BaoBaby Giveaway!

"We create handmade organic bath, body and baby products using only one hundred percent natural and organic ingredients and made with love and care for our customers and the environment."
 

I'm really excited to be able to offer you a BaoBaby giveaway.  Janin Dei-Conti from Verite Spa Organics is the founder and creator of BaoBaby Pure Babycare.  I have been hooked on Janin's skincare since winning one of her monthly giveaways last year.  I love the idea that she uses the same natural and organic skincare philosophy for her BaoBaby range.  Janin (Mum and registered Aromatherapist) will send the winner of this giveaway a BaoBaby Gentle Hair and Body Wash and a BaoBaby Bum-Bum Balm.

Gentle Hair and Body Wash

Calendula, Baobab and Rooibos in a saponified plant foaming base, no harsh skin stripping agents or synthetic thickeners.  Gentle and effective for those with skin conditions such as eczema too.

 

 

Bum-Bum Balm
With Skin healing Calendula and extract of Rooibos help treat and prevent nappy rash and is also great for other skin rashes, bites and stings.

 

 

 

This is an International Giveaway.

 

To enter:

 

Be a "Follower" of A little bit country.  Great if you already are one.

 

Just leave a comment below saying you would like to enter the giveaway.

 

And for a second entry:

 

"Like" the BaoBaby Facebook page.

(NZ and Australian "Likers" will also be eligible for $260 worth of Prizes in the BaoBaby Giveaway - details on the Facebook page).

 

Easy!

 

Giveaway closes on Sunday 10th March at 11:59pm (NZ Time)

This Giveaway is now closed.

 

Don't forget to take a look at Janin's Verite Spa Organic skincare range.  If you sign up for her newsletter you receive a $10 voucher to be used towards your purchase if shopping online.

 

 

Bake on!

  

I have been getting my bake on!  I am trying to bake more for school and kindy lunches.  And we also have a Kindy gala this weekend where we need to bring along a couple of baked items for the baked goods stall.

I'm planning on taking along a chocolate cake and some cupcakes.  I used this easy cupcake recipe  - "Birthday Cupcakes" from here but decorated the tops with lemon icing and sprinkles (a must for any kind of gala don't you think?).  It makes for a really good basic cupcake mix.

I also use mini cupcake cases now.  Any bigger and the top gets munched and the rest of the cupcake stays in the casing.  This way they are bite sized and much more kiddie friendly.

Ingredients:

150 grams of butter

150 grams of caster sugar

3 eggs (I only used 2 as they were quite big)

150 grams of Self raising flour

1/2 teaspoon of Baking powder

Grated zest of 1 lemon (I also squeezed in the juice)

Splash of Vanilla extract

Method:

Heat the oven to 180°C, 160°C fan, gas 4.

Place the butter and sugar in a mixing bowl and beat with a wooden spoon or electric mixer until light and fluffy.

Gradually beat in the eggs a little at a time until smooth, adding a little flour if the mixture curdles.

Stir in the flour, baking powder and vanilla extract until smooth.

Add lemon zest and squeeze in the juice.

Mix well.

Place spoonfulls in each cupcake case* (I used mini ones) and bake for 20-25 minutes until golden brown and just firm to the touch.

Place on a wire rack to cool.

I made a lemon icing and topped with sprinkles to finish!

*If you were to use standard size cupcake cases, this recipe would make 12.

George was hovering the whole time I was trying to take photos - these got his seal of approval!

Baking tins full!  Enjoy!!!

Delicious Soda Bread

I came across this Soda Bread recipe on Zara's blog - Zaranne Handmade.  I tried it over the weekend and it was very easy to make and tasted delicious!  I made this loaf without seeds but will try the recipe with them next time.  Makes for a lovely weekend bread.

Soda Bread

Sift 500g flour  - any type you please.

2 teaspoons bi-carb soda and a teaspoon of salt into a large mixing bowl - add a handful of seeds for a seeded loaf.

Add 400ml of natural yoghurt (or buttermilk).

Bring together with your hands.

Turn sticky dough onto a floured surface and gently shape into a ball.

Transfer onto a lined and flour dusted baking tray.

Score the surface, add a sprinkle of oats and bake at 200 degrees for 40-45 minutes.

Enjoy!

Charlie

 

 

 

 

It has been a very emotional weekend in our house.  Our dog Charlie died.  He was hit by our car as we left the house Saturday morning.  He has always chased everyones cars as they left the house.  This particular morning we thought he was clear........

