Friday Favourites

Morning Everyone! 

It's Friday, Woo hoo! I'm excited to have a quite weekend, catching up with friends and a few good books! But before the weekend begins lets me share you you this weeks Friday Favourites! 

One 

I try and work out everyday so my workout wear gets worn out pretty quickly. I constantly have an internal debate over buying work out wear because some brands are COMPLETELY over priced. There are some items which no doubt you need to invest in i.e sneakers. But $70 for a shirt I exercise and sweat profusely in, just isn't going to happen. I bought three of these super cute work out tops this week for only $19 each! They are super soft, light and groovy, win win win! Grab one for yourself here!

Two 

This book wasn't on my April/May reading list however I stared it a few days ago and just can't put it down. English comedian and talk show host, Graham Norton has released his second book and it is hilarious. I will discuss it later on but if you are looking for a light weekend read then this is the one! 

Three

If you missed yesterdays recipe post about my all time favourite biscuits you can see it here. These Peanut Butter Crinkle cookies are deadly delicious and super simple to make. These are a great recipe to make with kids and an all round favourite in our house. 

Four 

Last weekend we celebrate one of my favourite peoples birthdays! We had a small party before heading off to a function and having a fantastic night! Happy birthday (for Monday) Mandy!  *You can find my navy dress here! 

Five 

Finally, I saw this quote this morning and love it! I thought you might like it to! 

Have a wonderful weekend friends! 

Lou 

xxx

Peanut butter Crinkle Cookies

Morning Everyone! 

I hope your weeks are shaping up nicely and you are making some fun plans for the weekend. One thing you must try this weekend are these delicious Peanut Butter crinkle cookies, which are an all time favourite in our house. This recipe comes from the trusty Australian Women's Weekly cookbook and was a childhood favourite of mine. These days I make these sweet treats for family and friends, with a few little alterations. 

You Will Need 

125g unsalted butter
1/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup brown sugar, lightly packed
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/3 cup peanut butter *I use crunchy for added texture
1 1/4 cups plain (all-purpose) flour
1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda 
pinch salt

1/2 cup choc chips *my added treat 

Method 

Preheat oven to 180°C  (350°F/Gas 4).  

Cream together butter, sugars, vanilla, lemon rind and peanut butter until light and fluffy.  Add sifted flour, soda and salt and mix until a stiff dough forms.

Shape heaped teaspoonfuls of mixture into small balls with floured hands, place on a lined oven tray allowing room to spread slightly.  Press biscuits down lightly with a fork, first crosswise then lengthwise, for a crinkled effect.  Bake in oven for 15 minutes, until golden brown.  Remove from oven and cool on tray.

These biscuits are fool proof and sure to be a big hit with the whole family. We made some this past Monday and they where gone by Tuesday, even our neighbours got in on the action! These cookies are not to be missed! 

Happy baking friends! 

Lou 

xxx

What's Up Wednesday

It's What's Up Wednesday! 

This last month has been absolutely crazy so I'am excited to re-cap and start getting my May in order! Here is a little look at what's been up in April! 

What We're eating 

Monday was ANZAC day and for all the Australians out there, it is a special day to celebrate the amazing men and women who have sacrificed so much for our country. On a less serious note it is a time where we eat our weight in Anzac biscuits #noshame #bestbiscuitsever

My all time favourite ANZAC biscuit recipe can be found here!We are still eating them three days later ;)

What I'm Reminiscing about 

Our beautiful but short weekend up north. If you missed all the pictures or my post about our getaway you can find it here. 

What I'm Loving 

My gorgeous new Country Road puffer vest. I bought this beauty in black but I'am also loving it in this sage tone. You can find it online here.

What we've been up to 

A whole lot of this AKA not much. It has been super busy here of the last few weeks so for now I would like to just lay down and have a nap! 

What I'm dreading 

I posted this 'dreaded' activity a while back but have naturally procrastinated! I really really really dislike the dentist but I know I have to go boooooooo!!!! 

What I'm working on 

Reports, reports and a few more reports. I love my work but sometimes I would really like to just give it all up and become a professional traveler or sleeper. What ever suits! 

What I'm excited about 

My mum, younger sister and I have started to plan a girls trip for August. It was kind of out of the blue and very exciting. More details to come as plans unfold but heres a hint about our destination. It is one of my all time favourite cities to visit and is technically an island. Where are we headed, can you guess? 

What I'm watching/ reading 

Y'all know how much I love Suits! I have just finished season 5 and LOVED it. So much drama, so much romance, so many scandals  - SOOOOO good! 

What I'm listening to 

I always cook to music. Like always, there has to me music in the background for me to focus. And I often just flick on my Spotify to what ever was playing last. However I added a new playlist last week and have been dancing/cooking to John Mayer ever since. This is one of my favourites to sing cook too at the moment. 

What I'm wearing 

Every Wednesday (apart from our What's Up Wednesday's) I share my wardrobe from the week. Outfits I have worn and loved as well as a few new pieces that I have picked up and wanted to share. You can see last weeks Wednesday wardrobe here. 

