Fridays Letters - Dear Xmas Holidays

I'm back with my first Fridays Letters link up for 2013, a big thanks to Ashley from her shiny new blog The Sweet Season for hosting Fridays Letters into a New Year!

 

I'm imagining this weeks letters are written pool side to escape this crazy hot weather we've been having with an icy cold cocktail in hand

 

 

Dear Xmas Holidays - You were fantastic I feel refreshed relaxed and revived and ready to take on a New Year!

 

Dear New Year - My 2013 word Embrace is going to be my mantra this year and I can't wait to see what the New Year has in store for me!

 

Dear Air Conditioning - You are still the best money spent on my house to date. I know it's a bit of a luxury but you can't put a price on having a comfortable night sleep on a hot summer night!

 

Dear Bugs - This week I've had encounters with a cockroach on the bus, a buzzing psycho mosquito keeping me awake all night and a wasp on the inside of my screen door. Stay outside and away from me where you belong bugs!

 

Dear Lemon Tree - I'm sorry I neglected you on those scorching hot days and forgot to water you. It's my fault you are looking rather dead like but in fairness you haven't produced a single lemon since I bought you ... maybe you'll try harder from now on hmmmm. 

 

Dear First Week Back At Work - I have almost survived the dreaded first week back to work, the constant flow of icy cold air conditioning is definately a bonus.

 

 

 Why don't you  head on over here and link up some Friday's Letters

 

[Image via my Pinterest here]

 

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Taking The Plunge

With Perth's recent heatwave and our Summers getting hotter and sweatier I've been thinking more and more about a house with a swimming pool

 

Being able to dive into that cool blue water when the heat gets too much would be such a good feeling and entertaining outside poolside would be the perfect backdrop on a summer evening

 

Yes the decision is made - I want a swimming pool in my next house !

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Do you have a swimming pool?
If not, how do you keep cool in Summer!

 

 

[Images via My Pinterest 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7]

 

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Crayfish and Prawn Cocktails Recipe

As promised I'm sharing my Christmas Eve entree dish Crayfish and Prawn Cocktail which I modified slightly from the original recipe to use my own sauce, less lettuce and more prawns.

 

I made the crayfish and prawn mix ahead of time and kept in containers and also chopped all the other ingredients and kept in sandwich bags so I was ready to assemble and serve when ready - I love dishes like that you can prepare ahead of time it makes for a stress free party dish.

 

I'll be honest this was an expensive dish to make for 6 serves it cost $55 for the crayfish and prawns alone not including the other ingredients. There was only just enough meat from 1 crayfish so if I made this again I'd use 2 crayfish which would bring the cost up to $75 which would make this a special occasions dish only. Having said that it does look pretty spectacular and I got lots of ohhhs and ahhhs carrying them to the table!

 

 

Crayfish and Prawn Cocktails

Woman&Home Recipe

Makes 6

 

3 iceberg lettuce leaves finely shredded

6 red tipped lettuce finely shredded

3 spring onions finely chopped

1kg cooked Australian tiger prawns, peeled, deveined and chopped (keep 1 whole prawn for each person for a garnish)

1 crayfish, cooked and meat chopped (keep legs for garnish)

3 tsp seafood sauce

1 tbs thousand island dressing

Lemon juice

Cracked pepper

 

1. You'll need 6 cocktail glasses and layer the ingredients as you go.

2. Chop crayfish meat and put into a small bowl and stir in thousand island dressing and cracked pepper and then spoon into bottom of glass.

3. Top with spring onions.

4. Top with iceberg lettuce and red tipped lettuce pushing down to fill.

5. Chop prawn meat and put into a small bowl and stir in seafood sauce and cracked pepper and a squeeze of lemon juice. Then spoon into top of glass.

6. Garnish with a whole prawn on side of each glass and some crayfish legs.

7. Serve and enjoy.

 

The prawns and crayfish before

 

Prawns peeled, chopped and sauced up

 

Crayfish cooked, chopped and sauced up

 

Layer into your glasses - crayfish, spring onion, lettuces and prawns

 

Serve and enjoy

 

Sharing with link parties Savvy Southern Style and The Dedicated House ... why don't you head on over and see what everyone else is linking up!

 

[All images my own]

 

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Oh Shit It's Monday

I had a totally indulgent relaxing Xmas Holiday with plenty of sleep ins, Foxtel remote holding, midnight swims to cool off, slothing inside in the air con, catch up with friends and family, hitting the sales, and more than a few homemade cocktails. It was just what I wanted for my Xmas Holidays!

But now it's back to reality as the start of the working week beckons ....

 

 

Oh shit it's Monday!
Let's hope it's not too painful!

