25 October 2016

Revealing our babies gender - Team Blue or Pink?!


Nathan and I had always said that when we were pregnant, we would not find out the babies gender. A healthy baby was all that we wanted and to find out the gender at delivery would be a marvellous surprise.

Then we found out that there was not one but two heartbeats at our first ultrasound. We decided that having twins was a whole other ball game and it was probably best to be prepared!

We had spoken about concentrating on getting the twins over the milestones of 12 weeks/19 weeks etc and then make sure they were along with all their organs and limbs developing healthy. Finding out the gender could happen later on. I thought we had agreed that was the plan. I thought it was the plan!
 Then here we are with our Obstetrician at 10.5 weeks. When doing the ultrasound, he asked if we wanted to know the gender. Before I could give an answer, Nathan's face lit up, he had the biggest smile on his face. Like a kid at Christmas! How could I say no? 

"Yes, yes, yes!" he said. And that is how the gender was known.
I must say though, mothers instinct, I had sensed the gender when I found out I was pregnant. My gut instinct proved me right.

So we held onto this secret for four weeks and oh boy was it hard! Our parents and siblings tried so hard to get it out of us, but we told them they must wait a few more weeks. We had set a date for a morning tea where we would reveal the gender to our family.

A triple layer naked cake was baked, M&M's of the gender 'colour' were placed inside and with butterflies and excitement the cake was cut. Our family at this point had been quite evenly divided, with 60% saying girls, the other 40% saying boys. 

And so the cake was baked....and revealed....


BOYS!!

We are so over the moon!
 Nathan is already talking about their first fishing rods and taking them fishing to the creek at our new house. It will be perfect, so much grass to play on, trees to climb and the new house even comes with a big cubby house. They certainly will be outdoorsy boys which I love. I grew up a tomboy, playing outside until dark and coming home covered in dirt. The best way to grow up. Especially when you have an identical twin brother by your side!

Fourteen weeks pregnant here, at the gender morning tea - ready to reveal! 

Cutting the cake and throwing a morning tea was such a fun way to reveal to our family and I thought, incase you were interested I would share how I made and assembled the cake. Any excuse for cake huh?! :P

Please note, I did have some hands on help - Nathan was fabulous on the knife carving me lovely flat layers of cake to stack!

I made a three layer simple butter cake, using this recipe here.
I iced it with buttercream icing, I love a simple old fashioned cake! It also allowed me to get that 'naked cake' look which I was aiming for.

HOW TO MAKE A GENDER REVEAL CAKE

To make my three tiered 'naked' cake
Once the three cakes were cooked, I froze each of the three layers (freeze for a minimum of two hours). I had read that this helps, having the cake frozen, to cut it when the cake assembly needs to take place. You see, to get a layered three tier cake, you don't simply stack the three cakes on top of each other (if you tried, you would end up with a leaning tower of Pisa!).
You need to level the cake top out, hence cutting it to get a nice smooth even top finish.

We used a serrated bread knife which worked well, below is Nathan demonstrating his culinary skills and cake levelling.


Then, we assembled the bottom layer, placing icing on top.
With the second layer, using a cookie cutter we cut a hole large enough to fill with M&M's in the middle of the cake, centered. We then sandwiched the second layer, using the icing to stick it to the first. Then came the fun part - filling the hole in the cake with the blue reveal M&M's. Once they were in and filled the hole, we placed more icing on the layer, before sandwiching the top layer on.

Now, we had a three tiered cake, complete with the reveal M&M's inside.


We then iced the sides of the cake, quite roughly to achieve the 'naked' cake look. I had then bought some baby booties and a nappy pin to place on top, alongside the 'Oh babies' sign I had made out of gold glitter cardboard (save yourself $20 at the store and make it yourself, its not hard, just requires some tiny nail scissors!) 

Here it was finished - Voilá!


It was alot of fun making the cake and sharing it with family and now you all know the gender too! 
Two little boys will be joining us by Christmas 2016. What a special Christmas it will be.

TELL ME, DID YOU FIND OUT YOUR BABIES GENDER?
 How did you reveal it to your family and friends?
 Ever been to a gender reveal party before?

Linking up team #IBOT

PS: have you seen my online store is closing, there isn't much stock left, so get in quick. All 30% off! SHOP HERE!
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21 October 2016

Feature Friday: Collette Dinnigan's Home

If you’re new to my Feature Friday posts this is where I love to show you inside both real and celebrity homes. 
Who does the home belong to you ask? 
Fashion Designer Collette Dinnigan.

 Eighteen months after buying this Watson's Bay $6.25 million dollar home, it's on the market.

No expenses have been spared on this Sydney home, with Dinnigan renovating elements of the home after buying it. Shortening the pool to add palm trees and a garden (don't they look divine!) and adding extra bedrooms and bathrooms. Its a series of eclectic, feminine spaces with French details. 

