Twigs & Honey on Facebook.... umm... finally!

photo credits: Aimee Jobe Photography
Haha!
I've always been the one to say, "I'm never joining facebook" and I finally got enough nudging that I started one up for Twigs & Honey. I think I was most dreading the random people from the past trying to track me down. SO, if you're a fan of Twigs & Honey, a friend, a family member or supporter, visit the new facebook page. Please! I was halfway joking with the hubby that I'm such a facebook loser right now with such a small number of fans (but great fans!!)... it makes you feel like you're in high school again. Anyone agree? I guess some things never change, but I hope to get more unique posts on my facebook wall. There are some great images from Aimee Jobe Photography and more!
Become a Twigs & Honey fan HERE (and help me not feel like the high school misfit again!). :) :) :)
Full url: http://www.facebook.com/pages/twigs-honey/130877813592906?ref=ts
*bonus points if you spread the word!
For Elizabeth Messina's A Lovely Workshop
Dress: Claire Pettibone
Hair: Erin Skipley
Makeup: Lauren Napier

Out & About: SGAR Opening

Renai Grace & Paul Spiro stand in front of one of the paintings we purchased last night by artist Simone Louise Gillespie

This is the other Simone Louise Gillespie painting we purchased

It was so nice to get out of the tracksuit pants I've been sporting all week and into some proper clothes with make-up on last night to head out to the opening of Spiro Grace Art Rooms in Spring Hill.

Brad, Harry & I decided we needed some adult time out so we decided to leave Max with his gorgeous Nanny Rhonda for a few hours whilst we attended the gallery opening. I had my first glass of French champagne in 9 months upon arriving at the gallery. It went straight to my head of course. We ended up purchasing 2 paintings by emerging artist Simone Louise Gillespie. I was so thrilled we decided on them straight away as every painting I looked at as the night progressed had a sold sticker.

Gallery owners Paul Spiro {yes he is related to me - he is my uncle} and Renai Grace will be showcasing emerging {and therefore quite reasonably priced} artists in their space on a quarterly basis. I for one can't wait for their next exhibition.

For all enquiries or to be added to SGAR's mailing list email Renai renai@sgar.com.au

Kiddo in the Kitchen: Chocolate Mint Icebox Cake

I wanted to put this in the post title, but it was too long: "5-ingredient, no-bake, Chocolate Mint Icebox Cake!"

Kiddo picked this recipe from my collection of Everyday Food magazines. Everyday Food is a wonderful little magazine from Martha Stewart. If you've never picked up a copy, you might want to. Unlike some of the more complicated ones in MS Living, Everyday Food is filled with EASY recipes. I had to stop subscribing after a few years because there were so many recipes I wanted to try...I couldn't take any more!

This recipe seems too simple...and like it can't be all that good. Wafers, cream? That's it? Well, once assembled, the wafers soak up that cream and become cakey and soft. Plus, it looks really cool once you cut into it.

Chocolate Mint Icebox Cake
{adapted from Everyday Food}

1 & 3/4 c. heavy cream
3/4 tsp mint extract
1/4 c. sugar
1 (9 oz.) pkg. chocolate wafers
1/3 c. mini chocolate chips

Beat the heavy cream, extract & sugar until stiff peaks form.

Spread about 1 teaspoon of cream on each wafer and form stacks on a plate.

{This would have gone a lot quicker had 5/6ths of the wafers not been cracked. Ahem, chocolate wafer packagers.}

Line a serving platter with two side-by-side sheets of wax paper. (You'll pull these out later.) Lay the stacks horizontally along the seam, pressing gently to form a log.

With an offset spatula, cover the log with the remaining cream. Refrigerate at least 4 hours and up to 2 days.

Before serving, gently pull wax paper from under the cake. Sprinkle with chocolate chips. Slice cake diagonally with a serrated knife.

Kiddo gives this an 8.5....a perfect cold, minty treat for after tossing the football in the backyard.
{You can still see ours in the background.} :)

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I'm linking this up to Tidymom's I'm Lovin' It Party. Have you been? Lots of great ideas and goodies are linked up every Friday!

Wags 'n Whiskers Handcrafted with Love

Woohoo!!! Happy Friday and it's a long weekend in the US! Right now, I've got my head buried in my paper and glue, creating away, and I'm happy as can be! It's time for a new challenge from Wag's 'n Whiskers, and this week, the challenge is from the awesome and extremely talented Melanie! Melanie is asking for us to use any handcrafted embellishment on our project. I used some of my crocheted lace along with this adorable image of Ansley and Princess called Ansley's Suprise. I colored it with Copic markers and cut it out with petite circle nestabilities.

The papers are digital by Kay Miller and the flourishes were cut with my Cricut and I added some Stickles on them. Ribbon is May Arts silk and the flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts. Please be sure and visit the rest of the Divas to see their fabulous creations with their handmade embellies! Then we'd completely love it if you'd join us in the challenge on the Wags 'n Whiskers blog. But remember, to have a chance to win a new Wags 'n Whiskers stamp of your choice, you must use a WnW image for your project!

Melanie, Renata, Karen, Tina, Michele, Chris, Jacqui, Jeanette, Lacey, and our guest Tara!

Thanks for stopping by to see me today, and hope to see you back again soon! Hugs!

Authority Always Wins

It may seem commonplace to find a trunk, a bench, chairs or even a loveseat at the foot of a bed, and although it might seem like a trite formula, I believe it is a smart use of space.

Coastal Living

L: Sneak Peek: Linn Gresham- Design*Sponge. R: Elle Decor

House Beautiful


Lonny


Elle Decor

If a room can accommodate their placement, the addition of these pieces is a perfect way to add seating or extra storage. They can give you a place to slip on your shoes, to read, or to watch television.

Elle Decor


Southern Living


Coastal Living

I must admit, however, if you are at all like E or me, there can be a dark side to these pieces too-- they can become a staging point for my mortal enemy, clutter.

L: Stylist- Rachel Roberts R: Elle Decor

I am definitely a maximalist, so keeping clutter contained seems to require a constant effort on my part; all too easily an innocent chair becomes a place where a stack of folded laundry decides to rest after getting lost on the way to the dresser, where discarded clothing takes up temporary residence after being unable to decide between returning to the closet or going to the hamper, or where a bag housing a store return will often overstay its welcome.

Anne Coyle Interiors


Elle Decor


Courtney Giles

While I can't actually say authority always wins in my battle with clutter, I will continue to fight to keeping chairs free of such vagabonds items in the name of design. Tell me, do any of your belongings exhibit such a blatant disregard for the rules or do they always do as they should?

Baby Reads Newspaper in Toilet - Funny Picture

Baby Reads Newspaper in Toilet - Funny Picture

Baby Shows Middle Finger - Funny Picture

Baby Shows Middle Finger - Funny Picture