Wednesday 18 January 2012

My new favourite song



Hi Guys,
This is my new favourite song by a fantastic emerging band out of Queensland Australia. Check out Ball Park Music - "All I Want Is You" because they are gonna be super stars.



xxxx





Tuesday 17 January 2012

My Cats

Hi Guys,

Forgot to post this cute picture of my cats Bandit the grey masked Ragdoll x Birman and Jemima the chubby grey British shorthair. They are so lovely and playful :-)

This picture was taken just before Christmas when I was attempting to wrap Christmas presents into this box. I left the box on the ground, went away for a minute and came back to this.... At that stage I remembered that everything in my house is not owned by me, in fact it is owned wholly and solely by my cats LOL.


I will post more photos later for my fellow cat lovers out there. If you have cats too please feel free to leave a link for me to see them :-)




xxxx

& then there was Red Velvet cake....

Hi Guys,

So I thought I would blog the recipe for the Red Velvet cake I made the other day because it was delicious and has a cream cheese frosting *drools*. This recipe comes from Taste.com.au which is a great website for easy recipes that taste fab. Taste also has an iPhone/ipad app that I use all the time when cooking.

Red Velvet Cake of Deliciousness

Preparation Time

15 minutes

Cooking Time

35 minutes

Ingredients (serves 12)

  • 180g butter, softened
  • 1 1/2 cups (315g) caster sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 1/2 cups (375g) self-raising flour
  • 2 tbs cocoa powder
  • 1 cup (250ml) buttermilk
  • 1 tbs white vinegar
  • 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
  • 1 tbs red liquid food colouring
  • Fresh raspberries, blueberries and strawberries, to serve
  • Orange cream cheese frosting

  • 250g cream cheese
  • 60g butter
  • 1 cup (150g) icing sugar mixture
  • 2 tsp finely grated orange rind
  • 2 tbs orange juice**

Method

  1. Preheat oven to 180°C. Grease and line the bases of two 22cm round (base measurement) cake pans with baking paper.
  2. Use an electric mixer to beat the butter, sugar and vanilla in a large bowl until pale and creamy. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Add the flour, cocoa powder and buttermilk, in batches, until well combined. Add the vinegar, bicarbonate of soda and food colouring and stir to combine. - The bicarb soda and vinegar do a great job at masking the artificial flavour from the food colouring.
  3. Spoon mixture evenly among the prepared pans. Use the back of a spoon to smooth the surface. Bake in preheated oven for 25-30 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the centre of the cakes comes out clean. Remove from oven. Set aside for 5 minutes before turning onto a wire rack to cool completely.
  4. To make the cream cheese frosting, use an electric mixer to beat the cream cheese and butter until creamy. Add the icing sugar, orange rind and orange juice and beat until well combined - **Note: So when I was making my first batch of frosting I added the full 2 tablespoons of orange juice but it made it wayyyy to runny, so I made a second batch and added only two teaspoons which was a perfect consistency. Also the two teaspoon option made it orangey enough, so I wouldn't add anymore than that.
  5. Place one of the cakes on a serving platter. Spread half the cream cheese mixture over the top. Sprinkle with one-quarter of the raspberries and blueberries. Sandwich with remaining cake. Spread with remaining cream cheese mixture. Decorate with remaining raspberries and blueberries. Cut into wedges to serve. - I didn't add the raspberries or blueberries because they are super expensive here in Australia at the moment, but it still tasted great with strawberries only.






and voila A-MA-ZINGness on a plate... Sorry for the bad photo but it was taken quickly before everyone attacked the cake lol.





xxxx

Monday 16 January 2012

Vintage Mixmaster

Hi Guys,

So about 3 months ago my grandmother passed on to me my great grandmothers Sunbeam Mixmaster from the 1940's. Originally I just wanted it to put in my kitchen and look awesome, however it actually still works!! I made red velvet cake with it the other day and it worked perfectly.




My nan also kept the original instruction manual and it has all 1940's recipes in it, which is completely amazing. I'm so stoked to add this to my vintage homeware collection, it fits perfectly with my vintage phones and crystal decanters (will post pics later).

I also took some photos the other day of my new hair cut pulled back in a thrifted scarf, this is my first lot of ME pictures. I'm not really used to taking photos of myself but i think these came out ok, thanks to all of my amazing red items lol.





Head Scarf: Thrifted
Earrings: $2 sale earrings from Lovisa
Necklace: On sale at Lovisa 
Red Striped Top: Target
Lipstick/gloss: Bourjois - 3D effects RED!


So I'm a massive fan of Lovisa because when they have a sale, it's a REAL sale, 50% off or more. On Sunday I actually got 6 items worth an average of $20 each, all for $20 total, so basically saved $100! :-)

Anyways, will be back tomorrow with some more images of my vintage homeware items and might post some pics of my latest hauls from Lovisa and City Chic.





xxxxx

Sunday 15 January 2012

Mimco oh oh oh...

Hi All,


I had to post this bag! 


Seriously crushing over this Mimco Mini Metal Button Zip Top bag! I've wanted one for sooooooooo long but just can't muster up the courage to pay $400, but here it is in all its red leather glory. Delicious or what!!!!


I also love the second bag Mimco fortune hip bag because its quite an unusual shape. I think the hip bag would be great with a simple black outfit because its such an eye catching piece. This bag is only $329, so slightly more affordable but still beyond what i can mentally justify paying right now.




So I guess this post adds to the Marno story by revealing to everyone that i have a MASSIVE fetish for handbags, I own at least 50 after a recent cull. I also love the colour red and if i get a chance in the next week i will put some pics up of all my red furniture. I never used to be a great lover of all things red until i finally decided to let go and embrace my inner passion for pin-up and 1950's vintage.


I also just want to send my first shout out to my favourite blogger at the moment Miss Rachele of Near Sighted Owl. Rachele has a great sense of fashion and is fab at utilising thrift and vintage finds. Also plus size gals unite!!!!


Ciao Bella's xxx








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