Homemade Milk Bath

I made this wonderful bath mixture over the xmas break and included small packets of it in my normal homemade xmas gifts I do ever year.  Instructions are pretty easy.  Run a hot bath and include a cup or so of the mixture allowing the water to dissolve the mixture.  Hop in, relax and enjoy!!

If you don't have the flowers, then simply leave them out.  You can also experiment with different essential oils.

Ingredients
2 cups of powdered milk
1/2 cup epsom salts
1/4 cup of baking soda
10-15 drops of essential oil - of your choice
1/4 cup of lavender flowers

Method
In a bowl, mix the dry ingredients together.  Add the essential oil and mix thoroughly.  Add the flowers and stir a couple of times.

Store in an airtight container.

Happy living peeps!

Cabinet Storage

When we were looking at a solution for our AV equipment in our lounge, we decided on building a piece from scratch.  Gig made the frame out of steel so that the piece was strong enough to hold the equipment, then lined the frame with some old wood he had lying around the shed.

I painted the inside of the piece ASCP provence and the outside ASCP graphite with an attempt to dry brush with pure white.

During the painting process

The front of the piece

 

Piece in the lounge

I have to say that Gig isn't 100% pleased with the finished product, but I think it works perfectly for us.

Happy living peeps!

Strawberry & Feta Salad

This is such a easy and delicious salad.  The sweetness of the strawberries works so well with the heat of the rocket and the creaminess of the feta cheese.   

It is such a fabulous salad to serve at a BBQ with a nice piece of fish or steak or simply by itself with a nice glass of wine.

Ingredients
200 grams of fresh strawberries - quartered
100 grams of feta cheese
125 grams of rocket
1 x spring onion finely chopped
Salt & pepper
1/4 cup Balsamic vinegar

Method
Place the rocket and spring onion into a bowl.  Place half the strawberries and half the feta cheese with into the rocket mixture.  Season with salt and pepper. 

Just before serving, add the balsamic vinegar and toss quickly.  Add the remaining strawberries and feta, tossing slightly, but ensuring they remain on top of the salad for presentation.

Devour!

Serves 4-6 people

Farewell To Our Calves - Part 2

Reflecting on my post FAREWELL TO THE CALVES, time really has flown by so quickly.  Since that post, we decreased the number of beef we have,  achieved 5 more additions to the herd, and just recently sold them to our neighbour in preparation to the next lot of additions which we hope will arrive about August this year.

On top of that, we've learnt a lot about feeding the land so that it has enough nutrients to boost the grass production over the entire year.  This isn't a cheap exercise, but if we keep on top of it regularly, I expect the benefits in our beef will outweigh the costs tenfold.

We also gave haylage a try instead of traditional hay bales to help feed the stock.  It apparently has more nutrients than traditional hay because the grass is cut while it is still green.  Looking around neighbouring land, I only saw huge haylage bales which need a large tractor to transport around.  Fortunately for us, an old high school friend of my brother in law who lives down the road, produces smaller bales which can be lifted by hand and transported on a small trailer or a wheel barrow.  A great solution for lifestylers who want the benefits of haylage, but don't have the capacity to buy or need a full on tractor. 

I have to say that having beef on the land is pretty fulfilling and I'm looking forward to seeing how the next 12 months is going to bring.

Happy living peeps!

Waterfall Drawer Makeover

I purchased a couple of art deco waterfall drawers a few years back to place in the master bedroom to help with our storage problem.  As we have slowly started to work through the house to help address some storage issues, I decided to move these into my daughter Aaliyah's room.  

First thing is first though, I decided to paint them.  Although that wasn't an easy decision at all because they were absolutely stunning as they were.  Colour of choice ASCP Pure White & Paris Grey with clear wax.

Before

After

I am pretty happy with how they turned out.

Happy learning peeps!

Summer Fruit Syrup

I have had a number of requests come through to me asking about the recipe for the fruit syrup that I use on my COCONUT PANNA COTTA so thought I would post it up for everyone.  It's pretty simple and very very tasty.

