Blondie making Brownies

So it's only a week till Valentine's day. Love it or loath it, it's a great chance to indulge yourself.

I've got a few things up my sleeve for this year's day of romance. Personally, the Kiwi and I don't dwell too much on Valentine's day - a card and tea usually does the trick. Our birthdays are both soon after, and well, we're just not soppy enough!!!

But here is my first Valentine's offering - brownies.

Yum yum yum. I love brownies, with all of their stodgy, chocolatey gooeyness.

I've got a few recipes for brownies floating about, but this one came from...wait for it... the Asda magazine. And I have to say, I'm quite impressed. They're everything they're meant to be - flakey on top, gooey in the middle and pretty much delicious.

Of course I couldn't just let the recipe be, so I added chocolate and fudge chips. Can never have too much.

Don't they look yum?

Strawberries, chocolate and cakeyness - it doesn't get much better, does it?

I put the cookie stencils I got for Christmas to work and they came out better than I expected, considering the rough surface.

We thought they were pretty delicious, but the pyusses didn't seem too fussed. Fine, Iwon't offer again.

Mind you, seeing as the Six Nations rugby is now on, it might take something special to drag the Kiwi away from the telly too.

The Kiwi and I also dug out our cocktail book this weekend. The Kiwi used to be a cocktail chef and still likes to dabble every now and again. I'm a sucker for a whiskey and gingerbeer, but decided to swap for some vodka tipples, and I've got no complaints.

Keep tuned for Valentine's treat no.2...

p.s Whether you're in a relationship or not, you should take part in Gala Darling's Radical Self-Love project - it's looking like a corker...

Love,

Colene

xxx

Things I Love Thursday January 7th 2010

Little bit late on this one - I'm still in some weird Christmas/New Year/Time Warp Limbo thing where I don't actually know which day is which.
Anyhoo, here's what's been titilitating my visual tastebuds this week!

-New Years! We had two this year - a proper Scottish Ceilidh on the 31st, and then a house party on the 2nd of January which was messsssssy. I love whiskey and apple juice, but 10 of them don't like me too much. Fast forward to the next morning and I woke up wearing Boyzone pyjamas I bought when I was 8. We also played a seriously competitive game of Fuzzy Duck. Good times!

- The Sandollar Cafe. This is one of the me and the Kiwi's favourite weekend breakfast locations. It's right beside the beach, and is really cute.

They have an amazing menu, but we always have the same thing when we go. The Kiwi has a croissant with bacon, eggs and cheese, and my favourite is the Sandollar breakfast, with which you get -tea for one in a cute teapot

-and pancakes, crispy bacon and maple syrup. You do, honestly. I was just very peckish when this photo was taken.

-The pyusses. I felt sorry for them over the festive period as we had to leave them at home when we went out to my parents, but they were visited by their Great-Auntie every day and they love her to bits.

Coco was over the moon with the mouse she got in her Christmas stocking and alternates between giving it kisses and trying to rip its head off.

Although they sulked with us a little bit for leaving them, they soon got back to being their normal selves. One of their favourite hobbies is being pervy. As soon as they hear the shower running, they bolt through to the bathroom, sit side by side on the toilet seat and peek round the shower curtain. They seem to think the water is dangerous though because if the see it touch you, they start crying and whining, and won't stop until you get out. Here they are perving at the Kiwi (no naked Kiwi shots, thankfully)

-What with all of the snow we're having in Scotland at the mo, the cats have decided to take the role of living hot water bottles, which I'm chuffed about. They let me warm my cold hands on their furry bellies! Here's what a typical evening looks like - the three of us cuddled up on one seat!

-The new set of Alice in Wonderland themed Swarovski jewellery. I love the Tea Party pieces, the Red Queen earrings and the Flower Garden ring is very cute. Obviously I love the Cheshire Cat necklace (who will be voiced by the wonderful Stephen Fry in the new film)

-This story about a man who set off a major security operation in Newark aiport, because he did a film-style run through security just to kiss his girlfriend goodbye! Aww!

-Luxirare's edible Crayons. If you've never visited her website before, you should.

-Anyone who regularly reads Cupcakes Take The Cake (If you're not, you should do that too), will be excited to see the inside of Baked By Melissa's store. Melissa makes amazing mini-cupcakes, and seeing inside her shop made me dream even more about my own one.

- Cadbury's Black Forest Chocolate. This stuff is AMAZING. It's Dairy Milk, with cherry flavoured jellies and biscuite pieces and it's yum! The ridiculous thing is you only get it in New Zealand, so thankfully the Kiwi's family sent us some over.

