Hungry hungry hippos...

Marley has been asking for this for months, so at the Target toy sale in July I bought it for her and put it away for Christmas... She talked about it at least once a week that entire time, completely unaware that we had it stashed away for her, and she was filled with joy when she opened it and realised what it was! I must admit, I was concerned whether she would do well at it, but no matter who else was playing, from Mace to Mark, her aunties, me, she won about 90%of the games! Mace obviously has a way to go, he has his own technique which sometimes includes picking the balls up and running away with them, Marley minded her temper though and it was a great game for the day, and our futures!

I definitely recommend it for a 3 year old, even though it says older... Lots of fun for the whole family!

Lego Friends: Olivia's House

My family are crazy for Lego... Apart from me! We have bought Marley and Mark/Mace quite a but over the past year, lots of Friends Lego, the girls range, and they all love to play and build... Personally I'm not a big fan, until we bought this house for Marley... Mark built it with her while I was napping, when I woke I was disappointed with how small it was, then I had a good look, and I can see why the price!

Opening and closing doors, details of little things like the perfume on her dresser... Setting good and real examples like the fresh veg growing in the garden and the lawn mower too... I'm so impressed by this... Definitely a great present choice!

Merry Christmas!

I have been crazy busy lately with the in laws in town for Christmas... But I wanted to say Merry Christmas to all!!! This year has been full of so much good news from many loved ones, as well as being blessed with my own awesome family!

Today has been brilliant, makes me even more thankful for my circumstances... That I married a wonderful man, had beautiful and healthy babies, have the support of my brilliant mother and her partner as well as my cousins, aunts, grandparents and all of my wonderful friends... I honestly feel blessed every day, even the shit days! Haha... Looking forward to 2013, hope it is full of all the good stuff for everyone!

Snow White and The Huntsman

Another on my 'to watch' list for quite some time... I didn't have high hopes, but it was really good... Dark and beautifully filmed, an entertaining take on the story... And I didn't want a refund on the two hours of my life that it took! It was a shame about the cheating scandal tarnishing this film...

On top of wanting to see it, I wanted to see whether Kristen Stewart could act, and she almost can... Her trademark kissing/pained expression did put me off, but she wasn't as bad as any of the Twilight films, maybe bad acting is her interpretation of Bella Swan! Who knows..?


In any case it is worth watching....

Toothache skirt...

I have wanted this skirt for months! There is a dress in the same fabric, but it was too much fuss for me... I spotted the skirt, couldn't find it in my size, let it go and then found it in my size! I was beyond excited! It does have red in it, which goes against my personal tastes, but the cuteness overwhelms me! So here is my toothache skirt!

Black Swan...

When this was at the cinema it felt like everyone was raving about it... It sounded like my kind of thing, so I finally get around to watching it... Mistake... This film has actors in it that I love, but the story is just creepy and twisted going nowhere... Serious time suckage... I won't get that 2 hours back...

Boom Box Cushions

I saw these in Ego Trip's gift guide and we absolutely had to have them... I went to order off the suggested US site and they were sold out, I clicked the international site and they were still in stock! I was incredibly happy... They are for the lounge room, but will stay in our room until the tiny humans are less grubby!

Burlesque film...

Just as with Magic Mike, I watched to see half naked humans dancing around... I had low expectations, thought I would probably turn it off, but I didn't... Yes yes the acting is not great, and the story isn't original, but I enjoyed it... I was stoked that the leading men were Eric Dane and Cam Gidnet, could have done with more of them, ahem... It was a cheesy chick flick and at that it ticked all the boxes... If you dig that, watch it... If you want naked ladies, watch something else!

Friday baking: Oreo white chocolate pudding cookies...

Am all brownied out so it was cookies this morning... Good choice! Jacked from two peas and their pod... Delicious start to the weekend! We don't have all of these pudding options in Coles, so I substituted for vanilla pudding..

