DIY: Holidays Gift Wrapping

Dear readers,

Here is a new gift wrapping idea (still remember this one and this one?) made entirely with recycled materials. This time I wrapped a Christmas present for a friend.

Oh, and if you're interested in the content beneath the wrapping paper, I filled a beautiful box with the friend's favorite sweets:)

Pin It Now!

Recipe: Emina's Birthday Cake with White Chocolate Shards and Pomegranate Seeds

Dear readers,

I love to make a fuss over my birthday and start annoying everyone about it a week in advance:) I also love surprises, I love to make surprises and to be surprised. As for the latter, I can't be thankful enough for the great people I'm surrounded with and who made this year's birthday special. You already read about the surprise birthday breakfast that Nerma, our brother, and my best friend prepared for me.

Nonetheless, I could not skip my annual tradition to make a special cake for the occasion. Do you still remember my last year's birthday cake? This year I surprised my colleagues at work with this beauty.

Although not visible at first sight, this is the simple tipple chocolate mouse cake that we have already made several times and that everyone loves. You have already seen it here (our Gossip Girl Cake) and here (our New Year's Eve Cake). 

Without further complicating the cake recipe, we recommend you to watch the video instructions from the cooking blog Dulce Delight. The girl behind the blog is so cute and her sweet recipes are just amazing.  

I have, however, added one alternation. In addition to the three layers of chocolate mousse, I added a crunchy crust.

Pin It Now!

Happy Birthday, Emina!

Dear readers,

I had the most wonderful birthday morning! Nerma, Ajla, and Nerko, thank you for the beautiful surprise:) 

Nerma made 26 carrot cupcakes for my 26th birthday because she knows I'm nuts about cupcakes:)

One is never too old to be excited about wrapping up birthday presents:)

Love,
Emina


Pin It Now!

DIY: The Perfect Wedding Gift - Stitch their Wedding Song and Date

 Dear readers,

The first girlfriend in our little group of girls hanging out since University got married recently. It was a big event for all of us and I wanted to give the happy couple a little handmade something: I stitched the title of their wedding song and the wedding date. I hope it will help the groom not to forget their anniversary in the future:)

The gift was the perfect excuse to finally start experimenting with stitching. I was planning on getting myself an embroidery hoop (in Bosnian: Djerdjef) for months and now I finally had the motivation.

I learned some basic stitching techniques back in primary school and for my first stitching project I just used the simple basic "backstitch" and added some improvisations.

Here comes the complete tutorial including preparing the stitching for framing:

Pin It Now!

Recipe: Bucket full of (Apple) Roses

Dear readers,

Maybe you have seen pictures of "French rose tarts". There are all over Pinterest and really look adorable.

Nerma wanted to make something similar for a surprise picnic with her boyfriend. She found a cute makeover of the original tart recipe and the result are these amazing cupcakes/muffins topped with a delicious caramel sauce.

Here they are just before putting the tray into the oven.

Pin It Now!

Recipe: Bosnian Baklava with a Special Chocolate Twist - Eid Mubarek!

Eid Mubarek!

Eid is a special guest in our home and there is no Eid without Bosnian baklava. 

As long as we can remember our mother always stayed long after midnight the night before Eid, making baklava and preparing traditional dishes for the early Eid lunch next morning.

It has been two years since she passed away and Eid is no longer what it used to be. With the time passing Nerma and I are trying to replace her as much as possible. This also includes taking over the Eid preparations.

When it comes to baklava, I think it is safe to say that we have mastered it! 

This Eid I was in charge of making baklava from scratch since Nerma wasn't home. I used the opportunity to add a special twist which Nerma would have probably been against: I added chocolate to the filling! The outcome is delicious - approved by Nerma and everyone else who tried it:)

Pin It Now!

DIY: A special congratulation card and gift wrapping for Nerma's graduation





Dear all,

 

After six years of dental school, Nerma has finally graduated yesterday, making the 8th of September 2014 one of the happiest days for our family.

 

I used the opportunity to make the day even more memorable for her. I explored old photo albums searching for one particular photo: the photo of Nerma's first day in primary school!

 

I used the photo to make a special congratulation card. The photo's colors also inspired me to wrap her graduation presents in a special way.



 

 

Pin It Now!