Moving on.

Well hello!

Yes, yes...I know...it's been a while hasn't it.

The thing is a lot...A LOT...has been happening in the last few months. What's been happening, you ask? Well...

We got a dog! 

His name is Chase. Don't ask me what he is because I really couldn't tell you except that he is a Border Collie X ...German Sheppard, maybe...with a bit of Kelpie thrown in there too...because, my god that dog can jump!

 He is now much, much bigger than this tiny little bundle of cuteness!

Christmas!!
I just LOVE having a child at Christmas time, it really puts the fun and energy back into it!

 New Years/my son's 2nd Birthday.

Yes, I have a new years day baby. And what a crazy time it is! I never realised how close Christmas Day and New Years Day are together until I had my son. MADNESS!

My attempt at the rocket ship off Yo Gabba Gabba. My son LOVES it! LOVES rockets and all things space!

Put the house on the Market!

Something my husband and I had talked about for a long time. It was a hard thing to do but we felt it was the right thing to.

My husband and I split up.

Please don't feel sad for me because I am now a happy person...it was a toxic life I was living and I finally put an end to it. My son has been sooo much happier too.

I am now trying to finding a place of my own.

...and it's been so damn hard! but I have a good feeling about my latest rental application.

I created a new blog!

With this fresh start I have in life at the moment, I felt it only right to start afresh with a new blog too. At the end of the week this blog will no longer exist and the facebook page will be gone too to make way for 

 

A lot of hard work gone, yes I know, but I just really felt I had to start again with the real me that I feel I can be now.

Go on, head on over and have a sticky beak. 

Thank you soo so much for all you have given me and I hope to see you sometime at Pretty Pink Peony.

Over and out.

Recipe | Steamed Christmas Pudding

Hello lovelies!

Image source

I was typing out this recipe just now, and thought what better time than now to pop in and say hi and see how you are doing; and to share it with you of course.

It's the recipe of my awesomely amazing famous Christmas Pudding...well, famous among family and friends that is =P ...I make each and every Christmas, due to it's popular demand, and have done so for the past seven or so years.

This year I have only made one pudding, but I usually make 2 or 3 extra batches, which I make into smaller puddings, to give as gifts. (This year, I'm hand making other things for gifts.)

Last years mini Christmas pudding gift.

Just a note before I go on with the recipe - you do need to set aside the day to make this pudding as it takes up about 6 - 8 hour of your time, 4hrs of which the pudding is in the steamer for and that you'll need to keep an eye of while you entertain the kids (one sick kid, it was in my case) and do the laundry and all that wonderful fantastic stuff =P 

Other than that, it is really quick and simple!

Ingredience

500g (3 1/4 cups) mixed fruit

125g (3/4 cup) chopped dates
125g (3/4 cup) chopped raisins
180ml  (3/4 cup) water
1 cup brown sugar, firmly packed 
100g butter
1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
2 eggs, lightly beaten 

1 cup plain flour
1 cup self-raising flour
1 teaspoon mixed spice
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon 
2 teaspoons finely grated orange rind 
2 teaspoons finely grated lemon rind
1/3 cup dark rum 

(Extra rum for soaking fruit)

Method

1. Combine fruit into a sealable container and soak in ‘extra’ rum for at least 12 hours; shake occasionally. (This step of soaking fruit is not necessary; but is very well worth it!) 
2. In a large saucepan, combine fruit, water, sugar and butter. Stir constantly over heat until butter is melted and sugar dissolved. Bring to the boil;  reduce heat, and simmer uncovered, 8 minutes.
3. Transfer mixture to a large bowl, and allow to cool to room temperature.
4. Stir in soda, eggs, sifted dry ingredients, rinds and rum. 
5. Place mixture into a well-greased 8 cup steamer or basin. Top with pleated baking paper and foil (this allows pudding to expand as it cooks); secure with kitchen string or lid.
6. Place pudding in a large boiler with enough boiling water to come half way up the side of the steamer. Cover with tight fitting lid and boil for 4 hours, replenishing water as necessary.
7. Allow pudding to stand for 10 minutes before turning onto a plate, serve however you desire.

Cooking notes

• This pudding is best made weeks in advance!
• To store: When cold, store pudding in steamer in refrigerator for up to 6 weeks. If storage time is to be longer, remove the pudding from the steamer after 10 minutes, cool to room temperature, wrap in plastic wrap or bag then foil, store in refrigerator.

