This is my first post for Pink Saturday, thanks for having me girls.
While there is an awful lot of white in the Beach Cottage, pink creeps in, mostly in the form of flowers and peely paint. I mean what is better than a flower in pink, possibly a white one? Probably not.
Bear with me, while a gush on then, about the two Camelia trees in the Beach Cottage, a very lucky addition in a garden that is, at the moment, in a bit of a sorry state apart from these two beauties.
I think the pink one has to be close to the best you can get, I love the double petals, the voluptuous layering, the blushing pinkness, the heavy way the heads hang. Need I go on?
I stuck these on my dressing table the other morning. Mmm lovely and I think that may be the last for this year…nearly as good as my David Austin roses in our house in England. But not quite…
and here are some a few weeks ago with my new, oh-so-fabulous, Gail McCormack original.
Yep, she is uber-talented and if you like what you see, you can find more hereand I'm thinking if you like pink this ol' bathing beauty might take your fancy…
and don't forget if you comment or Tweet me you'll get an entry into the Beach Cottage oh-so-delicious Giveaway to win a Beach Cottage Table Runner & Decor Ball – yes sirree even if you commented yesterday, you'll just get another entry…
So over and out from the Cottage, I'm going down the beach…
Wow, 50 comments already! I’m lost down here at the bottom! LOL! Love the pink carnations. I almost put some in my post today, along with the roses, but decided to save that pic til another time, and glad I did, so I can enjoy yours! You are so fortunate to live where you do, by the water, it’s breathtaking! And your cottage home is wonderful..So nice! Happy Pink Saturday, and be sure to come back again and again and again!
I think your pink flowers get the spotlight! It’s refreshing to be able to appreciate them when they are not blending in with other pinks or florals in a room. They steal the show!
Hi Sarah!
Lovely pink flowers. Your beach house is so beautiful. Thank you for sharing. Thanks also for the wonderful give away. Please enter my name. I would also like to invite you to stop by my blog. Country Wings in Phoenix. Happy Pink Saturday honey, and I look forward to your visit soon. Country Hugs, Sherry
HAppy Pink sat,Such pretty pink flowers in your home.The table runner looks wonderful in there with the white. I really like the star fish pic too.Hugs,Jen
You did a super job on your first pink Saturday. It is a great day to share with all the pink friends. Your flowers are simply beautiful. Glad you had time for a visit with me.
Hello and Welcome to your first Pink Saturday!!
I just love your pink Rose, and I love the David Austin roses… such beauty in a Rose,,, hope you are having a wonderful weekend at the beach….
The flowers look incredibly lovely…, and that little burlap belt around the glass just makes it all so perfect. And I’m excited about the giveaway too. I’ll take my chance. Thanks!
A camilia TREE? Oh how lucky you are to have one! It is far too hot in my area of So. California to have nice camelias, so I will just envy yours!
Love your blog, your house, your enthusiasm. Can’t wait to find out or figure out what you use as your “white” paint. I have much to use it on! Do you or did you give out the formula?
Always,
Jackie Lee
Ihope it isn’t too late to put my name in for your drawing.
Sorry-I’ve been out of commission — terribly sick for over a week– but do you want to know how I cut my grocery bill in half? go to Cut your grocery bills now plus I have a give a way and a new Mr Linky party starting tomorrow but Mr Linky will be up by 8 p.m. tonight
I just stumbled into your blog. I also have a beach cottage. ( Doesn’t cottage mean quaint?) Mine is in Washington State, usa. I love it. Nice to find you.
Hi Sarah!
The pink is lovely! All three of our camelias have died and gone to plant heaven, but they were the ugly single-petal, bright red type, no great loss if you ask me.
The white, grey and pink in your room is a fabulous combo.
Have a happy Day,
G'day! I'm Sarah, I live in a tatty old cottage, near the sea in Australia with a battered old deck & a big old fig tree out the back...stripped wooden floors, old sash windows & a jumble of vintage furniture. [Read More …]
G’day ladies, oooh have I got a good Beach Cottage recipe for you or have I got a good recipe for you. Well it’s actually not Beach Cottage, I cannot claim that… So, a couple of months ago I met up with a couple of blogging friends, AllConsuming and Mrs W for a lil [...]
