Did the Easter Bunny find You???

Well as you will be able to see he definately found us!!!!
If anyone missed out be sure to visit the Kirks fridge as I believe we have the whole Kmart shelf in our fridge out in the games room.

Katie sat on the couch when it was time to take photos and claimed that her chocolate were "mine" - typical Katie photo style but don't worry she is always quite willing to share - thank goodness as otherwise that would be chocolate over kill.



Johno was just content to sit there with his chocolate and pose as normal as possible so at least I have one child that wants to get a photo taken once so they can be gone.



And here is my Easter pressie... No not really we have just purchased a brand new Nissan Pathfinder and oh my it is such a yummy car. We are so thrilled to have it in the driveway as we waited nearly three weeks, so it was a really long wait but worth it in the end. The kids love it which is fantastic and we can't wait to go on our next family holiday in it... wonder where we will go this time....


So for now that is it and I will be back soon with some scrap booked pages yes I do have some but I haven't yet put the camera on them so maybe tonight or in the next couple of days - can't promise anything as I still have to go to work.

Lots of hugs xoxoxo

Egg-ceptional Egg-Hunt

Well Tuesday dinner came and went as quick as it could. All the family that live in Tamworth turned up for an early Easter dinner as I have to work over the weekend and it was a good chance to all catch up.
We had an egg hunt in the back yard and the kids enjoyed every minute of it which was a delight. Little Willow was so funny whilst trying to take these photos as all she wanted to do was steal Johno's eggs which made us all laugh.



I do have some scrapbooked pages which have not yet been completed but I will get them up very soon.

But for now I hope that you and your families have a wonderful and safe easter filled with many happy memories and of course lots of chocolate. If you are travelling anywhere please be safe on the roads and I will catch up with you all soon.

Oh! and by the way thanks for getting me hooked on these softies things I find that they are soooo cute that I just happened to come across a full book of them in the local book shop so watch this space I am sure there will be many more softies to come ha!ha!ha!



Have fun creating xoxoxo

Easter Cooking YUMMY

If anyone knows anything about me it is the fact that I love to cook. I will give most things a go once and if it is scrumptious I will cook it again - don't have alot of bad recipes fall into my hands but there is always the odd one.

So lets get started - the Day 7 of the Egg-ceptional Egg-xtravaganza was to cook easter things... YUMMY!!!
These are the adorable chocolate crackles that Mel did over on her blog site and I couldn't resist but make them for a girlfriends at home day care easter day party which happened yesterday so if you would like the recipe for this one toddle over to Mel's blog...



This one was a bit on the funny side as when I went over to Fionas blog to see what sort of a cooking storm she was arousing in the kitchen it was something similar to what I cooked for Easter dinner here at home on Tuesday night...



Here is the recipe for the Chocolate And Custard Tart
It serves 6 takes 30 minutes prep. + 1 hour chilling and 4 hours setting time.
Cooking time:10 minutes and this recipe can be made up to 1 day ahead.
Store in an airtight container in the fridge - that is if it lasts that long!!!!

70g (1/3 cup) caster sugar
1 vanilla bean, halved lengthways
1 x 600ml ctn thickened cream
4 egg yolks
200g good-quality dark chocolate, coarsely chopped
100ml thin cream
4 bought hot cross buns, thinly sliced vertically
2tbs warm water
2 1/2 tsp gelatine powder
2 tsp cocoa powder


1. Place the sugar, vanilla bean and half the thickened cream in a small saucepan over low heat. Cook, stirring, for 2-3 minutes or until the sugar dissolves. Bring to a gentle boil. Strain through a fine sieve into a medium heatproof jug. Discard the vanilla bean.
2. Place the egg yolks in a medium bowl. Gradually whisk in the cream mixture. Return to the saucepan over low heat and cook, stirring, 4 minutes or until the custard coats the back of a spoon. Transfer to heatproof bowl. Place in the fridge for 1 hour to chill.
3. Meanwhile, combine the chocolate and thin cream in a heatproof bowl over a saucepan half-filled with simmering water (make sure the bowl doesn't touch the water). Use a metal sppon to stir until the chocolate melts and the mixture is smooth.
4. Line the base of a round 24cm (base measurement) springform pan with non-stick baking paper. Arrange half the hot cross bun slices, in a single layer, over the base of the pan. Spread half the chocolate mixture evenly over the base to cover completely. Repeat with the remaining hot cross bun and chocolate mixture. Cover with plastic wrap and place in the fridge for 1 hour or until set.
5. Whisk the remaining thickened cream in a bowl until soft peaks form. Use a large metal spoon and gently fold the cream into the custard mixture.
6. Place the warm water in a small heatproof jug. Sprinkle with gelatine and whisk with a fork until the gelatine dissolves. Gengly fold the gelatine mixture into the custart mixture. Pour over the chocolate base. Cover and place in the fridge for 3 hours or overnight to set. Dust with cocoa powder to serve.
YUM!YUM!YUM!


