All posts filed under: my favourite Things

Easter Simplicity

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With the lead up to Easter…this year’s celebrations for me are a little different. The highs and lows, sadness and happiness all combining to signify how more important it is to live life and to it’s fullest each day.  Cherish and take joy in life’s simple little treasures. My sister decorated her home over the weekend for the celebration of Easter. Eggs, bunnies, olive vines and doves of peace. This wooden wreath holder, was on sale last week, I couldn’t resist it, and fell in love with it straight away…I’m not sure how I’ll get this in my suitcase…if not I’ll have to leave it behind. Fresh olive branches were used as a symbol of peace. Palm Sunday is being celebrated soon, and often, in Italy we’re given an olive branch. This Easter Bunny figurine is “Happy Together”  designed by Jim Shore – Heartwood Creek, you can see more of his beautiful Easter figurines here.  I love the intricate details and beautiful colour palette of his artistic works. The top right photo is of an …

Fluffy Pink centered Chocolate Eggcups & Tea

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“Entertaining is a memory business because the pleasures of your hospitality become immortal in the memories of your guests.” The whimsical setting of our afternoon included feathered friends, Spring nests, Royal Albert teacups and charming chocolate delights filled with fluffy pink mousse.I couldn’t resist pearls, satin ribbons and silver. Antique Easter images and eggs. The afternoon sunlight filtering through the window, and the underlying music , left us under an inspiring cloud  capturing the finer things, and forgotten memories. I made these dainty coconut rough chocolate and mousse eggcups and used the same method in making these as my birds nests here   Continue reading to see my Tea Service and Recipe…

Springtime’s Laughter

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  Dear Friends, With the changing seasons, some of us are ready to snuggle in front of fires and candles, Autumn leaves, warm hearty soups and woolen jumpers. Others are ready to bounce into the joyous season of Spring, blossoms and new sunny days after a very long Winter.I’m joining in the Celebration of Spring- A Return to Loveliness. The Victoria magazine has been part of my life since 1997, and looking back on many volumes the Spring April issue read like a pleasant opened rose with it’s petals softly falling and every petal a new inspiration and influence to how I could recall the new Spring days.Back issues and more information can be found here. If we listen carefully, we can hear the music of Springtime’s laughter. The tittering of tiny blossom buds, fresh green leaves that seem to giggle in the breeze, the chatter of tiny flowers, the twittering of newborn birds, rose buds that smile in the suns rays. A rebirth of growth within our garden, and enchanting Spring, a newborn season. …

What about me?

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How many minutes in the day, capture the love of a child? How many minutes of the day capture the words from a friend? How many minutes in the day captures a thought of a loved one? How about a second to think of me! With this ongoing rush of life and everyday routines, do we find enough time for ourselves. And if we do find that second is it a selfish second? Be it child’s play…another go at bouncing the ball, an extra lolly, a kiss on the cheek, an extra hug, another piece of vegemite toast, another glass of water…in a child’s voice…What about me? Be it adult antics…a cup of coffee, my ironed shirt?…another paid bill, a glass of wine, another cooked dinner, a simple heartfelt touch, a whispered word…in an adult’s voice..What about me? Do we hear our own voice? These rushing minutes within the week, reminded me to stop, look around and take a deep breath. Look outside and see the bigger picture, and also reminded me of this song. …

I love my sunburnt country

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Today we celebrate Australia Day. A day for all Australians to celebrate our nation and be proud to be Australian. Flying our nations flag and for some the day our newest Australians become citizens, calling Australia home. It’s a day of family and friends celebrating in the comfort of their homes or at an organized local ceremony, usually an early morning raising of the flag and the singing of the national anthem, followed by an all Australian Aussie breakfast, or the all Australian barbecue. Today was a scorching 42 degrees here in New South Wales. We would normally do the same by having a bbq but the heat was just too much to handle. So we opted for an inside and air conditioned celebration of Australian seafood. Prawns with prawn cocktail sauce, oysters kilpatrick, squid  served two ways, deep fried squid rings in crunchy breadcrumbs and salt and pepper squid and smoked salmon. A great starter to a very long and hot day. Hope every Aussie had a wonderful day. A day to be proud …

Stressed Out?

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Take 2 cups of coffee in a mayonnaise jar… When things in your life seem too much to handle, when 24 hours  in a day is not enough, remember the mayonnaise and 2 cups of coffee.   A professor stood before his philosophy class And had some items in front of him When the class began, wordlessly He picked up a very large And empty mayonnaise jar And proceeded to fill it with golf balls.   He then asked the students If the jar was full. They agreed that it was full.   The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled in the open areas between the golf balls.   He then asked the students again If the jar was full They agreed it was.   The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students …

What’s up!

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Don’t put off for tomorrow what you can do today, because if you enjoy it today you can do it again tomorrow. ― James Michener I’ve been a little loss at the moment, trying to do so many things, achieving most of them, and looking for some new creative direction for twenty eleven. Browsing through some interesting new blogs, and some of my favourites…I’ve noticed Learn,Create,Do started a new segment on her blog 3 Discoveries, each Friday she’s doing a regular spot of 3 Discoveries, things new and exciting that she’s discovered, meaningful for her and a little interesting new discovery for us…why not join in the sharing experience of new discoveries. I’m wanting to advance a little in my photo shooting. I love capturing a shot behind the lens of the camera, so I’m doing some classes this year, joining a group BigPictureClasses….. catch up with their blog here. Great ideas, and even free download classes, everything for the creative mind.I’ll be starting soon my first mini project,10 Summer Photo’s. As I’m in Australia …

Christmas Message

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I was given this message from a friend some years ago and have passed it on over the years…I send it to YOU. To who wakes in the morning and smiles and says thanks at the end of every day, to who still says hello and greets with a kiss, to who can listen without interrupting, to who welcomes the toils and lives with joy, to who gives a little bit of time to who needs it, to who see’s black only in the darkness, to who believes that the days more beautiful are still to come, to who is convinced that the more beautiful seas are still to be navigated. To who doesn’t wait till Christmas to be ones improved self Merry Christmas With love, Yvette…x

Today – Now – Tomorrow – Future

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As +pire intransitive verb aspired / aspiring 1. to be ambitious (to get or do something) 2. Seek (after) Webster New World College Dictionary As +pire intransitive verb aspired / aspiring 1. To have a great ambition or ultimate goal, desire strongly 2. To strive toward an end: aspiring to great knowledge 3. To soar The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language. A little stepping stone.I’ve reached one hundred post’s and I’ve enjoyed every minute of the time I’ve spent sharing my travels, my home , garden and recipes. Who would have thought only a few month’s ago starting this blog would have meant so much to me,today. I’ve entered into a whole new world, meeting on line,new friends from all over the world. Those who inspire me with their photo’s,recipes,creative hands and poetry. Sharing their little piece of their world and entering into mine. New Years resolutions are often hard to complete, but I’m on my way aspiring to achieve new things in my life. Achieving those ultimate goals… I found a quote …

Sgroppino

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So what’s Sgroppino? Is it ice-cream or sorbet? Sgroppino is served between courses or at the end, even as dessert. It’s original to the Veneto region of Italy. An alternative to lemon sorbet, and it’s delicious! An Italian milkshake with a little kick! At special occasions, a family dinner or with friends, a glass of Sgroppino is a smooth, creamy drink, icy cold and a sharp lemon taste, that I know will send everyones taste buds tingling. There are a few variations on the flavour, liquorices,coffee but my preference is stick to the original lemon flavour.  Easy to make, try this one at your next gathering of friends.