Super Quick Chunky Scarf

I have an on again, off again love affair with crochet. I always pick it up with the best intentions to do a project but get sidetracked half way through and never finish. That was until I made this scarf. As a beginner it was super simple, all you need to know is how to chain and how to half double crochet. There is no real pattern as I just made it up as I went along but I'll try my best to explain it if you would like to make one too. 

The movie is a key aspect...obviously

Materials
2-3 skeins chunky yarn (I only found two in my colour preference, I used the Passoknit Scandy Extremely Chunky yarn from Spotlight)

1 Large crochet hook, I used a 15mm hook which I believe is about a P/Q size

Your favourite movie

Directions

Step 1: Put on your favourite movie, by the end of it you should have finished this scarf 

Step 2: Make a slip knot and chain until you have a long enough chain to make a circle that you can wrap around your neck 2-3 times. As I said I never counted my chains or anything so just play it by sight.

Step 3: Making sure you haven't twisted your chain, single crochet to join your chain.

Step 4: Half double crochet around and around until you either run out of yarn or have a scarf width you are happy with.

Step 5: When you finish your last loop single crochet one loop to attach your ends so it doesn't look like the chain suddenly stops.

Step 6: Tie off your end and weave excess yarn into the scarf.

Super simple, and super warm

Ta-da, see it's so simple and easy!

I do love a good vintage filter, hides the lack of makeup

I hope those instructions were easy enough to follow, let me know how your scarf turns out if you decide to make one too!

x Stacey

Dukan Lemon Cheesecake

Cheesecake has to be one of the best inventions ever! One of the best parts about the Dukan Diet is the allowance of low fat dairy, this means that with some tweaking cheesecake can be enjoyed. I have seen many recipes for Dukan baked cheesecakes, but so far I haven't found one for a non-baked, refrigerated cheesecake that I enjoy so much. This recipe combines two different recipes I found on the internet so full credit to their original owners, all I did was combine them to make a refrigerated cheesecake.

Ingredients
For the Base

• 5 tblespoons oat bran
• 2 tablespoon powdered skim milk
• a pinch of sea salt or kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon sweetener
• 4-5 tablespoons skim milk

For the Cake

• 1 cup low fat cream 
• 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
• 2 teaspoons lemon rind
• 3 teaspoons gelatine, dissolved in 1/4 cup boiling water (let to sit for 5-10 minutes)
• 3/4 cup sweetener (this is the exact measurement for sugar comparative sweeteners, if you are using a strong sweetener please adjust) 
• 500g Light Philadelphia cream cheese, softened (use the block if possible, it has a much better texture and taste for this cake)

Method

Preheat oven to 200C (400F) Lightly grease a cake tin, and line with baking paper. The best type of cake tin to use for this is one with  a removable base/sides as this cake cannot be tipped upside down to get it out of a tin.

Combine dry ingredients for base, carefully add skim milk one tablespoon at a time until you feel the mixture is at the correct consistency; thick and not too runny. Pour into the baking pan and place in oven for 10 minutes. The base is completed when it no longer jiggles when you shake the pan.

Place base aside to cool.

Using an electric mixer beat the cream cheese and sweetener together until smooth.

Add in gelatine mixture and beat until it is smooth, do not over mix!

With the mixer on a low setting, slowly add cream, lemon juice and rind. Mix until combined.

Pour mixture over the base. Place in the fridge and allow it to set. Allow at least three hours to set, preferably overnight. 

Base recipe adapted from here: http://dukanrecipesbymariamartinez.blogspot.com.au/2013/01/low-carb-newyork-cheesecake.html

Cake recipe adapted from here: http://philly.com.au/recipes/creamy-lemon-cheesecake/

Hope you enjoy, let me know how it turns out.

x Stacey

Fall Haul (Y'all)

Sorry about the title, I just couldn't help myself. Recently I have been doing a lot of shopping (I know I know, bad Stacey), and that means I can share with all of you. I know hauls garner mixed opinions, I personally love reading and watching them, but if you do not please just click away now (I promise not to be offended). 

I will split this haul into two categories; clothing, and pretty smelling things. First up clothing. 

boohoo.com recently had a huge sale, and then on top of that offered a further 20% off sale items. I took advantage of this to stock up on some new knitwear for the cooler months ahead.

I love pastel colours all year around, and apparently they are a big thing for autumn which means win win for me. This is the Lola Cable Knit Jumper in mint green. It's a super chunky cable knit jumper, that somehow still manages to be flattering. That is saying a lot since I'm quite curvy and have large hips so chunky jumpers sometimes don't look all that good on me.

