Because sometimes one blog just isn't enough...

Did you know I also blog here...

I was recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, which was a particularly confusing time. Over the last few months, I have been bombarded with information from health professionals. While trying to digest and make sense of what has been recommended, it occurred to me that other sufferers might be just as confused. Less Lisa More Life will document my health journey, as well as provide simplified information regarding weightloss, type 2 diabetes and depression.

Blossom and Bright was born out of my life for all things diy and design. Here you'll find what's on trend, inspiring interiors, diy projects, our upcoming home renovations, other fun projects and much, much more.

Looking forward to seeing you there...

Wordless Wednesday...sort of...

It's been an age since I've updated my blog. Life has been incredibly busy and something had to give for a little while. Wordless Wednesday sounded like the perfect way to ease myself back into blogging. Here's a little going on in this world at the moment...

Watching: How to get away with murder
I caught the first episode last night and I'm completely hooked already! Bring on next week.

Listening: Laura Branigan
The other day Seth asked me if I knew what Ti Amo meant...so naturally I burst into song (cue puzzled look on his face)! Since then I've been craving some Laura power ballads. She had such a great voice. Taken way too soon. Her music lives on forever.

Reading: The Vale Girl by Nelika McDonald
Not so much reading going on yet, but it's the next one to open on my bedside table. Sounds intriguing yes...

"If you leave no trace, nobody could say later whether you were even there at all."
Fourteen-year-old Sarah Vale has gone missing in the small town of Banville. She's the daughter of the town whore so no one seems particularly concerned.
No one cares except Tommy Johns, who loves Sarah Vale with all the unadulterated, tentative passion of a teenage boy. He galvanises the town's policeman Sergeant Henson and, together, they turn the town inside out, searching for the lost girl.
A delicate and layered exploration of secrets and lies, forgotten children and absent parents, and the long shadows of the past.

Sending: kids off to school!
We now have a high-schooler in the house, and he's taken to it like a duck to water...even if he did lose his bus pass the day it was handed to him. Eme is now in the senior campus and loving it! Much relief.

Playing: Becky Higgins Project Life app
Project Life has always interested me, but I could never imagine myself doing it as a photo a day thing. Becky's app has really simplified it for me! Snap a few photos, and scrap them within seconds. So easy. It's really reinvigorated my love of scrapbooking. So much so, I've actually pulled out the paper and scissors again.

Planning: Our dream kitchen!
Think Hamptons...white cabintery, black tapware and handles, stone benchtop and classic white subway tiles. The measurements have been taken, the plans have been made, and product sourcing has begun. I can't wait to take a sledgehammer to our old kitchen!!! Here's the moodboard I shared with our kitchen designer.

Tell me, what's going on in your neck of the woods?

Linking up with My Little Drummer Boys for Wordless Wednesday

Giveaway | How to Train Your Dragon 2 out now on dvd and blu-ray

Today marks the release of How To Train Your Dragon 2 on dvd and blu-ray...the second chapter of the epic How To Train Your Dragon trilogy.

Five years have passed since Hiccup and Toothless successfully united dragons and vikings on the island of Berk. Hiccup and his peers are now adults, and he and Astrid are engaged to be married. While Astrid, Snotlout and the rest of the gang are challenging each other to dragon races (the island's new favorite contact sport), the now inseparable best friends, Hiccup and Toothless, journey through the skies, charting unmapped territories and exploring new worlds. When one of their adventures leads to the discovery of a secret ice cave that is home to hundreds of new wild dragons and the mysterious Dragon Rider, the two friends find themselves at the center of a battle to protect the peace, as well as having friendship and loyalties tested. Hiccup and Toothless must unite to stand up for what they believe in, recognising that together they have the power to change the future for both men and dragons.

To celebrate the launch, we were invited along to viking training school in the Pine Grove at Centennial Park, to learn how to defend ourselves against the different types of dragons! The kids had a fab time ducking, and weaving, and learning combat skills to defeat those dragons...all the while donning their viking helmets, and hand-painted shields.

This sequel more than lives up to the original. The animation is beautiful, and the storyline is easy to follow, even if you haven’t seen the original. This a film that the whole family can enjoy. Check out the preview...

How To Train Your Dragon 2 is the perfect stocking stuffer this Christmas! Pick up a copy for the family at your local dvd and blu-ray stockist.

As promised, I have three copies of How To Train Your Dragon 2 on dvd to giveaway!

To enter*, simply leave a comment below telling me which special skills you would use to defend yourself against a dragon.

Entries close midnight AEDST Sunday 23 November 2014.

Good luck!

*Giveaway terms and conditions
Disclosure: No money was offered, nor requested for this post. All opinions expressed are those of Lisa Warren of the Life as we know it blog.

When it comes to a family holiday, FUN is the number one priority!

This post is brought to you by Holiday Inn

Life as we know it is busy. Between two school-aged children, after school activities, working full-time, running a household, and all of our other commitments; we’re simply exhausted. Knowing that taking time off between now and Christmas is impossible and impractical; a weekend escape is the perfect remedy!

We are really blessed to live on the NSW South Coast...just 2-3 hours north, south or west, and it's completely different scenery; and that's the perfect travelling distance for us for a quick weekend away...particularly as being cooped up in the car for an extended period of time tends to drive the kids crazy (that's if they look up from the iPads). Hubby and I have been brainstorming our next short trip...

Me: "We could go to Young? They have the Cherry Festival coming up in December. I've always wanted to go cherry picking."
Hubs: "I don't think the kids would be overly interested in a place like Young."
"There's a fudge factory"
"I stand corrected."

