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Friday I’m in Love – My Babies Birthday

Friday, January 27th, 2012

Friday I’m in love-birthdays

 

So this week was Milly’s third birthday. I have to admit I started thinking about it as soon as the last Christmas bauble was shoved in the attic.

I was excited, 3 is the first year they can properly be part of their birthday rather than just being there, if you get what I mean? And I wanted it to be great!

First I did what any modern day mother does, I pinterested it. I scrolled through lots of fantastic, colourful , imaginative, amazing pictures. I visited blogs , filled with farm themed parties in real barns. Pretty, film set type barns with swept gleaming floors and artfully placed antique pitchforks.  Not a cow pat in sight, although they did have ( presumably house trained) baby cows and hay bales for seating.

I saw rainbow themed parties and red riding hood parties and pirate girl parties with lovingly (perfectly made) card board box ships that looked like part of the set from pirates of the caribbean.

To be honest I started to get an inferiority complex, my bum cheeks clenched in birthday party anticipation. But heck, if they can do it, so can I!

So I ordered tiny milk bottles, and red candy striped straws, firework candles and indoor sparklers. I was busy scrolling though party printables on etsy  , deciding between themes, should I go rainbow utopia? Or sparkle princess? ….

But then something happened, I think it’s called life, and it kind of got in the way….

I realised with 24 hours to go, that this was not going to be the party of mine ( or Milly’s) dreams, we weren’t going to have fire eaters or loin tamers, the gig was as they say, up.

I felt my heart sink, a lump in my throat. And then I remembered parties from my childhood.

Playing cowboys and Indians with makeshift ramshackle teepees made out of old sheets and garden sticks. Bobbing for apples. Homemade popcorn necklaces and mugs of Heinz tomato soup and hotdogs. I remember the year my mum pulled out *all the stops* and hired our local magician for my tenth party. I spent the entire party in my bedroom crying because my best friend wouldn’t sit next to me at the party table, I hear the magician was very good, there was rabbits and everything.

I guess what I’m trying to say is, the penny dropped. Milly would enjoy the party with or without all the big shot paraphernalia. She would mostly enjoy it because it was just going to be us, me , papa, Ellie and jack. A family, spending time together, wishing her a Happy Birthday.

And she did have a blast, we had hot dogs, and rice crispy cakes, and fairy cakes with butterflies on top, and some fireworks we had left from bonfire night. She was ecstatic and woke up the next morning shouting Happy Birthday!!! To herself, wishing it was going to happen all over again.

So happy 3rd Milly sweetheart, don’t grow up to fast, and don’t worry next year mummy will have the barn and the trained baby lambs picked out and booked way in advance , *wink!

{ All Photo’s courtesy of Pinterest and Me }

 



				
					Twitt
				
			
				


				
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You Gotta Be Kind To Yourself

				Saturday, December 31st, 2011

				

					


You  gotta be kind to yourself …


So it’s that time of year again when we all start making resolutions. In the past mine have mostly been of the practical type, for example :


1) Eat less food and become a size 8.


2) drink less wine, I am not a wine lush you understand. This is for sartorial purposes ( please see above ).

3) To have no more than ten pieces of clothing in my ironing basket… This is rather than the hundred and ten currently residing there in .


4) To Remove my make up every night with a proper *grown up*  beauty cleanser … Not a baby wet wipe .


5) To occasionally have painted finger nails and soft hands , rather than them be covered in painting inks and *witchy* from too much washing up.


6) Always wear rubber gloves ( even though they make my hands smell funny…) See above for reasons .


7) To watch more mind enhancing tv… like the news and not so many films staring Zooey Deschanel or re-runs of America’s next top model . I may even cut back on my Ina watching…although technically cooking shows are kind of mind enhancing.


 8) To clean the oven …  sometimes


9) To smile … more, to prevent wrinkles.


10) To stop buying dresses ( or maybe just cut-down).  I have so many, some are the same dress, in more than one colour. Some even just more than one of the same dress. In case of accidents with bleach or tumble drier . oh and boots , no more of them either ….


