Tuesday 17 December 2013

Christmas Making and Learning


I saw an idea similar to this one on pinterest. Lj really enjoys the challenge each morning of matching up the Christmas tree bauble letters. Ideally I would make the baubles circular and a bit more Christmassy but time didn't allow and I don't think Lj really notices! I guess it could be used in all sorts of ways, matching numbers, words of a different language, colours...the list is endless.


My mum told me she had seen marshmallow snowmen in her local bakery, selling at 50p a pop. On Saturday while the boys played Lego Starwars Wii, Lj and I decided to try and make our own marshmallow snowmen. It was a fun activity and they taste great...but then why wouldn't them as they consist of marshmallows, white chocolate, milk chocolate, dolly mixtures and strawberry laces.

Wednesday 11 December 2013

Things they said which I don't want to forget! #1

Sometimes my children come out with classic lines which I try really hard to remember but by the time M gets home I have normally forgotten. In future I'm going to note them down and put them on here so that in years to come I can remember those great little things they said.

These are a few of the latest ones...

Lately Lj has discovered a new favourite programme "Junior Bake Off", a cooking programme based on the adult version "The Great British Bake Off" where kids compete against each other in displaying their baking talent.

After watching one of the episodes we sat down to dinner. As we ate dinner quietly (v unusual in our house) I watched Lj take a bite and then say to no one in particular. "Hmm, it's a little dry, shame you forgot the milk. But I think I like it, well done'.

A few nights later as I dried Lj's hair after her bath she told me (I wish I could say, she asked, but sadly I'm still trying to teach her manners) to cut her hair off. When I asked why, she said she wanted to be a boy and that her hair only got in her eyes anyway. MJ piped up and said 'If you want to be a boy you need hairs on your legs and you must HATE pink!'

Lj raced MJ up the stairs at bedtime. She ran straight into the bathroom and said 'Kitted up, helmet on, ready to go before anyone else. Good.' I'm beginning to think this girl is watching too much TV...this quote is taken from 'Hero Squad' another CBBC programme that she and MJ love.

Apparently if a house is thatched it is where Heather lives as 'Heather's house has a hairy roof'!

MJ is sitting in the back of the car with Lj and Z as we are driving to Beavers. MJ says 'When I am 100, what age will Lj be?' He thinks for awhile and counts back '79, she will be 79'. 'No, she will be 97' I say. Ignoring me he goes on 'When I am 100, what age will Z be?' he thinks...counts back '69'.. 'No, she will be 96' I say, trying to be patient! Then I say 'What age will I be when you are 100?'. He asks 'What age are you now'. I reply, '33'...he thinks and then rather shortly says 'Anyway you will be dead when I am 100'!!!

Christmas Cakes 2013 :: Part 3



I have thinking about how to package my now iced Christmas cakes and even had a little search on pinterest but to no avail. Then when shopping with Lj the other day in the 99p store I had a light bulb moment. Christmas coasters with a selophane wrap! So I purchased a pack of 6 Santa coasters for 99p, didn't ask any ethics related questions and went on my way.



One wrapped and ready for delivery!


 Six wrapped and ready for delievery...which leaves 1...do I buy another set of 6 coasters or save this little cake for us?

For Part 1 of my Christmas cake 2013 story click here and for Part 2 click here

Tuesday 10 December 2013

Personalised bags


This week I seem to be making alot of personalised bags. I even had a mini man bag to make for Callum so he can carry his little cars and trucks around town with his mum and sister.



Wednesday 4 December 2013

Wedding Venue Sketch :: Orchardleigh House



Two wedding venue sketches for the same day...but I can't post the other one yet :) December 7th must be a popular day to have a wedding this year!

This one was slightly more stressful that the other as the bride to be works for English Heritage!!! No pressure!!!

Christmas Cakes 2013 :: Part 2




To see Part 1 click here.

Today Lj and I finally got round to icing our cakes. We put the marzipan on at at the weekend.

I thought I had a snowflake cutter and was planning on using it to decorate the cakes so when I realised that I didn't I felt a little stuck for ideas. At that point Lj joined me so I let her loose with the star cutters and she got to work. We used a mixture of pre rolled icing and a ready made block of icing. Although the pre rolled icing is quicker to use I don't like the finish as much (it has a funny sheen and it is hard to get rid of the lines from the roll) and it works out at least twice as expensive. In future I think I will stick to the ready made blocks. The pre rolled marzipan however is very handy!

I loved the little star patterns which Lj came up with and she spent a long time rolling, cutting and re rolling. I finished the cakes off with ribbon at the bottom (to hide the untidy edges :)) secured to the icing with dress making pins.

Now I need to think of a pretty way to package the little cakes as I hope to give them as gifts over Christmas.