tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3533052287963725392024-03-16T00:05:05.423+00:00Just a Crafty MamaTrying to enjoy a frugally crafty lifeUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger297125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353305228796372539.post-2334101237591765632023-12-13T01:11:00.004+00:002023-12-13T02:06:31.776+00:00Iced Gems<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9TX7ElM7UD6fe9TbUFhMxihVLApncqNFQNOahIgWSuP5_PMzoXAv9SYu3v01JKx0cAhlDnQIZDDOYxSMgy1tYRW6CIrFsZhGAEe5zhQiWEwqB4kyoOo3tjfpKvd-6rcV_ULT0vX35Ca5Oz8UY63NHledClsLx8fqQtYhg50TaDk5Uwr_y-TP0Gnbz__-v/s3147/Iced%20Gems1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1945" data-original-width="3147" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9TX7ElM7UD6fe9TbUFhMxihVLApncqNFQNOahIgWSuP5_PMzoXAv9SYu3v01JKx0cAhlDnQIZDDOYxSMgy1tYRW6CIrFsZhGAEe5zhQiWEwqB4kyoOo3tjfpKvd-6rcV_ULT0vX35Ca5Oz8UY63NHledClsLx8fqQtYhg50TaDk5Uwr_y-TP0Gnbz__-v/w640-h396/Iced%20Gems1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><i>* Reposted from a previous 2015 post</i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p>
Taken at their basic form, the Iced Gem biscuits are simply butter biscuits with coloured royal icing. They are so easy to make! I loved making them cause it felt like a blast from my past. I loved iced gems as a kid.<span><a name='more'></a></span><span></span><br />
Lets start with the <b>Butter Biscuit.</b><br />
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<u><i><b>You'll need</b></i></u><br />
375g Plain Flour (plus a little extra for dusting)<br />
250g Butter, at room temp<br />
140g Icing Sugar, Sifted<br />
1 tsp Vanilla Extract<br />
1 large Egg Yolk<br />
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<u><i><b>How to make</b></i></u><br />
Mix the butter and sugar together in a large bowl until its very pale and fluffy. Add the vanilla and yolk, mixing well. Sift in the flour a little at a time and combine till the mixture forms a firm dough.<br />
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Using your hands, work the dough into a smooth ball. <i>*The heat from your hands will help here* <br /></i>
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Wrap the dough in cling film and pop it in the fridge for an hour or so.<div><br />
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Pre-heat the oven to 180c and grease 2 baking trays. I dusted mine with flour which I find works well with biscuits.<br />
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Flour the counter and roll out the dough till its about 5mm thick.<br />
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Now here's where you can change it up. Its time to cut the dough into the shape you want. The Iced Gem's I made were slightly larger than the ones you can buy in a packet as the smallest cutter (of sorts) I had was the holder to the piping bag. <b>Improvisation is big in my kitchen</b><div>
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Place the cut dough onto the trays slightly spread apart and bake for about 10 minutes till they are a pale golden colour.<br />
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Transfer to a wire rack to cool ... Don't worry, they will harden up when they cool down.</div><div><br />
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While they are cooling you can get started on the <b>Royal Icing.</b><br />
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<u><i><b>You'll need</b></i></u><br />
250g Icing Sugar, Sifted<br />
1 large Egg White<br />
1 tsp lemon juice<br />
Food Colouring<br />
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<i><u><b>How to make</b></u></i><br />Put the icing sugar, egg white and lemon juice in large bowl and whisk for about 3-4 minutes.<br /><br />You're looking to have the mixture resembling nice peaks without being solid. If the mix is like concrete you will need to add a few drops of boiling water likewise if its too runny you'll need to add a little more sifted icing sugar.<br /><br />Its not completely unsalvageable unless is starts to turn from white to a dull grey colour. If this happens, you've mixed to hard and its just gonna crumble. Trust me!<br /><br />Divide out the mixture into the number of bowls for the number of colours you wish to use. *You could use just the one colour if your making them for a party to fit a theme i.e. blue for a boys baby shower etc but I like to get colourful*<br /><br />Add a little of the colouring and mix gently.</div><div>
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Prepare your piping bag with a star nozzle. You can use the same bag over and over, washing between colours or you can use multiple bags, the choice is yours.<br />
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Fill the bag with your first colour and <i>'splodge' </i>a dollop of the icing onto the middle on the cold biscuit. It doesn't need to be an exquisite design ... which adds to the ease of these biscuits.</div><div><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNdBPYOBJa4wnCPcb1z8QHm3pXA9XPwB04IF53y_v8v_Evi3ajpohX9PB5Lgj6dG-vO3J82gQS8HZVF9Vw_iHayYummyJF1h4qff7AsiO6rin5M1kNh4IADlUqshSGr08IsvIyXAMlgmE/s1600/2015-01-04+17.01.17.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNdBPYOBJa4wnCPcb1z8QHm3pXA9XPwB04IF53y_v8v_Evi3ajpohX9PB5Lgj6dG-vO3J82gQS8HZVF9Vw_iHayYummyJF1h4qff7AsiO6rin5M1kNh4IADlUqshSGr08IsvIyXAMlgmE/w640-h360/2015-01-04+17.01.17.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Leave them to air dry for a couple of hours while intercepting sneaky boys trying to pinch one or five!<br />
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<b>Want a recipe card to save for later? I've got you covered. Below you'll find cards for both the butter biscuits and royal icing.</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJs1sG-ANukj1Hb9N4RkQSozfsJJpL8ommAECW74I0NjrcTXRG8oQYqqlbpx7pIu_GOA-TyEUDhvfZkCTubRkoJf4ZpUkQDeTUCy-jzKDU5VDcBakFLsL0fC0Yony1hZbGnkAziW99_6XwxWI4Fp384LJneDs7RuE22Yzd1DE29FglLBGdBgam3-Jr0IjY/s1748/BASICS%20-%20Royal%20Icing.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1748" data-original-width="1240" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJs1sG-ANukj1Hb9N4RkQSozfsJJpL8ommAECW74I0NjrcTXRG8oQYqqlbpx7pIu_GOA-TyEUDhvfZkCTubRkoJf4ZpUkQDeTUCy-jzKDU5VDcBakFLsL0fC0Yony1hZbGnkAziW99_6XwxWI4Fp384LJneDs7RuE22Yzd1DE29FglLBGdBgam3-Jr0IjY/w454-h640/BASICS%20-%20Royal%20Icing.png" width="454" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpmxgWAzC0ZCjFbmPVSKvYb4rGyfExEo9uDvlnuPnClxhhQl1LTa0mch5lh4FbQXfDzleqJd57sQypa9dC9CupoSrJLbbiUABqjPLdVVAP0BIJ6QPyckmIn3vk6RJiX4wlYGCpvCmFf6mhKWPs4m-Tkto1Nl2ZAtMTdACX5RG9VBIBmro8_7CJboKiwiVO/s1748/BASICS%20-%20Butter%20biscuits.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1748" data-original-width="1240" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpmxgWAzC0ZCjFbmPVSKvYb4rGyfExEo9uDvlnuPnClxhhQl1LTa0mch5lh4FbQXfDzleqJd57sQypa9dC9CupoSrJLbbiUABqjPLdVVAP0BIJ6QPyckmIn3vk6RJiX4wlYGCpvCmFf6mhKWPs4m-Tkto1Nl2ZAtMTdACX5RG9VBIBmro8_7CJboKiwiVO/w454-h640/BASICS%20-%20Butter%20biscuits.png" width="454" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><b><br /></b><div align="center"><br /></div>
</div></div><span><!--more--></span><span><!--more--></span><span><!--more--></span><span><!--more--></span><span><!--more--></span><span><!--more--></span><span><!--more--></span><span><!--more--></span><span><!--more--></span><span><!--more--></span><span><!--more--></span><span><!--more--></span><span><!--more--></span><span><!--more--></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353305228796372539.post-26115913704753627562023-12-13T00:44:00.004+00:002023-12-13T00:46:54.607+00:00Royal Icing<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAuy-uhIswSE-p3VgfejfkiZErxrqMvAkrPUiJNLmolYnV8b7OTMqgeiPa_eEjHkPsKvlH_SKpUav9LFGcD5Yt7eP902DuhPvVz57YZYdsZB_FjBrcXY7UviJxsnEn_rqRM49swmfb029Ffnu45yxDvxjfupQWkXbcJbNRIEQ-Mh8xBRg62m-hg5Fm7Xjp/s996/Icing.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="565" data-original-width="996" height="364" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAuy-uhIswSE-p3VgfejfkiZErxrqMvAkrPUiJNLmolYnV8b7OTMqgeiPa_eEjHkPsKvlH_SKpUav9LFGcD5Yt7eP902DuhPvVz57YZYdsZB_FjBrcXY7UviJxsnEn_rqRM49swmfb029Ffnu45yxDvxjfupQWkXbcJbNRIEQ-Mh8xBRg62m-hg5Fm7Xjp/w640-h364/Icing.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There are lots of different types of icing, but if you want to decorate biscuits, then this is the recipe for you. Royal icing is perfect for making beautiful designs and you can add food colouring to make loads of variations.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><u><i><b><br /></b></i></u></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><u><i><span><a name='more'></a></span><b><br /></b></i></u></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><u><i><b>You'll need</b></i></u><br />250g Icing Sugar, Sifted<br />1 large Egg White<br />1 tsp lemon juice<br />Food Colouring<br /><br /><i><u><b>How to make</b></u></i><br /><span class="OYPEnA text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none">Put the icing sugar, egg white and lemon juice in large bowl and whisk for about 3-4 minutes.</span><span class="OYPEnA text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none white-space-prewrap"></span><br /><br />You're looking to have the mixture resembling nice peaks without being solid. If the mix is like concrete you will need to add a few drops of boiling water likewise if its too runny you'll need to add a little more sifted icing sugar.<br /><br />Its not completely unsalvageable unless is starts to turn from white to a dull grey colour. If this happens, you've mixed to hard and its just gonna crumble. Trust me!<br /><b><br /></b>Divide out the mixture into the number of bowls for the number of colours you wish to use. <i>*You could use just the one colour if your making them for a party to fit a theme i.e. blue for a boys baby shower etc but I like to get colourful*</i><br /><i><br /></i>Add a little of the colouring and mix gently. Once you have the colour you want, fill an icing bag and you're good to go.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><b>Want a recipe card to save for later? I've got you covered.</b><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqexaYfG3J1e8w1NodD1twFDYLAz1OTsi51Z7B1J3VWI57tFRIony5B2wb0XFFrKsBO8hm99H_HIsRxMWW7VVfeOXdwErg1mOCsPAM1gwPI2-ccCJv3Cfp_VhqSvIuA56qSiz8pEC4Mh1hRCI7G6BmZ5eKLdnslrxeVD9oRuik5gSfIiyOpNGl2grZn63h/s1748/BASICS%20-%20Royal%20Icing.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1748" data-original-width="1240" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqexaYfG3J1e8w1NodD1twFDYLAz1OTsi51Z7B1J3VWI57tFRIony5B2wb0XFFrKsBO8hm99H_HIsRxMWW7VVfeOXdwErg1mOCsPAM1gwPI2-ccCJv3Cfp_VhqSvIuA56qSiz8pEC4Mh1hRCI7G6BmZ5eKLdnslrxeVD9oRuik5gSfIiyOpNGl2grZn63h/w454-h640/BASICS%20-%20Royal%20Icing.png" width="454" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353305228796372539.post-42980510596623283932021-03-06T19:53:00.002+00:002021-03-06T19:56:05.217+00:00Budgeting 101<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaxKYV9OmMKAiSB8yPg58GxogxJ6vPCiVEAoa9E4_p1yGA5moVAAOrn6J2IKKv0xKp4AQ0qCmwwZfy4ff1NWVyAluN8XcCJOWJHBUd7YtW6pBvieg88q3bhwXw8pdifwdS3vHYxi_j3PZ8/s2048/budget.jpg" style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1120" data-original-width="2048" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaxKYV9OmMKAiSB8yPg58GxogxJ6vPCiVEAoa9E4_p1yGA5moVAAOrn6J2IKKv0xKp4AQ0qCmwwZfy4ff1NWVyAluN8XcCJOWJHBUd7YtW6pBvieg88q3bhwXw8pdifwdS3vHYxi_j3PZ8/w515-h282/budget.jpg" width="515" /></a></div><br />If you follow me on IG you will have seen that this month I’m working on bettering my mental health. It’s important to me. <br /><br />Another thing that’s is important to me is financial health. I’ve been chipping away at my debt slowly and have managed to more than half the debt in a few years. My credit score is growing, and I feel a little less scared when it comes to the little income I have, all because I learned how to budget. <br /><br />Budgeting wasn’t something I was taught at school; it was something I got the basics on from my mum and learned more of as I went. It’s a skill that everyone really should know and one that I’m currently teaching M about. So, while I’m teaching him, I thought I would share some tips with you guys. <br /><br /><b>Welcome to budgeting 101</b><br /><br />Let’s start with the basics - Income and expenses.<div><br /></div><div>Income is money you have coming into the house and expenses is everything that goes out. This is regular monthly bills and anything you spend. It is the foundations to any budget and its important that you list everything honestly. </div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_BbGsuiDt2hJMWmpPdK7QFsRdza7Zremz9DRf0_Sv7ZTBEtytZFvMQpOMU_SxqTufN2JgVTyD7Sz14oylGAzBRHtr6dBKzeqWMHHjZoabfs5gD0XGkIK2FhT5cwA5qF4dbDq-2jaJJ9Pe/s489/income.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="187" data-original-width="489" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_BbGsuiDt2hJMWmpPdK7QFsRdza7Zremz9DRf0_Sv7ZTBEtytZFvMQpOMU_SxqTufN2JgVTyD7Sz14oylGAzBRHtr6dBKzeqWMHHjZoabfs5gD0XGkIK2FhT5cwA5qF4dbDq-2jaJJ9Pe/w640-h243/income.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Income example</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Same with your outgoings. The mortgage payments, Netflix, the cheese of the month club. Write it all down. When I did mine, I went onto my online banking and went through every charge from my account for the last 6 months. That takes into account quarterly direct debits and anything you pay bi-annually.</div><div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzfp6XytXG3lgGrrWcLrNL4uT8ajCcomJPUKs6UFbxwNgm7dJ5Jda5tsaiRS1IR-fjJqoWwc0HVSKWvDyGeBBRoUSmEERVKooaTbPmV-D_p8dqcmGe9eU1WREQ8jIBYYep67dGL3rn4Hz3/s490/outgoing.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="490" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzfp6XytXG3lgGrrWcLrNL4uT8ajCcomJPUKs6UFbxwNgm7dJ5Jda5tsaiRS1IR-fjJqoWwc0HVSKWvDyGeBBRoUSmEERVKooaTbPmV-D_p8dqcmGe9eU1WREQ8jIBYYep67dGL3rn4Hz3/w640-h336/outgoing.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Expenses example</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><i>* Side note, doing this will let you see any charges that you didn’t realise were still outgoing. If you don’t need/use it then cancel it. We've all signed up for a free trial in our lifetime but perhaps forgot to cancel it. Even if it’s only for £5 a month, that’s £60 a year back in your bank account. </i><br /><br />Next look at your occasional spending. This is things like your weekly shopping, how much you spend on clothes or entertainment goods. Do you smoke? How much to you spend a week? Nights out? Take outs? Write it all down and BE HONEST. It’s the only way you can get a real true look at your budget. <br /><br />Now add it all up. If you get paid weekly, add it so that you have a monthly total in each column. From there take the total expenses away from your income and you have what would be your "disposable income". You can then divide that further so you have your left over income for each week.