What I'm doing this weekend

Cooking, spring cleaning, child minding, sleeping and holiday planning. AKA normal chaos. This will be the first weekend in about 6 where we don't have more than two events scheduled so I'm excited to have a quite restful weekend and catchup on some housework!

What I'm looking forward to next month

We have serval friends and family members birthdays in May so it is always a busy and fun month! I already have 5 birthday parties on the calendar and love the excuse to catchup with friends (and eat birthday cake;)

So there you have it! My April What's Up Wednesday!

Have a wonderful day everyone and see you tomorrow!

Lou
xxx

5 Quick Questions!

Happy Tuesday Friends!

Yesterday we celebrated ANZAC day with a dawn service and then bbq and cricket match at our local show ground. The weather was beautiful and it was a terrific day! 

Today I'm sharing five more quick questions. As always these are a mix of old and new questions so please keep them coming. Ok, here we go! 

What Cheers You Up? 

Dinner with my girlfriends. Sharing a meal and a great glass of wine with my friends is the cure for any bad day. 

What is your favourite word?
Spectacular! I love saying this word, i love using it to describe wonderful, exciting things, I love the way it sounds. It is by far my favourite word. Well that and 'Sale' ! 

What was your favourite class in college? 
There where a tone of classes I really loved in college. But to be honest my favourite has to be one of the first I ever took. It was a intro to journalism call which I loved. It was also the class where I would meet my now best friend, along with a few other girls who I' am still close with today. I remember everything about the class, the tutor, the campus room and even the assessment. Just thinking about it puts a smile on my face!

What is your favourite breakfast food? 

Pancakes! By far the greatest breakfast food known to man! This fried batter concoction is a terrific meal all day round but best served in the morning after a long night ;) I had fantastic banana pancakes on Sunday after a huge night out. It was heaven! 

What is your favourite thing to spend money on? 

Wine ;) Just kidding, but wine is definitely on the list. However this will come as no shock to most of you that my favourite way to spent the cashola is on my wardrobe. I'm a self confessed shopaholic and love a great sale. So clothes, bag, jewellery etc is my jam!

There you have it, 5 more quick questions! I hope you all have a spectacular day ;)

Lou
xxx

ANZAC Day

Today is ANZAC Day here in Australia so I will be taking the day off to spend some time with my family and friends. Today we celebrate Australian military history, our beautiful country and the amazing men and women who have risked their lives for our benefit. 

I hope you all have a fantastic day and I'll be back tomorrow with 5 Quick Questions! 

Lou 

xxx

Friday Favourites

Happy Friday Gals! 

This week has been a long one and the weekend is shaping up to be just as busy! With a function on Saturday night and a missing dress + no tan (as of yet) we have a full fledge first world problem. But before I try and contact the fedex lady for the 1000 time today, let me share this weeks favourites! 

One 

I saw this today and had to share! This has to be the motto of my life. You know what they say, 'Fake it till you make it' 

Two 

Looking for a few laughs this weekend? Then this movie is for you! Certainly no Oscar award winning performances here but lots of laugh out moments and a great 2 hour escape from all things serious. *not appropriate for the kiddos so find a sitter stat!

Three 

The weather is FINALLY starting to cool down here so I have grabbed a few Autumn/ Winter pieces lately. This puffer vest from Country Road is warm as anything, super cute and comes in four beautiful colours. I bought black but I also love this Sage colour. You can grab one online for yourself here!

Four 

It may sound silly, but a great spray tan can seriously improve the self esteem! A good spray tan always makes me feel better / creates the illusion I have my life remotely together. Either way, a win! I'm off for one today ahead of tomorrows function, heres hoping it looks good. 

Five 

If you missed my Wednesday Wardrobe post you can check it out here! As usual I shared a few of my favourite outfits from this week. Including this amazing embroided jacket from Zara! 

Ok I'm off to track down the missing dress and prep for tomorrow. Have an absolutely fantastic weekend everyone and I will see you on Monday! 

Lou 

xxx

Chocolate thumb print cookies

Morning Everyone! 

This weeks recipe is a new one of me and is becoming a fast favourite in our house. I made a batch of these chocolate thumb print cookies on Monday and they where gone by Tuesday! These cookies are super simple and a great recipe to make with kids. 

You Will Need 

236g of unsalted butter

3/4 cup sugar 

1/3 cup of coco powder

2 1/3 cup flour 

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

For the Icing 

3 tablespoons coco powder 

1 cup icing sugar 

2-3 tablespoons hot water 

Method 

1. Preheat the oven to 350. Cream the butter and the sugar until smooth. Add the ⅓ cup cocoa powder and mix until incorporated.
2. In a separate bowl, combine the flour, salt, baking soda, and baking powder. Add to the butter mixture and mix until just combined. Roll into small balls and make an indent with your thumb in the center of the ball. Bake for 7-9 minutes or until dry looking and lightly cracked on the surface but still very soft. I left mine a little bit underdone so they were softer and fudgier, almost like a brownie.
3. When they come out of the oven, press the centers down again to make a more defined well for the frosting. Allow to cool.
4. Whisk the cocoa powder, powdered sugar, hot water, and vanilla. Spoon the frosting into the centers of the cookies and add sprinkles. Allow frosting to set before storing in tins.

