Ok so as an update to my previous post about the truffles, I have just been informed by a friend that the way to get smooth glossy chocolate coating on your truffles is to add coconut or vegetable oil into your melted chocolate! Genius! Will be using that method next time...
For now, it's feeding time at the zoo!
Stay beautiful x

Hello December! What a beautiful first day of Summer!
Asiatics are in full bloom, Calla's are on their way up and I have little bean seedlings planted and hopefully about to come up in my little seedling tray out in the garden shed! woohoo!
Life is delicious today....especially since I just made some healthy(ish) chocolate truffles!

Oh YES.

Now I'll try give you the recipe, but to be honest I was experimenting and hoping for the best so I'll give you my best measurements from memory...just tweak them slightly if its not coming together. Just add more of the wet ingredients if its not binding together into nice firm balls.... (I may have giggled just then...sorry sorry, I try to be a grown up most of the time)

Ingredients: 

• 1 C LSA (ground linseed, sunflower seeds and almonds) or just ground almonds will work too if you dont have LSA...you can actually make LSA pretty easily in a really good blender or food processor, just thought I'd mention that before you get caught out (like I did) buying it at the price of diamonds from the healthfood stores haha)
• 4 Tablespoons natural peanut butter
• 2 tsp vanilla extract with seeds (essence is a no no in my books, but go ahead if you haven't got the real stuff, we cant all be fuss pots like me :P )
• Nowwww I squeezed a bit of honey in...I dont really know how much...maybeee 1 tablespoon maybe 1 and a half? not really sure, so maybe just squeeze a bit in and see how you do, not too much, we dont want them to be really sweet and we dont want them to be uber sticky when you go to roll them.
• 3 heaped tsp unsweetened cocoa
• 1 splash hot water (i used a splash out of a just boiled kettle) this is just to moisten the mixture to make it easy to roll but if its the right texture to roll dont worry about it.
• Annnd about 150g of dark (I'm talkin the uber dark bittersweet 72% cocoa, dark chocolate, not this pansy "dark" chocolate that Cadbury puts out lol) 

Method: 

1. Soooo basically just combine everything above except for the dark chocolate and roll it into balls.
2. Grab a heatproof bowl and a small pot, chuck some water in the pot (just a wee bit) throw that baby on the stove top and get it boiling. Put the bowl on top (preferably a bowl bigger than the pot cause you don't want the bowl to touch the water in the pot) and put your chocolate all broken up, in the bowl to get melty. Alternatively you can melt it in the microwave, but I have never succeeded with this method, it always ends up going past being melted and cooks into a burnt gross turd looking lump...so I don't recommend doing it that way, but hey you might be a microwave pro, in which case, go for your life!
3. Now your chocolate is a melty puddle of glossy goodness, dip/roll/whatever your truffle mixture in the chocolate and place on a nonstick baking sheet then put in the fridge to set, or freezer if you are impatient like me! ...Don't ask me how to get a nice smooth coating, cause I haven't mastered that either, and i kinda like the rustic (yeah that's right I'm dropping a "rustic" bomb...which is really just messy, dressed up)
   And voila, kind of healthy truffles! ...come on we all know dark chocolate is good for you...antioxidants or something something :D
   Well my 3 year old miss muffit and hubster loved them so that's a win in my view!
   have a go, get messy (or RUSTIC!) and if you feel so inclined, leave me a comment and tell me how yours turned out. Maybe create your own version, add chopped up apricots or something?? I dont know, but I'd love to hear what you tried!

Back to flowers...here are my lovely Asiatic lilies making a stunning appearance in my front yard!

Callas are shooting up, not long now until the first flowers come out I should hope!

So back in May I sent my wonderful Mummy a Rose plant for Mothers day called "Mum in a Million"

Now of course May in NZ is not rose flowering season, so what turned up to my mums place was a stumpy little pruned rose plant...not much to look at...BUT NOWWW ooooh lala, this rose is stunning. She said it has a devine purfume which wafts all through her courtyard and into the sunroom. Yum yum! Gotta get me some roses growing I think. *credit goes to my Dad for the rose photos*

Ok, well that about covers it for this entry

For now, be delicious, get summery, stay beautiful! x

Hello hello!
Well after a full on week with family visiting from the UK, I am slowing getting back on track with my usual daily routine!
Had a fabulous time, my hubby's Dad and Step mum made the trip out to visit us and meet their new grandson Alexander. Suuuuch a lovely week, we'll miss them!