As u can see all pretty standard, surface, achievable goals… Which I never fully achieve. I think in part because I don’t care enough about them. So this year I’m going the spiritual route. Call me crazy but I think I have a few real life changing resolutions up my sleeve … Ones that have nothing to do with my capacity to eat chocolate or down a glass of pino grigio .

So here goes …

 Be kind to myself…

I  like lots of folks I think, have guilt about pretty much everything.  Not being a good enough parent, partner , daughter , friend , artist, business type person … human being ?!?!  You get the picture.  I think we all have this anxiety in varying degrees. I have a feeling I may have it  baaaad.


And I’m pretty sure the path to all things happy probably doesn’t start with one of those nasty thoughts ..

So no more,  I’m going to try and see myself in a more positive light, be kind to myself .  Every time I have a negative thought about myself  I’m going to try and replace it with at least one positive one .


Here are several posts from Angela at Oh She Glows I’ve found to help re-adjust things in my head a bit ( some great food over there too,  just sayin )


http://ohsheglows.com/2011/10/18/seeing-the-positive-in-a-negative-situation/


http://ohsheglows.com/2011/11/02/how-to-reframe-a-negative-thought-with-a-thought-record/


2) Live for the moment –  I’m going to enjoy blowing raspberries on Millys belly, rather than worrying about my bank statement . … Again

I’m going to dance around the kitchen to stupid music with Ellie rather than worrying about the state of my laundry basket … Again

I’m going to  play minecraft with jack and I’m going to try  be interested , rather than letting my mind wander to what the hell we’re  going to have for tea… Again…

I’m going to go out with big J on regular date nights ( very American sounding I know but I think our cousins  have this one right )  and I’m not going to worry about wether Milly ( who’s 3 at the end of this month) will be scared for life if I leave her for a couple of hours to go see Sherlock Holmes 2 … I may even go for a entire night away! ( deep breaths for that one… She will be okay, she will be okay … I know I need help ;) 


3) To be happy … Happy as can be, happy as a sand boy ( not sure what one of those is but you know .. Happy ) with just what I have . Because if  I’ve learned  anything from last year its that there’s a lot of  truth in that old song… “Enjoy yourself, it’s later than you think “.  Even if we have a whole lifetime left …. its still bloody late ;) 


So that’s it,  all that’s left to say is goodbye 2011 you stank a tiny bit for a lot of people to be honest. But hay , you taught me a lot and I’m very thankful for that. Thankyou all for being such fab bloggy/ twitter /Instagram  friends too, you have all chivvied me along with your kindness and boundless encouragement this year.  Next years gonna be a blast folks…  I’m leaving you with some of my favourite captures of this year and something cute from Zooey Deschanel ,

So, Happy New Year!!!!!


Keep calm and eat cake folks,

Oh, and don’t forget, if you can’t say anything nice about yourself, don’t say anything at all ! …


That’s it I’m going now… Honest  ….  See you on the flip side *wink*


Icklebabe xx













				
					Twitt
				
			
				


				
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 Posted in family, Inspire, Misc |   23 Comments »


			


				

				
Cinnamon Brownies

				Thursday, December 22nd, 2011

				

					
The other day me and Milly went on a walk.  Only to the post box around the corner from our  house, but still a walk.  And it was and a great one.


It was the first time I’d been able to walk any distance in a bit of a while and it was such a beautiful day.


It was one of those clear winter days when the sky is crystal and goes on forever, and you can see your breath burning fire  in the air.


I was actually a bit in awe to be honest, the phrase “don’t get out much ” I guess really applies here but still,  I like to think it wasn’t just my freedom from cabin fever that got me all excited. Some days are truly just a gift aren’t they ? The rare ones that just come, unplanned and will always be remembered.


And when we came home we made chocolate cinnamon  brownies and hot mugs of tea ( for Milly) and gingerbread coffee ( for me) it was lovely . Pure lovely x 100 !