Another Pastel! This is the Kadie Fisherman Knit Jumper Dress in Blush. It's a thinnish knit 'jumper dress'. I use the term loosely because it's pretty short and I will have to wear jeans, not leggings with it because it barely covers my tooshie. Shortness aside it's a pretty colour, and the thinner knit will allow me to wear it earlier on than the mint jumper which is quite thick.

This is the Daisy Cable Boyfriend Cardigan in black. Its a great boyfriend size cardigan that's not so oversized that it's like a dress, but not so small that it looks like a fitted cardigan. It has a cute cable knit down the sides, two pockets, and cute little contrast buttons. Overall it's a great casual cardigan.

I have wanted a nice green tartan shirt for ages and I think I finally found one. This is the Harriett Brushed Checked Shirt in green. Unfortunately I can't provide a link since I bought the last one. Also since I bought the last one it's slightly larger than I would like as I had to go up a size. It's quite a cozy lightly brushed cotton shirt however it's by no means flannel. I also like that the sleeves are roomier which allows me to roll them up comfortably.

If you recall my tartan post you will remember my mention of this dress. I absolutely love it! It's the Jen Tartan Print Collar Smock Dress in green. Smock dresses are a huge trend at the moment and a super comfortable one at that. If I want the dress to look more tailored it's easily cinched at the waist with an elastic belt and you would never know it was a smock...talk about versatility. 

Now for the pretty smelling part.

I have always loved scented candles and autumn is the perfect time for burning them as autumn has so many lovely smells. Recently Spotlight (a craft store) started stocking Yankee Candles in a variety of different scents...naturally I had to start stocking up. 

What is more autumn than pumpkins! I love pumpkin anything; food, beverage, shower gel or candle. The combination of sweetness and warmth in the scent and taste always has me coming back for more. Due to my love of pumpkins Yankee Candle Spiced Pumpkin is a perfect match up for the season. Yankee describes this as 'Pumpkins baked in simmering spices of clove, nutmeg, and cinnamon, and sweetened with brown sugar' does that sound yummy or what!

Yankee Candle Red Apple Wreath is technically a festive scent for the Christmas/Holiday season. The Christmas season in Australia is in the middle of summer so this candle is probably a bit too heavy for it. However the sweet crispness of apples combined with cinnamon, walnut and maple create a wonderful autumn/winter scent. 

Nature's Paintbrush is a discontinued Yankee scent that I was lucky enough to stumble across in a gift shop one day. It is described as 'a perfect autumn day captured in radiet, aromatic strokes of brisk air, spicy woods, and warm musks'. Unlike all my other candles this is quite a masculine scent and reminds me of aftershave and my boy (in the best possible way). It's definitely not sweet and not for those who like their rooms to smell like a bakery, but it's comforting (most likely because it reminds me of the one I love) and perfect for staying in and reading on a rainy day. While it is discontinued you can still find this scent floating around on ebay.

We don't have Bath and Body Works in Australia (I'll pause for a collective sigh of disappointment). However there is an amazing seller on eBay called 88claudiamurray who sells Bath and Body Works products (as well as Yankee products and many other lovely things). As mentioned above I love pumpkin for autumn so I was delighted when I found she had both the shower gel and lotion for Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin. Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin is described as 'a cozy blend of New England pumpkin, crisp apple and ginger kissed with spiced vanilla and a hint of rum'. It's quite a light smelling fragrance for something that is as heavy as pumpkin, the apple and vanilla notes are definitely not taking a backseat here. While not a true pumpkin scent it's still pretty, and light, and feminine and I can't wait to use it.

Also from 88claudiamurray come these wonderful Yankee Candle vent sticks. I purchased Spiced Pumpkin to match my candle, so my car can smell like autumn too (and how cute are the little pumpkins on them!). I have purchased these from her before, but in Christmas scents, and have found they don't work as well with air conditioning as they do with heaters. Due to this I'll be saving them until it gets cold enough to use the heater in my car so I can actually smell it. 

So there you have it, an autumn haul from a self confessed autumn addict. Are there any products you love for this time of year? Let me know in the comments below and I'll see if I can give them a try. Also I'm pretty sure I'll be doing a autumn Favourites further into the season so if you love this season as much as I do be sure to check back for that.

x Stacey

Heading for the Highlands

I have always had a love affair with tartan. This has only been fuelled by my Scottish ancestry, and attending a Presbyterian school where tartan made up about 50% of the uniform (we also had a pipe band which was pretty cool). Tartan is one of those cool weather staples that seems to enjoy its time in the spotlight every few years. Luckily for me, this year is one of those years. Below I have pulled items from around the internet that are fashionable, without making you look like a child, wallpaper, or like you're going to a costume party (the biggest problems of wearing tartan).

