Finally ... The Lights Are In

The lights for the house that I've been searching, shopping and shopping some more have been installed and now that I've gotten over my disappointment at the living room pendant I'm ready to show you the rest of them

The electricians spent 2 days at the house - Day 1 they rewired all the lights with new wiring and installed an earth (old houses didn't have this when first built which makes them unsafe). To do this one guy was outside on the roof lifting tiles in the 38 degrees sun and poking the wires through the ceiling, whilst the other guy was inside in the air conditioning pulling the wire through from the inside (I know who was the clever one!)

On Day 2 they came back to install all the lights, put a new light/fan combo in the loo and installed a fan/heater/light in our renovated bathroom and a power point so I can blowdry my hair in the bathroom - best feeling ever! 

The guest bedroom now has this funky retro pendant which I absolutely love

The man cave also has a bit of a retro vibe with this black and orange pendant which casts an awesome orange glow when the light is on

The hallway has this sleek glass and chrome shade (which cracked when we first tried to put it together so I had to race back to the shop and swap it for another one). We're thinking about having another light installed at the other end of the hallway which I need to see inside my shoe cupboard.

The master bedroom now has this stunning black chandelier (which was also broken when I opened it, the weld had snapped from the frame so I had to race out and swap it). I'm really glad I got a larger shade for this room it needed something just a bit bigger than what was there before. When the light on it casts lines all across the room which looks really sassy and sexy ... just what I want the master bedroom to feel like.

I've already shown you the living room pendant that I was disappointed with how it was hanging (it should be lower so the cords are exposed). I mentioned it to the electrician last week and he said he would see what he could do about it as the guys should have tucked the cords inside, not cut them but I know they cut them I saw them do it :( Anyways I can't cry over spilt milk can I - better just suck it up and accept it.

 

So there you have it my house now has a few light fittings (with still a few more to get!) and let me tell you they really finish off the rooms. No amount of decorating can do what a light cover can do - its the cherry on the top!

Playing with Wow us Wednesdays, why don't you head on over to check out this weeks awesome projects

[All images my own]

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My Tough Love Succulents

I am really surprised at how well my campfire succulent has been growing. I actually feel like a proper gardener for once instead of a plant killing machine! This was the first plant I've ever bought from Ikea and was pretty doubtful at it's life expectancy, especially when I knocked it over in the car on the way home and snapped the top right off the plant. I potted it up in this funky blue pot and hoped for the best.

A year later and it was growing so much it was getting too big for its pot - my time had come to actually repot a plant which was a bit of a proud moment considering nearly every other plant I try to grow shrivels up and dies!

So I snipped a few stems off and stuck them into the soil of a new pot and it has been growing like mad. It loved the tough love!

So then I snipped another few off and potted up my sweet Ikea pot for inside the house. It is the perfect indoor plant it doesn't need much water or sunlight and doesnt drop any leaves or mess.

I can highly recommend these campfire succulents to fellow plant killers :)

[All images my own]

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Spanish Tapas Party & Recipe

In ode to our trip to Spain with friends nearly 2 years ago, Pete and I threw a Spanish tapas party this weekend with these great mates, each couple bought 3-4 tapas each and a Spanish drink for everyone to enjoy

8 people + 16 dishes  + countless jugs of sangria, vermouth and Spanish beer = A great night!

We started at 4pm in the afternoon and the last dish was bought out at midnight. The dishes I made were Spanish Gazpacho Soup Shooters (recipe below), Potato Tortilla, Fried Whitebait with Aioli and Salsa and Crema Catalana. Lucky the dessert Crema Catalana was served at midnight because true to form I stuffed it up! I used 1 lemon instead of 1/2 so it was a bit too bitter and I couldn't melt the sugar enough to caramelize under the grill without the crema melting .... oh well hopefully everyone was enjoying the sangria too much to notice!

My Spanish Gazpacho Soup Shooters With Salsa

My Crema Catalana

Seriously though, doesn't everything look so much  better in miniature! I'm sharing with you the recipe I liked the most (and turned out edible!). This chilled soup was a perfect tapas for a hot night the sweet cool tomato soup with the spicy vodka infused salsa was a great combo. An easy one to make the night before and then whip up the salsa a few hours beforehand, and assemble before serving.

Spanish Gazpacho Soup Shooters With Salsa
(Women's Weekly Soup Cookbook)

Ingredients:
3 cups tomato juice (750ml)
8 medium egg tomatoes (600g), chopped coarsely
1 medium red onion (170g), chopped coarsely
1 clove garlic, quartered
1 Lebanese cucumber (130g), chopped coarsely
1 small red capsicum (150g), chopped coarsely
2 tsp Tabasco
4 green onions, chopped finely
1/2 Lebanese cucumber (65g), seeded, chopped finely
1/2 small yellow capsicum (75g), chopped finely
2 tsp olive oil
1 tbs vodka
2 tbs finely chopped coriander

Method:

1. Blend in food processor the juice, tomatoes, red onion, garlic, coarsely chopped cucumber and red capsicum until pureed. Strain through sieve into a jug, cover and refrigerate 3 hours (or overnight for better flavour).

2. Combine remaining ingredients in small bowl.

3.  Pour tomato mix into shot glass and top with 1-2 tsp of salsa.

4. Salute (that's cheers in Spanish!)

NB: As the soup is strained it leaves behind a delicious vegetable salsa and there was no way I was throwing it out - I used it as a dip on the table to go with tapas of fried whitebait, I spread it on toast and melted cheese on top, and I plan to use the last of it tossed through some fresh pasta mmmm yum!