G'day ladies, let's have a Too Easy Beach Cottage recipe yeah? The original place for Too Easy Recipes on the web ;-)
So, after my last salad went down a storm in my inbox, that's here if you missed it, I had to do this one seeing as I make it most weeks.
There is a problem with this salad and kiddos though...it looks, well, it looks, kinda yucky...but once they try it, they'll ask if and when they are next having it....at least that's what happens in this ratty old cottage...but I must interject here that my kiddos are 'good eaters'? ...they didn't get a choice in that ;-)
Now, stop, don't start running and hitting that next on your blog reading list, pulses are your best friend in the Too Easy Dump & Go kitchen for the busy mum, or busy anyone for that matter...that reminds me I must blog the garlic canneloni Go To for when you forgot to do dinner, feel like a bath but have three ravenous young Beach Cottage Kiddos on your hands...another day.
I am almost embarrassed to tell you how easy this is, we have it so much that I always have a couple, make that six, cans of lentils around and a jar of goat's cheese in the fridge...the great thing about this is that it's all too easy to get ready in just a few minutes, but it looks, tastes and seems like you did oh so very much more than that.
You can obviously too change it up a bit depending on what you have to hand in your kitchen, and I must say that is how I settled on this version...because one day when I made it I didn't have enough Parsley in the garden and so I chucked in some basil too, and liked the Summer feel it added.
I think of this as being a rather posh salad, not sure why, because it couldn't really be further from the truth...the great thing is that it works so well for an average run of the mill day, (when I did this for this blog post, it was a hot Sydney Sunday and I did it just simply to go with Rosemary & Garlic stuffed pork, you can see that pork here),
...but just as easily it works on a regular old Wednesday night when you have lost all enthusiasm for rustling up yet another meal, or indeed on Saturday night, when your friends are on their way over for dinner and you my friend, are in your new vintage inspired clawfoot bathtub (that's me in a few weeks time, k?) without any clothes on, a tipple and no idea what to cook for dinner...
I have a complicated and ever-changing relationship with goat's cheese...it never fails me in its performance and it never fails to impress me (you can find out a bit more on what I like in food here if you like) and I kinda collect it...because it's very easy to collect and has a fairly long fridge-life, I love trying out different ones and there's not many things I love more than goat's cheese on sourdough...but I think the best thing about it is not thinking about it exclusively in the toast/salad department...I've stuffed it in chicken and all sorts of things as a last minute and it's been fab.
But let's get down to the nitty gritty of this super salad that makes you look like an angel who has been on her knees all day scrubbing the front step when really you are in the digital world and spent most of ...
G'day Beach Cottage ladies, howdy, howdy howdy today for a Beach Cottage Too Easy recipe.
If you like cake, cream, sugar and chocolate, make this.
This is, rather than a recipe, a putting it together...as you know I am no dessert maker, but, I do make quite a few sweet things, because, somehow I have ended up with kiddos, who in their roles as offspring, believe that part of the deal, is that not only do I feed them a home-cooked meal with a few homegrown ingredients in there, yes, they also believe that dessert and not the kind that comes out of a packet is included too in this All-Inclusive Deal they call Parenthood.
So, this, for sure, is no culinary masterpiece, but if you are looking for something that is so very easy, dump-able, uses everyday ingredients and at the same time makes you look like you spent hours pulling things together plus tastes good....well, then this is for you.
Best though, you don't make this for yourself, if you have spent the most part of your week sitting on your derriere reading blogs...this my friend ain't low in the calories department...if, however, you are treating yourself to a delight in a mason jar, this is so for you.
I first had a version of this when at dinner back in Old Blighty with a girl, I once, in another life, caught the train up from our village to London with...she was a funny thing really...I am not quite sure how we got on...she was kinda prissy and a bit bothered by too much...I would run to the train flustered, having got up late, and she would have a spreadsheet on the train times, if you know what I mean.
Anyway, a few years later when we both had bambinos, I bumped into her again and we met up for playdates and dinner sometimes....this particular night, after a lovely meal she served up little bowls of creamy, cakey fruity stuff topped off with chocolate flake...it was delicious!
She didn't serve hers in little jars like this, hers were in a champagne glass and not quite so layered as these ones, plus she used tinned fruit not fresh or frozen.
Years later when said offspring kept requesting dessert, one day I wangled together somehow these from what was around in the fridge and they've been with us ever since.
