The container drawer...

I don't know about you, 

but my container drawer has a few problems.

The first one is that it's just not big enough,

every time you open the drawer, 

it's a struggle to rearrange all the containers so that they fit.

The second is that it eats lids

just like your washing machine might eat socks.

I can never seem to find the right lid to match the container I want.

But the geniuses at RubberMaid have answered my plea for help!

Let me introduce you to Easy Find Lids.

The lids snap into the bottom of the container and lock into place so they don't get lost in that evil drawer!

It's actually kinda like lego, for grown ups 

and all the containers nestle into one another so they stack really well!

Compared to other containers they take up minimal room in the drawer or cupboard

thanks to their graduating sizes!

I was sent a set of seven to review

and I was really impressed.

At first I thought, 

How in the world am I going to review containers?! 

But, I confess... 

I have a container obsession.

Actually, that obsession carries over to other things like zip lock bags. 

Basically, I like to be organised.

So these were actually really good to receive

plus! the containers are really strong and durable

and they're microwave, freezer and dishwasher safe!

So if you're like me, 

run out to the store and grab yourself some Rubber Maid

Easy Find Lid Containers

and we can take on the evil container drawer! :P

So tell me, 

do you have a weird obsession? 

I think I should right a list of confessions.. hmmm

Kristy received these containers courtesy of Porter Novelli PR,

if you'd like a review of your products - send an email to ksayerphotography@gmail.com

Time flies, when.....

Can you believe it's almost September?

I can't...  the year is flying by,

it feels like I took the above photo just a few weeks ago.

But now the Autumn yellows and oranges have turned into spring colours as flowers start to bloom.

But the faster winter goes,

the happier I'll be :P

 I haven't had any school work to do for months now, 

It's weird.. I feel like I've already finished.

Really, I'm just waiting for my final exams.

I'm ready to do them now!

I cannot wait to get them over and done with!

This week is another relaxed week for me.

I'm hoping the sun feels like shining all week so I can get some photography done! 

(Fingers crossed!)

I have a few cool products I'm yet to review that i'm excited to share

(hint) 

and some work for clients that needs to get done.

So tell me, 

what do you have planned for this week?

anything exciting?

Sweet Saturday: Shortbread Sensation

it's saturday once again!  

hoorayyy!

so that means this post is filled with sweet goodness!

 this week, it's shortbread. 
see that title up there?
there's so many s's I could be a snake :P

now, for those of you who don't know what shortbread is, or for those who just like to know stuff like me, here's some quick facts from wikipedia :P

Shortbread is a type of unleavened biscuit (cookie).

Shortbread is so named because of its crumbly texture (from an old meaning of the word short).

Shortbread is generally associated with and originated in Scotland.

and a fact from me?

Shortbread is yum! 

 A while ago I was sent a big box full of Butterfingers shortbread,

this included ALL of their flavours! - 

Pure Butter

Ginger

Choc Chip

Lemon Myrtle

Macadamia

and their Gluten Free Versions 

My taste testers and I decided it'd be best to start with the shortbread in its pure form :P

This shortbread is rich and buttery and has the traditional shortbread taste I've grown up knowing.

It melts in your mouth just the way a good shortbread should! 

Definitely perfect to put out when friends come over

or to have with a cup of tea!

Next in line was Lemon Myrtle.

Now, I can honestly say I've never tried lemon myrtle shortbread

and I think i've only ever tried lemon myrtle in cooking classes at school.

According to Wikipedia - 

Lemon Myrtle is one of the well known bushfood flavours and is sometimes referred to as the "Queen of the Lemon Herbs"

That would be well known, unless you're Kristy.. 

But back to the Shortbread,

this flavour was different to what I expected.

It had a delicate lemon flavour that complimented the shortbread perfectly.

The macadamia shortbread was delicious with the crunchy chunks of macadamias.

Macadamias would probably have to be my one of my favourite nuts 

(especially when it comes to Dello Mano Brownies) 

They don't overpower the shortbread like other strong tasting nuts would.

 Soooooooo many flavours!

