Make Your Own Christmas Scent Diffuser




DIY Christmas Scent Diffuser

There's only two more sleeps till Christmas! Everybody is knocking off work, extended family is flying in from all over the world and the presents are piling up under the tree.

If you're a host this year, you wanna get the scene right. Decorations are up, food is prepared and now all you need to complete the atmosphere is a scent.

DIY Christmas Scent Diffuser

  • Jojoba oil
  • Pine needles
  • Cinnamon sticks
  • Hot water

Instructions

Place pine needles, cinnamon sticks and jojoba oil into a pot. Bring to simmer and let the scent of Christmas waft through the house.

Make Your Own Christmas Scent Diffuser

This is the last you'll hear from me till the new year (where I'll be bringing a ton more goodies to the table!) Stay posted & enjoy your Christmas and New Year!

xo Elise

Images from Make Haus

The 2014 DIY Bloggers Gift Guide




The 2014 DIY Bloggers Gift Guide

You've got one of those girlfriends who has always been creatively gifted. Even when you're out for coffee she can turn her napkin into a work of art effortlessly. You see her projects posted of facebook, and even secretly wish you had the time and energy to invest into your own creative pursuits. You know Christmas is only two weeks away, and yes you've been procrastinating buying her gift. I mean, what do you even buy for someone who would appear to have everything anyway??

Answer: You get her something that'll reinforce her identity as a DIY Blogger. ;)

The 2014 DIY Bloggers Gift Guide

One // Kate Spade Confetti iPhone 5 Case
Three // Umbra Geometric Wall Art
Six // Kate Spade 'Little Gold Notebook'
Seven // Joe Malone Wood Sage & Sea Salt Candle
Eight // ASOS Metallic Watch
Ten // C. Wonder Ikat Polka Dot Tea Set
Eleven // *Bonus* Fujifulm Instax Mini 8 Camera


By getting her one of these gifts, you not only show her you care, but that you understand her. And to me, as a DIY Blogger, that's the best gift of all.



xo Elise

Title image from A Beautiful Mess

How to Survive Your First Bloggers Meet Up




How to Survive Your First Bloggers Meet Up

Heart racing.
Temperature rising.
Palms sweating.
Convoluted thoughts about bolting.
"It could be a trap! A group massacre - like that couple on craigslist!"
Double slap to the face *Home Alone after-shave-scene style*
Self pep-talk.
Inhale.

At some point as a blogger you will need to slip on your big girl heels and walk the talk - meaning - step out of your virtual world and into the world of friendly, sociable réseautage (networking). It's not as intimidating as it sounds, as the result you get is making connections with other babes (& dudes) who are fanatical about the same weird things online as you are!

Needless to say, it can be gnaw-every-nail kinda nerve-wracking - especially when you think of the walk-in moment. I have actual panic attacks imagining the walk in. The close second is suddenly finding yourself alone, with no one to talk to pretending to look busy. Ugh, #girlproblems.


A Festive Feast with #BrunchClubNZ (image by Katerine Darling)
Image by Katerina Darling
A Festive Feast for Bloggers with #BrunchClubNZ at Chuffed Cafe

Like for instance let's use today as an example. I attended my very first bloggers meet up (or as I should say #brunchclubfor a festive feast at Chuffed Coffee.

Created by MadiLizzy & Laura - who are three of the loveliest girls I've met - the brunch is an informal monthly meet up for bloggers to make new friends, drink coffee, chow down and swap blog tips & tricks.

As I entered the cafe - which instantly made me feel at home with it's country/panama feel to it - all three girls gave me a warm greeting without hesitation. I found a spot, nestled in and struck up a conversation with Kelsi who is the author of Katerina Darling.

As more and more people poured in, we found our place settings and began with a glass of champagne - naturally. The Christmas feast that followed was beyond words. The flavours, the freshness, the savoury & sweetness. As you can tell I'm not a food critic. But, if you want real wholesome food that most cafes don't serve anymore, you need to eat at Chuffed - like last month. I'm talking borderline better-than-Christmas-Day kind of food.

Image from Brunch Club
A Festive Feast for Bloggers with #BrunchClubNZ at Chuffed Cafe
A Festive Feast for Bloggers with #BrunchClubNZ at Chuffed Cafe

For those who are still trying to jump that hurdle of showing up to your first blogger event by yourself, here's 5 survival tips to make it easier on your sweet little cotton softs.

Get smart & rock in early: This is actually strategic action at it's finest. If you're early, you're usually one of the first there, which means you have ample opportunity to meet most people before it gets busy, secure a sitting post and start a conversation. If you show up fashionably late, it can be quite overwhelming walking in to a busy room full of people already partaking in deep conversation.