Baby its cold outside! :) )




I am leaving the recipe for the brownies here ( come on back for the Gingerbread Coffee tomorrow. )


I promised several friends on twitter I would, sorry its late ( procastination is my midde name always, at Christmas it becomes my first! ) .  Also its such a killer Christmastime combination, I want to remermber it for next year. Blogs are great for that, Im always thinking “what was that recipe I made with the chicken last September?!?… ” or something, and I know if  I’ve bloged it, it will be here, waiting.  Better than half jumbled in my head,  thats for sure!


The brownies are inspired by Shena @ the little red house  ( a super gem of a blog)  and she was inspired by a recipe by smitten kitchen ( again fabulous) .


I have to say it was pretty much perfect to begin with, but I have just added a little coffee ( Ina says it brings out the chocolate flavour ) and I weighed out the ingredients English stylie to help us none american cup users out a bit .  And so like Chinese whispers it continues. All of us adding our own little pinch of  this or dash of that. I have to tell you now they are simply the best and most easiest brownies I’ve even made.


So if you do bake them and add a little somethin somthin of your own please come back and tell us here ( someone mentioned to me over on instagram that she makes peppermint / chocolate  ones, YUM! ).


Be great to know the Chinese whispers brownies continue past this post!






    

  • Cinnamon Chocolate Brownies :
    • 

  • 8 oz  butter
    • 

  • 70z cups sugar
    • 

  • 40z cocoa powder ( I used Green and Blacks)
    • 

  • 1/4 teaspoon coarse salt
    • 

  • 1 teaspoon  vanilla
    • 

  • 2 large eggs, cold
    • 

  • 30z  self raising  flour
    • 

  • 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
    • 

  • 40 ml of strong black coffee
    • 





( I made up a batch with a little over a 1/4 teaspoon coffee with just boiled water )


Pre heat the oven at around 190 c and grease a 10 x 10 inch square baking tin.


Put butter, sugar, salt and coco in a bowl and heat in microwave for 30 seconds at a time, stiring in between.  It will look grainy at this point but don’t worry.


Add the slighly cooled coffee and then slowly add the beaten eggs and vanilla.


Then slowly add the flour and cinnamon stirring really well, until the mixture looks glossy and smooth.


Tumble the mixture into the baking tin and put in the middle shelf of the oven for around 25 -30 mins.


Cool and try not to demolish before its gone cold….this IS the hardest part !


xxx





				
					Twitt
				
			
				


				
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 Posted in cooking and baking, family, Misc |   3 Comments »


			


				

				
How to stuff your stocking…

				Monday, December 12th, 2011

				

					


I absolutely love Christmas stockings and all my childhood memories of Christmas start with them.  I don’t recall all my  presents growing up, except the year I got  Adam and the Ants on tape,  a animal print bat-wing jumper,  roller skates and leg-warmers  ( it was a very good year! ) but I ALWAYS remember the stocking. In fairness my memories are probably many stockings and years rolled into one glorious utopia of stockingness but still,  its one of the most precious things I think, up there in importance with the tree decorating and the turkey.


The other great thing about stockings,  and one of the reasons my mum was so fond of them ( as am I ) is the precious few moments of warm cozy doozing it gives you as a a parent. If opening a stocking is magic as a child, then surely the best christmas feeling in the world is being a grown up listening to your kids wonder as they do the same…from the cozy cumfyness of your still warm from sleep bed of course!


I really do believe they are the very essesnce of all things good and pure about christmas, all the magic and wonder of the season but without the heavy heart of the cost to purse or waistline . There isnt any need to put exspensive gifts in there,  just some well chosen bits of silliness and love!


Stockings are what christmas is really about I think, and so in their honor here is my little guide to how to stuff one and with what…


Go forth and stuff people,  lets make some memories!


How to stuff the perfect stocking : 


Firstly, I think stockings should be stocking shaped not massive square sacks (too hard to fill to the brim) . It needs to be small enough to fit neatly at the foot of your little ones bed, but big enough to hold more than a few precious gifts.


