Zucchini and Corn Pie

After spending the day with my family and having a big lunch I wanted to make sure we still had something healthy for dinner but not something that was too heavy or that took too long to make. I came across this recipe and thought it would be perfect accompanied by a salad and we had a wholesome meal. We enjoyed is so much I thought I would share the recipe with you.

Zucchini and Corn Pie

Ingredients
250 grams zucchini (grated)
130 gram can creamed corn
1 small red capsicum (finely chopped)
1 small onion (finely chopped)
1/2 cup grated cheese
1/2 cup self-raising flour
1/2 cup ham or bacon (chopped)
2 tablespoons oil
3 eggs (lightly beaten)

Method
Lightly grease a 20cm pie dish. Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and mix well. Pour into prepared dish. Bake in a moderate oven 180°c for about 45 minutes or until set.

I hope all of you have a great New Year whatever you decide to get up to and may it bring all of you many wonderful times and special memories. It will be a quiet one here I'm sure I'll be up I'm a bit of a night owl.(lol) Take care and I look forward to seeing all of you again next year.

Catherine xo

I was on a roll....

Last night I had a mission to get some cards made and try and get a bit of productivity happening in my house and I was stoked that I actually achieved what I set out to do, don't worry about my goal I set for myself a while ago to get to bed by 10:30pm because that didn't happen but that's what holidays are for, I love sleeping in. So I have a couple of thank you cards made to hand out to my hubby's family, a cute babushka birthday I made for a good friend's daughter who will be celebrating her birthday soon, I really had fun making this card with glitter and getting a bit of colouring in done.(lol) And lastly I really love getting mail that is just for me, not the bill kind but the kind that makes me smile so I thought it would really make the birthday girl's day if she got an RSVP in the mail just for her from Miss 5. Lately I've kind of been lacking in inspiration when it comes to card making so I went over to this site to get a bit of help and away I went. Next on my card making list is Miss 5, I love making her card, very girly and probably PINK. I hope you are having a good week, I'm enjoying having my hubby home with us and just hanging out together it's so nice.

Talk to you soon.

Catherine xo

Materials
Thanks so much
Paper: SU Kraft, SU Chocolate Chip, SU Old Olive, SU Very Vanilla
Ink: SU Chocolate Chip, SU Pumpkin Pie
Stamps: SU Trendy Trees
Accessories: Kaiser Rhinestones, SU Distresser Kit, Fiskars Border Punch

Blue Thankyou
Paper: SU Kraft, SU Whisper White, SU Baja Breeze, SU Ski Slope DP
Ink: SU Baja Breeze
Stamps: SU Occasional Greetings
Accessories: Paper Flower, MM Flowers, Karen Foster Rhinestones, Corner Punch

Babuska Birthday
Paper: SU Kraft
Ink: SU Markers Soft Subtles, Versamark
Stamps: Hero Arts
Accessories: White Embossing Powder, Kindy Glitz, White Gel Pen, Glitter, Sticky Strip

RSVP
Paper: SU Whisper White, DCWV Designer Paper
Ink: SU Pink Passion
Stamps: Hero Arts
Accessories: Kaiser Rhinestones, Martha Stewart Butterfly Punch, Corner Punch

Some Craft to show you.

Hello there how is your Tuesday going? It's pretty wet around here today so we have been to see Planet 51 at the movies (it was sooo busy) and hanging out at home hoping that by the end of the week the sun might shine long enough to go to the beach together but I do like the rain too, we have some green grass now not just dirt.

Yesterday was the same, lots of rain so I made another dishcloth using a quick and easy pattern over at Jellywares using some of the lovely cotton/bamboo and bamboo knitting needles I won over at Corrie's blog! After Christmas and not being as organized as I would like to be, I thought I would try and be more proactive. A good friend of mine will be having a new baby in March so I thought I would get a head start and make this cute little doll, Maisie, to give as a gift. The pattern is out of the book More Softies.

I'm off to make some cards for some birthdays coming up next month. Have a great day!

Smiles Catherine xox

Baking

Just a quick post before the family gathering begins so I thought I would share some pictures from our day of baking the other day. A big thank you to Cathie for her lovely muesli recipe I made to share with my neighbour that I will drop down later today. Well I will try and stop by later tonight with a couple of Christmas pictures. Have a wonderful day.

Smiles Catherine xox

A Few Photos for you

Hi there! Just thought I would drop in a show you what I have been up to the last few days. I have been visiting everyone but feeling just a bit lazy and so just couldn't be bothered to post, I'm very naughty so tonight is my catchup.

This cute little box pouch is going to my teenage next door neighbour and I used the tutorial from here after seeing over at one of my favourite blogs Hey Bubbles. The weekend was full of fun times with friends going to a good friends yearly Christmas party followed on Sunday by a christening. It was great to catch up with friends and it makes me release how lucky I am to have special people in my life, people I can depend on. So I was on a bit of a card making frenzy on Saturday night so I could take a card to go along with the christening gift. Within the same family two people share a birthday one day apart so a couple of cards for birthdays were needed too. That night was a late one for me but it was great to get back into a bit of stamping.