Oh!!! These are the kids favourite cookies and we made some so they could give them out as easter treats - the bunny cookie cutter I have didn't want to play today so we made them into rounds but don't worry they still taste delicious!!!!



Here is the recipe for the double chocolate freckles

Makes about 42 - depends on the size of cutter

125g butter, softened
165g Firmly packed brown sugar
1 egg
225g plain flour
35g self-raising flour
35g cocoa powder
200g dark eating chocolate , melted
hundreds and thousands

1. Beat butter, sugar and egg in small bowl with electric mixer until combined. Sift in dry ingredients in two batches.
2. Knead dough on floured surface until smooth; roll dough between sheets of baking paper until about 5mm thick. Cover; refrigerate for 30 minutes.
Preheat oven to 180C/160C fan-forced. Grease oven trays; line with baking paper.
4. Using cutters cut out dough and place on prepared tray.
5. If using
3cm cookie cutter -round - bake for 10 minutes
5cm cookie cutter - round - bake for 12 minutes
6. Let bikkies cool on wire racks
7. Spread tops of cookies with melted chocolate and sprinkle with hundreds and thousands. Set at room temperature.

An extra tip. If you cook the cookies but don't chocolate top them you can store them in the freezer then whip them out when you need them. Ice them with the chocolate and sprinkle when defrosted.

This recipe is called "Bon Bons" and sorry to tempt you all but this recipe has been passed down to me and I have been sworn to secrecy but they are devine and white chocolate is one of my fav's.



And this is what our families easter treat bags look like with a bit of everything that was made out of all the chocolate goodness that I could find.



Be back soon with some more.....

Wow!!! What a hectic time!!!!

I have promised I know to update my efforts for the Egg-ceptional Egg-xtravaganza that I have done off Fiona and Mel's Websites - I have got not idea on how to drop in their websites but they are on the side of my fav's bar.

So lets get the show on the road... this could take a few updates as there is so much to show

These little bunnies are absolutely devine and as you can see my darling children conned me into making a few more for their friends. Mine are a little like Fiona's and are stuffed with lavender - they smell soooo good.



This is the Mini Moopy bunny and Mel put me onto a website so as I could purchase the pattern. I was going to make a whole heap to donate to Tamworth's Ronald McDonald house for the sick kids that are going to be here over easter but unfortunately time doesn't allow much at the moment so John and Katie are the proud owners of this pair - better luck with this idea for next year.
Note: I sort of replaced Day 5 Baskets with these bunnies



These are another set of bunnies that the girls came up with and I have actually put a bell in mine so that they are more like a rattle....



One of my fav's is this little EggiE don't ask me their names because I was in a hurry to get them finished so I could put them up today.... They are made out of flannelette material and it was such yummy stuff to work with. The kids love them and I think that they look great .....







O.K. so that is the Easter Bunny section completed now I will have to go drop the Darling childrens off to school so I shall be back with another post soon xoxoxo

Hopping into easter with happy thoughts ......

OK I don't really know where the week has gone but she has gone and I haven't really been doing much scrappin' I've been busy with work again. The boss has been out of town for most of the week which has left me a bit short on time and the midnight one o'clock bedtime is not really agreeing with me at the moment but I shall get over it. This week the kids had a full on week with their out of school activities. Then there was grandparents day and I had to dart off early to get to work like many of the parents and grandparents that I had seen darting towards their cars in a hurry - poor us!!!! I have on the other hand completed a few things that I thought that I would share with you so lets get on with it shall we .....
On Friday night I sat up fairly late due to the fact that one of my dear girlfriends from work was marrying her long time love of 14 years and two kids later and I was asked to do the table decos and this is what we came up with... The florist god love her said that it would take me about 15 minutes each to do them well it took Jen 1 hour one each thing, sitting on the kitchen floor in a pool of water in the end and come the sixth one I was nearly in tears and begged my DH not to make me do it but he did come on your nearly finished so I completed them all and had them back down to the restaurant by 9pm Friday night - I put them in the fridge at work so they wouldn't fall apart on me....



Now for the bit of stuff I had time to do in amongst split shifts, the house work, organising a new car which will be here by next week (will share photos when it arrives), kids stuff and the rest of the boring bits which don't involve some paper or at the moment I should say sewing machine....
I have been busy stalking Melissa Goodsell's blog site whom I find fantastic and she comes up with all these wonderful ideas. At the moment between Mel and Fiona Carter they are doing a Egg-xtravaganza which is great for me as we are having Easter dinners etc. here and there are some really cool bits and bobs over there so if you want a look I have put Melissa's blog in my blog list so just click and away you will go...

