Happy Valentine's Day

 

 

 

Happy Valentine’s Day!

I hope you all had a great one. I celebrated with my family, nothing major, but as you might know, I love getting all festive on any occasion. It’s the one day where I can really enjoy the colour pink.

Some of you probably had a really romantic day, with that special someone (haha or maybe you had a day like me filled with only a few single moments – like when you see the girls on the sidewalk carrying those red roses home – and then they stare at you like you’re crazy because you are carrying an empty pizza box ALONE). To me, Valentine’s Day is something to do with love, celebrating that, and a hint of romance (dat pizza).

Just as much as you love that special someone (or pizza), your heavenly Papa loves you a trillion times more, a billion times more, a love that us humans don’t even understand. You’re LOVED! You’re BEAUTIFUL! Thinking of you on this LOVEly day.

“And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have the power, together with all the saints, to graps how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ”

Ephesians 3:17 – 18

“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”

Corinthians 13:13

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BONUS:

 

You see those sexy milkshakes? They taste so good, and all you do is put these ingredients:

{3 parts vanilla ice cream

1 part milk

1 teaspoon vanilla essence

1 teaspoon strawberry essence

2 drops red food colouring}

in a blender, and BLEND! It’s very rough, just make it to your taste. And get creative with the topping, I just swirled whipped cream on top and then sprinkled pink jelly powder (the stuff you get in packets to make jelly) on it.

Hello 2014.

Wow. 2014.

It’s been a whole year since I started this blog, and when I look back, I’ve learnt so much on this really interesting journey.

Thanks to anyone who has read my posts, this blog is like a little outlet where I can preach, teach and share my thoughts.

I’m pumped about starting a new year. It’s going to be my best year yet. I might fall off a cliff, or I might win a million dollars. Who knows. (God knows – Jeremiah 29:11).

But one thing I know – and this was something that I just learnt the other day. It’s this:

“Doing the same things, making the same choices, doesn’t change the outcome. It’s insanity to keep making the same decisions expecting a different result.”

This relates a lot. In my life, especially with friends, I’ve tried the same things over and over expecting a different (better) result. But alas, I always came out of those decisions feeling like rubbish. Close (not really), but no cigar.

 

Old ways won't open new doors.

So 2013 was a bit rough. There were plenty of great moments, plenty of bad ones too. But as Dollly Parton said….

 

I’m so thankful to God, He really is everything, and He’s always there, in every moment, good and bad.

So here’s to a new year – I’m going to try new things, I’ve already made a long list of resolutions (comment if you want to hear them), but most importantly on that list is God. He’s everything, and I’m excited to jump into a new year of growing with God.

That’s it, isn’t it really? Jump. Jumping into this year – not just plodding along at the same pace, but jumping.

Or diving as Vogue says it. (I love this cover).

 

Alright, alright, enough about me. What about you? What are you going to change this year?

Here’s special message that I think God wants to say to you as you start this year. You’re really special, he loves you so much, and words can’t describe how much he’s looking forward to plunging into a new year with you. God does pay attention to seasons (he’s the one who created them after all) and I think now’s a time of new birth.

A song that I discovered on new years day (perfect timing isn’t it?) is Soldiers by Martin Smith. Go listen to it here.

“Onward Christian soldiers.”

I love that part of the song. *breaks into chorus with enthusiasm*.

So really what I’m saying is, have a great 2014. I’m praying for you, for everyone who is reading this.

GOD BLESS AND HAVE A FLIPPIN’ FANTASTIC NEW YEAR!

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Christmas Mince Pies: The Lazy Version

 

MINCE PIES! They’re my absolute favourite food of the holiday season, Christmas isn’t Christmas without a mince pie. I usually bake Christmas food myself, and it usually taste a lot better than store bought, but with mince pies the ones from the store seem to taste better – I don’t know why. So this is a sort of a homemade method, but still the cheats way :). I apologize if you were looking for a “real” mince pie recipe – this is the lazy version, I’ll admit.

This is a super simple method which I’m sure you would figure out on your own anyway, but because I have an obsession with lists, here goes:

Method for Mince Pies: The Lazy Version

1.       Buy some short sweet pastry and fruit mince (I bought the Old English Fruit Mince made by Tasti).

2.       Roll out the pastry and cut into circles, then gently press each one into a smaller-than-muffins-but-bigger-than-ice-cubes-tin.

3.       Spoon the fruit mince in! (there’s an exclamation mark because I love this step)

4.       Cut strips of leftover pastry to create lattices on top of the mince pies.

5.       Bake in the oven until golden at 180o Celsius (I can’t give an exact time, it depends on your oven, the size of the tin, the type of pastry, etc).

6.       Sprinkle icing sugar over them, and mmmmm……enjoy……..

This method shouldn’t be too hard. Who am I kidding, this is flippin’ easy! My advice is to make a ton, because they’ll be gone before you know it (*I say this from personal experience).

Merry Christmas! Only 5 days!

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Strawberry Santas

These strawberries santas are all the rage on pinterest, so I had to try them myself. THEY’RE SO CUTE! And they taste choice.

You need strawberries and cream, as well as 2 chocolate sprinkles or chocolate chips per santa. They’re pretty self-explanatory, you basically slice off the top and add a dollop of cream, then put the lid back on and use cream for the top of the hat and buttons. Then add 2 sprinkles/chips for eyes and you’re done!

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