Sayonara 2010 - what a year you have been!

And I mean that - what a big year! Not just for me on a personal level but on this blog.

This little place I call my 'online home' has had a huge year too - with some of the recipes appearing over at Kidspot along with some others I did along the way (birthday cakes/food the prime-minister grew up on) and of course the Christmas on the Cheap Series.  I also did a few editorials over there with the very popular Meal Planning Prowess probably a standout amongst those - the Kidspot Team are very encouraging and just lovely people - which I guess the world has worked out too because their Kidspot Social has grown enormously over this year too.

I've contributed to Kleenex Mum's blog, their Mum's the word eBook and recently the KleenexMums Guide to Giving eBook.  Stay tuned because I'll be doing more work with KleenexMums in the new year (hint hint, go and subscribe!)

Frills has had some wonderful guest posters this year and I've also guest posted elsewhere - it's fun to do that sometimes!  I'm excited to share that there will be at least one regular guest poster next year which I know you'll LOVE. I was also very lucky to be asked to be a contributor over at Make it from Scratch, Sydney Film Festival and Sydney Children's Festival this year which was LOADS of fun.

The highlight of my bloggy and personal life was something you guys had a lot to do with - and was winning the 2010 Kidspot's Top 50 Blogger and my family will holiday in Dunk Island!  We'll be taking this in early June and I can't wait!!

I almost forgot the launch the Facebook page which is where I like to connect with so many readers every day and the newsletter which I'm getting the hang of - I love learning new things.

2010 is also when we started giving away subscriptions monthly to Super Food Ideas - and on new years day I'll be announcing TWO people who have won subscriptions - there's still time to be in the running for that one!   Do you know we had 17 giveaways this year? Wow!


254 RECIPE POSTS THIS YEAR!!! 254!!

I'm hoping to make-over my blog a little in 2011 - and give some new features which will stop me from waking up in the middle of the night writing them down time and again (or perhaps not) and also make it a little easier to use and access.

So here's to a fabulous 2010 - most unexpected and exciting success and here's to 2011 - whatever it brings!  Thank you for visiting, commenting and ENCOURAGING me.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart - HAPPY NEW YEAR!

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The ultimate cinema treat.....

If you're one of my twitter followers, you've been allowing me to torture you with copious Sydney Film Festival Tweets.   If you're not in Sydney and would love to attend, I'll apologise straight up. There are some great films this year, some brilliant films.  If you are in Sydney - well I don't apologise - you should be going.  There is something for everyone - and the ticket costs are very reasonable.

Tonight is opening night, and an incredible buzz has been building all week.  I'm seeing my first two films - Life during wartime  and Sex, drugs and rock n roll on Friday night and I'll be rushing between the two finish/start times as they are at different venues, but it will be SO worth it.  Sunday I'm off to another film in the afternoon - a great time for movie going in my opinion.

So this little creation is an ode to my love of cinema and cinema food.  I worked as an usherette for a while in my late teens and I would make umpteen choc tops, buckets of popcorn and lolly bags.  Funnily enough nearly two decades later I still love all those things, even though I *know* what goes in them.

These you can make for your cinema trip or a night at home in your loungeroom 'cinema'.


Ingredients: (makes 8 cones)
1 mix of lollygobbleblissbombs recipe here
8 waffle cones (Woolworths sell their select brand for about $2 for 12)
200g chocolate (I used Lindt's 70% dessert specialty cooking chocolate)
2 tb cream
sprinkles if desired.

Method:
Make the popcorn and caramel as per recipe above.

Whilst warm, scoop into cones and shape tops into scoop like shapes. Stand in coffee cups whilst they set.


Melt your chocolate in the microwave by placing in microwave proof jug, and heating on 50% heat for 1 minute.  Take out, stir and return to the microwave for another minute on 50% heat.

Stir in cream into chocolate and stir well, allow to cool for about 3-5 minutes, spoon chocolate onto your cones and cover with nuts, sprinkles, maltesers, whatever you like!

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Twigson Giveaway

I'm so lucky and so are you!  As part of my Sydney Film Festival Blog contributor status, I get to give tickets away!  Yay!

I'm giving away a double pass EVERY DAY from Thursday 20th May to Monday 24th May to this gorgeous little film TWIGSON.

ÅSLEIK ENGMARK | NORWAY | 75 MINS

A box office hit in Norway, based on a classic children’s book series, Twigson is the delightful story of young boy who finds an unusual friend. Junior and his family have just moved to a dilapidated house in the country. After falling through the floorboards, he’s sent outside to play – but there are no other kids around. He finds a twig, but this is no ordinary piece of wood; it can talk.