Day 1 of the Eggceptional Egg-xtravaganza was to make some tags or a card.. I happened to do both. My lovely little easter stamps came from my dear friend Lisa Johnston who is a stamp' in up! Demonstrator and has some wonder stuff.. yep they have papers to stamps to inks to everything. If you haven't already had a party you should organise one as this girl is a gem and everyone loves an excuse to get together - oh before I forget girls there is a new catalogue out so be sure to check it out....



Can't live without matching paper and of course a bit of ribbon....



These are the cards that I am using for my family get together which we are having early due to my work commitments over easter....



Day 3 of the Eggceptional Egg-xtravaganza was bags and this is my little effort. They are so cute and the kids love them. We are going to use ours for the egg hunt here on Tuesday night. I only had to make three as there will be Johno, Katie and Willow in our backyard looking for loads of yummy chocolate to fill their bags with...




Now I know you are going to ask where are the bunnies when you click on the link of Melissa's because that is what Day 2 and Day 4 are but at the moment my stuffed little bunnies are getting made so as soon as I finish making them I will put them up that is a promise but for now I have to go get a cup of coffee and then get ready to do the morning shift at work. So for now have a great Sunday morning hopefully your day is filled with lots of love and I will be back shortly. Lots of hugs
Oh!! Before I forget I would just like to say a big CONGRATULATIONS to my Uncle Wayne we are thrilled that your blood tests for cancer came back normal so a special hug goes out to you xoxoxox

Has it already been over a week!!! eeek

Wow!!! I can't believe that it has already been a week - Where has it gone? I'm terribly sorry about not posting much this week but I have been busy with work and the family - as you will see.

John's class has been tie dying fabric and then making them into shorts and I was the lucky one that got to sew about 30 pairs up - lots of late nights as I could only do this one after work. But I think that they look pretty cool.



Katies assignment for news this week was to create a diarama of a wet or dry enviromnet and we did antartica - which is the driest enviroment on the planet. She enjoyed the painting, gluing and sticking and mummy so enjoyed cleaning up the mess LOL!!! It was a great night as we all sat out in the games room and had a chat whilst Katie was doing her homework. She also got two jellie beans for this effort and the others only got one - sorry Bennie J:(



The other thing that I had to complete was a set of six cards for the forum thingamig that I signed up on blue bazaar and I got to post them off yesterday with of course a few extra goodies to make it a bit more exciting.



And now for a couple of layouts..... This one is of Johno out at Karate camp on Sunday. I took the day off to have some time out from work and to go and visit the kids and adults at camp. Johno loved it and had an ball which was fantastic. Here he is ready for sword fighting and I love this photo as he looks so serious and the funny thing was the sword was only foam. God bless him.....



This is a photo that I took of my mum and her brother Uncle John whilst we were on our world trip. I love these new papers and was lucky enough to have Sarah give me her left overs which was enough to make a page out of - so excited I was as my Grandma and Grandad migrated from Poland many years ago!



Hope you have a wonderful day lots of hugs jen xoxoxo

I've been around the world!!!

Well I can honestly say that Mum and I have visited the Riverina. This is where my beloved Grandma lived. We went through some pretty dry spots and it was so terribly dry that you could taste the dust in your mouth and you could feel it up your nose. Where did we go I hear you ask? We went from Tamworth to Gunneday, Coonabarabran, Gilgandra, Dubbo, Parkes, Forbes, Cowra, Young - home of the big cherry, Temora, Gundagai, Wagga Wagga, Narrandera, Leeton, Griffith - best bakehouse in the world!!!, Barellan, and then all the way back home. Will scrap some pages soon and you shall see how dry it was.

But whilst away I had been very busy with alot of projects so lets get the ball rolling.


Katie has come up with the name "Lucky Friday" I hear you ask what this is well she calls it "lucky Friday" because it is take out night with Daddy and they just love to pick what they are going to eat!!!



This is a photo of my mum and dad on Christmas Day yep I am behind the ape ball but I have had so much going on that I can't keep up. This is one of my favourite photos of the pair of them. I love the deep crystal blue eyes that my Dad has.



It was Grandad's birthday before we left and we went to McDonalds with his great mate Mr Bourke. We had a lamington with the cutest little elephant candle sticking out the top and the girls delivered his coffee and sang him Happy Birthday - I think he went a little red!!!!



These are the knitted toys that I painfully put together to donate to Ronald McDonald house of Tamworth. They come with a throw that match and I have to make some adoption certificates for the little soft toys!!!



This one is a page of our two darling children on Valentines Day. In our house we have the tradition that the kids get a soft toy each.



Till next time have a great day!!!