Pico & Co.

2011-07-19T17:10:00.000+10:00

Craft books

2011-07-14T00:17:00.003+10:00

the tiny pineapple~

2011-07-13T23:57:00.000+10:00

Look at what i found at the supermarket! PICO Snacks~! OMG! :D

This tiny pineapple is not a fake! isn't cute? Its the real deal! and smells super sweet too! Because its so cute, nobody wanted to eat it, so its still sitting by the window sill, looking pretty keke

Creative Spaces

2011-07-09T15:57:00.000+10:00

colours

2011-06-21T00:40:00.000+10:00

Thai Pothong - Sydney

2011-06-20T16:46:00.001+10:00

I had a wonderful night out at Thai Pothong, at Newtown for a girlfriends birthday. the food was fantastic, the atmosphere was great but most importantly the company was amazing! Thai Pothong is the winner for best thai food in Sydney, 4 years in a ROW! so i had my hopes up for the food, and i wasn't disappointed!

Renovate your shoes!

2011-06-18T00:39:00.003+10:00

So its a new season and your heart is itching to go shopping for the latest fashion trend but... your mind is telling you to save your hard earned money for a rainy day, besides, that cute floral dress you bought on impulse is still hanging there from last summer.
Then you tell yourself, "but i really want that cute pair of wedges i saw in that shop window i passed by on the way to work". This is when your mind says, "in that case, why not try this?" (Great Idea- Fun.kyti.me)

Mum's Baking

2011-06-15T15:00:00.000+10:00

Out on the Farm

2011-06-15T13:53:00.004+10:00

Awareness, We only have ONE Earth

2011-05-26T14:51:00.000+10:00

Yesterday’s Brioche, Frangelico, Chocolate and Pear Cakes - by Bron Marshall

2011-05-19T23:48:00.000+10:00

My parents are visiting from Tassie and i am so excited that their here! not only did they drive all the way from Melbourne to Sydney (which is a whooping 879kml!!!) they also bought so much things for us!! and one of those items was Tassie Pears!!! YYUUMM! now my only headache is how i am going to finish all 7 kilos of it! So as i was browsing blogs, i came across this fabulous recipe by Bron Marshall.
I will have to try this out soon!! ****DROOL****

Yesterday’s Brioche, Frangelico, Chocolate and Pear Cakes

4 stale mini brioche, sliced in 4, (approximately 400 grams of brioche)
3 pears, sliced with the core removed but stalks still intact
50 grams of quality dark chocolate, roughly chopped
2 eggs
A pinch of salt
¾ cup of milk
½ cup of cream
4 tablespoons of Frangelico
¼ cup of demerara sugar
icing sugar to dust

Grease and line 6 small individual cake or mini loaf pans.
Prop up and layer slices of brioche and pear in prepared tins, sprinkle the chocolate evenly between each.
Beat the eggs, salt, milk, cream, Frangelico and sugar together, measure and pour equal quantities into each cake.
Rest the cakes for 30 minutes to absorb the custard mixture.
Preheat the oven to 170 deg C
Bake the cakes for 25 to 30 minutes until puffed up and golden.
Cool slightly before removing from the pans, during which time the cakes will deflate a little.
Dust with a little icing sugar and serve warm, but honestly they’re equally good cold.

PestO

2011-05-16T21:41:00.001+10:00

5 cups basil leaves, chopped
¼ cups parsley, chopped
¾ cup olive oil
2 tabsp garlic, chopped
½ cup pine nuts
1 teasp salt
½ cup Parmesan cheese, grated

1.
Grind together in the mortar, or the blender or processor, until well pulverized, but not liquified. You want to retain a bit of texture to this.

2.
Pesto Sauce is highly versatile, good tossed with pasta, as a flavor heightener in soups such as Minestrone, with egg dishes, as a component of salad dressings and even as a dip for chips or crudites. Make a large batch when basil is at its best, then freeze what you don't use immediately in ice cube trays. Store in a plastic bag in the freezer. Frozen, Pesto Sauce will keep well for six months or more. You will be surprised at how useful it is.

Bag Organizers!!!

2011-05-05T23:15:00.000+10:00

Never lose your stuff again in your massive bags! these organizers are a great way to keep you bag neat and tidy. It also makes changing bags a breeze without having to sort through everything just so you can match your bag with your outfits!!