Most likely, if you ever come here for dinner, and shock horror, you dont' bring the dessert with you, this, if you are lucky, will be what you will get.
Throw it all together, sprinkle a lil bit of chocolate on the top and the blog reading past-time you so rudely left in order to make this, is my friend, your oyster.
Beach Cottage Too Easy Layered Raspberry, Cream & Sponge Dessert
1 small maderia or butter cake or a pack of cupcakes (or of course make your own)
1/2 cup whipping cream
1/2 cup cream cheese
1/4 cup sugar
8 tbsp fruit
1 x chocolate Flake or chocolate bar for grating
1. beat the cream cheese until it is soft
2. whip the cream until soft peaks form
3. combine & add the sugar through
4. cut your cake into portions
& layer into the bottom of your jar
5. add a tablespoon of fruit
6. layer on top the cream combo
7. repeat
8. grate chocolate or Flake on top
*Beach Cottage Recipe Notes : this is just a guide really, you can use any cream that you have on hand...I have made this with clotted cream (don't even go there unless you want to seriously get these babies on your thighs), with double cream and I have even, in desperate times squirted in that, ...
G'day Beach Cottage ladies, well I thought it was time for some blogging tips here today, alongside a few nice flowers and shells ;-)
I was recently part of a blogger discussion group over at Kidspot and a couple of hours later had a few questions from girls who couldn't make it to the live chat, one was on my Facebook page and one via email, the Facebook one I will deal with in another Real Girl Blogging Tips post...the email one asked me what essentials do I think every blog needs?
Well I have been around here for a while now doing the blogging thing, so I should know this, yeah and I mused this on my walk by the sea this morning I thought well what do you only need?
...I think it is really very easy when blogging, whether or not you are blogging up there in the lofty heights of the Super Bloggers or you are just dipping your toe in the water, to get side-tracked by 101 million different things that are 'essential' to your blog and if you are someone like me who actually gets a thrill from reading blogging tips then you are in an even worse place because you will find yourself literally buzzing with these essential things to add/do/implement on your blog.
However, walking along, gulping down that brisk sea air today (no sunshine & clouds) I thought you actually don't need any of that professional blogging stuff to be successful...but there are a few things that are pretty much crucial ...and once I started to think about it I got it down to about 5 - these are the only things that you need to concentrate on...once you have read through take a look at some of the big girl's blogs...you'll see that actually they don't have bundles of stuff on their blogs...but they do have all of these...
So here are my top things that your blog must have
1. About Page
There are all sorts of About Pages out there, and if you search on it there are many different tips and ideas for what to have on yours
Whatever blogging platform you use, adding an About Me Page is easy, quick and simple and will do everything to grow your blog.
I like a long-ish About Page, I am inherently nosy and I like to know a bit more about the person but at the least you should have on it your name and where you are located. I also think a photo is good too...over the last year or so I think this has become more important in blogging - if you are hesitant about that as I was, you can try using sunglasses or a behind shot until you get comfortable.
There is nothing worse than stumbling upon a new blog and going to find out more to only be faced with a piddly little one liner About Me Page...well there is something worse, not having one at all!
2. Contact Page
The chances are someone, somewhere will want to contact you and you will be surprised what lands in your inbox once you put yourself out there on the world wide web with a blog.
Many bloggers also use this page to include details for PR's/brands that may want to contact them and some bloggers put their stats on there too.
A short, to the point and simple Contact Page works really well...whenever I have wanted to contact another blogger I am often very busy and have limited time so I don't want to hang around sifting through information looking for an email address, so concise and clear ...
G'day lovely Beach Cottage lovelies.
So, yeah, so on a roll people, so on a roll.
I feel kinda home accessory wired right now.
I am always telling people, if anyone ever listens, that blogging is all about passion, not that sort of passion, but about passion that makes one tick.
Things like this make me tick tick boom.
I love finding things that suit my budget and let me treat my home but look amazing too.
So without further adieu I introduce you, ladies of the beach, to the blue vintage glasses that I have been stroking for about a week or two now...
These glasses are from a little boutique I sometimes happen upon, this boutique sells also pet accessories, carpet cleaner, bras and compost...it's quite unique though.
