the cake's a winner!

The only thing harder than buying a gift for a man, is buying a gift for my Dad!

At 58, he has everything he could possibly need (and more) and anything else he wants is bought the moment it flashes into his mind.

So as you could imagine, I've racked my brain thinking of an original gift that he'll love and not toss aside the minute he sees his birthday cake. But nothing. Not an iota of an idea! So off to Bunnings I go for yet another gift card... ho hum.

So to distract from the lack luster gift, maybe I could create something special?

First the card...

I started with a brilliant idea but turns out I didn't have any of the materials I needed. So this is what I ended up with:

Hmmm... not off to a great start! Boring present, dud card...

But then I stumbled on a brilliant idea on Pinterest. It was so easy to make and I think it's a winner!

What do you think? Dad LOVES Kit Kat's, Mum LOVES cake and who doesn't love Smarties?
It's the perfect cake for my Dad's birthday and I have to admit, I think it looks brilliant!

Let's just hope it is so glaringly brilliant that it distracts Dad from the rest of his present!

Happy birthday Dad!

Michelle xx

home is where the heart is

When I purchased my first house, I was so eager to give my close family and friends a tour! 

Even with the embossed wallpaper, shag pile carpets, silk tassel light shades and a jungle for a backyard, I still loved it. 
I worked hard to get it and it was mine!

So of course I was elated and humbled when invited to a friends housewarming today. I just couldn't wait to see how she had transformed her own house into a home... A home where she and her partner will make a life together. 
 Home, where their heart will be. 

And here's what I made to add to their housewarming gifts:

Michelle xx

eating my way through easter!

The Greek Easter weekend ended three nights ago, so why does it feel like I've only just taken my last bite of the Easter feast? And why am I so full I can't even bare thinking about cracking open my first choccie bunny? 

Well, I'll let you in on an ancient Greek secret... After we rejoice in Jesus' resurrection, we eat. Then we eat some more! And some more! And just a lil' more! And... think you've had enough? Well obviously you haven't... so have some MORE!

Still don't get the message? Well it all comes down to this...

If you don't:

a. Indulge in the Saturday midnight feast

(usually consisting of the greasiest food possible to make up for 40 days of fasting!)

b. Eat chocolate for breakfast

(or like me, tsoureki and milk in bed)

c. Sample the scolding hot meat straight from the spit

(yes please!)

d. Sample the scolding hot pita straight from the oven

(sample? try being careful not to demolish the whole tray!)

e. Taste everything to make sure it's been seasoned right 

f. Stack your plate high with a bit of everything on the buffet 

(including all five tzatziki's made by five different women!)

g. Try every woman's kourabiethes, melomakarona's, koulourakia, etc.

(and secretly whisper theirs was the best!)

h. Try every woman's tsoureki

(because you wont see another crumb until next Easter!)

i. Join the folly of the egg cracking... then eat the egg!

(you have no choice in the matter!)

j. Leave and do it all again with the other side of the family

k. Return on Monday to help finish the left overs...

Then you can't call yourself a Greek!

But with all humor aside, our Easter will always be about our faith. It's also about our family and the traditions that have held fast generation after generation.

And although I'm not about to make public the special family photos taken over the last fortnight, I am happy to share a few of the photos that represent a small handful of our wonderful Easter traditions:

I hope you all spent the Easter weekend(s) doing what is meaningful to you and your loved ones. For me, even with the indigestion and weight gain, I feel blessed sharing yet another weekend with all of the people I love and cherish most.

Michelle xx

 

handmade easter cards and gift wrapping

With little time and still so much to do in preparation for this weekends Greek Orthodox Easter, I will have to make today's post super brief. So with a little help from my two new friends, here it is - a sneak peek at what I'm creating for this weekend:

I've made a start on the seventeen Easter gifts (no, not the rabbits... the gifts are in the bags!)...

And the cards are all done...

Now, to psych myself up for a baking marathon! 

And if I survive the weekend I will post some more photos and maybe even pass on some goodies to a special few!

Michelle xx

the 'no time for breakfast' breakfast smoothie

I've been AWOL in the blog world lately, but with good reason. January through March has been jam packed with renovations, birthdays, dinners and new baby visits. And over the next 7 weeks I have a housewarming, kitchen tea, 2 bridal showers, 3 weddings, 5 birthdays, Mother's Day, 2 new baby visits, Easter, then Greek Orthodox Easter, a few dinners and then a flight out to Bali for another special wedding! Couple that with stage 2 of the external renovations, shopping for party outfits and gifts, preparing for Easter, planning the trip to Bali and winding things up at work, and you've got yourself one stressed out, creatively challenged blogger!

So in the spirit of having no time, I'd like to share my favourite breakfast for when I have no time for breakfast (which lately, is almost every day!). It's a banana smoothie... It's my all time favourite drink and my version is super healthy too! 

I drink it while I'm putting on my make-up, running out the door, driving to work or after a long work out at the gym.

All you have to do is combine 1 cup skim milk, 1 chopped banana, 1 teaspoon each of ground flaxseed and wheat germ and 1/2 teaspoon honey (or more if you're a sweet tooth!) and blend.

That's all there is to it!

It sounds simple but it's yummy and one cup of this will keep you full for most of the morning. It's also a great way for the kids (and even the adults!) to get the health benefits of ground flaxseed and wheat germ without them knowing! 

Did you know that banana helps reduce LDL cholesterol and protect nerve cells and it's a great source of vitamins B6, C and potassium? The ground flaxseed has anti-inflammatory benefits, promotes bone health, reduces LDL cholesterol and controls blood pressure. And it's rich in omega-3 fatty acids, manganese, B1 and fibre. The wheat germ is a powerful antioxidant rich in folic acid, omega-3 fatty acids, B vitamins and vitamin C. It also has fibre, protein, complex carbohydrates and 10 of the 16 major and trace minerals our body needs to stay healthy. And the milk, it's got calcium, protein and vitamins A, D, E, K, B and C!

Try it today and while you're at it, make me a glass because I'm all out of time!

Michelle xx