this sums up my thoughts exactly about ice-cream. i am forever telling my husband: i'm so happy with an ice-cream in my hand. so happy  :)

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happiness is...

...iceream. i love ice-cream. since only being able to eat sorbet i have been researching great ice-cream recipes that i can make at home, becasue well, as much as i LOVE the chocolate sorbet with lime sorbet combo i always rely on, nothing beats yummy rich ice-cream.

i found one recipe by accident which was a custard based ice-cream. now it was delicious. however i am far too impatient to make custard, wait for it to cool, freeze, whisk, freeze, whisk etc. and far too poor to buy an ice cream machine.

since the first delicious time-consuming recipe i have made a tofu ice-cream: massive fail and a milk and cream based ice-cream: ate it but it wasn't great.

then by complete accident again i came across the best and easiest ice-cream recipe yet. i am well impressed with this find! it came disguised as a cream cup (and i can't find the recipe link anywhere!) while i was madly looking for a quick dessert to make during the week. The original recipe is to be frozen only for 8-10mins, however i froze the lot and let me tell you when it's melted a bit. my gosh it is yum.

Simply put 1/2 a tub of tofutti/cream cheese (i'm so impatient i only ever do half batches of ice-cream coz i really can't be bothered to wait for the lot to freeze...and i get bored of flavours quickly) into a bowl with half a cup of icing sugar and about 3/4 cup of cream (i used lactose free cream). Add some vanilla extract and whatever flavours you want. You may need to adjust the sugar/acidity/cream according to taste. Add a touch/small pinch of salt if it is too creamy and to bring out the flavour you've chosen. And that's it. Whisk it or pop it in the blender to get all the lumps of cream cheese out. Pour into individual cups or leave in the bowl and freeze. Last time i just left them and they were fine. This time i'm whisking and freezing and whisking and freezing everytime it starts to freeze   whenever i remember. Want to see what difference it makes.

Today I am making rum and raisin flavoured ice-cream because i've had the biggest craving for it. Might try coffee again next time. Try it. it really is simple.

tara louise.

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love affair: polka dots

i am loving polka dots (and stripes...but more on that another day) to bits at the moment.

polka dot nails inspired by gem fatale

i just can't get enough of them!

tara louise.

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my long weekend wardrobe

    

this has basically been my wardrobe for the long weekend and partially my dream long weekend wardrobe.             

prettiest polka dot shorts with a relaxed tee and comfy brogues/maxi skirt with boys top and thongs

both teamed with a hat (becasue i've been bike riding lots), sunnies, bright bracelet and satchel.

relaxed. easy. love it.

tara louise.   

long weekend wardrobe by taralouise featuring havaianas shoes

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my new love

and this is her. the diana mini en rose.

oh how i love her to bits!

she was a present from my husband who'd been in brasil.

ps. if you ever go to brasil, they have a great lomo shop in leblon!

there's so many things to love about it.

it's pink.

it has a cupcake on the winder.

and it takes 35mm film.

and you can fit something like 45 shots on a roll of film!

what's not to love!

i've put one roll through so far with my second roll of film in at the moment.

here are my fave shots from the first roll...

(i nearly fell off my bike trying to take this shot! oops)

 ah, i'm in love.

it has gone everywhere with me almost this long weekend.

it's such  a delight.

tara louise.

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Letterbox makeover

we've been wondering what to do with our letter box for awhile.
it's old and ugly. well was.
i did like the little curly bit on the said though.
while my husband was away and about 2 mins before a big storm i decided to repaint our letter box.

here's my simple tutorial for a revamped letterbox.

1. start with one old tired letterbox. duct tape holding it up is optional.

2. pick some pretty spray paint and a primer.

3. spray the entire box with primer.

(preferably not before a storm. the paint tends to bubble and run if you do this! who would've thought!)

4. cover the bottom part with paper to stop overspray.

5. spray the top in your chosen colour. i chose a metallic charcoal i had left over from another job.

6. wait for the top to dry then cover the top with paper and spray the bottom. you also need to cover the pole.

take the paper off and tada....

...a fnacy new letter box to brighten your day.

in hindsight, i'd suggest trying to get off any flaking paint with a wire brush.

this thought didnt even cross my mind at the time.

once the yellow went on though, i wish i'd done it.

ah well...next time!

tara louise.

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