My Perfect Cake Stand + A Bargain

Recently I have been craving chocolate cake and being just a tad impulsive I of course can't just go out and buy a slice like normal people would. I reach into my overstocked pantry, grab some ingredients and bake one.

I normally use my Nigella cake stand however while moving my cake stand with a giant chocolate cake on top I did a little wobble and almost lost the cake and the cake stand! This was when I realised it was probably time to invest in a cake stand that wouldn't smash into pieces if I dropped it.

Okay lets me honest here.. that's the dramatic story I spin to my partner .. in reality I was looking up cake stands came across this gorgeous bubble style cake stand and just had to have it.

Beautiful Nel Lusso Cake stand 

Treats to come to go on my new cake stand!

I also scored an amazing bargain that I wanted to share!
It's a Milk glass dish that I got for $4 !

Found this baby at a second hand shop stuffed in the corner of a shelf  with filled goodies

That was how I displayed my new milk glass bargain. How would you display yours?







xx Mel

Knob Lid Jars and Tea

I love Tea but what I love more is storing my tea in beautiful knobbed lid glass jars. I also bought beautiful but cheap tapas tasting spoons which I use as Tea Scoops.

The knob lid jars I bought from a candle making wholesaler making them incredibly cheap and affordable.

Lychee black tea, Jasmine tea and Sencha

Sencha tea (green tea)

Something else I like to put in my knob lid jars are spices and colourful pasta. It adds a touch of colour and elegance to things that would normally be boring. Life is too short for boring !

Enjoy



xx Mel

The Cinderella Bowl

I found myself recently at a small Thai restaurant staring at this gorgeous little bowl containing the rice for the table. I just had to take a photo ... I even lifted the bowl up to have a look at the bottom to see if there were any sign of where this beautiful thing came from. Unfortunately for me... there was no brand name to be found :( . Don't ask me why I didn't ask the waitress... I have been asking myself that for a while.

I feel like I am having a Cinderella moment right now ... but here goes. If anyone knows where this bowl was purchased please tell me because I am in love!

The mysterious blue bowl from the Thai restaurant 

Here are some other similar style bowls I have had my eye on. If the first two look familiar it may be because you have seen them in teacup form on my blog. I just can't decide if I should commit to buying something that is the same style or if I should try and find my mystery bowl that I am obsessing over?

Benzer - Asian noodle bowl (Victoria's Basement)

Benzer - Asian noodle bowl (Victoria's Basement)

Gorgeous Turkish hand painted bowls from Ebay - To splurge or not to splurge?

Enjoy and please help me find my Cinderella Bowl!



xx Mel

Homemade Homewares

Do you ever find yourself wandering around all day long visiting multiple shops just to find the perfect item for your home? Well can I just say that is my on going relationship with tableware.
I have been living at my "new" place for a little over a year now and I have been looking for the perfect placemats since BCB (Before committing to buy).
I mean sure I could easily pay a fortune to buy an amazing set of placemats but who has the money for that ?
This was how Martha Stewart the Second was born... I invested in a sexy little sewing machine... which of course was heavily discounted just the way I like it and I have been sewing ever since.

Here are my Homemade Placemats that fit perfectly in my home and as a plus I made them double sided to suit any occasion! The light colour for an elegant setting or flip them over for the more rustic darker colour.

My placemat with the whole set up

The detailing on the trim and the reverse side colour

The other trim I used and  you can see the two colours I used for both sides. 

The little baby I did my sewing on. Love this!

Enjoy



xx Mel

A Dollar Bargain Jewellery Stand

I promised a jewellery stand when I wrote about the dollar bargain and now I am delivering!

When I first said I would turn the $1 vase into a jewellery stand I thought to myself... how on earth am I going to do that? .... I looked at my jewellery and sitting in the mass of tangled chains I spotted my gold leaf necklace and it hit me! Of course a Jewellery Tree! I wanted to go for a quirky yet whimsical look, something for all my delicate jewellery.

So here it is

What I used :

Willow Sticks stained dark (caution some willow do not bend)

Gold florist wire to wrap around

White natural stones on the bottom 

My $1 vase

All can be purchased at your local bargain store or florist supply shop.

My tree looks a little empty at the moment..I guess this is my excuse to get more jewellery :)

Enjoy 

xx Mel. 

A Breakfast Bake

I love a good breakfast, give me some bacon and eggs slopped on some bread and I'll be happy. This morning however I thought to myself... I am going to be fancy and make something that not only taste amazing but looks good too! 

I Googled breakfast Ideas and came across a sort of breakfast baked egg quiche concoction picture. Me being the "adventurist" *cough lazy* person I am I decided to wing it and make up my own recipe for it. 

