40 Interessting, Quirky and Somewhat Witty, Facts About Little Old Me

Why hello there,

I haven't really done a 'personal' blog post before so I thought I would just give it a go. I've seen a lot of 'Things you didn't know about me' blog posts, or something similar, so I just thought I would take a whack at it. 

I wrote down a few ideas and then, miserably, ran out of creative things you would find interesting to know. Therefore, feeling inspiration-less, I scoured the great big wide web for some other 'Facts about me' blog posts to start my thinking juices flowing and rekindle my fire of great ideas. I have, all in all, decided to change the name of the post from 'Things you probably didn't know about me', to 'Facts about me'. I just think it's a tad more fitting to what the post will actually be, as some of the facts you may already know. Blame the creative part of my brain: it's decided to hibernate tonight!

PS. I'm not sure how many I'll do, I'll just keep 'em coming till I run out of things to say.

I was born on a Saturday.

This, therefore, is my favourite day of the week.

I can't and won't drink hot chocolate that has been made with water (milk only please!).

I was born in South Africa.

Obviously, this makes me South African.

My Daddy is German.

So this makes me half South African, half German.

I am fortunate enough to be bilingual in English and German.

I can count to 10 in English, German, Italian, Afrikaans and French.

I would love to be fluent in Mandarin.

I find the Ancient World History fascinating.

My favourite subjects in school are Art, English, History, ICT and Drama.

My worst subjects in school are PE, Maths and French.

I am a very creative being.

I am, according to an online test, half a 'kinesthetic learner' and half a 'visual learner'.

I am a very animal friendly person.

I am a very optimistic person.

I think I am quite a bossy person, but this makes me a very     good team leader.

When I grow up, I would like to be either a Forensic Scientist, a Fashion Stylist, a Journalist or an Architect.

When I was younger, I used to want to be a cleaner or a Olympic swimmer.

One of my most favourite hobbies is swimming.

I hate running around with a passion.

I moved from South Africa to England in 2006.

My two bestest ever friends are called Shannon and Bea.

I have a very vintage style.

Hence, my room has a very vintage feel throughout the decor.

I love to read.

I am a total Potterhead.

One place I would love to go to is Italy. 

I love travelling around the world and seeing other countries.

But I hate flying in a plane because I get very travel sick.

I have never broken any bones.

Pinterest is my happy place.

Christmas is my favourite time of the year. I love Christmas!

One of my biggest regrets in life is not realising earlier that I shouldn't give a jellytot about what other people think of me.

I go to Church regularly and enjoy it very much; I think it teaches me a lot about life.

I am a bit obsessed with planning and list making  (for no good reason, just because it's fun!).

I can't wear any wool that is not cashmere; I just find it really itchy and completely unbearable to wear.

I feel most irritated when someone doesn't have decent table manners.

I watch Downton Abbey religiously.

Love you all Angels,
Dani xxx

Things I love about the Festive Season

Yes, it happens to be that time of year again. The weather is getting colder, the nights are longer, the spirits are joyous. In my opinion, the best time of the year. Why's that, I hear you ask? Well, my lovely angels:

1. Hot Chocolate

Yes, those two words together make my eyes water, my tummy rumble and my mouth drool. I am a hot-chocoholic. How can one not just die for those super-cute unnecessarily small marshmallows floating on the top - and if your lucky, the frothy whipped cream mountain. I mean, imagine coming home, from the cold winter-y weather, to a nice warming cup of milky hot chocolate. The whole 'hot chocolate' fiasco reminds me so much of Christmas! I don't know why! To be honest, I don't even really drink hot chocolate any other time of the year! But at Christmas, its definitely my go-to drink!

2. The Weather

I know, I know! You all probably think I'm crazy but let me clarify: I'm only partially crazy. There's just something about snow and ice and frost that makes the people inside in the warmth feel so cosy! Honestly, I am not a fan of being in the rain or wind; its just the snow and ice I like. Especially if your inside and you look out the window!

3. Constant Cake

Why is it that at Christmas, people feel obliged to always bake (or in my families case, buy and pretend to have baked) cookies and cakes all the time? I, shamefully, have to admit that I have, too, been a slave to this obscure way of thinking. Don't get me wrong! I love eating the goodies, I just don't understand why it is only at Christmas that people open a new tine of cookies every day. Why is this not done throughout the year? 

4. Cards

These little, lovely bits of folded paper with personal messages on: no one ever looks at them, no one ever uses them. Just the idea of filling your house with little useless bits of cardboard makes me feel all giddy and excited... And then when you've run out of space and you need to find a new card-displaying-area! Well, don't even get me started!!...

5. Jolly People

Everyone is just so happy! Even the postman and the window cleaner wish you a 'Merry Christmas'. I mean, what's not to like? 

So, my little angel cakes, are we now all in the Christmassy mood? Have I enticed you to go and make yourself a milky hot chocolate (don'f forget the marshmallows)? I do hope so!

A Merry Christmas to you too!
Dani xxx

Winter Wonderland Cupcakes

Festive wishes are being sent your way, my angelic blog readers;

As I am (even if I do say so myself) quite the baker, I have been doing a spot of Christmas Baking!

Today's mission: Winter Wonderland Themed Cupcakes

In the oven...

And the decorating (Oh Yes!)

