Me and my shadow

Let's Relate to young people

2012-02-23T23:50:00.003-08:00

If you thought Relate were all about marriage counselling, today's findings about counselling and young people may surprise you.

In their latest survey, Relate counsellors reveals that the most common reason why young people need counselling is because of issues with anger, followed by self esteem and not getting on with parents.

The research also revealed that nearly three quarters of young people said they felt stressed at least sometimes, with nearly a third saying they felt stressed often or all the time.

Relate are the largest provider of counselling to young people in the UK. They hope to understand the pressures and hopes of younger people and highlight the issues they bring up in the counselling room:

The most common issues that young people come into Relate counselling with are:

Anger 58%, self esteem 44% and not getting on with parents 43%

The new issues that young people have been bringing up in the counselling room are:

Young people being depressed / suffering with mental health conditions 64% Increase in family break-up (41%) Parents having mental health conditions (23%) Pressures of social media (21%)

The most inspiring people in young people’s lives were their parents with 41% saying they felt inspired by them. Followed by 27% who said a friend and 26% who said a teacher. Yet one in ten teenagers said no one inspired them.

Girls are more likely to be stressed than boys 37% of girls said they often or all the time felts stressed compared to 24% of boys.

Tanya Bryon, Relate Patron and Clinical Psychologist said: “Of the 15,000 young people that Relate helps each year for a large number anger is a big issue. It often manifests from them not knowing how to express their emotions or feeling that no one is listening to them. It can be very disruptive for them, their families and their class mates but often taking the time to listen to them and empathise with them helps us break the barrier and get to what is distressing them. No younger person should feel they have no where to turn.”

Please support Relate's Talk to Us campaign. You can follow them on Twitter @relate_charity with the hashtag #talktous or visit their website www.relate.org.uk

Fantastic gift ideas for a special Mum

2012-02-23T04:24:00.003-08:00

Guest post by Buy a Gift

Mother’s Day is a time to show our gratitude for the one lady who has always had our best interests at heart. But if you’re at a loss in finding the perfect gift for Mother’s day 2011, you needn’t fret, because we’ve compiled a list of five fantastic gift ideas for mum.

Treat her to tea for two

She’s probably spent years slaving over your tea, and now she can have a fantastic time unwinding with a different type of tea, scones, and a selection of scrumptious cakes on her tea for two experience. Whether you opt for afternoon tea at Harrods or you whisk her away to any of 20 elegant rural locations across the UK, she’ll simply love this traditional treat.

Take a picture, it’ll last longer!

What better way to cherish a memory than with a photo? Mums love family pictures and now you can spoil her with a complete family photo shoot. A study from experience days company Buyagift found that 41.5% of mums would like to spend Mother’s day 2012 doing something with the children and this is a great excuse to get everybody together on the day. What’s also good about this is that she’ll receive a complementary 10”x8” print for her troubles – fantastic!

Treat her to relaxing spa days

The research from the company who also offer experience gifts found that 40.1% of a sample of 550 UK mums would prefer to be pampered on Mother’s Day. So, get her some spa day vouchers, she’ll absolutely love you for it. You’ve a range of great places to choose from – from the famous banntayne spa to the illustrious Clarice House. She’ll be able to escape her everyday stresses and indulge in some relaxing treatments before splitting the rest of her day between the sauna, steam room, and Jacuzzi – bliss.

Take the fast lane this Mother’s day

For mums with a need for speed, you’ve a selection of fantastic driving experience days in the UK. Let’s face it, you’ve driven her mad for years, so watch her beam ear-to-ear as she puts her foot to the floor in a supped up racing car. She’ll get to put any of 8 supercars including a Porsche, Lamborghini, Ferrari, or an Aston Martin through its paces across a range of tracks in the UK.

Wine tasting

If your mum enjoys a glass of the finest, then give her the chance to sample some of the most delectable wines on a fantastic wine tasting day. Either pay a visit to some of the fine vineyards of the capital, or treat her to a combination of afternoon tea and wine tasting in serene locations in the UK.

Whatever you choose, make sure she has a fantastic day this Mother’s day 2012!

Mums with Tums - Put your Hands up for Justin!

