Back..

..After a short vacation. We had gone to Mysore for a few days. The day we left Chennai, there was a bomb blast at the Chennai central station about an hour after our train departed, killing a girl!! Wow, what a start to a vacation. Other than this shock, we had a great 3 days.
Even the weather was very kind to us and cooled down the temperature by sending down mild showers. We visited the Mysore zoo, palace, bird sanctuary, the temple atop Chamundi hills. My favorite was the sand sculpture museum. Here are a few pictures taken during in and around Mysore

Of course, no trip is complete without shopping. But I did not go on a spree, and did only sensible shopping (if there's something called that).

Summer is here, and with that MANGOES!!! Here's my first mango bake for the season - a mango cake.

As my experiment with various egg replacements continue, I used only curd this time. I am happy with the result, but thought it was slightly dense.

No stitchy updates this time friends. I have been in and out of the house the last few months and no time to put in any X's.

Till next time.. Take care.. Be happy.. Keep Stitching.. Au Revoir

A b'day and a finish

What a busy 2 weeks it's been. There was so much work at work, at home. everywhere. Just seemed endless!! But looking back am happy and satisfied with whatever happened

So, let me start with the birthday. V turned 9 on 19th!! My little baby is now 9!!

It has been 2 years since we had a party for her birthday, and this year she was sure she wanted one. Not just any party, according to her she wanted the "best party ever", whatever that meant.

I had already decided that I wanted to move out of my comfort zone and try something new for her birthday cake. So, I ventured into trying a shaped cake

I did not have a cake board big enough to hold the cake. So, I had to prop it up on a circular tray. The cake was yummy and the kids just loved it. It was a basic vanilla sponge with buttercream frosting.

You can view a video of how to make a simple butterfly cake here  It is really simple

V and I made ear-ring for the girls as a return gift.

And guess what dear friends.. I have finished my cottage series!!!

Atleast the stitching is all done. Am soooo thrilled with finishing december, but can't believe that the series is over now. I will put up a picture of all finishes once I proper finish them into ornaments.


I am going to pick up seashells again now. That's about it from me today friends. Till next time.. Take care.. Be happy.. Keep stitching.. Au Revoir

Bead-a-roll

I have been on a roll on the beading front the last week. I did so much over the weekend for my cousin's charity event coming up. Here are a few of them

My dad completed 65 last week and I baked this yummy vanilla cake with fresh cream vanilla icing

I used the ready-made gel that my brother brought from the US for the decoration. The cake was fresh and very light. I used a different recipe this time for the cake from here.

With so much beading, I have not been able to progress too much on June

With that friends, I take leave today. Till next time.. Take care.. Be happy.. Keep stitching.. Au Revoir