A hearty, yet belated welcome to 2023 and all of the grand opportunities it brings with it.
I hope things are chugging along nicely for you, after what has been for many, a difficult 2022. Personally, I have had challenges over the last few months and it has taken a good while to feel my feet firmly on the ground again.
I woke up this morning realising for the first time that it’s actually almost Christmas. Obvious I know, but sometimes my head feels so cloudy I just don’t realise what’s going on around me. Anyone else relate? nope? Just me? ok. As it happens, my second morning epiphany came when I realised the kids finish school for the year next Thursday!! Crikey!
Thanks for joining me today. This week I’m writing from my adorable vintage caravan, parked in a delightfully shady spot by our local lake. My beautiful mother has been visiting and through an unexpected twist of circumstances, we find ourselves alone having a mini three day retreat. Oh what bliss.
Although we both have very different personalities, we are like peas in a pod with our love of solitude, reading and air-conditioning. I packed a month’s supply of books, pens and journals into my vintage leather Mary Poppins – esq carpet bag and have been enjoying uninterrupted time thinking, reading, writing, praying and processing. Exactly what every introvert needs to refuel. And yes, I am feeling a bit spoiled. And grateful.
Thanks for spending a few minutes here with me today. Writing my blog post each week is something I look forward to very much and I am so grateful you all enjoy it too. Thinking up new recipes and finding creative ways to style and photograph them challenges me to dig deep into my imagination, while also giving welcome mental relief from those delightfully mundane but oh so necessary chores we all need to do to keep our homes chugging along.
I have had quite a productive week. A few cake and cupcake orders and big news (drum roll please) Mama Bear is now baking for a local cafe (woo hoo!) These might seem like small achievements, but are really stepping stones to my dreams.
How are you all? Have you been enjoying the weather? I adore it and confess I have been waiting for cloudy, cool weather just like this to photograph cupcakes out the back on our neglected, rather wobbly old gardening table. Not that I’ve ever used it, as gardening is one of those enriching aspects of life that I wish I was interested in, along with liking animals, being outside, or eating avocado. They all seem like such good ideas.
Thanks for stopping by. This week I have a good old fashioned flavour combo for you. What could give more warm fuzzies than a classic peanut butter and ‘jelly’ sandwich? Let’s not get too hung up on the whole jelly/jam dilemma, but swing with the American version, well, simply because it just sounds better.
How was your week? Last weekend I hosted my darling Mother’s 80th birthday celebration in our home. I’ve talked before about how amazing she is, but I swear she just keeps getting more and more incredible. It was so special to be able to honour her and celebrate how wonderful her life, and consequently my own childhood, has been. I realise that every day I get to spend with her at this age is a gift. What a treasure she is to me.
I had a bit of a hit and miss with recipe development this week, but moved onto plan B and it couldn’t have worked out better. I also confess I am completely crushing over these oh so delightfully vintage photos. They all started with a pair of socks and I can’t wait to tell you about it.
How have you been? I am so happy to have you here with me today, sharing the cupcake joy. I really enjoyed doing these cupcakes and making them look all pretty in their pastel sweetness. I had to go digging into my stash of kitsch cuteness for the props and it did not disappoint. Oh what fun. Everyone needs a sparkle of joy in their week and my wish is that you may just find a little piece of happiness right here as you look through these pretty pictures.