Giant Raspberry Over Here!!!

First things first, wow – I was not expecting such a massive response to the previous Secret Squirrel Post.

I have received a dozen comments saying that their original comments did not get approved but I can assure you that they were all approved yet blogger appears to have had a slight melt down and if you don’t press ‘load more’ a billion times then you don’t get to see them all. 

I tried to reply to them all but my replies are not coming up, something has gone wrong in the info tech land I think.

Anyway, Friday night I headed to Myer to try and find an outfit for Stakes Day on Saturday as I felt like a bit of a blob in all my current outfits.  It was basically a fruitless effort.

I bought a raspberry pink dress from Anthea Crawford and as I swiped my credit card I regretted it instantly, after all – why would I buy a $300 dress when I have one the exact same colour at home and I don't even love it.

I still bought it as was slightly too embarrassed to cancel the transaction and returned it on Sunday. 

The lady did everything but sniff the arm pits as she must have thought I was shady but come on, it was still in the tissue paper.

She grilled me over why I didn’t want it too. All I could say was “I felt like a giant raspberry”. 

I ended up wearing this Kookai dress, worn back to front so that I did not have cleavage on display, paired with my white (well, was once white) Zara jacket and a headband that I wore to Stakes Day last year (as seen in this post) with an Alannah Hill brooch stuck on it to match the pink slightly. 

I was up at 7am to get ready as being part of the Social Club Committee meant that I had duties to perform other than turning up and binge eating. 

I curled my hair and marvelled at the fake tan job provided by The Husband the night before, and headed out to pick up the catering only to be met by moisture in the air and instant frizz.

Let me tell you, the smell of cabana in my car was enough to send any pregnant lady over the edge. I wanted to eat it so bad, I just couldn't. 

I had zero intentions of taking off my Zara jacket as I thought it ‘made’ my outfit and plus, the weather was meant to be a cool 20 degrees with showers.  Of course I am in Melbourne and we know that Mike Larkin is not to be trusted.  I actually came home with a sun burn.

Who would have thought? 

We had a great day but going to the races is not the same when you are pregnant, uncomfortable and sober.

I had to turn into Kitty’s good conscious and demand that she did not drink any more champagne until she had some water. 

I wore sandals, because of course I am not silly, so at least my feet didn't hurt. Success! 

Where else would I be other than one of the many snack tables?

I actually did take photos of the catering but it’s on my real camera and I don’t have the energy to bend over and plug it in. Just imagine sandwiches, tarts, chicken, brownies and the like.

  

The best part was driving in and parking in the members car park so I could leave whenever I wanted, which happened to be at 4PM after collecting my $120 of winnings.

Well, The Husbands winnings seeing as I only placed the bets for him but still – what is his is mine, or so they tell me.

I am sometimes like Paul the Octopus when it comes to betting. 

Anywho, good day had by all.  I think my racing carnival days have come to an end though. 

Who had a Muster?

I was home alone the other night and kept hearing noises.

This is what I looked like every time I heard something creak.

I had to do the ol’ run and jump onto the bed and then hide under the covers, knowing that the covers would protect me if their was indeed a monster under the bed, just waiting to grab my ankles. 

Kittyand I hit up the Pancake Parlour last week. Damn we love that place.

I decided to live life and order something other than the Alice in Wonderland pancakes and tried the Jamaican Banana which was delicious. I’m salivating right now.

We also always gets the Deluxe Fries to share between us, I swear these things are so artery clogging that they are good.

 

Kitty got the Raspberry and Rhubarb but after sharing our mains, I quickly determined that the Jamaican Banana was far superior. 

I don’t know what your snack drawer at work looks like, but this is mine.

At least it isn’t full of snickers I suppose.  

This is another drawer.

Am not sure why there are so many moisturizers in there considering I never use them. 

And this my friends is what my hair looks like after blow drying it straight....

When I was in year 7 I didn’t have a straightener and used the iron on occasion. Then came the Muster straightener which gave me plenty of good years before switching to the GHD.

Is straightener spelt right? My spell check says no, but my brain says otherwise. 

You will have nightmares about this tonight, mark my words. 

I’ve also done a spot of shopping on OzSale the past few days.

I thought this cookie jar would be a cute decoration, and we always need more glasses. Just like spoons, we always need more spoons.

I couldn’t resist the $7 Mor products. 

I just love the packaging!! 

If you haven’t signed up to OzSale yet, feel free to do so using my affiliate link, HERE 

Happy Tuesday! 

Random iPhone Photos

I have so many photos on my iPhone that I take with the intentions of blogging, but just never get around to it so I need to start doing more random iPhone Photo Posts.

These were taken last weekend before we stayed at The Hotel Windsor, we went for a quick bite at the European which we hadn’t been back to for breakfast since I ate a really hard slice of toast and sliced my gum open. I know, how is that possible? What sort of novice eater am I?

Whilst strolling down Bourke Street I noticed an Ice Cream café called Thomas Turtle.

