I wish you all a most blessed, happy and holy Christmas! I thank you all for your ongoing support this year and look forward to returning soon.
God bless you and your families!
Merry Christmas!
No stress this Christmas.
As we have been going about our regular errands and appointments I’ve noticed a change in my relatively busy outer city suburb. This change happens about this time every year. It starts with rushing, pained expressions, the inability to obtain a car park and by this time next week will have worked itself into a frenzy. Yes, it’s Christmas.
The junk mail piles up almost daily in my letterbox, the traffic is terrible and people are stressed. People are pre-occupied with who is coming, how many to feed, what gifts to buy on credit to increase their debt just that little bit more.
That is how “the world” celebrates Christmas. But we do not need to be part of that, and that is not part of us. We celebrate Christmas because we love Jesus, and this is his birthday. It is also a time for relaxing, enjoying family and a few treats. What is so stressful about that?!
This year my husband is working right through the Christmas period so we have decided to keep things as simple as possible. Latin Mass on Christmas Eve, a few presents for the children on Christmas morning before husband leaves for work, plenty of fresh fruit, a few special food treats, our traditional fruit punch and a pudding of some sort. When husband returns home we can have our usual Christmas concert (sharing of poems, songs, plays and talents) and just enjoy being together.
If you are feeling stressed or anxious about Christmas I ask you to dig deep and ask yourself why. Because the most important thing about this Christmas is that your words and actions bring glory to He who is the reason for the day itself – Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
“Adoration of the Shepherds” by Gerard van Honthorst, 1622
Easy Homemade Healthy Chocolate (3 Ingredients!)
Looking for a quick, clean, and delicious chocolate fix? This 3-ingredient healthy chocolate recipe is rich, satisfying, and made with simple pantry staples. It’s naturally sweetened, dairy-free, and perfect for anyone trying to reduce refined sugar without giving up dessert.
You get to choose exactly what goes into your healthy chocolate without having to read a label to find hidden nasties!
This recipe will literally take you 5 minutes and provides you with a whole batch to last.
And here’s another reason to make your own: the price of dark chocolate has more than doubled in the past couple of years! By making it at home, you not only control the ingredients—you also save money.
Whether you follow a clean eating lifestyle or just want a healthier sweet treat, this version of homemade chocolate is a must-try.
✨ Ingredients:
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3 tablespoons virgin organic, cold-pressed coconut oil
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1 – 2 tablespoons (according to taste) unsweetened cocoa powder
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2 teaspoons raw honey
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2 teaspoons desiccated coconut (optional for texture and added flavor)
👩🍳 Instructions:
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In a small saucepan or microwave-safe bowl, gently melt the coconut oil and honey together, stirring to combine thoroughly.
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Stir in the cocoa powder until smooth and fully incorporated.
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Add the desiccated coconut (if using) and mix well.
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Pour the mixture into chocolate moulds.
No moulds? Use a small, lined container with sides—once set, simply cut into bite-sized chunks. -
Place in the freezer until completely set (around 20–30 minutes).
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Unmould and store in an airtight container in the fridge or freezer.
Tip: I like to keep mine in the freezer so I can grab one in the evening when my tastebuds are crying out for something sweet!
💰 Budget Bonus:
A block of dark chocolate can now cost upwards of $8 😳 —making your own with pantry ingredients is not only healthier, but also more affordable.
*This post contains affiliate links. For further information, please see my disclosure policy.
📝 Notes:
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Customize your chocolate by adding a sprinkle of sea salt, chopped nuts, or a drop of natural peppermint or orange extract.
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These chocolates melt quickly at room temperature if it’s warm enough —best kept cold until you’re ready to indulge.
Would you like this recipe as a printable recipe card? Simply click the link and download 😀
Girl’s dress recon
We have some kind neighbours who often give children’s clothes they no longer need (they have 3 girls so it works out well!) I loved the fabric and full skirt of this Pumpkin Patch dress but the halter neck was a little too lacking in modesty for my taste.
A pair of sharp scissors, a sewing machine and 30 minutes later… it’s a skirt! I have had such precious little time to sew lately and this was such an easy alteration to make, it’s even lined. The cost of the elastic and thread come to about $1, what a bargain 🙂
And most importantly, it passes the twirl factor!
Christmas woolly special
Screen printed art
I’m excited to share the news that art prints are now available in my husband’s Etsy shop.
So you can fully appreciate these prints, let me tell you how they are produced 🙂
Firstly, he draws the design by hand. No computers, just pencil, pen and paper (his protractor comes in handy too!) Next, the design is screen printed onto paper and dried. Lastly, he colours the design by hand with his beautiful set of Prisma pencils.
Now, that’s what I call authentic art!
I hope you like them too. There are only a couple in his shop at the moment, but he will add more as he gets the time 🙂
Handmade in Australia Marketplace
I’ve started a new Facebook group – Handmade in Australia Marketplace in order to further my support for Australian Artisans.
Having been a member of many Facebook groups I’ve found that they can be “stuffy” when it comes to artisans sharing items that they happen to be selling. Some groups consider this to be spam. What a pity.
Here is my artisan selling philosophy: Lets all help each other. Pretty simple, right? One of the hardest aspects of having a handmade business is getting the exposure you need, and if we all helped each other freely, then we all benefit.
So…. if you’re a handmade artisan or artist and you are Australian, you are welcome to join the group. You can post photos of your products, links to your shop or website, recommend other artisans you like, invite your friends to join, or if you are a supporter of handmade you can browse and follow the links to shop 🙂
Silk, beautiful silk!
I love silk, don’t you? Not just for the way it feels when you wear it or the way it takes dye so beautifully, but also for the way it’s made – so cool!
So, I thought I’d share with you some of the work I’ve been doing with silk of late. I’ve been implementing a lot of Japanese dyeing techniques with excellent results.
Arashi – meaning “storm” creates these wondrous waves.
I cheated – this is bamboo, not silk, but I love the results so much I couldn’t not share it!
Crepe de chine, different to silk habotai but equally wonderful in it’s qualities.
Some of these scarves have already sold but others have only just been uploaded to my Etsy shop, so pop over for a gander if you see something you like – they make wonderful gifts too 🙂
Giveaway at Twisted Ink!
To celebrate the opening of his Etsy shop, my lovely husband is having a giveaway on his Facebook page. Take a look, you could win a shirt and even get to choose the design you like best!
Good luck!
Watercolour workshop
I’ve been stumbling along by myself with watercolour for some time, waiting for the right time to do a class. Last week, I was very blessed to attend a one day workshop with local Melbourne artist Stefan Gevers.
Although my results weren’t brilliant, I did learn a great deal and solidified a lot of the knowledge I’d gained from books. I feel like a few gaps have been filled in and I’m better equipped to move forward with my painting.
And mostly, I really enjoyed the intimate class in Stefan’s home studio. I would really love to take some of his regular classes, particularly the botanical ones, he is very talented and a great teacher too.