2012-02-22T06:54:00.000-08:00

I guess like many homes, Justin Fletcher is a god in our house. Everything he does is pure gold and Ruby adores him.

We've been lucky enough to have a pre-view copy of his new album Hands Up for a while now. It's due for release on 5th of March so not long to wait and you can pre-order it now.

A lively and up-tempo mix of children's classics it's perfect for party times, making car journeys fun and for dancing around the living room.

The title song 'Hands Up' is super catchy and one that we dance to a lot. We do get some odd looks at traffic lights when the windows are down and we're all singing along like loons, but who cares!

So high energy are these songs, that Justin can be your friend if you're trying to fight of a bit of flab or improve your fitness levels.

I noticed how pooped I was after doing the whole routine to 'Heads, shoulders, knees and toes', but now Steve Teasdale, a celebrity personal trainer and stay-at-home dad has taken it one step further. By making the moves more high impact, he's devised a great aerobic workout which you can do at home while having fun with the kids.

Isn't that brilliant??

Here's what Steve has to say and his tips on getting the most benefit from your dancing:

"Having danced to the album with my 3-year-old daughter I would say that participating in the full album is the equivalent of 40 minutes of low-impact aerobic exercise.

This would be similar to going for a brisk walk, or dancing! Based on a 200lb adult, this sort of exercise generally burns around 350 calories per 40 minutes.

This is the equivalent of

40g of kettle chips (Any flavour) and

175ml glass of white or red wine.

However, I've come up with ways to make the Hands Up Album a more HIGH-impact aerobic activity, by incorporating lunges, squats and jumps for the adults (see below) in order to make the songs more cardio vascular. This sort of exercise works the large muscle groups in the legs i.e. the glutes, quads, hamstrings and calf’s and some of the movements would help to work on the core too. This would take the calorie burn for a 200lb person up to around 420 calories.

420 calories is the equivalent to

Pain au chocolate and a Skinny Latte from Starbucks

Calories burned during exercise depends on your weight and, more specifically, your BMI (Body Mass Index) so while it would be correct to say that you can burn up to 420 calories doing the Hands Up Album, this figure is based on a person of 200lbs (14 stone).

The average woman weighs around 11 stone so the calorie burn would be closer to 283 calories. Which would be the equivalent of

A Mini Milk Chocolate Bar

And a large Cappuccino with skimmed milk!

From the M&S cafe

“As a “stay at home” parent myself I think it would be great for health conscious mums (and dads) to know that while they’re singing along and dancing with their children in doors, they’re “earning” calorie treats to have later. If they spend 40 minutes participating in the CD in the more high impact ways I’ve suggested, they can enjoy a “guilt-free” treat later!”

How to make the Album more high impact:

Here are a few examples.

"Here We Go Round The Mulberry Bush"

The key to making this song more high impact aerobically is for adults to keep fit together and "jump" around the Mulberry bush to the beat of the music, rather than just "walking around". This would make the motion during the song, similar to skipping, which if carried out for 3 minutes (the duration of the song), is a GREAT cardio work out.

"The Hokey Cokey"

I suggest holding light weights while doing the actions to give the arms a work out (you can use wrist weights or there are objects all around the house you can use as weights) while making a punching action for the left and right arm "in/out" sequence. Also, when you do the Hokey Cokey, you should be jumping, legs together, into the middle, rather that just walking forwards and backwards. The "knees bend, arms stretch, rah rah rah" part can incorporate a squat. For the part where you put your left leg in and take your left leg out, adults could perform a lunge, which works the Glutes.

"The Laughing Policeman"

Marching on the spot during the verses with high knees is an excellent cardio work out, but the key to this song is holding a plank position for the duration of the policeman's laugh. Four 15 second bursts of laughter, which is a great core, work out and the kids will love seeing you trying not to laugh.

"Heads Shoulders Knees And Toes"

A classic song for bending, stretching and touching your toes but we could make it a bit harder by doing dynamic squats.

Finally, the title song “Hands Up” is such a good dance tune that you can do all kinds of high impact dance moves with jumps etc that will really get the heart and lungs working!