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2iOwcH7b2vBj3ZBGnoM1z0v0C4rgm8t7g4b-4_NnPLvk7rKEbBsUWga-Z0PFN8vIWFYg_oty4JZ-8uw66LDZIf2ZXYpMiPfcAMKOa5YEMkLb38Ht0_vrOrpFmcSSkdn-GEdWj-ULI0uP7/s528/totals.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="528" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2iOwcH7b2vBj3ZBGnoM1z0v0C4rgm8t7g4b-4_NnPLvk7rKEbBsUWga-Z0PFN8vIWFYg_oty4JZ-8uw66LDZIf2ZXYpMiPfcAMKOa5YEMkLb38Ht0_vrOrpFmcSSkdn-GEdWj-ULI0uP7/w640-h204/totals.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><i>* Please note these are completely exaggerated numbers. Just for an example.</i><br /><br />If your monthly expenses are more than your income, then you will be getting yourself into debt which is never a good thing. You have to see where you can cut your spending down, or perhaps do something to bring more money in. If they are less then yay, but can you make even more savings? <br /><br />The little things make a huge difference. </div><div><br /></div><div>For example, do you have Sky TV? Do you know that you can the majority of the best Sky channels on Now TV? And they have offers all the time for things like movies or the kids packages. We have Now TV and pay £4.99 at the moment for the movie add on a month. I watch a lot of movies so that fiver a month is awesome for me, but when my offer ends at the summer and it goes back up to £11.99 then it will be getting cancelled. As although I enjoy them, the price doesn’t make it worth it for me. If I get another offer, then great but if not then its ok too. <br /><br />We don’t have regular TV in our house. This means that we don’t pay for a TV licence. We have no need. I couldn’t tell you the first thing about any of the <i>I’m a celebrity dancing on x-factor ice</i> stuff. I only know about the GBBO winners of the past as its on Netflix and I haven’t the foggiest who half the celebs are these days from Essex or otherwise. Instead, we have Netflix which lets us watch shows on demand, some movies, and the occasional true crime documentary (which I love!). And our Netflix is the basic one too. Why spend a tenner for multiple screens at the one time when the reality is we only need the one. If M wants to watch something on there, then I will go read on my kindle or watch Now TV. And vice versa if I want to watch something like Man Down, he will play on his X-Box or go on the laptop and read rando stuff on Reddit. I think in the past year of lock down we have had this overlap twice total, so it’s not really an issue having the one screen package. <br /><br />Its all about finding clever ways to cut costs and to save where you can. <br /><br />Food shopping is no different. Every month we sit down and work out a meal planner. We have a look at what we have in the freezer and pantry and build a meal plan around that. Then we see what we would like and write a shopping list for those extras. We do one big shop once a month which lets us take advantage of getting bulky items like washing powder delivered (I don’t drive) and we book a delivery on a weekday when they are cheaper. We don’t go for the same supermarket each time either. I will price compare everything down to the table salt and always go for the cheapest supermarket. This is how we have managed to keep our monthly shop to around £80 a month for the two of us (one of which is a teen who eats like 2 grown men). <br /><br />I keep track of everything in my planner. I write down all the income and expenses and see where I can save and what can be taken out completely. I also have in there when things are due for renewal so I can shop about for the best deals. <br /><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVKDtjI6M4oAAfFpoUD5o49h4ocwH282Bfb2p4qLXkotrFxLbkgIOSUq08X7_6EBuNrSKPkQH9BPwBeS8hBztqOb8Oiz6n0EoZzo5OyxSAb8PefCFWLqJJnP5VTMIce1GuCAjWrs6f9Mmm/s2048/budget+printable+small.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1509" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVKDtjI6M4oAAfFpoUD5o49h4ocwH282Bfb2p4qLXkotrFxLbkgIOSUq08X7_6EBuNrSKPkQH9BPwBeS8hBztqOb8Oiz6n0EoZzo5OyxSAb8PefCFWLqJJnP5VTMIce1GuCAjWrs6f9Mmm/s320/budget+printable+small.jpg" /></a></div></div><div>I made this printable to stick in my planner as I could never find one I liked and each week I add things that I have spent so I keep an honest view of my spending. You can download a your own copy <b><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/12b4HNyTGSFlZ5BFJ75mVBuGbgn9eusNX/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank">HERE</a></b> but please only use it for your personal use. I've made it 2 months per A4 page so you can save on paper too.</div><div><br />If your more tech minded there are lots of apps that help you track your spending. I have the <b><a href="https://monefy.me/" target="_blank">Monefy</a></b> app on my phone (free from Google store) that I used to help keep track of spending if I was out and about (pre-covid). <br /><br />And there you have it, how to make a budget and some tips on how to save the pennies.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvCJfp1hw-9k17Wp0zr03ssRJXjP5B-fhUU-JSsu620wlzL5IGGrSADdBNNnIhYdPmcHqf80Oc5_zuVEROiB7H9DkGs-CrbjyLfpxICD5l_uiSaaOIDF9wPvIqGyhr9hDf9GXMoB7KaRhZ/s1080/Sarah-Jane+sign+off.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="398" data-original-width="1080" height="111" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvCJfp1hw-9k17Wp0zr03ssRJXjP5B-fhUU-JSsu620wlzL5IGGrSADdBNNnIhYdPmcHqf80Oc5_zuVEROiB7H9DkGs-CrbjyLfpxICD5l_uiSaaOIDF9wPvIqGyhr9hDf9GXMoB7KaRhZ/w303-h111/Sarah-Jane+sign+off.png" width="303" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.justacraftymama.co.uk/p/years-ago-i-tried-to-complete-project-z.html" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz6rUz5EM-eu5NELmHODxMPAIKVNy8VO2bzIhriaqwySvVuQyPN5w4kdNvprhSzvc-A5pnDNDFYvqt05eox3aNCnKZl0uPHvAylp9ISNMcxiWx6DjvtsHt37VJ3n7qoT0RUGVxYayifhLr/w139-h139/Project+A-Z.png" width="139" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353305228796372539.post-42287247607691804932021-03-04T12:33:00.001+00:002021-03-05T02:32:55.142+00:00A Grimm world book day<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeF5-FT3Kd4PmiOFkbCywzGtM-YLlt6o3ce-QPACO4dKZ1BBLhR1DKeFQzV9UElpdoy0W76YpD3axjFofpET2EoyzUfVMIO9Q4EoG_yoBnlw9-FVjgLdM_Ic5YqVhh6J4e2E-VK5hG1-Nt/s1920/book-1659717_1920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1101" data-original-width="1920" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeF5-FT3Kd4PmiOFkbCywzGtM-YLlt6o3ce-QPACO4dKZ1BBLhR1DKeFQzV9UElpdoy0W76YpD3axjFofpET2EoyzUfVMIO9Q4EoG_yoBnlw9-FVjgLdM_Ic5YqVhh6J4e2E-VK5hG1-Nt/w640-h368/book-1659717_1920.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Its world book day and now M is older we don’t get to have the fun dress-up days. <br /><br />Instead for world book day I upload a new book for him (and I) onto our kindles. This year for I got M got the <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Skulduggery-Pleasant-Books-1-3-ebook/dp/B00B0PFYWS/ref=sr_1_4?crid=1BNLTTOUI68OI&dchild=1&keywords=skulduggery+pleasant&qid=1614904819&s=digital-text&sprefix=skul%2Cdigital-text%2C271&sr=1-4" target="_blank"><b>Skulduggery Pleasant omnibus</b></a> (1-3 of the series) and I got the <b><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Complete-Grimms-Fairy-Tales-ebook/dp/B077Q2KFV3/ref=sr_1_4?crid=5R1XZZE7CSNJ&dchild=1&keywords=grimm+fairy+tales&qid=1614909768&s=digital-text&sprefix=grimm+%2Cdigital-text%2C175&sr=1-4" target="_blank">original Grimm fairy tales</a></b>. <br /><br />I’m very happy with my choice. <br /><br />I grew up on these stories – The real ones, sans the Disney filter. They are more gruesome than what Walt put out, they were after all Grimm tales, which in my opinion are much better than the Disney versions. <br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Snow white for example. </b></div><br />We all know the evil queen had some deep-seated hatred for Snow White, and in both versions she tasks a huntsman to take her out into the woods and kill her, but where Disney requests a heart (yeah kinda grim), the original huntsman was asked to bring back organs as proof, liver and lung specifically. The huntsman chickens out of killing the 7 year old and instead brings back boar organs which the evil queen proceeds to EAT (remember she believes its Snow White!). <br /><br />When she finds out the truth she loses her shit and tries to kill Snow White not once but 3 times. First suffocation via a corset, second a comb laced with poison. Both of attempts foiled by the dwarfs before the Queen succeeds with a poison apple. It doesn’t actually kill her though, more like she didn’t chew properly, and it got stuck. But she gets stored in a glass coffin none the less. <div><br /></div><div>The original doesn’t include the saved by the Prince bit either. Nope she’s dropped by some clumsy dwarves and is launched out her coffin which knocks the apple chunk out of her throat, magically bringing her back around. There is a happy ending though, kinda, the prince and Snow White (remember she’s only 7 btw) get hitched. Yay I guess. And to celebrate the nuptials? The evil queen is the evening’s entertainment, being forced to dance herself to death in iron shoes filled with burning coals. Now that’s better than any wedding DJ.<br /><div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghnnXDaPe74cWuyOQz5tHNrcMhAvOAcLIy3K_ao_f4G_iJQVhPcqi3C98T4GhFav942dQnFrWXUA1zEg14ernne8oO9Zkn8yjSVMf2VTyQBk8xq2TCo4roO8qUiNSgHOoUzttTtu7sl8LE/s1920/apple-4833764_1920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghnnXDaPe74cWuyOQz5tHNrcMhAvOAcLIy3K_ao_f4G_iJQVhPcqi3C98T4GhFav942dQnFrWXUA1zEg14ernne8oO9Zkn8yjSVMf2VTyQBk8xq2TCo4roO8qUiNSgHOoUzttTtu7sl8LE/w640-h360/apple-4833764_1920.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /><b>Cinderella is another one that got quite the clean-up. </b><br /><br />First off, the <i>“ugly sisters”</i> weren’t so much ugly on the outside as twisted sisters on the inside. And they wanted to rock … All over poor Cinders self-esteem. They pinched all her stuff as sisters are wont to do, but they also treated her like live-in help. All pretty much the same as the Disney version, right? Except daddy dearest isn’t dead like in the Disney version. Nope, he’s very much alive and seems to either not notice his only daughter being tortured or he’s so into the new step mum that he doesn’t even care. That’s for the ye old social workers to decide. <br /><br />One day he’s leaving for a work trip and asks the 3 girls what they want brought back as a gift. The stepsisters in their infinite materialistic ways asked for dresses and jewellery, but Cinderella wanted a branch from a tree. They each got their gifts when he returned, and Cinders planted the tree on her mums grave where she goes every day to cry. She cries so much in fact that her tears water the branch, eventually growing into this big tree. She continues to cry under the tree till one day this bird (<i>presumably fed up of her wailing</i>) comes down and offers her a wish. She eventually chose to have a beautiful gown of silver and gold.<br /><br />Why did she ask for that you wonder? Well, the King is throwing a weekend long festival to pimp out his son and after jumping thorough the hoops the step-monster demanded, which was done with the help of a bunch of birds, she was left home alone and pretty pissed she wasn’t allowed to go. Not a kindly fairy godmother in sight.<br /><br />So, in the dress, she goes to the festival where the Prince picks her out of all the other women simply on sight alone, and they danced all night. Only thing is the Prince wanted to check her pedigree and since she couldn’t exactly admit to the family that she was there, she done a runner. No pumpkin carriage to help her she gets back home safe before her <strike>captors</strike> family get back. Next day negligent dad and the abusive step bitches all went to the festival for more celebrations and again Cinderella got a dress from the birds in the tree, this time a much nicer one than before (<i>they took sewing lessons during the night</i>), and away she went to dance. Again, the Prince was stunned by how pretty she looked and refused to dance with anyone but Cinders. Come home time, she done a mad dash again to escape the (<i>kinda stalker-y at this point</i>) Prince and get back before the rest of them get home. <br /><br />Last day of what must now be one huge bender, the family all go out to the festive, sans Cinders. She gets the best dress ever from the birds, <i>who are now being head hunted by Vera Wang</i>, and she gets to the festival to find the Prince waiting on her with what by this point must have the bluest balls in Europe. When she decides it’s time to leave, she loses her golden slipper on the boobytrapped stairs. She gets home safe minus a shoe and the Prince decides that he is going to troll the whole area to find the owner and marry her. Keep in mind, he knows NOTHING about her other than she’s hot!</div><div> <br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOi9xAYtk9CHrGv4LDcQvXni05QqUTQ_6TS1maKGTMBg45DLxZ9M4EDN9bEGnP7A-THE_9lK63-9yOCwluuWL3a-qLpXeQdQX9TSuVvSomDP3mf6x85i_NyVt_pomILxfoHYoavUlEX6xQ/s1920/people-3104637_1920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1281" data-original-width="1920" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOi9xAYtk9CHrGv4LDcQvXni05QqUTQ_6TS1maKGTMBg45DLxZ9M4EDN9bEGnP7A-THE_9lK63-9yOCwluuWL3a-qLpXeQdQX9TSuVvSomDP3mf6x85i_NyVt_pomILxfoHYoavUlEX6xQ/w640-h428/people-3104637_1920.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Armed with the golden slipper (not glass like Disney) he gets the stepsisters to try it on. The eldest couldn’t get her big clown feet in this wee barbie shoe so her mum handed her a knife and told her to remove her big toe to make it fit.. She did and the Prince, believing her to be the woman from the festival, takes her away to the castle to get hitched. On the way to the palace though, they pass the grave and the birds in tree yob the sister in as being a liar. Back to the house to get the other sister to try on the (what is now a blood filled) shoe, but her heel is too wide. So the mum again gives her daughter a knife and tells her to lop a little off the back of her heel. She does and the Prince again thinks it’s the girl from the dance and off they go. Passing the tree on the grave, the birds once again tell him that he has the wrong woman, only this time rather than trust what is clearly an idiot to find her, they land on Cinders. She is the woman from the festival, and they ride back to the castle to get hitched. <br /><br />The two sisters, realised they were going to get left out of all the fun and money, decide to get back on Cinders good graces by attending the wedding. However, the birds, who had to listen to all the crap they put cinders through decided to take matters into their own beaks and peck the sisters eyes out leaving them blinded for the rest of their lives. <br /><br />Karma? Perhaps, but at least they can’t pick on poor Cinders anymore. So they kinda deserve it TBH. <br /><br />There are so many other equally gruesome stories in the book (200+ Grimm tales) and I can’t wait to read them all … Why no-one has thought to make horror versions is beyond me.