DIY LAVENDER BATH SALTS

A nice hot bath is something I look forward to at the end of a long busy day.There is nothing quite like a good long soak in the bath with candles and a nice glass of wine. And with Mothers Day right around the corner, what better way to indulge yourself then with a beautifully scented bath of lavender salts.

Making fragrant jars of bath salts is very easy. They look gorgeous on display and make the perfect gift to give.

ALL YOU NEED -

*A packet of Epsom Salts
*100% Lavender oil {don't use fragrance}
*Dried Lavender
*Some sort of air tight container. { I used a mason jar}


Half fill your jar with the Epsom salts.
Add one tablespoon of lavender oil, replace the lid and shake, shake, shake that jar until the oil is dispersed throughout the salts.

Remove the lid, and add 1/2 cup of dried lavender and fill the rest of the jar with more salts leaving enough space to shake, shake, shake that jar again.

Leave the salts to rest for 24 hours before using.
So simple to make, so luscious to use.

Enjoy.

beck xx

PUPPIES IN A PICKLE

How can you not love these faces ?
Two big sweet fur balls, eyes pleading for love.
And they are loved very much, they are a part of our family. But they have become a BIG problem and it's causing much stress and upset within our household.

Our back neighbour, who is well known around here for being a complaining cranky old ma

n, is spewing hate over my back fence about our dogs barking.

You see, our home is situated next to a pathway that is very well used, both in the mornings and afternoons by walkers and school children. Our dogs bark when the path is in use, I have never disputed that. But we never let them bark continuously. In fact we have tried quite a few things to stop them barking. Bark collars, they did not work. We have tried to keep them away from the fence which is not an easy feat resulting in us having to chain them (never harm them) to keep them from being abused by this neighbour. We are now in the process of double paling our fences in the hope that this will help.

It has now gotten that way, that when our black and white beauty now gets a glimpse of this said man, he barks and growls uncontrollably, playing right into his greasy UN-neighbourly hands. This now forces me to bring our horse dog inside for his own protection.

I get that a continuous barking dog is annoying, especially when nothing is done about it. But we ARE being responsible, we ARE doing all that we can.

I love these furry beasts and don't want to see any harm come to them, but I'm at my whits end with what to do next.
We have tried talking to said neighbour but he just screams abuse and is unwilling to wait until our fences are finished. He is now threatening action against us.

We have not received any other complaints from our other neighbours, just this one that seems to have a different problem for everyone of our surrounding home owners.

The best possible outcome for all in our area would be for him to pack up and move, but how likely would that be : (

beck xx

LONELY MUM

As the sun began to break the dawning of a new day, I pulled the covers to my chin wanting to resist what lay before me. Another long day of the same old thing.
For the second week, Dan is away for work. It seems yet again that this is our reality. Two steps forward, three steps back.

I get lonely.
Motherhood is lonely.
Being a stay at home mum, even though that was my ultimate dream, can be the loneliest job, the hardest job and the most tedious.
To keep the ship running as smoothly as possible, I dare not stray to far from everyday routine.

Sometimes I wonder what the lives of other stay at home mums are like. Are they just like me ?
It hits me harder at night. Scrolling through my social media feeds, I see so many people smiling out at me from places that I can only dream of being. A group of mums lunching, having coffee, their happy commentary below.
I use to have this, a social life with good friends, but as our children grew and we stopped meeting at the school gate, we drifted, went our separate ways. I couldn't tell you the last time we were all together.
I am finding that this time of my life, mothering teens, is the loneliest time that I have ever endured. Yes my home is always full, and I am always catering to the needs my teens and their many house guests, but having a house full of your kids friends and enjoying yourself with friends of your own is a whole other world.
Don't get me wrong, I love welcoming my teens friends over, listening to the laughter and silly banter, I wouldn't change that for the world. But sometimes it reminds me of times gone by and what I don't have right now.

Some days I yearn to have a long conversation with someone other than my children or husband. Someone who is in the same stages of life as me, someone that gets me. But dwelling on the impossible is something that I cant afford.

It will change again, life has cycles. And for now my cycle is to be here, at home, being the best mother and wife that I can be, and there is nothing at all wrong with that.
My time will come, I know adventure awaits me. My life is far from over. I just need to be patient and know that I am loved, wanted and needed right here, as I am right now in this moment.....

Are you a lonely Mum who feels the need for something more out of life to ?

Linking up with Essentially Jess for this weeks IBOT

beck xx

MONDAY MUNCHIES - Chocolate Chip Coconut Loaf

Finally I am able to post Monday Munchies. Computer issues are the reason that I am late posting. But as they say better late then never.

CHOCOLATE CHIP COCONUT LOAF

This loaf is as easy as your ABC's. Based on a one cup method and simple ingredients, this one is sure to be a family winner.

INGREDIENTS

*One cup of coconut
*One cup of sugar
*One cup of milk
*Two cups of self raising flour
*Chocolate chips {as many as you like}

As I said its as easy as your ABC's. Chuck all the ingredients into a bowel together and mix on a medium speed until all ingredients are mixed together well.

Pour into a greased, lined loaf tin and bake for 20 minutes at 180 degrees or until cooked through.

Enjoy

beck xx

DIY MARBLING

I spend a lot of time fluffing around on Pinterest, more then I probably should, but its addictive, and surely I am not the only one who cant get enough ?

I've seen many different posts shared on marbling, stunning works of art and knew it was something I had to try my hand at.

My first attempt was marbling a pot plant, I know right, who knew it was possible to do something so cool in the comfort of your own home and not need any technical equipment !

WHAT YOU NEED

*Something white to marble
*A bucket half filled with warm water
*Nail polish. As many colours as you like
*skewer
*Paper towel
*Nail polish remover
*Gloves

Half fill an old bucket with warm water.    

