Happy Halloween

Celebrating Halloween isn’t big thing in Australia, so usually we do nothing to celebrate. I really love the whole concept, I have always had a fascination with death and everything related to the afterlife. I enjoy watching horror movies and being scared! I think the reason why most us are not into Halloween is because the seasons are different. We are in spring, not fall.

So today I went to the $2 shop and purchase a few little pieces for my kids to dress up like vampires, black capes, fake teeth, face paint. For those how don’t know me well, I am kind of obsessed with the whole vampire thing. And I got myself a whole pumpkin to carve and I’ll post a picture of how it turned out tomorrow. We have a big bowl of lollies ready incase we have any trick or treaters, but most likely we will eat them ourselves.

Anzac Biscuits

Homemade Anzac Biscuits are a favourite in our house. They are quick and easy to make, and taste heavenly. They are perfect to add to my children’s lunch boxes, and as a morning snack with my coffee.


Ingredients

• 1 cup (150g) plain flour

• 1 cup (90g) rolled oats

• 1 cup (85g) desiccated coconut

• 3/4 cup (155g) brown sugar

• 125g butter

• 2 tbs golden syrup

• 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 160°C. Line two baking trays with non-stick baking paper. Sift the flour into a large bowl. Stir in the oats, coconut and brown sugar.

2. Put the butter, golden syrup and 2 tbs water in a small saucepan. Stir over a medium heat until melted. Stir in the bicarbonate of soda.

3. Pour the butter mixture into the flour mixture and stir until combined.

4. Roll level tablespoons of mixture into balls. Place on the trays, about 5cm apart.

5. Press with a fork to flatten slightly. Bake for 10 minutes or until golden brown.

6. Set aside on the trays for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack so it cools completely.

Sometimes I melt milk chocolate and drizzle it on top as an extra treat!

How cute is the little blue dragonfly plate above? My daughter Alex made it when she was in grade one (6 years ago)

♥ Alex

wordless wednesday

See more wordless wednesday posts at Faith Hop & a whole lotta love today!

Tuesday

I woke up at 7.30am feeling flat and un-inspired this morning after working until 1.30am. I dropped Alex and Phoenix at school by 8.20am. I took the rest morning off and headed out the door. I finally took Skye to the hairdressers after her unauthorised hair cut. The hair dresser at “The Stag” had a Mohawk and I was worried at first that he wouldn’t be able to understand how important it was to try and fix Skye’s hair without making it too short. But my worry was unfounded he was great, and gave Skye’s self inflicted layers at feathering, so that they blend better. I am very happy with the end result!

After Skye’s hair cut, we headed to the direct factory outlets in Moorabbin which is around 40 mins drive away. I wanted to get Skye a pair of converse shoes at a bargain price. She grows so fast, I didn’t want to pay full price for shoes she might only wear a short time. She picked a pretty mauvey pink colour. I got them for $30, which is a great price for a brand new pair in Australia.

Before going home, I purchase a couple of new tops for Skye in cotton on kids for $5 each and we had a cookie and coffee at Gloria Jeans. It felt so good to spend some time away for the house, just Skye and I hanging out. Came home had a healthy lunch, Skye played happily on her own while I got two express post orders ready to post in the afternoon.

Side note, the first yellow flower bloomed from my Marigold seedlings I planted weeks ago. It's so pretty :) Marigolds remind me of the Nirvana B-Sides song sang by Dave Grohl.

Three Monsters

The pictures are not perfect! I wasn’t going to post them, but there is still something I like about them.

So I open them up in lightroom3 and used the bleach bypass preset on them! I am still struggling to take nice ones inside the house in low lighting without flash.

This Saturday I'm grateful for...Rain, Sugar and 80s Music



This Saturday I am grateful for:


Rain – It rained for almost 8 hours straight overnight it’s wonderful for our newly planted garden beds.

Sugar – My caramel slice was a flop this afternoon, but the sugar in it makes it taste nice anyway.

80s Music – My husband has just left for work and the kids and I have one of the foxtel music channels turn up loud and we are dancing around the lounge room to classic music from the 80s.

