Cheap Stunt Scooters for Teens

Ready to break loose from the scooter your Gran gave you for Christmas three years ago and hit up the ramp on something that will perform the way you want it to? Then these are no question the rides you're looking for! Now your old Razor A is still a cool deck but if you really want to get some air you need something with more. And these stunt scooters will get you bombing without busting your plastic. So sit back and take a closer look at these sweet rides. Any of these stunt scooters will lift your game to another level. And listen up Grandma! If you've made it this far then don't leave without checking out these cheap stunt scooters. Giving one of these is sure to make him happy!

Madd Gear VX2 Pro Madd Gear Shaun White Supply Co. Royal Guard P-Core Pro

Just starting out with scooters or looking for one as a gift? Then check out Best Kick Scooters for Kids for some great Razor and other Kick scooter selections

Minecraft for XBox 360

If you are the parent of a pre-teen you are more than likely aware of Minecraft, the game played online where the player builds virtual constructions one block at a time. Minecraft allows players to create from their imagination and the results can be as simple or as elaborate as their imagination allows. While the point of the game is mainly to build, things are kept interesting in the form of various monsters that appear at night so the player must also build protection for his virtual self as well as his building in progress. There have been some quite amazing creations produced by Minecraft players. One dedicated Minecrafter (arguably with no life) built a 1:1 scale version of the Starship Enterprise! You can take a guided tour of it here on Youtube.

So why would you want to play Minecraft on your XBox when the online version is so well featured with a large, experienced community? Firstly the game has been adapted to take full advantage of the XBox 360 platform but the main differences are simpler crafting, in-game tutorials and split-screen multi-player as well as online multiplayer for up to eight players over Xbox LIVE. Minecraft for XBox 360 is in pre-release and orders are being taken now. Release in the US in June 4 while in UK it is June 28

Minecraft - Xbox 360 Minecraft (Xbox 360)

If you need more ideas for XBox games for girls visit Most Popular XBox Games for Girls

Snoozies Slippers for Mom

If you haven't heard of Snoozies then prepare to be delighted! Snoozies are a range of slippers for the whole family available in a wide range of colourful, bright and fun designs. They are economical so you can spoil yourself and have several pairs. Snoozies slippers also make great budget gifts as they are not only useful, they are bound to bring a smile to the face of whoever they are given to. With Mother's Day approaching, why not consider a pair or three of snoozies so her feet are never cold.

Snoozies Women's Ballerina Metallic Shine Red Sequin Slippers-Medium (7-8)Snoozies! Leopard Women's Sherpa Footcoverings (Medium, Brown With Black Lining)Snoozies Womens Nubby Knit Ballerina Comfort Sole Slippers - Dove Grey, LargeSnoozies Womens Decorator Cozy Fleece Lined Slippers - Four Dot Daisy, SmallSnoozies Womens Animal Prints Fur Plush Fleece Lined Footcoverings Animal Stripes LargeSnoozies Womens Dottie Fur Plush Fleece Lined Footcoverings Dottie Swirl MediumSnoozies Womens Fleece Lined Footies, Paws & Bones, Violet, MediumSnoozies Leopard Footie (Medium / 7-8, Gray)

& 

Of course there are

Of course there are lots of other ideas for slippers for Mum besides Snoozies. For more suggestions on cute, warm or unusual slippers as mother's day gifts or any other occasion visit Fun Slippers Perfect For Mother's Day

Orchid Gifts and Decor Items

If you know someone just setting up house and you are wondering what you can give them to celebrate the occasion then these Orchid Gifts and Decor Items might be just the thing. Perhaps it is your daughter, your sister or a girlfriend moving in to her first apartment. Whichever it is, a home decor gift is something that will help make her new place feel more like home. A framed orchid print or photographic canvas will help to add a homely touch to unfamiliar surroundings bringing a welcoming feel to the living space. Orchids come in a multitude of colours so finding a framed orchid print or even a living orchid gift in just the colour to suit is easier than you might think. If you are looking for other orchid gift ideas see Beautiful Orchid Gifts and Decor Items