Anywayyyy today i was feeling a bit prematurely Christmasy, so i chucked on an old classic Christmas movie, Santa Clause (from 1985!) for my daughter to watch. Possibly a wee bit young for it, she loved the first half where its all set way back in history, but once it got to the modern day she lost interest, don't think it was quite as magical at that point. I still enjoyed it though! Made me get all excited and feeling like going, SQUEEE!! Love love love Christmas!
And what I love love love most, is making delectable home made goodies to give as gifts...2 kids, on one income, you start to get good at making home made gifts, and to be honest, as an adult I appreciate the home made gifts so much more. You can pour your heart and soul into a home made gift and it makes it that much more special than something you just popped into a shop to buy.
So I've been hunting around wondering what things I might make this year for the family, as they are all heading down our way for Christmas this year. (Thank goodness! I do not fancy making an 8 hour drive up north with 2 small children in the car....and besides that I don't think all our luggage would fit in our car for the trip!!)
So today I stumbles across this on pinterest!

Definitely giving this one a go! Baileys white chocolate fudge! mmmmmmm!!!!!

recipe here:

150ml Baileys

50ml milk
30g butter
350g caster sugar
300g good quality white cooking chocolate, broken into squares
(0.126 standard drinks per piece)

Line a square 20cm cake tin or baking dish with baking paper.
Measure out 125ml of Baileys and pour into the saucepan.
Add the milk, butter and caster sugar and put the pan over a low heat. Stir occasionally, until the sugar has dissolved and the butter melted(this takes about 10 min).
Turn up the heat to medium and stir while the mixture gently simmers. You want the bubbles to be calmly breaking the surface for 10 min. Remove pan from the heat and stir in chocolate and the last 25 ml baileys. Keep stirring until chocolate has melted and you have a smooth consistency. If the chocolate is slow to melt, put the pan over a low heat and stir until smooth. Transfer to the tin and chill for at least two hours. Cut into small squares.

Will let you know how it turns out :D

For now, get Christmassy and stay beautiful! x

Today = Rain rain and more rain! Stupid weather can't make up its mind...stunning hot clear weather one day, storms and wind knocking down trees the next....Spring in this country is ridiculous!
Whats a mum to do to keep a bored 3 year old entertained?
playdough, where's wally books, playing shops...and of course, making smiley face sandwiches together!

Raspberry jam, banana, raisins and cream cheese...who wouldn't wanna eat them!
Miss 3 likes to deconstruct them, eating them bit by bit...starting with the pupils and the nose...kind of creepy when you write it down...specially if you hadn't read the first part or seen the picture hahaha....anyway...this is just a mumsy post today, nothing particularly florally going on here!
Stay dry, stay beautiful x

Hello hello!
Its been almost exactly a year since my last post, HOW DID THIS HAPPEN?!
So apologies for that, and lets get the last 12 months covered!
We've moved cities,
Spent 9 months growing a little human in my tummy,
Been admitted to hospital 3 times, twice for hyperemesis, (pregnancy and I do not agree with one another...now I've got my 2, I am shutting up shop!!) and once to give birth...
Our adorable new baby boy is already 11 weeks old, no idea where that time has gone!
So far he is like 100 times easier than his big sister was, hes just chilled out, eats, sleeps, poops and all with very minimal crying...not to mention, sleeping 12 hours at night, woop woop! (His sister was a nightmare and wasnt even close to this kinda sleeping at night until she was about 8 months old!)

My two beautiful children, Alia and Alexander.

Mummy snuggles with Mr Chubby Cheeks x

So thats the personal life events covered, now we're back to business. Planning to open a floristry business with a good friend of mine, perhaps some time mid-late next year and in the mean time,still keeping my hand busy with the floristry from home.

Our new house doesn't have much of a garden, so i have started a new collection of flower pots out the front. This spring ive had a gorgeous display of Rannunculus and Tulips, along with the ever present splash of colour from my Antirrhinums and Violas.

This stunning vase was given to me by my brother and his wife for my birthday this year, doesn't it look incredible with all those gorgeous bright Rannunculus? <3

Anyway, so for now I need to run as my 3 year old has risen from her afternoon nap and its snack time!
Stay beautiful x

It has been an incredibly busy few weeks, unexpected trip to Wellington, interview, packing to move house!

Unfortunately I didn't get the job I was interviewed for, being a mother put them off! hmmph!

Ah well, it's all worked out for the best anyway.

So onto today's post, I'd like to share this gorgeous photo of my Asiatic Lilies bursting with colour from their pot on my deck!

And these stunning roses I stole from my mums garden for my dining room table! Aren't they gorgeous?

On a slightly more disturbing note, my 2 and a half year old daughter figured out how to use my camera last week and is already taking facebook worthy self shots!!