-Receiving e-mails from shops with new Spring items. Looks like my bankie is in for a battering again as more 'Colene' things come into the shops. Parisian polkadots? Yes please! All items below are just from Miss Selfridge - I love the red jumpsuit, and the patent black booties.

-HOWEVER - the hot topic of conversation in my world this week is how much the Kiwi looks like Basshunter, who is in the Celebrity Big Brother house at the moment. SO many people have mentioned it to me, and it's scary. I think they were separated at birth!

The Kiwi

Basshunter

Hope you're all having a good first week of 2010!

Love,

Colene

xxx

Things I Like Thursday December 24th 2009

Eeeeeee! It's Christmas Eve! Tres exciting!!!

Today I am having my own traditional Christmas Eve - i.e baking ALL day! Yay! Fun times! Coco a, Mika and I stick on the telly for some film-goodness, apron-up and spend the entire day making treats for friends and family.

So while I'm doing that - this is what else I've been enjoying this week!

-This Christmas card rocks my cupcake-loving world.

-Fajita night! It's like a tradition in our house. I'm a bit OCDish about my fajita construction and folding - see below. Fillings in order are - sour cream, guacamole, lettuce, chicken mix then cheese. The complete some origami style folding so none falls out!

Mmmm.

-Festive nails - White + silver glitter = faboosh nails!

-Getting my dream dress! I'm SOOOO happy! I've wanted this dress for a while now - it was one of those walk into the shop moments and - BOOM there is the dress that won't leave your mind until you get it. And luckily I got mine for 40% off! Thanks Donna!

-That you can cycle naked in New Zealand, as long as you wear a helmet! Haha! Only in NZ!

-Yoga Cats! I can't believe some people have complained that the cats look 'unnatural' in the comments section! Come on!!!!

-Speaking of which - this is one of my favourite photos of Coco - wot-choo-lookin-at????

-Setting up the Sky+ box to record some films while we're away at Christmas - Shrek 2, Happy Feet and The Incredibles all feature, as well as the BEST CHRISTMAS FILM EVER - Santa Claus: The Movie - so much 80s child goodness!!!



-Hearing Last Christmas by Wham while walking through a couple feet of snow to work - definitely cheered me up! Also seeing a man with a reindeer hat on!

- A conversation with the Kiwi where we were discussing different names for Santa, and he said 'Dr Nick'. Dr Nick is coming to town!!!! Haha!

-Wearing ridonkulous red fluffy, jingly earrings to work!

- Making these Bite-sized Christmas puddings (inspired by Nigella). This is obviously a rubbish picture (damn iPhone). I'll be making a HEAP more of these today though so will post how to make them later - great for using up left over Christmas Pud!

I'm hoping it doesn't get too much colder today, as if it does there's a chance I won't get out to my folks' house for Christmas Day!!! DISASTER!

If it does though, I think I'll take note from Coco and Mika ( who loved their presents from their neighbours Coco and Milly), and snuggle up and hibernate for a while!

Merry Christmas everyone!

P.S - if you received a heavy, jar-shaped present from me - come back tomorrow for instructions on what to do with it. Oooooh cryptic...!!!

Things I Like Thursday 17/12/2009

Ok, ok. The eagle-eyed of you will notice that there was no TilT last week. Don't get me wrong- there were plenty of things I liked last week - I just didn't have time to like them!!!



So I present, a slightly overdue but bursting with goodness TILT!

- Yes, I know I've posted about it before but it was A M A ZING! Part of me had always wished I was a little girl in 1939 when the Wizard of Oz was first released - how amazing would it have been witnessing the change from black and white to Technicolour for the first time? Anyhoo I had the BEST time watching it in the cinema! There was the sweetest little girl across the aisle from us who kept giggling at the Lion -normally this would annoy me but she had the cutest chuckle! What was also fun was that I took a WOOz virgin with me (don't get me started - how can you get to 22 without seeing it?!?!?) - and she loved it too!!!

-My Christmas night out! We had a fairly low key night, but the company was fantastic. I also found this throne which I think I should drag into work to sit at my desk on, oui?

-French Bulldogs. Do I need an explanation? They're so ugly that they're cute and they have so much attitude on their mug.