What do you have to be grateful for this Saturday? See more gorgeous posts on Maxabella loves

School Carnival

Yum, fairy floss

matching sock in our house are so hard to find :)

this day two years ago

This day two years ago I received my Canon 50D. I had no idea how to use it and these are the first pictures I took on auto settings.

Phoenix

Skye

Alex

I feel like I have come a long way in two years with my photography. I now use manual settings; I have learnt about choosing the best lighting and composition.

Next year, I will attend more workshops, and do many photography courses to improve my skills. And I will talk my husband into getting a new lense and new camera body.

New Design

Wow, I just can’t stop looking at it. My new blog is just so pretty! The very talented Tamara from Tamara Sirl Designs did the most amazing job. It is everything I wanted and more. I first contacted the lovely Tamara in May about designing my blog, she popped me on the waiting listing and here it is today, all beautiful and new!

Honestly Tamara is amazing and was definitely worth the wait. I love the modern vintage feel, and the colors she put together are so light and soft. If you are looking for someone to design your blog, I highly recommend Tamara Sirl Designs.



Friday Night - The Smashing Pumpkins

The Smashing Pumpkins went old school on us Friday night – a throwback to the grunge days of our teenage years (in the words of my husband). We didn’t quite know what to expect since Billy Corgan is the only ordinal member left in the band. But let’s face it; the lead singer is usually the most pivotal part of any band.

They played a good mix of new and old songs. In the middle of the set Billy decided to talk to the fans. When inducing the new members of the band he called himself Bogan Billy. Told us we should be thankful that he still gives a shit, and that he still writes really great songs. That’s right let us all hail Billy, the rock god! Apparently if you didn’t know it all ready, The Smashing Pumpkins is the greatest band in the world!

He tried to get the crowd riled up talking about rugby league. It was a bit lost us Melbournians; we follow a different sports religion, AFL football. Dating a girl from Australia (Jess from The Veronicas) doesn’t mean you know anything about our country. Billy announced that he was on drugs and having more fun than anyone else there tonight.

Highlights: the naked guy on sitting someone’s shoulders while Billy was trying singing “tonight” but kept laughing, they played my favourite song Zero, the gig went for more than two hours; we go great value for money, cold beer was very tasty.

Lowlights: they did not play disarm, they started to play the Led Zeppelin cover stair way to heaven, but didn’t complete it - it sounded so good I wanted to hear the rest of the song, too much guitar solo that people walkout of the concert before it finished.

We had the most annoying people around us ever. The guy in the blue shirt behind us was so drunk, my BBF Lee was worried he was going to vomit on me at some point during the night. He was singing along to the songs using the wrong words so loud we could hardly hear Billy at times. And I would like to take the time to thank him for continually kneeing me in the back; I wouldn’t have had the same night without it. And to the two guys with the big heads in front of us that talked all night. It would have been cheaper for you, since you weren’t listening to the music to have your conversation in a coffee shop! Where is Shona when you need her! She would have sorted them out for us.

You might think by reading this that I didn’t enjoy it. I did, it was a great night. And I love live music, and love Smashing Pumpkins! Billy was entertaining and the new member of The Smashing Pumpkins can play just as well as the ordinals. The thing is I saw Birds of Toyko two weeks ago and they were better!

The Smashing Pumpkins

image found {here}

I’m off to see The Smashing Pumpkins tonight with Reuben (husband), my best friend Lee and her hubby Gaz. I am pretty excited. I have been a fan for so long; it’s too scaring to think about it. I’m getting so old. It will be the second time I have seen them live, the first time was unforgettable! I feel very happy to be doing it all again.

My beautiful little sister Meg is babysitting the offspring tonight. She is awesome; I’d never go anywhere if she wasn’t around to help out.

Hope you are all having a lovely Friday and an even better weekend to come!

Phoenix

Phoenix love our dogs here he is giving Kendra a big hug

He loves climbing trees, specially the willow tree in our backyard

Phoenix recently lost his two front teeth, the tooth fairy gave him two dollars!

Peace Man!
He had worst hair cut last week, I don't trust the hair dressers in the shopping centers anymore.

Phoenix tells me he loves me everyday, he's such a lovely boy.