Birthday – A Bit of This A Bit of That

February 20, 2019February 20, 2019

6 before 40

Yes, I know it’s usually 40 before 40. But I know me, that will never happen, even if its 40 small things.

I would be lying if I said I wasn’t freaked out. I am. Totally. Freaked. Out.

I don’t know why. I still feel like I’m in my 20’s. My skin thinks it’s in my teens. My body is definitely closer to 40 than I would like it to be. But all in all, I don’t *feel* like I’m almost 40.

So in pre-celebration, I think I will attempt a 6 before 40, 1 a month for the next 6 months. In no particular order…

Get out and run. At least 2 or 3 times a week for 20 minutes or so. With the aim of running another 5km race at some point in the next 6 months.
Get a new ear piercing, either an Upper Lobe, Helix or a Tragus, or maybe a combo.
Get a massage. A full body, hour and a half, including reflexology, massage. I haven’t had one of those in years and I miss it.
Buy a pair of high heels. I’ve not worn, nor owned a pair of heels in at least 6 years. I want a pair of really pretty, delicate, fancy heels.
Spend a night at a hotel on my own. Just me, room service and my Kindle.
Start my pallet herb garden on my balcony, those pallets have been sitting there for almost 2 years, its time!

So, those are my goals. Maybe not anything too exciting, but nothing that is out of my reach either.

November 20, 2016November 20, 2016

Party!

Last week was Aaron’s birthday party at our house. It was hectic and loud and fun!

Here it is by the numbers:

10 children
7 packets of microwave popcorn
6 (possibly more) litres of juice
3 hours of party time
3 bags of Bisli
2 packets of marshmallows
1 packet of suckers
1 movie (Tintin)
1 melktert
1 very happy birthday boy

I cannot get over that my first born is 9. He is almost as tall as I am, wears a size bigger shoe than me and we wear the same size jeans!

Where has the time gone?

December 8, 2015December 7, 2015

40!

Today you are 40 Hubband. I’m married to a 40 year old. The best 40 year old out there. So I though I would tell you 40 things I love about you.

I love…

How much bigger than me you are.
Your smile.
Your wicked sense of humour.
That you love our kids so much.
That you check on them each night before you get into bed.
Your glasses. My very own Clark Kent.
When you hold my hand.
Your hugs.
How excited you get about new Star Wars/Star Trek/Avengers/geek movies.
That you don’t let me get away with my shit.
Except sometimes you do.
That you let me sleep in.
And make me coffee.
That you wash dishes.
And clean the bathrooms.
That you know more about music than I do and have introduced me to so much new stuff.
That you went for dance lessons for our wedding.
Your photography, its magical.
Sitting on the couch watching TV together.
Those moments when you know exactly what I’m thinking.
How you encourage our children in whatever their passions are.
That you’re reading Charlie & The Chocolate Factory with the kids (and loving the story as much as they are).
How into technology you are.
And how you encourage me to try new tech when you try it.
And encourage me to try new things in general.
How much you love ice cream.
And that look of disappointment you get when its finished, like a kid all over again.
Your legs, you have the best legs.
That you love my cooking.
And my baking.
The way you light up when you see an injustice being done and know you can fix it.
Your writing.
Your eyes, those blue eyes.
Your sense of fairness.
The fact that you draw.
That every day you choose to walk our life path with me, together.
That you said we can get a dog.
Your ADD (yes, I even love your squirrels).
The fact you take 20 minutes when you brush your teeth.
That you love me, just as I am.

September 2, 2014

Ice cream dreams

Holy moly!

The guys at work spoiled me for my birthday and bought me a KRUPS ice cream churner.

So awesomely exciting.

I have not stopped making ice cream since I got the machine.

So far I have made:

Vanilla
Vanilla with Top Deck pieces
Condensed milk
Condensed milk with nougat pieces
Dairy milk chocolate

I did try and make a sorbet but it didn’t churn, no idea why, but I will try that again soon.

Next up will be white chocolate and Smarties!

August 19, 2013

It was my birthday and it was good

For the first time in ages my birthday fell on a Saturday.

Not one to let an opportunity pass, I made plans.

Now, if you know me, you know Im not big on birthdays, I dont hate them but I am mostly ambivalent about them. I dont usually do anything big for my birthday but this year was the exception.

I organised an {Art Jamming} session in the morning, followed by lunch with the parental and then a movie in the evening.

Art Jamming was awesome. Everyone had a great time. I painted a cherry blossom tree. Aaron did 2 paintings and Faith made a huge mess that Jamie, the Art Jamming artist, helped her with, she painted Faith’s name over her canvas in silver and glitter, Faith loves it!

The Art Jamming artist traced the skeleton onto the canvas but Aaron painted it on himself :) — The Art Jamming artist traced the skeleton onto the canvas but Aaron painted it on himself 🙂

I decided to go the whole hog and have breakfast catered. I dont know if you have heard of {Belle’s Patisserie} but OMG! So much of yum. I met with Sasha a few days before to organise the menu and I picked it up on Saturday morning. A HUGE platter of savoury filled croissants and veggie wraps and mini quiches, a HUGE platter of sweet pastries and the most divine red velvet roulade you have ever tasted!

Art Jamming was followed by lunch with the parental units at {Grand Central} where I could barely finish my starter that I ordered (instead of a main) because of all the yummy Belles stuff I ate earlier.

