Bargains for a Gender Neutral Cloud Themed Nursery

One of the most asked questions that I am getting since I announced my pregnancy is, "do you know what you are having this time". The answer: "I wish!!"

 

Yet once again hubby won't let us find out, so I am planning another gender neutral nursery much to my frustration. You see I would LOVE to be organised down to the letter, but I must admit the big surprise at the end is worth the mad rush to order everything for my nursery from my hospital bed!!

 

Actually I have decided this time not to do too much in the way of decoration and theming. Instead I am going to pick up the very basics and leave the rest until bub is born - famous last words! Yes let us see how I go with all of that with my obsessive organisational nature....

 

One of my favourite gender neutral nursery themes is the cloud theme, it is definitely one that I am leaning towards doing myself. I have found that there is no shortage of bargains out there for this theme, so I thought I would share just a few that I have seen along the traps:

 

 

Cloud Lamp/Night Light

Image Source and to Buy

Where? Cotton on Kids

How Much? $24.99

This one has already made its' way in to the top cupboard ready to go! We also have one in B's bedroom that we use as a nightlight. It gives the perfect amount of glow for those long nights breastfeeding in the nursery.

 

Set of 3 Wall Hooks

Image Source and to Buy

 

Where? Kmart Australia

How Much? $5.00 for all 3 - bargain!!

These are just too cute to resist at this price! I have seen some clever folk on Instagram land spray paint these to match their nursery colours with great results.

 

Double Sided Jersey Baby Wrap

 

Image Source and to Buy

 

Where? Target Australia

How Much? $15.00

I have two summer babies, so a Winter bub means I am in desperate need of some cool weather wraps for swaddling in those early days - this looks perfect! If you have any other swaddling suggestions for winter, please let me know!

 

Pram Blanket

Image Source and to Buy

 

Where? Kmart Australia

How Much? $12.00

Cute little pram blanket or play blanket perhaps?! This design is also available in a cot set too. We actually have and use the cot set in the bottom of our tepee and on the sofa for cool weather movie nights!

 

 

Cloud Shaped Clock

Image Source and to Buy

Where? Target Australia

How Much? $20.00

I can see this sitting on a gorgeous little shelf surrounded by some cute artwork.

 

 

Cushion

 

Image Source and to Buy

 

Where? Kmart Australia

How Much? $7.00

These are selling like hot-cakes but I am told back in stock - soon!

 

Image Source and to Buy

Where? Ikea Australia
How Much? $9.99
Another one that I couldn't resist for our play area!
 

Wall Mirror

Image Source and to Buy

Where? Target Australia

How Much? $10.00

 

 

Found some cute cloud bargains that you'd care to share? Feel free to contact me, comment below or pop on my Facebook page - I would love to see them!

 

 

 

Divine Chocolate Chip Banana Bread Recipe

{Post brought to you in conjunction with the stunning new Blush range from Maxwell & Williams}

 

Banana cake, banana bread, banana muffins - always the same weekly baking requests around here! If you find the same thing at your place, here is an extra special (and decadent) little twist on the humble banana bread - chocolate chip banana bread!! Because adding a bit of chocolate makes everything taste better right?!

 

 

 

You'll Need...

• 3 Large Ripe Bananas
• 1 Lemon (juiced) and a splash of Milk
• 2 Cups Self Raising Flour
• 1 Tsp Baking Powder
• 160g butter (softened to room temperature)
• 2 Eggs
• 1 Tsp Vanilla Bean Extract (or Vanilla Essence)
• 1/2 - 3/4 Cup Chocolate Bits (or grated chocolate) - as your heart desires!!

 

 

Little Note: Don't be alarmed folks by my black bananas!! I pop any un-eaten and over ripe bananas straight in to the freezer in to a plastic bag. As soon as I need to bake, I simply defrost for a few hours and they are perfect to use!

 

Method...

