Happy Friday :)

Everyone always talks about mundane Monday's and the joys of fun Friday's, personally, I think it should be merry Monday's too. Ok, so I might be naturally quite a positive person, but you've just had a whole weekend to do what you want, sleep as much as you want and most importantly, a whole weekend away from the office! Bliss. So when that alarm goes on Monday, enjoy the fact that you're starting a new week. A new week that might be busy, but certainly filled with many adventures. 6 weeks ago, I began creating 'Happy Friday' photos, not just for my little brand, but something I'm passionate about, being happy, and for others to be happy. Smiles are contagious and I wanted to try and pass it on. It might not be world changing stuff, and people might be going through a hard time, but a little glimpse of a smile and saying 'Happy Friday' to someone can really, really go a long way. We're in a climate where people like to hone in on the negatives, but my challenge to you, is to wake up every day thinking of at least one thing you are happy about. You never know, it might just bring a smile to your face...

 

The joy of baking.cooking.hosting...

I have a bit of a love for baking.cooking.hosting (one word just didn't quite summarise it) and after a short stint of not really doing any baking.cooking.hosting I'm slowly getting back into it. As of 2014, these little treats caught my eye to get going on creating them...

1. Chocolate chip cookie squares, the slightly healthier version. Wholemeal flour, less sugar, less butter, but all the same tasty goodness.
2. A three course meal for friends, the best kind of meal. A brie, mascarpone and chive dip with bread, followed by some lemony chicken kebabs with polenta fries. Completed with chocolate molten lava cakes with a couple of strawberries for decoration and taste.
3. Melt in your mouth, orangey, spiced shortbread triangles. 
4. Towering Anzac biscuits to aid a little reminiscing of my little jaunt over to Australia last year.

Here's to more baking.cooking.hosting in 2014, I've got a whole collection of recipes just waiting to burst into the oven...

Risky business...

Ever felt like everything you plan next is a little bit risky? That step out of your comfort zone, feels like jumping over a mountain and beyond! It's strange how we put so many checkpoints and markers in place to help us work out if the idea is viable. But most of the time, the next step is completely new. These checkpoints are usually coined out of the 'what ifs', the 'yes, it's going great' or the 'help, it's failing horribly' scenarios. But when you think about it, how can you really know what is going to happen? Yes, you can to an extent predict positive and negative scenarios that could occur, but, what if you used those possible situations, to help prepare you to avoid what could go wrong and to roll with the successes. 

The fear factor for starting something new, will always be there, but it's how you use the fear, is what helps you overcome it. Fear is good, as long as you don't let it take over. Fear helps you plan for all circumstances. Fear helps you to realise how much the idea means to you. Without fear, we might not think about the whole picture, the bigger picture, the dream...

"All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them." Walt Disney

up.cy.cle...

Launching your own mini upcycled craft company is fun. Busy, but fun, with the endless freedom to be as creative as you want. Those ideas you have stored up for a far away rainy day, now have time to escape. Upcycling is not just about reusing something, it's about repurposing it, which is why I was drawn to the whole idea of it. To make something new from combining old elements is an exciting opportunity. Don't get me wrong, I do think buying old products and reusing them is great (and a big part of helping the environment around you), but there are not as many creative possibilities with it. Upcycling on the other hand; infinite...

Cookie-squares...

Ok, ok, so cookie-squares (traybakes) are not a new thing, but oh my, they are a complete baking revelation to me! No more worrying about whether the cookies will merge together and no more worrying about non-gooey cookies. Every bite is nothing but cookie goodness, ignoring the fact that they're not entirely the most healthy of things. With the freedom to put any ingredients in that you like, I decided to mix things up a little. Reducing the quantity of sugar and butter, and switching to wholemeal flour makes a whole lot of difference for you but not to the taste. Here's to changing things up a little bit more, one small step at a time, or a few in this case...