Will update again soon, must resume the house packing!

For now stay beautiful x

Hollingsworth Wedding

Over the weekend one of my very best friends, Mrs Charlotte Hollingsworth married her sweetheart and gave me the privilege of doing the flowers for their wedding.

The theme was vintage, and boy did she do a good job of pulling it off! Everything went without a hitch and despite the weather being VERY dodgy all week, she managed to get away with a rain free day.

Stunning bride, lots of happy tears were shed by myself and (hopefully) most everyone else!
My daughter Alia was one of Charlotte's flower girls, and (yeah ok so I might be a bit biased) she very nearly stole the show! My father plays the bagpipes, and Charlotte had asked him to pipe her down the isle. Alia being a big lover of music, happily danced and pranced her way down the isle, giggling happily and being blissfully unaware of the fact she was completely in the way of the bride and her father coming down the isle. Haha, so cute though.

Anyway, so seeing as this blog is all about my love of flowers and my work, below I am sharing a few pictures of the flowers I did for her wedding - With the help of my very good friend Ashley Hobson, who came all the way down from Auckland to help me. Such a lot of work, I could have never pulled it off without her! Love you chick! x

Enjoy!

The sweet wee church, a historic Military church in a little settlement called Waihou, Appropriate since this was a military wedding.
The isle flowers are in small Agee jars, attached with rustic floral twine.

Isle flowers.

Front of church flowers.

My sweet wee daughter Alia  with rosey cheeks and her flower girl bouquet! 

The Brides bouquet, Pieris, spray Stock, with white peach and pastel pink roses. ...whoops lets try not to set the bouquet on fire!!

The bride had this gorgeous broach she wanted attached, was a wee bit heavy for to hold tightly, hence the slight lean. Still looked gorgeous though...thanks to my very clever friend Ashley who managed attached it in the end...I just couldn't seem to get it on haha.

The bridesmaids bouquets, looking a little out of shape now after their hour long trip in the car out to the venue and being carried around for a good few hours by this stage, but still holding up well!
So gutted I never got a chance to take a photo of them right after I put them together. *sad face*

Bridal table

The stunning reception hall, still wowed at the amazing job they did in decorating the room!  All we can take credit for is the flowers unfortunately haha!

The very gorgeous seating chart Charlotte cleverly made up on an old window, fitting in nicely with her rustic vintage theme. Sadly the ivy wasn't looking quite so flash by the morning of the wedding...note to self, use older ivy, or make sure there is a hidden water source for it.

Reception table arrangement.

Reception table vase arrangement.

Had so much fun making these arrangements with Ashley, And I hope you have enjoyed taking a look!

Lastly, a final congratulations to the Bride and Groom, you guys are awesome! 

-Stay Beautiful x

 Good morning! Such a gorgeous sunny morning has got me in the mood for sharing!
Heres a little taste of what I've been up to...

A simple and modern Gerbera and spider flax vase arrangement.

Not exactly "work" but I do love how these Oriental Lilies look in my big pitcher! They made my lounge smell glorious for a good 10 days. Yummy :D

All round bowl, with Orchids, Standard Carnation, Freesias, Pieris, Ladder Fern and Salal.

This is a very "Pacific Island" style basket arrangement, so much fun creating the "spilling out" effect. And weaving the flax flower is much easier than you'd think.

Stunning bridal bouquet encased in a hand made pink wire and pearl cage with matching boutonniere.

Gorgeous little peach boutonniere

Fresh and modern arrangement of Arum lilies

Front facing vase arrangement, Gerbera's, Spear Grass, Ruscus and Magnolia.

Hand tied bouquet, Gerbera's, Alstroemeria and Iris.

Sweet spring Posy, mini Gerbs, Freesia and Daffys.

Vinka vine accents and Salal boarder.

Yummy Succulent posy, Sweet william, Lisianthus and Salal.

Upright bowl, with Carnations and Orchids.

Upright bowl.

Upright Bowl.

Vase arrangement, Asiatic Lilies, Iris, Snap Dragons and  Protea.

Love the purple Stock in this arrangement, with white Oriental Lilies, Solidago and Chrysanthemums.

Wedding reception table arrangements I did for my Eldest brother when he got married.
His wife wanted simple and elegant, shes not hugely into flowers so her idea of submerged dark red roses suited their wedding perfectly.

So there you have a wee taste of what I've been up to, (in between, keeping my little human fed, clean and happy, and my daughter of course....hah! Just kidding babe...but in all seriousness, I don't know what he would do if I wasn't around. The man can only cook 4 different things...3 of which are exactly the same recipe just arranged differently lol)