I’ll be honest, I only went in there because it had Turtle in the name.

The Husband is an absolute ice cream freak. If I buy a big tub of ice cream on a Saturday morning, it is guaranteed to be empty by Saturday evening. I don’t know how he does it but the thought makes me sick. Plus, I have sensitive teeth.

Anyway, I got these 10 cubes for $11 and literally ran them all the way to The Hotel Windsor to get them to him before the begun to melt from the heat of my hands holding the box. When I got back to the room he was dressed and leaving for the gym, but clearly I had something better on offer.

How can anyone turn down ice cream, especially ice cream with warm melted chocolate sauce? Oh yeah. 

I’m sorry but I just don’t get sparkling water. I hate it. I hate the bubbles so much.

The Husband loves the stuff, and I must admit that I did find this bottle with Dita on it quite cute indeed.

We went out for brunch last Sunday at some crap café on Swanston Street which will remain nameless as I don’t like to name and shame, but if I wanted small, dry, shitty pancakes, I would have made them at home.

How can they even call this a ‘Cherry Ripe Stack’. Please.

After that crap breakfast, where I then polished of the rest of The Husbands big brekky, and left him hungry, I put him on a tram (just like a parent) so that he could go and pick up our car from his work and went shopping at Tokuya where everything is $2.80!!!! I KNOW!! IT IS AWESOME!!!

I love this place and dead set spend over an hour in there every time. I know that I am likely to walk out with a bunch of crap that I don’t even need and will never use but I cannot help it. 

Stuff that I bought: 

Eyelashes. I’ve been buying a lot lately, I just love them.

As some one who has no talent at applying eye shadow, they are the perfect addition to a night time face. 

Lipstick holder

Hair Glove to help dry hair.... 

I've actually used this, and like it!

False Lash Containers

More lashes

Nail Art Gems

Something to hang my belts from.

I need to go to Daiso. I would spend all day in there. 

I also had a little bit of fun at Priceline.

That place is like the devil. You know that you cannot leave empty handed, even if you don’t need anything.

I decided to try the Garnier Beauty Balm, purely because it was on sale and I am sick of everyone raving about it.

Okay, its just tinted moisturizer right? The medium shade is perfect for me, but it is too ‘dewy’ (read: oily) for an already oily person like myself.

I will stick to my Jane Iredale Pressed Powder. 

The MAC liner (Magenta) which I got to wear under my MAC Girl About Town lipstick makes it too purple so I got this Australis lip liner (Kiss Me Quick) and it the perfect pink for underneath! They are practically a dupe, and it only cost $8.

The girls on twitter never lead me astray. I put the call out for which is the best dry shampoo as I have been using a Tresemme one and it was just awful. The verdict was Batiste, just over Klorane and I decided to get the brunette one and it is amazing!!

Best.

Some more lashes.

I cant help but think that human hair lashes are creepy.

I had some issues with the Kerastase Bain Divalent shampoo, even though it did it’s clarifying job, it gave me terrible scalp issues so I have changed over to the Bain Vital Dermo-Calm which is fantastic so far.

After seeing Gabby from Utter Shambles do a blog post on how to use the Kevin Murphy Color.Bug I rushed out to get it, with the hairdresser assuring me that purple would show up in my dark hair if I used hairspray first and was promptly let down.

I was left with a purple basin, purple face, purple hands and brown hair.

Gabby’s ever so awesome bf Daniel (hiya) put the pink/red one in my hair and that worked but I want purple damn it. Or blue. Gah.

The Husband was happy that it didn’t work. Boo. 

I trekked with this damn slice of cake on public transport, out to dinner and then to Gabby’s house with the intentions of taking it home for The Husband but then I left it in Gab’s fridge and she ate it.

Gah. Lots of people on the train commented on it though. Quite the conversation started, who would have thought.  

OPI – In My Pocket

The name of this makes me laugh seeing as The Husband bought it for me. We have a joke where he calls me BPM.

It stands for Back Pocket Mezzy, as in – I am never very far behind him. Works well. 

This dress has done me well over the years. I must have had it for nearly 3 years and despite me just throwing it in the washer and drier, it still has its shape and is perfect.

Thank you Jane Lamerton. I can always count on you. 

Kitty and I went out on Friday to celebrate her birthday and after a few drinks at the office I attempted to put my lipstick on but drew one lip bigger than the other. Not clever. Must do before a few champagnes.

We had a good night, but every where we went was dead. Don’t people go out on a Friday any more?

Kitty looks sleepy and I look crazy eyed. That's how we roll. 

The next day I woke up and as I had just taken my make up off with a remover wipe and not bothered to do it properly, or look in the mirror, I discovered that I had pink liner on still and it would not come off.

I seriously spent the day with pink lips despite trying eye make up remover, baby oil and all things possible. At least we know that Australis make their liner to last. 

Yesterday was our slava, which is a Saint Day. Our Saint is Saint George.

