lørdag den 30. juni 2012

TGIF | Friends

Wondering why today's post is called Thank God it's Friday, 
even though it's saturday today?
Here's why:
Yesterday one of my bestest friends came over,
and we spent the afternoon baking and decorating cupcakes.
I was planning on doing a cupcake post when we had finished the cupcakes yesterday,
but instead we ended up hanging out the rest of the day.
Talking about nothing really,
singing along to Frank Sinatra,
eating dinner,
watching tv,
and then we headed out for a friday night beer.

And, obviously, that left no room for a blogpost,
because hanging out with her was way more important.

But be still, o troubled heart,
the blogpost is here! 
Enjoy our cupcakes. 
We most certainly did.
And we made so many that we're about to enjoy them again.















Have a lovely weekend people!

/Lea Binta

mandag den 25. juni 2012

Just a Thought | Exercising (or a lack thereoff)

I've never been athletic.
I've never been a natural at sports.
I've enjoyed a few sports,
but only for a short while.
I did jog quite persistently for more than half a year.
And now I kind of miss it.
I'd like to start running again.
I've thought about it for a long time.
A couple of months at least,
I just haven't done anything about it.
Yet.
It's time, though.
It's time to dust off those running shoes. 
Tomorrow, I will get up early. 
(I mean it, I really WILL!)
I will go running before noon.
(YES, I will!)
And of course, by writing it here, 
publicly and officially,
I'm hoping I wont back out tomorrow.
Even if I just jog for 10 minutes,
it will be so much better than nothing.


And no cupcakes.
Hopefully.

/Lea Binta



fredag den 22. juni 2012

Snapshots | Sunny days
































1. Sunny days are best spent on the green grass
2+3+4+5. Chilling in our hammock
6+7. Building our hopelessly spoilt dog a castle. 
That's right, his very own castle.
8. Said spoilt dog watching from a safe distance,
not sure what to think of this creature.
9. Spent the entire afternoon in the sun. Whoops.
10. Today, as opposed to the sunshine and warmth of yesterday.

/Lea Binta   

onsdag den 20. juni 2012

DIY | Cake platters

Quick and easy DIY.
I picked the plates up at my local thrift store and used a porcelain pen.
Draw/write whatever you want, let dry and then bake.
(Follow instructions on porcelain pen)













/Lea Binta

tirsdag den 19. juni 2012

Just a Thought | Ugly babies

Remember the silly sticker tattoos me and hubs put on for the Euro Cup games?

Well, those things don't come off easily, so it took me a couple of days
to get them off.

A couple of days after the game a lady asked me if I had kids,
since I had the soccer tattoos on my arm. 
Uhm.. no?

Soo many people ask me when we're having kids.
We've been married for just over a year,
and honestly, I'm in no hurry to have kids just yet.

A lot of my friends love babies.
I don't.
They love little kids.
I really don't.
Does that sound mean?

I mean, I don't mind kids.
I just don't seek them out.
If they come up to me, fine, I'll play with them.
And then I'll hand them back to their parents.

My hubby is completely opposite.
He loves them. 
He takes time to play with them.




I'm thinking, though, that things might change.

A few years ago I swore I would never get a dachshund.
I thought they were really ugly.
Then I saw a puppy dachshund that completely stole my heart,
because he was my puppy.

Maybe it'll be the same way with babies?
I don't particularly love other peoples babies, 
but maybe when I have my own - 
that baby will steal my heart?

I'm thinking this is how it'll be.
But for now I'm quite happy taking care of my
ugly puppy dachshund.




- Lea Binta

lørdag den 16. juni 2012

Saturday | Baking in this small world

Today was going to be a day of catching up on things,
and since I have a birthday party to go to tonight 
I headed downtown to get a gift for the sweet hostess.

On my way, walking through the park by my apartment,
I see someone I think I used to know.
As in, someone I used to know 7 years ago when I was living in Nigeria.
I assume it's just my mind playing tricks on me and keep walking.
But it's like I just know it's him.
I panick. Why? Not sure. 
Maybe it's because it's been 7 freaking years!?
Anyway, I keep walking, while secretly (okay, it was rather obvious) 
looking back over my shoulder to see if it's really him.

I walk. Walk, walk, walk.
Enter the store. Buy the gift.
All the while staring out the window to see if he passes by.
Exit the store. 
Look around for him.
Don't see him.
I start walking back.
There he is.

Okay, I can't just ignore him and walk past him (again).
Especially since I was staring at him before.

And before I get a chance to think or say anything 
he's standing before me, saying, "Aren't you...?"

Holy freaking crap!
What are the chances of running into someone after 7 seven years?
Especially since it's someone you know from a whole different continent!?

Totally random. Totally surreal. 
Totally AWESOME.

This world is ridiculously small. 

ANYWAY,
I wanted to share a recipe with you.
I found it on Pinterest the other day, and wanted to try it out this weekend.
And I did. (Didn't see that one coming, huh?)
And honestly, it takes a lot for cake to really impress me.
And this one did.
So go bake it.
Like, right now.

