Dot Coms I Love

1. Donna Hay Recipe Search

Feeling uninspired in the kitchen? Haven't a clue what to cook for tea tonight? Days like this I call up my good buddy (it's true.....she just doesn't know it) Donna Hay's site, type in a bunch of ingredients I have on hand, and see what Donna suggests!

Last night I typed in chicken, ginger, coriander and noodles.....and ta-da!

Half and hour later we were tucking into a yummy meal and I had a new recipe to add to my repertoire.

Donna Hay is just fantastic - the undisputed Queen of Simple, Healthy and Delicious!

2. Styling You

Nikki Parkinson's fashion and beauty advice is AWESOME.
Why do I love her so much? A......she's Aussie, B........she's around my size and shape (ie not a skinny stick), C......the clothes and products she talks about are actually affordable for the average person and D......I can't get enough of her So You Want to Dress Like Nina Proudman articles....

3. Good Reads

If you love books, this one is a must! Here I keep a track of what I've read, browse reviews and write my own, chat about books with other book worms, see what other people are loving, make a list of what I want to read next.

It's also fun to check out the Listopia section. See what's made it on the Best Books of All Time, Books That Should Be Made into Movies, or how about Romance Novels That Jerked the Tears Right Out Of Ya!

4. They Draw & Cook

This site inspires me no end. Food and Art merged into one.....too fabulous for words!
Just take a look at some of these amazing "recipes as art" then go check out the site for yourself.

5. Making Australia Happy

"Choose Happiness" may sound like something from a Wham revival, but research shows that 40% of the happiness pie chart is entirely within our power to control........we can influence our happiness through what we do and how we think. Just as we train the body to keep below our "set points" for weight, we can rise above our happiness set points.

I came across this site while researching MINDFULNESS - which is something I try to achieve in my own life. Try it yourself!

The site has heaps of ideas and activities to give you control over your own happiness.

6. Kids-In-Mind Movie Reviews

The amount of profanity, sex and violence at the cinema these days gives this protective mother the horrors! Kids-in-mind is the best friend I consult before deciding to let my girls see a movie, especially now that Kate believes she is old enough for M's. Let me tell you, many a day out with friends has been thwarted by this practice - but when it comes to monitoring what our kids are exposed to, we can never be too vigilant.

The site rates all the latest movies, as well as a huge catalogue of older movies you may potentially hire on DVD, giving a detailed account of every scene that may contain stuff you don't want your little darlings seeing.

Now it's your turn - what are your fave hangouts on the www?

Wanna Win A Scene?

How cool would it be to add these funky little numbers to your stash!

Check out Leeann's comp and maybe you can....

The fabulous LP is also sharing a little doodle love...pick up some of her downright delicious downloadable doodly doodles while you're over there.

Fabulous!

Very flattered to have this award bestowed upon my blog by my lovely SA friend Melissa:

In accepting the award I apparently now must:

1. Name 5 things I love, and

2. Present it to 5 other bloggers I think are FABULOUS

So here we go.

Five things I love:

Pink champagne

The Twilight saga

Polka dots on everything

Babushka and Kokeshi dolls

The view from my kitchen window.

 The five people I've chosen to receive this award are:

Pip Prosser - can't live without my daily dose of Pip!

Leann Pearce - if you want originality and funkiness, this is where you find it.

Brenda - amazing craft and sewing projects - this lady rocks!

Kathie Link - shares a wonderful outlook on life as a mum, and is one awesome scrapper.

Sarah Lou - fellow scrapper with a wicked sense of humour.

All by myself!

ACDC Rock and Roll Train is blaring....no little voices to interrupt my thoughts....and its bliss!  The fam are off on secret birthday business (yep, it's my BD tomorrow....!) and having lunch out together without me.

Wanna see what I did yesterday?

....the girls over at Home and Scrapped very wickedly challenged me to create a page with NO DOODLING!  How mean is that?  I still couldn't resist outlining my lettering to make it stand out....but that's not counted....is it?  Here's the whole layout.........

