Before & After: Our main bedroom quick make-over on a budget

The finished room

 

 

 

Before: Mouldy ceilings, more than a normal amount of cat pictures, old carpet with animal hair all through it.

Curtains added by seller awaiting us upon purchase

As seen in the real estate ad.





After: Completely scrubbed clean, new charcoal carpet, recycled charcoal curtains from another room, our bed spray painted white by me, (with left over paint) and a new bedspread. All art work is re-used from the old house.

 

After: Mother of pearl art work made by me years ago for for last home

A few special touches added from mine and my family's trips overseas.
 

 

 

 




During, carpet removal. I considered just painting the floor gloss white but there is a massive crack in it revealing the dirt ground under the house.

Choosing the new carpet from the "budget" range. We only need the carpets to last for the next 2 years. They looked like office carpets, but I was happy enough with the one on the far right. We have been loving the fact it hides all marks.



Toby testing out the new carpet.

Lou x

Little red riding hood: Anodised retro plant stands

 

 Some more of my goodies sold on eBay to go to a new home. These plant holder where worse for wear after living out side for at least 30 years. So we sold them all together so that someone could take them on to restore them. I love the cherry red and I love the peachy champagne colour.

 

Lou x

Cup cakey goodness...

These cupcakes from Bow and Daisy are the best!
 

My family and I have commented that sometimes, cupcakes purchased from markets can be disappointing because they look much better than they taste, with far too much sickening butter cream icing. Well not these. We sometimes get them from the Boggo Road Markets where we go for coffee and to buy well priced organic veggies. I have also bought them sometimes in the city, they have never disappointed. The icing is Italian butter cream and the flavours are so imaginative.

I think was called Pavolva flavour

Gingerbread ( purchased at Christmas)

 

 

Lou x

Retro plant stand makeover

How cool is this retro plant stand I have just parted with via ebay!

I gave it a makeover by giving it a good clean and de-rust and then several coats of hard wearing white gloss enamel paint, to give it years more life.

Before: It was a dark green.

Lou x

Speaking of prize roses, look what I won!!

I entered a short story competition for Jurlique and I was so thrilled to be one of the winners! I won all these beautiful rose products! I had already been using this range,which is why I entered the competition. I have loved Jurlique ever since Mum bought me one of their 1st ever products when I was a teenager, a rose powder in a milky white glass bottle.

 

 

 

 

  

Lou x

Tropical Coconut Pineapple cake recipe

I have cooked this cake many times as it is so easy and always turns out super moist and everyone always asks for the recipe. So finally, here it is:

 

Mix: 2 cups SR flour, 1 cup desiccated coconut, 1 cup caster sugar, 1 cup tinned crushed pineapple, 3 eggs, 150 gms melted butter. Just hand mix or a quick whizz with the electric mixer.

 

Cook in a 190 - 200 degree oven in a large pan for about 1.15 hours or if you use smaller pans or cupcakes perhaps about 45 minutes. This time and heat varies of course depending on the size pan and your oven.

 

The icing and the filling is usually butter cream with some pineapple juice and crushed pineapple instead of any other liquid (save about 2 tablespoons from the can used in the cake). Lemon cream cheese frosting would also be lovely. For Evie's 3 tier birthday cake I then scattered the cake with coconut.

Lou x