 

It has been very devasting for Bell.  Lots of extra TLC needed here this weekend.  I thought it would be Tom who would have difficulty with Charlie dying, but as children often do he has been a total surprise.  Hugging and kissing Charlie before we buried him and comforting Bell.  I wonder how he will be as the week goes on and Charlie is'nt around to play with.  He was so loyal and always stayed with the boys when they played outside.

 

We have buried Charlie by the vineyard fence.  He spent his days running around the vines and following the vineyard workers everywhere (even riding on the quad bikes with them).  He used to be out all day and then would come back in the afternoon to snooze in the sun.  What a life!

 

We love and miss you Charlie. xo

8/52

"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2013."

Bell - Peach picking from our trees.

Tom - Watching the view on our Vintage train trip.

George - "Photo bombing".

Very happy to be joining in with Jodi's "52 project".

 

 

Things I'm Loving

Our spot........after Tom's party I had a move around of outdoor furniture.  Table and chairs round the front where it is cooler and more shaded.  I  put two of the retro beach chairs round the back with an upturned wine barrel.  Instant "spot" for having a drink in the evening and watching the sun go down over the vineyard.

 

Kindy Train trip with Tom on the Vintage WA165.  A bus trip from kindy to the train station and train trip on a Vintage steamer and picnic out at Muriwai.  I could'nt believe that the train track that runs out of town goes across our airport runway!  Is that normal?!

Watermelon - perfect for hot afternoons.  This wee man can eat his weight in the juicy fruit.

Homemade mini burgers.  For the patties I mix in sea salt, pepper, a tiny bit of cayenne pepper, diced onion and a splash of olive oil.

I use small rolls which are good for kiddies and don't look so overwhelming on the plate.  Delicious!

Homemade Apple jelly - found here on Steph's blog.

Bring to the boil apple juice (2 cups) and once off the heat stir in 3 1/2 teaspoons of gelatine.

Once set (I poured mine into an ice cube tray) - serve with thickened cream and slithered almonds.  Enjoy!

And with the busy Vintage (Wine) season starting next week for Mr H, I'm off for a Girls night out tonight.  And I can't wait!  Vintage runs until May, which makes it a pretty much a solo-parenting time for us "Vintage Wives".  So I wanted to make sure I got some time out with some girlfriends for dinner and drinks before the crazy season starts.

Happy weekend my lovelies!

"I wholeheartedly believe that no matter what is happening in your life, there is always something you can be thankful for..no matter how simple it is."

Joining in here

Light filled.....

Summer...........

Autumn is coming I can feel it.  We have had some cold mornings this week and the odd peek of yellow and orange leaves appearing.

The official start of Autumn on the calendar is March 1st.  Little over a week away.

The summer has been glorious.  Long and hot.  With very little rain.  But I'm looking forward to a change of season, are you?

I found this photo a few days ago when sorting through some files, I can't believe I missed it.  Bell is holding tiny jelly fish in her hands that we found on the beach.  But it looks to me like she has her hands full of sunshine.  I love this photo and remember the day well.  The sun was so bright and I had trouble capturing photos without splashes of light glaring out from the photos.  I'm very much a beginner when it comes to photographing,  I know very little of the settings on my camera and don't use photoshop either.

Since I started blogging I am definately improving though and best of all  I'm taking photos of my family all the time which I never really used to do.  Capturing moments and memories.  I've been joining in on Jodi's "52 project" and am planing on doing a photobook for each of my children at the end of year.   I'm enjoying the project (so far) and have not struggled to keep up with the weekly photos.........yet, although it is very early days!

I'm due an upgrade on my camera (mine is very basic) and would love to know what you use and recommend?

 

Have you taken a favourite photo lately?  Put a link in the comments below, I would love to take a look.

 

Just peachy

 

Peaches..........

Two trees laden with fruit.  One Golden Queen variety (my favourite) the other has a more red tinged skin, I'm not sure of this ones name, a common variety I think.

A few are ripe, but they still have a few more days to go.

I check them every day, we are eagerly waiting........

I'm thinking of peach tart, pies and loaves.  The Golden Queens are great for bottling.

Most will be quickly eaten while we are out in the garden I imagine.  Today we feasted on the ripe ones, straight from the trees.  They were delicious!

Yeeha............ a party!

 

 

All photos below were taken by Leigh from Lovely Snapshot.

 

 

Tom's 4th Birthday Party.

 

A bit of a cowboy theme.......In our front yard.........Family and friends..........

 

The weather behaved, it had been threatening to rain all week.

 

Facepainting, fun and food.

 

Perfect........