Bring on Independence Day!

Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July, is a huge holiday here in the states commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain. Cannot wait for this awesome day, I love fireworks!

If you are planning a party for this special occasion, here are some great ideas!

Fun
I found this really cool idea for kids (or big kids). This would have been a hit with me as a kid and these days it's tempting to wear these around as I'm only 5'2" tall! You can find instructions on how to make these stilts here! I might even make these as we're spending the holiday in Las Vegas and I will definitely not be able to see over the crowds on Las Vegas Boulevard!

Decorating
This decorating set from one of my favourite blogsters, "Twig and Thistle", will make your 4th of July table very festive! Their downloadable PDF includes sparkler cards, matchbook wrappers and straw tags, awesome and simple, as always!

And OMG, these "Bald eagle Tissue Paper Lanterns" are hilarious, I am definitely making these :)

Food
Ok, so there are a million recipes on the web for "American" food, but nothing speaks "America" to me more than Cherry Cola, so I love this recipe for "Cherry Cola Cake"

Ingredients

• 1 pkg. chocolate cake mix(you can make your own chocolate cake if you wish)
  
• Cherry cola
• 1 1/2 tsp. ground ginger
• 1 tsp. finely shredded lime peel
• 1 recipe Celebration Icing
• 10 to 12 dark sweet cherries with stems

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degree F. Grease and flour a 13x9x2-inch baking pan; set aside. Prepare cake mix according to package directions except substitute cherry cola for the liquid called for and add ground ginger and lime peel. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake according to package directions. Cool for 10 minutes on a wire rack. Remove from pan; cool completely on wire rack.

2. Use a serrated knife to cut top of cake level. Trim edges of cake. Discard trimmed pieces. Cut cake in half lengthwise into two 13x4-1/2-inch rectangles. Place one rectangle on a serving platter. Spread with tinted icing. Top with second rectangle. Spread with white icing. Refrigerate cake for 1 hour or until icing is set. Wrap cake in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for 4 to 24 hours before serving. Top each slice with a cherry. Makes 10 to 12 servings.

Celebration Icing: This recipe is based a 1-lb. box (about 41/2 cups) of powdered sugar. In a medium mixing bowl beat 1/3 cup butter with electric mixer until smooth. Gradually add 1 cup powdered sugar, beating well. Slowly beat in 3 tablespoons milk and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Gradually beat in 2 cups powdered sugar. Divide the mixture in half.

Happy 4th July America!

Bring on Chocolate Pudding Day!

Chocolate pudding originated as a variation of the more traditional chocolate custard. The North American version is usually a variation on the chocolate custard, however, the Australian version is often the steamed cake-like dessert. During the early years of chocolate pudding, it was considered a food item suitable for children who have a weak physical disposition. It was so because of the high calories, and therefore energy, quotient contained in chocolate. Later it became an item that found mention in the dessert menu of all self-respecting eateries. General Foods introduced the chocolate pudding mix in 1934 and it became famous as "Jell-O Chocolate Pudding" in 1936.

Chocolate Pudding Day is celebrated on June 26th, and it is definitely a great reason to toast to one of the most popular food items. Trivial it may seem to the purists when they hear of days being named after food-items which to their perception are sold in the back-streets, but they have always been the same. Go out there on Chocolate Pudding Day, have plenty of them and plan when to have them next! Calories do not count on Chocolate Pudding Day!

Either buy (if you HAVE to!) or make your own chocolate pudding! I love this recipe from Martha's website for "Potted" Chocolate Pudding!


Ingredients Makes 20 three-ounce servings (5 1/2 cups)

• 3/4 pint sugar
• 6 tablespoons cornstarch
• 3 tablespoons cocoa powder
• Pinch of salt
• 2 1/2 cups heavy cream
• 2 1/2 cups whole milk
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 12 ounces best-quality semisweet chocolate, finely chopped
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into bits
• 14 chocolate cookies, ground fine
• 20 sprigs edible, organic flowering herbs

Directions

1. Whisk sugar, cornstarch, cocoa, and salt in a medium pan. Combine cream, milk, and vanilla in a large measuring cup. Whisk 2 cups liquid into dry ingredients until cornstarch is completely dissolved. Whisk in remaining cream mixture until smooth.
2. Place pan over medium heat. Cook, whisking constantly, until mixture comes to a boil and thickens, 7 to 8 minutes. Add chocolate; cook, whisking until melted, about 1 minute. Remove from heat; whisk in butter until melted. Divide pudding between glasses, leaving about 1/2 inch at the top. Refrigerate until completely set, about 1 hour; chill until ready to serve.
3. Just before serving, top each with 1 1/2 teaspoons crushed cookies, and "plant" an herb sprig. Serve cold.