Snap yourself silly: You're at a bloggers event - probably the only place you have 100% clearance to whip out your phone, camera, ipad or laptop (kidding) and take snaps for a blog post you'll no doubt write about later *wink wink*. Try updating your social media in real time - it's a great distraction for when you're feeling a little awkward & don't know what to do with yourself.

Muster that courage, grrrl. Mingle! How else are you gonna meet other like-minded bloggers? Compliment those whose blogs you read often, find out about others you've just met. Learn about someones life, goals & wishes, crack jokes, find common ground - maybe someone else has a french bakery obsession. Be interested and you will be interesting.

Be a questions kid: Forget everything they taught you in school. Genuine unrelenting questions is how that courage gets channeled into action. When you're mingling, it's natural to talk shop and ask questions, but when you get stuck use these simple ice breakers. What's your blog about? How long have you been blogging? What made you want to start? What are your blog goals? Do you plan to monetize? What blogs do you read? You'll learn a lot about someone, but also start to form a slowly-but-surely friendship.

Also, wear something you wont sweat your butt off in. Just sayin..

A Festive Feast for Bloggers with #BrunchClubNZ at Chuffed Cafe
Image from Brunch Club


At the end of the day, you've gotta push yourself out of your comfort zone. Yes, the initial anxiousness you feel beforehand could very well be worse than a first date - this is where you have permission to down a shot of your favourite spirit for a little liquid courage - but, it really is worth your while. You'll meet some amazing people with fresh, new and inspiring ideas like the ladies I met, and then you'll wonder why you even had a panic attack in the first place.

Exhale.

I wore this maxidenim jacket & fedora (because Indiana Jones will always be cool).


xo Elise

12 DIY Advent Calendar Ideas




12 DIY Advent Calendar Ideas

Upon discovering that it is possible to obtain gifts before Christmas - GUILT FREE - I feel like the cat that got away with the Lewis Road Creamery Fresh Chocolate Milk! (inside joke in NZ).

People actually do these. Advent calendars. It's not some mythical fable I grew up daydreaming about after watching one too many reruns of Home Alone (there will never be too many reruns of Home Alone).

If you've never had or made an advent calendar - those plastic & gasoline tasting cardboard chocolates don't count - then you have to make one this year. You never know, you might like it. Use these 12 ideas as your inspiration - but add your own inventiveness - no one likes a copycat. :P

12 DIY Advent Calendar Ideas

One // Two // Three // Four // Five // Six // Seven // Eight // Nine // Ten // Eleven // Twelve


Which one is your favourite?

xo Elise

DIY Tuesday: Elbow Patches, Jewellery Dishes & Confetti Backdrops






Damn, there are some girls out there with serious skills. As you may (or may not) know, here at TCR we're all about setting up the meet-cute for new kids who want to get their hands dirty in the DIY world. And may I just say - for this round up - these easy projects are a smashing place to start! (I did just say smashing).


DIY Gold Balloon Elbow Patches // Studio DIY

DIY Upgraded Envelopes // Julep

DIY Pom Pom Beanies // A Beautiful Mess

DIY Floating Confetti Backdrop // Studio DIY

DIY Globe with Typographic Print // Bespoke Bride

Easy DIY Purple & Gold Clay Dishes // Hello Natural



xo Elise

5 Summer Cocktail Recipes





Raspberry Beer Cocktail // A Cup of Mai

Ingredients
1 cup of fresh raspberries
4 bottles of corona beer, chilled
1 container pink lemonade
1/2 cup vodka

Instructions
Stir together the corona, pink lemonade and vodka in a container. Serve over ice. Garnish with raspberries. Stir in raspberries and beer just before serving. Garnish, if desired.

Cucumber, Lime & Basil Daiquiri Recipe

Cucumber & Lime Daiquiri // Hello Natural

Ingredients
Basil Syrup:
1 cup water
Handful of basil leaves, fresh
2 tbsp agave nectar
Cocktail
3 medium cucumbers, with skin
Juice of 3 limes, fresh
4 teaspoons sugar-free basil syrup
1 shot of white rum
Ice cubes, lime slices and fresh basil leaves, to serve

Instructions
Basil Syrup
Mix all ingredients and simmer on low heat for 30 minutes. Cool, strain and store in the fridge for up to three weeks.
Cocktail
Wash the cucumbers thoroughly, cut into slices and add them in the blender along with the lime juice.
Process to obtain a gorgeous green liquid. Strain. Add the liquid in a cocktail shaker, together with the white rum and some ice cubes. Shake well to combine. Fill the serving glasses with fresh ice cubes, then strain the daiquiri mixture into glasses. Add one teaspoon of basil syrup to each serving glass. Garnish with lime slices and fresh basil leaves, and serve immediately.