How adorable is the new Nutmeg range from Cosmo Cricket? Yummy yummy scrumptious I say....

Another fun school holiday activity we love is making PIZZA........the girls love to watch the dough rise and then have turns at kneading..........

...and they taste oh so good!  Have you tried making your own dough before?  You should!  So much better than bought ones.  I'll give you the recipe we use.........

HOMEMADE PIZZA DOUGH

Makes 4 bases

Mix: 2 x 7g sachets dried yeast,

20g caster sugar,

a good couple of pinches of salt,

and 1 tbsp olive oil

in 250ml lukewarm water.

Cover with cling wrap and sit for 10 mins until foamy.

Sift 3 cups of bakers grade flour (I use Lighthouse brand Bread & Pizza flour) in big bowl, pour in yeast mixture and bring together with hands.  Turn out on floured bench and knead until smooth.  Place back in the bowl, cover with a teatowel and stand in a warm place until doubled in size.

Punch air out of dough, divide into quarters to make 4 bases.  Knead each blob until nice and smooth.  Roll out to about 5mm thick (thin, in otherwords!).  Place on hot pizza stone (or tray), prick all over with a fork and add all your toppings quickly while tray still hot.  Bake 220 degrees about 8 mins until crust is golden and crisp.

Here's a big hint - put on your pizza sauce, then your cheese before all the other bits AND don't overload with too much topping!!!

Happy munching and see you next time!

xxx

Seriously Gorgeous

These new paper ranges make my heart sing........... Gotta get me some Fancy Pants Designs! How about you? What scrummy goodies are at the top of your wish list??

You gotta try these!

These are our ginormous choc chip cookies (pronounced jye-NOOOOOORRRR-muss by the kids) and they are so easy, so yummy and so great I had to share. This recipe makes a ginormous batch and a ginormous amount of cookie dough, so you need a ginormous bowl to mix it all up in. We use a big old salad bowl - see Mia below! GI-NOOOORRR-MOUS CHOC CHIP COOKIES 500g butter, chopped (at room temp) 1 1/4 cups brown suger, firmly packed 395g tin of condensed milk 2 cups self raising flour 3 cups plain flour 2 x 250g packets dark choc chips Beat butter, sugar and condensed milk until light and fluffy. Stir in combined sifted flours & choc bits. Roll into balls (however ginormous you want them!), place on oven trays, press down slightly. Bake 180 degree oven 15 mins or until very lightly browned. Cool on racks. You can freeze these for up to 2 months - but I can tell you, they won't last! Look what arrived in my mail box today from Shop and Crop... How darling are they? They're the new Mumma Bushka papers from Kaisercraft - and I cannot WAIT to create! Stay tuned...

Latest share

"Pop's Girl" is the result of last week's Step-by-step Challenge over at ScrapWitch (check out the link over there on the right....).

Jill (SW's esteemed boss lady) gives one step each day of the week. If you're intrigued by the idea of giving up complete control of your layout, and don't mind having the makings of a page spread on your desk for a whole week, then give it a go!

You never know where the steps will take you - a great recipe for creative interpretation and trying new ideas!

And although we all follow the same steps, such a variety of looks are created!

Materials I used: Scenic Route Loveland paper, My Minds Eye Signature Life paper and tag, Making Memories Ledger Text paper, Green Tara flowers, crocheted flower from Spotlight, KI Memories Hip Chip letters used as templates, vintage paper lace, buttons and embroidery thread, staples, pink Zig Writer.

What's in a name?

How silly! I spent ages trying to come up with a name for my blog. Scissors, paper...pen "Scissors paper rock" is a familiar chant around this house. The girls love to play it, even 3 year old (Mia) knows it well - OK, so she cheats a little.... I substituted rock for "pen" - the name my friends call me, and my most fave scrapping tool in the world!!! I love my doodling!!! Scissors and paper - add them, and you have my three essentials for creating a scrapbook page. I love product as much as the next scrapper, but I reckon I'm at my most creative when I restrict myself to these 3 basics. Give it a go sometime!