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGRXYbIZ_HVtEkroW1govrnJCmgzySfG9BdQXxhq1LMC8tbzhvcuals3WUOwvlmCdWvqY1VO2G3hkVQfCxOXklsIsNbuLFlkqeFxIqQfMGF48gABVM_BvHCIW8LxROPY6N2IgYJ3-_8Dy9/s1080/Sarah-Jane+sign+off.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="398" data-original-width="1080" height="85" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGRXYbIZ_HVtEkroW1govrnJCmgzySfG9BdQXxhq1LMC8tbzhvcuals3WUOwvlmCdWvqY1VO2G3hkVQfCxOXklsIsNbuLFlkqeFxIqQfMGF48gABVM_BvHCIW8LxROPY6N2IgYJ3-_8Dy9/w230-h85/Sarah-Jane+sign+off.png" width="230" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353305228796372539.post-56328485784191236392021-02-28T18:02:00.002+00:002021-03-04T14:46:18.141+00:00Anxiety free afternoon tea<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkvpcIHYRBLGTbw9MI1-k6njXbotABC82-g2KQqzyHoxJWj55xO5-6dpVX3d9YwiLs83X40rAp1PJZPv8cpOtKyE2dfBHXTET-eX-v_OAdfeyoUpnhuwQLHVx2M3wUR8hFqcz6sIg8Q-qG/s2048/20210228_152401.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkvpcIHYRBLGTbw9MI1-k6njXbotABC82-g2KQqzyHoxJWj55xO5-6dpVX3d9YwiLs83X40rAp1PJZPv8cpOtKyE2dfBHXTET-eX-v_OAdfeyoUpnhuwQLHVx2M3wUR8hFqcz6sIg8Q-qG/w640-h480/20210228_152401.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Life is quite overwhelming just now for everyone. <br /><br />Lockdown seems to be going on forever, people are still getting Covid and stress levels are through the roof. It’s no different here in the Crafty house. I decided though it was time to have a bit of fun in lockdown with M, by way of an anxiety free afternoon tea. <br /><br />When he was younger, we would do all kinds of random things like this, and I don’t see why we can’t anymore just cause he’s turning 14 soon. Its fun to break up normality anyway but in the days of lockdown, anything that makes your day in isolation a little more bearable is definitely welcome.<br /><br />So how do you have an anxiety free afternoon tea? Simple ... you cheat!<div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDmyIclczcA1_Lxiqw0jSBXdm-or9kMpyBcmtCgpMFrLUDsEn-AJLL1JBCSPZBjnjxaEUZnJ5Kly_cHCCh8zuRCnIp_hoajijfkOGylq-7e905rvhHiBkRoX407POFPmay43zwP3PY3Kzk/s2638/20210228_152226%25280%2529.jpg" style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1192" data-original-width="2638" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDmyIclczcA1_Lxiqw0jSBXdm-or9kMpyBcmtCgpMFrLUDsEn-AJLL1JBCSPZBjnjxaEUZnJ5Kly_cHCCh8zuRCnIp_hoajijfkOGylq-7e905rvhHiBkRoX407POFPmay43zwP3PY3Kzk/w640-h291/20210228_152226%25280%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Rather than bake in the kitchen all day, I took advantage of our monthly Morrison’s home delivery. The majority comes straight out a packet – yeah, I could have made it all from scratch, but the key point was the anxiety free bit. I made up the sandwiches which was quick and easy, and most of the extras were things I had in the house or were buying anyway. <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4KqvmUVOkp80OJFhyphenhyphen1oyIeLoXOPU2AYt4Uo9lPap6CltrwqN2YgFFzx71ZFWwHvq0AKNluQ9V4JjyGxEZQo5JBP3yOHGZHaeJnUQKuSOhhwh9g69v9ZjYsQDIBy7byt3E_ELUnf3iKfnX/s2000/_Menu.png" style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1414" height="623" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4KqvmUVOkp80OJFhyphenhyphen1oyIeLoXOPU2AYt4Uo9lPap6CltrwqN2YgFFzx71ZFWwHvq0AKNluQ9V4JjyGxEZQo5JBP3yOHGZHaeJnUQKuSOhhwh9g69v9ZjYsQDIBy7byt3E_ELUnf3iKfnX/w440-h623/_Menu.png" width="440" /></a></div><br />It was a nice for M who came downstairs to a delicious spread and it was pleasant to just sit with him and enjoy something different. We could take our time and enjoy the food and conversation. We spoke about all kinds of random things, as most of out chats are wont to do and a simple little set up used 2 hours of our day that we would usually spend watching TV or playing Xbox.</div><div> <br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiURQHVDqJ-cjlXiO41fnhj5mJpbCBSWD-dIJJUd03vGlQMpE8bkCpR4Tjgf3dB2elXdCJEzX39xgx8ORI3PercH3SNzgbtBgomlF0bRlrxJ1Seq4GBVKkfybmH7WI6BvKtcWA3BjOOxGlB/s2048/20210228_152501.jpg" style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiURQHVDqJ-cjlXiO41fnhj5mJpbCBSWD-dIJJUd03vGlQMpE8bkCpR4Tjgf3dB2elXdCJEzX39xgx8ORI3PercH3SNzgbtBgomlF0bRlrxJ1Seq4GBVKkfybmH7WI6BvKtcWA3BjOOxGlB/w640-h480/20210228_152501.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />An anxiety free afternoon tea doesn’t need to break the budget either. We only had to add a few extras onto our monthly shop which came to around £7 extra, the rest came from the pantry or was things we buy each month anyway. And not everything we added got completely eaten so we have some leftovers for future lunches etc. I had been looking at some of the places local to me that do an afternoon delivery but the cheapest I found was £10 per head so I’m still saving a small fortune. <br /><br />Here is a break down of what it cost to buy in extras. <br /><br />Pastas – 2 for £3. <i>Only ate the prawn one so £1.50</i><br />Mini quiche - £1.40<br />Cupcakes – 6 pack £1.15<br />Chocolate chip scones – 4 pack £1.10. <i>Only ate 2 so 60p </i><br /><br />Everything else like tuna, eggs, ham, mini sausages, etc is all things we had already. And I buy mini muffins and brownie bites every month for snacking, but they are 2 for £3. You can use up whatever you have in the house, have all ham, have sausage rolls. You could even cut up some pizzas if you wanted. You set the menu.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd_NO-dr0FqEXk7m1j8q9ClWDZ5bLeHRfYfkGN9ub0hQdknHeA2DpEsbsixAkqfCvXgEbCUBjzE17YwAx7ZjKPbcqNthH08-gIALyUpE9FHp37yUDW_a8L9DQO446rOjYnU02GJhArc-ja/s2048/20210228_152458.jpg" style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd_NO-dr0FqEXk7m1j8q9ClWDZ5bLeHRfYfkGN9ub0hQdknHeA2DpEsbsixAkqfCvXgEbCUBjzE17YwAx7ZjKPbcqNthH08-gIALyUpE9FHp37yUDW_a8L9DQO446rOjYnU02GJhArc-ja/w640-h482/20210228_152458.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div> <br />The beauty of an anxiety free afternoon tea is you can choose what to serve … yeah, a <i>“traditional”</i> afternoon tea has structure, but a lockdown special can be whatever you want it to be. </div><div><br /></div><div>Ours was a random mix, and it was lovely.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHDepcEznFr75H39VqdHaYn2Gp3WFBfw_3HarncBP3-zcNxoXBFCpejXgOqqC2KH5xwxFbzDTms9mz-_sTpJqMGxAf8PU1FjOESFReFPgTnDhWqBZ9QU8EVlerGKGgByA-FQb-zFbit9Rd/s1080/Sarah-Jane+sign+off.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="398" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHDepcEznFr75H39VqdHaYn2Gp3WFBfw_3HarncBP3-zcNxoXBFCpejXgOqqC2KH5xwxFbzDTms9mz-_sTpJqMGxAf8PU1FjOESFReFPgTnDhWqBZ9QU8EVlerGKGgByA-FQb-zFbit9Rd/s320/Sarah-Jane+sign+off.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.justacraftymama.co.uk/p/years-ago-i-tried-to-complete-project-z.html" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdCDL1sRWcIsFMxZU9g6sR_d3pxmpcezKZr6wlMmgQg_3vY6qmI-gOoglapVDtSyQGfB83WzRQot-ivzBcXJx_TOyTqoE846ocRH9VOQ2wcWGgn6O8geE1AntrZexy1c3bzZ-bzP7n_Q11/w200-h200/Project+A-Z.png" width="200" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353305228796372539.post-51222821100839615382021-01-02T03:42:00.005+00:002021-03-04T14:48:29.771+00:00Mental Health - Self Care Tips<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmTsPGrJCqoBe_2KS_8szAj9rgdsGWSIMIv-NQyJ-QTqsIpKyFmg_lVYRDlOJUwaYchHEdHysI_6lKKnan585hbVLxjusHvRuEnZOHAttV0i66rWPLa8_I9Yv1LlOyw8Ysv4Jl-prNhHp3/s1920/herbal-2562218_1920.jpg" style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1279" data-original-width="1920" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmTsPGrJCqoBe_2KS_8szAj9rgdsGWSIMIv-NQyJ-QTqsIpKyFmg_lVYRDlOJUwaYchHEdHysI_6lKKnan585hbVLxjusHvRuEnZOHAttV0i66rWPLa8_I9Yv1LlOyw8Ysv4Jl-prNhHp3/w511-h340/herbal-2562218_1920.jpg" width="511" /></a></div><br /><br />I'm still trying to get into the swing of things with lockdowns and my health. I've been finding my mental health has really been suffering to the point that I've struggled to function at times. Coupled with the IBD and gallstones, its been tough. The things that I usually enjoy don't seem to make me as happy anymore and for the most part I just want to sleep.<br /> <br /> That's OK though.<br /> <br /> I'm not going to get myself down about it cause at the end of the day I need to do what feels right for me. I'm exhausted, I need to rest and let my body recover as best as it can. I’m learning that having a chronic illness means I can’t do the same as I used to or the same as everyone else, and that’s OK too. <br /><br /> When I'm feeling a low, it can be hard for my family too. M will notice that I'm maybe a bit quieter that normal or that my concentration is non-existent at times. B has a way of picking up on my mood drop even over the phone or in the messages we send. And I myself notice I am not enjoying the things that I usually do. We talk about it as my brain goblins have escaped and it puts a more family friendly spin on what I know can escalate into a really dark time. <br /><br /> You never know how long the drop will last either. There have been days where I've been a bit more anxious and not quite with it and will be fine the next day or there will be days where I seriously struggle to get out of bed, and I can’t eat as I feel nauseous all the time. I feel miserable in my own skin and I just want to curl in a ball and cry. This can last for days, weeks or a few times it has lasted months.<br /> <br /> It’s hard. I'm not going to lie.<br /> <br /> There are times where I feel like I'm a defunct human and that I'm just a burden to my loved ones. Then there are days where I know that I have accomplished even the littlest things and call it a win.<br /> <br /> I've had conversations recently with people from all sides of the coin. People who haven't suffered from depression and anxiety, who can’t understand why I can’t just <i>“get on with it”</i>. People who have been where I am and know how difficult it can be to function like a "normal" person and people who have been in such darkness, that I feel only they can truly understand where my mind goes.<br /> <br /> I don't feel any animosity to those who don't really<i> "get it"</i>. I'm glad that they don't understand in a way because it means they have never held this much despair in their lives. I don't even bother when people give me the <i>"Snap out of it"</i> or <i>"What have you got to be depressed about"</i> speech. They don’t understand and they have this illusion in their head that they would be able to shake off any mental illness. I just shrug my shoulders now and hope they never have to realise how wrong they are. <br /> <br /> I must take medication to survive my illness in the same way that a diabetic does. I see a specialist in the same way someone with Muscular Dystrophy does. I have flair ups in the same way someone with MS does. Just cause my illness is harder to see, doesn’t make it any less real and just like every other disease, I can’t just wish it away with positive thinking.<br /> <br /> One thing I have been very aware of recently is self-care, and as such I wanted to share with you some tips I have picked up in this decade plus long battle. Some of it might not work for you and that's OK, but the point in this is to help make your day a little easier.<div><br /> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEGgfszmEIkQU5jiltO-8qjLOmyBko1U_oviVF33M-c5ihBTUTHbNbR-A5BVlvyDXt-JnkqSv7jfTCsnfVoZshNujV9IzdECp1RUKtKL1n49daeoybWgm2ZcjJAsntr-rQonJ7sZimReni/s1920/self-care-4899284_1920.jpg" style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1439" data-original-width="1920" height="344" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEGgfszmEIkQU5jiltO-8qjLOmyBko1U_oviVF33M-c5ihBTUTHbNbR-A5BVlvyDXt-JnkqSv7jfTCsnfVoZshNujV9IzdECp1RUKtKL1n49daeoybWgm2ZcjJAsntr-rQonJ7sZimReni/w459-h344/self-care-4899284_1920.jpg" width="459" /></a></div><br /><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b><span style="color: #e06666;">Keep a mood log</span></b> - Sometimes I can see patterns in my moods which make it easier to spearhead a dark spell. I know that in the run up to my period I will be a little more hormonal that normal so avoid anything that I know might be a trigger. I know that usually after I see my family in video call, I will have a dip in my mood because I miss them so much, so I know to be a little more kind to myself then. When B has to leave and I know I’m not going to see him for another week, I know my mood will drop.<br /><br /></li><li><b><span style="color: #e06666;">Be aware of what you’re watching</span></b> - This might sound like an obvious one but hear me out. I once went to the cinema to see War for the planet of the apes. I was trying to keep myself calm and use my anxiety techniques because I was in a busy place. I completely forgot that the premise of this film is pretty much people suck.<br /><br />I'm quite empathetic, even with completely made-up scenarios like film and TV. Usually, it’s just a awe 'how sad' and I shed a few tears but in my dark days I can seriously screw myself over. I left that movie theatre thinking about how unbelievably cruel the world is and wondering what kind of screwed up planet I have brought my son into. I know it’s a made-up film about apes and the chances of that happening are like a billion to one, but I know that there are people in this world that treat other humans like that. I know it sounds silly, but it really drained me.<br /><br />So, when I am feeling a bit 'meh', I will watch a film or TV show that I know can’t possibly trigger me. I know that can be different for everyone. I know people who can’t watch Disney movies when they are sad cause they have lost their parents which seems to feature quite a bit in Disney. For me, strangely enough its horror movies. I don't know why but watching a horror movie will calm my anxiety down. It baffles me because it usually causes anxiety in most people, but it works for me, so I just go with it.