Fit for a Fairy

Well, I've been working on a little side project for my Mama last weekend.  You see she needs to go somewhere as a fairy....preferably dressed in purple....and, a little bit of sparkle and bling is never a bad thing.  BTW the sparkle and bling thing are exact words;)  So this post in the spirit of the project - I've decided to post in purple!


So some thinking was required and a decision was made.  I wanted a cape of flowers - I have vague recollections of a Disney princess with birds and a cape of flowers .. Snow White or Cinderella?

After a visit to Crazy Clarkes, I had started my project and had picked up a cheap scarf - a 3 tone purple number for $8, and some purple pearls.  I also found some purple fairy wings for $3 - child sized so elastic may need to be changed but for $3 that is certainly do-able. After this huge investment, I ratted through my craft cupboard for some paper (and found a few diamante & glitter, surely I could work those in too).  I borrowed a stamp set, and matching punch.  Now to see if I could match what I imagined.

I set about stamping and water colouring HEAPS of flowers.  I created a mix of hand coloured ones, some plain white ones, and some plain "inked" ones.  Sounds tedious, but I was watching a movie so it was more problematic to find the floor space to lay out all the paper to dry.

So next morning, when all was dry, I used a punch to "cut" them out and glued them to the scarf.  Voila a beautiful cape of flowers.  I believe there is a parallel project now running at Mama's house involving old garden shoes and a can of silver spray paint.

Here are the results, a cape fit for a fairy.... ta da...

STAMPS:Stampin' Up Mixed Bunch
INKS: Stampin' Up Elegant Eggplant / Perfect Plum / Orchid Opulence, Stazon Timber Brown
ACCESSORIES: Sketch Paper, Stampin Up Blossom 3/4" punch, Stampin' Up White Shimmer / Purple Pearls from Crazy Clarkes / Kindy Glitz in Antique Silver and assort diamante

Sublime Seafood

One of the girls at work finished last week but due to commitments we couldn't do anything last week, so we decided on dinner tonight.  A suggestion was made for Georges Paragon at Eagle St Pier.  I hadn't heard of it, but there were some ooos and ahhhs, so OK.  Apparently if you order between 530 and 630 it is half price...I like the sound of that!

So in we went, and it was great.  A bit more upmarket than my usual fare, but let's face it Eagle St Pier is one of those places where the pretty people hang out and are seen.  The huge picture windows looked out over the river, and the story bridge was all lit up... oh, so pretty.  On the down side a bit noisy but in fairness it was a Friday and everyone was ordering by 630 - I think if you were earlier, or mid week it would be awesome.

I had grilled snapper with king prawns, and there was some sauce which was brandy, garlic and cream, accompanied by a small bowl of chips. Size of the serving was perfect for me, and thoughts of the dessert menu faded as I didn't think I could fit it in.  Everyone loved their meals, and for the people not so happy with seafood there were - as one of the girls put it "farm animals" for the others. 

Now I'm home and feeling quite content.  Maybe a shower and into jammies, with my book.

Similar view (from Jade Buddha)

Crazy Magnet ... ON

As some of you know, My Crazy Magnet (MCM) works well ... so let me tell you about my bus trip home tonight.

 Got to the bus stop with about 10min to spare prior to the bus...OK.  My bus leaves from Queen Street, so being a main Brisbane street it's busy for majority of the day.  I get there and a girl is sitting at the seat at the bus stop..OK...then I realise she is on the phone...OK  Then MCM starts....whilst on this occasion she didn't attract to me, she was in my vacinity, so I'm putting it down to MCM (maybe the battery is low and it's not working to it's full effect- YAY me!)  Anyhoo back to my story, obviously having a fight with someone...but OMG...first she would yell and curse (REALLY loud)...then she'd being crying - you know the same way toddlers do when they can barely breathe 'cos they're worked up...then she hung up.  Obviously not satified with the way things ended she started texting.  But wait still more drama to be had, so she called back and it started again.

So luckily she didn't get on the bus - Whew!  But low and behold, the next stop at Roma St a substitue got on, and ranted at the driver .. then just in general to himself.  So he stopped about 4 stops on and was then quiet until he got off ...and had issues with the card swipe - REALLY not that hard to use!

By now you're thinking wow, that must be it but....NO these things happen in 3s.  A lady got on at Chermside (or busworld as it is more commonly known in our family)...So MCM flicks back on as apparently she had just been release from hospital and had no problems with  telling whoever was on the end of her phone all her medical dramas... of which there were many.

After this memorable journey home imagine my surprise when walking home I checked the night sky for the moon....and it was not even a full moon. 

A new favourite..

Well, I've always been a fan of museli, but have lately been loving Bircher Museli.  A little bit of foresight, and voila.

Those of you who think this involves waaaay too much planning - don't move this is sooooo easy, and those who know me know my favourite recipes always involve super easy, with big results.

Simply throw a few ingredients into a plastic container, put the lid on and chuck it in the fridge. You just have to remember to do this before you go to bed. Easy, huh!

Then, in the morning, you’ll have breakfast ready quicker than you can clean the sleep out of your eyes. It's that easy.   When you wake it will be to sweet, chewy oats that have soaked up the liquid. Then a few additions and you're good to go.  Easy.  I usually add some yoghurt (I am loving Black Swan vanilla bean greek yoghurt) and some fresh fruit  and voila, breakfast is served!

Now, fix yourself a cuppa and feel a little smug about eating so well for so little effort.

Now I make up enough for 2 serves.

1 cup rolled oats
1 cup liquid - I've tried all milk, all apple juice or half and half
small handful of sultanas
some cinnamon - I know that makes 4 ingredients, but it's a good addition if you think of it

Soak overnight

Add a spoonful of yoghurt
Some fruit if you have it, strawberries, bananas, or grated granny smiths are also a bit yum (apples very traditional for Bircher Museli)
When I've had no fresh fruit, I've used dried pineapple / figs / cranberries
I also chuck in some sunflower seeds for a bit of crunch - but I think you could also do almonds/hazelnuts/ whatever you like

Sometimes, if I'm feeling a bit decadent I'll drizzle a bit of honey on it... this can be messy depending on how awake you are...so be warned.

It's pretty forgiving so you can play around with whatever you have on hand.  Be adventurous and try it out.

Enjoy!