Strawberry & Coconut Cocktail Recipe

Strawberry & Coconut Cocktail // Drizzle & Dip 

Ingredients
1 cup of coconut water, fresh
1 cup strawberries, hulled and sliced
3 teaspoons of sugar syrup or agave nectar
1 shot of white rum

Instructions
To make the sugar syrup you need to boil sugar and water together in a ratio of 1:3 sugar to water, and boil in until it thickens to a runny syrup consistency. Store in a jar for all future cocktail making. It pretty much lasts forever. Cut open the coconut, or if you are lucky enough to live in a country that sells fresh coconut water in a bottle, measure one cup. Add the strawberries, sugar syrup and rum and blend with a blender. Serve with loads of ice.

Gin & Grapefruit Cocktail Recipe

Gin & Grapefruit Cocktail // A Beautiful Mess

Ingredients
1 shot of Gin
1 cup of Grapefruit Juice
Grapefruit Wedges
Rosemary sprigs

Instructions
Mix 1 ounce gin with grapefruit juice and garnish with a grapefruit wedge and rosemary.

Blueberry Mojito Cocktail Recipe

Blueberry Mojito // The Novice Chef

Ingredients
1 cup blueberries, fresh
1 shot clear rum
10 fresh mint leaves
2 teaspoons sugar
juice of 2 limes
1 cup of club soda
ice

Instructions
In a food processor or blender, puree blueberries until smooth. Set aside. Add mint leaves and sugar to a cocktail shaker. Use a muddler (or the end of a wooden spoon) to muddle the mint and sugar. Add the lime juice, rum and pureed blueberries: shake vigorously. Pour ice and club soda into two tall glasses and then pour in rum mixture. Gently stir. Garnish with a lime wedge, extra blueberries and a sprig of mint. Serve immediately.

xo Elise

15 (Kid-Friendly) Halloween Pranks, Frightful Jokes & Spooky Stories




15 (Kid-Friendly) Halloween Pranks, Frightful Jokes & Spooky Stories

I can't help but feel a little sorry for the victims I choose to prank. It's known widely that I prank well. There's a forest at Camp Silver Beach that has a spooky legend of it's own. One night as I was leading my campers through the forest back to their cabin when we heard some trees rustling off in the distance. Having been there for a few months already I knew this was just a regular forest creature out hustling for his nightly dinner. My cabin didn't. As we were walking across the bridge I came to a sudden halt and said "Did you hear that?!". The girls, already used to my pranking antics, weren't convinced. "Whatever Elise, you don't scare us". I then said in a worried tone, "No seriously I heard something over there..", I beamed my flashlight toward the over grown part of the forest, suddenly I let out a loud gasp and then bolted up the trail with the only flashlight, leaving the girls in the dark, screaming, in the middle of the forest. It wasn't until they could hear me laughing up ahead that they realised it was a joke.

Muahahahaha!


Halloween Pranks

Mystery Bowls: Blindfold your "victim" & bring out an assortment of different "body parts" that she has to guess what they are. Use spaghetti for brains, add grapes for eyeballs, bags of pudding for hearts, and slivered almonds for witch's fingernails. Keep her guessing until she gets it right; you'll both laugh at her responses.

The Hidden Monster: Use colorful, patterned poster board or wrapping paper to make a life-sized monster -- how scary is up to you -- and hang it in a place your child will least expect for a startling surprise

Sitting Skeleton: At dinnertime have your kids set the table as usual, then sneak back in to the dining room and put out an extra place setting for a plastic skeleton. Sit the skeleton in the chair; if he can't sit up tie him to the chair with twine or ribbon. Don't worry if it doesn't look artful, it's supposed to be creepy. When your child comes to the table he'll be spooked by the ghastly guest.

Monster Chase: Dress up as a monster for your lawn. Be as still as you can. When someone walks by, jump out and scare the heck out of them.

Mirror Mirror on the Wall: Visit friends' houses and write on the mirror with your finger, delivering a scary message such as "I'm watching you!" Breathe on the mirror and you can see your words. Let it dry naturally. When your friend takes a shower, the words will appear again when the mirror fogs up.


Spooky Stories

The Flying Dutchman

The legend of The Flying Dutchman started in 1641 when a Dutch ship sank off the coast of the Cape of Good Hope. The captain, VanderDecken, failed to notice the dark clouds looming and only when he heard the lookout scream out in terror did he realise that they had sailed straight into a fierce storm. The captain and his crew battled for hours to get out of the storm and at one stage it looked like they would make it. Then they heard a sickening crunch – the ship had hit treacherous rocks and began to sink. As the ship plunged downwards, Captain VanderDecken knew that death was approaching. He was not ready to die and screamed out a curse: ‘I WILL round this Cape even if I have to keep sailing until the end of time!” So, even today whenever a storm brews off the Cape of Good Hope, if you look into the eye of the storm, you will be able to see the ship and its captain – The Flying Dutchman. The legend goes that whoever sees the ship will die a terrible death. Many people have claimed to have seen The Flying Dutchman, including the crew of a German submarine boat during World War II. On 11 July 1881, the Royal Navy ship, the Bacchante, was rounding the tip of Africa when they were confronted with the sight of The Flying Dutchman. The midshipman, a prince who later became King George V, recorded that the lookout man and the officer of the watch had seen The Flying Dutchman and he used these words to describe the ship: “A strange red light as of a phantom ship all aglow, in the midst of which light the mast, spars and sails of a brig 200 yards distant stood out in strong relief.” It’s pity that the lookout saw the Flying Dutchman, for soon after on the same trip, he accidentally fell from a mast and died. Fortunately for the English royal family, the young midshipman survived the curse to become The King of England!