<br /><br /></li><li><b><span style="color: #e06666;">Create a play list of happy music</span></b> - If you’re feeling a little shit, the shuffle is your enemy. <i>"Only you</i>" came on my shuffle the other night and I just burst into tears. I was having a particularly hard day and when Selena Gomez started singing, I just lost it. I love that song but it’s a sad cover from a sad program (<i>13 Reasons Why</i>) and it’s not a good song for a low mood. Instead I listen to my feel good play list which have gems like Harry Belafonte - <i>"Jump In The Line"</i>, <i>"Get back up again"</i> from the Trolls movie or David Guetta ft. Sia - <i>"Titanium"</i>. Sometimes having the right music, I can start to feel myself getting back to an even keel ... and if I really feel shitty, I sing along. I might sound like a car going through a woodchipper, but I don't care.<br /><br /></li><li><span style="color: #e06666;"><b>Pamper yourself</b></span> - While you can’t really go for a massage or get your nails done just now, there is nothing to say you can’t make a mini salon at home. Buy a face mask, paint your nails, go for a bubble bath and chill. One of the things that I find really helps me is when I go for a really warm shower, grab my favourite body wash and exfoliator sponge and scrub my skin raw. Might sound counter productive but it makes me feel like I’ve had a deep clean, like I’m scrubbing my way to a better me. My go to just now is coconut scented wash which I then partner with my Body shop coconut body butter. It smells yummy!<br /><br /></li><li><b><span style="color: #e06666;">Discover Pinterest and get lost in it </span></b>- I can’t enjoy a book when I'm really struggling. My concentration zero and I get frustrated. So, I turn to Pinterest. Type "funny humour" into the search bar and lose yourself for an hour or so looking at some random funny stuff. My personal favourites are the <i>"fails"</i>. Like people who have tried to make a cake like a professional and it looks like the dog has made it or when people have order something online and what they get is totally different or hilariously wrong. I don't know if it’s considered schadenfreude or not, but it makes me smile and it’s not like they didn't have a laugh, or they wouldn't have posted it. Posts from Tumbler seem to be gold too. It might take a few scrolls to get me there, but this has never failed me, even if it’s a temp fix, it really feels good to laugh. <br /><br /></li><li><b><span style="color: #e06666;">Accept that it’s OK not to be OK for a bit</span></b> - You know what, sometimes life is just really shit and that OK. So, what if you haven't brushed your hair today and the dishes still need done. So long as your safe and the kids (if any) are happy and safe then have that duvet day watching movies or order that pizza for dinner. There is no shame in just looking after yourself. Listen to your body. If its overworked or overwhelmed it’s not going to function properly. In the same hand, it’s OK to ask for help too. Need your partner to take the kids while you nap, or shower then ask. Sometimes it’s necessary and it doesn't make you a bad person to need a wee break from life. So long as you get back to it, then take the time off. </li></ul><br />I hope this gives you some ideas on how to take care of yourself when you need it. If you have any other tips then please feel free to share them in the comments below <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtuMW6nztSBWrDhnoQvLpORr7rrNqlkuBeR8jTVXJiQIzqnAgHhWDYBsP4wK1roQDdwjPFaSPLtJbgnWTceZusJzUSHinOYIhf-XuCTieCZz2eQBJMp49XePy1cpWf3bjveoGgtMXhyD1D/s1080/Sarah-Jane+sign+off.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="398" data-original-width="1080" height="92" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtuMW6nztSBWrDhnoQvLpORr7rrNqlkuBeR8jTVXJiQIzqnAgHhWDYBsP4wK1roQDdwjPFaSPLtJbgnWTceZusJzUSHinOYIhf-XuCTieCZz2eQBJMp49XePy1cpWf3bjveoGgtMXhyD1D/w249-h92/Sarah-Jane+sign+off.png" width="249" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353305228796372539.post-57806863643439942292021-01-01T01:17:00.002+00:002021-01-02T16:08:13.251+00:00Welcome 2021<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkxnQXtXEvRJ_tRBOl9cZkWy3VmwUA2cNp8mV6y33_BF-U5Ctv2SJIi4RoUBMNKb_eiPu4TvjY4n8CzNwYQ0J-jWAKZlBXJXpmv7ByfpoiMIUtKXAu7Fs3Q4rI7bkYp8VNC7HPV1rpYc0k/s1920/sparkler-839831_1920.jpg" style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1920" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkxnQXtXEvRJ_tRBOl9cZkWy3VmwUA2cNp8mV6y33_BF-U5Ctv2SJIi4RoUBMNKb_eiPu4TvjY4n8CzNwYQ0J-jWAKZlBXJXpmv7ByfpoiMIUtKXAu7Fs3Q4rI7bkYp8VNC7HPV1rpYc0k/w445-h296/sparkler-839831_1920.jpg" width="445" /></a></div><br />Happy new year all you lovely peeps. <br /><br />2020 has been a very strange year. It brought a lot of pain and sadness to the world. Many across the globe having to say goodbye prematurely to family and friends. There were natural disasters that spread through parts of the world, the nasty side of humanity reared its ugly head again in the form of segregation and police brutality. We discovered the Karen’s among us, and we lost much of our freedom thanks to necessary lock downs and restrictions. But … it also brought hope, love, and community. People went out of their way to help their fellow man and we took care of those in need. While stuck in our homes we reached out across the globe in support of each other. People stood up to the bullies and together we tried to make the world a brighter place.<br /> <br /> Personally here in the crafty household it was a difficult year health wise. From the summer on I have been poked and prodded, filled many a vile of blood and been a guinea pig for all kinds of medications. As we come to the end of the year, I’m on the wait lists I need to be and am slowly accepting life with an additional chronic illness. Mentally – No comment.<br /> <br /> There have been some great times amidst the madness here though. I have been able to spend more time with M as he navigated his way though online schooling. We played games, made treats, and talked about everything from life, family, and unconventional farming methods in Minecraft. While I worried how the break from school life would affect him, the many messages from his teachers singing his praises eased my mind. When he returned to school to sit the mid term tests, he knocked it out the park with top marks across the board. I’m a seriously proud mama. <br /><br />I got to spend more time with B and subsequently fell even more in love with him – something I didn’t even know was possible. In spending more time with me, he spent more time with M and I got to see the two of them become great friends. The hours they spent at the dinner table talking about the most random topics, playing Mario Kart and Yugioh, him showing M all kinds of things like how to change a headlight bulb and how best to fit a fold-down chair into a camper van. B gets M thinking about things in new ways rather than his usual black or white. He’s came to me a lot the last few months talking about how awesome B is and all the ways that life is better with him. We think of him as family and hope that 2021 will bring him to live with us permanently. <br /><br />While we didn’t get to spend Christmas with our <i>“English-land”</i> family, we were lucky enough to get down there over the summer for a weekend. We got to see my sweet face turn 2 and spend time with my tribe. My sister got to meet B and I got to feel the bump as well as celebrate their gender reveal with them. Thanks to frequent video calls I have been able to see her grow, and she is the funniest, most amazing wee girl ever. She makes me burst with pride and I’m so grateful to be her auntie.<br /> <br /> The end of 2020 saw us welcome wee B and C to the family. They arrived safe and sound, with so much hair and the tiniest wee fingers. While M and I haven’t had the chance to meet them yet, we can’t wait and spend ages looking at the photos we have of them. My sister has done so well after a difficult birth and she has me in awe how she can juggle 3 under 3 and maintain her sanity. She’s an amazing wee mama. I’m grateful to my BIL too. He works so hard to support his wee family and still manages to come home and play with the wee ones and take care of them. While I don’t have much faith in <i>“dads”</i> from past experiences, he makes me see that there are men out there who are fantastic dads and who love their kids unconditionally. He really is a great dad.<br /> <br /> While 2020 was a scary time for me mentally and physically, I was blessed to have my mum and bonus dad there for me. Although far away, they're just at the end of the phone for us. Whenever I was feeling down or in need of advice, I could call either of them for a supportive ear and some sage advice. Never underestimate the opinions of the older generations, they know roll with the punches. I miss my mum more than I think I realised this year. I would spend months holding on till summer or Christmas till I knew I would see her and when that was taken away this Christmas, I really struggled. I know though that when we can, we will see each other, and I’ll get those hugs I desperately need. We are lucky to have such loving parents as the head of our family.<br /> <br /> I have so much love in my heart for my family and I am truly blessed. <br /><br /><b><br />So, what do I hope for 2021? </b><br /><br />I usually set myself goals for the new year but with the world as it is, realistically its not a guarantee. While I hope that this new year will bring some normality, I realistically know that Covid-19 isn’t just going to bugger off just cause the clock struck midnight and the calendar changed. <br /><br />Instead, I am going to be hopeful. I hope that 2021 is a happy and safe year for us. I hope that we can all be together soon, and I hope that we can end the year with at least the same number of people in the family as we are starting the year with, I’m all for adding though! <br /><br />I hope I can maintain my blog alongside my health and see where the year takes me. Perhaps we will get a chance to experience new things or perhaps we will remain safely inside our homes all year. That’s for time to decide. <br /><br />So, to you people of the internet, reading my blog, I hope you have a safe and happy 2021. I’m sending you all my love and socially distanced hugs <br /><br /> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgsnIYsGOFRvFOIjAc5_kzc_SqDAhnpYirNjMlS3ADzDxJ0FH2itvuQpQj4ylboWIORuu4PAsLHG2i_M_9YVNSNuuOuV078ove0DNhbtpLjb_nlApQkXqALiRuv0u8eBywJ3JOvwPb0fdH/s1080/Sarah-Jane+sign+off.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="398" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgsnIYsGOFRvFOIjAc5_kzc_SqDAhnpYirNjMlS3ADzDxJ0FH2itvuQpQj4ylboWIORuu4PAsLHG2i_M_9YVNSNuuOuV078ove0DNhbtpLjb_nlApQkXqALiRuv0u8eBywJ3JOvwPb0fdH/s320/Sarah-Jane+sign+off.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353305228796372539.post-43755487967867037212020-12-07T01:00:00.002+00:002021-01-02T01:32:06.993+00:00Reindeer Poop tutorial <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5JqAK54b9wpX-a91Kq3wS_QznEGycyj2XgbvAeTLJv0xdXdMAp8I3hepaLxe5WLMnLfQNXRAqsBLqs4doNtXhDgpkdZCbkFD_wNcx41dsUkRBs4_JKeff9iBTOmnEhA8oDiUK0hVmWcw7/s2048/20201122_163412%25280%2529.jpg" style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5JqAK54b9wpX-a91Kq3wS_QznEGycyj2XgbvAeTLJv0xdXdMAp8I3hepaLxe5WLMnLfQNXRAqsBLqs4doNtXhDgpkdZCbkFD_wNcx41dsUkRBs4_JKeff9iBTOmnEhA8oDiUK0hVmWcw7/w483-h362/20201122_163412%25280%2529.jpg" width="483" /></a></div><br />I can imagine from the title of this post a few of you will have been like <i>YUCK</i> and a few more would be saying <i>“I don’t need a tutorial for reindeer poop, I know how that’s made”</i> … but bear with me because this has proved to be a riot with kids – cause lets face it, they like weird stuff. <br /><br />No, its obviously not actual reindeer poop, but is a funny accompaniment to the <b><a href="http://www.justacraftymama.co.uk/2020/12/snowman-soup-tutorial.html" target="_blank">snowman soup</a></b> packets. <br /><br />And like the snowman soup, they are a quick gift to make and like I said, kids will giggle at it. <br /><br /><b><i>To make them you need</i></b><br /> <br /> Christmas cardstock*<br /> A printer<br /> White paper and/or white card<br /> Scissors<br /> Glue stick<br /> Double-sided tape<br /> Cellophane bags (clear sandwich bags will also do)<br /> Chocolate sweeties<br /> <br /> Print out the <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/14l8NZpYpeAMKRNRW1AUTnSNcG_y6qs-f/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank"><b>reindeer poop file</b></a>. It is a4 file has the template, 2 header labels and 2 poems, all sized to fit. You need use the template to draw around on the Christmas cardstock, and cut out the desired number of backing pieces you need.<br /> <i><br /> *The cardstock I used was from the <b><a href="https://www.hobbycraft.co.uk/merry-and-bright-paper-pad-12-x-12-inches-24-sheets/648985-1004">Merry and Bright</a> </b>set from Hobbycraft. You can use whatever cardstock you have but I would recommend 160gsm or higher, so it keeps its shape.</i><br /> <br /> Once you have the number you need, you are going to need to score down the fold line to create a flap. This will fold over and be where you place your header label.<br /> <br /> Next, you need to cut out the labels before gluing to the backing. Like the snowman soup, the poem goes on the back and the label goes on the outside of the folded tab. Once you are sure you have them how you like, glue them in place. <div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWU8WOloKqcp8K365g1ghRp0McGTaYVKqGBzClOvanlPLiVhvUINwl7L0GeRn4tx08OxgIblIIxyEdQncO7f6Ft3EgFhGWwVWS5SfxyAqv9Cly9BEJKh6Kzroe19pz4vE3HYQbU8a32fjL/s2048/20201122_163421.jpg" style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1331" data-original-width="2048" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWU8WOloKqcp8K365g1ghRp0McGTaYVKqGBzClOvanlPLiVhvUINwl7L0GeRn4tx08OxgIblIIxyEdQncO7f6Ft3EgFhGWwVWS5SfxyAqv9Cly9BEJKh6Kzroe19pz4vE3HYQbU8a32fjL/w423-h275/20201122_163421.jpg" width="423" /></a></div><div> <br />Next you need to add your sweeties. You can use any kind of chocolate really (though be cautious of the recipient and any allergies). I opted for the Dairy milk robins and some Oreo eggs. The robins are just solid Dairy milk eggs, so it is hard to tell them apart once they are unwrapped - a bit of fun for the kids when they eat them. You could always buy a bag of chocolate balls and unwrap them to add. It honestly doesn’t matter, its chocolate. <br /><br />I added 4 to each cellophane bag as they were quite big and I’m a generous auntie, but you can put however many you want. <br /><br />Lastly you need to seal the bags. Add a strip of double-sided tape along the top of the cellophane bag and fold it over on itself so the top is sealed. Add another strip to the top of the now sealed bag and place on the card backing. The bag top should be flush with the fold. Once stuck down, add a last strip of double-sided tape to the flap and fold down onto the bag. <br /><br />And that it, a bag of reindeer poop, complete with a funny poem on the back <br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I woke up with such a scare when I heard Santa call...