Oreo White Chocolate Pudding Cookies
Prep Time: 10 minutesCook Time: 10 minutes
Soft white chocolate pudding cookies with Oreos and white chocolate chips

ingredients:
1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 (3.4 oz) package white chocolate instant pudding mix
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups all-purpose Gold Medal flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups chopped Oreos
1 1/2 cups white chocolate chips

directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a Silpat baking mat and set aside.

2. Using a mixer, beat together butter and sugars until creamy. Add in white chocolate pudding mix, eggs, and vanilla extract. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until just combined. Stir in the Oreos and white chocolate chips.

3. Drop cookie dough by rounded tablespoons onto prepared baking sheet. Bake for 10 minutes, or until slightly golden around the edges and set. Remove cookies from oven and let cool on baking sheet for two minutes. Transfer to a cooling rack and cool completely.

Note-these cookies will stay soft for 3-4 days. Store in an air-tight container on the counter.

Magic Mike... Hmmmm...

I don't wanna be a hater, I thought this was going to be a cheesy story about strippers... It's was a more dramatic type of story you have seen a hundred times, set in a strippers world... Boring? Yes... Did I stick with it just to see hot bodies dancing around? Yes...

Now that I have finished watching Battlestar Galactica, I am working my way through a bunch of film recommendations in my 'spare' time, read when doing dishes, washing, anything that distracts me from the kids... So there will be little rants about films around here over the next couple weeks, I'm sure...

Protat natural tattoo aftercare

At the tattoo expo a few months ago the Protat dude gave me a couple of tubes of his product to try... The natural tube is my favourite... Both tubes are non greasy, smell nice and don't ruin your clothes or sheets like Bepanthen does (1000tc $400 sheets!!!), and while the premium is their best selling most known product, the natural goes on sooooo easy, it's just divine!

I recently had my thigh piece finished - although Mark thinks it needs more... And have been using these products on it and they are peeling off but not feeling itchy or losing colour in the peel... So far so good...

Chocolate, peanut and banana ice 'cream'

My daughter Marley is a diva, I say this in the 'a lot of truth is said in jest' way... So she has loved bananas her whole life, so regardless of prices ($16 per kilo after the last cyclone, around $2.50 per small banana), I let her have one every single day of her eating life... In the past few months she, and now her brother Mace, have gone right off them... I still think that they are awesome and continue to buy them in hope that they will change their minds... This means I have loads of bananas going brown, so I break them into pieces and freeze them, then I do this:
Banana, chocolate and peanut ice 'cream'
(Can be vegan, check brackets for vegan option)
1 frozen banana
1 tsp peanut butter (crushed peanuts) - you can add more if you are really into the nuttiness, I am not
1tblsp chocolate (vegan chocolate)
Dash of milk (soy or rice milk)

Blitz it all together, eat quickly before banana stops being frozen!

It's really good for an almost healthy option! If it's the three of us, I double the recipe! Take that kids thinking you don't eat bananas!!!

The Very Hungry Zombie A Parody - Michael Teitelbaum

We are all massive fans of The Very Hungry Caterpillar in this house... Mark and I are also big fans of zombies! So when I saw this book I bought it immediately... Sort of thinking a stocking stuffer for Mark... I got it today and it's a board book, with child friendly content, so now it's a book for all of us... It's a good conversation starter with Marley about zombies too, which has been enlightening... I definitely recommend it for the zombie fans in your life!

Melbourne Victory Christmas bauble...

Things have been off the hook busy at the moment... That time of year! Lots of catching up with awesome humans, spending time with our tiny humans doing Christmassy things... Life is good... Mark did quite a bit of tattooing on the weekend, a bunch more of my thigh, and more work on other mates, one of which bought us these awesome Melbourne Victory baubles... I love them, put one right between my pride bauble and sparkling pink reindeer... So lovely of her :)

Friday baking Oreo brownies

These look amazing! So I baked them... The batter is quite dry, which it states in the recipe, but the outcome is not a dense gooey brownie... It's a bit crumbly, still good, just different!