The first thing to stuff your stocking should be a clemintine or tangerine, after that tumble in some nuts (shells on) making sure you stuff right to the toe.  And  then some of your sweets.


After that add some little gifts ( a few ideas below) , then more sweets of course! and your done…. Stocking magic!


Now for what to put inside… all the things I’ve included here I found in either the supermarket, local sweet shop or stationers, with just a few on-line purchases.  So nice and easy,  and last minute good  !









Little Girls / Boys Stocking Fillers ! :


Sweets -


    

  1. Unusual sweets –  This time of year there are lots of  big name chocolate selection boxes, but I think they are lumbering ( dare I say lazy ) options, also not that cheep.   Try your little local paper shop or sweets shop for lovely original sweets that your kids may not be so familiar with to add a bit more Santa’s sleigh magic , I found lots of chewy refresher and wow bars as well as traditional candy canes and tiny chocolate Santa’s  in my local sweet shop.  I even found a life size chocolate swiss army knife for Big J, Fab!
    2. 

  2. Biscuits –  At my local coffee shop (Costa, other big brands have similar I’m sure ;) ) I found goreous large ginerbread Christmas tree’s all wraped ready to go,  and silver little tins of strong mints, great for older kids
    3. 

  3. Drinkies –  Bottle of milkshake or fruit smothies ( quite a few brands do christmas inspired ones ) tied in a bow with a colourful crazy straws to match
    4. 

  4. Chocolate coins of course, this year I found chocolate notes too ( at Aldi
    5. 

  5. Mini cereal boxes, their favourite kinds of course , no fighting with the rest of the family  for once ;) 
    6. 



Toys-


    

  1. Party bag toys – Supermarket toy party bag selections are great if you have more than one child, they usually come in bags of 5, and include items such as mini bubbles,  party blowers, bouncy balls,  cars,  bags of marbles,  tiny crayon boxes,  pretty plastic jewellery  and lots more!
    2. 

  2. Matchbox cars for boys AND girls.  For an added bit of magic pop out of the packaging and put in a little box with a bow, just think what the elves might do ;) 
    3. 

  3. Unusual pencils and pens, and pretty writing/drawing pads are all really easy to find in the supermarket (and cheap) or try the local stationers, I could happily spend hours sorting through pretty pencils and pens so much fun!  ( is that just me?? … )
    4. 

  4. Mini Calculators
    5. 

  5. Mini rulers
    6. 

  6. Cute /unusual rubbers
    7. 

  7. Mini High-lighter packs
    8. 

  8. A comic book
    9. 

  9. Paper Dolls
    10. 

  10. Pots of play-doh
    11. 

  11. Christmas ornament with their name on or something that fits their personality
    12. 

  12. Finger paints
    13. 

  13. Mini  pez and dispenser
    14. 

  14. Magic paint books, you know those little books where you brush over water and colours appear?  They still make them, I got a peppa pig one for the Milsta , shh.. dont tell her though ;) 
    15. 

  15. Something cuddly
    16. 

  16. Something snugly, gloves, hats and scarves.
    17. 

  17. Cheap classic Christmas  DVD’s are always available at the supermarket for around £4 , I found the Nightmare Before Christmas ( MY FAVE!)   Curious George, and The Wizard of OZ . All great for a bit of quiet time for you later. Hehe!
    18. 



Teen Girls Stocking Fillers ! -


Sweets As above, because your never to old for something sweet!


Toys or Extra’s -


    

  1. Mini Nail polishes
    2. 

  2. Mini lip Gloss
    3. 

  3. Gift token for their Favourite coffee shop, great for a good girlie catch -up gossip come January
    4. 

  4. Nice Knickers (older teens) or gift vouchers from places like La Senza , because a girl can never have enough pretty under-things, that’s what my grandma always told me anyway
    5. 

