Exploring Auckland City

This morning the family and I ventured into Ponsonby to go to Mary's Market - a market with a tonne of baby and child things for great prices.  I didn't buy much at the markets but think it would be a GREAT place to go if you're pregnant.  I think if I was to buy anything there today it would just be for being greedy. Leah already was waaaay too much stuff as it is!

We then decided to head into the CBD and have a stroll around town.  What was really good is that it was early in the morning which meant a couple of things;
1) There weren't too many people around, and
2) Lots of shops weren't open yet so I wasn't able to spend too much money.

What this did mean though was that I was able to concentrate on just having a really good look around, something I don't often do in town.  It was great fun! And it crossed one of my 101 challenge things.  Woo hoo!  Here are some of the photos I took of our beautiful city.

Yummy Apple Cake

My husband eats this warm with cream... and lots of it!

175g butter at room temp
175g caster sugar
2 eggs
225g plain flour
1 1/2t baking powder
2t mixed spice
200g eating apples, peeled, cored and chopped
3 small eating apples (for the top)
Zest of one lemon
3t apple juice

1. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees celcius.  In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter and sugar together until they are light and fluffy.  Add the eggs, one at a time.

 2. Stir in the flour, baking powder and mixed spice.

3. Gently fold in the chopped apples, lemon zest and apple juice into the bowl. Scrape the mixture into the pan and level the top.

4. Core and quarter the 3 small apples leaving the peel on.  Make two or three cuts through the skin into each quarter to make a fan, then press the cut apples lightly into the batter in a decorative pattern.

5. Bake for 50 mins to 1 hour or until the top is golden. Cool for 15 minutes.... if you can wait that long.

Lace Crown

From pinterest to my kitchen table in less than a week!  How clever am I?

I originally found this idea here. I had to change some slight things with how I made it as the spray stiffener isn't avaliable where I shop for craft things (or in NZ at all possibly... over the last week I've found we're very limited with things around here :().

So... to start, you'll need some lace of your choosing, fabric stiffener and a flower or other embellishment. You are allowed to giggle at the brand name of the fabric stiffener :D....I did... many times.

With this fabric stiffener you need to soak the lace until it's well coated then dab off the excess.  Once that's done fashion it into the style you want (in this case a crown) and voila - done!

I'm not 100% happy with my crown but will hopefully get some photos with bubba wearing it soon for your paroosal. I'm sure there's some other things to make with this stuff too... watch this space!

Silent Sunday...I'm back!

Week 5. Jewellery;
I took this a while ago.  Leah was less than 6 weeks old.  Didn't particularly like the photo at the time but had a play with it this afternoon and turned this print up with I don't mind at all <3.

Things I'm Loving

 I wholeheartedly believe that no matter what is happening in your life, there is always something that you can be thankful for... no matter how simple it is.

1.  Loving having a day off on Monday that gave us some time for a wee trip to Western Springs. It was beautiful weather, Jake had a great time, Leah got to eat her marmite sandwich in her pram and any pieces that Leah decided should be flung in every direction discarded pieces were able to be eaten by very happy wildlife. Highlight of my walk was seeing the baby swans.  Cute as a button!

2. Loving receiving the first of my purchases from punkbaby.co.nz - Dr Seuss overalls and 2 wicked cool bibbies. Here's bubba sporting her new bibs - overall shots to come once I try them on her!

3. Loving this;

but think what is said in this article is RIDICULOUS.  Get it right Parata!

4. LOVE Leah's awesome new hairclips from  My Punky Aunt.

 

5. Love this letter being in the mail when I got home - Gen W winner Leah's confirmation letter.  I've only known since February! Lol.  It cleared up a few things I was uncertain about too.  Like, we will get bonus deposits of around $300 a year until she's 18 if we leave the money untouched and Leah and all of her siblings (when they come along) will have a financial adviser free of charge. Cool!  Thanks again Westpac.

Another 101 done and dusted...

Photo says it all - message got hidden under a packet of chippies. Best wife ever right here :D lol

Things I'm loving...

 I wholeheartedly believe that no matter what is happening in your life, there is always something that you can be thankful for... no matter how simple it is.

1. Love some of the chants the teacher's union have came up with this week. Hilarious people are us teachers. "What the heckia?","Heck no Hekia"... we're creative geniuses!

2. Loving punkbaby.co.nz and the goods that are coming my way in the post as we speak. LOOK AT HOW CUTE THEY ARE!  Can you believe it? Eeeeep!

3. Love teacher only days on Fridays and Queen's birthday Monday <3

4. Love that the sickness is currently not residing at our house (but cheeky moneyness still is!).  After at least a month of it we have our happy, healthy bubba back.  Woo hoo!

What are you loving this week?