this muesli bar recipe is adapted from a recipe in the Family Circle best of kids cookbook – its quick & easy to make & tastes delicious!

ingredients:

• 1 cup desiccated coconut
• 1 cup pepitas
• 1 cup sesame seeds
• 1 cup rolled oats
• 100g diced dried apricots
• 125g butter
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup honey

method:

• put dry ingredients in a big microwave bowl with a flat base
• cook on high for 5 minutes (depending on the wattage of your microwave, you may need to stop & stir several times)
• add diced dried apricots to dry ingredients
• put butter, sugar, honey in another bowl. cover with absorbent paper. cook 4 mins on medium (50%)
• stir wet ingredients well. add to dry ingredients. mix well
• spread evenly in a 20x30cm lined tin. press down firmly
• leave until cold, then slice into bars. enjoy!

another milestone – my sweet girl has hit double digits!

it’s like I blinked & she’s almost a tween already *sigh*

so … here are 10 things i know about Madi …

1. she wants to be a singer or an actress when she grows up

2. she would eat chocolate every day if i let her

3. a pony (a real live one!) and a DSi were at the top of her birthday list  (sorry babe! hoping a new bed will be almost as good!)

4. her favourite & most cherished toy is still Florie (her teddy)

5. she loves chatting on the phone & playing webkinz with her buddy miss E

6. her foot is the same size as her brother’s (big kids 4)

7. even though she has the sweetest smile, she gets shy & self conscious when asked to smile eg. for school photos

8. she loves to sing – in the car, in the shower, outside – anywhere! she also loves taking photos & making movies

9. she’s been learning the recorder & keyboard & is doing well with both because she’s got a good ear

10. her favourite subject at school is maths & she’s also involved in thinkers club, lone guides, project club & chess

she loves tickles & cuddles and i can’t imagine life without her!

today i’m hugging her as much as she wants and more because this time together is so precious

love you baby girl!

i love so many things about this photo … Bear’s too big workshirt paired with his pj pants; the angle of his foot; the cluster of 3 lambs; Ricky drinking as fast as he can, tail wagging with Fighter right there – just in case! the way Gibby is nibbling hopefully near his leg … its something many country kids have experienced

they race outside in the morning to feed them before they eat their own breakfast & their breaks are spent feeding & playing with them. baby lambs make great pets & both kids adore them!

its a mixed bag of fashion, food & fun this week …

a great fashion blog for teens

lots of delicious recipies

more than a year’s worth of slow cooker (crock pot) recipies

renovating & decorating adventures

stylish letterpress goodness at Twig & Thistle

enjoy!

chocolate & pink is one of my favourite colour combos!

its no surprise to see chocolate truffle & rose dust among Pantone’s 10 hot colours for autumn 2010

the richness of chocolate is the perfect base to compliment many shades of pink. it’s a classic combination that’s both fresh & sophisticated

this week, I’m delighted to feature some gorgeous handmade accessories from the AnK Bowtique

Angie & Kristy are the talented mums who make this range of delightful accessories & teach their children through the school of the air

using the prettiest ribbons, touches of crochet, vintage yo yos, & flowers of all types, their attention to detail & the way they combine colours has taken their made it shop to #1 on the top 100 Australian Handmade kids sites

their delicious chocolate crochet beanie + Kate Korker clip co ordinates perfectly with Madi’s pink Bridget B sweater

Pumpkin Patch had a gorgeous pink & chocolate collection a few years ago – Ebay is a great source for near new items like these:

there are lots of pink & chocolate goodies in the AnK Bowtique (thanks Kristy for these photos!)

Claudia Felt & Fabric Stretch Band + Lily Bow Headband

Olivia Bling Trio Clips + Mikaela Bow Clip +

try mixing textures – chunky cords, knitwear, suede & battered leather-look jackets + girls will love this grosgrain ribbon belt

AnK Bowtique’s facebook fans are the 1st to find out about new products & garage sales – so make sure you sign up!

& check out this blog for more pink & chocolate goodness!

thanks for stopping by!

surfing the internet for eye candy & inspiration? these are a few things that caught my eye this week …

this amazing pancake breakfast was such a clever idea for a party

it was inspired by this sweet & stylish wedding with lots of DIY details

http://www.stylemepretty.com/ – filled with gorgeous photos & delicious details, its the ultimate wedding blog!

these birthday parties: one for the boys & one for the girls & this naming day celebration are also big on style

more stylish ideas & inspiration – http://www.eatdrinkchic.com/

this mobile vintage mobile cupcakery is such a unique idea – the cupcakes look delicious don’t they?!

& because no post is complete without a photo, here’s an everyday life storyboard of master B & the pets (that was nearly lost during the gecko frying the computer incident)

feel free to share your favourite links

they both swam so well at their swimming carnival last week + their team won the points tally!! go boree!!

now that we’re back at school, the weekends have become even more precious. its been so nice just to potter about, do some surfing, read a little from a favourite book, tidy out my craft drawer, & do some baking (a pasta dish for lunch, apricot & pear pudding for tonite & zucchini slice because its a family favourite!)

here’s the recipe for apricot & pear pudding:

• 4 pears – cored & sliced
• 100g chopped apricots
• 12 slices bread (crusts removed & cut into quarters)
• custard

preheat oven to 180degrees or 350F. arrange bread in the bottom of a buttered dish. then scatter with pear slices & apricots. add another layer of bread & layer with apricots & pears. finish with a layer of bread. then cover liberally with custard. leave it to soak for 15 mins. Bake for 45-50mins or until the pudding is golden & the custard lightly set. enjoy!

a few sweet links to share:

twig and thistle bursting with crafty ideas and interesting links!  i esp. love this super stylish valentine’s idea

Mascarpone Brownies – the most delicious brownies i’ve ever tasted! seriously!!

trying not to make this all about food … but this dessert is sure to win hearts!

its fortunate that this lady has inspired me to use my treadmill again!!

& etsy an online treasure trove of interestingness! this tree of life & seaglass pendant are just a few of my current favourites

brushed her hair, put on a pretty dress & asked me to take her photo – how could i resist?

we’ve recorded over 7 inches of rain since xmas & bright green shoots are appearing everywhere. the kids have enjoyed running in the rain, splashing in the puddles, making things out of pottery mud & generally getting muddy. simple pleasures! its been great weather for baking too! i’ve tried a few different carrot cake/muffin recipes – still looking for the perfect one though – have you got a good carrot cake recipe to share?