1. iswas @ AU$30
2. iswas @ AU$35
3. iswas @ AU$42

Kats Outfit Of The Day

2011-05-05T23:08:00.000+10:00

1. GivemeMore
2. GivemeMore
3. Maypin
4. ASHTON

disappearing act

2011-04-18T20:39:00.003+10:00

Heya beautiful creatures~ You must all have wondered where i have disappeared to for the last couple of days huh? i guess i have just been caught up in my own little world enjoying some time to myself, not doing much.
I have some news for everyone though, I AM FINALLY GRADUATING FROM MY MASTERS!!!! I'm pretty excited about the whole thing, the graduation ceremony takes place Thursday (21st April) morning and I'm so glade that its being held close to my home so i don't have to travel too far early in the morning :D Its going to be such a relief to hear my name called out to collect my certificate. i will be taking tones of photos to remember this day! so and don't forget to come back and visit for photos of the big day and of course the celebration party that night!!

So for anyone looking for a great grad gift, why not make a batch of yummy cupcakes! i came across this great recipe from The Dainty Banker which i really hope somebody makes for me (wink wink).

Graduation Cupcakes
Graduation toppers
1 packet Orchard White Icing (ready made/ready to roll fondant)
Black & red food colouring (I used Wilton colour pastes)

Frosting - I was ~~lazy~~ pushed for time, so I used Betty Crockers: Ready to Spread Creamy Deluxe Vanilla Frosting

Chocolate mud cakes
Makes 12
Adpated from Easy Cupcakes by Colour by AWA

60g Milk Chocolate, chopped coarsly
2/3 (160ml) cup water
90g butter, softened
1 cup (220g) brown sugar, firmly packed
2 eggs
1 cup self raising flour
2 Tbsp cocoa powder
1/3 cup (40g) almond meal

Preheat oven to 170^oC. Line 12 hole muffin pan with paper cases

Stir chocolate and the water in small saucepan over low heat until smooth.

Beat butter, sugar & eggs in a small bowl with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Stir in sifted flour and cocoa, meal & warm chocolate mixture. Note: If the mixture is really liquidy you can let it stand for 15 mins or so, the mixture should thicken, which should make it easier to spoon into the pans.

Drop 1/4 cup of mixure into the muffin cases. Bake for about 25 mins or until the tops spring back with a touch. Stand cakes for 5 mins before turning top-side up onto wire rack to cool.

To decorate:
Pipe or spread the frosting onto the cupcake, ensuring that the top is flat.

Next, place the cupcake topper on top of the frosting.

Walks in the Park

2011-04-06T18:27:00.002+10:00

Artist of the Day- Leung Ka Yin

2011-04-06T15:58:00.000+10:00

Graduated in the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Leung Ka Yin combines traditional Chinese painting and popular culture in her works. She explores the use of contemporary writing equipments to present the flavor of Chinese art, trying to push the boundary of different media. The stories in her artworks depict her feeling and fantasy towards modern life. It’s also an attempt to introspect the value of tradition in contemporary world.

I love the way she explores different ideas through her work, and the different contemporary drawing techniques she uses in her artworks!

Check out more of here works HERE

I Heart Toast

2011-04-06T14:27:00.001+10:00

Directions:

Using a cookie cutter or a knife, cut out a small heart shape from the center of a thick slice of bread.
Spread each side of bread with herb butter (scroll down for recipe on herb butter).
Heat skillet over medium heat.
Saute bread until golden, 2 to 3 minutes.
Lower heat, and gently flip toast.
Break an egg into heart-shaped hole.
Cover, and cook until egg white turns opaque, about 5 minutes.
Transfer to a plate along with the heart-shaped piece of cutout bread, perfect for dipping into yolk.