 

White Orchids Wrapped Canvas

Orchids Wrapped Canvas

Contour HD Helmet Camera for BMX & Mountain Trail Biking

Contour ROAM2 Waterproof Video Camera

If you have a boy who loves BMX or Mountain Trail Bike riding then I'm betting you'd love to see what he's experiencing. Now you can re-live those exhilarating moments together with the use of a Contour HD Helmet Camera. Simply fit the additional helmet mount bracket to your boy's helmet or bike mount to the bike frame and the Contour HD Helmet Camera slots easily in place. Starting and stopping the camera are easy even with gloves on and the camera is not only built to take knocks it is also water resistant as well which is great for those water crossings on the trail. The Contour HD Helmet Camera records in up to 60 frames per second (30fps in full HD) so quality is great even over bumpy terrain. Filming using a Contour HD Helmet Camera is totally hands free so your child's enjoyment of his favourite sport isn't compromised. See more Contour Helmet Camera options

Contour HD Helmet ROAM2 Waterproof Video Camera

The Beautiful Gardens of Leura

Photographing the Beautiful Gardens of Leura

Every year in Spring the beautiful gardens of Leura are open to the public to visit as part of the Leura Gardens Festival. Leura is one of the lovely villages in the Blue Mountains near Sydney, Australia so when we're talking Spring we're talking October. Since Leura is at an altitude of almost 1000 metres or around 3,200 feet it enjoys cooler temperatures than nearby Sydney. It also means that the lovely plants and flowers that thrive in climates where seasons are defined do particularly well there.
A single pass lasts for the duration of the festival which runs for nine days. Proceeds from ticket sales benefit our local hospital and its supporting services. During this time you can visit any of the 11 beautiful private gardens which have been opened to the public for the event. The photos which follow were taken during the 2012 festival.

In 2014 the festival runs from October 4 - 12

Where is Leura?

Leura is a cool climate village located in The Blue Mountains west of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Situated at an elevation of 985 metres (3,232 ft), Leura experiences definite seasons, something that much of Sydney and places north often don't. Danish architect, Paul Sorenson, recognised the potential for creating stately gardens in this favourable climate following his first successful commission at the Carrington Hotel in neighbouring Katoomba in around 1918. Sorenson fell in love with Leura while several of its wealthier citizens fell in love with his landscaping style. In 1933, Belgian Henri van de Velde retained Paul Sorenson to make his visualations for his estate reality on his Everglades property. Everglades is now owned by the National Trust and is central to the Leura Gardens Festival program.

The First Three Gardens

Davaar, Rustlings and Brabourne

The first three gardens we visited were within a very short walk of each other. At the first garden, called Davaar, we bought our tickets which were valid for the duration of festival. Each garden is ticked off as you enter it. This means we don't have to attempt to visit all the gardens in the one day and can stop and smell the roses so to speak.

Davaar is a lovely collection of alcoves and corners with different levels and little paths between beds of spring bulbs. Sectioned into spaces for different purposes, there is a thriving vegetable garden, ornamental fruit trees and large century old deciduous trees and conifers. We pause to admire fat tulips, daffodils, jonquils and ranunculas.

Next we walked around the corner and across the road to Rustlings where there is a definite oriental feel to the landscaping including small bridges over tiny streams and even what looks like a Japanese bath-house in the far corner. Japanese maples, which must be a riot of colour in autumn, abound; meandering paths lead past hidden buddha statues and rustic garden furniture. Azaleas, camellias and rhododendrons feature heavily, as do tree ferns and birds nest ferns bringing a lush rainforest feel to this lovely sanctuary.

Our next visit is to Brabourne, a total contrast to the previous two properties. This garden is more formal with terraces and mass plantings in colour groups. The focal point of this garden is a massive pinoak tree which branches out to all corners of the expansive grassed sloping rear garden. On our exit we popped in to the stall being held by volunteers and bought some home-made lemon butter.

Beautiful Gardens of Leura: Highlights of our Visit

...