Recipe from http://www.twopeasandtheirpod.com/oreo-brownies-with-white-chocolate/

Oreo Brownies with White Chocolate
ingredients:
3/4 cup flour
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, sifted
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp table salt
1/3 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
1/3 cup white chocolate chips
1/3 cup canola oil
2 large eggs
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 cup crushed Oreos

directions:
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease the bottom and sides of a 9-inch round cake or pie pan.

In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt. Add in both kinds of chocolate chips. Whisk until blended.

In a separate bowl, mix together the oil, eggs, and extract with a fork until just blended.
Pour the liquid over the flour mixture and mix with a rubber spatula until just blended. The batter will be kind of dry, don’t worry. Stir in the Oreos.

Scrape the mixture in to the pan and spread evenly. You might have to press the mixture in to the sides if you are having trouble spreading with a spatula.

Bake for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick or cake tester inserted in to the center comes out with only a few gooey pieces clinging to it. Transfer the baking dish to a cooling rack and let cool.

Cut into wedges. If you want to-melt white chocolate and drizzle over the brownie wedges.Heat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease the bottom and sides of a 9-inch round cake or pie pan.
In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt. Add in both kinds of chocolate chips. Whisk until blended.
Oreo Brownies with White Chocolate
ingredients:
3/4 cup flour
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, sifted
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp table salt
1/3 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
1/3 cup white chocolate chips
1/3 cup canola oil
2 large eggs
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 cup crushed Oreos

directions:
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease the bottom and sides of a 9-inch round cake or pie pan.

In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt. Add in both kinds of chocolate chips. Whisk until blended.

In a separate bowl, mix together the oil, eggs, and extract with a fork until just blended.
Pour the liquid over the flour mixture and mix with a rubber spatula until just blended. The batter will be kind of dry, don’t worry. Stir in the Oreos.

Scrape the mixture in to the pan and spread evenly. You might have to press the mixture in to the sides if you are having trouble spreading with a spatula.

Bake for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick or cake tester inserted in to the center comes out with only a few gooey pieces clinging to it. Transfer the baking dish to a cooling rack and let cool.

Cut into wedges. If you want to-melt white chocolate and drizzle over the brownie wedges.Heat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease the bottom and sides of a 9-inch round cake or pie pan.

Next Winter outfits!

I am a massive fan if Next UK, reasonably priced, good quality clothes with free delivery... Just did a winter order and got quite a few items, the highlights were Mace's matching dinosaur top, gumboots and body warmer - kid loves dinosaurs, and not wearing trousers! And Marley's rainbow jeans and matching top... I love matching... I can't help it... Anyway, if you are looking for something different, hit them up nextdirect.com

Advent calendars...

Last year Mum bought Marley a chocolate advent calendar... I was less then pleased... I don't fancy giving my kids chocolate every day, and if I give them chocolate I want it to be special, not because a calendar says I should! So I splashed out on these Lego advent calendars back in November, they are a huge success! Marks mum surprised the kids with these awesome age appropriate advent calendars, they are a 'scene' we have the reindeer and Christmas food ones, the kids find the number, detach it from a sheet and stick it in the calendar! Gorgeous, and awesome for Marley's numeracy... Thoroughly enjoying the countdown to Christmas this year!!!

Friday baking - delayed... Milky Way brownies!