Carefully drip nail polish onto the surface of the water, using as many colours as you want.
Using a wooden skewer, swirl the colours around until you get a marbling you like.
Carefully dip your chosen piece into the water. The nail polish will adhere itself.

Carefully remove your item from the bucket and sit onto paper towel to dry.
If some of the nail polish has marbled an area that you don't like, it is easily to remove using nail polish remover.

This was a fun, easy project, one that I will be doing again. It's always great to attempt a project that ends up turning out exactly as you hoped it would.

Maybe this something you could try for Mothers Day.

Have fun
Linking up this post with Essentially Jess for IBOT

beck xx

MONDAY MUNCHIES - Overnight Oats

OVERNIGHT OATS

I'm a little late to this party, but better late then never I guess. Now that I have discovered the delight, there is no looking back....
I can't believe I hung around in the background reading recipes and thinking I would one day give them a whirl.
In just one jar, I was converted.

INGREDIENTS

*60 grams of wholegrain quick oats
*200 grams of low fat Greek yogurt
*1/4 cup skim milk
*Fruit of your choice

Layer the oats, yogurt and fruit in a jar or bowl. Pour the milk on top and end with a layer of yogurt and fruit.

Cover tightly and put in the fridge over night.

In the morning, stir well so that all the layers are mixed together.

This amount of ingredients is enough for two breakfasts for me. I am now completely addicted and look forward to playing around with more flavours.

Enjoy
beck xx

MONDAY MUNCHIES - Pork Pesto & Parmesan Bake

PORK PESTO & PARMESAN PASTA BAKE

Say that quickly three times....
Now think fast on your feet to feed a houseful of hungry teenage boys with only pasta, a tray of pork sausages, Parmesan cheese  and a bottle of Jamie Oliver's Italian Herb Pesto.

I'm pretty sure if pasta was the only food source left on earth,  my boys would think all their Christmas's had come at once. Tell them pasta is on the menu and I can guarantee that they are all showing their faces eagerly at the dinner table.

This recipe was quick and delicious and an all round hit. A spare of the moment meal tossed together with ease that will make our dinner table again I'm sure.

INGREDIENTS

*Lean Pork Sausages
*Packet of Fusilli Pasta (or pasta of your choice)
*Jar of Jamie Oliver's Italian Herb Pesto
*Parmesan cheese to taste

Cook the sausages till their brown but not cooked all the way through.
While the sausages are browning, cook the pasta according to the instruction on the packet.
Once the sausages are brown on all sides, slice them into bite size pieces.
Drain the pasta and combine the cut sausages,  the pasta and the pesto in a large oven proof dish.
Sprinkle the top with Parmesan cheese and bake for 20 minutes at 150 degrees.

Enjoy

beck xx
this post was not sponsored.

DIY PAINTED DISHES

I have seen so many pretty homewares around lately just begging to come home with me, and yes I have snuck home a few gorgeous bowels in the grocery shopping.
Only a few though.
I'm a girly girl, a sucker for pretty things, and I guess after years of being surrounded by everything 'boy' I'm enjoying adding a few 'girly' things around the place knowing that now the boys are older, there are less chances of breakages.

Going through my craft box the other day, I found some paints that I had bought a little while ago when Spotlight had a sale.

The 'Pebeo' paints are water based transparent colour, made for painting glass and porcelain. They come in a huge range of colours, and by baking your finished products in the oven, they become dishwasher proof.

I found these small dishes in Kmart for $3 and thought they would be perfect to give the paints a whirl.

Making sure the dishes were clean and dry, I grabbed my paint brushes and began. Using small strokes I began to brush the colour onto the rim of the bowl, both inside and out.
A small amount of paint goes a long way, so be sure not to use to much.

The gold paint came in a tube, making it perfect for spots or outlines. I found it kept its shape and didn't run. The gold is highly addictive and I have to contain myself from painting everything in sight.

My dishes are small and fit into the palm of my hand. Perfect for jewellery and my latest obsession, air plants. It was such an easy diy to do. No mess and I'm really happy with how they turned out. I am thinking of painting some small vases and a serving platter.

What do you think of how these little bowls turned out ?
If you give these paints a try, I'd love to see what you come up with.

beck xx
This post was not sponsored 

EASTER 2015

Another year of a Easter is behind us. Another Easter feast done and dusted. The house has the lingering smell of Lillies and Carnations, and tiny chocolate eggs are scattered here and there.

It's Easter Monday, a day of relaxing after yesterday's excitement, a day to wind down, munch on leftovers and enjoy just being.

I hope everyone had a fabulous Easter celebrating with family and friends, and that the Easter bunny was kind to you all.

beck xx

MONDAY MUNCHIES - Cheesy Garlic Pull Apart

CHEESY GARLIC PULL APART

There is nothing better than crusty fresh bread served with lashings of garlic butter and cheese.

For Easter Sunday, I made this delicious pull apart as an appetiser for my family to enjoy while the lamb was happily slow roasting in the oven filling our home with the delicious smells of sage and garlic.

All you need is a fresh loaf of unsliced crusty bread (you can make your own, but I purchased mine at the bakery)
A block of your favourite cheese
Butter, garlic and spring onions

Slice the bread lengthwise and widthwise making sure NOT to cut all the way through.
Place onto a foil lined tray.
Take slices of cheese and proceed to stuff each of the cuts you made in the bread.
Malt half a cup of butter, adding crushed garlic cloves (use as many or as little as you please)
Pour slowly over the loaf making sure it seeps into the cuts.
Top with chopped spring onions and fold the foil over the bread.
Bake at 200 degrees for 20 minutes then unwrap and bake for a further 10 minutes at 150 degrees.
Serve hot and enjoy

beck xx