daydreaming in aqua...

Christmas Pinspo #2

following on from the Pinspo 'tree' theme...here are some yummy looking treats..hoping to try some out this weekend with the girls..

peppermint fudge  source

 
Christmas refrigerator cookies source 

cranberry & almond coffee cake   source

candy cane chocolate hearts source

and I thought I might share a couple of my own fave recipes..

one I make every Christmas..

 

chocolate fruit cake balls..

this yummy slice from last Christmas..

coffee streusel slice

...and from a few years back..

fruit and nut chocolate

ENJOY!

Gx

Christmas Pinspo..

There are so many fabulous ideas for Christmas on Pinterest..I have to stop by there every day to keep up..here are some of my fave tree pins..I will be sharing some other Christmas pinspo posts soon! ....Gx

twiggy trees   Source

Gingerbread tree   Source

vintage paper trees   Source

felt fir trees   Source

felt shingle tree   Source

done and dusted..

We had a very busy lead up to Christmas with lots of planning, baking, wrapping, card
making, crafting handmade presents...

Rhi made this amazing coffee streusel slice ~ recipe is here

Jem making rumballs to give as gifts to grandparents ~ using Mel's easy recipe

a few of the stamped cards I made..these were featured on Darkroom Door here

Nothing beats a Nanny hug :)

and my favourite Christmas day photo :)
Thanks for stopping by, I hope your Christmas was as special as our Gxox 

etsy love..

some late night drooling browsing on Etsy.. 

1. touch the sky print 2. burlap rag balls 3. nest  4. post-a-plate 5. peace dove ornament
6. vintage copper necklace  7. sakura dog collar  8. vintage melbourne map cushion

special day..

We had a lovely Christmas Day..and this little guy..a very striking Christmas
Beetle stopped by on Christmas Eve..he happily posed for us before moving on..

 

 

 

the day started off with plenty of lego construction..it's just not Christmas for our
 two (and of course M) without a new lego city set to add to the stash :) 

 

 

 

We enjoyed a delicious lunch and my parents..the first one in their new home

 

 

all went down very well..this is the pavlova that Rhi and I made..I'm over plum pudding

 

I hope that your day was very special too..thanks for stopping by Gxox  

Favourite: Cherry & Almond Tart

One of our absolute favourite desserts is this cherry and almond tart.
For the last 2 years we have enjoyed it on Christmas Day in place of plum pudding.
We use our preserved kentish cherries..and if we can beat the birds to the tree,
there is usually enough bottled up to make 3-4 tarts..spaced through the year



The recipe comes from my favourite and most used cookbook.. from Stephanie Alexander



 

The store bought frozen shortcrust sheets work fine if you don't feel like making your own
SInce this pastry was quite thin I only blind-baked for 15 mins at about 180 deg C



here's Jem spreading the almond paste over the cherries



and the finishing touches before baking..we got a little excited and brushed the syrup on
before baking..it didn't matter though..still tasted beaut!



Can't wait for the next one..Easter me thinks! :D

Back soon..

We're off on a little holiday up the east coast. Will be great to get away for a while
with a change of scenery..Things have been rather busy around here lately so
I'm really looking forward to a laid back pace near the beach and no phone!
Hopefully I'll have some photos to share and a shadow or two!
I know it's a bit late but here are a few photos from our Christmas Day
Catch you soon, have a wonderful weekend ahead Gx





Jesse getting his pressie from the girls..some home-made doggy shortbreads





"scrumdidly"



"Please sir, can I have some more?"

Christmas Eve...

Here are some little glimpses of our tree this year..including a favourite decoration
a godseye made by Jem when she was in kinder...







a felt ornament from I made last year..

and my Aunt made this gorgeous angel for us last year...using a folded readers digest
for the skirt..very clever!



Santa will be well fed in our house tonight..



I'll share one of my favourite Christmas quotes..from Dr. Seuss
Merry Christmas all! Gxox

And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling,
how could it be so?  It came without ribbons.  It came without tags.  It came without
 packages, boxes or bags.  And he puzzled and puzzled 'till his puzzler was sore.  Then
the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before.  What if Christmas, he thought,
doesn't come from a store.  What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.

Jem's Christmas Chocolates

Jem made these little chocolates to take to her cub scout Christmas party. The ones
with hundreds and thousands are known here as 'freckles' and she had the idea of
adding cachous to make them more special. Just melt some dark choccy and sppon
onto baking paper..drop the decoration on top and they set in about 10 mins :D

Construction Site

The girls had some fun this morning putting the gingerbread house kit together...

I think Summer may have decided to make an appearance around here after all..quite
warm this afternoon. We're all off to a little carols by candlelight tonight..so glad it's
 not too cold Hope you're having a lovely Sunday :D