I made this cake for the lunch and everyone was so impressed, I was surprised. The Father in Law was deeply touched that I made it in the colors of the Serbian flag (even if my white was not really white). So sweet. 

My Mother in Law made this fantastic bread and as per tradition, The Husband cut it and then we both picked it up and broke it for luck. 

We were asked if we would continue to celebrate these traditions when we have our own little family and the answer is, definitely.

Happy Monday! 

The Rainbow Cake

It all started with this little bad boy that Leah from The Secret Life of a Chef’sWife made back in May 2010. You have no idea how impressed I was (and still am) with it. Amazed.

Go through her blog to her most recent post and see the Toblerone cake her dad made, that is the shit right there.

Anyway, then I mentioned on Twitter my intentions of making one and was sent the link to Whisk Kid, which I had read before but forgotten about.

I just knew I had to make it and I had the perfect celebration in mind.

Wednesday celebrated Kitty’s birthday and the fact that she had to sit her CPA exam on her birthday made it suck.  Kitty always goes to lots of effort to bake for her friends in the office on her birthday, and I wanted to make sure that she felt the same love that she allows everyone else to feel!!

I haven’t baked for a long time and was not sure I had it in me.

I went to Safeway armed with my ingredient list, including 10 sticks of butter. Yes, 10.

Then I hit the cake mix aisle and thought to myself, why make this any harder than it needs to be? I’m baking on a Wednesday night after work, not a Saturday. If I can be a bit of a slacker and fake it til I make it, why not?!

Why do all this shit and use 1000000 mixing bowls if I can buy a packet mix? Yes sir. 

So I threw away the recipe from Whisk Kid (you can find it here) and decided to wing it. 

I picked up two of these. Don't ask me their measurements as I have no idea. 

And then my eyes settled upon the feast which is Betty Crock Ready Made Frosting. Oh yes.

I had to buy 3 of these. Just enough to clog your arteries and give you a tooth ache just from breathing it in whilst baking with it. 

3 Greens Vanilla Moist Cake Mixes (all the time whilst laughing about it having no artificial colors or flavors. Like that would make a difference once I put the food dye and frosting in the mix).

Obviously just follow the directions. You will need eggs, milk and butter. 

These four food colorings, plus a blue.

Once I used the pink and the red I realized they were very similar in color and will not use the two of them next time I make it.

I also mixed red and blue to create purple, but it was a bit of a grey purple.

I could only bake 2 cakes at a time, so I halved each batter mix and colored it as I went along.

Once all six were done I left them to cool for about an hour and then set upon slicing off the top of the cakes so that they would be flat.

I could have done a better job of this, but had an irrational fear that my cake would be too small if I did this.

Once you slice the tops off the cakes, it’s time to layer them upon each other with a layer of frosting in between each layer.

It was here that I slightly freaked out thinking how am I going to fill the sides in?! I turned to Andrea on twitter from tell her she’s dreaming and she sorted me out.

I continued to soldier on. Layer, slap some frosting, layer. Rinse and repeat. (No, don’t really rinse – that was a joke.)

During the baking process, The Husband messaged me to let me know he was on his way home and what was for dinner. I had to tell him that I was baking, there would be no dinner.

He wasn’t happy, and picked up some Subway on the way home. He did get to sample to cut off bits of cake and that made him a little bit happier, but I have been told to brush up my skills on cooking dinner.

Okay. All my layers are on. Some of them appear to be wider than others, creating a slight lean, but nothing that frosting cannot fix.

I did a crumb icing layer thing first, slapped it in the fridge, washed my hair, used my new Parlux (excellent. More on that later) and then used up the other 1.5 tubs of frosting for the outer coat.

Everything really can be solved with frosting.

You need to use a lot so that the outside is completely white, and the recipient has no idea what they are about to discover when cutting!!

After frosting it completely I pressed my spatula all over it and quickly removed it to give it Meringue-esque peaks and then used a little bit of frosting around the bottom of the cake in a cute little pattern.

Then I tried to get it into my cake carrier.

Do you think it fit? Of course not. It was too tall.

I had to put it in and glad wrap the top and hope for the best but when I left the house this morning it was raining, I had this damn cake which weighed a tonne, I couldn’t hold my umbrella and my handbag in one hand so decided to catch a cab rather than hope for the best on the tram. Who knows how that would have ended up. I can predict that it would not have ended well though.

I let Kitty cut it and when I wanted to film her doing so she got scared that there was going to be something scary on the inside.

I wont lie, I was holding my breath and hoping for the best that it would turn out as hoped for as I had hyped it up so much around the office!!

 Victory is mine. 

Happy Birthday Kitty. 

It turned out perfectly!! So much better than I thought it would thankfully.

Not to mention the fact that it was still moist, even though I expected it to be dry.  

So that is my way of doing the rainbow cake.

When I have more time, and more room in the kitchen, I will make it from scratch and report back.

Maybe one day I will move on from my ‘Aspiring Domestic Goddess’ status but I don’t see that being any time soon, despite the ridiculous name of this blog.