2011 in a nutshell.

Given that 2011 is drawing to an end, I figured that today would be the perfect time to follow Alycia's lead and post my best and worst blogging moments of 2011. I hope everyone has a fantastic New Years Eve (I know that I will - It's mine and Ben's 3 year anniversary today!) and I look forward to reading all of your New Years Resolution posts that are bound to start flooding my dashboard tomorrow morning. :)

Most Popular Post

Was my 'Meet Phoebe' post. This really doesn't surprise me considering just how many of my followers are actually Dachshund owners/lovers themselves. :)

Most Therapeutic Post

Was without a doubt my 'Dear 15-year-old self' post, in which I wrote an extremely detailed and highly amusing letter to the angsty teenage version of myself.

Most Beautiful Post

Was probably my 'Our Story - Part One' post. Stay tuned for Parts Two and Three coming early in the new year. :)

Most Helpful

The post that seemed to help me out the most this year was my '101 Things in 1001 Days' post. There's nothing else I find more helpful then a great big virtual to-do list, haha.

A Post Whose Success Surprised Me

This would have had to have been my 'Cheap Lemon Detox Recipe' post. I had no idea that my followers were so interested in the detox until my inbox was suddenly flooded with questions/words of support in response to this little post.

A Post I Feel Didn't Get The Attention It Deserved

Was my recent post offering 'Cheap Blog Design Services'. Whilst I realise that this was most likely due to my lack of a portfolio/professional experience and just followers in general, a part of me still believed that given my cheap design rates and the overall presentation of my own blog that I would be able to score at least one customer. More than anything though, I would have really loved to have received just a few more comments/messages of support.

Post I'm Most Proud Of

Was my 'Reindeer Christmas Cupcakes' recipe post. There were so many different parts to this recipe, so it would have been much easier to simply post up the photos instead, but no.. I typed out the whole recipe step by step by step. :D

Fill in the blank Friday.

1. New Years is mine and my partners third year anniversary. :)

2. One of my New Year's resolutions will be to provide a Blog Design Service through my blog.

3. A New Year's resolution I've made in the past was to think before I speak. Didn't work out too well though.

4. The most time consuming resolution I ever made was/is to complete 101 things in 1001 days.

5. This year I will be spending New Year's Eve with my partner for our anniversary. We've already made plans to catch an early movie, come back home to cook ourselves a Yorkshire pudding and roast lamb feast, cuddle on the couch whilst drinking sugar rimmed cocktails and watching our favourite tv shows, then walk to the beach at the end of our street to watch the fireworks. :)

6. If I could wish one thing for my new year it would be to get some design work.

7. 2012 is going to be fast paced and challenging. I hope!

Free January Sponsorship!

P.s. If you would like me to make you a button I can do this for $5. :)

Christmas Recap.

Ben and I outside Mum's house.

My Brother Mitchell, Mum and I.

Christmas Eve Dinner at my Aunts house.

My Aunty Deb's Christmas Tree.

Ben and my cousins Miniature Dachshund 'Hawkie'.

Christmas morning at Mum's place.

Phoebe and Mum.

Mum and her Christmas present Joey.

Champagne breakfast.

Water fight with the Neighbours at Ben's cousins house.

Opening presents with Dad's family.

Ben and I at my Dad's place.

Abby and I with our Christmas teddies.

Most of our presents.

The signed Carl Barron DVD's that my brother gave me.

A few of my favourites.

Fill in the blank Friday.

1. The best way to spread Christmas cheer is by baking and sharing reindeer Christmas cupcakes! :P

2. The thing I love most about Christmas is that cozy feeling you get when you're gathered around the Christmas tree with your closest friends and family.

3. The holiday season is a time for being close to those you love.

4. My favourite thing to eat at the holidays is turkey, ham, potatoes and pavlova.

5. I will be spending Christmas with Mum's extended family for Christmas Eve, my Mum and brother (and Ben) for Christmas morning, Ben's extended family for Christmas lunch, and my Dad and his partners family for Boxing Day. :D

6. Tis better to (give or receive?) give! :)

7. I'm dreaming of a smooth running and enjoyable Christmas.

Reindeer Christmas Cupcakes.

So today my friends Anita and Jaana came over to bake Christmas cupcakes with me (oh my gosh, baking is so much more fun when you have some company!). :D
We actually got the idea for these cupcakes from the photo below which has been floating around Pinterest a lot lately.

I had no idea who the original source was, let alone what the recipe was, but somehow the three of us were able to pull it off on our own.

Step 1: Bake the cookies.

I looked through numerous grocery stores the week before but couldn't find these sorts of plain, tiny biscuits anywhere. Instead I decided to bake them myself using a few basic ingredients that we already had around the house. I baked these biscuits the day before we baked the cupcakes just to make sure that they were properly cooled (and to save ourselves an extra task on the day). ;)

To bake these cookies you will need:

110 grams butter

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup light brown sugar

1 egg

1 1/2 cups plain flour

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 tablespoon pure vanilla extract

Method:

1. Beat the butter and sugars using an electric mixer.

2. Add the egg, beat well.

3. Add all other remaining ingredients.

4. Roll mixture into tiny balls (around the size of your thumbnail) and place them at least one inch apart on a pre-lined baking tray.

5. Bake in a 180°C oven for 10-15 minutes.

Step 2: Bake the cupcakes.

To bake the cupcakes you will need:

110 grams butter

110 grams (26 metric teaspoons) of caster sugar

2 large eggs

110 grams self raising flour

4 tablespoons of cocoa powder

2 tablespoons of milk

Method:

1. Beat the butter and sugar using an electric mixer.

2. Add in the eggs, beat well.

3. Sift in the flour and cocoa powder.

4. Stir in the milk, then continue to beat until the mixture resembles chocolate mousse.

5. Spoon the mixture into 24 paper baking cups and bake in a 190°C oven for 15 minutes. 

Step 3: Make the chocolate ganache frosting.

To make the icing you will need:

200 gram block of Cadbury Dairy Milk Chocolate

200ml Double Cream

Method

1. Melt the chocolate in a saucepan over the stove, mixing in the cream as the chocolate is melting.

2. Remove saucepan from the stove and place on a heat proof counter/board. 

3. Quickly use an electric mixer to whip the creamy melted chocolate to a frosting like consistency.

Step 4: Decorate the cupcakes.

To decorate your gorgeous cupcakes you will need the items pictured below. 

These include:

Mini pretzels - For the antlers.

Nestlé Milky Bar buttons - For the eyes.

Pre-made cookies - For the snout.

Red and brown M&M's - For the nose.

Black 'writing icing' - For the eyes, and for securing the M&M's to the cookie snouts.

Oh, How Pinteresting Wednesdays.