The CD can provide a fun “home work-out” for parents. Because most of these songs have a fast beat and high tempo rhythm, they lend themselves brilliantly to a work-out for adults and a fun time for kids, which is healthy to everyone.

If you can cut out 500 Calories from your daily intake then you will lose 1lb per week which is a really healthy weight loss and because it’s done gradually it’s more likely that you will keep the weight off, so by doing this album with your kids daily you are more likely to hit this target."

Wow! Well clearly I don't need to do this (*cough*), and anyway, I'd spill my wine and Kettle Chips. But, the old man who pays a ridiculous amount of money each week to torture himself at circuit training has agreed to give it a go.

So, come on, leave me a comment telling me why you'd like to see my other half ~~making a fool of himself~~ getting fit on my blog and I'll set up my hidden camera! You can also share your videos on Justin's Facebook page, and tweet him and Steve to let them know how you're getting on.

Imagine Children's Festival

2012-02-22T03:54:00.000-08:00

There is all sorts of fun and frolicks going on at the South Bank in London right now and until Sunday 26th February.

The children are taking over this year and will be running the festival of literature and the arts. There are loads of free events and activities as well as ticketed ones.

We'll be attending on Sunday for the Roald Dahl Funny Prize hosted by poet Micheal Rosen, and previous winners Louise Rennison (Angus, Thongs & Full-frontal snogging) and Phillip Ardagh (Grubtown Tales).

It's going to be awesome. We might even join in with the family ballroom dance! We love books; stories; music and dance so this is right up our street.

The perfect way to get ready for World Book Day on 1st March.

Disclaimer: Imagine Children's Festival is sponsored by the Book People. We have received complimentary tickets to attend an event.

Gifts which grow

2012-02-21T06:44:00.003-08:00

How to make seed shapes

It's Ruby's birthday next month so I've been having a trial run of something I want to make for her party bags. That's if I do a party - after last year I'm not sure I can face it! If not, I will make these as birthday treats for her to take into nursery for her friends. The custom is to take sweets or cake in, but I think these are nicer.

They'd also make nice Easter gifts, an alternative to Easter eggs and it means giving something that will last and last.

A long-lasting gift to plant & enjoy the flowers

I experimented and made this up as I went along, but I'm really happy with the end results. It's a great craft that kids can join in with, it's perfect for spring time and it's practically free!

These go in the ground not in your mouth!

You will need:

Newspaper

Seeds

Cookie Cutters or shaped silicone ice cube moulds/cake tins

A blender

Sieve

Natural food dye (optional)

1. Tear up the newspaper into pieces. You don't need to be precise but try not to make them bigger than a couple of inches.

2. When you have a nice lot of newspaper pieces, pop them in the blender a couple of handfuls at a time. Add some water. Judge this by eye, but it's better to have the mix too wet than too dry as you are going to squeeze the excess out anyway. If it's too dry or you put too much paper in, you risk jamming your blender. Give it a good blitz until you have a pulp. Work in batches, transferring the pulp you make into a sieve resting over a bowl.

3. If you want to add food colouring, now is the best time to do it. We weren't able to get an even distribution of colour throughout the mixture and I tried it at various stages. But if you put a few drops onto your wet pulp now and squidge it in your hands, you'll get a hint of colour (and also on your hands!). Remember, these are to be planted so don't use chemical colourings.

4. Squeeze out the excess liquid. Get as much out as you can.

5. Add your seeds. I used one pack to make six large 'cookies'. We chose wildflowers as these are gifts for young children so I didn't want any complicated growing instructions. Thompson and Morgan have a trial price on their meadow flowers at the moment of only 99p. You can find them in garden centres, or try Wilkinson's and pound stores for cheap seeds. Vegetable seeds would be great too, especially if you match the shapes to the produce.

6. Next fill your cookie cutter shapes with the seed mixture. We chose butterfly and bee shapes because that's what we hope the flowers will attract. You might find it useful to stand the cutters on some kitchen paper to absorb any liquid that will be squeezed out. Push the pulp down very firmly.

7. Carefully push out your shaped pulp from the cutter, and leave on some greaseproof paper in a warm place to dry. You want them to dry quickly so the seeds don't start to germinate.

