Book Review: Young House Love: 243 Ways To Paint, Craft, Update & Show Your Home Some Love By Sherry and John Petersik

I ordered this book Young House Love: 243 Ways To Paint, Craft, Update & Show Your Home Some Love by Sherry and John Petersik from Amazon the day it was released for sale and surprisingly found it waiting for me under  my doormat on the other side of the world only 1 week later - what a great turn around when the delivery was estimated at 3 weeks!

I have already gushed about the Young House Love blog and book debut and I found their book to be an extension of themselves and their blog - full of their likable personality, undying enthusiasm for decorating and renovating on a budget.

 

This book has page after page of projects that are cheap and easy to do. I have flagged a few that I want to have a go at, like using wrapping paper to cover the back of your cupboards - cheap and affective! There are also feature projects from other bloggers, some I knew of and others are new to me so I'm now following along on their clever decor blogs too.

 

I found the dimensions of the book itself to be quite small and the matt finish doesn't really make it a designer coffee table book. But in saying that the thrifty casual design is more YHL style so it does suit the book and the authors.

 

I would recommend this book to those first time home owners wanting to get stuck into some decorating and craft projects to add a bit of love and personality to their homes. Also for any Young House Love fans, you've got to have this book for your bookcase! I give this book 4 stars.

 

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

 

[Images via YHL and Babycentre] 

 

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Clock and Art Wall Inspiration

I have been digging through my inspiration file and pondering where in my home I can create a quirky and fun, mix matched wall of clocks and artworks ...

 

I have a smallish wall next to the doorway between the Living Room and Kitchen/Dining Room that is the perfect place for a bit of creativity to be hung up.

I love the look of clocks in different styles and colours grouped together, I have about 5 clocks to hang and will most likely be tempted to add a few more to the collection.

The clocks won't be alone I want to work in some quirky artworks too, like a Spoon rock poster I was given by great friends who know my creativity and need to hang things! 

I also have a gorgeous tea towel by the talented Rob Ryan I've had folded in my linen cupboard for a few years after getting it free with Inside Out magazine.

I know the sound of ticking clocks annoys some people (like Mr P!) but it doesn't really bother me. So long as it's not right near my Bedroom and all I hear is the tick tock when trying to sleep that would drive me bananas.

Luckily the Kitchen is far enough away from the Bedroom to not really be an issue.

With the kitchen renovation beginning I can now work on my wall ... Get my clocks together and figure out which ones to use.

I'll need to find frames for the artwork poster and tea towel and maybe add some typography or a mirror to the mix too.

What do you think about Clock walls? Would it drive you bananas!

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[Images via Pinterest 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]

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Cookin Up The Big Bird

Before Christmas fades away with a distant memory of frantic present shopping I want to share my courageous efforts of cooking up my very first Turkey on Christmas Day.

After trying to wimp out and buy a turkey roast roll stuffed and marinated on my pre Xmas trial - it cooked perfectly in the Weber BBQ but when it was carved it just fell apart probably because it was stuffed so there wasn't enough meat to hold it all together. Don't get me wrong it tasted delicious but the dream of walking in on Christmas Day with a grand big turkey did not look like a plate of turkey mush!

 

We picked out a 3.8kg turkey buffet from Woolies that was fresh from the fridge, I didn't want frozen as it takes days to thaw out. A turkey buffet is a turkey that has the rib cage and wings removed but the drumsticks remain - this means more meat and easier to carve but the downside is you can't stuff it, but to solve this problem we made a stuffing cake.

 

So Xmas Morning we got up early and put the Weber BBQ on to heat up for about 40 minutes (ok that's a lie I was staying at my parents house and my lovely Mum got up to light up the Weber so I could sleep in after one too many vinos Xmas Eve!)

Mr P prepared the turkey - washed and patted dry with paper towel, rubbed all over with olive oil, plenty of cracked salt and pepper, half a lemon put inside with a few cloves of peeled garlic and fresh thyme.

 

Once the Weber was hot and ready to go the bird went in with a tray underneath to catch the juices for the gravy. I read a tip about putting some scrunched up foil on both sides of the bird to stop it from getting too hot and burning which protected it perfectly.
 

 

Checked it after an hour to make sure it wasn't burning, a check 45 minutes later and the juices ran clear so it was ready to take out, covered it with foil and let it rest. So it took a total of 1.45 hours for a 3.8kg turkey that's not as long as I thought, pretty happy with that!  

