I was explaining to Tiana (7 yrs) about ANZAC Day. 

Being the inquisitive soul she is asked a lot of questions.  Some I could answer… some I couldnt.  I like to be able to answer correctly and give her answers that she can understand without being too complicated.  Together we did some research to find out.  Did you know why?

• wearing poppies is significant
• fly the flag at half mast
• the sounding of  The Last Post represents
• why we have a period of silence

We are off to make our own poppy to wear on ANZAC Day.  You might like to make one too!  Download this great craft idea and you and the kids can make it together and talk about why its so important to keep the ANZAC spirit alive.

Tiana also made this for me.  ran around the garden to get some Rosemary to remember the ANZACs and why we have a special day to pay tribute to them and the poppies in the fields.  Its a special one and I am so very pleased she just went and did it as a present for me… no prompting at all!!

MAKE YOUR OWN POPPY

(source for this blog is from Australian War Memorial  &  ANZAC Day Commemoration Committee website)

 Enjoy a wonderful Day

warmly Elizabeth xx

With Easter right upon us… there are sure to be family and friends popping over.  Why not get in the festive Easter mood with this brilliant cake.  Mmm makes your mouth water just looking at it.. doesn’t it.  The kids will love helping make this Easter cake… but I suggest grab an extra bag of Easter eggs as the kids (and you) are sure to gobble up lots along the way!!  Once they are all outside playing and using up the energy, grab a copy of the latest Australian Womens Weekly, a cuppa and relax!

Want more amazing recipes like this for you and the kids to do?  See HERE

Chocolate Easter cake

INGREDIENTS

½ cup (50g) cocoa powder
½ cup (125ml) boiling water
185g butter, softened
1½ cups (330g) firmly packed brown sugar
3 eggs
1½ cups (225g) self-raising flour
½ cup (75g) plain flour
¼ teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
¾ cup (180ml) milk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
150g small milk chocolate Easter eggs
coloured cake decorations

milk chocolate frosting
400g eating-quality milk chocolate, chopped
2/3 cup (160ml) thickened cream

METHOD

Combine cocoa and water in a small bowl; whisk until smooth. Cool.

Preheat the oven to moderately slow (160°C/140°C fan-forced). Grease a deep 22cm round cake pan, line base with baking paper.

Beat butter and sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating until combined between additions. Transfer mixture to a large bowl.

Stir in sifted flours and soda, then milk, vanilla and cocoa mixture. Pour mixture into prepared pan. Bake for about 1 hour 10 minutes or until cooked. Stand for 10 minutes before turning onto a rack to cool.

milk chocolate frosting
Combine chocolate and cream in a small saucepan, stir over a very low heat until smooth. Transfer to a bowl. Refrigerate, stirring frequently, until a spreadable consistency.

Spread Milk Chocolate Frosting over top and side of cake, decorate with chocolate eggs and coloured decorations

Are you looking for great kids Easter gifts?  Check out all the designer clothing, toys and accessories online at La Toriana. 

See Below Tea Princess Duckegg, Djeco hen Puzzle, Tea Princess Beanie bonnet, LuLu Bunny by Gertie and me, Vintage headband by Tippie Toes, Robert Gordon red star cupcake patty pans.

 warmly   Elizabeth xx

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 Lamington Angels

I jut love these cute lamington angels.  They are always a hit with the whole family! 

These look great at any birthday party and celebrations like baby Christenings.What I love best is the fact you can quickly and easily make them and they look so great!   No icing techniques to do, but can make them look different by making them “angel wings”, “top hats” or Sponges.   mmm YUMMY.  The kids love to help with this one…   why not grab one of the amazing kids aprons from La Toriana ~ online baby/kids shopping boutique.

 INGREDIENTS

Vanilla buttercake:
90g butter, softened
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup (110g) caster sugar
2 eggs
1 cup (150g) self-raising flour
2 tablespoons milk

Chocolate icing:
10g butter
1/3 cup (80ml) milk
2 cups (320g) icing sugar
1/4 cup (25g) cocoa powder

Decorations:
1 cup (80g) desiccated coconut
1/4 cup (100g) raspberry jam
1/2 cup (125ml) thickened cream, whipped

 METHOD

1. Preheat oven to moderate (180°
C/160°
C fan-forced). Line 6-hole  or 12-hole standard muffin pan with paper cases.

2. Beat butter, extract, sugar, eggs, flour and milk in small bowl with electric mixer on low speed until ingredients are just combined. Increase speed to medium, beat until mixture is changed to a paler colour.

3. Divide mixture among cases; smooth surface.

4. Bake large cakes about 25 minutes, small cakes about 20 minutes. Turn cakes onto wire rack to cool.

5. Make chocolate icing.

6. Remove cases from cakes. Dip cakes in icing; drain off excess, toss cakes in coconut. Place cakes on wire rack to set.

7. Cut cakes as desired; fill with jam and cream.

Chocolate icing
Melt butter in medium heatproof bowl over medium saucepan of simmering water. Stir in milk and sifted icing sugar and cocoa until icing is a coating consistency.

 for more great recipes that kids and the whole family will love, CLICK HERE

Some ideas for your next special occassion… especially if its a Christening.

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Our labels include, Alimrose, annieB, Lambykins, Princess Allure, FairyFloss Creations, Eternal Creation, Vanchi, TikiBoo Kids, Little Pearls for Little Girls, Tea Princess, Three Little trees, Tummbear, Dolly Up, babyjo bamboo baby wear, nest organics, early birds premature baby clothes, teeny weeny premmie baby wear, Oopsidaisi, boxy design, anamalz, Briit design, Bump buddy, cheeky little soles, Sounds for silence, Deshabille, eco peko, fINNIGAN fINN, gertie and me, Hey baby, huggalugs, i candy, lazybones, Knuffle Kid, Ogilvies Designs, Bethany’s Child,  locolili, miniwhisk, mon tresor, nana huchy, nanny pickle, OOBI baby, penny scallan, Tabitha Emma, Tippie Toes, Robert Gordon Australia, Sweetie Pie, Princess Ratbag, Alannah Rose stationary, Mulberry Muse, Vintage Kid, Wild Things of Noosa, YmamaY, Xanna,  and so many more!