  5. I Tunes vouchers
    6. 

  6. Pretty photo frames
    7. 

  7. Candles
    8. 

  8. Hair grips and products
    9. 

  9. A few Family Recipes, hand written on pretty card, especially if their on their way out into the big world soon , sniff!
    10. 

  10. Stickers
    11. 

  11. Smelly marker pens
    12. 

  12. Copy of a good Glossy, maybe their first Vogue?
    13. 

  13. Bubble gum, for childish fun
    14. 

  14. Something cuddly, because your never to old for a cuddle
    15. 

  15. Something snugly, crazy gloves or hats. Jack wills have some gorg ones for a bit of a last minute luxury splurge  !  Or try Etsy for some homespun  knitted magic ;) 
    16. 

  16. Budget priced film classics, I found romantic drama  The Note Book, with swoonsome Ryan Gosling, classic funny Christmas fun from  Elf , Greece is the WORD! … and the brilliant Eat Pray Love with Julia Roberts (for older teens) all at £3 -£4 ‘s at Tesco ‘s (or Tesco’s on-line, just search stocking fillers under DVD’s selection )
    17. 



And thats it! I hope its given you some inspiration, please, please  tell me what you’ll be adding to the list for stocking fillers this year. I’d LOVE some extra ideas, because you can never get enough Christmas stocking FUN!  Xxx





				
					Twitt
				
			
				


				
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Milly Goes all Tantrumy …

				Saturday, September 24th, 2011

				

					
Small Note: 


I wrote this post several weeks ago, but I’ve been too poorly too post ( poorly blog post to come, one to look forward too? !  hehe.


I have been torn about posting about it as I hope this has pretty much been a happy, light place to visit and didn’t want to get all heavy but then I don’t want to be dishonest here either ? difficult line to tread I think… but more on that another time ) .


 I did think about ditching this post because Milly is a changed toddler lately, but I think it might be a comforting read for anyone in the midst of tantrum hell. I wont jinx myself and say it gets better, but there does seem to be some respite. Maybe call it time off for good Mummy behaviour ? ;D ….. 


 —————————————————————————————————————-







Milly goes all “tanrumy” ( yes, I did just make that word up ;) )


Just lately something has happened to milly.


The adorable  baby of our family,  nicknamed by her siblings as *the golden child*  because of her good nature and angelic behaviour  has gone , well a bit rogue.  Last week we had cheese string gate ( as documented on twitter) where she screamed uncontrollably          at me for pulling her cheese string into too many pieces ?!  Only to take a break for five minuites before tantrum number two, this time because I wouldn’t let her eat handfuls of sugar … out of the bag .


I know it happens to all kids, that’s why they call it the terrible twos, right? ( although I do think this should be re named the terrible two – till fives to be honest! )

One night you tuck your tiny bundle of cuteness into bed, only to discover in the morning that she’s turned into Napoleon in a nappy !

Toddlers are ruthless in their attacks too.

Yesterday I took milly to the library. When we got to the counter with our book, the demon  librarian ( we have some history, she’s a militant jobs worth ;)  )  told milly she couldn’t have the book  as we already had one out over due.


Milly just starred at Demon Librarian as if she was mad. As I tried to prise  “Dora Goes Potty ”  from her tiny little hands, she started to wail. A low growl at first, rising into a full on scream.


Everyone in the library turned to look,  milly started to cry. Big wet tears streaming down her face. The demon librarian took one look at milly and gave her the book  ” just this once ” , ” but make sure you bring it back on time ” she said quietly.


Milly just gave her a withering  “I should think so too”  look.  She’d  broken the demon librarian! … If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn’t have believed it could be done. I’ve seen this woman make little old ladies cry.


But then,  nobody messes with a temperamental toddler do they ?


Because once the tantrum ball gets rolling  there is no escape.  It’s a relentless, exhausting , no win type situation.

I over heard  Teen Ellie ask milly which side of the sofa she could sit on the other day, and poor Jack has given up trying to ever touch the TV remote.  Peppa Pig rules in our house.

