My best friend.

Nine years ago today I was watching a life less ordinary , with my best friend. Right then he decided to do one of the bravest things of his life.

He kissed me.

Nine years later I am married to my best friend and our life is perfectly, wonderfully ordinary. And we are happier than we ever dreamt we could be.

I love you sweetie, happy "Anniversary" xxxx

Pumpkin Bread

I am so sure I posted this recipe last year. However, I came on tonight to repost it and I can't for the life of me find it!, How strange.

Anyway, the kids and I baked pumpkin bread a few times last year. It was really good so I thought I would share it (again??) seeing as we are getting around to that time of year.

I found the recipe here last year

Pumpkin Bread

3 cups Self Raising flour

3 - 4 tsps pumpkin pie spice

3 cups sugar (I used soft brown sugar)

4 eggs beaten

1 cup melted marg

1/2 cup water

2 cups cooked pumpkin

1 cup pecans chopped (optional)

• 
  
  Sift dry ingredients into lge bowl
• 
  
  Make a well in the centre
• 
  
  mix all other ingredients in another bowl
• 
  
  put into well
• 
  
  mix well
• 
  
  grease loaf tin(s)
• 
  
  Bake at (350f) 180C for about an hour

I couldn't find pumpkin pie spice anywhere so I googled how to make my own.

Pumpkin Pie Spice

4 tsp cinnamon

2 tsp ginger

1 tsp nutmeg

1 tsp mixed spice.

It smells like heaven! I made around 3x the amount above and kept it in a little sealed plastic tub. It kept fresh all season.

Also for anyone who hasn't cooked pumpkin before, I just took the seeds out, cut the skin off and chopped it up. Put it in a pyrex casserole dish with a teeny bit of water, put the lid on and microwaved it. Not sure if that was right or wrong but it still worked and was yummy,

Enjoy xx

Want to make a difference?

I sure do. Two appeals for help have touched my heart today.

One from a Mommy who is only asking for your vote (via Samster Mommy). I have voted, so it still counts from this side of the pond.

This second story really touched my heart, please go here to read about how an egg and a vitamin can make a difference.  I keep thinking back to my girly having an egg as part of her lunch today. Part of her lunch. I feel very lucky tonight and will try to find a little something to send via paypal to go towards some vitamins.

I am off to kiss my babies before heading to bed. Night night xx

another project done

I know this is by no means as crafty or creative as most of the other projects linked up to






but it is one that has been on my to - do list for quite some time! I also busted some of my stash in the process.

As I mentioned in previous posts , I am in the process of arranging a tiny crafting corner for myself, in the corner of my bedroom. As part of this I was in need of somewhere to store magazines, print outs of tutorials, books, patterns etc.

But I didn't want to buy something to use, I am a real cheapo  a little thrifty and so kept a look out for something I could use for free! That something arrived with my Autumn / winter Next catalogue. The box was in 2 halves with a little perforated edge.

I asked Beebs to keep hers when it arrived so I would have 2. I have been using these as they are, since early summer. I am such a procrastinator!!

I used stashbusting September as my kick up the butt to finally cover them in scrapbook paper. I didnt have anything that would match my bedroom, but I used my favourite papers and I think they look cute. I have since decided to make my corner as colourful as possible!

They were pretty self explanatory to make, I drew around the edge of the box and cut the paper to fit. I hot glued the boxes together and then hot glued the paper on.

I, of course, had my usual crafting company lol.

Done!

 I am super happy, but a little annoyed with myself. It didn't even take 15 mins and I have been putting it off for months!

Full steam ahead.

Does anyone know where I can buy me some time?  The Hamster Wheel seems to be in fast forward at the moment and I am running as fast as I can!! Everything is good though, it is nice to be busy at work and I love what I do, it is just making my life very full at the moment LOL.

Here and there I am finding moments for myself, some evenings if I can keep my eyes open, I am attempting to make myself a little quilt. I am going for a "random" look and have no idea how it will turn out as I am making it up as I go along! LOL

Do you ever make something for someone and think "ooh I love that fabric!" wish it was mine!" ? I do it quite often , so I have decided to use up all of my favourite fabrics in my very own snuggle quilt.

Mmmm yummy.

The rose applique is from K's very first bedding set, so I am looking forward to having it forever.

I do love my life, even though it is crazy busy at the moment. Even though, in one day, last week I clipped 3 children in and out of car seats 16 seperate times! 

 I love all of those children I love being able to collect K every day from Nursery, I love being home to see my boy walking in the door from school and make him peanut butter sandwiches.

And I am the luckiest Auntie in the world, because two days of my week are filled with moments like this

 Enjoying every second.

And we're off...

For the month of September I have committed to taking part in




 This means that I can buy no crafty stuff but instead I use all of the stash I have lying around. I am terrible for starting projects and not finishing them, buying stuff and then never actually using it, so this is perfect for me.

Here is my mess stash and my "crafting area" which is a cluttered mess at the moment, but once I get the worktop built and some shelves up it will be much better.

