Pretty Pink... Birthday morning tea...

It's not every day you turn 1. Because we are still renovating and it was down to the wire if we would be finished we decided to just have morning tea for E's 1st Birthday. We couldn't have as big a party as we had for H but we had to acknowledge it in some way so morning tea it was...

I couldn't resist doing some decorating and putting together some party fare... and of course any chance to take photos...I'm there...

There's nothing like a bit of pink!!

All the decorations are from the Hot Dollar shop... so many goodies to be had there...

The cupcakes are packet mix... and also pre bought frosting. So simple, easy and time effective. 

Rather than make fairy bread we bought hundreds and thousand biscuits... I knew what wasn't eaten that day would be eaten later... they were a big hit...

The strawberries were a big hit and also help to balance all the party food...

Aren't the tulips gorgeous?... so pretty and happy...

Who doesn't love a party bag?!... even the big kids got one. I just can't help myself...

I had to share this one... it appears the Grandfathers got the memo... Navy and Tan was the order of the day. Great minds think alike... or is it fools never differ?!... hahaha.

Jx

Some lens flare to warm your winter Friday...

One of my favourite photography effects is lens flare. I often try it and find it's really hard to get right. I'm often not happy with how they look - they never seem as good as other's I've seen.

There are quite specific rules to 'correct' photography but as they say... rules are meant to be broken and lens flare can be used really beautifully to add warmth, depth and emotion to a photo. I found these articles on DPS really helpful. How to use lens flare & 5 tips for achieving artistic lens flare...

This photo shoot by Carla Coulson really highlights lens flare beautifully with some helpful hints too...

You can even buy a lens flare app on itunes to add in lens flare to your photos for effect...

I follow the digital photography school and their weekly challenge is lens flare... I'm feeling brave enough to show some of my own favourite lens flare photos over time...

Do you like lens flare?
Any tips or tricks for achieving it?
Got a great resource on lens flare you can tell me about?

Have a great weekend... Jx

All images copyright of Jessica Flett

Birthday Cupcakes...

I am not a natural or confident baker, but I'm trying. Considering it doesn't come naturally to me and I don't have a lot of time on my hands I'm always on the look out for easy and quick recipes. 

I'm not adverse to packet mix's at all (in fact I used packet for family last weekend - it's fool proof, quick and you know they work) but on E's actual birthday I wanted to make some cupcakes from scratch for us to celebrate that night as a family. I found this recipe for easy and classic cupcakes on Taste and found it worked well. Naturally I made them pink and decorated with hundreds and thousands...

The recipe is really simple and goes as follows...

Ingredients;

Cupcakes

2 cups self-raising flour (sifted)

3/4 cup of caster sugar

3/4 cup milk

125g butter, melted, cooled

2 eggs (beaten)

1 tsp natural vanilla essence

Icing

1 1/2 cups pure icing sugar

Food colouring of your choice

Water to mix - start with 1 tbsp and add slowly until desired consistency is reached.

What ever your heart desires to decorate your cakes.

Method;

Preheat oven to 200 degrees celsius. 

Grease or line (with cupcake cases) a 12 x muffin pan

Combine flour and caster sugar in a bowl, stir to combine.

Add milk, butter, eggs and vanilla to the flour and sugar mixture and stir with a spoon to combine.

Spoon the mixture into the muffin tin and bake for 10 - 12 minutes (insert a skewer into the centre of a cupcake to check they're cooked - it will come out clean when they're cooked) The cupcakes will also bounce back slightly when pressed gently in the centre.

Leave the cupcakes in the tin for 5 minutes to cool then turn out onto a wire rack.

To make the icing, sift the icing sugar into a bowl and slowly add the water. Stiring to combine and continue to add water until the desired consistency is reached. 

Spoon the mixture onto the cupcakes and decorate with your chosen items.

Enjoy them!!

On a side note... look at the gorgeous sweetpeas. They were a gift to E from her Grandparents... her first bouquet of flowers. It was a happy coincidence they matched the cupcake icing perfectly. Better lucky than good some say!

Got a cupcake recipe you can share?...
Are you like me and feel like you've made more of an effort because you've made them from scratch?...
Are you like me and happy to use packet when time and confidence are an issue?...

Jx

All photos copyright of Jessica Flett

No longer a baby...

Our little girl turned 1 last week. It is a major milestone in any child and any parents life. She is our baby and we don't think there will be any more so we are moving into a new phase in our life as a family. We no longer have a baby in the house. We have two toddlers...

As a newborn you were really good. You fed and slept well. You loved cuddles as all babies do. You felt like an easier baby than H. For two reasons, I wasn't a first time Mother and you didn't suffer from reflux and colic like H did.

H improved at the 10 week mark and if anything you got trickier at that time. You decided you didn't want to feed as well, and you weren't sleeping as well as you were snacking instead of taking a full feed. This was a result of me basically drowning you due to a fast let down. You poor little thing... milk would actually come out of your nose when feeding... even when I was feeding lying down to slow it down.

We got there in the end and you actually slept through the night at 5 months... this was earlier than H but you haven't slept through as consistently as him. H slept through at 6 months and has been brilliant ever since (touch wood)... you are both terrific sleepers. Your teeth give you grief from time to time but you are a happy child most of the despite the pain and discomfort.

Life is amazing with you and your brother. You were sitting at 6 months. You crawled at 8 months and you took your first independent step at 12 months and 2 days exactly...

You are a great eater... you love food as your gorgeous cheeks indicate. You were a very animated baby and are a very animated little girl. We know what you're thinking as like your Mum... you wear your emotions on your face.

You are extremely determined and already throw a good tantrum. You blossomed at the 10 month mark and there is no stopping you. You adore your big brother. The way you look at him, cuddle him and think he is hilarious makes me melt...

He adores you too. He can be a bit of a rough older brother at times but I have no doubt you will hold your own and then some. You are already not backwards in coming forwards when you aren't happy with him for taking a toy or other thing away. I try not to intervene too often and let you work it out as much as you can.

When he is unhappy you get sad too and go over to him and cuddle him. You are very caring and loving.

H is very caring and protective of you too. Since day one he has referred to you as Sissy. He introduces you to everyone as Sissy... 'this is my Sissy' When I pick him up from a day at kindy the first thing he asks for is you if you're not with me. He makes a big deal of telling and showing everyone his Mummy and Sissy are there.

He looks out for you and tells me if you have something in your mouth or are doing something he knows you shouldn't be doing. He is my eyes in the back of my head. He will always be your protector and your loving older Brother.

You have a cheeky side and love to laugh and have fun. You are extremely affectionate which is absolutely heart melting. I got very lucky with two affectionate children and I relish every hug and kiss and cuddle time together.

You are a very wanted, welcome and loved member of the family and we feel so blessed to be your parents.

We love you baby girl... Happy Birthday.

Jx

All images are Copyright of Jessica Flett