It is the details though that are Dinnigan's signature style - the detailed bed linen, intriguing art and furniture. 

18 October 2016

Spring Sale



I love being creative and using my hands - there is nothing more satisfying to me than standing back and being proud of something you have created.

I have been making dreamcatchers and wooden bead garlands for two years now and loved every minute of it - especially the custom orders, making special baby mobiles or gifts.

My life is taking a change in direction though and soon I will have two little newborns nestled in my arms. My days of creativity and having the time to fulfil orders will be non existent.

So I am having a sale on all existing stock currently listed in my store. A chapter is closing and a new one is beginning, its very exciting!!


Pop on over and take a look - there is 30% off all stock and you never know, there may be something you like for you, or maybe even a gift for Christmas for someone special? All creations are handmade by me and come beautifully gift wrapped. 


Thank you to those who have supported my creative venture so far and thank you to those who take the time to look at my store.


Hope you are having a wonderful week!

Linking up with team IBOT
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14 October 2016

Feature Friday: Palm Beach Hampton's Style

 Hello! If you’re new to my Feature Friday posts this is where I love to show you inside real homes. Today's home tour, is a home in my local neighbourhood. If you are a Gold Coast local, you might know it too?

There was a block of land that was nestled alongside the waterfront homes of Queensland's Palm Beach. Right on the stunning Tallebudgera creek, its a beautiful waterfront location. It was recently bought and this stunning Hampton's home was built. It has recently been listed for sale and was turned in at Auction, now for sale for $1,490,000.

Let's step inside this slice of Hampton's on the waterfront...

11 October 2016

A Life & House Update - Dirt, Nesting and DIY!


I have been a little quiet around here lately!

It has been a massive couple of weeks and I am finally catching my breath! On a personal note, the babies are growing well and we are currently at 23 weeks. All this baby growing is super tiring and some days I just have to pause (to catch my breath especially when walking up stairs!) and just reflect on how incredible the human body is. I feel so blessed to be able to grow and carry two little miracles and constantly find myself staring at my belly in disbelief. I already feel so huge, but there is lots of growing to still do!

At home, we have been busy the last two weeks packing up three bedrooms, as if we were moving house. We had new carpet installed into the bedrooms yesterday, so we had to literally pack everything up and move all furniture out. It was a great excuse for a big spring clean and cull though. Nathan would come home each day to piles off things - things to bin, things to donate to charity and then the pile of 'am I being too sentimental in keeping this, I need your opinion?!' hehe

27 September 2016

Spring has Sprung!


I would have to say September is one of my favourite months of the year.
Spring is officially here, the days are getting much warmer and I have even been tempted to go for a swim! 

I also love a doing a good Spring clean and especially now am in full nesting mode. Yesterday we emptied out the guest room, ready for new carpet to be installed next week, then I can start putting together the nursery for the twins. I am so excited! I keep walking down the hallway, looking at the empty room and cannot believe that soon there will be cots, teeny tiny clothes and two little babies. It is such an exciting time! 


21 September 2016

Chewy Choc Chip Cookies

I had a moment where I had a craving for chewy chocolate chop cookies.

 You know the ones they sell in the bakery section of the supermarket? Filled with sugar, preservatives, but oh so good and chewy?! 

I wanted to recreate this cookie to satisfy my 3pm cookie craving. I came across this recipe and its an absolute winner, I thought I would share it with you today!


 ingredients

1 1/4 cup almond meal
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 cup cacao
1/4 cup cacao nibs
1 cup shredded coconut
1/3 cup coconut nectar or rice malt syrup
3 tbs melted coconut oil

1 egg

method

STEP 1Preheat your oven to 190 degrees and line a tray with baking paper. In a large bowl, sift almond meal, baking powder and raw cacao. Stir through cacao nibs and shredded coconut.
  • STEP 2Whisk remaining wet ingredients in a bowl and add to dry mixture. Use a large spoon to combine.
  • STEP 3Scoop out tablespoon sized mounds onto your baking tray.
  • STEP 4Bake for 10-12 minutes, less time for more chewy cookies, more for some crunch! Let cool for 10 minutes before serving.
DO YOU GET THE 3'OCLOCK SUGAR CRAVING? 
Do you like making healthier options like these cookies, with no added refined sugar too?

On a side note - I just wanted to say a big thank you for all the love and well wishes on my post yesterday - I was honestly so touched and cannot thank you enough. Such exciting times ahead and I cannot wait to share them with you all. so from the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU!
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CONTACT/WORK WITH ME

ASHLEA KERR

Blogger, Creative + Business Owner

Gold Coast, Australia

Interested in working with me? Sounds fantastic, I love working with brands and creating fabulous content for my readers.

glamourcoastalliving@gmail.com

On Glamour Coastal Living