Hide and Seek

Two young brothers were at home alone as the parents had gone visit their neighbours for a while. ‘Be good’ they said, so to keep themselves occupied the boys decided to play a game of hide and seek. The older boy turned his head to the wall and began to count, he could hear his little brother’s feet as he scampered about looking for a place to hide. ‘Ready or not I’m coming,’ cried the older brother and off he went looking for his brother. He looked in all the usual places, behind the sofa, in the bath, behind the curtains, under the bed, but he couldn’t find him. The apartment was eerily silent, then he heard a scraping sound coming from the wardrobe. The boy was sure he’d already looked there but anyway he went and called out ‘Come out I’ve found you!’, but there was only silence. Again he called for his brother to come out and again nothing…. Opening the door, the boy tries to peer behind the wall of dresses coats hanging there, he bends down but doesn’t see any feet standing there. Then as he outs his hand through the coats a small white, icy cold hand come out and grabs his wrist, trying to pull him into the closet. Trying to pull himself free, he hears a noise behind him and turns around only to see his brother behind him…. ‘Couldn’t you find me?’, asked the boy. The older brother screams in fright and desperately tries to free himself from the grip of the hand, all the while being pulled into the wardrobe, the younger brother grabs him and together they manage to pull him free. They both run screaming from the apartment. Nobody knows what would have happened if the hand had managed to pull him in.


The Clown Statue

A girl in her teens, was babysitting for a family one night. The family was wealthy and had a very large house with many rooms filled with lots of old artefacts and ornaments from all over the world. As the family are leaving to go out the father tells the girl that once the she puts the kids down she should go down to the basement and watch TV there, and don’t go wandering about the house. Once the kids are asleep, the girl retires to the basement room to watch TV, but in the corner of the room is a life-size clown statue that is standing there grinning at her. He can’t concentrate on the TV so she decides to drape a blanket over the statue so she can ignore it. After a while she can’t stand looking at the clown statue’s over-sized feet sticking out from under the blanket and she decides she would like to go and watch TV in another room. She phones the father of the family to ask his permission and says that she is freaked out by the giant clown statue in the room. ‘Listen very carefully’ the man says to the girl. ‘Our children have been complaining about a clown that comes into their room in the middle of the night but we just thought it was nightmares. We don’t own a clown statue, you need to get the kids and get out of the house NOW! I’ll call the police. The girl hangs up the phone and turns around to face the clown statue, but all there is a blanket on the floor…


The Legend of Bride's Head Bridge

There's a bridge near Hanover in Germany called 'Der Kopf der Braut', which means bride's head. A 15th century legend has it that Reichsgraf von Kesselstatt and his bride Gretchen were approaching the bridge in their horse and carriage when their way was blocked by an elderly crone. The Reichsgraf or 'Count' ordered the old lady to get off the bridge instantly and make way for their carriage. But it was dark, and the old lady had difficulty in herding her sheep off the bridge. Because the old witch was moving none to fast, Reichsgraf von Kesselstatt took his whip and have her a sound thrashing. Bleeding, and cowering in a ditch, the old witch put a curse on the carriage. Consequently when the bridal party eventually crossed the bridge, one of the horses shied and the other reared up. The upshot was that Gretchen was thrown from the carriage into the river below. It seems certain that she drowned as the river was in torrent and Gretchen was never seen again. However, it is said by Hanoverian wicca that at Halloween you can see a headless bride standing on rocks in the middle of the river. Some say she is looking for her lost head, while other say she is looking for her beloved Reichsgraf von Kesselstatt.