I own this dress in green (it also comes in red) and it's so comfortable and versatile. If I want to look ladylike I belt it, add black stockings, flats, and a string of pearls. If I want to be comfortable I add black leggings, boots, an oversized cardigan and leave the smock to hang free. 

This is my clan tartan and I have always wanted a scarf in it to represent my family and clan. This seller on ebay provides tartan scarves (and other goods) for a variety of clans so all you have to do is know to which you belong (or choose the tartan you think is prettiest). 

A tartan skirt is pretty much a winter wardrobe staple and the most classic of ways to incorporate tartan into your winter look. While I personally could never wear the blackwatch tartan (it's identical to my old school skirt) I think it is the classiest tartan to wear and looks more ladylike and less grunge compared to its red counterparts. 

For the tartan timid this jacket allows you to incorporate the trend into your look without looking like you're heading to Balmoral Castle with the Queen. Please note that unfortunately this is only available in sizes 8 and 10 (all the others are sold out) so act quick if you want it. 

 

Sadly I am not a student, and no longer have the need for a beautiful leather satchel. However if you do this beauty from Cambridge Satchel Co. is a subtle way to add some tartan to your look while also being incredibly practical. 

Obviously you can't forget your hair when decking out in tartan. This adorable tartan headband would be a fun pop to an otherwise black winter outfit. 

Tartan shoes peeping out from under jeans are the perfect way to inject some tartan into your casual wardrobe. This adorable offering from ModCloth even have little black bows to up the cute factor. 

Finally what post about tartan would be complete without the classic comfy tartan flannel shirt. This staple can be dressed down with jeans or up with pearls. It will keep you snugly and warm through cold winters and you can find them in an endless array of colours. 

So there you have it. My round up of tartan from around the internet. Just remember, when wearing tartan less is definitely more...unless you're going for an Alexander McQueen look in which case layer it up!

x Stacey

Nailed It...Plum Baby

This week I have been rocking the colour Plum Baby by Revlon on my nails. It's the perfect Autumn/Winter colour and I feel I will be wearing it a lot this season as it is not only beautiful but also very work appropriate. 

Also how perfectly did the colour match my skirt today?!

x Stacey

Teacher Tuesday...Bubble Germs

I know I know, it has been forever since I have posted a teacher Tuesday. In my defence I had to complete my final prac placement which was full on, then Summer came which meant Christmas and job hunting and now I finally have a job (albeit one day a week) I spend most of my time devoted to finding super fun ways to teach science to kinders (pre-k for all you Americans out there). 

We have started off the year learning about living and non-living things. To complement this (and continue to drum in that washing our hands is important) we are spending a day learning that living things need care, which includes washing to prevent us getting sick. 

I believe in a lot of fun, play and crafts in the kindy classroom and always try to allow children to express their knowledge, thoughts and ideas though art in every lesson we do. To complement our hygiene lesson we are making fun bubble germs to display for our parents. I love this craft because not only do we get to use bubbles (which help to clean) but we also create germs where no two will be the same. Read on below to find out how to make these adorable 'germs'.

Materials
Dishwashing liquid/bubble solution
Paint
Glitter
Paper 
Scissors
Feathers/pom poms/goggly eyes/pipe cleaners (whatever you want to use to decorate your germs)
Glue

Method
I do this in two parts to allow the paint to dry before decorating.

Part One - Making the bubble print

• Have children cut out a squiggly shape from a piece of paper (Since my classes are still very new to school I pre-drew and copies lots of different squiggly shapes for them to cut out, but if your class is older they can draw their own shapes.)
• Using the crayola method (found here) press paper into the tray of bubbles and lift up to reveal print. Make sure that children remember to blow through the straw and not suck up the paint and detergent 
• While paper is still wet sprinkle glitter over the print for extra shimmer (obviously this is optional, I just love glitter).
• Set aside to dry

Part Two - Decorating!

• Lay out items for decoration in containers along with glue.
• Have children come up in small groups to decorate their germs however they like. During this stage it is important to allow the child freedom to do whatever they wish with their germ, remember diversity is what makes this world such a wonderful place.
• Set aside to allow glue to dry. 

That's it! A super easy and super cute craft. 

If you do this with your class I'd love to hear how it turns out.

x Stacey

Easy Pumpkin Soup

It's Autumn!!! I love the Autumn and Winter months, the fashion, the smells, the food... So in all honesty today was not Autumn like in the least. We are still rocking hot weather here, it was about 33 degrees here today (91 for those on the fahrenheit system) however there is a certain crispness to the evening tonight. 