Ingredients
1/4 cup of orange juice
1/4 cup of lime juice
1/4 cup of maple syrup
2 stalks of lemongrass, thinly chopped
3 whole star anise

Method
Put everything into a pot and bring it to a boil over a medium heat, stirry to dissolve the syrup.  Simmer for 2 mintues then cool, cover and chill for at least 4 hours or overnight.

When you are ready to serve, strain the syrup, discarding the lemongrass.  Pour over your fruit and let it sit for at least 30 mintues to let the flavours mingle.

Alternatively you can poach your fruit in the syrup.  Just make sure to strain it properly before serving onto the panna cotta.

Happy living peeps!

Pure White Tea Trolley

I have inherited a few trolley's and have painted most of them.  This latest piece started off when my daughter originally wanted two tea trolleys as side tables in her room so she got to painting them white and they looked wonderful.

Unfortunately they weren't practical as her room lacked storage so the trolleys went when we renovated her room.  I blogged about her room in AALIYAHS ROOM REVEALED.

This piece is painted in ASCP pure white finished with clear wax and has since moved to another home to be loved and enjoyed.

Happy living peeps!

Poached Feijoas

Last night my husband walked inside with a huge bucket of feijoas he had picked from our trees saying "what will we do with these?" I knew my family would want to have some but with Gig's friend over for dinner, I immediately decided to try this new recipe for dessert.  Simple decision turned into a challenge considering he told me after I started the dish he had never tried feijoas in his life.

The coconut sugar is what makes the syrup brown.  If you don't have any then simply use normal sugar, or for a healthier option use maple syrup or honey.  You won't need a lot if you are using a sweet wine.  If you don't have a sweet wine, or prefer not to use it, then just use water with your sugar, honey or maple syrup.  Whatever you do, don't leave out the bay leaves as this is what balances the whole dish.

I used my paleo version of my homemade GRANOLA but you can simply use toasted nuts.

This dish was a huge success with Gig and his friend demolishing it!!

Ingredients
16-20 feijoas peeled
1 1/2 cup of sweet wine
2 bay leaves
1 vanilla pod, split and scraped
Juice of one lemon
1/4 - 1/2 cup of coconut sugar (depending on your sweet tooth)


Method
Place all the ingredients in a saucepan and simmer for about 10 mintues.

Take the fruit out, then turn the heat up until the syrup reduces by half. 

Pour the juice over the fruit and serve with greek yohurt & toasted nuts.

Serves 4

Happy living peeps!

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My Room - Before

The renovations to our room are starting to get closer and I'm fairly excited on what that might look like. 

This bedroom is the biggest bedroom but with only one window it is quite dark. Being on the western side of the house it is also the coldest bedroom even with the fireplace.  

It has a built in wardrobe but the intention is to pull that down and place a walk in wardrobe on the southern wall of the room.  My thoughts will be to choose the same colours used in the rest of our renovations which should lighten the room.  The fireplace will stay but I am thinking of painting it.  In saying this, I have no idea what colour.

The furniture will be painted and there is even talk of replacing the window with doors opening out onto a private outdoor space.  Lets see what eventuates.

Happy living peeps!

 

 

Old Trays Get Facelift

If you are ever after a quick decor fix then look no further than painting an old tray.  You can pick them up for less to nothing from the local dump shop and give them a new lease on life.

That's exactly what I did when Jayden and I were having a craft day at home.  She was making her terrarium, which I blogged about in MY TREASURED TERRARIUM.  I had an idea to paint some old trays I had laying around to display her terrarium on.  The process was pretty simple.  Tray, paint, brush, newpaper & wax.

In our case the we used Annie Sloan graphite finished with clear wax.  

Tray 1 - First coat

Tray 2 - First coat

Tray 2 - 2nd coat

Tray 1 - Finished product - Sorry it's not a very good photo

Tray 2 - Finished Product

The opportunties are endless.  You can display them with a glass dome, place jewellery and display them on your dresser, display a vase on them or continue to use them as a serving tray.

Happy living peeps!