Old books...Home decor inspiration

I love anything and everything old and vintage looking.  If I happen to find something that could possibly be reused, re-purposed or displayed just to add some character to my home, I'm thrilled!
We often see things and think they couldn't possibly have any use other than to line our rubbish bins, but why not try to be creative by giving old objects a second chance.  I've given some old books new purpose in my home...

My lovely friend Meg recently gave me some old books beautifully put together with tissue paper and lace (see below). I added the crochet flower, which she made and had strung on my birthday gift bag (she is a lady with many talents!). 

Another pretty way to display old books is to stack a variety of colours together and place a vase on top of them. In the picture below, I've stacked my old books on a high wooden stand that sits in the corner of my lounge behind one of my chairs. Why not try experimenting with your old books next time you have a tea or dinner party- pile some books together and place a fresh bunch of flowers in a pretty vase on top of them. Like the idea but don't own old books? Try looking at second hand shops or charity shops, they usually go for a few rands or cents. Happy experimenting!

Dark chocolate biscotti

Over the last four weeks I find myself baking more than usual. Being on maternity leave (or maternity work, as I like to call it) I find baking to be a nice escape from nappies and entertaining my 2 year old toddler. The great thing is my family love me to put on my apron and whip up something yummy in the kitchen, so no complaints from my hubby and baby girl when they munch away on my sweet treats.

I recently decided to try and make some biscotti. The name itself sounds so complicated, but don't let that put you off, it's actually really easy and much quicker than rusks, but just as crunchy and delicious.

I was a bit inquisitive to find out where the idea for biscotti originated from, so I did some research...

Most coffee shops serve the Italian cookie when you order coffee or a hot drink, but originally biscotti was enjoyed by dipping it into an Italian dessert wine, this practice is still very popular in Italy today.  Biscotti, meaning "twice baked", was first made for Roman soldiers and people traveling long distances, as the biscotti proved to preserve longer than a normal biscuit.

Traditionally almond flavored, biscotti recipes have been altered to accommodate many flavors including chocolate, walnut, hazelnut and orange zest.

After reading through various recipes on the net and in magazines, I decided to combine everything I read and try my hand at my own recipe. I was definitely not disappointed! After seeing how they were enjoyed by family and friends I thought I would share my new biscotti recipe with you. 

Happy munching:-)

Dark chocolate biscotti ingredients...

500ml cake flour

5ml baking powder

200ml sugar

40ml butter

2 eggs

5ml vanilla essence

1 slab/ 100grams dark chocolate chopped up

Directions...

• This recipe takes about 15 minutes to prepare and 50 minutes baking time.
• Heat oven to 180 degrees celcius.
• Cream together the sugar and butter until light and fluffy.
• Add eggs one at a time to sugar/butter mixture, beating well after each egg is added.
• Add the vanilla essence.
• Stir in the chopped dark chocolate.
• Sift and add flour and baking powder over the egg mixture and stir until a soft dough forms.
• Lightly flour your hands and the surface you will be working on and halve the dough into 30cm logs.
• Roll and shape logs.
• Line a baking tray with baking paper and bake for 30minutes until lightly golden.
• Remove from oven and cut dough into slices.
• Spread slices out on baking tray and bake for a further 20 minutes at 150 degrees celcius to dry out.
• Enjoy with a hot cuppa coffee.

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-biscotti.htm

Introducing.... Melah Rose

Five days ago I had the privilege of becoming a mom for the second time. I am thrilled to introduce to you the new addition to our little family, Melah Rose.

Choosing a name for your baby is such a daunting and weighty task. Although exciting and fun, you also realise its a decision you make that will your child lives with for the rest of his/her life (No pressure!).  That is why I think choosing a name that has meaning, whether sentimental or prophetic, is a great idea as you speak that over your child's life every time you say their name.

Our first born, Ella-Mae, means "promise of God" and is derived from Elizabeth.

For our second princess, we loved the name Mila , (pronounced Me-Lah) and decided to look for alternate ways to spell it.

These were the options:

Melah, Miila, Meelah, Mela

We finally settled on Melah, which prophetically means "cherished of God" and is derived from Tel-melah. I love the reminder of my baby girl being cherished by God and we thought the spelling added to the uniqueness of the name. Rose, being her second name, was my husband's late granny's first name which I think makes it even more feminine (but that's just me being a biased mommy already!).

We are very happy with our name choice and even more so with the little girl it belongs too.

Source: www.babynology.com