It is Sept 9th and this is my first post. So typical! But in my defence I have had zero crafting time.

BUT on Tuesday afternoon I found myself home alone for a whole 3.5 hours! wow! So I set to work on my first stashbusting project.

I had my companion with me of course!

it's a hard life being Meatball

 ***yawn***

Now, all of my family and friends know to give me first offer of any clothing they are getting rid of. I am quite partial to stuffing it in my crafting area and never using it  cutting it up and making something new!

This top was given to me by my sister in law, Beebs. She was getting rid of it as she has lost so much weight it no longer fits (go Beebs!) I knew she loved it so I decided to  make it into a bag for her to take on holiday when she goes at the end of the month.

I simply cut the straps at the top seam and lined lined it with black fabric.

I loved this detail on the front so I just left the top part as it was and and made some matching handles to join on to what used to be the straps.

I turned my back for one second!

 I cut a little of the length off so I had some of thepatterned fabric to use to make a fabric flower, I hot glued some pearls into the centre

 and voila!

A beach bag.

Of course part way through this process everyone returned home! They all piled into the bedroom and we watched Christmas Vacation and chatted as I worked. Did you know it was so much easier to sew when the curtains are closed and a four year old is in the bed you were using as a workspace??

But I wouldnt have it any other way.

Sunday.

Sunday morning. Usually Sunday mornings are my second favourite morning of the week. It can only be trumped by Saturday morning and Saturday is only so blissful knowing that Sunday still awaits us!

This morning is a grey one. I missed the enjoyment of my Saturday night because of a migraine. I woke up this morning with a yucky migraine hangover. We have a huge to do list for today and I just want to crawl back in to bed.

I feel grumpy.

I am sitting at the kitchen table trying to readjust my attitude, my boy is behind me in the kitchen baking pancakes and chatting up a storm.

K is in her PJs in the livingroom cuddling up with Daddy. They have already been busy this morning, cutting the grass and hanging washing.

I feel lucky.

I am sipping my cup of tea, made for me by my sweet boy and trying to allow the sugar in it to sweeten my mood.

I feel loved.

Maybe if I allow myself a little wallowing time and take my grumpiness out on the cleaning that is begging to be done, I can do it faster. I can do it so fast it will blow the grumpiness away and still leave enough time for us to have a little of our usual Sunday family time. Some time to play and unwind and make memories.

I feel hopeful.

You are my Sunshine

I made a little sunshine for K. Something that has a little of me sewn into it for her to wear to nursery. Something to complement the beautiful autumn colours that will soon be around us.

"Sunshine on a cool windy day" was going to be my title for this post. But.... well, unusually, K was  in a less than sunny mood!

And of course some friendly little daisies

This top was made using this tutorial  from Candace at Sparkle power

The fabric used to be a pillowcase that I picked up in the bargain corner at IKEA.

Even when grumpy she brings sunshine to my life

Happy "Soctember"

An award?

For little old me? I would like to say a huge HUGE Thankyou to Caroline from Atelier Caroline, who believes my blog to be worthy of the A Blog with Substance award.

I am so touched to know that someone enjoys reading my random ramblings about our lives. Please use the link above to check out Carolines lovely blog, I love checking in to see what's new over there, she has some awesome crafty ideas and tutorials.

So now to accept my award!

I would like to Thank my husband who allows me to avoid housework in favour of blogging ..............

Nah just kidding! He is awesome but this isn't the Oscar's ;-)

In order to accept my award I must

• Thank the blogger who awarded it to you  ( Done! Thanks again Caroline)
• Sum up your blogging philosophy, motivation, and experience using 5 words.
• Pass it on to 10 other people you feel have blogs with real substance.

5 words to sum up my blogging

Sharing

Family

Memories

Therapy!

Enjoyment

My top 10 blogs with substance (in no particular order)

Sonja @ Home cooking with Sonja - much more than just cooking, warm sweet and friendly blog that makes me want to fly to Holland every Sunday! And she leaves me the sweetest comments.

Leslie @ A spoonful of everything - Creative, funny and friendly, reading Leslie's blog is like sitting at the kitchen table having a cuppa with a good friend.

Cheryl @ A pretty cool life   - has impeccable taste in all things gingham and she allows me to semi - stalk her on Facebook.

Melanie @ The crafty Cupboard - I love checking in to see what sewing scrumptiousness she has been creating - She also once allowed me to be the only non-US participant in a giveaway.

Raymonde @ Everyday I walk with you .. another sweetheart who is super friendy. This lady take amazing photos!

Tiffany @ Elastamom's excerpts - Tiffany writes with such humour and honesty. I love her blog.

Jen @ Larson Loves and her craft blog craft-o-maniac - I love the way Jen writes and also her decorating and craft ideas are fab.

I would also like to shout out to my friends and family whose family blogs are filled with love, life and plenty of substance. They are all linked over in my sidebar, some are private some are family content only so I wont leave links, but I do think they are awesome xx (I know that technically this take me over 10 but I couldn't choose between them!)