• Can be stored in the refrigerator for up to two months or frozen up to 12 months 

• To reheat: Remove pudding from refrigerator for 12 hours beforehand. Steam for 2 hours following instructions in step 6. Make sure plastic wrap is removed, if used, and allow pudding to defrost in the refrigerator for three days prior if frozen.

This recipe adapted from the Australian Woman's Weekly Christmas Cooking book.

Download your free printable version of this recipe here!

Thank you and goodbye...for now anyway =P

 This has been on the back of my mind for a while now, but I keep putting it off thinking that it's just me being silly, and that I will get over the thoughts. My little free time that I have, is becoming more and more precious, and I find myself trying to blog rather than naturally blogging.

It has become one of my stresses and it shouldn't be, so I have decided to simply free myself from the blogging world for a while, until I am more able to give it the attention that I would like to give it.

It's been so wonderful getting to know you. The love and support you have given me has been truly amazing and has absolutely meant the world to me; so I thank you, from the bottom of my heart! There really are some beautiful people out there, people of who I would love to meet one day.

Unfortunately though, it saddens me that some of these truly beautiful people, have recently been the victim (without cause) of some very unnecessary, mindless criticism by some very unattractive people. It just sickens me and is a little disheartening. So at the moment I also feel a little un-energized to blog.

Everyone has their battles. 

Judging people and putting others down only gives you an illusion of happiness.

It doesn't define who they are, it defines who you are.

 Making someone else smile is the best feeling in the world, because it makes you feel happy too.

I am very sad to say goodbye, so early in my blogging days, but I feel it is the healthiest thing for me to do right now. So, although I say goodbye for now, I'll still pop in from time to time, when I can, and check up on how you are doing. Ha...who knows, I may not be able to help myself and write the occasional post at times...but I'm no longer putting the pressure on myself to post.

I wish you many beautiful days...void of all ugly people, and if they enter, please don't let them take up residence in your headspace. 

Thank you so much, again...truly, you have been wonderful!

MWAH XX

Friday finds | Gift wrapping tips & tricks

Obviously I can't get gift wrapping off my mind.

The reason...

I have two weddings this weekend, one of which I am so sad to not be attending...it's in Perth and is TODAY! and I so wish we could have made it there. One day I will get to Perth, one day.

Congratulations Jen and Scotty! Love you guys xx

The other wedding is at the coast tomorrow, and will be our first overnighter without our son EVER! Thanks mum and dad! Love you guys too xx

So today, I'm sharing with you a few gift wrapping 101's. 

I've shown you some fabulous ideas, so it's only fair for your mind that I share with you some how to's, to go with those ideas.

Double ruffle gift topper tutorial

gift wrapping tutorial

fabric (or ribbon) rosette tutorial

The most perfect tutorial on how to tie the ribbon onto your gift.

This man is a ledgend when it comes to gift wrapping!

How to tie a layered bow.

Have a nice day!

{Not so} Wordless Wednesday |Que sera, sera (Whatever will be, will be)

Tuesday means daycare day. It is also means my day off. Well, not really...it's the day that I race around like a mad woman doing all the things I can't do with a toddler around. Busy, busy, busy!

So it was Tuesday morning and there I was, all dressed and super keen for a boxfit class. The first form of exercise I would be doing in a long time! My bag was packed, with my makeup and clothes, for a Melbourne Cup Day lunch with some girlfriends. I also had a bit of shopping to do, bills to pay and other random things...including an appointment later that afternoon, to have the 'lady forest' cleared...it's been WAY too long! literally, but you didn't really need to know that, did you. And then I saw it...

The rash on my sons back. The rash that I thought two days prior was only a bit of heat rash. It was now all over his back...and all over his chest. A quick trip to the chemist for some advice, before heading to daycare, told me my son had to stay at home today. *Sigh*

Again, "nothing is going to get done!" I thought.

But instead of getting too worked up, for some strange reason, all I could feel was complete and utter calmness. And so I took solace in the ability of not having to do a damn thing at all. And it was good...still a little hectic, with a grouchy toddler, but all in all it was good. And this is was we did...

...a picnic in our own back yard!

Prior apologies for the number of photos you will find. I was also having a play with my new camera that my parents surprised me with over the weekend. Not an DSLR, but at least it's an actual camera!

The outdoors is just so peaceful.

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