Chewy Whole Wheat Peanut Butter Brownies

1/3 cup margarine, softened
2/3 cup white sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
2 eggs
1 cup peanut butter (I used crunchy pb)
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
2 Tbsp water
3/4 cup whole wheat flour
1/4 cup all purpose flour
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 C).
Mix margarine and sugars.
Add egg one at a time.
Beat until light and fluffy. (2-3 minutes)




Stir in peanut butter, water, and vanilla extract.
Mix flours, salt, baking powder, and baking soda in a separate bowl.
Stir into peanut butter mix and blend well.




Spread into greased 9x9 inch pan,
and bake for 30-35 minutes.




Let it cool, then cut into squares.

Now, EAT!




I am telling you now - 
you will not regret it!




/Lea Binta

torsdag den 14. juni 2012

Thrift Shopping | Coral and silver


Yesterday I promised to show you a few thrift finds, 
so voilá!




Four (pretty fake) silver bowls and a lovely coral sweater.




My parents are having their 25th anniversary in august, 
so the bowls will be used on some tables for snacks or candles.
Or something. 
And I absolutely love this coral sweater!
The weather isn't looking very summer-y,
so it looks like I'll be wearing this sweater a lot.
I'm actually wearing it right now!
Demonstration:


Yeah, trying to wear the bowls as well. 
How do you wear bowls as part of an outfit.
Well, duh..


Oh, and the green dots inside the bowls? Price tags from the thrift store.
Should probably have removed them before taking the pictures.
Nevermind.

/Lea Binta

onsdag den 13. juni 2012

This is my life | Potato chips and other important things

You know that feeling when you want to put in an earring, 
but you haven't used earrings in a while, 
and you have to force the earring through what feels like a newly 
developed layer of skin?

It hurts!

Yet, I go through that on a regular basis.
I have two piercings in each ear, but I only use one,
and so that second one kind of closes up on me.
Regularly. 

But I succeeded!



... - But only with one ear. I gave up on my right ear, 
because it was too painful.



Oh well.



Now, this whole ear-piercing thing may not seem very important to you,
but when you spend every day at home, 
with no real plans,
then the small things take up a lot of space.

I would love to tell you that I'm taking advantage of all this home-time,
and spend all my time cleaning, baking, reading, doing stuff I didn't
have time to do before.
But I would be lying.
Although I do try to make small plans and goals each day,
just to keep myself occupied.

Take today for instance. (And keep in mind that today has been
a really active day, believe it or not)
I woke up at 7.30. Then fell asleep again. And overslept. Like, majorly overslept!
Got up. Took Obelix peeing in the garden.
Ate breakfast, while watching an episode of 'Judge Amy'. 
Then I cleaned up the bedroom. Hooray! Very proud of that.
Took Obelix for a nice, long walk in the park, where he met
lovely female dogs that he wanted to make friends with.
You know what I mean.
THEN, I went thrift shopping, and I actually picked up some pretty neat stuff.
I'll show you some of it tomorrow. 
Then grocery shopping. 
Then lunch, which leaves me here. 

And even though I just had lunch I'm fighting the urge to finish off
the bag of potato chips we opened last night.
I always think that a bag that big can last for a whole week. Or longer!
I should know better.
If it lasts more than 2 days in this house, then there's something wrong.


Admit it, you know exactly what I mean, no?

So yeah, plans for tomorrow:
Don't oversleep. (Gonna be a tough one)
Don't watch too much tv. (Another tough one)
Finish reading my book.
Think of something nice for dinner.
Preparations for my meeting tomorrow night.
Start working on mommy's b-day present.
Clean living room. 
Finish doing the dishes.
Watch a couple of episodes of MASH.

Man, if I get through half that list I'll be proud.
We'll see.
Now, where did I put those potato chips?


/Lea Binta

lørdag den 9. juni 2012

Baking | Soccer Cupcakes


I am so proud of the way my Denmark vs Holland cupcakes turned out,
that I decided they deserved a post of their own!

Obviously, no baking happens without my favorite
(and well, only) apron.


A couple of days ago I bought this tip in order to make grass with my icing.
And it worked like a charm! 
At least for the first cupcake.


Then, after the first cupcake, things starting going badly. 
The tip I'd bought didn't fit my piping bag, and I thought I could fix it,
but it was really complicated.
It ended up requiring tools from hubby's toolbox and several hours
of hard work.
But in the end, we managed to make it cooperate,
and this is the result:




I made the flags from fondant yesterday, and let them dry overnight.
I cheated a bit and bought the soccer balls.

I think they turned out pretty neat, and it was such a great night.
And oh, Denmark won (YAY!) in case you didn't know.. 

Who are you rooting for in this year's Euro Cup?

/Lea Binta

Euro Cup 2012 | Prepping for the game


Okay, the Denmark-Holland game tonight!

Me and hubby were invited to watch the match with a bunch of friends,
and of course we accepted.
The more, the merrier, right?

Then we realized - we don't own any soccer related clothing.
Nothing!

I looked through my closet to find something red and white, and found this skirt.
Old, old skirt, but it's red and white, and that's what important.


Then we went crazy with those silly sticker tattoos from when we were kids.
It was so much fun! 
These pictures don't do justice to the amount of laughs we had
when we were applying these. 

Hubby's tats:






My tats:





Aren't we hot!?







How'd you prep for the game?

/Lea Binta