</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>"Now dash away, dash away, dash away all!"</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I ran to the lawn, and in the snowy white drifts,</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>those nasty reindeer had left "little gifts". </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I got an old shovel and started to scoop</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Neat little piles of "reindeer poop."</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>but to throw them away seemed such a waste,</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>So I saved them, thinking you might like a taste! </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>As I finished my task, which took quite a while,</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Old Santa passed by and he sheepishly smiled.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>And I heard him exclaim as he rose to the sky</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>"Well, they're not potty trained, but at least they can fly!"</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353305228796372539.post-28769375633741203482020-12-06T10:30:00.006+00:002021-01-02T01:31:48.056+00:00Christmas Traditions - 2020 edition<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA6bHonWJInyieAA93QVC6sb6RJfaOzTqcj9H1dmDSEaxzg4f1nLQgA6nc0GM8wPjpFc9Au4a4_ce1qwDQhijOedyUMUinLZ6Ra_KRjgfSXGK-PpsWUZNCfMJkw8_VzxPjlnrJkwfxFF6-/s1920/christmas-4697165_1920.jpg" style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1279" data-original-width="1920" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA6bHonWJInyieAA93QVC6sb6RJfaOzTqcj9H1dmDSEaxzg4f1nLQgA6nc0GM8wPjpFc9Au4a4_ce1qwDQhijOedyUMUinLZ6Ra_KRjgfSXGK-PpsWUZNCfMJkw8_VzxPjlnrJkwfxFF6-/w477-h318/christmas-4697165_1920.jpg" width="477" /></a></div><br />Growing up my family had a few Christmas traditions that I remember. Christmas eve for example was a big night. There was cake, new jammies, a movie and leaving a treat for Santa. In the morning we had to wait patently upstairs while our father would go down and check if Santa had been. When the <i>bells</i> in the banister went off, we knew he had been, and the madness ensued. <br /><br />When M was growing up, I tried to have little traditions like that with him. We did the visits to Santa, the writing of the Christmas list that we left on the tree, only to find in the morning it was gone and in its place was a sweetie. We always baked a festive themed treat, had snowman soup and on Christmas eve we got into our new jammies and watched a movie before leaving a snack for Santa and going to bed. Even the presents became a tradition. The stocking for example is where you go to see if Santa brought you any sweeties. <br /><br />When he learned about Santa a few years ago most of our beloved traditions all but vanished. We had to rethink the whole lot – but it was in some ways better, as M got to have a say in things. Rather than going to visit Santa for example we would pick a day to go to Glasgow together. We would visit the big coffee chains and try their festive menus. We would go and pick a new ornament for the tree and we would pick our new jammies. While there we would make a point of walking about the city centre and take in all the Christmas lights and decorations, finishing with a trip to Millie’s cookies for a box of yummy treats before we headed home. That last one is a Glasgow tradition we have and do every single time. We still have the snowman soup and bake Christmas goodies but now we also have our try the festive McFlurry too. <br /><br />This year we have to rethink again. Its just not feasible to have a trip up to Glasgow. Even if we weren’t in lock down, I can’t walk far before my abdomen starts to cramp and harden which is uncomfortable as hell so being in a busy city centre, miles from home is the last place I wanna be. My anxiety would allow it to be fair. It has just been a rough year. So instead, we must make do with what we can here at home. Like I said yesterday, it’s a Covid-Christmas after all. <br /><br />I have had some ideas though. <div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRw1IjpQSvbUQx3up-fnigkA1AIorl5QXK0WKPAs6cR5zsREnzQs5i_FfKJDnfXyBgcbgAL9ueljRrdM7_q-yRspJqO7bm0p9oVfb5dBMYA9Vkr2YY74pZJnAIQaQ5iEd2ToZFkXGRPOun/s1920/hot-chocolate-1068701_1920.jpg" style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1920" height="309" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRw1IjpQSvbUQx3up-fnigkA1AIorl5QXK0WKPAs6cR5zsREnzQs5i_FfKJDnfXyBgcbgAL9ueljRrdM7_q-yRspJqO7bm0p9oVfb5dBMYA9Vkr2YY74pZJnAIQaQ5iEd2ToZFkXGRPOun/w464-h309/hot-chocolate-1068701_1920.jpg" width="464" /></a></div><br />Costa Coffee have Terry’s Chocolate Orange and After Eight hot chocolates this year, plus a quality street Purple one in a hot chocolate and latte … Starbucks has the Truffle Deluxe Hot Chocolate and a toffee nut latte (they do have gingerbread and eggnog, but they don’t appeal to me in the slightest) so instead of going up to Glasgow to try them, I’m going to make them all at home. I’ll probably space them out over a couple of days as one thing that always worried me about our festive drinks was the sugar rush he would be on all day and the subsequent crash on the train home. <br /><br />He got to pick his jammies – and they were ordered online and delivered. <br /><br />Our Christmas bauble this year is from my mum and we have some ideas on what we want to bake, though that has doubled since we have more time at home. <br /><br />We might not be able to go see all the lights and decorations, but that’s a small price to pay for staying safe inside and over the Christmas holidays I have some Harry Potter treats planned that I’m hoping, even if he decides he’s not a fan of the movies, will still make him happy. <br /><br />I have even roped B into some of this and we’ll be taking a trip to the drive through so we can get the Celebrations McFlurry. All he’s asked for in return is he wants in on the Terrys Chocolate Orange hot chocolate day and would like some baked goods. <br /><br />We’re all gonna get so fat over Christmas … and we’re all ok with that 😊<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353305228796372539.post-87391803213790960052020-12-05T22:36:00.006+00:002021-01-02T01:31:23.811+00:00Covid Christmas <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5EXrFJrHxNECZt_wvaBkPLb1ShQcZTbPxqibnmEbikxAVRvJxSyPtG_lTI4Zt7gD51PAnWFL168plGaSkUqIpQyVahO94O4bknaJekOBCZs6HhKYPJTcu-56mAgpQR4LHJC0LhQ6Wyp2m/s1920/christmas-5781482_1920.jpg" style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1302" data-original-width="1920" height="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5EXrFJrHxNECZt_wvaBkPLb1ShQcZTbPxqibnmEbikxAVRvJxSyPtG_lTI4Zt7gD51PAnWFL168plGaSkUqIpQyVahO94O4bknaJekOBCZs6HhKYPJTcu-56mAgpQR4LHJC0LhQ6Wyp2m/w491-h333/christmas-5781482_1920.jpg" width="491" /></a></div><br />This year has been a weird one for everyone. But here in the crafty house we have been trying to find ways to hold on to some normality. <br /><br />For example, unless M brings it up first, I try not to discuss COVID-19 in the house. I think its important that there is always a safe place for people and ours is our home. This is where we know we can always come back to, lock the door and be safe. Covid is scary for us adults, so to the younger generations it must be terrifying. Especially when it’s altering their lives so much. In this house, its (wherever possible) COVID-19 free. That’s not to say if M has questions, I don’t answer, but if I’m talking with other people and he’s around, I am very aware what I am saying. <br /><br />This Christmas however it has been hard to avoid. This is the first Christmas I can remember that won’t be spent with family and that of course makes us feel quite sad. This time of year, we are usually planning our trip down south to see my family (if they weren’t coming up here) but this year we’re having to celebrate alone. Its all the more upsetting as there are 2 new babies on their way and we are desperate to meet them as well as see our family. I’m close with my mum and sister so not seeing them over Christmas sucks. <br /><br />I have explained to M that we can video call as much as everyone is able and once my sister has her babies, we can talk to her about if she’s up for video calls so we can see all the of his cousins. But the look on his face as he tries to pretend its all good, breaks my heart a little. Its hard being so far from them that we can’t have them in our bubble. <br /><br />I’m trying to think of things that we can do together that will make up for what will be forever known as Covid-Christmas. Lots of movie nights and game nights are in our future. Its not ideal but I know that we are still lucky to have our family and that there are many who have lost members of theirs, so we will make do until we can all be together again in person. <br /><br />And who knows, we might get to see B and the bestie over Christmas since they are in our bubbles, so we won’t be completely alone.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353305228796372539.post-90662969255788122632020-12-04T00:23:00.003+00:002021-01-02T01:31:01.666+00:00Thinking of Gran<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPrIAth5JaMer0QvAVZ8dum_I57FO1ppaFsOtS9jHAuwBk4OzqTUlioPL-1T3VL-_vGZpa1noEBYTBTXcexMpM_24OFEYV3bo5lyKYik8Ci4mWaYe71p9RRQOGXwlnCxksBtxpYsp3joMG/s927/Gran.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="927" data-original-width="630" height="609" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPrIAth5JaMer0QvAVZ8dum_I57FO1ppaFsOtS9jHAuwBk4OzqTUlioPL-1T3VL-_vGZpa1noEBYTBTXcexMpM_24OFEYV3bo5lyKYik8Ci4mWaYe71p9RRQOGXwlnCxksBtxpYsp3joMG/w413-h609/Gran.jpg" width="413" /></a></div></div><div><div><b>My Grandmother</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div>In my rose garden of memories,<br />I see you standing there,<div>An angel in disguise,<br />Who taught me how to care.<br /><br />I long to hear your voice<br />for real - not in my dreams.<br />I am missing you so much these days.<br />How empty my world seems.<br /><br />People say time heals all wounds,<br />that someday the pain will subside,<br />but Grandma, I can tell you<br />I think they must have lied.<br /><br />The emptiness I am feeling now<br />is strong and I am weak.<br />These days go by without you,<br />so dreary and so bleak.<br /><br />In my rose garden of memories<br />I know you'll always be,<br />for though you're gone from this mortal world,<br />in my heart you'll always be.<br /><br /><br />- <a href="https://www.familyfriendpoems.com/poem/rose-garden-of-memories-my-grandmother" target="_blank">Victoria L. Payne</a><br /><br /></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353305228796372539.post-31068744633821451362020-12-03T02:33:00.009+00:002021-01-02T01:30:39.824+00:00Snowman soup tutorial <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdh1_BGYr5gkorQNhJjibvsaybczW7tbw-wcNBmsuuV0KmRE5FrTrvBp2tNUvssqjGq7erWjzLjLutozXcypD4vz0ZD6KxDrlsJ4RRs-oSALTWWYz8377RLp7zzsbQdlxdtlmeobmSi9D5/s2048/snowman+A.jpg" style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1308" data-original-width="2048" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdh1_BGYr5gkorQNhJjibvsaybczW7tbw-wcNBmsuuV0KmRE5FrTrvBp2tNUvssqjGq7erWjzLjLutozXcypD4vz0ZD6KxDrlsJ4RRs-oSALTWWYz8377RLp7zzsbQdlxdtlmeobmSi9D5/w478-h304/snowman+A.jpg" width="478" /></a></div><br />One of the things M loves about the cold weather is when we make hot chocolate. We have almost developed a tradition now, the nights get dark earlier, the hot chocolates come out. <br /><br />A favourite from childhood though is <i>“Snowman Soup” </i>– It’s the only time he will willingly eat mint and it was a huge deal as a child him getting to make it himself (with the exception of heating milk). What was once reserved for special treats – like after we visited Santa or on Christmas eve before bed has now became more of a random cold night activity, but that doesn’t make it any less fun. <br /><br />Even at 13, he still loves a mug of snowman soup, so I decided to spread the joy a bit this year. <br /><br />As part of some Christmas gifts, I made up little packs of Santa soup. They are so cute each with their own little backing and poem. What's not to love.<br /><br />They are super quick to make and are a great addition to a Christmas eve box or even as part of a gift. I have created a tutorial for you, complete with templates and labels, so all you have to do is assemble and enjoy. <br /><br /><b><i>To make them you need </i></b><br /><br />Christmas cardstock* <br />A printer <br />White paper and/or white card <br />Scissors <br />Glue stick <br />Double-sided tape <br />Cellophane bags (clear sandwich bags will also do) <br />Hot chocolate powder <br />Mini marshmallows <br />Candy canes <br /><br />Print out the <b><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1sCdOJLKYR23eSZQwg6pepmEK7TUojjPb/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank">snowman soup file</a></b>. This a4 file has the template, 2 header labels and 2 poems, all sized and ready to go. You need to cut out your template first and trace round it on your Christmas cardstock for the desired number of backing pieces. <br /><br /><i>*The cardstock I used was from the <a href="https://www.hobbycraft.co.uk/merry-and-bright-paper-pad-12-x-12-inches-24-sheets/648985-1004" target="_blank">Merry and Bright</a> set I bought from Hobbycraft. It is 180gsm which holds its shape well and still goes though my cutting machines without any hassle. You can of course use whatever cardstock you have available. I would recommend 160gsm or higher though. </i><br /><br />Once cut out you are going to need to score down the fold line to create a flap. This will fold over and be where you place your label. <br /><br />Next, you need to cut out the labels before gluing to the backing. The poem goes on the back and the label goes on the outside of the folded tab. Once you are sure you have them how you like, glue them in place. <div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMvYNyfUeY4z8B7_B29hhhOdamilqCnjI8F6kJRE8oaIQfIlBY5oPIVQkyk1zJkWYUJNQLjDSJcQFLz5mMrHMGGWiVR9Fvqm5PqXAiQtUZuT6oDb7AhSY1h9bqAKhGJpq4XxXaxTqFaueX/s2048/snowman+2.jpg" style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMvYNyfUeY4z8B7_B29hhhOdamilqCnjI8F6kJRE8oaIQfIlBY5oPIVQkyk1zJkWYUJNQLjDSJcQFLz5mMrHMGGWiVR9Fvqm5PqXAiQtUZuT6oDb7AhSY1h9bqAKhGJpq4XxXaxTqFaueX/w472-h354/snowman+2.jpg" width="472" /></a></div><br />Next you need to make up the actual <i>soup</i>. <div><br /></div><div>I bought sachets of hot chocolate as I was giving them as gifts and need them to survive the postal service. If you are giving to family then there is no harm in just adding the hot chocolate powder directly from a container. Make sure you add the correct number of scoops per one cup of hot chocolate. </div><div><br /></div><div>Next add the mini mallows. M is a massive fan of mallows in his hot chocolate so I tend to add plenty – 15 in fact – but you can add as much or as little as you wish. Then pop a candy cane in and you’re ready to seal them up.</div><div><br /></div><div>I find double-sided tape works best of this. Add a strip of tape along the top of the cellophane bag and fold it over on itself so the top is sealed. Add more double-sided tape to the top of the now sealed bag and place on the card backing. The bag top should be flush with the fold. Once stuck down, add a last strip of double-sided tape to the flap and fold down onto the bag. <br /><br />And there you have it. Little snowman soup packs ready to go.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I've shared this post in the following linkies<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://www.myrandommusings.co.uk/blog-page_9/" rel="nofollow" title="My Random Musings"><img alt="My Random Musings" height="182" src="https://www.myrandommusings.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/New-AnythingGoes-badge.jpg" style="border: none;" width="182" /></a> <a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.cohttps://www.findingsilverpennies.com/m/-Kz5oUfnv4ZA/X8l1TvD-AtI/AAAAAAAAIwM/kNw6RS-rtNEqhIiAwtVBIXh6gEpCL9KCQCLcBGAsYHQ/s125/silver_pennies_button.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="125" data-original-width="125" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI5X3tfKC7ZvVAj-r0ruEfdglD2_4JRjMinz3YFSFwefArX5oiGk_U8ZTqQQi6T5P9Pk2jLyrE9nqZuDjhsglcrrLF-f4fi9wkDcRxY-jM0GeiPmiUlwHpPAVRf2WtBf2dzT9ldOy3p-C_/w183-h183/silver_pennies_button.jpeg" width="183" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center; width: 100%;">