8. Once fully dry (ours took about 24 hours), wrap up in pretty packaging. I placed a seed cake on a piece of card to keep it stable, added a lolly stick so the planter can remember where they put them, and wrapped in cellophane salvaged from a bouquet of flowers. Add a pretty ribbon and a label and you're done.

Linking up with Red Ted Art.

and

Magpie Monday - Scarf Laughs

2012-02-20T02:15:00.001-08:00

This might seem like an uneventful find, but let me tell you if you have young kids you'd be hard pressed to find a greater value for money buy than coloured scarves. You know the kind, the silk or polyester chiffon old lady headscarves. Especially if you're lucky like me and pick up a handful of brightly coloured ones for 10p each from a jumble!

When Ruby was a baby, she loved playing with these. They are perfect for peek-a-boo games, for exploring textures and colours and early learning of colour mixing.

"No Paps"

Now she's older, she loves to use them as dress up, draping them or tying them round herself to make elaborate dresses and skirts.

She uses them to tuck her teddies up in little make-shift beds; gathers toys up in them and uses as carriers and hammocks. They are beautiful tied up in front of open windows gently billowing in the breeze.

But most of all, she loves to dance with them.

Swirling; twirling and whirling. Watching the shapes they make as she moves them to the music.

A perfect tool for helping activity and expression.

*Cough* Sometimes Mummy joins in too.

Butt-covering disclaimer: Do not leave young children unsupervised with scarves.

So, what second-hand goodies do you want to show off? Grab the badge and join in. I'm off for a little dance of the seven veils.

Grab my button
and link to my blog

We’re a nation of savvy shoppers!

2012-02-19T12:00:00.001-08:00

A new study has revealed that the recession has turned parents in to savvy shoppers. Two thirds of those surveyed admitted becoming more cautious as a result of the economic downturn.

A huge 83% of parents confirmed they were using vouchers and discount codes in a bid to become more savvy. And impulse buys are long gone with 78% admitting they carefully research, try and compare before making a purchase.

93 per cent of parents are worried about their financial situation and as such, the stats reveal 55 per cent of parents did not take a holiday whilst planning for their children. Also 34% had cut down on their weekly food shop and 72 per cent confirmed they had stopped buying as many clothes.

57% admitting they have received hand me downs and 40% said they were buying things from Ebay.

The survey shows 90 per cent of parents spend more on their children than they do themselves and just under a half of respondents shop for their own clothing in budget high street stores to be able to do so.

Melanie Hall, a spokeswoman for leading baby and parenting show The Baby Show (www.thebabyshow.co.uk), who conducted the poll of 1,000 parents said:

“This poll is very insightful and highlights that parents are trying to adapt to these hard times.

The financial pressures on families are huge and parents are trying to make the wisest possible choices.

Parents are taking the time to find out about products, investigating the quality of it and comparing the prices before buying them. This savvy shopping is helping them to save money which can be used for other things such as paying bills.

The Baby Show is the perfect place for parents to come, research buys, trial products and also get some great offers.”

The Baby Show is running from the 24^th-26^th February at London ExCeL. To book a ticket log on to www.thebabyshow.co.uk.

Guest post - Material provided by The Baby Show

Gorgeous Giveaway from The Little Ark

2012-02-17T09:28:00.001-08:00

It makes me very happy to bring you this lovely giveaway from the generous people at The Little Ark. If you've not had the pleasure of shopping with them before, let me tell you a little about the company and their products.

Designing and making unique, high quality wooden children's furniture, the team pride themselves on attention to detail. The furniture is made in the UK, and the quality materials and workmanship ensure beautiful, individual items of furniture that are built to last.

Although the business has now expanded to include a range of beautiful traditional wooden toys; quality soft toys and gifts the core of their business remains the iconic animal design chairs; stools and tables.

Using high end Farrow & Ball or Zoffany paints, the customer can personalise their order and choose to add the child's name to the piece making them perfect gifts.

Alternatively, at a reduced price you can buy the item unfinished to paint yourself - great if you have an unusual colour scheme or you like to craft individual items - how gorgeous would a decoupage chair be?

Little Ark have very kindly offered to giveaway one white chair in your choice of either the dog (2nd from left in above image) or the dinosaur design shown below.

