Sewing. Motherhood. Domestic Engineering.

The number one, best ginger beer right now is... Matso's Ginger Beer! What a winner, it is sooooo good that I'm not only blogging about it but I'm also adding it to my 5/5ers selection (things that are too amazing - check it out in the menu to the right). Founds this while I was looking for a beer and gave it a punt. The perfect balance of flavours and super refreshing AND to top it all off and make it just that little bit more amazing... Matso's is Australian - Broome, Western Australia . This ginger beer definitely replaces the fallen Stone's [old] Ginger Beer as my number one favourite. But in my quest to find a great ginger beer I also come across Hollows Ginger Beer which is the runner up in second place. This is a British ginger beer with an interesting story with it.

Stone's, I'm sure you will agree, used to be an amazing ginger beer and a winner for the market but some of you may have noticed that a few years back the flavour changed and it wasn't as good any more. Well ages ago I sent an email to the company asking what the go was, thinking that I might have got a dodgy batch. But what they told me was way more disappointing... Due to the Australian Federal Government introducing the "alcopop tax" (taxes on premix alcoholic drinks) the cost of producing Stone's ginger beer had a fairly big increase due to this and would have filtered down to the consumer. So to avoid the drink from being labelled an alcopop, which is partly based on the amount of sugars in the drink, they changed the recipe to avoid the tax in hopes of keeping costs down and the customers happy. Unfortunately they have failed and produced a really crap ginger beer :( Since, I have never bought Stone's Ginger Beer again although I do occasionally get ...

Him and Her is a British sitcom that follows the lives of Steve and Becky in Steve's dirty little flat. Him and Her has just finished airing their third series with a Christmas special on 23rd December 2012. The main characters (above, from right to left) are Dan, Shelly, Steve, Becky, Laura and Paul. Dan is the always in your flat, rather annoying, and VERY weird neighbour. Shelly is Laura's best friend and the object of Dan's affections, very quite, slightly naive, questionably dressed but always very lovely. Steve, the main character, lives in the flat, loves a free beer and is a bit of a tight ass but never the less probably the most normal of the lot. Becky much like Steve doesn't mind a beer nor a bit of mess and is pretty laid back about most things. Laura is without a doubt the biggest bitch ever and thinks that her unborn child likes the bubbles from champagne. Paul is pretty useless, completely controlled by his fiance Laura and is secretly gay. We onl...

I've been a Robbie Williams fan since I was a young teenager. What I like most about him is that he sings almost every genre and does them all really well. His latest CD, Take the Crown, is no exception to Robbie's incredible musical talent. I give this CD 5/5! Don't give 5/5 to many things but this CD is really catchy and easy to follow. I'm also a fan of the video clips too. Definitely worth buying and I look forward to some more Robbie in the future. Screen capture of the video clip "Candy"

At a work Christmas party one of my lovely friends made gingerbread reindeer. As I was eating one I made the revelation that they are in fact gingerbread men but turned upside down and iced to look like reindeers. I thought this was truly amazing and clever so did some googling on the 'gingerbread man conversion' and found these creative characters on Sydney Christmas Bucket List . The best conversions I have seen - each reindeer has a different expression (see left) on his face and the icing quality (skill) is very high. I had a go at making some a few days ago, the first few were hit and miss but after a few tweaks started to get better quality products. Will definitely try again next year but until then I will just look at these cute little fellas :) Happy gingerbreading :D 

Sick of having to make a cup of coffee for other people just because you want one? Well you should get onto the 'velvet spoon' routine... coined by the creators of Peep Show the Velvet Spoon enables to you make yourself a coffee while other are completely oblivious and therefore don't have to make them one. In series 8, episode 2 of Peep Show, Mark is doing some late night work  and gets up to make a coffee. As he makes the coffee he uses the Velvet spoon routine so that his flatmate Jez doesn't hear and therefore doesn't have to make him one, however, Mark is rumbled by Jez who has been kept up all night by Marks effort to 'massacre imaginary ants swarming [his] keyboard". I've provided a link to the episode on youtube. At 7:31 you can see the velvet spoon in action. The velvet spoon involved stirring the spoon without making contact the the sides or bottom of the coffee cup to avoid making noise. Takes a little more time than normal stirri...

Guest Blog by CartBox     CartBox specialises in cooking, baking and all things Asian :) Click the CartBox link to the right to see all of her other guest blogs. I was sifting through some of my favourite Youtuber's videos the other day and a video on how to make chocolate bowls popped up in the related videos list. Thought it sounded pretty interesting so I decided to give it a go. It's rather basic, simply blow up a small water balloon to your desired size and dip them in melted chocolate. (Don't forget to wash and dry the balloons before dipping them in the chocolate). Sit them on a baking tray covered in baking paper (or wax paper), with the knot on top. Doing this will also create a flat base. Leave it in the fridge for about 5 minutes (or until hard) then repeat the process, the double dip will help create a thicker bowl so it wont break. When they're finished simply poke a hole into the thicker part of the...

**WARNING POTENTIAL  SPOILERS** I was very excited about season 6 of Gossip Girl and it has delivered up until now...I've just seen the second last episode ever and it was disappointing. They style of shoot and acting has  changed significantly event since the episode just before it. The overly dramatic music at the end during the Bass' confrontation really annoyed me. In fact I thought it was another one of Blair's crazy themed dreams...   As for the final episode "New York, I love you XOXO" Wikipedia says that the long awaited identity of Gossip Girl will be revealed. In addition to the there is the suggestion that Blair and Chuck might be getting married and we will find out what Serena’s response is Dan's other version of the Serena chapter - potentially another wedding here?? I'm still very excited about the last episode (although I'm sad it is coming to an end) I hope that it is back to the normal way that Gossip girl is presented - pr...