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353305228796372539.post-81198032703197447692020-12-02T10:30:00.009+00:002023-12-12T21:31:36.003+00:00Harry Potter and the parenting fail<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPv0Cewxp65WahtQC3e4b16J0Ry8eho3GJxDaTRaIl-k22PGrOQb6RgwT00nSlJmHtsJuxi4lmokMsBE_ah5sDIe6KlES-jPQmEUYftDkuRisfLRROOO8fu1dUEZGfjYa7SMIDfDhteEyO/s1920/harry-potter-5055509_1920.jpg" style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1920" height="364" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPv0Cewxp65WahtQC3e4b16J0Ry8eho3GJxDaTRaIl-k22PGrOQb6RgwT00nSlJmHtsJuxi4lmokMsBE_ah5sDIe6KlES-jPQmEUYftDkuRisfLRROOO8fu1dUEZGfjYa7SMIDfDhteEyO/w548-h364/harry-potter-5055509_1920.jpg" width="548" /></a></div><br />I’m in shock. <br /><br />I was snuggled up the other night on the sofa watching Fantastic beasts when M walked in. <br /><br /><i>“Who is that?”</i> pointing to Jude Law who plays young Dumbledore. I tell him, which prompts him to ask <i>"So is this a sequel to the Harry Potter films?" </i><br /><br /><i>“Well, yeah ... and that’s the guy who invented the philosophers stone". <br /><br />“what’s that?” </i><br /><br />At that point the film was paused. I’m sorry what???? Turns out he<i> “forgot”</i> the whole premise of the first film since he’s <i>“only seen that one and it was AGES ago”. </i><br /><br />I have failed as a parent. <br /><br />How has he made it to almost 14 and hasn’t seen all the Harry Potter films? How could I have dropped the ball so long? I would love him to read the books, in fact I think I’ll reread them too but the films are minimal effort needed. Pretty much a prerequisite for teens at the moment. <br /><br />So, over the Christmas holiday I’m going to educate M in the ways of Hogwarts. We’re gonna have movie nights with our own mini banquets. He's gonna learn all about the wizarding wars and I'm gonna convert my kitchen into a potions class.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2llVzxK1GgDP0HYYIgyvlqJ2yzJCqwDNCTV4JYuByJQ1a9ccrTMT60sOqlpbdz35TqnHSeIhwxsOYy5i0s6e7kPkX6JWHmBHcbtf3tzzlSjnZw9PDxzRrG30BegOrt057f4rbs4ngavry/s1920/harry-potter-2348767_1920.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1920" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2llVzxK1GgDP0HYYIgyvlqJ2yzJCqwDNCTV4JYuByJQ1a9ccrTMT60sOqlpbdz35TqnHSeIhwxsOYy5i0s6e7kPkX6JWHmBHcbtf3tzzlSjnZw9PDxzRrG30BegOrt057f4rbs4ngavry/w553-h368/harry-potter-2348767_1920.jpg" width="553" /></a></div><div><br />By the time he goes back to school in 2021, he will have worked out his Patronus and will have ate more than a few cauldron cakes. <br /><br />Now if you excuse me, I’m gonna go brew some butter beer.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353305228796372539.post-26384472545461804412020-10-06T18:01:00.004+01:002020-10-07T20:23:06.944+01:0010 reason why I love October<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaTx1hrr7IxSFbqdzC9Ndlra-BQ_oVmVrcOfRf7fqB4wDYKQJce7fPVchDoFSsD2gi-uxRTaJHS96XKgttpRk3abkh1pvd1X0qN4z-tJkn_AF_WzncLXKDTh7-cW3kL7IjsvmFBp0bldFg/s1920/pumpkin-spice-latte-3750036_1920.jpg" style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1279" data-original-width="1920" height="325" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaTx1hrr7IxSFbqdzC9Ndlra-BQ_oVmVrcOfRf7fqB4wDYKQJce7fPVchDoFSsD2gi-uxRTaJHS96XKgttpRk3abkh1pvd1X0qN4z-tJkn_AF_WzncLXKDTh7-cW3kL7IjsvmFBp0bldFg/w488-h325/pumpkin-spice-latte-3750036_1920.jpg" width="488" /></a></div><br />2020 has been a bit of a crappy year. We all know this, but we are in October and I’m in my element. I just love it so much! <br /><br />So, what is so special about October? Why do I love it so much? Well, read on my friends and I’ll tell you why It truly is the most wonderful time of the year – Christmas be damned! <br /><br /> <span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>* * * * *<br /><br /><b>Its Autumn</b> – October is Autumn and as such the trees are starting to die off which makes for gorgeous colours. When they are on the ground, the weather is a bit chillier, so they dry off and get crunchy to stand on. I love that sound. <br /><br /><b>The seasonal drinks start</b> – While normally I would be indulging in the seasonal menu at Costa Coffee, Covid has made that almost impossible for me. So instead I have brought the seasonal drinks home. Orange hot chocolate? Salted caramel latte? Toffee apple hot chocolate? We have it all in our kitchen, and the cream and sauce come standard without the extra charge. <br /><br /><b>Its socially acceptable to watch horror movie</b>s – October is spooky season. Fact! So many more people start to watch horror movies more. Now, I personally watch horror movies year round, but in October, people join in and I can usually get a good conversation going about the pros and cons of certain movies this time of the year. <br /><br /><b>My birthday </b>– I am entering my 33rd year on this planet – Or as I like to think of it, I have reached level 33 this month. While usually I’m not a fan of my birthday, I feel the tides are turning and I am actually looking forward to this year. Even if all I’ll be doing is snuggling up with M and watching movies with the before mentioned hot drinks. Bliss. <br /><br /><b>The nights get longer</b> – I like the darkness. I’ve always favoured the night over the sunny days and now we are reaching the end of the year, it means the nights are longer. It means nothing physically to me – I’m not a farmer and since I no longer have night classes, I am safely inside with M by the time darkness hits. But I still like it. It feels more spooky I guess. <br /><br /><b>Mini school holiday</b> – Most parents are like <i>“awe my god the kids are on holiday again”</i> but for me, I’m like <i>“yay, M is home for the week”</i>. It starts usually with long lies and lounging about in jammies. We did used to make a point of going out. Grabbing lunch somewhere or getting a seasonal drink (wow I didn’t realise how much we did that!) but again Covid has restricted what we can do. This year I think we will be having Mario kart battles, eating nice food and being creative. <br /><br /><b>Snuggle weather </b>– I love my blankets. It’s got that I struggle to sleep without the feel of them on my face or around my body most nights. So, what could be better that taking one of those blankets and snuggling up with your fella? Answer, very little! I’m hoping B can get some time off so he can come spend a few nights with us. We have lots of movie nights planned and he needs to join in, Popcorn and all. <br /><br /><b>Cardigans are king </b>– I live in my oversized cardi in autumn. Its so snuggly and warm. The only fault I have with it is there is no pockets. B calls it <i>“the dude cardigan”</i> as it reminds him of the film The big Lebowski, but since I’ve never seen it, I’ll just have to agree. I like the baggy comfy clothes that you can wear out in Autumn. Not that it really matters as I'm not going out but still - I like a comfy cardi.<br /><br /><b>Comfort foods</b> – Summer is for salads and burgers; Autumn is for the homemade soups and stews. M loves this time of the year for that very reason. Pies and rice pudding, Lasagne, and casseroles. Its all about the hearty meaty foods in this house just now. <br /><br /><b>Halloween</b> – The best reason of all HALLOWEEN! I love everything about Halloween. It makes my little black heart happy. From the trick or treating to the decorations. Plus, Halloween gives me a chance to buy household décor. I have an actual wish list this year of things I wanna get, and they will be year round cause I’m like that … and I don’t care who knows it.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353305228796372539.post-55528769737519732242020-09-20T01:33:00.004+01:002020-09-20T01:33:46.899+01:00Plain Flour Bread<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhD2D7qM8p6QzH9N_2o3jNfsLBmHPEFOYrK9X0-FGbMLYAg-p-EXV8WWcZ0nlF0_n1Te73enws6bCj7r7jYwnmPAwTuDmqya3Pxdff3qIoS-_lrvyBcn7GkuyXuPij-8ielpX9qwQbsUsR/s2048/20200816_162215.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1315" data-original-width="2048" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhD2D7qM8p6QzH9N_2o3jNfsLBmHPEFOYrK9X0-FGbMLYAg-p-EXV8WWcZ0nlF0_n1Te73enws6bCj7r7jYwnmPAwTuDmqya3Pxdff3qIoS-_lrvyBcn7GkuyXuPij-8ielpX9qwQbsUsR/w451-h288/20200816_162215.jpg" width="451" /></a></div><div><br /></div>If lockdown has taught me anything, its that there is always a way to adapt. And that covered how we dealt with food too.<div><br /></div><div>Round here it was hard to get things like rolls and bread, and when you could get an online shop, things like yeast and bread flour were almost impossible. So an adaptation I found was making bread with a cupboard staple - plain flour. I was lucky that I always have the basics stocked in my cupboard for baking so I had a few sachets of yeast.<br /> <br /><b><i>What you need</i></b></div><div>500 g plain flour, plus extras for dusting<b><i><br /></i></b>1 sachet dried yeast (7g)</div><div>290ml warm water</div><div>1 tsp salt<br />1 tsp caster sugar<br />Olive oil for greasing<br /><br /><br />In a bowl, pour the water and add the sugar and the yeast. Leave for about 10-15 minutes till it starts to go foamy.<br /><br />In a large bowl, sift the flour and salt. Create a well in the middle and gradually pour in the yeast mix. Bring the sides into the middle so it starts to form a dough. I started this with a wooden spoon and then moved onto my hands, but you can use your hands straight away if you like. If the dough looks too dry, you can add a little bit of water. You need to make sure its combined well though.</div><div><br /></div><div>Dust a little flour onto a work surface and knead the dough until its smooth and stretchy. This will take a while as the plain flour needs more work to activate the gluten. Its great to get out any home schooling frustrations.</div><div><br /></div><div>Once nice and stretchy, shape the dough into your desired style. I opted for a bread tin as I like the traditional loaf shape but you can make it circular or oval or even a square if you like. Whatever shape you go for, place it on a dusted baking tray/loaf tin and cover with oiled cling film.</div><div><br /></div><div>Leave to rise in a warm place for about an hour. You will know its ready when the dough has doubled in size.</div><div><br />Preheat the oven to 200c/180c fan and remove the cling film from the bread. Bake for 20-25 minutes until golden brown and the bread has risen. We made ours salt and pepper bread so I seasoned the top of our loaf but its just personal preference.</div><div><br /></div><div>Transfer to a cooling rack and carefully tap the base to check its cooked (I used a clean tea towel to lift the bread as it was so hot). You are listening for a hollow sound. If you don't hear it, pop it back in the oven for a few minutes at a time till its ready.<br /><br />We eat ours fresh and warm from the oven with butter and dunked into <b><a href="http://www.justacraftymama.co.uk/2016/04/easy-tomato-soup.html" target="_blank">homemade tomato soup</a></b>. </div><div><br /></div><div>Its awesome!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353305228796372539.post-3192948517716164342020-09-10T23:53:00.000+01:002020-09-12T00:10:39.422+01:00Inktober 2020<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqZwA7Gr5vnhLP3zVaLrUDVcAJAA-_7dl69nE4CM_G3Dk59Ywn6lsUKH4iU89bUnAjBMI8pb_cYGaTSLmQVPNSNF_gdCcnlk1JP2GTC1F0oFgE_EUZSyCWDF0c1z7mgqamJ1DlO976qh7L/s1920/art-1867899_1920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1281" data-original-width="1920" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqZwA7Gr5vnhLP3zVaLrUDVcAJAA-_7dl69nE4CM_G3Dk59Ywn6lsUKH4iU89bUnAjBMI8pb_cYGaTSLmQVPNSNF_gdCcnlk1JP2GTC1F0oFgE_EUZSyCWDF0c1z7mgqamJ1DlO976qh7L/w500-h335/art-1867899_1920.