Entering is simple. Just pop over to the Little Ark site and sign up to their newsletter. Then leave a comment here confirming you have done so, and which chair you'd like - either the dog or the dinosaur. Please remember to leave me a way to contact you such as a Twitter ID or and email address.

For additional entries, you may do any or all of the following, but please leave a separate comment here for each one, otherwise your extra entries won't be counted:

Follow Little Ark on Twitter
Like Little Ark on Facebook
Tweet: "I've entered @missielizzieb's giveaway to win a beautiful wooden child's chair from Little Ark. You can too here: http://bit.ly/ytrMaA"

This competition is open to UK only. Closes at 5pm on Sunday 26th February 2012. The winner will be chosen at random. If no reply is recieved from the winner, I reserve the right to re-draw.

Disclaimer: The Little Ark have generously sponsored this giveaway.

Get some Sun Magic in your life!

2012-02-13T07:41:00.000-08:00

We buy a lot of fruit juice in this house, but have to confess, we are a bit snobby about it. I'm not particularly brand loyal, and will buy what's on offer, but I always buy fresh from the chiller section and have never bought cartons of juice from the drinks aisle.

Why is that? I guess I have the preconception that longer life drinks and juices made from concentrate are not as good as fresh, or that they're full of artificial nasties. So when we were asked to try out some Sunmagic juices, I can't say I exactly had an open mind!

When they arrived I was pleased and surprised to see that they contain:

No artificial colours
No artificial preservatives
No artificial sweeteners
No artificial flavours

In addition, their orange juice is certified fair trade, and all their drinks are made from the highest quality concentrates and each juice drink counts as one of your five a day.

The second thing that struck me was their huge range. Not just the fact that they make juice, drinks and smoothies, but they offer a practical solution to different needs - whether it's a family sized 1 litre carton, or 200ml cartons with straws perfect for lunchboxes. There are currently a total of 32 different drinks in the range, and they offer excellent value for money.

You can currently pick up 2 x 1 litre cartons of Tropical Juice for just £1.75, that's under half the price that I usually pay for juice from the chiller section.

But I guess the most important verdict is the taste test...

We each had our particular flavours we liked and disliked, but the drinks were well received by the family. Ruby particularly liked the fact that they didn't have 'bits' in them. Whilst she loved the apple; orange and the blackcurrant and apple flavours, the other half enjoyed the blood orange and pure orange. My personal favourite was the mango flavour, but it was too sweet for everyone else.

Well, Sunmagic, I think you've changed my mind! Buying juice from concentrate is not only much more economical, it keeps longer, it can be kept in the store cupboard before it's opened meaning I can stock up and it doesn't compromise on taste!

Do pop over and check out their Facebook page for news, offers and competitions.

Disclosure: I was sent a selection of juices to review, however all opinions and words here are my own.

Magpie Monday - The cat in the hat

2012-02-13T02:19:00.000-08:00

With temperatures reportedly as low as -15 degrees during the night and hovering around -5 during the day this past week, my Magpie Monday find was a welcome and timely one.

I was somewhat goaded into the purchase by a bunch of pensioners haranguing me in the Salvation Army shop telling me how stylish it looked - I really don't know why I let them talk me into it, I should have more confidence in my own decision-making.

Once I got it home, I wasn't sure if it made me look like a deranged Russian Hooker, or like I was wearing Blofeld's cat on my head, but once the snow came I really didn't care.

Toasty warm, pure sheepskin, I can stroke it reassuringly when I'm not wearing it. Maybe even offer it a bowl of milk.

When I went to collect Ruby from nursery wearing it, all the kids turned to look - it seems she'd told everyone that 'my Mummy's got a mad hat'. Huh. What do they know, they wear Upsy-Daisy T-Shirts for cripes sake.

Anyway, while I'm here I just wanted to say that it's Magpie Monday's 1st birthday. It all started with this post, and I wanted to thank you all for your support, for joining in and for spreading the word about buying second-hand. I wonder if Magpie Monday has converted anyone?