It has been a killer weekend... Marks BFF came for the weekend, and I went out dancing Saturday night, so I am all sorts of behind on life right now! I baked these on Friday, they didn't look beautiful so then knocked up some of my favourite caramel brownies! As it turned out everyone loved the Milky Way brownies, but they still don't look good!


milky way brownies
Yield: 3 dozen + brownies
Prep Time: 25 min Cook Time: 45 min
1 pound (4 sticks) unsalted butter, cut into pieces 450 g
1 pound semi-sweet chocolate chips (or chopped chocolate) 450g
6 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped 170g
2 Tablespoons instant espresso powder
7 large eggs
2 Tablespoons vanilla extract
2 1/4 cups granulated white sugar
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 Tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
12 ounces miniature Milky Way Bars, chopped 340g
1 full-size Milky Way Bar, sliced thinly

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter and flour 12x18x1-inch pan. Line with foil or parchment that hangs over the sides for ease in getting them out (butter the foil/parchment).
2. In a heatproof, medium-bowl set over a saucepan of simmering water, heat butter, and chocolates until melted and smooth; cool slightly.
3. In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, espresso powder, vanilla and sugar. Stir the egg mixture into the slightly cooled chocolate mixture. Cool to room temperature.
4. In a medium bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, and salt, then add to batter. Stir chopped mini Milky Way bars into chocolate mixture. Then pour into prepared baking pan and smooth top with a rubber spatula. Place slices of the full-size Milky Way Bar onto the top of the brownie batter.
5. Bake for 25 to 35 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean with a few crumbs attached; do not overbake! Let cool completely, then cover tightly and chill overnight. Chilled brownies are easier to cut.
Tips:
*These taste better the second day.
*If it's a warm day inside your house, you might consider chilling the Milky Way bars before you try to cut them.
http://www.recipegirl.com/2007/04/15/milky-way-brownies/

Christmas tree is here!

After our beautiful fresh tree last year, we decided that we absolutely need to get a fresh one every year! This year we ordered our tree through http://www.christmastreesdeliveryplease.com.au/ we ordered a 6ft tree and got an 8ft tree!!! A beautiful conical shape, and smells divine! So happy with it... After dinner we all decorated it, look great... So happy... I love Christmas!!!

Please excuse the jacked Instagram photos, I didn't get many!

Annie Frenzel tattoo tshirts and sketchbook...

Am a huge fan of Annie Frenzel, her tattoos and sketches are mind blowing! I bought Mark the sketchbook as a good luck for the Australian Citizenship Test gift, we both love it! When she put up that she was doing limited shirts, we grabbed one each... The box is cute too, and it's A4 so I might use it for important paperwork or something!

Equal Love Equal Rights Rally Victorian State Library

I went to the last one of these and decided that I will keep on going until equal rights are won for LGBT couples... Someone said 'I can't believe we are still protesting this shit', I agree, it seems archaic that these laws and views still exist... Fingers crossed it changes, love is love, really... It is a human rights issue that people who are consenting adults who love each other are not able to marry/be entitled to the same rights as straight couples... It will happen, just a question of when!

Funkoars $10 tees sale!

I jumped on this, love love love The Funkoars, and black tees and sales! Doesn't get better... Great girls cut, good designs... Happy to find an extra tee and Hilltop Hoods CD in the bag!

Friday baking: chocolate chip salted caramel cookie bar...

When I read this recipe on http://www.twopeasandtheirpod.com/chocolate-chip-salted-caramel-cookie-bars/ I was in, it sounded like heaven to me... Unfortunately it feels only okay... It had to cook for twice the time, was hard to get out (should have followed my instincts and papered the tray) and ultimately the cookie is hard, middle is gooey like the caramel has seeped into the cookie dough and it doesn't really push my buttons... But it is good to try different things, when I could happily have my caramel brownie week in week out! Won't bake this again... If you are game, here is the recipe



Chocolate Chip Salted Caramel Cookie Bars
Yield: 16 cookie barsPrep Time: 15 minutesCook Time: 30 minutesTotal Time: 45 minutes
Chocolate chip cookie bars with a layer of salted caramel. These gooey sweet and salty cookie bars are pretty much perfection!

ingredients:
2 1/8 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
12 tablespoons butter, melted and cooled to room temperature
1 cup light brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 large egg yolk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups chocolate chips
10 ounces caramel candy squares, unwrapped
3 tablespoons heavy cream
Sea salt, for sprinkling over caramel and bars

directions:
1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Spray a 2-quart baking pan (which is an 11 X 7 pan-I used a glass Pyrex dish) with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.

2. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, salt, and baking soda. Set aside.

3. In the bowl of a stand mixer, mix the melted butter and sugars together until combined. Add the egg, egg yolk, and vanilla extract and mix until smooth. Slowly add the dry ingredients and mix on low, just until combined. Stir in the chocolate chips.

4. In a large microwave safe bowl, combine the caramels and heavy cream. Microwave caramels on High until caramels are melted, stirring every 20 seconds. This will take about 2 minutes, depending on your microwave.

5. Divide the cookie dough in half. Press half of the cookie dough into the prepared pan, smoothing the top with the spatula. Pour hot caramel over the cookie dough. Sprinkle caramel with sea salt. Drop spoonfuls of cookie dough over the caramel and spread dough with a spatula until the caramel is covered. Sprinkle the bars with additional sea salt.

6.Bake cookie bars for 30 minutes or until the top of the bars are light golden brown and the edges start to pull away from the pan. Cool bars on a wire rack to room temperature. Cut bars into squares and serve.

Chadstone VIP Shopping Event

I am a big fan of these, go to them all the time, usually at 9am, never ever had any problems... Yesterday I was working so I thought I would drop in on the way home and check the Gap kids sale, big mistake is an understatement! It was the equivalent to Boxing Day sales... Car parks full - I zoomed to the furthest point and took one of the last 2 free parks, and by the time I left, it took 20 minutes to get out of the car park! It was backed up in every direction! Seriously crazy!!!!

The sales themselves were good, as usual... Gap was 30% off, so I stocked up on stuff for next size up for the kids... Got a few stocking fillers in the ABC shop, who have minimal sales, it was more a case of getting items without the children! Wish I had have had the time and money to stay, but both were being stretched...

Here is Marley in one of her new outfits, pink rainbow spot leggings and a flamingo top... I am learning to shop for a combination of her tastes and mine now, otherwise it is just a waste of clothes!

My first Wonder Woman book!

Got this tip off @emmerina on Instagram, I had forgotten how much I love Wonder Woman! This is a great little book, board with touch and feel, capitalising on the beautiful and magical things about her, just a delight to read... I can definitely feel an obsession coming on! And best of all, she doesn't wear pink!

The Killers Victims pack!

When The Killers announced that they would be doing one side show at The Palace in January, I was over the moon.. Chances of getting tickets quickly deflated my joy, but I found out that if you joined The Victims fan group, you could get access to the only presale and this pack that has a tshirt, cd and double red vinyl, which wasn't a big deal to me, but anyway... I got it today, it took ages! It's pretty exciting, more the reminder that the show is coming up!

Dr Jays Fall sale delivery...

I have been looking for capris everywhere... Now that my tattoos are going further down my legs, I need shorts that cover them for summer... I checked Dr Jays and their capris were 60% off, plus an extra 20% with a discount code I had! So I ordered 4 pairs and a singlet, all under $100 delivered! Love that... They were a little delayed after Sandy hit, but I got them and love them! I'm always concerned with US sizing, but I guesstimated perfectly! Am a happy lass!

Nails did... Houndstooth mani...

I do love the ease of the Sally Hansen Salon Effects! The houndstooth might just be my favourite so far... Love them!

Friday baking... Caramel Twix brownies...

Woke up this morning in a bad place after Mace woke me up a lot in the night... I always feel bad about being grouchy about it because he really isn't that kid who wakes in the night, 6.30 sometimes, 7 most of the time, but 1.30, 5 and 6 very upset, maybe once or twice in his little life... So I got up at 6 and started baking... My BFF has been going through something and I deal by baking trays of brownies, unfortunately after they were made she couldn't get here to grab her tray, she's back in Brisbane today...