1. Pre-heat your oven to 180 degrees and grease and line (I am always a bit lazy to line!) your loaf tin

2. Mash up your bananas and add the juice of one lemon and a splash of milk to a separate small bowl. If you freeze your bananas like me, you'll find that they won't need to be mashed

3. In a mixmaster, kitchen aid (or even Thermomix) cream together butter, sugar and vanilla until pale and creamy

4. Add the eggs (one at a time) beating well after each addition

5. Sift half of the flour and baking powder in to the mix and fold gently

6. Fold in the mashed banana/juice/milk combo

7. Fold in the last half of the flour and baking powder and your chocolate chips too

8. Pop in to your prepared tin and smooth mixture

 

 9. Pop in to pre-heated oven for appro 60 minutes (or whenever the skewer comes out clean!).
 

 

This banana bread is divine when cool but is exceptional with warm with (thick) lashings of butter on it!!

Another big thank you to Maxwell & Williams for providing me with this gorgeous platter from their 'Blush' range to try out. You can also see the stunning high tea stand they sent me over on my white chocolate mudcake recipe post from earlier on this week.

This little platter is also in my absolute fave colour - a minty/pale blue that they call blue. It also comes in a beautiful pale pink and a classic white too and retails for just $19.95.

This range really is just divine and so affordable too - the teapot and sugar and creamer sets (also in the range) would make a brilliant little gift for that 'someone' that has absolutely everything!

 

The Very Best White Chocolate Mud Cupcake Recipe

{Post brought to you in conjunction with the stunning new Blush range from Maxwell & Williams}

There is absolutely no better treat than a fresh batch of cupcakes, mmm.... and I love the sheer decadence of a white chocolate mud cupcake in particular. They are perfect for a special occasion such as a birthday, Chrissie time, Easter or just because (which is my excuse a lot lately!).

 

Today I share my tried, true and tested recipe that you'll see me churning out year after year and birthday after birthday - it never fails to disappoint! Super, quick and easy too.

 

 

 

The below makes up 12 cupcakes, so feel free to double (or triple) as you need.

 

You'll Need...

• 125g regular butter
• 150g White Chocolate Cooking Chocolate (I love the Cadbury Dream stuff as you can tell)
• 1 Cup Caster Sugar
• 1/2 Cup Milk
• 1 Egg (lightly whisked)
• 3/4 Cup Plain Flour
• 1/2 Cup Self Raising Flour
• 1 Tsp Vanilla Bean Paste (or extract if you have this laying around instead)

*Always a good idea to get two blocks of chockie for this recipe, because if you are anything like me, one always disappears before I get around to making!!

Method

1. Preheat oven to 160 degrees and line your patty tins with cases

2. Whip out a saucepan (medium sized) and in it combine your butter, chocolate, sugar and milk

 

3. Cook over low heat (stirring constantly) for approx. 5 minutes or until chocolate melts and everything is nice and smooth.

4. Transfer mixture to a heatproof bowl and allow to cool down slightly (5 minutes or so should do the trick)

5. Once mixture has cooled, whisk in egg

 

 

6. Sift the two flours over the chocolate mixture and whisk gently until just combined

 

 

7. Stir in the vanilla

 

 

8. Pour mixture in to prepared patty liners (muffin cases)

 

 

9. Bake for approx 25 - 30 minutes (check that they are done with the old skewer in the middle test)

 

 

 

Now these are absolutely yummo as they are (and my hubby loves them plain). But in my opinion, you cannot have a cupcake without frosting or ganache!! So once cool ice with frosting or ganache of your choice - a white chocolate ganache works a treat with these - this Cadbury recipe is always a winner at our place.

 

Enjoy!!

 

Little Note: For Christmas time, I top mine with a Jaffa and some mint leaves and at Easter with some mini Easter eggs - super cute and super yummy too!

I was fortunate enough to be sent this stunning stand from the Maxwell & Williams Blush Range - talk about LOVE! I opted for the 'blue' colour, which as you can see is in my absolute favourite colour - a soft mint/blue. It also comes in a classic pink and white - but you know I cannot go past anything in my signature colour.

 

The stand retails for $69.95 and I am sure will be wheeled out year after year for birthdays and special occasions alike.

I love to keep my pretties out on display, so have found that this doubles up as the most beautiful little fruit stand too - what do you think?! Too pretty to pop her away in the cupboard isn't she?!