Like some inhabitants of a country under the grips of a opressive tyrannical leader,  we  are all living in fear of Miss Tiny Temper .

Nobody would admit it but she knows , she knows…


There is another side to the toddler times though, they seem to have a huge realisation of love too.  They suddenly want to put both their tiny little arms around you and hug back fiercely,  rather than just be hugged.   They start to feel compassion too, often when I’ve had a hard, stressful day ( caused by milly, but still ) she’ll sit and rub my back gently and sing to me. She likes to brush my hair and  put on my make up for me too, I’m not sure I’d ever actually venture out in public  after  a Milly Makeover but still,  its the thought that counts I think.

This morning for example Milly  pressed her forehead against mine and whispered,  “I love you sooo much mummy” . Yes my heart melted , she did follow it up with a small tantrum because I wouldn’t let her jump on my head whilst wearing her new Minnie mouse welly boots, but you know, you can’t have everything ! xxxx



				
					Twitt
				
			
				


				
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The one where Jack gets stuck up a tree…

				Tuesday, August 9th, 2011

				

					
This weekend Big J took Teen Ellie, Little Milly, Eleven boy Jack and my lovely step daughter Aime May (9) to the woods.


I usually go with them, but my Mum was over and I thought it would be nice to spend a few uninterrupted moments of peace with her before she headed home on the train. The little  house we all share can get a bit crowded on family weekends,  its odd like that with second families. One weekend its just me, Big J and Milly, the next its a full on house party!   all fun though.  Anyhow, I digress….


So Big J was at the woods with the kids, I was perched on the sofa with Mum, having a very strange conversation about your parents having sex… (don’t ask) when I got this text from Big J….




 ….after some snigger’s  (read falling about laughing) from both me and mum  ( bad mummy, bad granny ) we started to get a bit worried.  What if he was stuck really high? what if he broke his legs when he eventually jumped down? should we get a taxi and come and help?!….


Just before night fall, after a whole hour of waiting, with no phone or text contact (no signal in the woods) , they came home.


Eventually after much cajoling Jay had to just yank Jack down from his “great” height….




 LOL! I think even baby Milly could have jumped down from here without injury … but  he is so stubborn my boy, when he decided to be “stuck” he was staying stuck… thank god we didn’t need the fire brigade.


Lesson 1- Don’t let Jack climb tree’s … like, ever! …..


Lesson 2 – Boys can be bigger drama queens than girls….


Lesson 3 – Don’t let Jack go to the woods unaided ( read, without me) .. “or you might be in for a surprise,  if you let Jack go down to the woods today, you wouldn’t believe your eyes,  lalala …. ” Bless him!


Lesson’s  learned ! ;D



				
					Twitt
				
			
				


				
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3 Go To Spain… the big fat truth

				Wednesday, August 3rd, 2011

				

					


So me, Milly Ickle and Big J Ickle have been on our hols to Spain,  and I think it was the 2nd most lovely break I’ve ever had!  (the first being just me and Big J in Greece (pre Milly) , think Mama Mia fabulous, but with more emphasis on sunbathing and “hows your father” than “who’s your father” ;D ) ….


Anyway, Spain was  blissful, no arguments, no stress, some sunshine and shopping!  Still the best way Ive found of *de-stressing* , even better than a hot stone massage, or 100 cups of  cat pee smelling chamomile and lemon tea in my opinion. 


But with every silver lining there is a cloud as they say, and this cloud was in the shape of some rather unnecessary fat shaped mounds  that seemed to go unnoticed by me,  until I got on holiday.


I had, had a few fat worries before going away.   But my friends had all assured me that I was more  Brigitte Bardot  than beached whale, and as my mum said, “there are always larger, older folk on the beach anyway love,”  “just lie next to them, instant weight-loss!”.


Unfortunately for me,  Big J and Milly had better beach dwelling ideas.  So we walked about 4 miles away from the ( mostly topless)  large, older people in  deep mahogany and over to the  beach climbing frame and pretty harbor.   It was much quieter after all,  and big J doesn’t do crowds .  Lovely it was too,  apart from the glaring obvious (to me anyway) thing….