[All images my own]

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Kind Of Cheating Easter Muffins

I'm the first to admit there's usually a packet cake mix lurking in my pantry somewhere because it's much easier to bake something using these mixes than baking from scratch (and with my baking skills usually tastier too!). So for Easter I thought I'd put in a bit more effort and turn my basic packet mix chocolate muffins into something special.

I baked a dozen or so simple chocolate muffins and iced ...

Yes they even come with icing too easy!

My secret weapon ... mini speckled eggs

Put a few eggs on each

And you've made yourself some cute Easter Muffins

Yum!

I hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable Easter break ... don't overdose on too much chocolate!



[All images my own]

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Cruise Holiday Fashion

Once I get my mind on something I can't stop myself (expecially when it comes to travel) and I did it - I booked a 10 day holiday on this cruise ship

I can see myself sailing around the South Pacific islands, cocktail in one hand, my gorgeous man in the other (Ok more than likely I'll be sunburnt with my hair blowing in my face and squinting into the sun as the sunscreen stings my eyes) but let's go with the fantasty version shall we!

We're book for September (must be our lucky month same as the Spain trip) so I have a bit of time to find some new holiday clothes to take with me ... floaty dresses in bright colours, some funky shorts and maybe a new bikini on the shopping list

Proud Mary by rosed featuring denim shorts

Hello Beach!!! by little-milly featuring eberjey swimwear

Island Hopping by yvettemh49 featuring cap hats

Summer can't come sooner! by izabela featuring long evening gowns

Turquoise summer by annabu featuring h&m bathing suits

Beach Patrol by annabu featuring a flower print dress

Which also means I'm working at those buns of steel to feel good in my holiday getups!

What are your must pack clothes for a beachy holiday?

[Pacific Jewel Image via P&O and Fashion via Polyvore]

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MKR Dinner Party

The MKR dinner party Pete and I threw a few weeks ago was a great night - we scored high, almost 10s for most of our dishes. Unfortunately I didn't end up using my zillions of shot glasses like I'd planned as they weren't quite big enough to put food into (other than soup or alcohol!) so they'll need to wait for a tapas party instead.

These are the dishes me and my masterchef made:

• Arrival Cocktail - Raspberry Rascal (Made with Vodka, Raspberry Liquor, Sugar Syrup, Cranberry Juice, Lemonade, Frozen Raspberries, Lime and Mint)
• Antipasto Platter - Hummus Dip, Tequila and Lime Olives, Marinated Artichokes, Capsicum and Sundried Tomatoes and Sea Salt Crostinis
• Entree - Scallop and Chirozo Salad on bed of salad leaves dressed in lime and oil
• Main - BBQ Weber pork cut with crackle all around, Corn in the bag with fresh herbs and butter, Hassleback potatoes with rosemary and Apple and Waldorf Salad served on lettuce leaves. Homemade apple sauce (yes I made my own, there's a first for everything!) and hot gravy were the perfect accompaniments
• Dessert - Donna Hay's Individual Lemon Tarts served with cream

The dessert I spent the most time on - At the supermarket I put the premade tart cases back on shelf and decided to make my own pastry and bought some metal tart dishes instead. I was up until midnight the night before making, rolling, baking and the taste testing was crunchy and sweet and the filling rich and lemony. BUT when I took them out the fridge ready to serve them at the party 24 hours later the tops of the tarts had all split and the pastry was soggy. So I put them into the oven to heat them up but that didn't really help. I opted to serve them with a bit of piped cream on the top of the tarts strategically placed over the split and piped on with the initial of each guest's name.

What I love most about entertaining is setting the table - I found these congac glasses on crazy sale ($25 reduced from $90) and put them out as water glasses. I dug out my glass charms which I added to the stem of the glasses and as they are an ocean theme that helped me decide on a blue pallet for the rest of the table.

The tiny spoons were also on sale ($25 reduced from $99) I wasn't sure what I was going to use them for but they were too sweet to not put out (in the end they were used for the dessert!)

Our outdoor dining area has had a good work out this summer and just in time before the cooler nights set in as we head into Autumn.

[All images my own]

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Book Review: One Day By David Nicholls

My March Book Club read was One Day by David Nicholls

I really enjoyed this book about 2 friends who I was dying to see get together but as the story is told I wondered if they ever will. Each chapter is written on the same day but 1 year ahead so you see them grow from College through relationships and into the real world. It's pretty funny, with the right mix of sex drugs and rock and roll for it to pass as a modern day love story.

It has also been made into a movie which my Book Club girls and I are getting together to watch in a few weeks time - this is the 3rd time we've watched the movie and read the book (Bridget Jones and Water For Elephants) I'll take any excuse to drink bubbly and eat popcorn with my well read friends!

I'd recommend this book to people who think they are 'just friends' with someone of the opposite sex when you're both secretly dying to jump each other! I really enjoyed this book and give it 5 stars - passing up a date with Johnny Depp - doesn't happen often!

Jarrah Jungle's Star Rating:

1 Bad - I'd rather eat brussel sprouts topped with anchovies than read this again

2 Not Good - I'd rather watch re-runs of Neighbours than read this again

3 Ok - I'm sitting on the fence - its not great but not terrible either

4 Good - I'd pass up a pack of tim tams for this read

5 Great - I'd pass up a date with Johnny Depp for this read

[Image from Dymocks]

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