It is cold now that winter has set in, and I want to makeover my bedroom. I want something rich and warm, that invites me in for a cosy cuddle. While a man who fits that description would be good, so would a sumptuous bedroom.
I find the hardest part of designing a new theme for my room is selecting the right colours. Dulux have come up with a tool that helps. It lets you select different colours for different parts of your room so that you can get a feel for it before you actually commit a painting crime. The program lets you upload a photo of the room you want to work on so you can see the effect that windows, mirrors and lighting has on the colour.
Before you pick up a paintbrush why not see what those colours will look like first? It may save a lot of time and effort.
Does my passion for chocolate show? (That is a rhetorical question!)
This week I have been dreaming about sinful little balls of chocolate. I saw a recipe posted this week and it has haunted me. I think it is time to give in to the primal chocolate hunter/gatherer urge and just make them! Thanks to Shelly of Shak’in and Bak’in for this recipe.
Malted Milk Ball Cookies
3/4 c. butter, softened
1 1/4 c. brown sugar
1 c. granulated sugar
1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
3 eggs
1/4 c. cooking oil
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
3 1/2 c. flour
1 1/2 c. whole bran cereal
3 c. malted milk balls, crushed
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a large mixing bowl beat butter with electric mixer on high speed for 30 seconds. Add brown sugar, granulated sugar, baking soda, and salt. Beat until well combined, scraping sides of bowl occasionally. Beat in eggs, oil and vanilla. Beat in as much of the flour as you can with the mixer. Stir in any remaining flour and cereal by hand. Reserve 1/2 c. crushed malted milk balls to sprinkle on top. Stir in remaining malted milk balls. Shape dough into 1 1/2″ balls. Place balls 2″ apart on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until golden brown. Place cookie sheet on wire rack. Immediately sprinkle tops of warm cookies with reserved crushed malted milk balls. Cool on cookie sheet for 2-3 minutes before transferring cookies to wire rack to cool
Some days nothing works as well as a coffee to get you up and going. It is such a known fact that coffee is idolised by our nations. Don’t believe me? Look here.
Coffee- Scrumptious drinks and treats. This is from Tonic Gifts. Feed your addiction and drool over the pictures at the same time.
A little warning is a good thing, I think that, in all fairness people need some advance notice of your passion. Let people know your coffee state of mind in something like this t-shirt from T-Shirt Magic.
| “Behind every successful woman…is a substantial amount of coffee.” |
| ~ Stephanie Piro |
I love getting product samples to try, don’t you? I mean, why spend a fortune on a product until you know if it will work for you?
Blue Zamboo is offering their Ultimate Sample Box for pre order and it is due for release on 1st July. In this box there are samples and gift vouchers from Cool Things, Princess Chic, Beauty Banquet and Dream Candles and more!
The box is only $19.99 plus postage so it is a cheap way to sample some wonderful products. Orders are open now.
Winter is setting in here and at night all I want to do is to curl up with a good book. Luckily Rachel GIbson has a new book out called “Not Another Bad Date.” 
What does a gal have to do to get a good date in this town?
Adele Harris can’t even begin to answer that question. She’s had so many lousy dates that she’s sure she’s cursed. Why else would every man she goes out with suddenly act like he’s lost his mind—and his manners? Adele thought life couldn’t get any more confusing . . . until she learns the marriage of her seemingly Miss Perfect sister is on the rocks. So she goes back to their hometown to give her a shoulder to cry on, only to run smack into Zach Zemaitis . . . the one who got away.
A nice, romantic piece of chick lit to while away the evening. Available from
Winter can dry out our skins and it leaves me with hands and feet that feel permanently cold.
On this day off why not tend to your poor hands and feet with some TLC and essential oils. This recipe is not suitable for you if you are pregnant. Try to stay away from most essential oils at this time.
Hands and Feet Body Rub
5 drops Black Pepper Essential Oil
5 drops Ginger Essential Oil
2 drops Cypress Essential OIl
20mls carrier oil such as sweet almond.
Blend the oils with the carrier oil. Gently rub the blend into your feet and hands. The oils will promote warmth (and the rubbing doesn’t hurt either!) and the massage will boost your circulation helping your hands and feet to keep warm.
Now just pull on a warm pair of socks, grab a nice hot drink and let the oils work their way into your skin. You will soon notice a difference.
I have to say that exercise is not something that comes naturally to me. Sport - what is it? Still, a girl has to do something to keep in shape, doesn’t she? This Fridays entertainment will increase your fitness while leading to who knows what future uses!
One of the best workouts I have had really didn’t feel like exercise at all and the best news of all is that it suits women of all sizes. In fact, the larger women have more to shimmmy with! Have you tried belly dancing? I tell you, nothing that has you wrapped in floating material and moving to music can be called exercise. You feel more like a butterfly than a Rocky.
Beauty Banquet has a gift set “Belly Dance Beginner” that is now available in store. The set comes with a really big, shimmering organza veil/scarf that can be wrapped around your body to make you feel as though you are in Arabian Nights. You can also use it as an accessory in some of your dances. With the scarf you will also get one of 2 instructional DVD’s by Neena and Veena, who are renowned belly dance fitness instructors. Both DVD’s are suitable for beginners.
Dance your way to fitness and float through your exercise routines. You won’t feel a twinge.
I am not food! I am soap!
These soaps look just like cupcakes and they are part of a new gift pack from Funky Soaps. Two delicious and edible looking cupcakes soaps are packaged with a recipe book specialising in cupcake recipes. Isn’t that a great idea for a gift? See the soaps, start to wish for a real cake and, hey presto, the recipe book is at hand.
Other packs in this range include the Chocolate Gift Pack (aren’t you glad I didn’t show you that one?) and the Dessert Gift Pack (Look, Ma, no calories!) Each comes with two decadent soaps and a matching recipe book. These are excellent kitchen teas and housewarming gifts.
A while back A Good Sort posted some suggestions on gifts for mothers day. Amongst them all I found this little treasure called a P-Pod.
The P-Pod carries all your essentials in a safe and clean little pod. Don’t you hate it when you have to scrabble around in your handbag to find your pen? Or when you finally find that stray mint only to find that all sorts of lint and crumbs have become attached to it during its vacation at the bottom of your bag?
The P-Pod comes complete with lip balm, refreshing wipe, moisturiser, hairband, tampon, sewing kit, antiseptic wipe, plasters, mints, comb, tissues and a pen. Perfect!
It is for sale from A Good Sort.
This is the title of a funny new book by Anne Taintor. Anne is famous for her clever matching of vintage prints with witty one liners which she has produced in a range of stickers, notebooks and other essentials of life.
I’m Becoming My Mother is a book which combines new work with some of her best loved images in one volume. It is the perfect gift for any woman because Anne deals with motherhood and domesticity with her tongue frimly stuck in cheek. As an example, a typical comment by Anne is “Wow! I get to give birth AND change diapers!” It would especially suit those of us who are perhaps, shall we say, not very domesticated?
Available now from Tonic Gifts.