Now for the reveal. Drum roll please...

Ignore the slice of Turkish bread underneath, I was serving this to my partner and his friend and you need to give men carbs for breakfast unless you want your man transformed into a hungry caveman by mid morning. 

Mel's Breakfast Bake

You will need ( subject to interpretation-)  makes 6:

6 strips of stripey Bacon 

6 eggs

1 kransky thinly sliced

1 tablespoon of peas (optional)

1 tablespoon of baked beans (optional)

Chives

Grated cheese

salt and pepper 

1 muffin tray

What to do: 

1. Preheat your oven to 180 degrees. 

2. Line each muffin hole with a strip of bacon and slices of kransky

3. Place the lined muffin tray in the oven and bake for around 5- 8 minutes 

4. Saute the peas, baked beans and any left over kransky in a pan until the kranksy is golden brown 

5.  Add some salt and pepper to the pea mixture. 

6. Spoon the pea mixture into the muffin holes once they are out of the oven. 

7. Crack an egg into each of the muffin holes (do not panic if it looks like it will overflow, the egg will shrink once cooked)

8. Bake in the oven for around 5-10 minutes (if it jiggles when you shake it, it isn't ready)

9. Grate some cheese and sprinkle the salt, pepper and chives on top. 

10. Remove from the muffin tins carefully with a sharp knife and serve on a pretty plate

Enjoy! 

xx Mel. 

A Dollar Bargain

Everybody loves a bargain, I know I do! Bargains have a miraculous way of waking me from the laziest of moods, just like how sleeping beauty awoke from her deep sleep with a kiss from the Prince. My Prince just so happens to be a bargain :)

So over the weekend I went bargain hunting and I found this little beauty!

How much did I get it for ?? ONE DOLLAR... yes one dollar! what does a dollar normally buy in this day and age? A packet of plastic forks from Target, a frozen coke from Hungry Jacks or small fries from McDonald's...Not much if you ask me!

Bubble Bargain Vase with my cook book collection

Bubble Vase

I am planning on turning this little beauty into a jewellery stand. Keep an eye on my next few blogs to see the results!

xx Mel. 

The Pretty Peony

I just love Peonies... I mean who wouldn't they're luscious and elegant with a hint of sex appeal to them. I would dare go on the record to say they are my favourite flowers of all time!

Peonies in Australia only bloom for a few short seasons (October- November) :( But!.... Being the lucky girl I am my amazing partner grabbed me a bunch today before they withered away.

Peonies in a simple white vase

Peonies with my giant vanilla candle 

There is no reason to let Peonies steal the show on their own. I like to place mine on my Vera Wang tray ( purchased by my partner's lovely mother) with a candle piece. To replicate my candle piece just head into Ikea grab a glass cylinder set, giant vanilla candles and pebbles from a bargain store!

Enjoy :)



xx Mel

Best One Cup Brownie

I am a cravings girl, chocolate, hot chips, pasta, fairy floss... you name it and I've got it.

When I crave chocolate , it's usually in the form of a brownie. I just have one problem brownies take about 60 minutes to make! I am too impatient for that. luckily I have an amazing recipe for THE best 60 second brownie! Moist, slightly chewy with a wicked chocolate flavour.

Oh and of course I just had to use my beautiful Asian inspired Benzer teacups.

Asian Benzer Teacups+ Vera Wang Silver Tray

One Cup/Mug Brownie

This Brownie will take you about a minute to prepare and a minute in the microwave....Can you think of anything better?

Mel's Amazing One cup brownie

You will need:
2 tablespoons of Butter (unsalted)
2 tablespoons of milk (full fat please)
2 tablespoons of cocoa powder
4 tablespoons of white sugar
3 tablespoons of plain flour
1 tablespoon of self raising flour
A pinch of salt
1 x cup/mug (try and find one that is at least 250ml)

What to do :

1. Add the Butter and Milk in the mug and microwave for around 30seconds
2. Add the cocoa powder to the mug and mix well
3. Add the sugar, flour, SF flour and salt to the mug and mix well
4. Optional - you can add whatever you like to this brownie ( I like to add a little block of chocolate for an extra gooey center :). alternatively you can add salted peanuts, marshmallows.. anything! )
5. Pop it into the microwave for 60 seconds


 Enjoy and be careful because it will be hot !


xx Mel.

My First Post …& My Love.

I have a little confession to make ... I am a slight homeware addict. Nothing gets my blood flowing like an elegant teacup or a sexy cushion. Don’t get me wrong I understand that it is completely materialistic and impractical. But life is so short, if you love it then why not?

Everyone meet my current love interest…

Morgan and Finch Polka Dot Teacup

Beautiful isn't it? 

Xx Mel.