For this card I used the sketch from over at Everything but the Kitchen Sink and to challenge myself again I chose the colours and a snowflake stamp from the challenge over at Embellish Magazine.

Anyway I should go and do something Christmassy like wrap or make cards (yes I know I haven't finished making Christmas cards) I would love to get them out to people if I can. Take care and I should be back soon but if not have a wonderful Christmas with family and friends. Thank you for stopping by and visiting .

Smiles Catherine xox
Challenge Card
Stamps: SU Snow Swirled, SU Great Friend, SU Eastern Blooms
Cardstock: SU Kraft, SU Tempting Turquoise, SU Yoyo Yellow, SU Chocolate Chip
Ink: SU Chocolate Chip, SU Whisper White
Accessories: Kaiser Pearls, Kaiser Rhinestones, Glitter, Sticky Strip, Kaiser Apron Lace Punch, Martha Stewart Butterfly Punch, SU Whisper White Ribbon

Ethan
Stamps: SU Sincere Salutations
Cardstock: SU Basic Black, SU Real Red, DP Creative Imaginations
Ink: SU Basic Black
Accessories: MM Felt Alphabets, Black Brads

Christening
Stamps: None Used
Cardstock: SU Very Vanilla, SU So Saffron, DP Grant Archival, DCWV
Ink: None Used
Accessories: MM Buttons, SU Certainly Celery Ribbon

It's been a busy couple of days in my house so I haven't had a chance to post any of the pictures from our adventures. Thursday the girls wanted to go to the art gallery because on school holidays they always have fun free activities. The theme for the activities was construction with an area for the children to build with cardboard, sticks, wheels etc. and upstairs they had fun building a cubby house out of foam blocks as well as remote trucks to collect gravel and tip it out, so much fun!(lol)
As a fun Christmas treat we went into the city to see the Christmas tree alight and look in the Myer Christmas windows. We had dinner together then finished the night off with some yummy gelato and some fireworks.

Tonight I will be up creating a few cards for friends that share a couple of birthdays this weekend, I'm looking forward to some stamping. I hope I will get a chance to post those since it's been a while since my last card posting.

Enough of the waffling, have a wonderful day whatever you do.

Smiles Catherine xox

Hi there! Today was our second day of holidays and I promised because it was $2 Tuesday at the DVD shop that it was going to be a movie day which was perfect because I still need to get some sewing done. When we have a movie day we close all the blinds and get comfy and eat popcorn. Miss 5 asked today whether she could have caramel popcorn and remembering I had a recipe I was happy to make it for them. I just love Donna Hay and her kids issue magazine. I remembered in one of my copies that there were some recipes for flavoured popcorn and so found the caramel recipe. This is the recipe for the caramel I used:

Combine 2/3 cup brown sugar, 1/4 cup golden syrup, 40g butter, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract and 2 teaspoons of water in a saucepan over low heat until sugar is dissolved and butter is melted. Bring to the boil and cook for 3 minutes. Stir through popcorn.

It was very sweet, sticky and a bit messy but they enjoyed it all! And with my lovelies enjoying watching their DVD's I was able to finish the bag that I started last week so it can go into the mail for Christmas, yeah! The other exciting news in our house was that Miss 5 lost her first tooth last night! She woke to some gold money and a special little gift because it was her first tooth, gee that means that she is growing up!:( Have a good day tomorrow and I hope to see you soon.

Smiles Catherine xox

My mother in law sent this email to me this morning and I thought I would share is with you because just sometimes things can a bit much and it's good to remember some of these insightful things so we remember just how much we matter and those we love and not to sweat the small stuff which I know I need to remember to do.

WE SHOULD ALL READ THIS AS MUCH AS WE NEED.....

LIVE ON and follow this good guide?. Nobody else is looking, listening, or
cares, except those who love you?

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and
parents will. Stay in touch.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey
is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God
never blinks.
16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up
to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an
answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie.
Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will
this matter?'
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or
didn't do.
35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood.
38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's,we'd grab
ours back.
41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
42. The best is yet to come.
43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
44. Yield.
45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift."

I hope that you have a wonderful weekend I'm looking forward to mine. My girls have finished school for the year and this weekend we don't have any commitments so we can do what ever we want. I hope to see you all soon.

Smiles Catherine xox

My Creative Space

Since it is the last creative space for the year I thought I would stop by and share what I have been doing, nothing really exciting in the heat but I still have a bit of Christmas sewing left to do. I am making this bag for my god daughter for Christmas, hoping this will be ok for a 13 year old who likes retro. And I thought some of you might like to have a look at these pattern drafting books my mother in law gave me to have a look at and try my hand at drafting a pattern. I'll have to have a closer look and since I'm a bit of a basic sewer I'll probably need to call for a bit of help but the patterns inside are just gorgeous.

And I thought I would just show you a cute photo from my Miss 5's prep concert today. They all did a great job singing and dancing and at the end we were given a beautiful gift of their portfolio of work over the semester. The teachers went to so much effort and we have a wonderful keepsake which I'm sure she'll love to look back at.