 

[Image from my Pinterest here]

 

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Red Velvet Cupcakes

I have no problem using packet cake mix every  now and then especially when there's such a great range available now

I baked these White Wings Red Velvet Cupcakes recently and they turned out really tasty and just check out the awesome colour of them!

 

Baked in their cute red patty cases

Iced with cream cheese icing

Sprinkled with a mix of chocolate sprinkles

Ready to eat!

Plese note, I was not sponsored by White Wings - I just really love their cupcakes!

Do you ever use packet cake mix? What's your favourite?


[All images my own]

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My 2012 Word: Decision & My 2013 Word: Embrace

 

I'm looking back on my 2012 word Decision when I decided to put my foot down and start making decisions instead of ummming and ahhhhing about everything.

These were my 5 commandments:

 

1. I will not stare at items on shelves for longer than 3 minutes - thall shall make a decision to purchase or not purchase said items

 

2. I will not buy things to hang on the wall and then not hang them up for months - thall shall make a decision within 2 weeks of where to put that screw and hang that damn thing up

 

3. I will not have wild decorative dreams of stripes and wallpaper and then chicken out and go the easy plain wall - thall shall make a decision to paint those stripes and hang that wallpaper

 

4. I will not complain about having the same car for 11 years and tell everyone I've outgrown it and want a change - thall shall make a decision and buy another car

 

5. I have been given choices in this life and I will not doubt, procrastinate, say maybe, umm and ahh if I really want something - thall shall make a decision

 

 

Well I have to say I'm pretty impressed with my decision making skills this year ...

 

I've had no trouble filling my trolley with homewares, art and even things that wouldn't fit in the car!

 

I made the decision to upscale my master bedroom light fitting and while I was at it I picked out all the lights for the rest of the house which was a huge decision and took a few trips here and here to do. I thought about my word "decision" a lot on those shopping trips - I didn't want to settle and buy something because I'd hoped more designs would come out but in the end I couldn't procrastinate any longer and had to buy what was available so they could be installed when the electrician was here so it all worked out ok.

 

I got out the wallpaper and got my stripe on not once but twice!

 

I made some bad decisions with exterior paint colours (remember the hulk green house? It all feels like a distant memory now!) but also made some good decisions on the rest of the exterior materials and garage door so I feel pretty good about that.

I'll admit it I still have a few items I've bought that I'm yet to decide where to hang - you got me I still can't make decisions when it comes to drilling holes in those walls I spent days scraping sanding and painting but that's because I know once they are up they ain't coming down!

 

I still have the same car - my excuse is that until the driveway is in I can't drive in and out of the garage properly (I'm using ramps!) so when the driveway is in that's when I'll get my shiny new car.

 

Sheesh when I see it like that I've made a heck of a lot of decisions this year and that doesn't include the what do I wear/eat/drink questions I have every single day!
 

As for my 2013 word well, as mentioned in my New Year wish list my word this year is Embrace - I want to embrace challenges that come my way, embrace my creative side, embrace opportunities as you never know where they may lead, embrace change and not be afraid of it and embrace love from friends and family.

What is your 2013 word?
Head on over to Maxabella Loves and link up your 2013 word

 

 

[Image via My Pinterest 1, 2, 3 and 4]

 

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Goodbye 2012 and Hello 2013

Last night we all said goodbye to 2012 and welcomed in 2013!

 

I had a fairly quiet New Years Eve compared to last year when I hit the town. I spent this year with friends by the river front having a BBQ dinner and trying to keep cool on a hot balmy night after a 42 degree scorching hot day. There were sparklers, glow sticks, lots of chilled wine and a kiss from my man when the clock struck midnight. I couldn't ask for more than that!

 

How was your New Years Eve?

 

As for a brand spanking New Year 2013 that is now upon us I don't have any new year resolutions as such but I do have some things on my wish list to accomplish ....
 

I hope this year challenges me to follow my dreams in embracing my creativity and love of interior design and decorating. Either by study or otherwise I'm willing and enthusiastic for new opportunities to come my way ....

On the home front I want to tick off some major renovations on the house and get the exterior of the house finished and a shiny new kitchen and laundry installed .... 

I'm dreaming of an overseas trip to New York baby and possibly a party stop off in Las Vegas .....

Not to mention a big fat lotto win to fund all these ambitions would be great too!

 

I want to say a huge big THANK YOU to my readers who have supported me throughout the year, I really do appreciate it whenever you stop by and the advice, encouragement and kind words from you is the reason my renovating ramblings will continue into 2013. I look forward to forming new mate ships in 2013.

 

I hope the New Year 2013 is all you wish it to be!

 

[Images via Pinterest here and here and here]


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