The Old Witch by The Brothers Grimm

There was once a little girl who was very wilful and who never obeyed when her elders spoke to her - so how could she be happy? One day she said to her parents, 'I have heard so much of the old witch that I will go and see her. People say she is a wonderful old woman, and has many marvellous things in her house, and I am very curious to see them.' But her parents forbade her going, saying, 'The witch is a wicked old woman, who performs many godless deeds - and if you go near her, you are no longer a child of ours.' The girl, however, would not turn back at her parents' command, but went to the witch's house. When she arrived there the old woman asked her: 'Why are you so pale?', 'Ah,' she replied, trembling all over, 'I have frightened myself so with what I have just seen.' 'And what did you see?' inquired the old witch. 'I saw a black man on your steps.' 'That was a collier,' replied she. 'Then I saw a gray man.' 'That was a sportsman,' said the old woman. 'After him I saw a blood-red man.' 'That was a butcher,' replied the old woman. 'But, oh, I was most terrified,' continued the girl, 'when I peeped through your window, and saw not you, but a creature with a fiery head.' 'Then you have seen the witch in her proper dress,' said the old woman. 'For you I have long waited, and now you shall give me light.' So saying the witch changed the little girl into a block of wood, and then threw it on the fire. When it was fully alight, she sat down on the hearth and warmed herself, saying: 'How good I feel! The fire has not burned like this for a long time!'



Frightful Jokes

What do you get when you cross Bambi with a ghost? BamBoooooooooo!

Where do baby ghosts go during the day? DayScare Centers

How did the ghost sew his sheet? With a pumpkin patch.

What do ghosts like to dance to? Soul music!

What did Dr. Frankenstein get when he put a goldfish brain in the body of his dog? I don't know, but it is great at chasing submarines.


xo Elise

Image from House by Hoff

27 DIY Halloween Craft Projects




27 DIY Halloween Craft Projects

It's a tough gig having to plan three separate Halloween parties for kids. Of course I'm kidding. It's literally my job to create kids events & programmes - and I LOVE it! Want to know my secret weapon to constantly coming up with new & fresh ideas? Pinterest. Not so shocked? I'll give you that one. In the days leading up to halloween, the kids in the after school programme will be making some of the crafts here in this post. Can't wait!

1. 5 Minute DIY Toilet Paper Bats
2. DIY 'Boo' Typography Pumpkins
3. Crepe Paper Pumpkin Treats
4. DIY Washi Tape Spider Web
5. Try These! Halloween Garlands
6. DIY Washi Tape 'Tic Tac Toe' Halloween Game
7. DIY Halloween Treat Jar
8. Halloween Gumball Letters
9. 'Spooky' Halloween Banner

27 Easy Craft Tutorials for Halloween

18. Halloween Tissue Ghost Tutorial

27 Halloween Craft Projects

19. DIY Leather Bat Necklace
20. DIY Spider Treat Bags
21. Splatter Paint Pumpkin Tutorial
22. DIY Pumpkin Stockings
23. DIY Upcycled Skulls
24. Halloween Ideas: Paper Bag Jack-o-Lantern's
25. DIY Paper Napkin Pumpkin's
26. Halloween Lightbulb Spider
27. DIY Paper Halloween Lantern's

Now you can't say you don't know what to do for Halloween! Share your Halloween creations and ideas with me in the comments below!

xo Elise

Easy French 'Halloween' Macarons




Easy French 'Halloween' Macarons

There's a little french bakery 2 minutes down the road from our house. Every time we drive by, there's lines of people waiting outside the doors. I used to wonder what delicacies they must hold in their cafeteria. Then one day my flatmate Hani came home with some french macarons from said bakery. I'd never tried them before as I always thought they didn't look all that appealing. But oui oui, that first bite into the light crumbly gooey sweetness of my strawberry macaron had me go into a frenzy. I knew I wouldn't be able to get to the bakery most days, so I decided to bake my own! Now you can too.

Macaron Recipe

4 large egg whites
1/3 cup caster sugar
1 1/2 cups pure icing sugar
1 cup almond meal
pinch of salt
edible food pen
gel food colouring (optional)

Butter Cream Filling Recipe

1/2 cup butter
2 1/2 cups icing sugar
1-4 tablespoons of milk or cream

Directions

Preheat the oven to 150 ºC. Mix egg whites and caster sugar in a bowl with an electric mixer until stiff enough to turn the bowl upside down without it falling out. Continue to mix for 1 - 2 more minutes. If adding food colouring do this now and then mix for a further 20 seconds.

Get a sieve and sift the almond meal, icing sugar and salt. Discard any almond lumps that are too big to pass through the sieve. Fold ingredients into the egg white mixture. It should take roughly 30 - 50 folds using a rubber spatula. The mixture should be smooth and a very glue-like, not runny. If you over-mix, your macarons will be flat. If you under mix, they won't turn out smooth on top.

Pipe mixture onto trays lined with baking paper. Wrap trays on the bench firmly (this prevents cracking) and then bake in the oven for 20 minutes. Check if one comes off the tray fairly cleanly, if not bake for a little longer (make sure you are using non-stick baking paper or they will stick).


