bear hunt

We're going on a bear hunt

We're going to catch a big one

What a beautiful day!

We're not scared

lil adventure

Lil adventure in the woods with daddy.

dorset . be back soon

We love going to the beach and will definitely be back soon!

dorset . sharing

Milou hadn't quite master the art of sharing.

dorset . toes

The feeling of sand between your toes. 

dorset . 70th birthday

I baked a lemon blueberry cake with cream cheese frosting for my father in law's 70th birthday. This cake is so light and moist!

Lemon Blueberry Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

Ingredients

• 1 ½ cups cake flour*
• 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• ¼ tsp baking soda
• ¾ tsp salt
• ½ cup maple syrup
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 Tbsp lemon zest
• 4 large eggs
• 2 tsp lemon extract
• ½ tsp vanilla extract
• ¾ cup + 2 Tbsp milk
• ¼ cup + 2 Tbsp sour cream
• 2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
• 2 ½ cups fresh blueberries, at room temperature, rinsed and drained well


Cream Cheese Frosting
• 12 oz cream cheese, softened
• ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• ¼ tsp lemon extract
• 2 Tbsp maple syrup
• Blueberries for garnish

Directions

• - Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 
• - Butter 3 x 9" round baking pans and line the bottom with parchment paper. Butter parchment paper and lightly dust pan with flour, shaking out excess.
• - Sift cake flour into a mixing bowl. Add all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt and whisk for 30 seconds, set aside. 
• - Whip together butter, maple syrup and lemon zest until mixture is pale and fluffy with an electric mixer. 
• - In a 2 cup liquid measuring cup, measure out milk then stir in sour cream and lemon juice, let rest 3 minutes. 
• - Mix eggs into butter mixture one a time, then stir in lemon extract and vanilla extract.-
• - Toss blueberries with 3 Tbsp of the flour mixture. Working in three separate batches, beginning and ending with remaining flour mixture, add 1/3 of the flour mixture (to the butter/egg mixture) alternating with 1/2 of the milk mixture and mixing just until combined after each addition. 
• - Gently fold in blueberries. 
• - Divide mixture evenly among the three baking pans. 
• - Bake in preheated oven for about 24 - 27 minutes. 
• - Cool in baking pans about 20 - 30 minute then invert onto wire racks to cool completely. - 
• - Once cool, frost with cream cheese frosting and decorate with blueberries 
• 
  
• Cream Cheese Frosting:
• - Whip butter until pale and fluffy. 
• - Add cream cheese and mix until smooth and fluffy. 
• - Add vanilla and lemon extract and maple syrup and blend several minutes longer until smooth and fluffy 
• - Chill the frosting in the fridge for half an hour before frosting the cake.
• 
  

* you make your own cake flour by replacing 2 Tbsp of all purpose flour with the same amount of corn flour for every cup of flour required.

dorset . gymnast

Lil gymnast was busy at practising her performance.

dorset . too cute

I couldn't resist sharing another one. That cheeky smile is just too cute!

dorset . smiley

One more of this beach bum with a smiley face.

dorset . beach

Beach days always! We can't wait to do it everyday this Summer.

dorset . puppy

Duke will be four in July but he thinks he is still a puppy!

dorset . life

Life is better with this cute lil fur child. Love her to bits! 

dorset . dreams

Breakfast + Sand + Beach + Vitamin D =  D R E A M S !

birthday boy

Happy Birthday to you

Happy Birthday to you

Happy Birthday dear huzbun

Happy Birthday to you

Love you! xo

post nap . teething

I wish I had a magic wand to make all the teething pain to go away. 

post nap . happy buddha

happy buddha . happy mummy

bekonscot . laughter

Her laughter is contagious, timeless and music to my ears.

bekonscot . joy

The joy of calmness in the midst of the chaotic surroundings. 

bekonscot . slide

The same expression every time!

bekonscot . play

I read somewhere that playing is the highest form of research.

bekonscot . sweet lil giant

A sweet lil giant in a miniature wonderland.

bekonscot . day out

This was from our family day out at the Bekonscot Model Village and Railway a couple of years ago. Milou had lots of fun exploring around and this reminded me that we must bring Marceau there too. From what I gathered, it has been popular for a few generations of visitors. It portrays a timeless image of rural England from the 1930s and is the oldest original model village in the world. 

easter . healthier alternative

A friend posted a brilliant idea of wrapping grapes in tin foil as an alternative to chocolate for Easter egg hunt. I loved the idea and so did Milou! Her little face lit up when she unwrapped the 'egg' and saw it was a grape. I think it is going to be our new tradition for all future Easter egg hunt events. 

easter . chocolate

Nothing stands between my husband and his chocolate!

easter . tea set

This young man has never had chocolate before and we are in no hurry to introduce it to him just yet. He was happy and busy serving everyone a cuppa with the cute little tea set at Nana and Grandad's house.

easter

We spent our Easter weekend with my in laws in Dorset. Unfortunately the entire weekend was a washout. I was determined not to let the weather dampen our spirits so we carried our annual egg hunt in their lounge. The hunt turned out to be great fun indoor too. Their collection of toys came in handy when hiding the Easter eggs. Milou thoroughly enjoyed the hunt and was delighted to discover some of the 'eggs' were actually grapes!

design museum . someday

design museum . observe

sit back . observe . you learn more that way

design museum . picture in picture

Views of London from another perspective.

design museum . date

A date to the design of the year exhibition in London with my little girl.