Next up was the Choc Chip Shortbread

The chocolate chips were a super addition to the shortbread

and perfect for any chocoholic! 

These would be perfect for dunking into hot chocolate/tea/coffee

so the chocolate chips melt mmmmmmm...

There was also a ginger shortbread..

at first this raised alarm bells for me.

Ginger? Shortbread? eww

I thought the ginger would be overpowering,

but after tasting them I was relieved to find the ginger was quite subtle

and actually went really well with the shortbread. 

The ginger kind of hit you as an after thought, letting you know it was there.

Now that's all the flavours,

but Butterfingers also caters for those with wheat intolerances with their gluten free range.

So you can still enjoy delicious macadamia or pure butter shortbread! :)

Butterfingers shortbread can be found in supermarkets, independent grocers, delicatessens, duty free stores and specialty outlets across Australia. 

I've seen them in both Coles and Woolworths - so I'm sure you can find some near you!

So tell me lovelies, 

How do you like your shortbread?

Kristy received Butterfingers shortbread courtesy of www.butterfingers.com.au

If you'd like a review of your products - send an email to ksayerphotography@gmail.com  

I think I can, I think I can...

Has anyone else in Sydney noticed how much of a tease this weather is?
My anticipation of spring is getting me a little too over enthusiastic. 
I don't think its quite time to pull my dresses from the back of the wardrobe.
Not for me anyway!


But apart from the teasing weather, I've had a pretty good week!
The beginning of the week saw me in business mode.
Signing papers, organizing documents, registering my business name etcetcetc.
I've shocked a few people who thought the documents in question were for my mother.
Nope, they're mine :) 


Alot of people make comments on how hard it's going to be to run my own business,
but don't worry! I'm well aware of it.
And i'm also ready to take whatever comes my way. 
It's exciting, a little daunting and yes, sometimes I step back and ask myself are you crazy? 
But I also know I can do it.


If you set your mind to it, and work at it, you can do anything.


So I have a little task for you.. 
The next time someone tells you that you can't do something, don't quit!
Because you can! Make a point of proving them wrong! 


But do tell me,
How has your week been?

RE: Title - I know I can!

Choices, choices, choices!

 

Breakfast, the most important meal of the day...

For me, I'm all about having variety

the more options I have, the more I'll look forward to breakfast. 

At the moment, my breakfast choices include 3 different types of cereals, K.I.S.S Blend muesli

and of course the muesli you see above! 

I was given the opportunity to make another customized muesli mix, this time by Muesli Mixer

I wanted to make something totally different from the K.I.S.S Blend

to give myself yet another option!

So lets have a closer look at what's in the muesli.. shall we?  

 

Obviously, this muesli is jam packed full of fruit - that's why it's called fruit frenzy!

In Fruit frenzy, there is;

• Three Grains
• Bran Straw
• Buckwheat
• Wheat Pillows (favourite!)
• Amaranth
• Raisins
• Dried Apple
• Apricots
• Currants
• Dates
• Gojiberries
• Paw paw
• Pineapple

This muesli was a bit more cereal-like with the wheat pillows and bran straws.
I loved how many different textures it had and it was a perfect partner for yoghurt! 
I loved this muesli! and it's a perfect choice for breakfast! 

 Do you want to make your own muesli mix like me? Head to Muesli Mixer and create your own from over 55 different ingredients.
Choices, choices, choices!!


So tell me, 
What do you have for breakfast?
and are you someone who likes variety, 
or do you stick to the same thing?



Kristy received this muesli courtesy of Muesli Mixer,
If you'd like a review of your products - send an email to ksayerphotography.blogspot.com

The coast is clear!

It's okay, 

you can come out! 

From my last post it appears that I don't have many readers that are licorice fans 

:P

So this post is licorice free

Now, a couple of weeks ago you would have read that I turned eighteen.

Since then I've had to vote and now my wisdom teeth have decided to make an appearance.

I still don't feel that different though 

(except for the fact that teeth trying to surface hurts like crazy)

But I do understand why teething babies get so cranky! 

But there is one good thing about wisdom teeth... 

