weekend buys

I prefer the blog posts I do on a Monday after we've had a weekend where we've gone out for walks or gone to nice places together as a family but this weekend wasn't like that,partly due to the weather and partly because sometimes other stuff just has to be done. Instead there was a lot of shopping. There was a quick grocery shop, there was a trip to buy new school shoes for T as well as new swimmers. Each afternoon for the next 3 weeks his class will be going for swimming lessons at the pool of another local school, much more fun than normal lessons! There was also a trip to buy new cushions for the sofa. I fell in love with this throw and luckily G liked it too so the choice was a joint one.




We already had the blanket on the back of the chair. I like the fact that the cushions are a mix of colours and styles. It's looking cosier now.

Monday's, now I'm in my new back to work routine, have now been designated as housework day. As well as the boring stuff I've also been doing more exciting festive things like hanging up the advent calendars ready for tomorrow, drinking tea out of my new (charity shop find) mug

and putting away our normal cruet set and replacing it with these smiley snowmen.

Did you spot that luscious candy striped wool blanket under my mug? I bought 2 of them of them 50p each. I nearly squealed with delight when I spotted them in the charity shop. And being the kind sister I am, or is it because I'm running out of storage space?, I have told C she can have one. I'm sharing the candy stripe love!

My 3rd charity shop purchase was this skirt. It still has the tags attached so have never been worn. It was difficult to get a photo to show it off clearly and hanging it over the back of the chair to try and show off the embroidery still doesn't do it justice.

Lastly a BIG thank you to everyone who has left a comment recently, old friends and new visitors.

simple pleasures

I'm pleased to be able to report that S is over her nasty cold and is very happy to have been able to return to school today.

Being indoors has meant that I have been able to start doing a bit of this



and yesterday saw a bit of this

because it was my sister's birthday. As her birthday is 25th November it acts as a marker for the month before Christmas countdown.

A job that has needed doing now for a while was finding and framing this embroidery I bought a couple of months ago from Etsy. I managed to escape the house for a couple of hours on Sunday and found the frame and yesterday it found a new home on top of the little ledge made by the tongue and groove that runs around our bedroom walls. I think she's so elegant, right down to her little tipped up nose. Please click on the photo to see her properly.

This morning the house has been very quiet with just me and Tilly here. I have tried to get through the household jobs as quickly as possible as I'm planning on a bit more wrapping, a tentative try at some stitching and a little time reading this

with a cup of tea and a caramel wafer, flavoured with cinnamon, placed over the top so it gently warms through and becomes all gooey and delicious.

Simple pleasures.

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.