What a happy bunny I am this morning !

Buttons and memories

When I was a little girl I would spend some of my School holidays being looked after by my Granny. My sister , my cousin and I used to play a ton of games. We had the best fun making mud pies, putting up the tent, playing bowls and running through sprinklers. I have a scar on my forehead from where I fell from "the mean machine" (an old chopper bike that my Grandad bought at an auction) and fell head first into my Grandad's prized rosebushes! Oh the thorns!  He believed in buying almost everything second hand. If anyone was having a conversation about purchasing somehting new, he would extoll the virtues of visiting the "saleroom." We would jokingly finish his sentences for him " those come up at the sales all the time"

My Grandparents were both retired, my Grandad loved to visit auctions where he would buy antique  furniture to sell on and clocks that needed to be restored. He would fix them all himself and then sell them. Their house was  like an aladdin's cave for a nosy child like myself. I have always loved raking around, give me a box of photographs or a cupboard full of junk and I could spend hours just raking through. Oh the "treasures" that I was allowed to play with!

My Gran loved to sew. Although I don't have many memories of her sewing, because she became too shaky and had very bad osteoporosis and osteo - arthritis. I do however have two beautiful dresses that she made for me and I still have an apron that she made, because I loved to bake. It is made from beautiful vintage fabric with roses on it. I love seeing my girl wearing this apron when we bake. (and my boy! sshh don't tell him I told you) Unfortunately I have allowed it to get stained and it upsets me whenever I see it. But I suppose it just proves how long it has been enjoyed.

She had a huge cupboard in her living room. It had double doors on the front and her couch sat in front of it. I would beg Granny to let me look in her cupboard. This was her fabric cupboard. Some days she would pull forward the couch and open up those doors. I remember it seemed to go on forever! I would spend hours looking through the little drawers. Flicking through the boxes of patterns. Running my fingers through all of the buttons in the tins. The piles and piles of linens and fabric, silks and sheets. I can still see it.

Hands down my favourite thing in this cupboard was the parachute. A beautiful white silk parachute from WW2. I would ask Granny to tell me the story over and over again about how people would be thrilled to find these parachutes. They were commonly used for wedding dresses because everything was rationed and money was tight. I am sure most things in this cupboard were bought at an auction, someone would have tossed it into a box while clearing out a house. I am also sure this is where the contents went when my family was emptying out the house once my Grandparents had passed. It would have been a fitting tribute.

I was always desperate to learn how to sew. I remember being allowed to use her sewing machine once. I made a little outfit for my doll. I thought it was the coolest thing ever! I was also allowed to use her pinking shears! Wow I loved those things.

I have been thinking a lot about my Granny recently. It could be because it would have been her Birthday on Monday. I think it has has a lot to do with how much sewing I have been doing. She used to love sewing dresses and outfits for my Aunt and I just love seeing my girly wearing something that I made.Unfortunately I only started sewing a year ago. I am teaching myself with the help of tutorials from blogland.We lost my Gran 4 years ago, 5 weeks before my baby girl was born, so I could never tell her how much I love it.

What I wouldn't give to go back in time. I would ask Granny all about sewing. What she liked to do. I would raid that cupboard to within an inch of it's life! All of that amazing fabric!!  At the very least I wish I had those tins of buttons. We Cousins would spend hours and hours sorting them, weighing them, selling them to each other. So many memories are rubbed into the buttons in those tins.


I loved those summer days, spent playing cards with a pile of pennies each. Baking in the kitchen. Watching Grandad tend his tomato plants in the greenhouse. Watching old black and white movies and having to shout to hear each other over the horseracing that my Grandad loved to watch. At full volume.

And of course I couldn't have a post about my Gran without mentioning the Glory hole. In her kitchen there was a huge cupboard, it went deep under the stairs. This was fondly called the Glory hole and it was anything but glorious! LOL. This was where everything was stuffed! From the hoover to spare dishes and glasses, bags, newspapers and my favourite little stool with the steps that folded out from underneath! It was crammed. Lol.

I didn't realise how alike we are. I suppose I have only realised as I am getting older.  Apart from our joint love of sewing and photographs, family history and things that are old/vintage. We have our shared dislike of all things housework! Her house was never really untidy and it was by no means dirty . But occassionally frames needed a little wipe on your trousers to take away the dust.

Every cupboard in my house is like a Glory hole. You have to be very careful when opening any of the doors. I should probably do a tour like an air hostess - "here we have the over head cabinets, please open the doors carefully as items may  have become dislodged during recent rummaging" And more often than not, my frames need a "quick dicht" across my thigh before letting someone see the beautiful face within. But I am realising that this is me. I would still rather be baking, spending time making memories with my children, playing with fabric and running my fingers through piles of buttons.

I am now firmly in the mood to head out to an auction and see what treasures await! I wonder who I can bribe to come with me? Maybe my sister, for old times sake.