 

Disney on Ice presents Dare to Dream - Win Tickets for Melbourne Show!

Get excited Melbourne, because it is less than a month til Disney on Ice is back in Melbourne town!

 

I cannot tell you how excited we are, as we missed out last year with Miss C being a tad too little to take along. But this year I have one super excited 3 year old (Mr B) who is finally going to make his dream of going, come true! I am sure that Miss C will love it too, anything involving music is a hit with her at the moment.

 

   

About the Show!

 

This year Disney presents Dare to Dream which is set to be a skating extravaganza that the while family will adore! The story combines two modern day princess fairytales - Tangled and The Princess and the Frog - and combines with two of the classics- Cinderella (my favourite) and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, so you know it is going to be nothing short of amazing!

 

 

 

Laugh at Disney's hilarious hair-raising escapade, Tangled, as Rapunzel, Flynn and Maximus, embark on an uproarious journey that takes adventure to new lengths! Travel to the enchanted forest with Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs as Snow White escapes from the Evil Queen in her search for her one true love.

 

 

 

Watch as fanciful dreams become reality as Cinderella meets her Prince Charming, with a glass slipper fit for an unforgettable fantasy come true.

 

 

And boogie to the beat of the bayou in a magical, musical journey that celebrates the story of The Princess and the Frog with Princess Tiana and Prince Naveen.  

 

I don't now about the kids - but I sure am excited!!

 

2015 National Tour Dates and Details

 

Not in Melbourne? Then don't despair, as most capital cities will get to experience the beauty, sparkle and adventure when Disney on Ice presents Dare to Dream in a location close to you!

 

The 2015 tour dates and details are as follows...

 

 

2015 National Tour Dates

 

Perth - Perth Arena                                                            5 - 7 June                  (Fri - Sun)

Adelaide - Adelaide Entertainment Centre                       12 - 14 June              (Fri - Sun)

Newcastle - Newcastle Entertainment Centre                   19 - 21 June              (Fri - Sun)

Brisbane - Brisbane Entertainment Centre                       27 - 29 June             (Sat - Mon)

Melbourne - Hisense Arena, Melbourne                           2 - 6 July                  (Thurs - Mon)

Sydney - Allphones Arena, Sydney Olympic Park             8 - 12 July                (Wed - Sun)

 

 

Purchasing Tickets

Purchase tickets from Ticketek: 132 849 or www.ticketek.com.au/disneyonice. Tickets start from just $29.50, which makes it an affordable treat for the littlies over school holidays.  Additional discounts do apply on select performances too. For more information visit www.disneyonice.com.au

 

Win Tickets to the Melbourne Show

This is where things get even more exciting for the Melbourne folks, because for two lucky Utterly Organised readers, I have 4 tickets (valued at $178) to attend the show on Friday 3rd of July @ 2:30pm. Please note tickets MUST be used on this set date and session time (they are not transferrable on changeable).

 

To enter, simply follow the Rafflecopter Widget below.

 

Please note that entrants MUST provide a comment in the box below as to why they would love to attend this fabulous show. Entries will be verified, so please be sure to pop your name with your comment too. 

 

Enter Here

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

Terms and Conditions

•  The giveaway will be hosted by Rafflecopter and is open to Australian residents only
• Entrant must reside in Melbourne and be able to attend the show on Friday 3rd of July 2015 at 2:30pm
• This prize is not transferrable to another date or session time
• There are two prize packs available. Each prize is valued at $178 and include 4 tickets only
• Entrant must be 18 years or over
• Entrant must comment on this blog post as to why they would love to attend Disney on Ice presents Dare to Dream show
• Failure to comment as required above will result in the entrant being ineligible to win and entries will be verified
• Entrant must include their full name with their comment below, so that entries can be verified
• The announcement of the lucky winner will be made on the Utterly Organised Facebook Page and displayed on the Rafflecopter widget above
• The lucky winner will have 3 days to contact Utterly Organised and claim their prize so that the prize can be finalised
• Failure to claim prize within designated period will result in another winner being drawn
• Any questions on the competition can be directed to utterlyorganised@gmail.com

 

Good luck everyone!!