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><br />I’ve loved being creative since I was a child. <br /><br />I used to get art supplies as gifts and spend weekends getting messy at the kitchen table with my mum and sister. I remember spending hours with my papa, drawing. He was the first person to show me how to sketch and its memories I still look back on fondly. <br /><br />He would give me some of the pieces he drew, and we would go over the composition before he would give me the tools to try and replicate them. That’s how I first dipped my toe in drawing. <br /><br />As I grew up, most of my spare time involved some form of creative outlet. My school subjects were based around art and design and I felt I was able to express myself though that medium when words sometimes felt difficult to put together. <br /><br />As an adult I have tried to stay creative, but it was only last year that I submerged myself back into drawing, and that was mostly because of Inktober. <br /><br />I had separated from my long-term partner and was at a loss how to process the pain I was feeling productively, till I started doodling. Then a few months later, on Instagram, I discovered Inktober and I really started to run with it. I went from drawing occasionally to drawing every day and often multiple times a day. The prompts making me think about different ideas that I would expand on. I started to notice that the more I drew, the more my noisy brain would be silent. Like I had finally found a way to quiet the mind goblins. It also became a way for me to process the feelings I had surrounding my gran being diagnosed and subsequently dying of cancer in December. My brain felt dark and drawing let me get the pain out on paper, rather than taking my sorrow and frustrations out on myself. <br /><br />Since then I have enjoyed taking part in lots of different challenges. MerMay being the most recent, as well as the new additional Inktober52 challenge which is one prompt a week as opposed to the standard Inktober being the full 31 days of October. It’s something I look forward to. <div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7yPqR0LWEMtfZLyTvQDImyU9_PTJYVZ4E-9Ptte4rEIq5yRT46Ph0AxlCFNBq3FoF3Ol4Ko2qPVVfdcIdWBKuIOPNw_iIXn2om1YZMI2hjQNJZtTlZ89ncEB007w3M7LeG27fBe6Tp2Ll/s1200/inktober52+mix.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7yPqR0LWEMtfZLyTvQDImyU9_PTJYVZ4E-9Ptte4rEIq5yRT46Ph0AxlCFNBq3FoF3Ol4Ko2qPVVfdcIdWBKuIOPNw_iIXn2om1YZMI2hjQNJZtTlZ89ncEB007w3M7LeG27fBe6Tp2Ll/w500-h375/inktober52+mix.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of my Inktober52 drawings</td></tr></tbody></table><br />This year there has been some serious controversy surrounding the Inktober creator Jake Parker with regards to his upcoming book <i>“Inktober – A Year Long”</i>. Another artist Alphonso Dunn has came out saying that Parker has plagiarised a fair chunk of his book from books he has released and after watching the hour long video he uploaded, I can see where he is coming from. The art community was already pretty peeved when Parker trademarked <i>“Inktober”</i> as this was seen as a way to monetize a hashtag the whole community uses. Again, there is a point there. The whole Inktober scene is a mix of everyone’s contributions. It wouldn’t have been as successful just from one man drawing. All in all, Parker, as well as Inktober, is a touchy subject in the online artist community and as such there are many calling for Inktober to be boycotted this year. <br /><br />I don’t really want to though and I’ll explain why. <br /><br />For me, Inktober isn’t about Jake Parker. Not really. For me, its about trying a medium (ink) that I didn’t really use before and setting myself the challenge to draw everyday in October. There are many people who do their own Inktober prompt lists too which for me is just as much fun as the <i>“official”</i> one. While I don’t agree with what Parker done, and I have cancelled my pre-order of his book because of this, Inktober means happy things for me and I don’t wanna lose that. I still take part in the Inktober52 prompts and I do wanna take part next month too. <br /><br />Wither I use the official prompt list remains to be seen. I have added that as one of my <b><a href="http://www.justacraftymama.co.uk/p/a-few-years-ago-now-i-discovered-101.html" target="_blank">101 things </a></b>however as I will still be using the hashtag and following along with other artists like me who join in via the hashtag, there is nothing to say I can’t find a prompt list by another contributor and play along that way. <br /><br />Being creative is an outlet for me and I feel it should be encouraged. I would hate to see the whole community disappear just because one guy fucked up big style.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353305228796372539.post-83133900684514425142020-08-30T21:09:00.000+01:002020-09-08T21:13:43.877+01:00Mentally Ch(ill) - August<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdX6SJ9oM_l-RA98NbY4Ja4QFeYDf364fdlF3BcM5sK13BqJlPG7p4q5PuXheL-x0AzjYk1MOPmu7O_vcYLHOdv5jKQQT2vzOR5DI6wVt7fmRI8cB3wTvOza9Gv64aw0zsMGYZZP-VxY83/s1920/unhappy-389944_1920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1271" data-original-width="1920" height="331" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdX6SJ9oM_l-RA98NbY4Ja4QFeYDf364fdlF3BcM5sK13BqJlPG7p4q5PuXheL-x0AzjYk1MOPmu7O_vcYLHOdv5jKQQT2vzOR5DI6wVt7fmRI8cB3wTvOza9Gv64aw0zsMGYZZP-VxY83/w500-h331/unhappy-389944_1920.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><br />It’s been a tough month. <br /><br />I’ve only managed to get out the house once or twice and then I’ve pretty much been hauled up in my room the whole time. <br /><br />The pain in my abdomen has been coming and going which has become almost unbearable at times. When this happens, I’ve been filling the bath with hot water, doubling up on my paracetamol/ibuprofen cocktail and crying it out. Unfortunately, my mental health is taking a kicking too. I’m not sure if it’s because of the pain or if I was gonna have a bad spell anyway, but either way it’s definitely not helped. <br /><br />To be open and honest, I’ve just been wanting to sleep my days (and pain) away which isn’t healthy, but I can’t really say I care at this point. I do try and keep myself busy with working on the store or drawing but since the only comfy position I can be in is curled in a ball with my hot water bottle, it doesn’t really lend itself to being productive. <br /><br />It does bother me that M has pretty much become a mini carer just now. He’s on hand to refill my hot water bottle and offers to make me tea when he comes home from school. He’s started bringing me food too which is so sweet but honestly the idea of eating is daunting as the pain makes me feel like I’m gonna be sick. I feel a bit like a failure as a mum on those days as it’s like my kid is taking care of me when I should be taking care of him. When I talk to him about it however, he sees no issue. He just sees it as mum is sore and sick, so he is helping make me <i>“feel better”.</i> He’s such a good soul and I don’t know what I would do without him. <br /><br />So instead I have been trying to take it one day at a time. Survive the worst days as best as I can and on my good days, try and get as much done as I can. So long as the house is clean and there is food in the fridge, I call it a win. <br /><br />I do burn out quick though which sucks. When B comes down to visit on my bad days, the most we can do is snuggle up and watch movies in between my melt downs. I feel like it’s not fair on him as his girlfriend is an emotional mess but then when I apologise I’m reminded that he loves me no matter what and that my bad days are just a tiny part of our life together. Plus, he loves to just chill on his days off, so it suits him to get lots of cuddles and watch TV. So, I know I should just accept this is how it is just now, but my guilt is strong. <br /><br />I feel completely useless across the board and it’s just making me want to retreat from the world and hide away under my blankets like the goblin I am. <br /><br />I just need to take it a day at a time and ride it out as best as I can.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353305228796372539.post-60110451799067333432020-08-16T13:14:00.006+01:002023-12-09T00:23:16.562+00:00Celebration Brownies<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqD17LLJEO_N6HE2i1zwLBxIqHgYYegEhp6Fhgf0dRhlb8VZhjqZBzts_VPzjs6owbX_hTfg8EZ237PDVaY1ORaWWF7K4blH5Pu1Xbru7howJztAyZoQSGdmZ-RHXftVtS2Vw8RcdYMdyJ/s2048/Celebration+Brownies.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1081" data-original-width="2048" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqD17LLJEO_N6HE2i1zwLBxIqHgYYegEhp6Fhgf0dRhlb8VZhjqZBzts_VPzjs6owbX_hTfg8EZ237PDVaY1ORaWWF7K4blH5Pu1Xbru7howJztAyZoQSGdmZ-RHXftVtS2Vw8RcdYMdyJ/w512-h270/Celebration+Brownies.jpg" width="512" /></a></div><div><br /></div>The Summer holiday is over and the schools are opened full time as of tomorrow. So in order to keep my mind calm and send M in with some sweet treats in his packed lunch, I've been baking today.<div><br /></div><div>One of my favourite things to make is brownies, but sometimes with a twist. Like these celebration brownies. There is a surprise in every square.<br /><br /><b>You'll need ...</b><br />225g margarine<br />140g milk chocolate<br />450g caster sugar<br />110g plain flour<br />55g cocoa powder<br />5 eggs</div><div>Box of celebration sweets<br /><br /><br /><b>To Make ...</b><br />Start with pre-heating the oven to 180 and greasing a brownie tin. I like to use the large foil trays when I'm making a big batch of brownies.<br /><br />Over a pan of boiled water, melt the milk chocolate and butter in a bowl.<br /><br />Remove from the heat and mix in the sugar, flour, cocoa powder and eggs. Combine until its all glossy and thick.<br /><br />Pour the mixture into the tray, making sure its spread into the corners and give a little shake to make sure its levelled out.<br /><br />Unwrap some of the celebration sweets and add to the tray. You can add them sporadically or you can mentally section out the slices and add a sweetie to each square. </div><div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmb6aELn5VBq4uFy-NzF9bn4vC_laQGetsM6hGA8zLzg6MlKdgwyLBFJWgfPGCWKw8ihQcH8Ms4tTU3banXDX4BStTdbVpmCsCtLuHtA6MSgTDZzZNFveAopTYJ7DjsyDAKP7ku5gjNvnk/s2048/20200804_175227.jpg" style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmb6aELn5VBq4uFy-NzF9bn4vC_laQGetsM6hGA8zLzg6MlKdgwyLBFJWgfPGCWKw8ihQcH8Ms4tTU3banXDX4BStTdbVpmCsCtLuHtA6MSgTDZzZNFveAopTYJ7DjsyDAKP7ku5gjNvnk/w410-h230/20200804_175227.jpg" width="410" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Press each sweetie down a little into the mix. The beauty of this is you can pic the sweeties you like best and leave out the ones you don't. A little heads up though the Milky Way kind of explodes over the square, so I tend to leave those ones out but its your call<br /><br /></div><div>Bake in the oven for 22-25 minutes till the top has browned. We like our brownies a little more on the gooey side so we left ours in for 22 minutes. Remember the brownie will continue to cook for a little while after its out of the oven.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Want a recipe card to save for later? I've got you covered.</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB2syU25vuQmPmJpRsJLI5mFozhNf3Ao5MJOswyHOytRzRMukP3m3wk0Pc9Qm7CwU3MKC8kJSivqxJS3X6aJ_NBnfJBzYkarSmqDDYYLgy4y0oCvELc5gikAi6I8Tq5S-yN0KqEkFSEVq9dyKM0Opf29JDqIfRFTrcJclD4cfaYifCwttTTrokYdMiFSVi/s1748/ST%20-%20Celebration%20Brownies%20.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1748" data-original-width="1240" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB2syU25vuQmPmJpRsJLI5mFozhNf3Ao5MJOswyHOytRzRMukP3m3wk0Pc9Qm7CwU3MKC8kJSivqxJS3X6aJ_NBnfJBzYkarSmqDDYYLgy4y0oCvELc5gikAi6I8Tq5S-yN0KqEkFSEVq9dyKM0Opf29JDqIfRFTrcJclD4cfaYifCwttTTrokYdMiFSVi/w454-h640/ST%20-%20Celebration%20Brownies%20.png" width="454" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353305228796372539.post-26895278207729954242020-08-15T23:50:00.000+01:002020-08-15T23:50:18.277+01:00New but not improved<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgExRFfUn2eqdWo1cihAAaBuirXMFc_KIrSpv5lHeq8ysazwWFWR4mfVjSp2fDDzOJeX2whfywP-I1GmH51RrNW-hcGMgjrGSSOQUxi-VJZ7WrBzdN1MMHGiP2UZZUVG80fuYbo7bMjKeE9/s1920/blue-1379492_1920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1271" data-original-width="1920" height="339" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgExRFfUn2eqdWo1cihAAaBuirXMFc_KIrSpv5lHeq8ysazwWFWR4mfVjSp2fDDzOJeX2whfywP-I1GmH51RrNW-hcGMgjrGSSOQUxi-VJZ7WrBzdN1MMHGiP2UZZUVG80fuYbo7bMjKeE9/w512-h339/blue-1379492_1920.jpg" width="512" /></a></div><h4 style="text-align: center;"><i>"What is something you miss?"</i></h4><div><span><a name='more'></a></span>Me. <br /><br />I miss the SJ that could just pop out to the shops whenever she wanted and that could take her wee boy away to Edinburgh for the weekend without giving it a second thought. Who didn't have a panic attack in busy shopping centres or have to think up contingency plans should she start to hear that ringing in her ears.<br /><br />I miss the SJ that could sleep every night without every possible bad thought or memory come flashing back. I miss the girl who could laugh at the random things without caring if anyone made fun of her laugh or thought she was <i>“kinda weird”</i>. Who didn't care if other judged her as she was living her life how she wanted.<br /><br />I miss the SJ that trusted people off the bat. That didn’t quantify making new friends on how quickly they could kill her if she upset them. Who didn’t need to have an escape plan all the time. Who could believe someone could love her for her, without the thought goblins being able to brainwash her into thinking it was all an elaborate ruse. <br /><br />I miss the confident girl who was kind to everyone and could start a conversation with anyone about anything. Who smiled cause she felt happy, not the one who smiles cause she knows that’s what people prefer to see. <br /><br />But she’s gone. And she can’t come back. </div><div><br /></div><div>So, I have to learn to love this new SJ and try and adapt her ways to more congenial. I need to learn how to make this <i>"new and definitely not improved"</i> version function in the world.<br /><br />Its hard to feel like a stranger in your own body sometimes though.<br /></div><span></span><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353305228796372539.post-603305403507805932020-08-14T18:39:00.000+01:002020-08-14T18:39:01.190+01:00Top 5 Pet Peeves<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9TtS8W_zt7HN2HSCo5jUbJ5RUS6-nzeiWSJKAjKAMmI6EhCDF6MTK0sB5A07WFl_cpLHpPiNU77SVL2hrmWsK4UiYZzU3LaPGGDpsF_eP8BSn1kLSqcwFLmCPZCA1tcqs4bPkr9WULALW/s1920/garbage-3259455_1920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1920" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9TtS8W_zt7HN2HSCo5jUbJ5RUS6-nzeiWSJKAjKAMmI6EhCDF6MTK0sB5A07WFl_cpLHpPiNU77SVL2hrmWsK4UiYZzU3LaPGGDpsF_eP8BSn1kLSqcwFLmCPZCA1tcqs4bPkr9WULALW/w512-h342/garbage-3259455_1920.jpg" width="512" /></a></div><h4 style="text-align: center;"><i>"What are your top 5 pet peeves?"</i></h4><div><span><a name='more'></a></span>Am a couple behind but life caught up with me a little. So, lets get back on track. Some of these seem a little moany but hey ho, its prompts to follow. <br /><br /><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>Spitting.</b> I absolutely hate that! If I’m walking behind someone who spits I wanna vomit. Its so gross and its unnecessary.</li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>Leaving messages on read.</b> Why do that? Especially if you sent a message that needed a response. I get that people get busy but leaving someone on read for more than an hour is like torture. Recently this peeve has been fully exacerbated as B’s car was in to fix and due to his work, I needed to be the go between. The mechanic constantly leaving me on read when I asked a question was infuriating. Its like hiring a hooker to read you a bedtime story – There is no need!