busy indoors

Since Wednesday I have spent all time my indoors, apart from a trip to the end of the garden path to take out the rubbish, as S has been full of a cold which has compeltely wiped out her normal boundless energy.
In between administering Buttercup cugh syrup, painkillers, checking temperature, cuddles and colouring I've managed to tick a few things off my to do list such as the complete emptying of the ironing basket which normally NEVER happens.
I have wrapped some gifts and made some Christmas gift tags and also done a little bit of sewing but I can't show anything here in case those all these things are intended for get see them!

Last night I as I checked on T and S before I toddled off to bed I gave them both an extra hug whilst they were sleeping after hearing the incredibly sad news about the policeman who was killed in floods yesterday and watching a couple of heart wrenching films on Children In Need.



With no photos to share of my endeavours from the past few days I thought I would post one of a recipe I tried out the other week which was enjoyed by my 3.

These 2 chicken breasts are marinating in 1tbsp mixed spice, 2tbsp soy sauce, 1tbsp white wine vinegar, 1tbsp orange juice and half tbsp honey. They were then cooked in the oven, along with the marinade, at 180c for 25 mins, they need to be covered for last 10 mins or so. Sliced and mixed with noodles and stir fried mushrooms, courgettes and carrots. Quick and easy cooking.

Lounging around

We had some new furniture delivered a couple of days ago for our front room. To me it's our front room, others may call it the lounge or living room. It's the room at the front of the house, although I don't call the dining room the back room, so I suppose there is no real logic to that explanation!
Anyway back to the furniture. Our old sofa and chair were covered in a cream fabric and precisely because of this and because there are 2 children in our home they were draped in big throws which always made them look untidy even when they weren't.
Thankfully good old Marks and Spencer's were having a money off promotion on their leather furniture and offering a year's interest free credit, so off we toddled to the big out of town store and a family decision was made.

It's looking a bit bare, we need some cushions, but I love it. S isn't too keen. She was sent home from school on Tuesday afternoon and since then has been spending a lot of time stretched out on it watching TV or sleeping and 'just not being able to get very comfortable mummy.'

I suppose it's not as snuggly as our old one!

Whilst taking photos I snapped a few of my favourite things from that room.

Two new candle editions. One that T bought home from school after Science day last Friday in my LA candlestick and an apple and cinnamon scented one from Ikea.

The picture that hangs above the TV.

One of the many gorgeous presents from G over the years.

Our cosy book reading corner.

books and a birthday

I am very excited about this book. It's a Christmas present for G's sister. Ages ago during a conversation about books we've read she mentioned that one of her favourites is Flowers for Mrs Harris. She didn't own a copy and knew it wasn't in print anymore.
I was so please when whilst browsing the fabulous millyanddottie emporium I found a copy.
A copy with such a pretty cover and one which was printed in the year my sister-in-law was born! I can't wait to give her this gift!
I've left it just as it was sent to us with this pretty blue gingham ribbon tied around it. Huge thanks to Kim for such great service. If you haven't seen the website before then do pop over for a browse through their goodies.


Saturday saw us popping along to a table top sale, a jumble sale and a Christmas fayre. A couple of items were purchased at each by all 4 of us and we were all very happy with our purchases for a few pennies.
One of my favourites was this knitting pattern. I can do a basic knit and purl stitch so thought I may give some of these a whirl. I loved my Sindy, but look at the other model, none other than the seventies pin up Farah Fawcett!

Yesterday we went to Salisbury for a birthday celebration. G's mum is 76 tomorrow and so we had a lovely family lunch out at a hotel which has the best view over the meadow to Salisbury cathedral.

Happy birthday Grandma!

gift idea

Thank you for all the compliments on my new coat. I haven't worn it yet but it's been getting very chilly here this week so I don't think it'll be long before I do.

Whilst out on Monday I saw some lovely glass jars in the 99p shop very similar to the one below which I bought last year as part of one of my friend's Christmas gift and I thought I would share with you what I did for her as I was really pleased with how it turned out. I called it a Winter Warmer jar.

The jar is 20cm tall and inside I coiled up a long narrow scarf on top of which I added hot chocolate sachets, some shower gel from Boots decorated with snowflakes, cosy slipper socks




and to finish it off a tub of Vaseline for rosy lips.

I love Christmas shopping trying to find the right thing for someone.

seasonal changes

It's been ages since I able to blog or read anyone else's.
Well it's been nearly a week, but a week that has seen a big change around here.
I have returned to work after being off for 19 months. It was a bit of a shock to the system being back in office mode, but thankfully it's only going to be for 2 days a week so I'm hoping I'll be able to get a good life balance.

Last Saturday I went along to an Autumn Fayre at one of the local church halls. Unusually T and S came along too and once there we met up with my fellow thrifty relatives, my mum and sister.
I really love the illustration on the advertising poster.



This one didn't yield as many goodies as on previous occasions but I did buy this gorgeous winter coat for £2.00. It's from Next and the photo doesn't do it justice, the flecks in it are pale pink just like the lining you can see peeping out at the top.

So I'm getting prepared for winter just as the house was kitted out for Halloween.

For all those who fell in love with S's pink Halloween tights, if I ever find them in grown up sizes I will be sure to buy a batch for us all!

and then when I popped to Sainsburys mid week for the grocery shop I found on the shelves the Christmas issue of their own magazine. I don't buy many magazines but I find this is very good value for money.

This morning it was back to autumn as the 4 of us went out for a walk in a local park which was carpeted in fallen leaves.

Well 2 of us walked, the only 2 mainly ran.

We found some interesting looking fungi.

Then another seasonal change this afternoon saw me back at the very same church hall as last week for a Christmas gift and card fayre.

I can't share all my purchases as I am taking part in my first swap and managed to get a couple of bits.

There was a lady selling off lots of her own old Christmas decs and for 20p each I bought this star and tree. The tree I'm going to paint cream, it's looking a bit worse for wear as it had little mini ornaments stuck to it which have fallen off!

This will look good wound around my kitchen cabinets, well that's the plan at least.

And these I want to hang from the top of a window frame using red gingham ribbon.

I'm having a lovely weekend after my first week back to work. I hope everyone else is too whatever you are doing.

Our Halloween

Our preparations started with me making a few of these ghost lollies courtesy of the fabulous domesticali for our treat or trick visitors.

As well as a few indoor decorations, we had 3 pumpkins outside along with skeletons, bats and spiders.

S isn't keen on the darker coloured witch costumes so she wore one of her pink fairy dresses along with these wonderful tights.

G took them out visiting homes around the neighbour who were participating in the great sweetie and chocolate giveaway whilst I gave out the lollies to our callers. I think we probably had in the region of 45 callers.

The pumpkins are still outside although everything else is packed away now for another year.

Annoying

So this evening I picked up the 2 large bags of clothes I had been accumulating over this past month to take to a clothes swap being held at an arts cafe in town. I had arranged to go with my sister but she had forgotten our arrangements so I went alone. I caught the bus into town and arrived at the cafe only to be told the info on the website was wrong. There were now only seasonal clothes swap evenings and the last one had taken place on Tuesday! Grrrrrrr!!!!!!

I am now home drinking a delicious cuppa and eating an equally delicious and very large cookie and chortling at these photos taken today, annoyance seeping away.