Join me in celebrating this first anniversary by grabbing the badge and linking up x

Grab my button
and link to my blog

Wear your heart on your T-shirt

2012-02-11T03:56:00.000-08:00

For Valentine's this year I've made a T-shirt for Ruby to wear. It was very simple, and kids could do their own, but we'd done a lot of painting that day and frankly she'd had enough and got bored!

You'll need:

a plain TShirt (clean and ironed)
a heart shaped paper doily (you can get these in Poundland)
Dylon fabric paint (I used Deep Pink)
a sponge
low tack tape such as masking tape
buttons to embellish (optional)

Place a protective layer of cardboard or plastic inside the t-shirt to prevent the paint seeping through to the back. Lay your garment our flat and position the doily where you want it, gently taping around the edges to hold in place.

Apply the fabric paint with the sponge to the doily stencil. Don't use too much or it will saturate the paper and tear it. Work all around the stencil, removing the tape as you go - remove the tape before you get paint on it, otherwise it will rip.

Once you've covered the whole area, carefully peel off the doily and leave to dry for a few hours. Use a hot iron to seal the image and make it washable - place a clean cloth over the top and iron for a couple of minutes on high heat.

Embellish with buttons and wear with love!

Happy Valentine's Day x

My boy lollipop

2012-02-11T02:20:00.000-08:00

The other day I saw Susan's gorgeous gingerbread house on her blog. It was decorated with 2 candy canes formed into a heart.

Genius! We always have candy canes at Christmas and knocking about for age afterwards, why had I never thought of this?!!

So, I started playing about with my candy canes, as you do (I really must get out more) and decided they'd make great lollipops. Of course, a quick internet search for suitable ingredients revealed that this was not in fact an original idea, they were everywhere. Will anyone ever be able to come up with an original idea ever again with Google, blogs, pinterest and Facebook? I wonder...

So here's what you'll need to make sweets for your sweet:

Candy canes (if you don't have any left over from Christmas, you can buy then in old fashioned sweet shops of online)

Candy Melt (again, you can buy online at Amazon or eBay or in specialist cake shops)

Sprinkles, glitter etc of your choice

Greaseproof paper

Paper lolly sticks

Cellophane and ribbons to wrap

1. Unwrap your canes and arrange on the greaseproof paper into heart shapes. I didn't like the elongated shape they made full length, so I snipped them shorter with a pair of scissors to make a rounder heart. If your canes snap or break, hold the broken end over a gas flame for a fraction of a second and join back together. Once you've filled with the candy melt, they should hold fine.

2. Open up the pointed end and lay a lolly stick inside. Two of mine I didn't put in far enough and the end results were a bit wobbly, so I'd recommend putting the stick inside at least as far as the one on the left.

3. Melt the candy melt in the microwave as per the packet instructions. I used about half a bag for 3 lollies (6 candy canes). Pour or spoon inside and gently spread to ensure even coverage.

3. Go as mad as you like with your sprinkles. Then leave to set for about 20 minutes. Don't put them in the fridge, just leave them out on the side, away from curious little fingers.

4. Wrap with cellophane and tie with ribbons.

Easy & Stylish Chocolate Fondue

2012-02-09T12:18:00.000-08:00

Chances are you chucked your fondue set out years ago.

But fear not, there's a super easy way to make it in your slow cooker. You can make it on the stove over a pan of water, but I prefer the hands-off approach of using the crock pot. It means that it's being made while you're enjoying your main course - that's the kind of multi-tasking I like.

Ingredients: Serves 4ish depending on how greedy you are. Adjust quantities by half if it's for a romantic meal for 2!

2 large bars of dark chocolate (70%) - 200g
1/2 tin of condensed milk - approx 200g
1/4 - 1/2 pint of milk

Break the chocolate into small pieces and put them, along with the condensed milk into the slow cooker. Heat on high for about 40 minutes. Try to resist the urge to poke or stir before it's fully melted otherwise you risk it turning grainy and lumpy.

A couple of minutes before serving, add the milk and stir vigorously until you get a smooth, glossy liquid. Start by pouring in about a quarter of a pint, and judge whether you need more after you've stirred it all in.

Serve in pretty vintage tea cups with a selection of goodies to dip - try strawberries; sliced banana; marshmallows, biscuits etc. Pretty cake forks are the perfect implements to use, or use skewers.