This was also where all the beautiful young Spanish girls were. They mostly hang out in three’s. Outstretched together on towels,  they all add up to the size of  about one twiglet. One of them always seems to possess a hugely over sized, expensive SLR camera, and takes endless pictures of the other two.  Tiny baby shaped limbs draped over each other seductively… ( jealous moi?! ) ….


Occasionally their bright big eyes flash my way (yes, they probably did notice me gawping ) and they seem to whisper, “ go on lady, take that sun dress off,  show us what you got !” ….




( What I hoped to look like, what I think I actually looked like and the 3 twiglets! Okay… these are super models, but I swear they looked like this! )


As well as the the twiglets I also had lovely Big j proudly taking pictures. The thing about this was I had an instant reminder of my size. Its not like the old days when you had  to wait until after your hols to get your photos back, and immediately embark on the cabbage and maple syrup  diet.  Oh no… with an iphone its like,  instant .  One moment your skipping into the sea happily,  in your new  50′s pin up style swimming cozzie.   The next moment you can see you do not in fact look like a vintage movie star as previously believed, but,  you do bare a striking resemblance to Orca the whale… just Orca  in (vastly over priced, but promising magical slimming powers) swim suited  Lycra!


Needless to say I spent everyday after that on the beach in a dress, with absolutely no intention of  taking it off.  So this is when it hits me (along with the 30 degree heat) …


I have to loose weight,  not just a few pounds either. I don’t want to have to breath in at my own reflection anymore.  I don’t want to have to constantly be wondering “do I look fat in this?” or ” thats lovely,  but theres no way I could ever wear it”.


I know there are far more important things happening in the world, terrible hideous things that I never have to experience or understand, and I’m sorry if this all sounds very self absorbed, I really don’t mean it that way.  But I do understand being overweight is shrinking my world and making me sad. I don’t want to live like it anymore, and as much as I LOVE food, cooking food, dreaming up new recipes for food and eating FOOOOD! …  enoughs enough.


So its size ten or bust people!  I think I need to loose about two stone in all and I would love you fantastic lot to help me. If you see me tweeting about it being *wine o’clock* on twitter, stop me.  If you see me post  a pic of a giant frosted cup cake on Instragram urge me not to eat it! Yell at me, pull my hair… kick me in the shins, just don’t let me near food, okay guys?.


Thanku so much, together I know we can beat this! and in return I promise to post any recipes (of the low cal sort) that I make up, that are yummy. Okay ? Cool :D  see you next time, and I promise I will not eat lard or drink wine in your absence. xxxx


Oh, and here are some happy pictures of our travels. We visited Alcudia on the island of Majorca, and stayed at the Condes De Alcudia (very basic, but great value =more money for shopping and food…cough sorry ! ) x


Milly plays I Spy. 







 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


Spanish Street life! 


 


 


 Sunset.


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 



				
					Twitt
				
			
				


				
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Silent Sunday

				Sunday, July 31st, 2011

				

					



				
					Twitt
				
			
				


				
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Silent Sunday

				Sunday, July 17th, 2011

				

					



				
					Twitt
				
			
				


				
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Fairwell Harry, I made you cake…

				Friday, July 15th, 2011

				

					




 “London. Implacable July weather. People everywhere. People swarming Trafalgar Square. People perched on the steps of St. Martin-in-the-Fields. People crowding the backstreets of the West End. Is this a Dickens novel? No, it’s the premiere of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Part 2.” -   Time magazine


Me and Teen Ellie watched the live stream of the Harry Potter premier in tears. I am not really a Harry Potter fan, by this I mean I have never read any of the books, never stood in line endlessly to see one of the movies, and I have to admit (rather quietly) to not always completely understanding the story lines.  But I am far more than just a little fond of Harry Potter and his wizardy friends,  its a weird kind of feeling,  like the fondness you feel for your child’s oldest school friends. But before you cart me off to the funny farm, let me explain why…


 The first movie came out an astonishing eleven years ago and it has been the magical (pardon the pun)  backdrop to teen Ellie’s childhood ever since. Like cultural osmosis, its part of the fabric of her young life.  Her best friend at six was so obsessed with Harry,  that she slept with his picture underneath her pillow, and wrote “Mrs Harriot Potter” on all her books.