ICE CREAM!

Never has ice cream felt so good. 

There should definitely be a Wisdom Tooth Diet

Frozen food, frozen food and.... Frozen food! 

I'd totally endorse it :)

And, I don't know about you,

But these wisdom teeth aren't seeming to make me any wiser :P

But as long as I don't have to visit the (dreaded) dentist,

I'll be fine. 

I don't think there's anything I hate more than the dentist.

The idea of someone sticking their fingers in my mouth freaks me out!

and needles.... and drills...

But luckily, I've avoided all drills and needles at the dentist thus far.

(I should've really put a warning above that in case anyone is planning a trip to the dentist - SORRY!) 

So tell me,

Have you got your wisdom teeth? 

and What's your opinion of the dentist?

Sweet Saturday: meet Uncle John

I'm a big licorice fan. 

My boyfriend thinks it's gross - but that's okay, it means I don't have to share! 

If you gave me the choice between licorice or chocolate for the rest of my life,

I'd probably have a tough time

and then I'd end up choosing chocolate covered licorice

(best of both worlds - eh?)

A while ago I was sent some Uncle John's Licorice to review

and I've only just gotten around to trying it

Licorice reminds me of growing up.

My grandpa was allergic to chocolate so he was a big fan of licorice 

- which led to me becoming a big fan of licorice!

My dad also loves it too!  

(Dad, you're getting more and more food points)

Just the smell of licorice reminds me of my grandpa and being a kid.

Uncle Johns licorice is 99% Fat Free, Cholesterol Free and has no artificial colours or flavours (yay!)

and they use old fashioned small batch cooking methods.

As I first opened the bag I was hit with the delicious licorice aroma.

I loved how thick the pieces were and the licorice was full of flavour. 

Now, I'm not a fan of soft licorice 

- so I left the bag opened in the cupboard for a few days

and hey presto! it had firmed up!

I also loved the fact that Uncle John's Licorice wasn't oily like some others I've had.

I was also sent a bag of their chocolate coated licorice to try. 

I bit into the crisp chocolate to reveal the soft licorice centre and was suprised,

I actually liked the softness of this licorice. 

The crunch from the chocolate and the soft licorice was a good balance!

If you're a licorice connoisseur you'll love Uncle John's licorice.

I'd say it ranks very highly in my scale of licorice.

It kinda makes me wish I had my own Uncle John...

But that's okay - I can just buy some from their online store and pretend :P
and so can you!

So tell me, 

What candy reminds you of your childhood?

Kristy was sent Uncle John's licorice courtesy of www.unclejohn.com.au

If you'd like a review of your products - send an email to ksayerphotography@gmail.com

Cherry blossoms and anticipation

Spring is weeks away but i'm anxiously anticipating its arrival. 

Today was a little bit of a preview. 

I walked out of the house shocked to find that I didn't actually need the second jacket I picked up on the way out.

You see, me and winter don't get along.

I can't stand the cold

and in winter I can never seem to keep warm.

The past couple of weeks the cherry blossoms have been blooming in my area,

for me this means one thing - Spring is coming! 

I adore cherry blossoms,

I love the variety of pink and purple hues

and the dainty little flowers

So of course I had to capture them :)

For me, spring means flowers, new life, warmer weather, lunch in the sunshine and colour! 

So tell me, 

what does spring mean for you? 

and what are you anticipating?

Dip and dunk?

I love fresh crusty bread, real bread,

not what you find in the supermarket aisle.

For me, fresh crunchy bread demands olive oil and balsamic vinegar.

I can thank my Dad for that! 

So when I was sent some products from Guava Gourmet

I knew exactly what I was going to do with them!

I was sent their Caramelised Balsamic Vinegar which was sweet, full flavoured 

and perfect for dipping the bread into with some good quality olive oil. 

I also used it as a salad dressing and it was brilliant!

The sweet flavour of the Caramelised Balsamic would also lend itself to strawberries or sweet foods as well!

I'm thinking about using it in a Blueberry Chocolate Cake to add a depth of flavour.