Enjoy! Happy Chocolate Pudding Day!

Happy Father's Day!

It's that time of the year when we get to tell our dads how ace they are :) I love these holidays, especially when I am with my family. Unfortunately this year Daniel's dad is home in Canada and my dad is in Australia, although Australian father's day is not until September (it's the same in New Zealand). So even though we'll be celebrating with phone calls, if our dads were with us I would definitely have a moustache (Australian spelling) themed get together!

Ok, so here is a fabulous idea from the very talented "Sprinkle Bakes" for moustache themed cupcakes, I have to admit that these look amazing, and apparently men love the taste of these cakes!

If your dad is a coffee cup kind of guy you could give him this awesome cup from Urban Outfitters

They also have these awesome bandages

...and these fantastic pillow cases

Even Martha is in on the mustache decorating with her "Mustache on a Stick" DIY

Hope that gave you all some ideas for Sunday.....Happy Father's Day!

Going Cuckoo!

I thought that "National Cuckoo Warning Day" was a appropriate post for the blog due to the crazy past month or so, talk about super busy! I have no idea how the time passed, but I'm excited to get back to blogging and sharing the crazy holidays coming up :)

Every year Cuckoo Warning Day is celebrated on the 21st of June. The saying goes that if the cuckoo sings, your summer will be a wet one. So bring along a warm, bright and beautiful summer for yourself and your loved ones by sending them some warm wishes.

Perhaps because I was born in a town that borders Germany (lol) I feel drawn to cuckoo clocks, and have had a blast looking at all the wonderful contemporary cuckoo clocks that are available on the web. So in the spirit of "National Cuckoo Warning Day" I thought I would blog about these amazing cuckoo clock related items!

I adore this Cuckoo Clock Wall Hanging from decoylab on etsy.com as well as this Cuckoo Clock Ornament from Anthropologie.

I also really want to get this Cuckoo Clock Charming Silhouette from AFancifulTwist on etsy.com

and I know many lovely Jacksonville ladies would also love this Cake Time Tea Towel by MrPS, also on etsy.com (gees that website is great!).

In all of the items above the strongest theme to me seems to be modern, simple colours, and a retro feel. I am currently watching a few cuckoo clocks on e-bay. I plan to buy a clock and paint it one simple solid color, definitely thinking turquoise or vintage green! You could also buy a cuckoo clock image and add your own clock movement (you can pick these up for little money on e-bay).

Happy Cuckoo Day!!!

Cinco de Mayo

Cinco de Mayo (fifth of May) is a regional holiday in Mexico. The holiday commemorates the Mexican army's unlikely victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862, under the leadership of Mexican General Ignacio Zaragoza Seguin.

In the USA, this is a huge celebration, so if you are planning your own celebration here are some ideas for decorations and yummy goodies! Cinco de Mayo just isn't a fiesta without crispy empanadas and fresh margaritas. Martha has an exciting looking empanada recipe, which you can find here. If you are looking for an exciting margarita recipe, this looks great:

Pomegranate Margarita

• Lime wedge, plus more for garnish
• Salt or Rock Candy finely crushed
• Ice
• 4 ounces Jose Cuervo Especial
• 2 Tbls Orange flavored liqueur
• 1/2 cup pomegranate juice
• 1 lime, juiced (optional)
• Club soda

Mix in a blender and enjoy!

Now for the decorations. So you now probably know I love origami, and so I was so excited when I found these cool origami projects for this special day!

Paper Maracas

Directions:
1. Print maracas on card stock paper. 2. Cut out along solid black lines. 3. Fold tabs and assemble with tape, leaving square top of maracas open. 4. Fill maracas with a few dried beans, then tape top closed.

Origami Mexican Doll

Directions:

1a. Print and cut out doll face and fan along outer solid line. 1b. Cut out Cinco de Mayo doll body along outer solid line. 1c. Turn doll body over so that the printed side is facing down.
2a. Crease along diagonal line as shown. Unfold. 2b. Repeat crease along diagonal line on other side, as shown. Unfold. 2c. Turn origami over so that the printed side faces up. 2d. Crease down along horizontal line as shown. Unfold.
3a. With printed side facing down, carefully "tent" fold upper body forward, as shown. 3b. Fold doll's skirt back, as shown. 3c. Repeat on other side.
4a. Glue head onto body. 4b. Glue fan onto either hand. 4c. Your Cinco de Mayo Origami doll is finished!
Happy Cinco de Mayo!