I'm always curious as to how the icing sugar ends up on the other side of 

the kitchen and the sprinkles end up all over the floor?

The masterpiece creation...

(I gave you two, because I'm just that nice)

Let it snow and get baking,

Love Dani xxx

Nigella's Peanut Butter Chocolate Cups

Hello, my little festive munchkins;

Its been a while since I last posted, I know! But, I've been in hospital for an operation and the wi-fi connection was rubbish (ughhh!). Finally I'm at home after two and a half weeks and I now can enjoy the luxuries of wi-fi, duvets on beds and properly cooked meals!

Its my first day back and I've been feeling slightly left out of all the hoo-hah before Christmas - you know, the lights, the excitement. So, I decided to bake (as you do...)

My mom has Nigella's 'Nigella Christmas' book and her Peanut Butter Chocolate Cups are a firm favourite. My mom made them one year and they were just so good! We've made them every year since and they've always been amazing!

Its really just a homemade version of 'Reeses' Peanut Butter Chocolate Cups

Normally we put them into those adorable mini paper cases but this year I wanted to do something different - rebel!

Soooo... I did the exact same recipe but in a small baking tray, let it cool and cut it up into squares - like millionaire shortbreads without the caramel... kind of...

WORD OF WARNING: 

THE FOLLOWING IMAGES HAVE BEEN 

KNOWN TO CAUSE DROOLING, EXTREME 

HUNGER AND A SEVERE CHOCOLATE 

AND PEANUT BUTTER LUST

You will need:

200g peanut butter (obviously...)

200g icing sugar

50g butter

50g dark soft brown suger (so good!)

100g dark chocolate (yummy!)

200g milk chocolate

First, I mixed all the ingredients together except the two chocolates. You should probably use a blender instead of your hands; its messy business. And, obviously I am clever so I didn't use my hands (I did).

Then I spread the mix into a baking tray - evenly. I do so hope you like my photography, edited and all.

Next I melted the chocolates together in a plastic bowl over boiling water in a pot. I should probably have done it on the hob to make it melt quicker but I just boiled the kettle (lazy...)

And stir...

And I spread the chocolaty goodness onto the base...

Another picture because I'm treating you...

Then I decorated it with gold and silver edible balls but you could just leave it plain (maybe if you didn't want to do it for Christmas) or use any old decorations lying around the house. Ooh, this could be a good time to get rid of those Halloween sweets from two years ago...

And because of the amateur photographer in me, some close up shots:

I then sliced it up into mini squares - because it can be so sweet it's sickening, ready to savour (or in my case, gobble)!

Enjoy, Bake, Eat,

Love you lots,

Dani xxx

My Little Mister...

This is my beautiful lop-eared bunny, Domino. He is the family pet and a very naughty boy who loves to eat toilet paper, poo and cardboard. He loves playing with people and nipping them with his teeth. He loves to be scratched behind his ears and stroked on his tummy! He is getting very big now and is nearly 1 year old (human years)! 

I love him to pieces and sometimes make up conversations in which he replies...

Love Dani x

Minimalistic Vintage Christmas Gift Tags

I love crafting and little cute homemade goodies! I just get all hyped up when I see a little homemade boutique stall or some beautiful homemade gifts! I get very dreamy... 

So, fittingly, I have homemade my Christmas cards, tags and gifts (which you can see on my other post).

This year I thought I would make my tags with a vintage feel but still quite modern so...

I found the tags very, very, very easy to make so for all you guys who think crafting is soooooo hard, and I quote: 'ugh, crafting makes my legs feel like sloppy, un-set jelly', (my actually very talented friend), I have created this set of instructions on how to make some Christmassy/ Modern/ Vintage/ Minimalistic/ Type-writer (which ever takes your fancy) Gift Tags...

Cut out a gift tag shape from hard card.

I normally make a few tags at once so I draw a faint line with a ruler across the page, about 10-15 cm down (depending on how big you want the tags). Then I draw another faint line with a ruler about 1-2 cm down. Next I draw two faint diagonal lines to cut of the corners of each of my newly drawn 1-2 cm rectangles. This should, depending on how good my instructions are (good I hope although it's my first time so be nice...), leave you with Gift Tag shapes. You now just need to cut each rectangle-y-trapezium shape out and rub out all the faint lines. Simple!

Find a nice font you like and write occasion appropriate words/phrases onto paper. Cut out.

I found a really good font on Dafont which I downloaded and used to type little Christmassy words or phrases. The font is 'Travelling Typewriter'. I then printed the words out and cut them into rectangles. 

Other words I used but you cant see on this post are:

- let it snow
- merry christmas
- ho ho ho
- 'tis the season
- joy to the world
- merry and bright
- deck the halls
- with love, xxx
- all is calm, all is bright

Next 'ink' the edges of the paper in any colour of your choice.

I 'inked' the edges of the paper using food colouring but I'm sure there are probably loads of crafting experts sitting right now with their 'Card Ink' and stamps or 'Special Absorb-able Ink, Use For Paper Only' (I, unfortunately, am only amateur). Also I used red but I think green, brown or blue/purple would be great colours too.  

Glue the paper onto the card.

Hole punch a hole into the top centre of the Gift Tag.

...and this is what I came up with (ps. it's a really bad quality photo but it says 'love santa x', 'peace + love' and 'a bit of sparkle')...

And a Merry Christmas to you too xxx