Enjoy with family and friends! 

Lou 

xxx

Wednesday Wardrobe

Morning Everyone! 

Today I'm sharing a few of my recent fashion finds and outfits that I have been wearing and loving lately! 

This past weekend we celebrated one of my oldest friends big birthday! I picked up this gorgeous little black jumpsuit for the event and got plenty of compliments. You can find it online here! 

This is perhaps the favourite item in my closet at the moment. I got this embroidered Zara jacket last month and wear it constantly. 

You can find it online here. 

I have been paring this jacket with a simple plain tee. This one is a cheap but great find from H & M, you can find it here.

Complete the look with some distressed denim shorts and you are ready to roll! These are also a H&M find and are well within the budget. You can find them here.

I bought this off the shoulder 'Up to no good' shirt a few weeks ago and love it. I have paired it with both a white mini skirt and white skinny jeans. *I'm not sure why this model is so orange but the shirt is still gorgeous! You can find it here. 

You can find my all time favourite white ripped skinny jeans here.

So there you have it a few of my latest fashion finds and recent outfits. I hope you like them and enjoy some online shopping! 

Lou

xxx

Life Lately

Morning Everyone! 

The last few weeks here at home have been absolutely mental. I have been stressed, exhausted and thrilled all at once so thank you to our lovely friends and family who have been very generous and kind. I often choose not to speak about these personal and difficult issues as this blog is my happy place and my own little escape. With that being said there have been some wonderful things happening here lately so today is a bit of a catchup! 

I posted a picture of this insane cake on instagram last week and shared the recipe on the blog. If you missed the post you can find it and trust me you need to try this for yourself! 

Walks are a must in this house. So whenever I have a spare half an hour I try and exhaust this guy out. There is a saying that says 'Labradors chew till they're two and shed till their dead' I don't believe there is a more adequate quote to sum up labs! He certainly is a chew'er and knows how to shed, but he is a delight and we love him to pieces #crazydoglady

If you are following me on instagram @lifeofloublog you will have noticed I'm sharing a lot of our recent travel pictures. This particular one was taken in the Royal Palace in Prague. Soon beautiful! 

When I haven't been working, running back and forth to the hospital or doing laundry I have been enjoying these two three things! Great comfort food, sleeping and puppy cuddles! 

School holidays meant I got to spend some quality time with one of my favourite little amigos! Movies, frozen blue sugar filled drinks and some baking. It was a great few days! 

Finally, last weekend we headed north for a very quick break to celebrate this girls birthday. Lucy and I have been friends since we were in primary school so celebrating her big birthday was so much fun.  *I have always loved this picture of the two of us 

Not a bad place to visit for the weekend! 

So that is what has been happening lately! I hope you all have a wonderful day and I will see you all tomorrow! 

Lou

xxx

Weekend Getaway

Happy Monday Everyone! 

We have just returned from a wonderful weekend away and I am exhausted! We packed up bright and early on Saturday morning and headed north for a friends birthday and short getaway. While we where away we managed to explore Magnetic Island, caught up with friends and enjoyed some quality family time. 

Seriously, look how gorgeous this place is! 

Our trip was short and sweet and so much fun that my picture taking was seriously limited! Sorry for the rather short post today but I'm exhausted and downing in laundry :( 

I'll be back tomorrow, until then have a wonderful day everyone! 

Lou 

xxx

Friday Favourites

Happy Friday! 

I'm so excited for the weekend to begin! This weekend we are headed north for a quick weekend break and a birthday party. After a couple of crazy weeks it will be great to spend time with the family and explore a new city herewecomenorthqueensland 

But before I start packing lets take a look at this weeks Friday favourites! 

One 

Hello plunging neck line! This black lace jumpsuit is the perfect party outfit and will be making its way up north with me this weekend. If you love it as much as I do, then you can find it here!

Two 

Y'all know how much I love my candles and this one happens to be one of my all time favourites. Lucky for me, I got my hands on one yesterday. Heres to the house smelling great! You can find all Glasshouse products online here!

Three 

If you missed my post on Tuesday you can find it here! If you did catch it you will know what I have been up to in my spare time. Suits season five is out and I'm hooked! 

Four 

Brandon Stanton of Humans of New York, has released a beautiful coffee table book! I bought this book for my mom for christmas and she loves it. Filled with a diverse and entertaining collection of quotes from New Yorkers, this book is equally moving and visually pleasing. You can grab a copy for yourself or a loved one here! 

And with that I'm off! I need to get cracking on my packing, do the mountain of laundry and walk the very excitably and equally destructive puppy! 

Have a wonderful weekend everyone! 

Lou xxx