Happy May Day!

Well, May is here and what a wonderful time of the year it is. The weather has warmed up considerably, and I don't know about you, but I'm ready for some sun! My wonderful husband bought me the pink tulips, and what a great way to start May day it was :)

A popular activity on May Day is to decorate a pole with brightly colored ribbon or paper streamers. Some also add flowers and balloons. The pole is usually carried in a parade and then placed in the ground at a designated area. People then dance around the May pole, holding the ends of the streamers or ribbon in their hands.

In some parts of the USA, May Baskets are made. These baskets are small and usually filled with flowers or treats and left at someone's doorstep. The basket giver would ring the bell and run away. The person receiving the basket would try to catch the fleeing giver. If they caught the person, a kiss was to be exchanged.

I am including a basic instruction for a cone basket, fill it with anything you desire, and give this to your friends on May day, they'll love it! (ps. if you need my address I can e-mail it to you :) )

May Day Cone Basket

Instructions:
Cut a triangle shape out of bright colored construction paper. Make the point flat. Roll the triangle into a cone shape and tape the 2 sides together. Trim off any extra paper around the top of the cone to make it even.

Cut a strip of construction paper that is approximately 12-inches long by 2-inches wide. Tape this strip onto the top of your cone to make a handle.

Now you can fill the cone with flowers and/or treats.

Happy May Day!!

Bring on ANZAC day!

Anzac Day is a national day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand, and is commemorated by both countries on 25 April every year to honour members of the Australia and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) who fought at Gallipoli in Turkey during World War I. It now more broadly commemorates all those who died and served in military operations for their countries. ANZAC day is a public holiday in my homeland, and there are usually parades in every city to commemorate the day. The dawn (meaning you have to be there before dawn) service in Melbourne is always amazing! After the march, everyone then settles in at their favourite pub to drink the day away and share stories.

Long before the wars, the flower that symbolized death, renewal and life was the poppy. Following the Great War, it has become synonymous with remembrance. In Australia, single poppies are not usually worn on ANZAC Day (this is reserved for Remembrance Day, 11 November). However, wreaths of poppies are traditionally placed at memorials and honour boards on ANZAC Day. I am including this DIY for making paper poppies, you can make a bunch of them and create your own wreath.

Paper Poppies

1. Cut 8 circles from red card/paper
2. Draw some veins on these circles to look like petals
3. Layer 4 petals like the picture below

4. Layer 4 more petals behind the first ones. All with glue or tape

5. Now cut 4 small circles from black card. This will be the centre of the poppy.
6. Cut lines into the center of 3 of the circles

7. Cut out a Mulberry leaf from the green card

8. Cut curved triangles into the leaf edges
9. Score veins into the leaf leaning on a spongy surface
10. Put three shredded circles in a triangle formation. Then put the plain circle on top of that. Put the leaf underneath the complete flower. All put together with glue or tape

One popular treat on Anzac day are Anzac biscuits (originally called Soldiers' biscuits). They came into being around 1915 when soldiers' wives and/or mothers would bake and send the biscuits to the troops stationed overseas. The biscuits were ideal because they were cheap to make (remember that it was the Great Depression), non-perishable (Anzac biscuits contain no eggs or milk) and so didn't need refrigeration, and gave the men some added nutrition and sustenance. They are super quick and Easy to make!



Anzac Biscuit Ingredients
1 cup plain flour
1 cup sugar
1 cup rolled oats
1 cup desiccated coconut
4 oz butter
2 tablespoons boiling water
1 tablespoon golden syrup
1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda (add a little more water if mixture is too dry)

Anzac Biscuit Directions
Preheat oven to 180 degrees Celsius (or approx 375 degrees F).
Grease a biscuit tray or line with baking paper.
In a large bowl, combine all the dry ingredients.
In a small saucepan over a medium heat (or in a microwave proof jug or bowl in the microwave), combine the butter and golden syrup until the butter has melted.
In a small bowl, combine the boiling water and bicarbonate of soda.
Add the bicarb and water mixture with the melted butter and golden syrup.
Combine all ingredients in a large bowl.
Mix thoroughly.
Dollop teaspoonfuls of the biscuit mixture onto the greased baking tray.
Don't forget that the biscuits WILL spread during baking, so make sure you leave room for them to spread!
Bake for 12 minutes, or until golden brown.
Remove from oven.
Allow the Anzac biscuits to cool on the tray for a few minutes before removing to a cooling rack.

Enjoy ANZAC day, for those of you in Jacksonville, join us at the pub for a beer if you can!