Things I Love: May Edition

Welcome to Things I Love the May Edition.  I hope you enjoy!

1. This mapnote from Maptote.  Dane and I have always loved the city of San Fransico and this little tag would be so fun to have!

2. Aren't these earrings by Lulu Frost for J.Crew just perfect.  I can picture them dangling from my ears now.

3. I must compliment Urban Outfitters on this light.  I would love to have one in my home someday.

4. There used to be a commercial on TV that talked about using your ticket stub collection to mark where you've been.  Ever since then I have been hanging on tight to my stubs.  They live in the red solo cup that Phil Vassar handed me from stage (the silly stuff we keep huh?)  Anyways, I think this journal would be such a clever way to show them off.

5. I have such a thing for gems in their natural state right now.

6. This is a picture from my current favorite instagram feed.  Kristin Rogers.  If you don't follow her, you must.  She inspires me daily.  I love how she shares her faith via pictures.  I love her kids.  I love her home and think ours will look similar someday (with all the instruments hanging from the walls).  I love her chicken Patty.  Just go check her out.

7. Bonlook's latest Bonnie & Clyde Macchiato glasses.  If they could only grind my prescription.

8. This owl mug.  It would match my dishes.  It makes me smile.  What more could a girl ask for?

9. I am really into light up metal signage right now.  If it reminds me of a carnival, I am probably going to love it.

10.  Fox Sox.  How cute are these?  And I am LOVING this green color right now.

There you have it.  All of the things I am loving this May.

XOXO, Christy

Australia Autumn DIY

It is that time of year: Tights and Boots, Hot Tea and Biscuits, Scarves and Sweaters, Cozy Blankets and Glowing Fires.  And Candles.  Lots and lots of candles.  Yes Autumn has hit Australia my friends so I wanted to stop in with a little Australia Autumn DIY.

True, we burn candles year round.  But in the Autumn and Winter months there seems to being a continuous flicker of candlelight in our room, plus it seems to add a bit of warmth (that may all be in my head, but I will take it).  

To make this candle holder all you need is a clear glass container and a sharpie.  It is so simple.  Chose and design or pattern and draw.  

I chose a classic herringbone pattern but I think chevron, polka dots, or even writing text would be fun. You can use any color sharpie as well.  I am so in love with gold right now so it was a natural choice.  

Other things I am in love with right now: this Green Jasmine & Pear tea by Madame Flavour and Rusks which are a South African biscuit that you dip in hot drinks.  They melt in your mouth.  My beautiful friend Monique has me started on them and I am not going to stop.  

How about you, what are you loving about Australia Autumn or for some of you, Unites States Spring?

Love, Christy

Celebrations!

Last week was my birthday!  My friends and family made it so special with cards, gifts, kind words, hugs, and surprises.  Stopping in to share a few of the moments with you.

Our friends Gav and Monique had us over for a birthday breakfast.  Monique made these beautiful cupcakes that had edible glitter on them.  Fun fact, edible glitter will come out in your poo, so yeah.  They also made us all sorts of fun eggs, mini quiches, and pancakes with bacon and maple syrup in muffin tins.  It was bite sized breakfast goodness!

After the breakfast I got to open one of my presents, which at first appeared to be a bag of dirt.  I then realized this bag of dirt contained sapphires!   I was about to go fossicking!  Fossicking aka gem hunting is such a unique experience.

I like my face here...what in the world am I going to do with these things?

So here are the pictures of the process.  I loved doing the washing.  The hunting took lots of patience.  Basically the thought was, if you pick up a gem, crystal or rock you like, keep it.

 And here are some of my favorites.  Most of what you see above are crystals.  The picture below are all sapphires.  Dane found the biggest one.  And it is quite possible we will be able to get it cut and fit into a ring or necklace someday.  How special is that?

But until then, they are hanging out in this cute little jar next to my owl collection.  Each time I see them they make me smile!

That night we threw a party with a few of our friends at the house.  I made heaps of cupcakes including my new favorite, honey peanut butter.  Oh my goodness, the combination of peanut butter and honey makes me so happy.