And, thanks to my friend Marnie (she blogs over here, go take a look at her praying position, interesting), who just so happens to be one day having me over for a lil' Greek dinner, has let me in on the fact that we call Kmart....The KMart...with an accent ....as in 'I love The KMart'...just like her MIL does. Oh yeah. Love that.
So I have had my eye on reproduction vintage glass blue wine glasses and being trying to find real true vintage blue glasses for like ever.
Oh yes I have spied them in Frenchy boutiques, I have lusted after them in stores that I shouldn't even enter and I have put them back pretty quickly in those shops with the hand-written price tags. C'mon, you know the ones.
And, though all of the above have tempted me, muchly, really, even with my wardrobe stashing skills I just thought that, actually, I'd rather be saving that casherooni for our next trip overseas..
Hello The KMart.
Tick Tick Boom
Vintage style blue wine glasses.
Do not come to my old place and think you might pick up one of these and smile with pleasure at their handblown quality, their weight, and be secretly jealous that my wine glasses cost more than your car...friend, that would not happen...these do not feel like that...indeed these in a funny way reminded me of my baby girl, she was a tiny little thing, with stick legs, the tinsssssssiest ankles and wrists you ever did see, she slept sideways in her cot wedged in between rolled up blankets and would only settle attached to Mr Beach Cottage or I or a (dirty) pj top of mine scrunched up under her nose...the first few times I picked her up to cuddle, being used to Honeymoon Baby who weighed in at 9lbs at birth and has never really stopped growing, I nearly threw her little bird-cum-rat down covered body over my shoulder.
These glasses are like that...be careful or you might lose your wine down the front of your shirt.
But oh baby, we are not talking picking up here, we are not talking quality, we are not talking house accessory snobbery.
Beach Cottage ladies, we are talking aesthetics.
And this is what I need in my cottage.
Blue vintage style glass, paired with coastal / nautical / beach stuff on my deck.
It's The KMart.
Tune in tomorrow, tomorrow, I have more budget foofing for your home, or maybe it will be the dress that wraps me up in supermarket-chic and makes me feel like me again.
Good Day to you my friends, wanna come hang out on my deck, talk house accessories, The KMart and drink some wine from blue glasses?
Sarah
Happy 1st Pink Saturday, Sarah! The camelia is so lovely. How beautiful they look against your beachy white.
Have fun with your 1st Pink Saturday!
Tina
Wow, 50 comments already! I’m lost down here at the bottom! LOL! Love the pink carnations. I almost put some in my post today, along with the roses, but decided to save that pic til another time, and glad I did, so I can enjoy yours! You are so fortunate to live where you do, by the water, it’s breathtaking! And your cottage home is wonderful..So nice! Happy Pink Saturday, and be sure to come back again and again and again!
Welcome to PS Sarah. Lovely post and blog!
Happy weekend.
I think your pink flowers get the spotlight! It’s refreshing to be able to appreciate them when they are not blending in with other pinks or florals in a room. They steal the show!
Beautiful as always! I love the burlap wrapped around the jar. Very cute!
Welcome to Pink Saturday!!! I love the pretty pink flower pictures!
Lovely share for P.S. I’ll see you down at the beach.
Sarah, Your pink flowers are so pretty! Please enter me in your giveaway, I would love to win! Hugs, ~cindy s~
Thanks for visiting me over at herhousehold Sarah! What a fun surprise! Count me again for your fabulous giveaway!
Hi Sarah!
Lovely pink flowers. Your beach house is so beautiful. Thank you for sharing. Thanks also for the wonderful give away. Please enter my name. I would also like to invite you to stop by my blog. Country Wings in Phoenix. Happy Pink Saturday honey, and I look forward to your visit soon. Country Hugs, Sherry
HAppy Pink sat,Such pretty pink flowers in your home.The table runner looks wonderful in there with the white. I really like the star fish pic too.Hugs,Jen
What gorgeous flowers. What a beautiful pink saturday you made!
You did a super job on your first pink Saturday. It is a great day to share with all the pink friends. Your flowers are simply beautiful. Glad you had time for a visit with me.
Great post for Pink Saturday. What a beautiful camelia. Gail’s paintings are wonderful
Alison
Well you have fun at the beach! For you and me both, since I don’t have a beach anywhere near me!
Brenda
Welcome to Pink Saturday! Beautiful post. I am so jealous you are going to the beach! Yes, please enter me in your fantastic giveaway!