Then a few weeks ago, {I won tickets to see a 3D movie at Ster Kinekor} and we used the vouchers to go see Wolverine. AWESOME movie. Pro tip: dont leave the theatre before the credits, there is a secret scene.

Paul and the kids bought me the {NoMu recipe box} and I got a Exclusive books voucher from someone else that I used to get extra recipe cards. I got a gorgeous purple orchid, yummy bath and pamper goodies, a magnificent Tree of Life pendant, a cupcake decorating book and tons of choccies.

All in all I got spoiled rotten by family and friends and had the most divine day.

August 13, 2013

Of birthdays and traveling…

4 more sleeps until my birthday. I’m not usually one to get excited about a birthday, and considering this is not a ‘big’ one, I’m not entirely sure why I’m excited. But I am 🙂

We are going to be Art Jamming so maybe that’s why. I love painting (even though I cant paint for shit) and being creative so I’m looking forward to that.

Its also a family orientated birthday, the kids will be there so it should be even more fun. Im betting my kids paint better pictures than me 🙂

Im following the painting session with lunch with those that cant or wont paint. And then we are off to see Wolverine that night.

So yup, a super special birthday for me!

Then in just over a months time, we get on a plane to Israel and I get to see my brother and almost sister in law (and their puppy). I cannot, CANNOT, wait to see my brother. Its been 2 and a half years since I have seen him and I miss him so much.

I cannot believe my brother is actually getting married, I remember when he was born! Too awesome for words!

I also cant wait to see the dozen or so friends of mine that all reside in Israel. Its going to be an amazing and special time.

December 17, 2012

A birthday cake

Faith had a small family party this year and I didnt want to buy a cake, I wanted to make one.

Then I saw this post by The Cupcake Lady aka Angel on the new Pillsbury range and fell in love with the Funfetti cake mix.

Unfortunately I couldn’t find the Funfetti one when I went to the shops but I did improvise 😉

Ingredients

1 x box cake mix
½ cup rainbow vermicelli (if you didnt get the Funfetti box mix)
Extra ingredients as per the box mix
Icing sugar, butter and food colouring (as needed)
Fondant icing (I bought lilac and pink ready made Nicoletta fondant from Yuppiechef)

Method

Mix cake as directed.
Add the vermicelli.

Fill two 20cm cake tins with the batter and bake for 30 minutes.

Once cooled, remove from baking tins and allow to cool down completely.
Once cold place one of the cakes upside down on your board or cake stand.
Mix your butter icing and coat a layer of icing on the flat side of the cake.
Carefully place the second cake, flat side down on top of the icing covered base cake.
Carefully spread the rest of the icing over the top and sides of the layered cake.

(At this point I should have smoothed the butter icing a bit in preparation for the fondant but I forgot until it was too late).
Roll out your fondant and carefully place over the top of your cake, make sure the butter icing is still a bit wet, so that it sticks nicely (thanks for the tip Angel).
For a cake this size I would recommend two packs of Nicoletta fondant, I rolled my lilac one quite thin and it wasn’t quite enough to cover the whole cake, it could probably have been a bit thicker too.

Once you have your fondant in place choose an alternative colour fondant and roll it out, cut shapes or mould pretty decorations. It was quite easy to use and not scary at all.

Once you have your shapes or decorations use a little bit of warm water to stick them to the cake.

And there you have it 🙂

November 7, 2011

My boy is 4!

On Saturday, my 1st born, my son, my little munchkin boy turned 4.

FOUR!!!!!

We had an absolute blast at his party yesterday and today was his birthday ring at playschool (the last one there, next one will be at nursery school).

Here are some pics from this morning 🙂

aaron2 — Not loving being the centre of attention

April 11, 2010

Happy (belated) Birthday RoRo

On April 1st was RoRo’s birthday, it fell smack bang in the middle of Pesach and as such we could have a cake.

So, I promised that I would bake a cake as soon as Pesach was over. After eating the most divine red velvet cupcakes from Angel I decided I would try out a red velvet recipe I found at Bakerella.

We started off great!

And then it went downhill… My cakes didn’t rise! I was so upset I couldn’t even take photos!!

So instead of wasting cream cheese icing on two flat cakes I just made some plain icing.

I also decorated with these fantastic silver balls and silver coated chocolate buttons!

Lets just call this a warm up round… I promise RoRo, I will make a better cake during the week!

December 17, 2009

Public Holiday (and the weather played nice too…)

Aaron and I spent the morning Norwood Mall, we went shopping and then spent just over an hour playing at the play place.

We came home and after running wild Aaron had a nap and then we met my mom for lunch at Grand Central in Melrose Arch.

Lindt chocolate brownie aka Orgasm on a Plate!!!

We then proceeded to Angel’s birthday party where Aaron and I spent a good hour or so in the pool with the tons of kids while Paul took photos and mingled. There were a whole lot people there, quite a few from twitter and the blog world. I wish I had more time to sit and chat to everyone but Aaron was determined to spend every minute in the pool and when we got out of the pool threw the MOTHER OF ALL TANTRUMS!!!! So we went home earlier than we would have liked…

I think we will be forever known as the parents of that boy who threw the MOTHER OF ALL TANTRUMS!!!!

Here are some pics that Paul took…