone!

It's always good to rub it in...just a little. Card found here from witandwhistle.

And we love this card! How cute is that. Card by Emily McDowell, found here.

Mmmm cake, yes please! This card also by Emily McDowell.

Everything that Rifle Paper Co makes is oh so cute it was hard to pick just one! But sometimes simple says it all. Card found here.

Perfect for the BFF in your life. Card found here, by DeLuce Design.

And finally, a seriously cute idea that comes with free printables. What's better than that! Cards found here.

Super easy apricot biscuit fudge slice

This is the perfect slice to make when you are short on time or just really in need of a quick treat!

Ingredients
125g butter
1/2 c brown sugar
1/2 tin sweetened condensed milk
250g crushed plain biscuits
1 c chopped apricots

Line and 18 x 18cm baking pan with baking paper.

Heat the condensed milk, butter and sugar in a saucepan stirring until the butter is melted.

In a large bowl combined the crushed biscuits and roughly chopped apricots. Make a well.

Pour the liquid into the dry ingredients and mix together until combined. Spoon into the prepared pan and smooth the top with the back of a spoon. refrigerate for 20 minutes.

Once set, cut into cubes and enjoy!

 ps. this task is make much easier if you have a cute helper like this one ;)

 Kirsty xx

Oh happy Friday - we could live here

Just look at this amazing reclaimed pallet wall. Yes please!

We could totally work here

Imagine having a house with ceilings and windows as high as this! It would totally make you feel like you live outdoors.

How about this super cute living room? It just feels so bright and welcoming.

We could definitely cook in this kitchen.

And this rug. Um yup, we'll take one.

Recipe - Garlic Pita Crisps

It's funny how some traditions seem to develop themselves organically. A new tradition has begun in our home recently that sees me landed with the task of making Sunday afternoon snacks each week to be  shared over a cup of hot tea or better yet, a smooth glass of pinot gris.

This Sunday I made my own pita crisps with some pita pockets I found stashed away in the freezer, so easy and delicious!

Ingredients:

Pita pockets - TIP stale pita pockets will actually come out better than fresh
Neutral oil
Sea salt
Fresh garlic

Method:
split the pita pocket in half and cut into eights (like you would a pizza) lay out onto a baking tray and brush the pita lightly with oil (I actually infused my oil with fresh garlic prior to this, so you could do this to enhance the flavour if you wished - i love things really garlicky, but that's not to everyone's liking). Take a peeled garlic clove, cut in half and rub the clove onto the bread pieces to give it a nice flavour. Sprinkle sea salt from a height all over the bread.

Bake at a low heat of approx 100 degrees celsius for at least 40 minutes or until golden and crispy just like the ones you buy in the shop!

Guest Bedroom Inspiration

We have been in our adorable little home for about 18 months now, the exterior has been painted and a garden planted; and so the indoor renovations begin. And it is non other than the spare bedroom once complete with stunning bright purple wall  that now awaits my personal touches.

I decided one wet miserable weekend, when I would usually turn to a creative DIY project to keep me entertained, that it might be a good time to start the interior renovation process.

So armed with enthusiasm I declared this idea to the partner and somehow gained his approval. To the paint laden wall paper we took. A trip to the local hardware store for a eco friendly chemical product that said it would make the 'hard work easy' and a nifty little cutter tool that would piece through the layers - bollycocks I personally don't think it made any difference! Successfully stripping off the purple layer I was guttered to find a momento from the 60's still firmly in tact - hard work, made harder. I won't bore you with the details, but some frustration later we had it all off.

'So...' parter started, 'what colour are we painting these walls? Are we getting new curtains'? he asks expecting from me non other than an excited walk through of every little detail of this room....but receiving a blank look in response. I havn't really confirmed all that detail yet....

But im thinking light and bright, fresh, a pop of colour, but lots of white....time to conjure some inspiration....

I thought I loved the idea of wistful white walls all clean and bright; but with the white undercoat on and white roman blinds, im not quite convinced of the white on white on white trend...not for the tiny room I have anyway.

But perhaps it would be better with pops of fresh colour like orange, love it! So bright and fun....maybe I want this in my own bedroom though!

Im loving this green wall colour....a bit bright perhaps.....i'm shying away from replacing my bright purple for the same tone in another colour.

LOVING this light, fresh green off set with all that white, this would be amazing - SOLD!

I can't wait to share my re-vamped guest bedroom with you all very soon...so excited, have a great day everyone - Lisa x

July Desktop Calendar

Ok so we know we are a little slow on making this one, but better late than never right? Happy July everyone! We hope you enjoy this months desktop calendar. What exciting thing have you got planned for July? Kirsty and Lisa X

Oh happy Friday!

This Friday is all about travelling. The places we want to visit someday and beautiful places that just make you wish you were there right now. I think this weekend should be dedicated to exploring and spending some time outside, don't you! Is there anywhere you haven't been that you would love to go or somewhere you want to go back to?

Happy weekending everybody! Kirsty and Lisa X

The beautiful mountains of Switzerland

The cherry blossoms in Japan, so pretty!

Crystal clear waters of Bora Bora and staying in one of these idyllic huts 

Completing the Inka Trail of Machu Picchui  in Peru

Dubai - a city that is OTT in everything! I would love to see this light display!

The man made plam tree island of Dubai

The Blue Lakes of Switzerland

I want you! DIY

I saw this super cute sign over on one of the blogs I love - Bleubird and really wanted something like it for my room. So, since it was sold out on Esty i decided why not make my own! We happened to have some planks of wood lying around for firewood anyway and I have stocks of paint so this turned out to be the best kind of DIY - free!

What you will need:
Plank of wood
Sandpaper
White, black and red paint
Small paintbrush
Pencil
Letter stencils
Hammer/crowbar (anything to rough up the wood)

First cut wood to your desired length, this will depend on how big your letter stencils are. Sand you wood until semi smooth and round off the corners.

Paint a base coat of white and allow to dry.

Using your stencils, trace your letters lightly with a pencil.

Using a small paint brush fill in the words "I want" in black. You will most likely need to do two or three coats.

 Now begin filling in the word "you" with red - do two to three coats. Allow to dry.

Now your painting is done! Next is the fun part...

Grab your hammer or crow bar and go nuts! Tap and bash the wood until it looks a little roughed up and aged.

Finished! Now find a cute place to hang it, step back and admire your handy work. Kirsty xx.