Thanks for coming by my blog if you want to see more creativity happening then pop by Kirsty's lovely blog.

Smiles Catherine xox

Getting Creative!

Hello. I thought I would show you a bit of what I have been up to lately, it's been hard to get motivated to sew in this heat and with the school year almost at an end things are very busy. Today Miss 5 had her swimming carnival which was really fun to watch and tomorrow they have their Christmas Concert which I'm really looking forward to. So after the carnival I motivated myself to get a bit of sewing done. I made a couple of applique singlets to give as a Christmas gift for a little baby. This is my first attempt at applique, so I took it slowly and it turned out, yeah! Also I have finished the explorer bags that I mentioned last week on my creative space, where did the week go! And this is what I put inside them, a compass, torch, chocolate and magnifying glass. So on my list of homemade Christmas things to do I still have a crayon roll to make and a bag, so far so good. Anyway I need to get a wriggle on because I still have to finish making a Mars Bar Slice for Miss 10's break up party tomorrow, wrap a present for a teacher and TRY to get to bed before midnight. Catch you later!

Smiles Catherine xox

Pictures and a Present

Hi there just thought I would stop by and share with you the framed pictures I was telling you about last week in my creative space. They were super easy to make and not to expensive either. The frames I used are from Ikea and the matting I picked up from my local art supplier for $1 because it was in their off cut bin (bargin). I used some scraps for the butterflies using my Martha Stewart punch which I bought at Spotlight and for the letter I traced around a MDF letter and then cut it out of scrapbooking paper. Because the frames I used didn't allow for things to be raised too high I used some dimensionals for a bit of dimension but that was all that would fit. That's one more thing I've finished for Christmas, still that sewing to go.

I mentioned present, well it was a little gift I picked up for myself at Trade Secret this morning. I spied these cute Matryoshkas over at Mel's blog and wanted some for myself but it wasn't until I found them today for $12.95 that I thought well why not! Have a great day!

Smiles Catherine xox

I just thought I would stop by and say hi since I haven't been around for a few days and I thought you might be missing me.;) It has been really busy like we all are and there has been lots of things going on with my Miss 10 and her dancing. Thursday was presentation night where they all get a small trophy and a certificate but this year my lovely got an encouragement award for her favourite dancing, tap. I was just stoked for her! Saturday was the day and night of the concert we were there from about midday till ten at night but lucky for us she was at the end of the concert so we went home for a couple of hours to chill and then back again for her dances, it was fun and exhausting. So after a sleep in we were all ready for my niece and nephew's birthday party today. They are twins and so they both had different themes for their birthday, one wanted Christmas and the other Halloween. So they had separate cakes, two pinatas and had Santa come and visit as well as some other creepy looking person handing out lolly snakes with a large following of children. The girls had a good time, but that wasn't it we headed home and then went out again for the dancing break up party. I decided to give that a miss but Dad was great and took them out to have fun at the pool. Lots to say and hopefully it all makes sense feeling a bit tired and looking forward to a good nights sleep.

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you have had a great weekend!

Smiles Catherine xox

My Creative Space

Hi everyone thanks for stopping by and taking a peek at My Creative Space today. I thought I would show you what I'm up to with my Christmas present making. So I want to make things instead of buying and I have done that mostly but I have still bought things to go with handmade things. I thought I would make some simple wall decorations for a little girl filling these photo frames with some punched butterflies and a monogrammed letter in the other. Here is the skirt I showed earlier in the week with the hem pinned up but still not sewed and some fabric cut out and ready to be sewed into some drawstring bags for boys. I'm filling them with a torch, a compass, a magnifying glass, a pencil and book and a chocolate for those big adventures. I found a great and simple tutorial for the bag here.

See you again soon and if you want to check out other crafty spaces go over to Kootoyoo and see what's going on out there!

Smiles Catherine xox

Let Christmas Begin!

The start of December marks the date for us to put up the tree, start using the advent calendar and decorating the house ready for Christmas. So tonight was the night and we all had lots of fun. My hubby and the girls setting up the tree, then the girls and I trimming the tree ready for the all important star to be put up on the top all while we were grooving away to So Fresh Christmas 2007. (you just have to create the mood, lol) The advent calendar was made last year after seeing some at the shops but really wanting to make my own. I really don't like the chocolate calendars much for the girls, and we usually forget to eat them anyway so this was a better way of counting down the days. I did search for calendars like I used to have when I was little that had pictures in them but haven't found any, they were so much fun to open each day.:) So this calendar was made simply by decorating the frame with paint and glitter, then colour in some pictures, laminate them and glue them to the frame. The insert of the frame was painted with chalk board paint and then I painted the words onto the board, waited till it dried and that was it, simple.
I thought I would show you my favourite decoration on the tree but let me say that all the decorations that my girls make are just beautiful but this Santa decoration has special meaning for me. The decoration was bought by myself for my grandmother as a Christmas present using my money and when she passed away I inherited the decoration. It has been a long time since she has passed but it reminds me of her which always makes me smile. Do you have a favourite decoration?

I hope you have all had a good day, talk to you soon.

Smiles Catherine xox