Easter is on its way.......

You are no Bunny.....until you love some Bunny.......

So, we had enough of Christmas and Valentine's Day, now is the time to be prepared for the Easter Marketing campaigns. ( Not that we have not noticed....and eaten Hot Cross Buns already.)
Is it not strange that years ago we could ONLY eat Hot Cross Buns at Easter time, and now they are on the supermarket shelves ALL year round! I guess the same goes for Mince Pies!

In any case, being the creative creature that I am, I love to be able to set the scene and pull out my Easter decorations, especially as it is not a common sight here in South Africa. If one visits department stores in Europe now, they will be dripping with Easter decorations......How I wish I could be there!!!

Create interesting settings using a variety of  textures.

So, here is a taste of my Easter inspiration.......Enjoy!

The challenge....to bake homemade Hot Cross Buns this year !!!!

Once I have the desired,  fruity and spicy result, I shall share it with you!!!

Why not create an Easter decorative wreath as well? I add a couple of Easter Eggs between the foliage, or in the centre.

Create a bit of an Easter Egg hunt with small eggs hidden in the wreath....be different.

Until my next dose of Easter inspiration....have a bunny good time!

Love Life....and Live Love, today and always......

Nobody can fully understand the meaning of love unless he's owned a dog. -----Gene Hill.

A dog wags its tail with its heart......these homemade peanut butter cookies will put an  extra wag in your  dog's tail today!
Happy Valentine's Day to my 4 legged family!

Reflections or shadows of the past.....what are you remembering today?

The most difficult matter is not so much to CHANGE the world as yourself. ( Nelson Mandela)

Reflect upon
your blessings,
of which every man
has plenty, not on your
past misfortunes, of which
all men have some.


Charles Dickens.

Light always follows darkness......Anonymous.

I love my blue and white collection......a collection of old memories and special people in my life, and of new dreams for the future. The lacy reflection of the net curtain is also attached to special memories.
...Some things are loved because they are valuable; 
others are valuable because they are loved.

Love is above all, the gift  of oneself.

Happy Valentine's Day, and remember that the way to your man's heart is through his stomach!

If Nigella can do it so can I........

....except I do it with bottles !


Yes, Nigella collects cans with interesting and colourful labels from around the world, and uses them as containers for flower arrangements with an eclectic mix. I do the same with bottles......of course the main reason is to recycle and be creative at the same time.  

Develop a good eye and collect bottles with interesting, embossed textures .
For the table arrangement at your next dinner party, be brave and adorn your table with bottles all of various heights and dimensions.
Walk around your garden and collect foliage with various shades of green and various textures....some shiny and smooth, others thick and fleshy.
Make sure to also include some aromatic and fragrant herbs as well. You will be creating a natural insect repellent and air freshener at the same time!


  

Become a bit of a hoarder and collect all sorts of bottles and jars.
Your excuse can always be that you require a bottle to shake up a fresh salad dressing!!!

.....and this will be the result of your collection....of  bottles and  foliage.

Keep the herbs in water for a couple of days, then you will be able to plant them.
This also means that you always have a gift handy....who would not like a bunch of herbs.....
even some that are ready to plant....all for free!

Be creative, yet again and decorate the jar or vase with some raffia tied securely  around the jar.
Here, I also added some beads into the jar for some added colour...a great way to tie in with your colour scheme or party theme.

Detail of the beads, raffia and the mint ready to plant...Yippe more mint for the garden!!

Collect odd bowls, jugs and storage containers from Flea markets and  antique stores.

This will come in handy when you urgently require an emergency gift.....pack some Muesli or Granola into jars, or deliver a healthy breakfast to a friend in hospital, or pack and enjoy as a breakfast on the beach.

OR

Breakfast by the pool....why not? Just plan for a few minutes of healthy eating on a lazy Sunday morning.
Raid the garden for those delightfully tart gooseberries, and add a touch of calming fragrance with a bunch of lavender and a few sprigs of mint.






And so where else, other than the garden can you add a touch of green?

The perfect fragrant touch for any guest.... a hand towel adorned with lavender .
A handy and fragrant gift to leave as a surprise on the bed. 

When you run out of space in the kitchen, turn to your bathroom......my other favourite room to adorn with herbs and bottles.... especially if you have guests visiting. It is so rewarding to create a tranquil retreat in the bathroom.

Go ahead and spread your wings......

Breakfast in a glass.....Smoothie edition, take 2!

Five star service, a smoothie with a smile, and a chance to use those hidden treasures.
I just love being creative and pulling out gems from the past and mixing the old with the new and adding some fresh inspiration. Go ahead and do the same!

Smoothie served African style....make believe you are sitting next to your favourite water  hole in the game reserve.
We can all dream!
Serve with a touch of class on a platter scattered with crystal hearts and sit back and enjoy!  

Oh what a topping! Honey, cinnamon and some crunchy bits!

To make a bland smoothie exciting takes a few seconds.....serve up creative combinations and drink to good health. ( As long as you do not cheat and add ice cream to the smoothie! I remember this from my Coffee Shop days.... people want to believe they are eating healthy foods, but they still want to be sinful and add the forbidden ingredients!)


Herewith a recipe for some smoothie inspiration from Disney World.....Designed by Chef Mickey....of course, it is called, 'Suns up Breakfast.'

Mix equal parts of  Berry yoghurt with Plain yoghurt, a ripe Banana, a handful of ripe Strawberries, a large squeeze of Honey, a splash of fresh Orange juice, a sprinkle of ground Cinnamon and 2 Egg whites.
Place in a blender goblet and blend until smooth and frothy.
Serve in a chilled glass, top with honey, cinnamon and a strawberry on the side.
Cheers to great health and a good start to the day!