Wordless Wednesday: grey skies are gonna clear up!

Pop on over to Faith, Hope and a whole lotta Love to join in the delight of Wordless Wednesday xx

Mums United and a healthy heart challenge

Life, in the most part, has been overtaken lately with a flurry of fabric, needles and thread. Miss Goodie Two Shoes has been a life changing and exciting challenge, but as my business has evolved my healthy living has been the first to drop off the list. Gone are my early morning walks and weekly sessions at the gym, to be replaced with bleary eyes, a strong coffee and evenings spent sewing arms and legs. Healthy lunches for the family have been slowly replaced with muesli bars, peanut butter sandwiches and arrowroot biscuits... beans and spaghetti have featured on the dinner menu more often then I would like to admit. With the weather warming I have been promising myself a return to healthy eating and daily exercise, but where is the motivation and enthusiasm when bedtime is rarely before 1am?

Then came a very exciting offer from Soup Marketing to take part in an exciting new challenge hosted by the Heart Foundation. Mums United is encouraging Mums across Australia to unite in their quest to raise a healthy, active family. Through my project with Soup I have been asked to set some healthy living challenges and to report on my progress, the perfect opportunity to remain motivated! We got off on a good start today, replacing our usual sugar laden morning tea with some sliced fruit and these delicious raspberry muffins from the Heart Foundation website.

Raspberry Muffins

Ingredients

1 3/4 cups self-raising flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 cup caster sugar

1/2 cup blueberries

60g (1/4 cup) margarine spread, extra

1 cup (250mL) reduced fat milk

1 egg, lightly beaten

1 teaspoon vanilla essence 

Directions 

1. Preheat oven to 200°C. Line a 12-cup non-stick muffin tin with muffin cases.

2. Sift flour, baking powder and cinnamon into a bowl. Mix in sugar and blueberries. In another bowl, combine margarine, milk, egg and vanilla. Mix the wet mixture into the dry ingredients until just combined, using no more than 16 strokes. Spoon mixture into prepared tin. 

3. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out cleanly. 

I hope you too are having a healthy start to the week. Be sure to keep an eye on my blog for details of how you can join me in Mums United, and be in with a chance to win $350 in Myer giftcards thanks to Soup!

Life in the country

Grey skies in November and the thunderous roar of a lightning storm  aren't something to celebrate when you live on a farm, but there is something about the magical landscape. Golden crops against the blackest of skies, pitter pattering of rain and that delightful smell of wet gravel roads.

Harvest will be upon us all too soon, for now I am drinking in the peace, quiet and tranquility.

   

I heart the handmade community: episode II

When I created Miss Goodie Two Shoes, I anticipated I would meet some gorgeous and talented girls across Australia and develop a network of 'business' friends. I was so excited about becoming a part of the handmade community. What I didn't anticipate was developing some very close and valuable personal friendships. Friendships with girls who have enormous hearts, amazing talent and inspiring lives.

I have previously blogged about some of these beautiful girls and the delightful businesses they have created. It's high time I shared with you a handful more. 

In the first spot is a very special girl who takes the hard work out of shopping handmade. My gorgeous friend Kristi from LivvysLoves stocks a stunning range of handmade goodies, enabling you to shop till your hearts content all in the one place. At LivvysLoves you can buy beautiful handmade clothing, dolls and everything in between!

The second lovely lady I'd like to introduce you to is Monique from Willow Mae. She makes the most beautiful dresses, skirts, ruffles (just the mere mention of ruffles sets my heart aflutter!) and accessories. Monique and I are currently working on something very special for Miss Goodie Two Shoes fans, and I have to tell you I am very very excited to be creating with someone so talented!

A final mention for the week is my beautiful friend Kristie from BOO! Designs. She makes absolutely stunning, fantastically unique clothing for little girls. The attention to detail in Kristie's clothing is exceptional, and as a testament to her talent, her fan base is booming! You must take a peek at her recent collection of spooky outfits especially for Halloween.  

I have so many more businesses I'd like to mention, so I'll be back again next week with another sneak peek of some handmade beauties and the gorgeous girls I'm so lucky to now call my friends xxx

This week I am grateful..... that spring has sprung

Spring has sprung and noone is more excited then me! The first day of spring marks one of the most exciting days of my life, the birth of my little boy Oscar. How can he be three already?

 Spring also means our farm is a burst of colour with vibrant signs of life. What better way to celebrate an extra special birthday and the first day of spring then with a frollick and some fun in the gloriuous sun.

 I hope you had an enjoyable start to spring, and you're getting some of this gorgeous weathe. I am playing along with Maxabella loves, this week hosted by the lovely Emily from The Beetle Shack. Why don't you pop on over and share in the fun xxx

Wordless Wednesday: Miss Goodie Two Shoes

This weeks wordless wednesday is dedicated to some of my favourite Miss Goodie Two Shoes creations, recently auctioned for Oscar's Law. It's been an incredible three months since the Miss Goodie rollercoaster began. I have made so many gorgeous friends, and learnt so much about myself. I'm looking forward to seeing what the next three months is going to bring.

Pop on over to Faith, Hope & a whole lotta Love to join in the Wordless Wednesday fun.

We reap what we sow

Okay, I'll be honest. I don't have a green thumb, I tend to either kill plants from kindness, or from neglect. I don't seem to find that perfect balance in between. I dream of being surrounded by the gorgeous sights and smells of a rich country garden, just so long as someone else knows what they're doing!

 So you can imagine my delight this winter as I've watched my little vegie patch grow and flourish. We've had a few hiccups along the way with some pesky aphids and hungry caterpillars, but I'm pleased as punch to be finally picking delicious, vibrantly coloured vegies from my garden.

Today's harvest was some yummy broccolini, cabbage and beetroot.  Yum!