Christmas Sugar Cookies with Royal Icing

 

I sure know how to make a mess, don't I? The truth is these Christmas cookies were rather ambitious. I wouldn't call myself a great baker, so I did require quite a bit of help from mum, but, I have to say the result was worth it. I used this recipe, and was quite impressed. I originally, and stupidly, used an American recipe which called for ingredients I didn't have - turns out substituting doesn't really work. Whoops. I bought some cookie cutters from Ikea, so that I could make festive shaped cookies. I love the idea of American Christmas cookies, so I thought I would make Royal Icing and truly re-create them. I used this recipe here, and added different food colouring. It might have been a 4 hour long process, but they were delicious and very 'Christmasey'. 

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Seasonal Snaps

{Best-ever red velvet cupcake from The Cupcake Bakery}

While I sit at home in bed sick, I thought I would cheer myself up by posting some pictures of the week so far - when I was feeling happy and well. With the stresses of Christmas looming closer as each day passes, it is sometimes impossible to stop and enjoy the infectious festive spirit at the moment. Maybe it's just because I'm sick, but I thought it would be perfect to flick through my phone and find some snaps of things or moments that made me happy at one point or another. 

 {Irresistible hot chocolates from The Lindt Cafe}

{My puppy after a long day}

{Our Christmas tree}

Patterned Leather

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It seems that the inspiration I had for my blog vanished into the abyss for a while there. It's back. With the arrival of summer present in Melbourne today, I thought I would share with you my last wintery outfit. I wore this when I attended my friends birthday party last week. I was in a rush, so, inconveniently, I choose the most difficult new piece in my wardrobe to wear. A dark coloured sun dress. The dress is new-ish, but a hard colour pallet to pull off if you're pale like me. I decided that this outfit needed colour, desperately, so my crushed black leather jacket with bright patterned lining was perfect. Then I just added a bright beaded necklace and a cross body bag. Perfection. 

{Marc by Marc Jacobs dress, Windsor Smith black boots, Mink Jewelry necklace, Rachel by Rachel Roy jacket, Marc by Marc Jacobs handbag}