Welcome to Pink Saturday. Lovely pink post.
Your pictures are awesome and perfect! I wanna painting it!!
Happy Pink Saturday and enjoy your weekend
I hope you!
love the pink flowers they make for a cheery day!
Lovely, lovely flowers. Welcome ro Pink Saturday and sign me up for your fabulous giveaway!
Nancy
Wishing you a wonderful day.
Thanks for stopping at my blog! I am enjoying my first Pink Saturday!
Those flowers are beautiful! Thanks so much for sharing your beach cottage with us.
great giveaway- love your blog.
Hello and Welcome to your first Pink Saturday!!
I just love your pink Rose, and I love the David Austin roses… such beauty in a Rose,,, hope you are having a wonderful weekend at the beach….
I would love a chance to win your give a way…..
Hugs;
Alaura
Pink Saturday Ladies are the Best. Welcome to your first Pink Saturday . You will love it! Simply the best flowers.MEG
The flowers look incredibly lovely…, and that little burlap belt around the glass just makes it all so perfect. And I’m excited about the giveaway too. I’ll take my chance. Thanks!
I love the runner!
Welcome to Pink Saturday. A lovely post and beautiful blog. You have a real flair for design.
Happy Pink Saturday,
Karen
Love your site -makes me want to go to the beach… Except in Texas it’s not 72 degrees anywhere!
Fabulous….pink is our favorite color
I so enjoy your photos and blog.
Cheers,
Cheryl at Casual Cottage Chic
http://www.casualcottagechic.com
A very lovely Pink Saturday post! The flowers are beautiful.
Sharon
Oh Sarah, that is just gorgeous! We’re probably too cold here to have those. Wonder if I can pull them off indoors…hmmm….
Lovely!
hugs,
Susan
beautiful flower thanks for pointing me in the direction of pink saturday:)
A camilia TREE? Oh how lucky you are to have one! It is far too hot in my area of So. California to have nice camelias, so I will just envy yours!
Love your blog, your house, your enthusiasm. Can’t wait to find out or figure out what you use as your “white” paint. I have much to use it on! Do you or did you give out the formula?
Always,
Jackie Lee
I Love those flowers. Everything is so beautiful.
Ihope it isn’t too late to put my name in for your drawing.
Sorry-I’ve been out of commission — terribly sick for over a week– but do you want to know how I cut my grocery bill in half? go to Cut your grocery bills now plus I have a give a way and a new Mr Linky party starting tomorrow but Mr Linky will be up by 8 p.m. tonight
Cheri
Its So Very Cheri
HI!!! Your pictures are gorgeous the way the pink flowers stand out against the white of the room.lovely!
THAT’S so not fair! Can I go down to the beach with you? Lucky Lady! So nice to have you at Pink Saturday. Happy belated day to you. xo Lynn
Love the pics! Fresh cut roses and a walk on the beach…what a perfect day.
Better late than never! Lovely Pink post. Welcome to Pink Saturday.
Joyce M
Amazingly gorgeous Camelia’s, Sarah!!
I just stumbled into your blog. I also have a beach cottage. ( Doesn’t cottage mean quaint?) Mine is in Washington State, usa. I love it. Nice to find you.
Hi Sarah, Flowers always add something especially home grown. Beautiful pics as always
Those flowers are simply stunning!! So beautiful.
Thanks for posting that!
You have a calming a very beautiful style to your home. I really enjoy following your blog!
Beautiful pictures, beautiful roses. You will make me join in, I think!
I love your hint of pink among all the white. It looks so elegant and romantic!
welcome to pink saturday and what a BEAUTIFUL first post! SWOON!
xo
What gorgeous flowers!
Hi Sarah!
The pink is lovely! All three of our camelias have died and gone to plant heaven, but they were the ugly single-petal, bright red type, no great loss if you ask me.
The white, grey and pink in your room is a fabulous combo.
Have a happy Day,
Hi Sarah
Love your beautiful camelias, you don’t often see a more prettier pink, very appropriate for this post
Thankyou so much for the links to me!!! As you know I’m very proud you have one of my original paintings in your beautiful Beach Cottage
xo
Happy PINK to you, Sarah…
You will love visiting all of
the pink bloggers..I really love
it and look forward to it each week.
Drop by anytime,
Stephanie