Herb Butter:

Ingredients

1 cup loosely packed fresh herbs such as parsley, oregano, thyme, or marjoram, finely chopped
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter room temperature

Directions

Combine herbs and butter in the bowl of a food processor.
Pulse until ingredients are combined.
Store in an airtight container, refrigerated, for up to 2 weeks

Read more at Marthastewart.com:
Mother's Day Breakfast - Martha Stewart Recipes

Recipe of the Day - Beetroot Pesto

2011-04-01T14:43:00.001+11:00

Rye Bread (with Sourdough)
For the Sourdough:

1/5 cup (1/2 dl) ymer or other soured whole milk product (yogurt must be diluted with water)
1 + 1/5 cup (1.5 dl) water
1/5 cup (1/2 dl) coarse organic rye flour, freshly ground if possible
1 + 1/5 cup (1.5 dl) standard organic rye flour, freshly ground if possible
1/5 ounce (5 g) yeast
2 tbsp. sea salt

Instructions
1. Mix all ingredients and leave for 24 hours at room temperature or for five days in the refrigerator.
2. Sourdough will keep for one week in the refrigerator and can be frozen. If the sourdough doesn’t seem active enough, 1/5 to 2/5 ounce (5–10 g) of yeast may be added to the dough on day 1.
For the Rye Bread Dough:

1 portion sourdough, approx. 1/2 quart (1/2 litre)
1 quart (1 litre) water or dark beer
1/2 tbsp. coarse salt (but not first time the sourdough is used)
approx. 2.5 lb (1.2 kg) organic rye flour (for grainy rye bread, use 50% cut rye grains)
1 tbsp. butter in 1/5 cup (1/2 dl) warm water

Instructions
Day 1: Mix sourdough with water, salt and 1 and 3/4 pounds (750 g) rye flour. Keep 1/2-quart (1/2-litre) dough  for the next sourdough, sprinkle with 1/2 tbsp. salt and refrigerate. Put the rest of the rye bread dough in the refrigerator overnight.
Day 2: Mix the rest of the rye flour thoroughly into the dough. Put the dough in a 4.4-lb (2-litre) bread tin, filling it 2/3. Prove for a couple of hours until the dough reaches the top of the tin. Bake at 175°C/350°F for approximately two hours. A meat thermometer inserted in the middle should register at least 98°C/208°F. Brush the loaf with a butter/water mixture and cool on a cooling tray. It tastes best the following day. Rye bread keeps best in the refrigerator.

Finders Keepers

2011-04-01T14:14:00.001+11:00

Finders Keepers market is on again this year and for those who were lucky enough to be in Melbourne and attended the show on the 26-27th March, i would just like to say "I'm SO jealous right now!!" for the rest of us who missed out, don't be discouraged because there will also be shows in Sydney (Friday 20th & Saturday 21st May) and Brisbane (Saturday 2nd & Sunday 3rd July)!

Here are some of the stalls to look forward to!

kats walk-in-robe for Men

2011-03-27T21:40:00.000+11:00

1) Hangloose
2) Von Zipper
3) BoynMen
4) Tokio
5) Kenzi

kats walk-in-robe

2011-03-27T14:15:00.000+11:00

1) French Girl
2) Truffles
3) Yerwang
4) Swicky
5) Style Line
6) Escobaria

Food & Birthdays

2011-03-27T12:46:00.000+11:00

Be the change you want to see ---> Earth Hour

2011-03-25T21:37:00.004+11:00

Just a reminder that Earth Hour is on again tomorrow everyone! do your part in playing a role to make the earth a better place, by switching off your lights for just ONE HOUR, you are taking your stand against climate change!! 

In 2007, 2 million individuals and 2000 business from Sydney, turned off their lights for an hour and within a year, this small act turned into a global sustainability movement! over 30 countries and 50 million people participated in this phenomenon in 2008! 

On Saturday 27 March, Earth Hour 2010 became the biggest Earth Hour ever. A record 128 countries and territories joined the global display of climate action.  Iconic buildings and landmarks from Asia Pacific to Europe and Africa to  the Americas switched off. People across the world from all walks of  life turned off their lights and came together in celebration and  contemplation of the one thing we all have in common – our planet.

So this year, lets do it all over again!!! lets make 2011 bigger and better then last year! 

 Take this time to turn off your televisions and computers too! why not light a couple of candles and play a board game with the family instead?   :D

8:30 - 9:30 Saturday 26th March

What you can do beyond Earth hour --> see here

Kats walk-in-robe

2011-03-25T16:21:00.000+11:00

1) Pandora De Boutique

2) Endless Wardrobe

3) Holly Shoes 

4) Endless Wardrobe