The batter is made for a bigger pan then mine so two times the ingredients makes 3 trays... So I made two trays with the caramel swirl, which made them quite pudding-y, and one tray without which feel a bit more like your usual brownie... The caramel swirl are definitely more rich, both are good!

From Two Peas and Their Pod
http://www.twopeasandtheirpod.com/twix-caramel-brownies/

Twix Caramel Brownies
Yield: 24 browniesPrep Time: 10 minutesCook Time: 35-40 minutes
ingredients:
1 cup (2 sticks) butter
2 cups granulated sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
4 large eggs
3/4 cup cocoa
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups chopped Twix candy bars
1/3 cup caramel ice cream topping

directions:
1. Heat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9 x 13 pan with cooking spray. Set aside.

2. Place butter in medium saucepan on the stove. Heat over medium heat until butter is melted. Remove from heat and stir in sugar and vanilla extract. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well with spoon after each addition. Add cocoa; stir until well blended. Add flour, baking powder and salt; stir until combined. Stir in Twix candy bar chunks. Pour batter into prepared pan.

3. Drizzle caramel evenly over the brownies. Using a toothpick, swirl caramel into brownies. Bake for 35-40 minutes or until brownies begin to pull away from sides of pan and a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. Cool brownies completely in pan on a wire rack. Once cool, cut into squares and serve.

Hilltop Market Saturday 17th November 2012 Mount Waverley

Even though I work from a church's gardens, I am not a churchy person, organised religion doesn't work for me, but this Christmas Market does! We went last year and it had some brilliant kids activities (magician, jumping castle, face painting), delicious strawberry sponge cakes, amazing Christmas chocolate houses (the main reason for attending), and a market... Not super interested in the market, but they do have a lot of stuff!

If you are in the area, it's on from 9-2 on Saturday... I can't wait to choose our chocolate Christmas house, they are amazing, and reasonably priced!

iPad mini...

I never thought I would be the parent buying her toddler/preschooler an iPad each, but the mini is perfectly suited to our needs as a family... Firstly, we get our iDevices back! The kids have a long battery life with access to their free play games, music and tv shows, perfect for long drives, sick grouchy kids, quiet time or a longer coffee session! In all honesty, they really don't use them loads, but when they do, I am guaranteed some quiet, they are happy, we are all happy!

We did have a leap pad for Marley, but the ridiculous battery life, actual batteries, 8 AA's for 2 hours use, was too much, and there are limited games at crazy prices, it would have been a further $350 to catch Mace up in his leap pad when for around that we got the mini, and I already have all of the apps, TV and music, so no further costs... And to make it even better, we got almost $200 for the leap pad on eBay last night! I am a happy lady!

Grug - Ted Prior... Book and old friend...

Today in quiet time I brought out these books... I had been saving them for a time that they would be appreciated, today was the right time... Mace went crazy for Grug, Marley insisted I read them over and over... I used to love the Grug books, he is a character that sticks with you, and generally speaking, books are great!

When Mark woke up from his snooze, he looked stumped 'what is Grug?', luckily I bought the first book!!! I'm pretty sure we will collect these, as we have other series, as the stories are simple enough for Mace to sit through, with enough pictures for Marley to talk to me about what's happening and also learn some letters... Am very happy with these books reemerging into my life!

Baking Peanut Butter Rolo Blondies (think snickers brownie)

Sometimes I bake with my desires in mind, sometimes I bake with Marks, today this is definitely a Mark recipe... And on finding out that my best friend was jetting to Melbourne for a crisis, I made an extra tray for her... I don't eat peanut butter, satay, etc, even though I enjoy the occasional peanut, but I have to say that these are surprisingly delicious!!!

From the Two Peas and Their Pod website:

Peanut Butter Rolo Blondies

ingredients:
1/2 cup unsalted butter
2 cups light brown sugar
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups all-purpose Gold Medal flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup Rolo candies, unwrapped

directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 9-inch by 13-inch pan and set aside.