Filling Your Macarons

Let your butter soften at room temperature in a bowl. Once that's done, add the icing sugar and 1 tbsp of milk (or cream) and beat until smooth and light in colour. Add extra spoons of milk one at a time until the desired consistency is reached before piping onto macarons. If you have an edible food pen, this is where you can draw on your halloween designs. Try a spider web, the letters 'BOO!' and some spooky eyes.

Once you've added your filling and decorated your macarons, seal them in an airtight container and store in the fridge for at least a few hours (ideally overnight) and enjoy for a sneaky sweet breakfast in the morning.


xo Elise

Image from The Homesteady

15 Minute DIY Typographic Print




15 Minute DIY Typographic Print

I forgot how therapeutic painting was - even if it's just letters. It's probably been a good 8 years since I've touched a brush and swirled it through paint. Wow I just realised how embarrassing that is.

As my creative talents are slowly returning to me, I've been starting to hoard ideas for wall art, typographic prints and canvas paintings. I want to make a feature wall for my home - not in my current place with it's slippery walls unfortunately. If you're a big fan of wall art, this is a DIY for you, it's simple easy and literally takes 15 minutes to do.

Supplies

Black acrylic paint
White card or A4 paper
Paint brushes of various sizes
A4 sized photo frame

Instructions

Decide what phrase, saying, quote or symbol you would like your typographic print to be (I like to do a few practice runs on A4 paper first), outline the positioning in light pencil on the card and paint. Wait 5 minutes for the paint to dry, place in your frame and display on your shelf.


When was the last time you picked up a paint brush? You should definitely try this project over the weekend!

xo Elise

36 Green Smoothie Recipes




36 Green Smoothie Recipes

Summer is slowly creeping it's way back to New Zealand and with the warmer weather, my ridiculously sensitive teeth can now handle my favourite breakfast meal - Green Smoothies.

I get they're more like a dying trend nowadays, but I still love them. They're an easy way to get in essential vege and nutrients you might not usually get throughout the day. Plus if you pack them with the right ingredients, they have you fuelled and energised for the day.

I've tried a lot of smoothies in my time and to be honest, I like to keep it simple. But with the recipes below, I think you should challenge yourself, step outside of yourself and try some out. You won't like all of them, but you will enjoy some and that's enough.

Btw, please excuse my wildly unoriginal smoothie titles.

Morning Booster

1 banana
1 apple
handful of berries
handful of spinach
water

Blueberry Burst

1 handful of spinach
1 banana
1 handful of blueberries
½ a cup of water

Coconutty Grape

2 handfuls of spinach
1 cup coconut water
1 handful of green grapes
5 peach slices

Tropica

1 handful of spinach
1 cup pineapple
1 cup mango
1 banana
1 cup coconut water

Green Supreme

2 handfuls of spinach
1 cup coconut water
1 cup fresh pineapple chunks
1 avocado

Green Booster

2 handfuls of spinach
1 cup coconut water
1 large apple
1 avocado

Re-vitalizing Smoothie

3 kale stalks
2 bananas
1 cup of water
1 avocado

Cranberry Delight

2 handfuls of spinach
1 handful of fresh cranberries
1 banana
½ avocado
1 cup of water

Peary Nice

1 handful of spinach
2 pears
1 banana
½ avocado
1 cup almond milk

Peachy Mango

3 stalks of kale
1 peach
2 apples
1 mango
1 cup of water

Berry Dense

1 handful of spinach
1 cup almond milk
1 handful of blueberries
1 handful of strawberries
½ cup almonds

NanaPeach

2 handfuls of spinach
½ cup peach slices
1 banana + water

Pineapple Tango

2 handfuls of spinach
1 banana
½ cup pineapple chunks
½ cup mango slices
1 cup of water

Strawberry Delight

1 handful of spinach
1 cup of frozen strawberries
½ cup of mango slices
1 banana
1 cup of water

Strawberry Mash

2 handfuls of spinach
¾ cup water
1 cup strawberries
1 banana

Berry Protein Punch

2 handfuls of spinach
1 cup unsweetened almond milk
1 cup strawberries
1 cup blueberries
1 banana
1/2 cup almonds

Almond Butter Berry

3 kale stalks
1 cup unsweetened almond milk
1 cup green grapes
1 cup blueberries
2 bananas
4 tablespoons almond butter

Tropical Punch

2 handfuls of spinach
1 cup of freshly squeezed orange juice
1 cup water
¼ pomegranate seeds
1 cup strawberries
1 banana

Berrylicious

2 handfuls of spinach
¾ cup water
¾ cup freshly squeezed orange juice
1 cup strawberries
1 cup blueberries
2 bananas

Banana Berry

2 bananas
1 handful of spinach
1 cup strawberries
1 cup blueberries
1 cup raspberries
1 cup of water