A Photographic Excursion

Enjoying the Beautiful Gardens of Leura with my Daughters

I went to the Leura Gardens Festival with my two teenage daughters who are both just starting to really get interested in taking photos. They love to get up close and take macro shots whereas I look for textures, light and dark, and shape. Here are some of my favourites from the day enhanced and made available for sale on Zazzle products.

Garden Draughts Puzzle by ElleDeeEsse

Urn Stretched Canvas Print by ElleDeeEsse

Returning to the Festival

We hadn't planned to return the following day. We'd had a fantastic day and were pretty well satisfied but on the spur of the moment we decided to go back and explore the gardens we'd missed yesterday. We were so glad we did!

We only visited three gardens the second day but these were arguabley the most spectacular of them all. Situated behind modest street frontages, the common denominator was the expansive views overlooking the famed Blue Mountans escarpment.

All images are the property of the writer.

Recipe For Cheesecake | Mixed Berries Cheesecake

This Mixed Berry Cheesecake Is A Crowd Pleaser

If you are looking for a great recipe for cheesecake and you love the rich sweet and sour flavours of mixed berries then this is the dessert for you. Here at our place we all love cheesecake and the kids all love to pitch in and help to make it. This year for their birthday, my daughters decided they wanted a cheesecake for their birthday cake. At first I was reluctant but as I thought more about it I thought "why not?" Firstly, I could play around with the flavours easily (I hate mucking around with cake recipes because of my fear of failure), secondly, once I decided on a flavour I also knew the exact colour it would turn out and knew this would be a winner with a crowd of pre-teen girls. And so it was decided. It was to be a cheesecake.

Imagine a different cheesecake a week for more than two years! With 125 Best Cheesecake Recipes that's exactly what you get.

The Finished Mixed Berries Cheesecake

Simple Ingredients, Simple Method

This Recipe For Cheesecake Is Quick and Easy

The biscuit base for this mixed berries cheesecake is a simple mixture of biscuit crumbs, cocoa and melted butter. This is pressed into a spring-form pan then placed in the refrigerator to cool while cheesecake mix is prepared.

Cream cheese and mixed berries are the main ingredients for this cheesecake. Mixed with a sugar syrup to take away some of the tartness, and some gelatin to help it set, the recipe for cheesecake is quick and easy to prepare. Most of the time involved in making this delicious dessert is setting time in the refrigerator.

Making the biscuit crumb base is a whole lot easier with a food processor. This KitchenAid KFP0933ER 9-Cup Food Processor with ExactSlice System is available from Amazon.com

Equipment Needed to Make a Mixed Berry Cheesecake

Basic Essentials Already in Most Kitchens

To make the mixed berries cheesecake you will need the following items:-

• Small saucepan


• Food processor


• Wooden spoon


• Measuring spoons


• Springform pan


• Large mixing bowl


• Sieve


• Measuring jug


• Mixer


• Juicer
  

This Kaiser Bakeware Basic Tinplate Nested Springform Pans, Set of 3 is available from Amazon.com

Mixed Berries Cheesecake

Smooth and Creamy and a Pretty Colour as Well

I decided to make this mixed berries cheesecake for the girls' birthday cake. My girls love cheesecake and that suits me because I love making them. I can always rely on them turning out beautifully and baking is not my forte.

• Serves: 8 - 12
• Prep Time: 30 minutes plus setting time
• Total Time: 4 - 6 hours

Ingredients

• Packet Sweet Plain Biscuits
• 125g (4oz) butter melted
• 2 Tablespoons Cocoa
• 500g (16oz) cream cheese
• 1/2 cup caster sugar
• 1/2 cup water
• 3 teaspoons gelatin in half cup boiling water
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• About a cup of fresh or frozen mixed berries
• Dark chocolate for drizzling
• Strawberries for garnish