When the first Harry Potter computer game came out me and my friend,  spent 3 days solid trying to complete it. Baby Jack had his very own Harry dressing gown that looked like a hogwarts magic coat, which he wore  for his first primary school book day, he made a very cute, very blonde Harry.  Ellie had the Harry Potter jelly sweet maker, the Harry potter chocolate (it had fizzy popping candy in the center, which Ellie was SURE was actual magic ;) ) , the harry potter bed sheets and the movies of course…we watched the movies to death.




  So I am ever so slightly in love with every one of  JK Rowling’s expertly crafted characters.  I also love the fact that the movies are just so, well,  British!


 I love all the scenes of sweeping London, the beautiful old buildings and grimy little cafés,  the glimpses into English suburbia and the beauty and sometimes barrenness of the countryside.


I love that  Harry and Co always  look like they haven’t seen the sun for more than three days a year (like most of us from Oct through to June!) either and  they all have “normal” clothes and none Hollywood  hair.  Something which I think is sadly missing from most other films and TV shows targeted at young people ( god I sound old, but its true) .


 As well as this, practically every good British actor from the past ten years has appeared in someway, filling it with a warm feeling of home and (dare I say it) it makes me a bit proud to be British.


So…  this is my sweet fair well to Harry, and my first baby’s childhood.


 Teen Ellie turns sixteen this October and dreams of being at Hogwarts and defeating  Mr no Nose (Lord Voldemort) will soon fade to nothing. Well maybe not nothing, maybe there will be a small space forever Harry, forever six and full of magic and wonder.   Maybe thats why Harry is so popular the world over,  maybe he gives us all a tiny excuse to believe in a little bit of magic! X


( Harry’s last stand is out this weekend, I’m off to see it on the big screen with Ellie, and a box of tissues! ) X






 


And just to properly celebrate the occasion I made cupcakes, magical  rainbow ones of course !




Rainbow cupcakes!


Ingredients-


2 eggs


40z 0f  self raising flour


4oz of butter


4oz of sugar


A teaspoon of baking powder


1 teaspoon of good vanilla essence


4 different colours of food colouring. I used red, blue, green and yellow.


Firstly cream the butter and sugar ( I do everything in a food mixer, but you can do it by hand too) . Then add the two eggs, and then the flour and baking powder, finally add the vanilla. If this mixture looks to think I add a little water or milk ( 1-2 tablespoons).


Separate the cake bater equally into four bowls. Add the food colouring to each bowl, a little at a time and mix. I found the red and the green quite strong, but the blue and yellow much weaker. 


Then line a muffin tin with six muffin cases. Spoon a little of the first colour into each case (use all the mixture) I used yellow first,  spread evenly.  Next, spoon in another colour ( I used green) gently over the top of the first. spread to the edges.


Continue this process until all the colors and mixture is used. Then take a wooden cocktail stick or something similar and swirl each cupcake very lightly.




Then put them in the oven for approx 25 mins, until they are lovely and golden.


Thats it ice them however you like, I made up a batch of butter cream icing, instructions are on the back of the icing packet. I added a teaspoon of vanilla at the end.


Thats it, easy and really, really fun! Milly had a great time helping me.




I will just add, I know there are some scary health opinions about food colouring, there is lots of info online about it,  and I will let you guys make you own mind up about that.   But personally I feel as long as your not making these everyday, you wont get cancer or ADHD or grow another head  .. but that of course,  is just my personal opinion kids! … other opinions may vary      XXXX



				
					Twitt
				
			
				


				
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