Just because we don't get the chance to do 'couples' stuff all that often, here's one each for my family!

Land of Sometimes Launch Party - win a copy of the CD

2012-02-08T07:29:00.001-08:00

Hopefully, you read my review of the Land of Sometimes CD? If not, please do, it's hand on heart one of the loveliest children's music concepts I've ever come across.

I was bouncing up and down with excitement when I got an invite to the official launch party held last week at the famous Groucho Club.

You see, it's not only Ruby who has become entranced with this magical land, but I've kind of got sucked into it now too. So I was really keen to go along and meet in person the creators, musicians, singers and everyone involved.

As I should have expected from the unique style of the project, this weren't no ordinary launch party! We feasted on food from the Land of Sometimes - cream cheese, fruit slices and jelly.

Four seasons pass within one day in the Land of Sometimes, and each season was represented beautifully (and edibly!)

And, well, if wouldn't be a party without a drink or two would it?

Once my wheels were oiled, I chatted and mingled - as you do. Everyone was SO lovely. It didn't feel like an official PR launch at all, more like a big happy, fun party full of friends and family.

That's exactly what this crew are, one big happy family. Francessca Longrigg who came up with the concept, wrote it, sang on it and even played on it, is an amazing lady. A totally wonderful, enthusiastic and charismatic lady, you get the feeling that people are spellbound by her and will do anything for her. I guess that's how she managed to get this eclectic bunch together in the first place!

Chicky Reeves (producer) & Francesca Longrigg

I spent a lovely time chatting with the illustrator who has bought the characters to life through his artwork on the album cover and booklet, and on the website. Howard McWilliam is an acclaimed illustrator and a genuinely lovely guy. He and his wife are due their first baby soon - I do hope some of the tales we told him haven't put him off. Mind you, it's too late now!

Howard McWilliam

As well as being a respected newspaper and magazine illustrator, he's produced work for countless children's books and has even designed the new Matey bubble bath characters! Who knew!

All the actors and singers involved were so friendly and passionate about their involvement. I made a point of seeking out the voice behind the Chameleon Catcher - the only character that Ruby is a little unsure of. She's a teensy bit scared of him, so I wanted to be able to tell her I'd met him and how nice he was. Well, Austin Howard was indeed a joy, even though I do look scared in this picture with him (the expression is more to do with having a huge long lens camera pointed at me!)

He's a fascinating guy and has a colourful background in the music industry. One of the Stock Aitken & Waterman gang, he had a hit single and is still touring and singing now with his new band Ruff as Stone. I really enjoyed meeting Austin, and hope to catch one of his gigs sometime.

Oh look! It's Jools Holland! I was too busy chatting and missed the chance to say hi to him. Such a shame because he's such a hero, not to mention the man I've spent more New Year's Eves with than any other!

I had an amazing evening, and want to thank everyone so much for their warm welcome and for having me along.

The CD is out now and is available to buy here.

I'd also like to offer you the opportunity to win your own copy of this stunning CD.

Please leave a comment below saying you'd wish to enter and don't forget to include a way for me to contact you.

For an additional entry, like the Land of Sometimes facebook page, and leave a comment with your Facebook name here.

For a further entry, follow the Land of Sometimes on Twitter and leave an extra comment here with your twitter name.

For one final entry, please tweet the following and leave a comment to say you have done so "I want to enter the magical world of @landofsometimes with @missielizzieb here http://bit.ly/zwz0GQ "

The competition is open to UK entries only. Closes at 5pm on Saturday 18th February 2012.

Photo credit: photos by Anstro

Pinstant Craft Gratification

2012-02-07T08:06:00.000-08:00

Oh pinterest pinterest, how I love thee!

My boards are full of beautiful projects to make and inspirational ideas.

But sometimes there just isn't the time to spare on a big, impressive crafty exploit. Sometimes the thought of gathering (or buying) all the materials is too overwhelming.

At times like that I need an instant hit. Something I can make in seconds and admire for ages.

I spotted this pin, and it seemed like the quick fix I was looking for.

Originally from Bella Dia's blog. How adorable are they? Plus, it means I have another creative outlet for my growing button collection.