 

 

Now for the stuffing because there is no cavity in this turkey we made a stuffing cake. The stuffing was made by browning an onion in a bit of oil, then adding the onion to breadcrumbs, 2 eggs, chopped dried apricots and cranberries, pinenuts and fresh thyme until it held together. Spooned the stuffing mix into a foil container and then put it into the Weber for about 30 minutes until it was crunchy on top. It was absolutely delicious.

 

 

I was so stressed about cooking this big turkey, especially in the outside Weber but it turned out perfectly ... moist on the inside with a crispy skin on the outside and got lots of ohhs and ahhs when we walked in on Xmas Day!

It has shown me not to be scared of failure and play it safe ... taking the challenge worked out just fine!
 

[All images my own]
 

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And The Winner Is ....

Thanks to everyone who entered the Personal Planner Giveaway I hope you had some fun seeing what cool planners you could design!

 

I drew out all the entries the old fashioned way

 

And the winner is

Heather of House of Woyak - Congratulations Heather I'll be in touch to send a Gift card your way

 

I hope everyone is having a fantastic weekend!

 

[All images my own]

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Friday's Letters - Dear Watermelon

I'm pretty damn excited about the Aussie Day Long Weekend ahead so this week's Friday's letters are written with a big grin on my face! Thanks for hosting Ashley, head on over to The Sweet Season to link up your Friday's Letters.

 

I'm imagining I'm writing this weeks letters from this cute and practical home office space sipping on a skinny cafe latte double espresso no sugar thanks!

 

 

Dear Watermelon - You are the perfect summer fruit and I don't care if I look like a 2 year old and end up with you all over my face you are refreshing and delicious.

 

Dear Gumtree - I'm relying on you to help me rent out my Apartment now that my tenants are moving out next month. I need someone by February, go on do your thing!

 

Dear Lexi - Almost 2 weeks we have had you now and your manners have improved heaps. You don't nip at my ankles anymore but you still need to work on that jumping when you're all excited. Truth be told you think you can get away with it because your so freaking cute which is true, but still a lady should always mind her manners!

 

Dear RSPCA - I sent you some pictures of how happy Lexi is in her new home and you wrote an adorable email back to Lexi telling her she already has us wrapped around her paw! You guys do such a fantastic job looking after animals who have been mistreated and if anyone in Australia is ever looking for a pet dog or cat take a look at the RSPCA first, you are helping a wonderful cause saving an animal and taking home a pet that is going to appreciate living in your home more than anything.

 

Dear Giveaway - Don't forget to enter my Personal Planner Giveaway by tomorrow and good luck!

 

 

Head on over here to link up your Friday's Letters

 

[Image via Pinterest]

 

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5 Things To Do On Australia Day

Australia's favourite long weekend is this Saturday 26 January ... a nation wide public holiday to celebrate all things Aussie!

Here are 5 things people love to do on Australia Day:

1. Go to a Skyworks Show - most Capital cities have their own big fireworks show and entertainment for all ages going from morning until night and best of all it's free!

2. Throw a shrimp on the BBQ and have a relaxing day kicking back, having a drink with friends and family - finding a poolside party so you can cool off is a must!

3. The sport lovers will be inside in the air conditioning beer in hand watching the cricket or tennis, the lucky ones will be watching a match live and the fit ones will be playing some backyard cricket.

4. Dress up in our national costume, anything goes pretty much so long as it's got the flag on it or is blue, red and white with a few stars thrown in. Bring on the face paint and temporary tattoos ... my blue sparkly nail polish always makes an appearance this time of year!

5. If I'm totally honest the single best thing about Australia Day to me is Triple Js Hottest 100 songs countdown for the year before, which means the party music is sorted from about 10am in the morning onwards!

What are your plans for Australia Day?

You can see my 2011 Australia Day here

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[Images via Creative Roots]

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Book Club: Chocolat The Movie

After reading the sweet book Chocolat by Joanne Harris, us Tuesday Girls got together and watched the movie Chocolat to compare the two

 

 

For once I actually liked the movie better than the book. I'll admit it probably had a lot to do with the hunk of a spunk Johnny Depp being the love interest!

 

The movie wasn't the same as the book in that the characters love interests were quite different and the main rouge is the Town Mayor in the movie whereas it's the Priest in the book. The moral of the story and feeling of the movie is the same as the book, it is a sweet story and made a perfect girls night in!

Each of us bought a sweet dish to share and had gourmet pizzas and bubbly. It is impossible to watch this movie without eating chocolate ... there are too  many tantalising chocolate scenes you would go crazy with cravings so be prepared with your snacks!

I made this chocolate platter which went down a treat!

Do you have a favourite Book vs Movie?


[Movie image here - Other image my own]
 

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