To celebrate the arrival of Autumn, and to use up the butternut pumpkin that has been sitting around for a while I made a nice hearty batch of creamy pumpkin soup for dinner. Below you'll find my fail proof, know it like the back of my hand pumpkin soup recipe. I'm not sure where this came from as I've been cooking it since forever, and I'm sure the recipe has changed a bit along the way. As always this recipe is Dukan friendly

Pumpkin Soup

Ingredients

• 2 kg pumpkin, chopped (any kind you like, I prefer butternut for its sweeter flavour)
• 1 large onion, chopped (or 1 cup frozen chopped onion if you're being lazy, no judgement here)
• 1 litre vegetable stock 
• 300 ml light thickened cream
• 1-2 teaspoons pumpkin spice (depending on your preferences, if you don't have pumpkin spice, use a mixture of cinnamon and nutmeg)
• salt and pepper to taste

Method
Chop pumpkin and onion. Add to a large stock pot with vegetable stock and simmer until soft. (I find the longer the better as the pumpkin flavour infuses the stock)

When pumpkin is soft transfer mixture into a blender or food processor and blend until smooth (you may need to do this in batches)

Return mixture to heat. Stir in cream, salt, pepper, and spice. Allow soup to heat up again.

Serve and enjoy! (Serves 4)


I love this recipe as it's so easy to do and tastes delicious. Perfect for after a busy day or to warm your cockles on a really cold night. 

x Stacey

Birthday Wish List

March has always been one of my favourite months; the weather starts to cool down, Autumn is officially here, Easter is right around the corner...and it's my birthday month!

I remember when I was little I would find it funny when Mum and Dad would say they didn't really want anything for their birthday, because who wouldn't have a list 50 feet long of things they want. Now I'm older I completely understand where they were coming from. Now I have a job and money of my own (and don't have the desire to own the entire Toys R Us catalogue) if I want or need something I just buy it for myself, if something is really expensive I'll save for it and then buying it is really satisfying.

However since it is my birthday and my family will definitely ask what I want I thought it best to start making a mental list...or a visual one as appears to be the case. I won't be giving this exact list to anyone (I'm still not 100% sure on some things and I hate giving lists it seems so bossy) but if people ask I'll say generic answers like pyjamas etc. This list is purely a way for me to gather my thoughts.





An if you're really interested here comes the breakdown...
 

Beauty and the Beast iPhone case. I have been eying this off for a while now (and have even mentioned it in the past on this blog). I love how it is a more sophisticated way to add a Disney touch to the every day rather than have a cartoon plastered across the whole phone. I'm still tossing up between the one pictured and the one that says 'Tale as Old as Time'.

Sephora and Disney A Whole New World perfume. I'm a perfume addict and in all honesty don't need another perfume. However this spicy floral sounds like it smells wonderful and look at the pretty bottle!

Peter Alexander Bambi Nightie. Yet another Disney item (can you tell I'm a Disney addict). Like perfumes, I also hoard pyjamas. While I have a lot of Winter pyjamas, and a lot of Summer pyjamas I don't have many transitional pyjamas. This long sleeved nightie, with pink lace, a girly floral print and a Bambi and Thumper appliqué looks like it will do a wonderful job of keeping me snuggly on those not quite hot but not quite cold Autumn nights. PS Peter Alexander does the best pyjamas ever!

Rebecca Minkoff Affair Quilted Shoulder Bag. There is something so classic about a quilted bag,  even better; a black quilted bag. Recently I have come to the realisation that all my black bags are big and slouchy, which isn't always the best when I want to go somewhere nice. This bag would be a cherished addition to my wardrobe.

Lush Bath Products. I love taking long bubble baths, and have made a resolution to take more time for myself and these little rituals this year. Fizzbanger smells like toffee apple (perfect for Autumn) and has been on my must try list for a while now.

Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me. Mindy Kaling is a comedic genius (if you haven't seen The Mindy Project yet you should drop everything and do that right now). I have been eyeing her book off for a while but am on a 'no buying new books until I have read all of mine' kick. However I'm not against other people buying me books...

Emerald Statement Necklace. I love a good statement necklace and have a feeling I will be wearing a lot of emerald green this winter, this necklace would be a perfect complement to some outfits that are in planning.

Babyliss Hot Rollers. I have always had a fascination with curly hair. Unfortunately apart from a slight wave at the end of my hair, all I have to work with is thick, heavy, straight hair. Not only does this render curling irons useless (they either take forever, or the curl falls out within an hour), but it also means that I don't get a lot of volume in my hair as it is being pulled downwards by its own weight. I used to have hot rollers back in high school however could never get them to work. Recently though I met up with a friend who had styled her hair with hot rollers and I am beginning to reconsider them. 

Yay you made it to the end! Please remember that I in no way expect to get these things for my birthday (I would be just as happy to spend the day with those who matter most to me). However there is a more than likely chance I will buy some of these things for myself, because I believe in always celebrating yourself on your birthday. 

x Stacey