We played "The Game of Things," always a party favorite.  And Gav and Monique had a cupcake bake-off.  Monique with her amazing decor skills and cream cheese frosting vs Gav and his mini-pancake cupcakes with maple butter cream frosting.  It was such a great night.  I haven't laughed that hard in a long time.

So thanks to everyone who made my day so great.  But it isn't even about that.  Thanks to all of you who make the everydays of life so great.  I love you bunches!  Christy

Autumn Apples

Yesterday I shared about our super fun ladies night!  Of course you can't have an amazing gals night without amazing food.  Since it is Autumn here in Australia, I decided to make some of my favourite Autumn dishes including apple crisp and apple cider.  

Here's the problem.  I struggled to find the ingredients I would normally use in order to make both of these dishes (story of my life here in the land down under), so I made up the two recipes and they turned out pretty fabulous.  I would love to share the recipes with ya!

Spiced Apple Cider

3 liters apple cider

3 cups orange juice

3 cinnamon sticks

12 whole cloves

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 a lemon sliced.

Super simple!  Just combine all the ingredients in a stock pot on the stove and head until boiling.  Then shut off and put the lid on the top.  Let it set for a couple hours so all of the flavors can be absorbed.  Then, when ready to serve, simply turn back on the burner briefly.  

I love making this dish, because the whole house smells incredible!

I don't know about you, but I have a really bad habit of buying a bag of apples and eating all but one or two, which then those one or two seem to become lost somewhere in the fridge.  After a couple weeks of this, I find I have about 5 apples lying around in my fridge, all different types, textures, and tart levels.  That's when I usually make some sort of apple crisp.  It is a great way to use up a lot of those apples, even some that may have been rolling around in the fridge a bit too long and have lost that perfect crisp level.  

Caramel Apple Crisp

(the caramel apple filling)

5 apples peeled and diced

1/2 cup butter

3 tablespoons flour

1/2 cup white sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup water

(the oatmeal crisp)

1/2 cup butter melted

1 cup flour

1 cup white sugar

1 cup oats

1 tablespoon cinnamon

(the extra buttery topping)

1/4 cup butter melted

1 tablespoon cinnamon

Being by making the caramel apple filling

1. Melt 1/2 cup butter in a pot on the stove and then whisk in the 3 tablespoons of flour to create a paste.  

2. Now add the 1/2 cup white sugar, 1/2 cup brown sugar and 1/4 cup water.  Stir.

3.  Add the diced and peeled apples and let simmer for 5 minutes stirring constantly.

4. Pour into a greased 9x13 pan.

Next make the oatmeal crisp topping.  

1. Simply combine 1/2 cup melted butter, 1 cup flour, 1 cup white sugar, 1 cup oats, and 1 tablespoon cinnamon.  The mixture will be course.

2. Sprinkle over the caramel apple pie filling in the 9x13 pan.  

Finally, add the extra butter topping.

1. Drizzle the 1/4 cup melted butter over the top of the crisp

2. Sprinkle the top with the 1 tablespoon cinnamon.

Bake on 350 for 45 minutes.  Best served warm and with ice cream (of course).

I can't believe I didn't snag a final pic of this dish.  It turned out so well, we just gobbled it up.  woops.

Mmmm, so much applelicious goodness!  I hope you will enjoy these two recipes!   Christy

Kind Words

Just stopping by to share a little story from my day.  Today a friend who I haven't known very long spoke such encouraging words to me.  Reminding me that I am a woman of strength and that God has a huge purpose for my life.  They were such simple words, completely out of the blue, but spoke volumes to me.  Then I arrived home to find the lovely print above as French Press Mornings Encouraging Wednesday post, and I really felt lead to speak some encouraging words into your lives.  I know these words are specifically for a few of you, so I hope they will speak volumes to your heart.

God loves you, He cares about you, He desires to be in close relationship with you.  You may feel so far away from Him right now, but just turn around.  He is there waiting there for you, a loving Father with open arms who longs to embrace you.  He has such great purpose for your life, a purpose that is far beyond what you are even imagining, so hold fast during this season.  It is hard, but He will make your burden light.  Find peace and rest as you snuggle close into His embrace.

I can't help but rejoice right now.  I serve such an amazing, outstanding, loving and uplifting God.

Much Love, Christy