2. In a saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter and brown sugar, stirring constantly until smooth. Remove from the heat, and stir in the peanut butter, until creamy and combined. Set mixture aside to cool.

3. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

4. Add the eggs, one at a time, to the peanut butter mixture, mixing well after each addition. Add the vanilla extract and stir to combine. Pour the mixture into the prepared dry ingredients, and stir until batter is smooth. Stir in the Rolos.

5. Transfer the batter to the prepared pan, spreading the batter evenly to the edges of the pan. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until the top is golden and the edges are slightly browned. Remove blondies from oven and place them on a wire rack to cool. Once cooled, cut into squares and serve.

Baking Chocolate pudding with caramel chocolate chip cookies...

I saw the new caramel chocolate chips at the supermarket and bought them without really knowing what I was going to do with them... 2 days later Mum pulled the pin on Childcare last minute, so I thought I should bake for my extremely awesome friends Kelly and Chris for covering for us last minute, so that we could enjoy the Melbourne Victory game...

I was inspired by the two peas and their pod recipe for banana pudding cookies, but I altered it to suit my needs... Everyone who tasted then loved them, that's always a bonus!

Chocolate pudding with caramel chocolate chip cookies
ingredients:
1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 package chocolate instant pudding mix
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups plain flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 packet caramel chocolate chips (could have done with more!)

directions:
1. Preheat oven to 160 degrees. Line trays with baking paper

2. Using a mixer, beat together butter and sugars until creamy. Add in pudding mix, eggs, and vanilla extract. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until just combined. Stir in the caramel chocolate chips.

3. Drop cookie dough by rounded tablespoons onto prepared baking sheet. Bake for 15 minutes, or until slightly golden around the edges and set. Remove cookies from oven and let cool on baking sheet for two minutes. Transfer to a cooling rack and cool completely.

Liknuts with support by Onyx at Prince of Wales Bandroom November 2012

The idea of seeing this show was ridiculously exciting! We got tickets immediately, booked Childcare and waited patiently... Unfortunately my aunt's funeral was on the day of the show, but I was determined to power on and have a good night... On arrival I was an empty shell of a human, devoid of emotion, full straight face, so I decided to drink the pain away... I thought it would be drunk (haven't been drunk in years) party girl, or drunk crying girl... There was a bit of a compression session backstage so I inadvertently got dizzy, and then, after many acts, hours later then expected, Onyx came on... They were the support, but having missed them in the past I was crazy excited to see them AND THEY DID NOT DISAPPOINT!!! Dudes have energy, skill, professionally killing it!!! Rocked me to the core, I forgot it could be that good, and that I could actually do almost front row again!!!

I'm not going to say much about the LikNuts, they were okay... Didn't kill it for me, like because there were more of them, they didn't have to give as much...? Juju was my favourite thing about them with some crazy facials and his funny/charming/scummy charisma... Otherwise I would have been happy for it to be called an Onyx show and pay the same just to see them, not a bunch of crappy support acts and the LikNuts...

LIKNUTS (THE ALKAHOLIKS & THE BEATNUTS) (USA)
Thursday 01 November, 2012, 08:00PM
Prince Bandroom
Prince Of Wales Hotel
St Kilda, VIC

Baking... White chocolate brownies and chocolate fudge brownies...

I got both of these recipes off two peas and their pod... Baking this week was for my Aunt's wake, so I made 3 trays with two types of brownie, the chocolate fudge batter makes two trays, working out perfectly for me!!! The white chocolate, chocolate chip brownie was Mark's favourite, the chocolate fudge was mine, seriously rich and delicious!

It has been a busy, sad and stressful week with the loss of an exceptional human... I'm still struggling with the idea that she will never sit around the table with us all again... Blegh... Drank very quickly to drown the pain last night, it worked, I am paying for it though...