I have had a bit of a hankering to bake snickerdoodles recently, not sure why, I just haven't made any in a long time and thought it would be nice. I didn't get much baking done over the Christmas period, given our impending arrival Arthur and I mainly spent the holidays sorting out baby things and banking sleep, so the only baking I really did was the Christmas pudding. I didn't even manage any mince pies!
So yesterday I made snickerdoodles. If you don't know what snickerdoodles are, they are a doughnutty tasting, cakey sort of biscuit. Confused? Give them a bake and you'll understand. The recipe I use is from Nigella Lawson's 'How to be a domestic Goddess' one of my favourite baking books.
While mixing up the original batch, I had a burst of inspiration. I was thinking about making a second batch of 'chocodoodles' (where you replace some of the flour with cocoa), but I've never been a huge fan of them, I like the originals better, then I had a thought.
Monday, 6 January 2014
Friday, 22 November 2013
Homemade cloth nappies
Today I made my first cloth nappy and I am very proud of it!
When I first looked at what I needed for cloth nappies, I spent a lot of time looking at all the very (VERY) many different options available. Some of them were absolutely adorable, and almost always very expensive, and not always sensible when I though about using them long term. So I came to the conclusion that we would use terry squares and fold - economical, size adjustable, fast drying, no plastics, probably with fleece liners for ease and comfort.
But I didn't stop looking. It is somewhat addictive, there are a world of cloth nappies out there and a whole community of people making, buying, using, blogging them. I couldn't help but wanting the cute patterned, printed nappies that I saw all around, they just weren't what I wanted function wise.
When I first looked at what I needed for cloth nappies, I spent a lot of time looking at all the very (VERY) many different options available. Some of them were absolutely adorable, and almost always very expensive, and not always sensible when I though about using them long term. So I came to the conclusion that we would use terry squares and fold - economical, size adjustable, fast drying, no plastics, probably with fleece liners for ease and comfort.
But I didn't stop looking. It is somewhat addictive, there are a world of cloth nappies out there and a whole community of people making, buying, using, blogging them. I couldn't help but wanting the cute patterned, printed nappies that I saw all around, they just weren't what I wanted function wise.
Sunday, 17 November 2013
A Christmas teaser
We have begun making this years round of Christmas presents and as usual my husband has come up with some fantastically creative ideas for gifts for friends and family that tend to put my ideas to shame!
Still we are a team and some of his ideas he needs me to make, so I'm not totally useless!
Here is the first lot of gifts all cut out and ready to go through the sewing machine. These are for the toddlers in our life and I am very very excited about them and incredibly pleased with how they've turned out. But unfortunately you'll have to wait to see them until after the little ones do.
Still we are a team and some of his ideas he needs me to make, so I'm not totally useless!
Here is the first lot of gifts all cut out and ready to go through the sewing machine. These are for the toddlers in our life and I am very very excited about them and incredibly pleased with how they've turned out. But unfortunately you'll have to wait to see them until after the little ones do.
Saturday, 27 July 2013
The Sound of Happiness
Is a Ukulele.
Nothing (I have found) sounds so light and friendly and inspires such a happy mood.
We were lucky enough to have a friend sing at our wedding and among the song suggestions we gave her was 'Somewhere over the Rainbow' by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole. She came back saying she was unable to find a backing track for it,but had almost mastered it on the ukulele so would give it a go live if we wanted.
I was incredibly excited about this and she was amazing. It made me cry!
This inspired me to have a go at learning the ukulele myself and just after Christmas I bought myself a cheap one and some books.
While the instrument may be cheap (I got it from Amazon for less than £20). It has a lovely sound, I don't feel that I need to immediately invest in a high quality instrument, although I may at some point. At the moment my lovely (yellow) ukulele is doing me proud.
Nothing (I have found) sounds so light and friendly and inspires such a happy mood.
We were lucky enough to have a friend sing at our wedding and among the song suggestions we gave her was 'Somewhere over the Rainbow' by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole. She came back saying she was unable to find a backing track for it,but had almost mastered it on the ukulele so would give it a go live if we wanted.
I was incredibly excited about this and she was amazing. It made me cry!
This inspired me to have a go at learning the ukulele myself and just after Christmas I bought myself a cheap one and some books.
While the instrument may be cheap (I got it from Amazon for less than £20). It has a lovely sound, I don't feel that I need to immediately invest in a high quality instrument, although I may at some point. At the moment my lovely (yellow) ukulele is doing me proud.
Tuesday, 23 April 2013
World Book Night 2013
I have just discovered the most wonderful thing.
World Book Night.
Tonight is World Book Night 2013.
And I did not know!
One of my Rangers mum's is a World Book Night 'giver' and had bought some books along to the meeting tonight to give out. It seemed like a nice idea, I'm always in support of books and sharing them, but I didn't have chance to have a conversation with her so didn't really know what the purpose was or what it was all about, so I came home and did some research.
I visited the World Book Night website, read a little about what it was about, read some more about the people who are involved and why, I read their testimonials, tales of people they had given the books to, and I cried.
It is the most wonderfully sweet, amazing concept, and I truly believe it is helping change people's lives. Tonight across the UK and Ireland 20,000 people are acting as World Book Night 'givers' distributing free copies of selected books within their own communities to encourage people to read and share the joy of books.
The website encourages people to become a 'reading ambassador sharing their experiences of reading, encouraging others, supporting local bookshops, giving books as gifts, all things I totally support and aim to do more of.
Please visit the website. Read what it's all about and read what it means to the people giving, and how their gifts have been received. It is incredibly heart warming, somewhat bittersweet and completely amazing, I challenge you not to want to get involved!
World Book Night
World Book Night.
Tonight is World Book Night 2013.
And I did not know!
One of my Rangers mum's is a World Book Night 'giver' and had bought some books along to the meeting tonight to give out. It seemed like a nice idea, I'm always in support of books and sharing them, but I didn't have chance to have a conversation with her so didn't really know what the purpose was or what it was all about, so I came home and did some research.
I visited the World Book Night website, read a little about what it was about, read some more about the people who are involved and why, I read their testimonials, tales of people they had given the books to, and I cried.
It is the most wonderfully sweet, amazing concept, and I truly believe it is helping change people's lives. Tonight across the UK and Ireland 20,000 people are acting as World Book Night 'givers' distributing free copies of selected books within their own communities to encourage people to read and share the joy of books.
The website encourages people to become a 'reading ambassador sharing their experiences of reading, encouraging others, supporting local bookshops, giving books as gifts, all things I totally support and aim to do more of.
Please visit the website. Read what it's all about and read what it means to the people giving, and how their gifts have been received. It is incredibly heart warming, somewhat bittersweet and completely amazing, I challenge you not to want to get involved!
World Book Night
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