Raspy

1 handful of spinach
1 frozen banana
1 cup raspberries
1 cup almond milk

SweetBerry

1 avocado
1 cup frozen strawberries
1 cup almond milk

Peachy Mango

3 stalks of kale
1 peach
2 apples
1 mango
1 cup of water

Citrus Burst


1 handful of spinach
1 orange, banana + water

Morning Zest

½ a green apple
½ grapefruit
½ lemon
1 avocado
3 stalks of kale
½ cup of water

Festive Smoothie

1 handful of spinach
½ cup of almond milk
Pinch of cinnamon
1 large apple
1 banana
½ cup of water

Tropicado Punch

1 handful of spinach
3 kale stalks
1 avocado
1 apple
½ cup of pineapple chunks

AppleBerryBottom

1 handful of spinach
1 apple
1 cup of blueberries
1 avocado
½ cup coconut water

AppleBerry Milk

1 serving whey protein powder
1 handful of spinach
1 handful spinach
1 green apple
1 cup blueberries
1 cup almond milk

Meal-in-a-jar Smoothie

½ grapefruit, lemon & green apple
1 cucumber
1 handful of spinach + mint
1 teaspoon of chia seeds
2 teaspoons of green powder
1 cup of coconut water
handful of ice

Fennelery Smoothie

1 bulb fennel
1 cucumber
3 celery stalks
3 handfuls of spinach
handful of ice
splash of coconut water

Mojito Magic Smoothie

1 cup of coconut water
juice of 2 limes
1 ripe avocado
handful of mint leaves
1 handful of spinach
pinch of protein powder
pinch of powdered stevia
2 teaspoons spirulina powder
handful of ice

Full-of-life Smoothie

1 cup of full fat yoghurt
1 egg
handful of frozen berries
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
a pinch of stevia
1 teaspoon of chia seeds
1 tablespoon coconut oil

The Ultimate Smoothie

1 serving of whey protein powder
½ cup of almond milk
a dash of chia seeds
1 serving of green powder
1 green apple
1 cup of mixed berries
1/ 2 cup of coconut water
1 avocado
1 egg

Fill-me-up Smoothie

3 kale stalks
1 apple
1 cup mixed berries
1 serving protein powder
1 serving green powder
1 cup coconut water


xo Elise

Try This! Wooden Heart Decor




DIY Wooden Heart Decor

Our rental has been looking a little lacklustre on the decor side. To be honest it's becoming a challenge as we can't stick anything on the walls because any adhesive we try stick up, slips right off. Why would it do that?!

So now I'm trying mini decor to place around the house to 'home' it up a little. It's helping.

I've had this wooden heart plaque for a few years now and couldn't think of anything to do with it, until yesterday.

DIY Polka Dot Heart Ornament

Supplies


Black & white acrylic paint
Carved piece of wood

Instructions

Paint the entire piece of wood black, let dry, add polka dots, stripes, whatever kind of pattern/color you like. Let dry once more and you're done.

This tutorial will take you around 30 minutes to finish when you add in drying time, the actual painting takes around 5 minutes.

xo Elise

How to Arrange Hand Cut Flowers




How to arrange hand cut flowers

I believe flowers should be mandatory in every household. They're incredibly easy to manage, they last for over a week and they make your home look pretty - but most of all they make you feel pretty.

Most people think they have to buy flowers from the market or the florist, but what they forget about is what they have in their own backyards!

Flowers: Venture out into your garden and see what you can find. Maybe go for a walk around the neighbourhood or your local park. Pick any greens, buds & flowers, but try to mix them up to keep things interesting - and pretty.

Vases: You can find some really unique vases or containers at local thrift and vintage shops. Or you can find some cute and unique ones online, like these mini mason jars, or this quirky cholet hollow vase or my fave, these sugar cone wall planters.

Easy how-to tutorial for arranging cut-florals

Step 1: Take your bunch and cut the bottom of the stems on a slant. This will give them a lifespan of a around about a week.

Step 2: Separate the florals from the greens. For one floral there is, add two green stems so they look like mini-bunches.

Step 3: Piece all your mini-bunches together so it looks like a small bouquet.

Step 4: Arrange your small bouquet into the vase/container of your choice — any size will do. Try to aim for smaller though, it makes your small bouquet 'pop' more.

xo Elise

Images from Refinery

Homemade Honey & Vanilla Bubble Bath




DIY homemade honey & vanilla bubble bath

I'm one of those unlucky people who lives in a modern home with NO BATHTUB. I cry about this at least once a week. But for those who are blessed enough to have their own bathtub, I have the yummiest homemade bubble bath recipe for you!

Homemade Honey & Vanilla Bubble Bath
  • 1/2 cup light almond oil
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 1/2 cup mild liquid hand or body soap
  • 1 egg white
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract

Blend ingredients and pour into a container. When using in bath, pour under running water. Keep excess in the refrigerator.

xo Elise

Image & Recipe from Hello Natural

Easy Vanilla Berry Chia Pudding




Easy Vanilla Berry Chia Dessert

There is no voodoo witch doctor in the world that can cure me of my sweet tooth..
And honestly I wouldn't want to be cured either.