This ad was the paper this week and I had to remind the Kiwi that a) I don't have £850 to spend on a dog and b) Coco would hate us forever

-Crazy nails! I used to be really into nail art (sheep in a field? Union Jack? My name??), but haven't had the time or patience to do anything wacky recently. These started off as candy cane stripes, but I was tired and had a shaky hand, so they were changed to polka dots. Not sure if they're cute or too much like measles.

-How awesome is my mum for making me this? She's a dab hand on the computer, but leave her alone with it for a while and it can be dangerous. Thankfully this time she focussed her efforts into making me a 'guilty pleasures' list featuring some of my favourite rugby players. Bless. It now takes pride of place on my desk at work.

-I stupidly, and lazily, left my fleecy hoody in the living room last week. I only got it back yesterday. You see, Mika hijacked it. For just about 24 hours a day, he has been attached to it. To be fair, if I was a pyuss, I'd like a fleece covered cushion too. I love the fact he's hogging all the remotes in this pic too!

-Hic, drool, blabja;lhfuioa;hfj;. I'm sorry, let me regain my composure. Seriously, how perrrrrffffeeeccccttttt are these shoes??? Red? Sparkly? Bow? heel? Non slutty despite all of the above? I WANT, no, MUST OWN these shoes. Size 6 1/2, 7 thank very much.

-Coco is very much like me in the mornings - she will do ANYTHING to avoid having to actually get up. Usually when I get up she follows me around, rubs herself against my hairbrush, chews my blusher brush and gives herself a moustache with my eyebrow pencil. But one morning this week there was no sign of her. I looked around and saw this. Touche Coco. I feel like burying my head back under the duvet most mornings too.

- This is EXACTLY my sense of humour. Snort.

-Three day weeks - wooooooooooohooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

-Christmas anticipation. My mum has bought us all novelty gifts and so far all I know is that one of my grandparents is going to be the lucky recipient of a set of nipple tassles. Hmmm.

-Sending away the Kiwi's visa. Ok so that's one bit of worrying by. Now all I need to do is worry until we hear back! ARGH!

-Hearing that my granny doesn't have to have a HUUUUUUGE operation. SMILE!

-Eating Christmassy food before Christmas - see pate, olive mixes, antipasti meats, crackers and cheese etc

-Drinking non-alcoholic wine the night after a night on the booze - you feel hardcore, but wake up fresh as a daisy - bonus!

-SHORTER hair. Oh dear. From the haircut-phobic person I was, I've become a daredevil in the hairdressers seat. i.e I got another couple of inches off. Big news for me, but probably a normal visit for everyone else.

Right, come on. Spill the beans! What have you been up to this week?

Love,

Colene

xxx

Things I Like Thursday December 3

YAY! It's December and I am feeling very festive!!!

*I put up our tree at the weekend - yes I know that's quite early but I'd wrapped presents, and they had nowhere to go!!!

Mika and Coco have been intrigued by the tree since.

Mika likes to unwrap presents very carefully by grabbing the ribbon with his teeth and tugging.

Coco likes our glittery star decorations.

*This dress in Warehouse. I saw it last weekend and now I MUST own it!

*NEW MOON!!! I finally saw it this week with my friend Jennifer, and I certainly wasn't disappointed!!! I'm definitely leaning into Team Jacob now - seriously, who wouldn't after that film?!?!? It's just under 7 months till Eclipse comes out - can I pre-book my tickets please???

*Speaking of going to the cinema, Jennifer and I slightly underjudged our time. We planned to go for tea before going to the cinema, but left ourselves with just 30 mins after looking shoe shops. Oops. This time was cut to 10 minutes of eating time once the food arrived. Let me tell you, I have a whole new level of admiration for Jennifer after eating a HALF CHICKEN in 10 minutes! That was impressive!!!

*Watching boxing with the Kiwi and hearing the commentator use the word 'Stoosh' when someone got knocked out!!!!

*When the Kiwi gives me Love Hearts when he knows I'm worrying about stuff

*Watching TV with the pyusses - we got our larger sofa so we'd have more room. But no, Mika can still use ALL of the cushions and take up MOST of the sofa. But you can't get angry with that furry little face can you?

*Christmas night out anticipation!!! I have a girls night out tomorrow (YAY!), and then my work night out next Friday which will be a hoot!!!

* The Kiwi being a dafty in general - including him speaking to Mika in Goldmember quotes - It'sh a keeper!!!!

*Writing out Christmas cards - I'm a total stationary geek!

* This video. I swear I nearly wet myself when I first watched it. I think I need to get one for Coco, as she's a bit of a podger...

I hope you're week is fantabulous!!!

Love,

Colene
xxx