Great giveaway

Check out this awesome giveaway on jellybelly-jellybrain. As you can see they are amazing beaded watch straps in the most beautiful colours.

So pop over and say hi to Emma.

Favourite thing Fridays

AUTUMN IS COMING

Oh how I love Autumn. I love the cool nights and the beautiful warm days.

And now it is just around the corner, and the nights are already getting cooler.

I love the colours of the leaves and lets face it; the fashion is so much better.

Autumn Fires by Robert Louis Stevenson

In the other gardens And all up the vale,

From the autumn bonfires See the smoke trail!

Pleasant summer over And all the summer flowers,

The red fire blazes, The grey smoke towers.

Sing a song of seasons! Something bright in all!

Flowers in the summer, Fires in the fall!

Again on highway cottage I found the link to another quiz. This is the Meyers/Briggs Personality test. And so accurate.

You Are An ENTJ
The ExecutiveYou are a natural leader - with confidence and strength that inspires others.Driven to succeed, you are always looking for ways to gain, power, knowledge, and expertise.Sometimes you aren't the most considerate person, especially to those who are a bit slow.You are not easily intimidated - and you have a commanding, awe-inspiring presence.In love, you hold high standards... for yourself, for your relationship, and for your significant other.While it's easy for you to impress others, it's hard for you to find someone who impresses you.At work, you are organized and good at delegating. You understand how to achieve goals.You would make a great CEO, entrepreneur, or consultant.How you see yourself: Rational, calm, and objectiveWhen other people don't get you, they see you as: Inflexible, controlling, and overbearing.

Happy birthday Mr. Divine

Today is Mr. Divines second 21st. He says the second 21 years went much quicker than the first.

Again, we don't do gifts for each other but go out for a date instead. So movie and dinner it was. My shout :)

The kids all chipped in and brought him a gorgeous green stone necklace (not the one in the picture) and some chocolate covered apricots.

SO... HUGS AND KISSES TO YOU MR DIVINE!

Funky felt holder

Again, I am trying to make as many presents as I can. So I have made about 3 of these felt holders so far.

This one is for Miss Boodles friends 6th birthday.

Inside are some felts, Highschool Musical stickers and a Highschool Musical notebook.

So all up it cost around $5.00.

If you want to make it go to One Red Robins blog for the tutorial.

The LUUUV Cloth

Dee of sew-funky has created a love cloth. She has generously shared the pattern and this is the one I knitted.

Dee is a much better knitter than I and her hearts are more prominent. So check out her cool dishcloth patterns at her blog.

Valentines Day

My camera and computer are on talking terms again and allowed me to download some photos :)

As mentioned on this post my husband and I don't buy each other presents. So instead I made a special deal with dinner.

Mr. Divine broke the rules and brought me flowers and chocolates. Naughty Mr. Divine.

We had a lovely bottle of wine, while the kids had blackcurrant juice. Miss Boodles (6) calls it wine though, which makes me wonder what the school thinks ;)

I made each person a place card and wrote a special note of what I love about them.

I hope it will speak to the children of what love looks like and what to expect when they meet Mr/Mrs right.

I found this on highway cottage blog. It sounded like fun so I'm giving it a go.

Your Real Name: Jodee

Witness Protection Name (mother and fathers middle names): Ann Ernest
Secret Spy Name (your first name spelled backwards): Eedoj
Nascar Name (first name of your mother’s dad, father’s dad): Roy Fredrick
Detective Name (favorite color, favorite animal): Lilac Pig (Lilac Porcine sounds better)
Soap Opera Name (middle name, county where you were born): Ann Auckland

Super Hero Name (2nd fav color, fav drink, add “THE” to the beginning) The Red Chai.
Street Name (fav ice cream flavor, fav cookie): Caramel Mallowpuff

Rock Star (current pet, current street): Milly Gloucester
Porn Name (1st pet, street you grew up on): Tabby Beach
Your Gansta Name (first 3 letters of real name plus izzle): Jodizzle
Your Goth Name (black, and the name of one of your pets): Black Simba

Stripper Name (name of your fav perfume/cologne, fav. candy): Haiku Crunchie

Favourite thing Friday

BLACKWOOD LANE SPRINKLES

There are 6 different shaped sprinkles in this container, like hearts, flowers and butterflies. What more can you want for some last minute cup cakes.

Favourite thing Friday

MY FAN

Yesterday, Auckland (New Zealand) had it's hottest day since the 1870's. 32 Celsius.

It doesn't help that we are also at 80 - 100% humidity.

So, my fan is saving my sanity. I love it.

For your Valentine

WHAT ARE YOU DOING FOR YOUR VALENTINE?

My husband (Mr. Divine) and I have a 'NO BUY' policy (apart from a card).

So here's a couple of idea's of other things to give. (Avert your eyes Mr. Divine)

This year I'm making a yummy and easy 'Mars (Moro) Bar Cheesecake'

7oz Digestive biscuits

5oz butter

9oz cream cheese

4 Mars (moro) bars

Chop and melt 3 bars, then beat in cream cheese.

Melt butter and mix in crushed biscuits.

Line a tin with the biscuit mix and pour over mars (moro) mix.

Thinly slice leftover bar and decorate.

Refrigerate.

Last year I got an idea off the Simple Savings Website and gave Mr. Divine a small empty gift box with a tag that read

"Valentines day pajama's. Just your size. Can't wait to see you in them"

Nudge, nudge, wink, wink.

Mr. Divine really liked that gift. I hope he likes this one too.

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY

Favourite thing Friday

There is a fantastic giveaway that 911 talented bloggers are involved in. Go to One World-One Heart to get the complete list of all those generous bloggers involved. There is so many different wonderful prizes. You must get your name in by the 11th of Feb.

Fingers crossed my name is picked.

I am alive

No, I haven't fallen off the face of the Earth.

My camera is not speaking to my computer at the moment (they must be in a tiss with each other) so.... I can't load any photos.

I have been a busy bee. I finished the January Cloth from sew-funky's blog and will be starting on the February one.

I have been putting together the families 72 hour food kit (in case of earthquake etc) that I found a website called Food Storage Made Easy. It has these great baby steps to help you along the journey of food storage.

You could also check out Everyday Food Storage as she has great ideas and recipes like one to make your own condensed milk. I have made it, and guess what? It really does taste like condensed milk.

I have still been following the Organising Queen and have decluttered my kitchen.

So as I said, I have been busy, I just can't post pictures :(