But desserts like ice cream aren't cutting it for me anymore. I'm one of those annoying people who complains of being sensitive to certain foods, (like beetroot! disgusting), I always get a sore gut from dairy and I swear it creates mucous in my lungs making it an exciting challenge to breathe. Bet you loved that visual.

Yet I cannot give up the sweet lovin', so I went googling one day - as you do when you're desperate - and found some better/healthier/not gonna cut off my air supply dessert recipes.

And I tried one!

This one!

Turns out it's a pretty good replacement. I mean yeah at first getting used to goopy flavored seeds made me a bit squirmy, but that doesn't last long.

It's the right amount of sweet, it's less processed and feels a lot lighter on the body. Definitely going to try more mucous-less desserts in the future! :P

Easy Vanilla Boysenberry Chia Pudding

Easy Vanilla & Boysenberry Chia Pudding

Serves 1

  • 2 tablespoons chia seeds
  • 1/2 cup coconut milk
  • 1/8 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup or honey
  • 1 - 2 boysenberries

In a small bowl combine the first four ingredients. Stir well and refrigerate for at least one hour. After the first thirty minutes give the mixture a stir again so it doesn't clump together. Once you're ready to eat, stir in the maple syrup and top with boysenberries.

Vanilla Berry Chia Pudding

Bon Appétit!

xo

DIY Polka Dot Sunglasses




DIY Polka Dot Sunglasses

I'm OBSESSED with circles. And when I say it like that I sound bonkers. To put it in a better light, I'm obsessed with polka dots. This blog has paper circles as part of it's name after all!

Rummaging through my drawers I found an old pair of black & white sunglasses I bought at the $1 store. And like a rebellious child I grabbed my sharpie and started to dot the entire surface of the sunnies.

Make Your Own Polka Dot Sunglasses
Polka Dot Sunglasses Tutorial
DIY Black & White Polka Dot Sunglasses

I think you should do this too.

Elise xo

A Weird Birthday




Birthday Jello Shots

Yesterday was my birthday.

It was full of delightful moments, over-flowing champagne, joyful company and a ton of gifts. The day was magnanimous to say the least. I am completely tickled pink with joy.

That's what you're supposed to say right?

I'm gonna level with you - it wasn't anything like that at all.

You generally have a ritual of how your birthday begins. For me it's being woken with a stolen kiss and a whispered "Happy Birthday my love.." while having gifts lovingly laid by my side. Then it's a 7:30am birthday call from Mum, a delicious breakfast cooked by my love followed by texts, messages and calls from loved ones wishing me a beautiful day.

NONE OF THAT HAPPENED.

Scott went to work at 5:45am, Mum facebooked me happy birthday not wanting to wake me on the phone, I opened my presents by myself, had to go to a meeting, no one at work wished me happy birthday - or even knew it was my birthday - and everyone I came across was in an 'off' mood.

It was a blow to the ego that's for sure.

All that kept running through my mind was, "This sucks".

I wanted to escape to a new reality where I had a beautiful party to host with my favourite people, and a dessert table adorned with pretty decorations. I imagined waltzing off to the beach where we spent hours splashing around, soaking up the sun, sipping cocktails and eating food that was made for the gods.

It felt good to escape for those few minutes, it felt fresh and new and fun - and that's when it hit me square between the eyes.

It felt good because it felt new.

"That's it!" I thought to myself, I've been so (unconsciously) stuck in the same place for quite a number of months now, nothing new has happened. In other words, I haven't been growing.

I immediately course-corrected my attitude, because I knew what I needed to do. Life is about growth and change and sometimes we get stuck because it's comfortable or because it freaks us out to do things differently.

I'm not saying everything will change in a matter of minutes, but there's 365 days to go till my next birthday and I'm going to make it a magical year of firsts, or, a year of growth.

And once I made my mind up, it was like everything slotted into place. I arrived home after work with my favourite people waiting for me, we snuck off to get vietnamese, watched our childhood classics, Jumanji and Space Jam, gobbled french birthday cake and trumpets.

None of it is what usually pans out on my birthday, it was all brand new, the perfect start to an exciting purposeful year.

Bring on the year of firsts!

Elise xo

Image from A Beautiful Mess

A Fresh Start




A fresh start

Here's to failure, mistakes and imperfection.

To lessons learned, and learned, and learned, and learned.

To the many excuses made.

And the many reasons believed.

To stubbornness, and all that it entails.

To fear and it's validated presence.

To the breaking of bad habits.

And the making of an iron fist in a velvet glove.

It's a brand new day.

It's time for a fresh start.

Bring on the creativity.


xo Elise

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