Cookie Monster

So recently I've been getting all domestic and while in the festive mood I really wanted to try my hand at a spot of baking.

I can't say it's my forte but it certainly was a lot of fun making all this mess :)

I didn't have all the wiz bang tools so had to improvise a little when making my cloud, kite & button shapes.

Still, I think they turned out alright considering...

And the end result… drum roll please…

So what do you think?

Side note: A few months ago we had new neighbours move in next door.

A lovely young couple and their two adorable children.

As the weeks rolled by and I never had the chance to properly introduce myself, I feared what these people must think of their mysterious (rude) neighbour who worked long hours into the night, people coming and going from her house yet never taking the time to pop over and say hello.

It just seemed like every time they were home I was busy working and on the weekends I was free they always went away...

Before too long it just seemed too hard and in these fragile early stages of the relationship it already felt quite strained as we shyly waved our obligatory hellos and goodbyes every now and then.

Wracked with how to welcome them to the neighbourhood after so long I settled on baking them this little treat as a peace offering.

After all, who can refuse the allure of a good old fashioned sugar cookie?

No longer caring if the time was right I took my cookie jar over last night and presented it for better or for worse.

I think it must have worked as today, for the first time since they moved in, Lady of the House managed to stop and have a little chat with me in her front yard while the kids played hide and seek around us.

I miss the friendly days of old where everyone in the street knew each other and everyone got along, mostly. 

I don't expect to become besties but I do think this has opened up a little path of friendliness in an age where communities are more disconnected than harmonious.

Regardless of what happens, I love to give and as yummy as these would have been to keep to myself, it felt so much more fulfilling to see the beaming faces of master 5 and miss 3 as they told me which of the cookies were their favourites.

Faves were the kites & clouds by the way. But only after they were finished playing with their planes.

Success  :)  

Recipe Index:

❥Kittencal's Buttery Cut-Out Sugar Cookies W/ Icing That Hardens - This dough was my favourite to work with. Just don't over bake the cookies like I did and go wasting a whole batch.

❥The Best Rolled Sugar Cookies - By comparison this dough produced the fluffiest and sweetest result (perfect for my little clouds) but was a nightmare to work with. Super gooey, so have extra flour handy for dusting and manageability.

❥Shortbread Buttons - Looks like a great recipe but I used it more for inspiration rather than follow it to the letter.

❥Cookie Clouds - Couldn't actually download the PDF (and the blog owner never responded to my e-mail so couldn't get my hands on it) but the blog is still great for inspiration.

It's All About The Bling!

After some inspiration via Pintrest and the beat on the street I finally got over my fear of nail art and made an attempt to be a little more creative with my manicures this month.

Prepare to be Bedazzled!

(Just please ignore my scrappy looking cuticles

and rough little edges.)

I think I could stand to be a bit more adventurous with the stone placement. Mine aren't quite as hardcore as the first ones shown but I think they're a good start.

Also just to let you know both attempts were done using Shellac so no damage at the end to the nail whatsoever. 

See?

Healthy, strong and longer nails are the end result.

I love CND ♥

Bored Much?

Select your fragrances, get your jars ready & melt your wax.

A little while ago I mentioned I'd be trying my hand at a bit of crafting of sorts.
My bumbled attempt at home made Scented Soy Candles.

Well I finally did it and the process was much easier and quicker than I thought it would be.

Allow the wax to cool slightly before blending through your fragrance oil.
Then carefully pour the combined product into your container or jar.

I used pegs to keep my wicks in place while the wax cooled.

Turns out the hardest part is working out the oil to wax ratio depending on how strong you like your fragrance.

Getting creative with oil blends is also a working progress as my attempt at creating a Vanilla & Cinnamon blend using a dash of essential oil somehow came out smelling like banana.

Weird.

As well as underestimating how much oil I'd need to create a strong enough fragrance, I also mucked the big one up by not melting enough soy flakes to fill it with.

Still the finishing product was really pretty...

And all up it took less than an hour to create 4 luscious smelling candles.

Think I'd like to invest in some colour cubes so as to
distinguish between the different flavours  :)

After 24hrs they were ready to burn.

Tropical Malibu has been the clear winner so far but

next on the crafting list is Cherry Blossom,

Frangipani, Mandarin, &

Christmas Day.

- Eat your heart out, Better Homes & Gardens.
Surely this beats your mutated glove puppets?

p.s. Forgot to mention that all the materials cost me around $80

with the oils being the most expensive items at around $12 each.

The 2kgs of Soy Wax, 6 wicks & 6 assorted jars cost next to nothing.

(Your containers can be picked up from anywhere, you could easily use mason jars, old tins or you could even make pretty little teacup candles.) 

The best part is soy wax is completely natural and water soluble so once you've finished your candle simply wash in warm water and refill with a new fragrance.


...I'm getting way too excited about this aren't I? Showing my true colours and all that...
Crap, the jig is up!