Twigson soon becomes Junior’s best friend joining him on adventures, even saving the family home from termites. Dad is an underwear salesman, but he’s not very good at his job, so the family may have to move again. Now that Junior’s found some friends, he’d much rather stay put. Can he do anything to help his father’s business? Selected for this year’s Berlin Film Festival, Twigson is a charming and funny film that celebrates imagination and friendship.

Ages 6+


Showing Saturday 12th June 12.30pm & Monday 14th June 3:00pm at Event Cinemas George Street Sydney - click here to book tickets

What do you need to do to win?
Just leave a comment here!
I will need your email address if I can't track you through your comment (or email it to me via the 'contact me' on the menu bar)


I will announce the winner directly and broadcast on twitter each night at 8pm

Here, there...

Just thought I'd send you around the interwebs and catch up with my escapades elsewhere!

Here I am at Sydney Film Festival - recounting my insular days with babies

And here I am at Kidspot giving you some tips on guilt free grocery shopping - no need to leave your values at the supermarket checkout!








And some new recipes over at kidspot this week from my kitchen:

Clown cupcakes/muffins - decorate any cake or muffin this way for school, snack, birthday party or trip to the big-top!

And continuing on with the rainbow theme from the popular jelly rainbow - here are rainbow lollipops

ENJOY MY FRIENDS!

and let me know what you think ?

Sydneysiders get ready...

Many people think film festivals are only for those who wear quirky glasses and wear smoking coats and congregate to discuss the films in detail afterwards.... um no.  (well ok, maybe a few!) But friends there is no Q&A at the end of the film to see how much you 'loved''got''understood' or 'theorised the plot' 'criticised the editing' or the like.  It's not just for film buffs.  Film festivals are for those who like film and want to be entertained.   It's like going to the library of films.  Except you've not read any of the books, and many of the films may make you think about things.

I first went to the Sydney Film Festival as a child of about 9 - my aunt took me along to the kid's festival and I saw Fatty Fin.  The Festival then was exclusively shown at the State Theatre in Market Street and that in itself was an experience as it's architecture and furnishings are beautiful and I remember feeling like I had entered a fairytale castle.  For years to come I would return and see films that premiered at the festival go on to be part of my cultural footprint. For example, when I was in my teens, I saw Ferris Buellers' Day off - and  in my 20's I saw Muriels' Wedding at the Festival - it spoke to me on many levels (and I'm not just talking about ABBA).

The great news for all of us with kids is that the festival these days is even more accessible for those of us, there will be a kid's program again, and also for those of us with little ones, Mums and Bubs session..

The exciting news is I am a contributor on the Festival blog and will be attending both with the kids and in my own space, I can hardly wait.  Cinema is a fantastic escape!

Quote from Sydney Film Festival Website:
"The 2010 festival will screen the best of the world's cinema, approximately 150 feature-length films from around 45 countries, including features, documentaries, short films, retrospectives, a silent film presentation, films for families and a series of industry events and forums."


Some news released today -opening and closing films
The world premiere of South Solitary directed by Shirley Barrett and starring Miranda and Barry Otto will open the Sydney Film Festival!

Image from www.news.com.au

Meredith is a 35 year-old unmarried woman who arrives at a remote lighthouse island 1928 with her uncle the new head keeper.


The 2010 Closing Night film is The Kids Are All Right, starring Annette Bening, Julianne Moore Mark Ruffalo and Australia's Mia Wasikowska 

Image from www.indiewire.com

A couple, Nic and Jules (Annette Benning and Julianne Moore), live with their teenage children, Joni and Laser (Mia Wasikowska and Josh Hutcherson), in a cozy craftsman bungalow in Los Angeles. As Joni prepares for college, her younger brother pesters her for a big favor—help him find their biological father. Against her better judgment, she makes a call to the sperm bank; the bank, in turn, calls Paul (Mark Ruffalo) and asks him if he’s willing to meet his daughter. He agrees, and a complicated new chapter begins for the family.


If you're an I-phone nut - 
SFF has an app so you can buy your tickets online - see the festival blog for details


Want to see the full program?
Pick it up for nothing in tomorrow's Sydney Morning Herald!  


Want to see my picks and reports on the festival?
I'll be blogging about that over at the Sydney Film Festival Blog  follow or get your RSS Feed there!


PLUS


We'll be doing some giveaways here!.... more details to follow my friends.