Previous posts: Just purchase The Casual Vacancy Chapter One down So since my last post on the book, 17-Oct-12, I have honestly not read another page of the book. Just not interested I suppose. There is nothing drawing me back into the book and always something else to distract me. That said, I WILL eventually finish the book just because I've started it and it must be finished :)

The clock on Click Frenzy still says an hour to go even though it is already 1900 AEDT and now I can't even access the website at all! Anyone else had success? This just in!! A facebook page dedicated to the Click Frenzy FAIL has been created. Check it out here . And on the Official Click Frenzy facebook they have posted that the website is working and thousand of people are already getting great sales - which is rubbish according to every single comment from consumers. ...more to come... UPDATE!  Here is a list of retail participants... This is a good laugh - Hitler finds out that Click Frenzy Crashed ....

I've already made my shopping list for my Christmas shopping at Click Frenzy !! Right now there is just less that 4 hours on the countdown to 1900 EDST (Sale starts at 1800 in Queensland). This mega sale only last 24 hours in Australia. To find out which retailers are involved check out this list . I'm excited about JeansWest, JAG, Co-Op Bookshop, Target... You don't actually buy the products from Click Frenzy it is just a place where retailers bring all their crazy sales to one place. You still order and pay through the retailers website (which is more reassuring). For questions about this first time event in Australia check out the FAQ. Happy Shopping!! Update - NOT happy shopping... check out the following updates and advice on how to still get access to some of those saving. Screw Click Frenzy - Lets do it without them   Click Frenzy Gone to Shit

Peep Show Series 8 was first reported to be airing in the UK 9th November, which was then pushed back to late November. Now, there is a conflict between 25th November ( British Comedy Guide , 14 Nov 2012) and 30th November ( TV Guide , 14 Nov 2012). I Will be keeping an eye out on the 25th just in case but banking on the release being 30th based on my assessment of the references. If you know anymore POST IT!! Check out my previous post on Peep Show Series 8

If you've seen the Inbetweeners movie you probably think that you've seen it all...there were actually 3 tv series of great comedy that came before it. And if you really enjoyed the movie than make sure you check out all 3 series for more laughs. Even if you didn't like the movie, I think the tv series was heaps better. If you enjoy this show you may also enjoy: Friday Night Dinner Fresh Meat Peep Show

Jim and Wilson the lovely dog Woot! A whole new series of Friday Night Dinner! Loved the first hilarious series and the second has certainly delivered. We catch up with the same dysfunctional Jewish family and freaky, weird, make-your-skin-crawl Jim. 6 more episodes where we meet a bit more of grandma and girlfriends. Simon Bird, from Inbetweeners, plays Adam - better know as Pusface. Very similar to the character he played in Inbetweeners actually, same quirky/nerdy way. If you enjoy this show you may also enjoy: Peep Show Fresh Meat Inbetweeners

If you liked season one of Fresh Meat than you will love season 2. Episode 1 of season 2 was a bit of a stinker but I think they felt that they had to re-establish the characters for the audience. But once you get past that, it's back to the awesome it had before.  New house mate joins the team and the vibe is just as awkward as ever. At the end of season 1 Kingsley and Josie's relationship was really weird...this has not changes a bit. Infact I think it gets worse.  Only another 8 episodes like the first season but I hope they keep going because I'm sure the show has another couple of seasons of hilariousness to offer us. If you enjoyed this show you may also enjoy: Peep Show Friday Night Dinner  Inbetweeners

Very exciting! Peep Show Series 8 is due to air Autumn 2012 in the UK. We had been given an air date which has since been removed from all entertainment websites. "Peep Show won't be returning on November 9 as previously touted, but will instead be back at the end of the month" (Digital Spy, 2 Nov, 2012). David Mitchell has said that the series focuses on the conflict between living with Dobby and Jeremy. They have also promised a 9th series and we can look forward to that in 2013.    CLICK HERE FOR UPDATE ON PEEP SHOW AIR DATE I’ve watch Series 1-7 many, many times before (this is our favourite show) and I’m looking forward to some more fantastic material from Mitchell and Webb. For those who aren’t so familiar with the show we get to hear the thoughts and contradictions of the characters and see life as they see it. Understandably some people aren’t such a fan of this style of shot but I think its fantastic, very different and creative. I hop...

Previous post: Just purchased The Casual Vacancy Post Chapter One So, I've finished chapter one...I won't reveal any spoilers (don't want to ruin it for anyone) the scene is well and truly set and I hope the next chapter gets the show on the road. I love J.K.'s style of writing, the way she describes the world in her books and if you enjoyed that in the Harry Potter books you will like this one. However, there isn't as much action (mind' I've only read the first chapter...). It may improve...will provide an update when I get further in :)

Saw this on the Ellen show and I think it is so cute. I've always wanted a goat but now I really want one!!

I have been playing Jewels Star for a couple of weeks now and Bede and I are addicted! It's fun, we take turns doing a few levels when we are board or in between pomodoros as a treat. The game is pretty simple, just involves lining up a few gems and with a bit of speed and a quick, strategic eye you can swing a high score. It's FREE and carries a 4.7/5 rating in Google Play Store. Check it out here ! The only reason I'm blogging about it and not playing is because I played it so long the phone is completely flat :(  HAPPY PLAYING!

Went to Dracula's on the Gold Coast last weekend for a mate's birthday and had a great time! We never considered going before but were keen to hang out with mates so we went along and we look forward to going again. For $88 (B reserve) you get a three course meal (with your choice of mains) a hilarious stage show with incredible music and a fun train ride. The building it really well decorated and the bar inside was really cool. All the staff are dressed as vampires and act a bit crazy. Oh and drinks are as reasonable as it gets on the Gold Coast which was a relief. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!! The show currently playing is Transfusion...