Bake it Pretty!

Part of the reason I like cupcakes is that they are so darn pretty! Today whilst on the interweb I came across a website which celebrated all the prettiness in baking called Bake it Pretty.

I now really want the "Magical Forest Sampler" (once I'd done with using these on cupcakes I could turn them into jewelery!)

I also love the "Cupcake 101" which has everything you could need to start decorating some pretty amazing cupcakes

Zombie Fun

Just a couple of zombie related things that friends have forwarded to me in the last couple of days. Firstly is the Hello Killy Zombie cake - Hiliare left a picture of this one on my facebook page. I'm not actually sure the cake is even real or just some image some computer geek has whipped up. Either way it's creepy cute!
Yesterday I also received an e-mail from one of my derby friends about a zombie version of Pride and Predjudice. I have never read any Jane Austen - because really - I don't like the thought of it. But I could quite easily be convinced to read Pride and Prejudice and Zombies.

Rock n' Roll March

So March was always going to be a busy month - the derby bout is the 28th and whilst I'm not skating as a freshie there will be plenty to do.

I am also enrolling in a course which will start in the last weekend of February but finish in the first weekend of March.

I also have tickets to the Kings of Leon on the 27th of March - I'm heading along to that show with Donna and I'm also heading to Homegrown with Donna, Celia & Simon on 14th March.

I was also super excited to find out that The Killers are coming to play two shows in New Zealand and I'm heading the Christchurch to see them with Celia & Simon. Celia's booked the flights and is going to buy my ticket too (where would I be without my Celia!) all I have to do is sort a day and a bit leave with the boss - and what date is The Killers show? 31 March!

Rich has now informed me that one of our most favourite bands ever - The Kills are going to be performing at the SFBH on 25 March an the tickets go on sale today. Which is SUPER exciting to say the least. It's the most exciting show this year so far!

So much rock n' roll - so little time....

....also on the rock n' roll front, Rich recently introduced me to The Kitchen Sink a website detailing all sorts of musical happenings in Wellington.

First Cupcakes of 2009

I think these are my first cupcakes of 2009 - I can't remember making any other this year. The cupcake itself is Strawberry Swirl and the icing is butter icing with coloured sugar sprinkled on top.

First Gig of 2009

I'm very excited - last night after work Rich and I bought tickets to our first gig of 2009!

On Thursday night we are going to see Stereolab at San Francisco Bath House - yah!

My Craft Stash From Fiona

So a couple of weeks back I handed over to Iris her chartreuse craft stash and in returned I received a stash of red items from Fiona - and here there are!
Firstly a cute little needle felted skull pin
A very warm pair of fingerless gloves which she knitted for me - I want it to be cold now so I can wear them.
A hand painted skull frame with the "Skull flower" design on it.

An incredible knitting handbag - with a different coloured skull on each side. I am in awe of the bag!
Finally a couple of "skull flower" glasses which she even painted on the bottom!

The Rest of the New Years Resolutions....

So I've done a pretty LAME job of listing the rest of the New Years resolutions! Given February is ALMOST upon us **yikes** I figured I better list them!

2) Skate as much as possible - particularly whilst the sun is shining!

3) Spend my 30th birthday somewhere exotic - preferably Tokyo.
4) To travel to as many exotic locations as possible in 2009.
5) Try not to overcommit myself - I only end up not being able to spend enough time on any one thing and no time a home relaxing. I can't be everywhere at once.

6) Make my "top ten" zombie film list - I always read about awesome zombie films online or in books and vow I need to make a list of the top 10 zombie films I want to see, but I never make the list and I never end up seeing any of the films I want to. So this year - I will have a zombie top 10!
7) De clutter the "stuff". I have so much stuff - I don't know where it comes from - maybe it breeds when I am not looking. But it needs to be de cluttered by June. Seriously. By the way - the clutter below isn't MY clutter. Actually it makes me feel a bit better about my clutter!
8) Bake more stuff - I like to bake, it's fun. I just have to find people other than Rich to bake for - maybe I can start taking baking to derby practice?
9) Wear a skull everyday (I had to include at least one that was achievable!)

I can sing a rainbow...

We had a rain shower last weekend, it was the first one in a while, and when it cleared up it left behind a huge rainbow! Here's some photo's of the rainbow which I took from the deck.

Pohutakawa Trees

This year has been the hottest since I've lived in Wellington and it seems that all of the Pohutakawa trees were in full bloom just after new years. They seem to be loosing their flowers now resulting in the ground around where I live like a carpet of bright red cotton wool. Here's a photo I took by Holloway Road last weekend.

Donna's Pie Day

On Wellington Anniversary day the craft group had a "pie" party to celebrate Donna's birthday.

For the party I made Caramel Cup which look like this:



The are super sweet and I am sure each caramel cup equates to one new filling in you mouth. Heres' the recipe:

Chocolate Caramel Cups:

60g Butter, softened
2 tbs castor sugar
1/2 cup (75g) plain flour
2 tbs desiccated coconut
100g good quality dark chocolate

Caramel Filling:

395 g can of sweetened condensed milk
2 tbs golden syrup
40g butter

1. Preheat over to 180 C. Grease 20 1 1/2 tbs mini muffin pans
2. combine butter & sugar in a bowl until pale & creamy. Add flour and coconut & stir until well combined. Spoon 1 1/2 tbs of mix into each muffin pan pressing down with your fingers & bake in the preheated oven for 8-10 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from over and reduce oven to 160 C.
3. To make filling, combine condensed milk, golden syrup & butter in a small saucepan over a medium low heat and cook, stirring for 1 - 2 minutes or until smooth. Pour evenly amongst muffin pans and bake for 5-7 minutes or until golden brown and filling sets.
4. Leave to cool, then use a small sharp knife to carefully run around the edge of each pan to remove the caramel cups and place on a tray.
5. Melt chocolate in a double boiler and add a dollop to each cup.

Here's what the rest of the crafty foxes made for "Pie Day":

Jess & Andrew's Wedding

Last Friday Rich & I attended Jess & Andrew's wedding on a sunny Wellington day at Gear Homestead. Here's some photo's I took of the day.