The conversation continues...
"What about Boorowa?"
"There's nothing in Boorowa."
"I wonder if we missed the annual running of the sheep?"
"Huh?"
"There's Wyangala Dam. We could go fishing."
"Sold!"

Hubs: "I'm intrigued now. What other crazy parts of the State can we visit?"
"How about Canberra?"
"Seth just got back from Canberra."
"Yeah, but this time we can all go to Questacon, and the museum."
"True, plus there's the zoo. Seth slept through our last visit to Canberra Zoo."
"Well, he was only 7 months old."

Looking at google maps...
"Let's head to the Blue Mountains! We haven't been there for years. Actually, I don't think the kids have ever been."
"Yeah, we could take them on that scary train thing that goes down the side of the cliff."
"Jenolan Caves isn't that far from there either."
"Let's add it to the list."

"Well, wherever we end up going, it has to be fun! Maybe we should let the kids decide?"

So, that's what we're going to do. We're going to let the little kids choose where us big kids will take them...as long as they factor in the following...

1. There has to be fun and interesting stuff to do
2. A nice hotel or cabin to stay in
3. Loads of fresh air
4. Access to good food
5. The big kids get final say.

Speaking of big kids...Holiday Inn are on the search to find Australia’s Biggest Kid and are hosting a national competition – with a family holiday to Bali up for grabs!

WIN A Family Holiday to Bali!

The winner will receive a family holiday for up to two adults and three children to the Holiday Inn Baruna Resort in Bali including:

• five nights’ accommodation
• return flights
• airport transfers
• daily breakfast
• 60 minute Balinese massage for the whole family
• one romantic dinner for the parents
• baby sitter for up to eight hours during the holiday and
• AUD$1,000 spending money!

From today until Sunday 9th November 2014, big kids can head to www.holidayinnbigkids.com.au to enter. If you think you might just be Australia's Biggest Kid, Holiday Inn we want to know you! Stevie Jacobs reckons he is Australia's Biggest Kid – Check out his video below to prove it.


What's your favourite thing to do on a family holiday?

How to create a beautiful Dolly Varden cake...

We have just celebrated our daughter's 9th birthday, and this year she wanted a simple checkerboard cake ("simple" was her description). Before I share that one with you, I wanted to reminisce and share the cake I made for her 8th birthday...a beautiful Dolly Varden!

As a young girl, a Dolly Varden cake was the ultimate. You knew you were going to a special birthday party if she made an appearance. These days, Dolly has been given a make over. No more chunky marshmallow skirt. With fondant so readily available, you could not create an easier cake! Here's how...

You will need:

• Dolly Varden tin
• 2 x your favourite cake mix (I've used Betty Crocker's Strawberries and Cream)
• vanilla frosting
• white fondant
• soft gel paste food colour (for this project I've used AmeriColor's regal purple, electric pink, and sky blue
• silver cachous
• doll torso (I've recycled one of Eme's old Barbies)
• flower cutter

Step one - bake your cake

Make sure you grease and flour your Dolly Varden tin thoroughly so your baked cake doesn't stick. Pour in your prepared cake mix up to at least 2 inches from the top of the tin, then gently place in the oven. The base of the tin is very narrow, so ensure you sit it on a sheet tin so that you have a smooth surface to rest it on. You will need to adjust the cooking time, so check every 10 minutes past the recommended cooking time. Chances are, your cake with overflow the top of the tin a little...just trim it off level. Allow to cool completely before turning out onto your cooling tray.

Step two - frost your cake and insert the doll

Dab some vanilla frosting onto your cake plate, and place you cake in the centre. The frosting will hold it in place. Then, using more of your ready made vanilla frosting, coat your cake all over. Prepare your doll's hair, and insert her into the top of the cake. You only want to push her in as far as the hips so that you can create the skirt up to her natural waist. It is easier if you remove your doll's legs prior to inserting her into the cake. You may also want to cover her base with tin foil, if you want to keep her after.

Step three - prepare your frosting and start dressing your doll.

Colour your fondant with soft gel paste food colour and need to spread the colour through, and to make the fondant pliable. First, you'll need to make her top. Wrap your other coloured fondants in cling wrap and set aside.  Wrap a little fondant around her waist and smooth it out so that the line from the cake up to her waist is natural looking. Next, roll out a piece of fondant, brush a very minimal amount of water on it, then wrap it around your doll's torso. The water will help it stick.  Shape the bodice of the dress with your fingers/tools. It doesn't matter what the base of the bodice looks like, as this will be covered.

Step four - build your doll's skirt

Roll out the fondant for your doll's skirt, then punch out a tonne of flowers. Starting from the bottom, add the flowers row by row. The frosting will stick them to the skirt.

When you reach the top, trim your flowers in a straight line in readiness for her sash to be attached.

Step five - add your details

Roll out a thin piece of fondant to create your sash. Wrap a piece between the bodice and skirt, and attach with a little water. Next add your flowing sash down her skirt, then finish with the bow. To add glamour to her outfit, dab a little water in the centre of each flower, the bust of her bodice, and the seam of her bodice, and add silver cachous balls. Dust off any corn flower, and get ready for your party!! The diamante number 8 pick was purchased at my local cake shop.

There you have it...one Dolly Varden cake ready for a special birthday party

...and that makes for a very happy birthday girl!

Did you have a Dolly Varden cake as a child? If you make one, drop me an email to share.