Instructions

1. Use about three quarters of the biscuits and process in a food processor until you have about a cup of biscuit crumbs. Place with the cocoa and the melted butter in a bowl and mix well. Empty bowl into a spring-form pan. It doesn't matter whether it is a large or smaller one. A smaller pan will make your cheesecake taller. spread the crumb mixture evenly across the bottom of the pan then press with the back of a spoon until smooth. Place in fridge to cool.
2. Combine sugar and water in a small saucepan and bring to the boil until sugar dissolves. Add the berries to the pan and cook until soft. Pour this mixture into a sieve placed over a bowl or jug and push the fruit through with the back of a spoon until you have extracted as much puree as possible. Set aside. Place the cream cheese into a large bowl and mix with a wooden spoon or mixer until it is smooth and soft. Add combined water, gelatin and lemon juice and mix well. Now add fruit puree and mix until smooth. Pour mixture over biscuit base and refrigerate until set.
3. Take a punnet of strawberries and rinse them then remove the leaves and stalks. Garnish the cheesecake as you desire with the strawberries. I placed whole strawberries, bottoms down all over the cheesecake. Melt about a quarter block of dark chocolate in a bowl over boiling water or in a microwave safe dish. Drizzle the melted chocolate over the cheesecake.

Share Your Cheesecake Love Here

Do You Have a Favourite Cheesecake?

Family Favourite Tiramisu

My Family Loves This Tiramisu Recipe

I first came across Tiramisu while traveling in Italy. I had never heard of it before. Back in the late 1980's my husband and I were four months in to our twelve month around the world (with a backpack) adventure and were spending a week with relatives at a pension in the Dolomites doing a bit of skiing. At the end of the meal one evening our host brought out a chocolatey, custardy looking mess in a bowl. After the first mouthful I was hooked and between her broken English, and my husbands dodgy translation of German, I managed to jot down a recipe in my travel diary. This has become a regular at any family gathering and I am always asked to bring it when other family members are hosting an occasion. Is this the best dessert you've ever had?

This gorgeous photo of tiramisu is used under a creative commons licence from Peter Alfred Hess

Tiramisu Recipe

Our Favourite Recipe

Tiramisu is a lot like a trifle. It is a layered dessert of custard and coffee soaked sponge fingers sprinkled liberally with grated chocolate. The traditional recipe uses brandy but I love to use Kahlua.

• Serves: 6 - 8
• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Total Time: 2 - 3 hours includes chilling

Ingredients

• 3 eggs separated
• 3 tablespoons castor sugar
• 250g mascarpone
• About 12 Savoiardi (sponge finger) biscuits or as many as needed to layer the bottom of your serving dish twice.
• 150ml strong coffee
• 4 tablespoons Kahlua
• 125g dark chocolate, grated

Instructions

1. Beat the egg yolks with the sugar
2. Fold in the mascarpone a tablespoon at a time.
3. Whisk the egg whites until stiff and fold them into the egg yolk mixture.
4. Arrange a layer of the sponge fingers in a dish
5. Mix the coffee and Kahlua together and with a pastry brush, brush half of it over the fingers. Alternatively, dip the sponge fingers into the coffee mixture one at a time until covered.
6. Cover them with half the mascarpone mixture, then sprinkle over half the grated chocolate.
7. Repeat with a second layer, finishing with the grated chocolate.
8. Chill in the fridge for a couple of hours before serving.

Image used under a creative commons licence from klipsch_soundman

Tiramisu Looks Beautiful In Glass

This decadent dessert looks sensational in a beautiful glass serving bowl. If you can get a square or rectangular dish this works best but any shape works well.

Buy Now

A Trifle Bowl is Perfect to Present Tiramisu

Footed Serving Bowl

Libbey Selene 9-Inch Trifle Bowl

Dish Your Tiramisu Up In Style

A celebration dish deserves celebration serving ware and these stunning dishes will certainly give your tiramisu a sense of occasion.

Tiramisu Tutorial

This version uses zabaglione and cream

 
Tiramisu Recipe
by MeganEMills

Could This Tiramisu Become Your New Family Favourite?

Or Do You Have Your Own Awesome Recipe?

Share your fabulous desserts here or just let me know what you think of my Tiramisu