<br /></li><li><b>Technology not working right.</b> Its supposed to help benefit the world but when it doesn’t work it, it makes me rage. I’m not the biggest fan of tech anyway, so when it goes wrong it feels so much worse. </li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>Being mean for no reason.</b> Why? I don’t see why some people seem to get a kick out of hurting others. The internet is rife with it and unfortunately, it’s rubbing off on the younger generation. Life is hard enough without spitting your poison all over others. Be nice and like your mammy probably said, “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all”.</li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>People who don’t cover their mouths when they sneeze or cough.</b> This one is all the more potent now with Covid but its always been a bug up my butt. Worse still is when they are talking to you and the cough on you. I have on more than one occasion freaked out when that happened. I’m not a germophobe but I also don’t wanna wear someone else’s spit or snot. It would be kinder to just lick my face of you were that insistent on spreading your bugs.</li></ul></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353305228796372539.post-90427968642342343942020-08-11T22:18:00.007+01:002020-08-11T22:18:59.911+01:00No Regrets<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_GwFSNmmuZ9H-TMNNnaNtsmNg3uiSpTtRNbe_BHOwHEFr2JsEzzJQCkqTIUE_xEBrd6qUWR8QXHwlMRe5-XJvCQGloRky_xUICxAbFFfFLQ7Wta1Flb_u4yZCwjDWxk_ShqEBJIjTAfnl/s1920/female-865110_1920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1920" height="343" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_GwFSNmmuZ9H-TMNNnaNtsmNg3uiSpTtRNbe_BHOwHEFr2JsEzzJQCkqTIUE_xEBrd6qUWR8QXHwlMRe5-XJvCQGloRky_xUICxAbFFfFLQ7Wta1Flb_u4yZCwjDWxk_ShqEBJIjTAfnl/w513-h343/female-865110_1920.jpg" width="513" /></a></div><h4 style="text-align: center;"><i> "What is your biggest regret?"</i></h4><span><a name='more'></a></span><div>I don’t have any. <br /><br />Now that’s not to say there are things in my life that I wish didn’t happen or that I wouldn’t have preferred had a different outcome. Far from it. But there is no point in having regrets. What benefit would it give me to sit and think about how I wish my father loved me more or that I left a relationship sooner than I did? <br /><br />Its has happened and no matter how much hurt it may have caused, I can’t ever change that. What I can do however is view it as a lesson. If something happens its perhaps a cosmic indicator that I need to reassess the path I was on. And perhaps, I need to decide how I wanted to move forward. <br /><br />It doesn’t pay to focus on the past anyway. I can’t keep looking back, I’m not going that way.<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353305228796372539.post-15504450979148050752020-08-10T23:16:00.003+01:002020-08-10T23:16:58.889+01:00Phobias suck<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg29kcsOO6SzVdJ7q3KDRYpmhXBgZJTwLRAAGV-jg0g_LdK3q_TRQeDjGDkXdtEZOPsmQsDHWvYZTQ2PgcLEB6xkMQTeSNGtJsCjByjXAKB1hKa7SnQTN3A-ClJ6PeCNYweKrl6pawsgLYd/s1920/little-boy-1635065_1920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1920" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg29kcsOO6SzVdJ7q3KDRYpmhXBgZJTwLRAAGV-jg0g_LdK3q_TRQeDjGDkXdtEZOPsmQsDHWvYZTQ2PgcLEB6xkMQTeSNGtJsCjByjXAKB1hKa7SnQTN3A-ClJ6PeCNYweKrl6pawsgLYd/w512-h342/little-boy-1635065_1920.jpg" width="512" /></a></div><h4 style="text-align: center;"><i> "What is your biggest phobia?"</i></h4><div><span><a name='more'></a></span></div>For years I had a real phobia about clowns. They would feature in my nightmares regularly and if I seen one in real life the anxiety would make me wanna cry and vomit in equal measure. A few years ago, I decided to <i>“fix”</i> myself by repeated exposure to clowns. It took me almost a year to get over my phobia, but I can now look at, and even draw clowns. <br /><br />I still have a phobia of open bodies of water – I can’t even watch them in films without feeling really anxious. You can’t see what’s in there or worse, beneath you and that’s just too much for me. Sharks feature a lot in nightmares which I think is a huge part of my phobia. Even being in a swimming pool at the deep end makes me uncomfortable. <br /><br />Snakes too. There is something about them. Ugh I’m getting goose bumps even typing this. They are so creepy, where they look like they would be slimy, but I’m told they are dry. They move like they have no bones, but they do have a skeleton. Everything about them just makes me feel weird.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353305228796372539.post-11276047583655257122020-08-09T15:39:00.001+01:002020-12-03T03:16:59.132+00:0015 Random Facts About Me<h4 style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrIcjIF5RoZs6-PpTmb-gJvH2N3VDLMDqcE2FuDObPK8m0yWP0V6xD3EB3ESpvp28zSv41sYqQqa8AworBgMt2wl4187r9CkrzKVfgUfKkgGWxUxbX4_CsnlZDf9fqAVIWSkL6Rw0v1bMr/s1920/writing-923882_1920.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="804" data-original-width="1920" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrIcjIF5RoZs6-PpTmb-gJvH2N3VDLMDqcE2FuDObPK8m0yWP0V6xD3EB3ESpvp28zSv41sYqQqa8AworBgMt2wl4187r9CkrzKVfgUfKkgGWxUxbX4_CsnlZDf9fqAVIWSkL6Rw0v1bMr/s640/writing-923882_1920.jpg" width="640" /></a></div></h4><h4 style="text-align: center;"><i>"15 Random Facts About Me"</i></h4><span></span><span><a name='more'></a></span><div>I am textbook <a href="https://www.verywellmind.com/infj-introverted-intuitive-feeling-judging-2795978#:~:text=INFJ%20(introverted%2C%20intuitive%2C%20feeling,creative%2C%20gentle%2C%20and%20caring." target="_blank"><b>INFJ</b></a> personality type. </div><div><br />I have been trained using Japanese steel – I’m a hairdresser. I am also a qualified nail technician.<br /><br />I detest clothes shopping. That girl gene is defunct in me. I would much rather shop for craft supplies. <br /><br />I have my own business – An Etsy shop called <a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/CraftyMamaMakes" target="_blank"><b>Crafty Mama Makes</b></a>. I am also working towards another busniess veture around my Poison Apple creations.<br /><br />I actually run 2 blogs – this one which is family friendly and another one which is very much NSFW.<br /><br />I grew up with a pet dog – a Staffordshire bull terrier who was my best friend. I have always loved dogs. After she died I decided I would never have another dog as her passing affected me so much. I eventually caved and took in Shabba when my ex FIL couldn't care for him anymore. He went with my ex when we split but I still miss him to this day. I wont get another dog any time soon.<br /><br />I cant stand cats – They make me itchy and I don’t trust them. I hate snakes too - I have goosebumps just thinking about them.<br /><br />I am a total Geek and proud of it <br /><br />I was born in October which I think is why Autumn is my favourite season and Halloween is my favourite holiday. <br /><br />I love bees and I have a solitary bee that lives under the back steps of my house. I call him Harry. <br /><br />I am a technophobe. I have been known to break many technological items just by touching them and the idea of AI makes me want to cry. If the world becomes fully dependent on robots in the future, I will seriously struggle. I am Will Smith in I.Robot. I don't trust them at all.<br /><br /></div><div>I Love Disney and have an affiliation for the Villains. I have always liked the spooky Disney and think the most romantic place on the planet is the Haunted Mansion.<br /><br />I have a growing Funko Pop Collection. I am toying with the idea of buying myself the Horror countdown calendar for my birthday to add to my collection. I focus mainly on Disney pops but have some that I just love, Deadpool as a mermaid for example.<br /><br />I have monkey feet – My toes can fan out and I can write with my feet <br /><br />I have 4 tattoos … so far <br /><br /> </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353305228796372539.post-77712845426484154692020-08-08T23:31:00.008+01:002020-08-08T23:34:22.924+01:00Is it too soon?<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9C2JouzmXT-gL1hKHPBaAzpoisyi1C-GM6eIgO6vBRvJ3LizwLPnHstednESOG5-Stwpg1B1Fr7_GwEaFbUO_8yd8vxvoWxqI0gTYxE8_NXwuB4ICI0uFpOOZhvez9iB-94i5A3LuHUth/s1920/school-2051712_1920.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1264" data-original-width="1920" height="337" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9C2JouzmXT-gL1hKHPBaAzpoisyi1C-GM6eIgO6vBRvJ3LizwLPnHstednESOG5-Stwpg1B1Fr7_GwEaFbUO_8yd8vxvoWxqI0gTYxE8_NXwuB4ICI0uFpOOZhvez9iB-94i5A3LuHUth/w512-h337/school-2051712_1920.jpg" width="512" /></a></div><h4 style="text-align: center;"><i> "Something you are currently worrying about"</i></h4><div><span></span><span><a name='more'></a></span></div>It’s the end of summer here and M is back to school next week and I’ll be honest I’m a little worried about it. <br /><br />I know that he needs to get back to his education as online learning can only get him so far but with more cases of Covid-19 coming back, its hard to imagine how kids returning full time will impact them. His school have said that wearing masks isn’t mandatory, but he has said he wants to as he is worried. That bothers me as he’s only 13 and he should be excited about seeing his pals again, yet he’s thinking about it in terms of getting sick. <br /><br />During the whole lock down Covid-19 thing, I have made a point to keep home the safe space. This means that the epidemic wasn’t discussed. If he had questions, then I would obviously answer them but during calls with family I didn’t allow the subject to be discussed. Partially as it became somewhat of a anxiety trigger for me but also cause I didn’t want M to start to worry. He’s still a child and doesn’t need to know about the nitty gritty of life. He knows to wash his hands regularly and keep a safe distance. That’s all he needs to know; not how many people have died in this area or how high the death counts have got across the world. <br /><br />But he is back to school next week where I can only hope the other kids are as responsible as him and that he doesn’t catch anything to bring back to me. <br /><br />I have a weak immune system at the best of times and if my little stay over with the NHS has taught me anything its that we as a family need to be with each other. If I end up in hospital again, he’s not gonna do well and I most definitely am not. We need to stay healthy to be there for each other. And I need him to stay healthy as he’s my whole world and the idea of something happening to him scared the crap out of me.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><span><!--more--></span><span><!--more--></span><span><!--more--></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353305228796372539.post-63885848983714206452020-08-08T19:10:00.002+01:002023-12-09T00:22:35.783+00:00Chunky Cookies<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii4zkjGrgv0FL3g5HZUP6UWNygJuvaEaWg6HkZZINN4FRQIuSN7_h7xSmuPYzGzDufEutgf9IdanldFtTt_QKR9mANeGy8rfoaVNxuO3kEzJBfJKWsVApXQn2dkBSVufhv5odfxsXYAbcF/s2048/20200804_184417.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii4zkjGrgv0FL3g5HZUP6UWNygJuvaEaWg6HkZZINN4FRQIuSN7_h7xSmuPYzGzDufEutgf9IdanldFtTt_QKR9mANeGy8rfoaVNxuO3kEzJBfJKWsVApXQn2dkBSVufhv5odfxsXYAbcF/s640/20200804_184417.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>M loves his cookies, but there is a habit forming that <i>“you can’t just have one”</i> so rather than just making normal cookies, I decided to make mega ones. These are chunky cookies that are kind of deli style. They went down a treat with a cuppa tea too. <br /><br />This time round I just used a bag of chocolate chunks, but you could use lots of different kinds of chocolate or even a mix. <br /><br /><br /><b>What you need </b><br /><br />120g butter, softened <br />200g plain flour<div>Half tsp baking powder<br />90g each caster and soft brown sugar<br /> 1 medium egg<br /> 2 drops vanilla extract<br /> 150g milk chocolate chunks<br /><br /> <br /><b> What to do </b><br /><br />Preheat the oven to 180c and line two baking trays with grease-proof paper <br /><br />Cream the butter and both types of sugar together in a large bowl until the mixture becomes creamy. <br /><br />Add the vanilla and egg to the bowl and mix. <br /><br />Sift in the flour and baking powder, mixing gently till combined. <br /><br />Add in the chocolate chunks and mix again. Your cookie mix will look like a rough dough which is what you want. <br /><br /> Divide the mixture into balls and place on the backing tray spaced apart. <i>This is where the mega comes in as I made mine large using an ice-cream scoop to make the balls. You can of course make more cookies by making smaller balls. </i></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3fl3nKvDHsMfzpJRlJ-ZjpGFJ6ptN9UYRjBL1oEtWdSP9a8prraXMYso4YmY04Cs8BUIuUZWfoqTqU25WPZXPJS79X7gdzM31Mu0lPL5c7MA4BPMyGmlwF2LixHskqLXOW6EiBNhrE5ZZ/s2048/20200804_180533.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1285" data-original-width="2048" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3fl3nKvDHsMfzpJRlJ-ZjpGFJ6ptN9UYRjBL1oEtWdSP9a8prraXMYso4YmY04Cs8BUIuUZWfoqTqU25WPZXPJS79X7gdzM31Mu0lPL5c7MA4BPMyGmlwF2LixHskqLXOW6EiBNhrE5ZZ/w410-h258/20200804_180533.jpg" width="410" /></a></div>Bake for 12-14 minutes till a nice golden colour. The longer you leave them in the oven the crispier they will be.<i> I personally like a softer cookie but that is just me. <br /></i><br />Remove from the oven and allow to cool on a wire rack - Though eating while slightly warm is yummy too!<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>What is your favourite cookie type? Do you prefer a crunchy cookie or a nice soft one?</div><div><br /></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: 17px;"><b>Want a recipe card to save for later? I've got you covered.</b></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: 17px;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: 17px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxYwIpSqAii2Uu8mXTKT8bpSB4XTmxh1KsU_8qPQQmoM6bEsLrAVDNUnJ35qdW9Gm_XA8RNmMfUTSRY-kghNiQvSRW684TXG5IJR7nmZBWeaSdDfImyhyphenhyphenTCctvVv4Z4oAyQijC7tGETciV5RrM17pLUWdt-ItmMNC9UD2JR1yi9thMdsEHPBwDEWE_V1pC/s1748/ST%20-%20Chunky%20Cookies.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1748" data-original-width="1240" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxYwIpSqAii2Uu8mXTKT8bpSB4XTmxh1KsU_8qPQQmoM6bEsLrAVDNUnJ35qdW9Gm_XA8RNmMfUTSRY-kghNiQvSRW684TXG5IJR7nmZBWeaSdDfImyhyphenhyphenTCctvVv4Z4oAyQijC7tGETciV5RrM17pLUWdt-ItmMNC9UD2JR1yi9thMdsEHPBwDEWE_V1pC/w454-h640/ST%20-%20Chunky%20Cookies.png" width="454" /></a></div><br /><b><br /></b></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com