Getting Ready for Halloween

We're having our traditional Halloween party on Wednesday, and I've spent the weekend making scary fodder in advance of the big day!

Coffee with my girl

I love taking these rare moments to chill and enjoy Girly time with my little Isobel! Nuts About Cofffee in Blackburn, our favourite haunt, reminds me of my north London Saturday mornings at the coffee shops in Crouch End and I LOVE IT! Izzy's pretty keen too.

Pink Parties

My littlest person, Isobel, turns the ripe old age of 4 next week (where did THAT go?).  Saturday is the day we are having her party, so I've got a few things together for her party bags, which included a little hand made felt hair clip.  Time was not on my side (when is it ever?) so they were very basic, but cute enough for a 4 year old to love.

I also found these gorgeous party bags, hand printed by a lady in on Madeit, who's store is called Little Molly Mae.  She kindly express posted them to me and they arrived just in the nick of time.  How sweet are they?  Better than a plastic bag.

The weather promises to be perfect blue sky and sun, so I'm hoping we can head outside with the kids, blow bubbles, play in the cubby house, and hide in some pink pop up fairy castles!!

Miss You!

Happy Birthday Mum.

We miss you.....
x

I'm Running!

I've mentioned once or twice (or perhaps a wee bit more) that I have four children.  I had said children in fairly rapid succession, with less than two years between the last three.  As a result, I've been busy.  With children, with work, with life.  In the last 4 years, I have put on quite a bit of weight, and like the rest of you in my situation, it gets me down.  I have wanted to get back into exercise for a long time now, but a knee injury has prevented me.  But, recent physio on the knee means that I am more confident about getting out there and making a change to my body.

So, this morning, I started my 'couch to 5k' regime, and began week 1 of my training.  It wasn't too taxing (they suggest you start easy, and build up) and my first outing began with 30 mins of excercise.  I walked 6 minutes, ran 1 minute, four times.  It felt good, not too tough and the knee held up.  I'll do it again Sunday, then next Wednesday, and when Week 2 comes along, I reduce the walk time, and up the run time.  I think it's a 10-12 week program, that should see me running 30mins or more, three times a week on a regular basis.

I have several friends who went down this avenue of exercise and their bodies have been completely transformed by it and they have more flexibility when it comes to the odd 'naughty treat'.

Wish me luck......

Sewing by Numbers

When I was 8 or 9, we had a big trip to the USA, to visit relatives living there.  My Mum came across an 'all year round' Christmas store and picked up a couple of felt stocking kits.  I've been hanging mine out for Santa ever since.  When I started making babies, I wanted to carry on the tradition and make my children felt stockings.  I did well with child #1, and his was made by his first Christmas.  Even child #2 managed to get his by his second Christmas (he was born on December 17th).

As life got busier, and I made MORE children, so their dreams of a handmade stocking started to fade, poor buggers!  Still, with the passing of my Mum earlier this year, I have been reminiscing and I decided that Mum would have been horrified that I hadn't completed one for each of her grandchildren, so I have pulled out the kits that are stowed away for child #3 & #4.

These Bucilla kits are fantastic.  They come with all the beads, thread, sequins and needles that you need, as well as the 'sewing by numbers' felt pieces.  Just follow the the instructions for piece #1, #2 and so on, and at the end you have a fab little stocking that looks amazing and is a great size for Santa to fill (ie, not enormous).

This is Charlies, child #3.

Limited Edition Rose

I managed to snaffle one of these beautiful Majacraft Limited Edition Rose wheels.  It will be available for test drives at Spun Out, but I must admit that I am very excited to be able to spin on this stunner when the wheel is not 'working'.