One autumn afternoon

Some good news

Thanks to everyone who commented, sent their best wishes and even agreed to become a bone marrow donor! Wow! I thank you all for your kindness.

Sonja has some good news, head on over and read it for yourselves. xx

I'm still here!

I could have sworn it was only yesterday that I last posted on here! Where did the time go? I had every intention of sitting down and sharing today, but it is 8.30pm and I am tucked up in bed. Totally and utterly spent. I am hoping an early night will restore some of my spent energy.

We are having such fun seeking out autumn and enjoying the colder weather.
I genuinely look forward to cold weather the way most people anticipate the warmth of summer. I can't keep the smile from my face as I zip up coats and tuck tiny hands into gloves that always seem too big for little fingers. Taking those first breaths of fresh, crisp, cold morning air can only be beaten by watching snowflakes gently fall from an inky black sky.

I have no pics to share tonight as I am typing this on my iPod. But hopefully tomorrow I can grab some time to tell you of our fun weekend, where we found autumn treasures and travelled all over in search of a pumpkin!!

Just as I was finishing typing about how content I was. How good it felt to be so tired after a long day of being the best mummy I can be, my fabulous firstborn popped in to remind me of all of my motherly failings. Awesome.

Ah well, there's always tomorrow! And for now I can slip into slumber wearing my snowflake pyjamas and dreaming of a fresh start on a cool morning.

Night night xx

The marrow of life.

I have to say this is something I have thought about before. It isn't something that I have actually looked into enough to go through with it. But I will now.

My friends Sonja's husband  Richard is fighting Leukemia. He needs to find a bone marrow donor .

They have 2 small gorgeous boys and are just one of the sweetest, happiest families you could ever know.

If it was my family that was affected by this illness , I would hope with all of my heart that my family and friends would help in any way they can. Even if it was up to the kindness of a stranger, I would be hoping and praying that someone had registered to step forward and help.

I asked Sonja if we were too far away to be tested (being that I am in the UK and they live in Canada) and she assured me that there is an international database, the search goes worldwide. So I have been researching how to go about it over here.

This is a link with info on how to become a blood/bone marrow donor in the UK.

Here is the link that Sonja posted on her blog.

I am just hoping that by offering this story up here on my blog, I know I only  have a few followers , but it would only take one person. Even if I can't help Richard, even if I can't help find a donor for him. Maybe I could be the stranger that helps someone else.

Just a thought x

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.