I was also sent their Garlic Dukkah

for those of you who don't know, Dukkah is a blend of seeds, nuts and other flavourings and it can be used as a topping for salads or a crust for meat - among other things. 

For me, it was a perfect compliment to the crusty bread with oil

and I just sprinkled some on top of the bread.

I loved the crunch of the dukkah and am definitely going to use it again in the future in salads to add texture and flavour. 

And I think it will make a perfect topping for garlic bread or garlic pizza!

For me, dipping bread into olive oil always reminds me of my Dad

and it's still something we indulge in together!

I love how food can bring people together and create good memories! 

So tell me, 

Is there a certain food that brings back memories to you? 

You can also get your hands on some of these delicious products! Head on over to Guava Gourmet's Website to check out their list of stockists

Who knows, maybe you could start a tradition too! 

Oh and thank you to my Dad!

for introducing me to delicious foods

and reading my blog :)

Kristy was sent these products courtesy of Guava Gourmet,

if you'd like a review of your products - send an email to ksayerphotography@gmail.com

I can't believe I eat: kale chips

I used to be the world's fussiest eater

well, maybe not quite that extreme...

but I was pretty darn fussy.

Now, that girl is no where to be seen.

Now I love trying new foods,

fruits and vegetables especially. 

On Saturday I spent my day at the farmer's market, where I managed to find a lovely bunch of purple kale!

I've been searching for kale everywhere with no luck - but as usual, the farmers market provided!

I had the choice between a white kale or the lovely purple kale.. and of course I went for the prettiest bunch :)

Plus, when it comes to vegetables, I'm sticking with the view that the more colour you have, the better!

So I came home with my kale in-tow and tried to figure out what I was going to have for dinner.

(I already knew that it'd involve kale chips) 

Kale chips are probably one of the easiest things to make - and they're so yummy! 

At least I think so, my mum... well... not so much.

So here's my not-so-recipe-like Kale Chips Recipe 

Kale (As much as you want - Washed and dried) 

Optional: Olive Oil and Herbs/Spices/Seasonings

Preheat your oven to 180*C (375*F)

Tear or cut the kale leaves from the stems. 

(If using) drizzle/spray olive oil over the leaves and sprinkle seasonings.

Lay out kale onto a lined baking tray and bake for 5 minutes or until crispy. 

The trick with the kale chips is: 

KEEP AN EYE ON THEM! 

Sometimes they'll take longer to crisp up, other times they'll crisp quickly.

I don't actually use olive oil on mine because I prefer them without, 

but its up to you!

My mother's reaction to the kale chips was quite different to mine.. 

you see, I think the fussy eater title got passed off onto her. 

After trying them she said "I'd prefer a real chip" 

But me? 

I love the crispy, airy-ness of kale chips!

They're a perfect healthy snack.

But it got me thinking, there really are alot of foods I eat now that I never would've thought of trying before.

Some of the things on my I can't believe I eat that! list are: 

• Kale - Kale is a form of cabbage and its full of powerful antioxidants, beta carotene, vitamin K, vitamin C, lutein, zeaxanthin and calcium! It's also believed to have anti-cancer properties.
• Broccoli -
  My favourite vegetable! Anything that could possibly go with broccoli, I'll have with broccoli. I'm talking throwing it into any kind of pasta, putting it on pizza, eating it raw etcetc.
  To think that not too long ago I wouldn't touch it with a 10 foot pole is crazy!
• Zucchini -
  Baked/Pan Fried/Grilled you name it, I love it!
  My latest lunch love is a pita pizza topped with crushed tomatoes, chilli, broccoli, zucchini and feta - yum!
• Milk -
  I used to be, somewhat, lactose intolerant so I avoided milk altogether.
  I hated the taste and the thought of drinking it plain grossed me out.
  While I still don't drink it plain, i'm loving milk on my cereal and in my oatmeal
  where before I'd either eat cereal dry or not at all. 
•  Vegetables in General -
  I just can't get enough vegetables.
  To me, a meal isn't a meal if there isn't a big serve of vegetables by it. 

So tell me, 

what's something on your I can't believe I eat that! list?