A New Start!

Well as far as years go I must admit that 2012 didn't really impress me! I think I had a lot of high hopes for 2012 and it just didn't live up to it.....

I am making a promise to myself now that I will make 2013 a much better year! That I will work harder to be incredibly happy and enjoy myself and the world.....

I have already booked myself into some art classes for 2013 which I start in February. I have always wanted to do some art classes and I really do need to do something out of the house that is just for me to enjoy. I am hoping that it will help me find new people to become friends with, which means more adult conversations and company which I am REALLY looking forward to. I am also hoping that I can learn a lot about different art techniques. I would love to learn how to apint and draw as I have always enjoyed it but never really taken much notice of techniques.

I am also hoping to get some swimming lessons for myself and Mr Mikey. I am absolutely petrified of swimming so my goal is to overcome that in 2013. Mikey has had some swimming lessons through school but I would love for him to learn how to be a strong swimmer. So we will be doing that together this year.

Another goal I am setting myself for 2013 is to work better at my 2 businesses. My handmade gifts business, Polkadot Bitz and Piecs and my Boutique Market, Once Upon A Market. I need to work on new ideas, new plans and learn more about business so that I can make them successful.

Then there is my family.

I would really like to spend more quality time with my family and I would like to be a better wife and mummy. (let's just say that I am not the best housewife material, I run from dishes and washing) I would like to get better at running a house and home and I would REALLY  like to put more effort in with taking part in the kids schooling and activities. It is very easy to just become lazy and let the teachers deal with it but I truly believe that parents should really get involved in their learning. Keeping up to date with what they are learning and pushing them to be as successful as possible through positive energy and listening. 

I know these things don't seem life changing but I really think they will save my life. I think that changes a few things in my life and doing some simple things will make me a much happier person and will make me love myself more.

So here is to 2013.......May it be more aspiring and more eventful than 2012!

Liane xx

Strawberry Cake!

  

Well I am a BIG fan of strawberries so when I went to the store and saw some super yummy looking strawberries I just had to buy some.....

But then after tasting one and realising that they were just as scrummy as they looked I decided that these babies couldn't just be eaten regularly........I was going to have to do even more with them! So I pulled down all of my recipe books, magazine pullouts and more and I found a recipe for:

STRAWBERRY CAKE! 

 

 And the best thing was that I had ALL the other ingredients already in my cupboard :D

Well the result was a seriously scrummy cake....so of course I am going to share the recipe with you so that when you find that great tasting punnet of strawberries you can make them even yummier too.........








125g butter
1/2 cup caster sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla essence
2 cups self raising flour, sifted
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup fresh strawberries, mashed

Icing:
1 and a 1/2 cups pure icing sugar
4 medium strawberries, mashed

1. Preheat oven to 180 degrees (160 fan forced). Lightly grease and line a 20cm round cake pan.

2. Beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs and vanilla and beat until smooth. 

3. Fold in the flour and milk, mixing well. Add strawberries to the mix and fold together. 

4. Spoon mixture into the cake pan and bake for 40 - 45 minutes or until a skewer inserted in the centre comes out clean. Leave to cool.

5. To make Strawberry icing: Mash 4 medium strawberries and add icing sugar, mix until well combined.

ENJOY xxxxx