CHRISTENING FEATURE

A BIG THANK YOU to LEESA for sharing these gorgeous pics and a little about Molly’s Christening

Words by Leesa

These photos are of my little girl Molly in my all time favourite photo of her (so far) at her Christening.

We had a great day, it was my husband’s 40th birthday on the same day and his family who had never met Molly came over from Tasmania. I made white choc mud cupcakes for her cake and while you can tell they are definitely not professional cakes they still looked kinda pretty LOL xxx

When I first saw this top photo… I was “ahhh and ooohing”,  what a glorious…gorgeous photo!   Hope you have this up and enlarged!!

The cakes also look professional to me, and I can tell a labour of love and dedication went into making each one.   It looks amazing… and special!

Thanks so much for sharing!!

We sent out a CALL OUT to our facebook friends and have lots of amazing and inspirational blog posts coming up to share with you.  Christenings, naming days and baby showers… wow… there is so many great ideas during March…. hope you have a great time reading about them all.

Why not get some inspiration from ollys special Christening Day.  Below are some Christening gifts and ideas to get you started.

 A baby Christening or naming day is so so special and one that will be remembered for a very long time, so make it special.  From  the invites and food, to photo’s and clothing… there is so much to help make it special, and at La Toriana we are here to help.  Maybe a special invitation, baby card?  Or a designer baby outfit for the special day…  check our designer collections of baby gifts, baby clothing and baby designer wear.  Give us a call or email too as we know some people prefer not to buy online.  We have lots of options available.  We look forward to catching up with you soon.

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At La Toriana we also have lots of new arrivals inclusing, Dolly Up, Knuffle Kid, Tippie Toes Couture and any day now the Winter Tea Princess and a few other new designers.  Watch out.

 Our labels include, Alimrose, annieB, Lambykins, Princess Allure, FairyFloss Creations, Eternal Creation, Vanchi, TikiBoo Kids, Little Pearls for Little Girls, Tea Princess, Three Little trees, Tummbear, Dolly Up, babyjo bamboo baby wear, nest organics, early birds premature baby clothes, teeny weeny premmie baby wear, Extreem Glass, Oopsidaisi, boxy design, anamalz, Briit design, Bump buddy, cheeky little soles, Sounds for silence, Deshabille, eco peko, fINNIGAN fINN, gertie and me, Hey baby, huggalugs, i candy, lazybones, Knuffle Kid, Ogilvies Designs, Bethany’s Child, locolili, miniwhisk, mon tresor, nana huchy, nanny pickle, OOBI baby, penny scallan, Tabitha Emma, Tippie Toes, Robert Gordon Australia, Sweetie Pie, Princess Ratbag, Alannah Rose stationary, Mulberry Muse, Vintage Kid, Wild Things of Noosa, YmamaY, Xanna,  and so many more!

Honeycomb creams Cupcakes.

mmm this is a YUMMO cupcake. 

 I dont know about you… but I can never get an even top on my cupcakes… always get a lump in the middle when I get them out of the oven no matter how hard I try to pop a small dent in the middle before popping them in !  (how do they do it?

I like this as I can disguise my uneven cakes with this topping… and looks AWESOM!! Impress your guests when they pop over for Arvo tea.   The kids will love taking one to kinda and school too! (the teachers will think you are amazing… send one along for them too!)  For more great recipes like this see HERE

Decorations:
300ml thickened cream
3 x 50g violet crumble bars, chopped coarsely

 METHOD

1. Preheat oven to moderately slow (170°C/150°C fan-forced). Line 6-hole texas or 12-hole standard muffin pan with paper cases.

2. Sift dry ingredients into small bowl, add butter, egg, buttermilk and syrup; beat mixture with electric mixer on low speed until ingredients are combined. Increase speed to medium, beat until mixture is changed to a paler colour. Stir in chocolate. Divide mixture among cases; smooth surface.

3. Bake large cakes about 40 minutes, small cakes about 30 minutes. Turn cakes onto wire rack to cool.

4. Spread cakes with whipped cream; top with violet crumble.

Warmly Elizabeth xx 

 La Toriana’s FACEBOOK  Profile       

 Our labels include, Alimrose, annieB, Lambykins, Princess Allure, FairyFloss Creations, Eternal Creation, Vanchi, TikiBoo Kids, Little Pearls for Little Girls, Tea Princess, Three Little trees, Tummbear, Dolly Up, babyjo bamboo baby wear, nest organics, early birds premature baby clothes, teeny weeny premmie baby wear, Oopsidaisi, boxy design, anamalz, Briit design, Bump buddy, cheeky little soles, Sounds for silence, Deshabille, eco peko, fINNIGAN fINN, gertie and me, Hey baby, huggalugs, i candy, lazybones, Knuffle Kid, Ogilvies Designs, Bethany’s Child, locolili, miniwhisk, mon tresor, nana huchy, nanny pickle, OOBI baby, penny scallan, Tabitha Emma, Tippie Toes, Robert Gordon Australia, Sweetie Pie, Princess Ratbag, Alannah Rose stationary, Mulberry Muse, Vintage Kid, Wild Things of Noosa, YmamaY, Xanna,  and so many more!

CALL OUT!

we are looking for stories, photo’s, businesses to do with baby Christenings to feature in March ed of our BLOG. if you would love to share… please send info   contact us here.