Super simple to make. You can use regular glue like superglue or UHU, but I found that it took too long to dry - plus I was overcome with glue fumes!

Much better to use a glue gun, then you'll have these gorgeous paperclips done in minutes from start to finish.

Here I used big buttons and small coloured paperclips. I think I'll pick up some of the larger clips next time I'm in town. I used buttons with shanks, but you can also use the regular kind with holes.

On these I used small vintage buttons with a tulip motif, on matching red paperclips. They are perfect for keeping my papers in order and also work as bookmarks.

Pop over to the Pinterest Challenge to see what other pin addicts have been up to!

If you want to follow me on pinterest, you can find me here. If you want an invitation to join, give me a shout with your email address and I'll send you an invite. x

Linking up with Red Ted Art and Handmade Thursday.

Spend Vouchers, Get Rewards!

2012-02-07T02:45:00.000-08:00

I wrote a post some time ago about how to check for 'lost' Tesco Clubcard vouchers - those that you've been posted and never spent. It remains one of the most popular posts on my blog, so you guys are obviously keen to make the most of your Clubcard points.

If you're not already familiar with the loyalty card or want to learn how to make the most of the Clubcard Deals then read on.

Most items you purchase at Tesco stores, online at Tesco.com, and at their petrol pumps will earn you points. Often there are items around the store which will have special offers with extra points on. Look out for those and your points will soon add up. In addition, if you have a Tesco credit card and use that to shop, you'll earn even more points. There are lots of additional ways to increase your points, such as switching your energy, buying your glasses and booking your holiday.

For every 150 points you collect, these will be converted into vouchers - 150 points = £1.50. Now, you can simply spend the cash value of that voucher in-store or online, but to absolutely maximise the benefits, then I suggest you look at the Clubcard rewards.

I know people who, with savvy purchasing have managed to collect enough vouchers to cover the cost of their annual family holiday, and others who save them for airmiles to visit family overseas.

The special deals on rewards change regularly, so keep an eye out. There's masses of choice to suit every lifestyle - from meals out, hotel stays, cinema tickets, magazine subscriptions, you can even donate them to your chosen charity. There are over 600 different rewards to pick from.

In these belt-tightening times we use our rewards as special treats, meaning we can still enjoy little luxuries that we've now cut out of our budget. With every £5 clubcard voucher currently worth £20 in rewards, it means we can still 'afford' to treat the family to a meal out or a trip to the pictures. I've used our vouchers to pay for magazine subscriptions for birthday gifts and last year we visited Thomas Land at Drayton Manor - all 'paid for' with Clubcard points.

Ordering your reward vouchers is quick and easy online so there's no excuse for not maximising your points!

What do you spend yours on?

Sponsored Post

Take One Jumper Challenge - the results!

2012-02-06T03:53:00.000-08:00

I was SO happy with the buzz that the take one jumper challenge created, and so many joined in with your awesome thriftiness and craft skills.

However, it left me with the impossible task of choosing a winner for the Jenny Maizels clothes plasters.

I simply couldn't pick a favourite, so I copped out and resorted to a random draw carried out by my glamorous assistant.

The name he picked out was......drum roll.....

Lulastic (@lulasticblog on Twitter) which I've very happy about because she gave us not only these felt slippers but also showed us how to turn sweater sleeves into socks - perfect tootsie toastiness for the January snow.

Well done Lucy, please DM me your address so I can mail out your prize. Thanks to everyone for their FABULOUS entries. Expect much jumper cutting up at my house. x

Magpie Monday - and it was all yellow

2012-02-06T01:55:00.000-08:00

I seem to have been colour co-ordinating my purchases again - what's that all about? Am I so matchy-matchy that I have to buy things that are the same colour? Guess I must be.

It started with this HUGE roll of ribbon that I picked up in a junk shop. Just pennies for yards and yards of vintage yellow ribbon.

Yellow is my new favourite colour now. Bright and sunny like spring flowers.

I've already used quite a bit of this on gift wrapping and it's going to be perfect for Easter gifts and crafts. Even just to liven up some plain glass jars full of daffodils or baskets of polys.

With the ribbon in my bag already, I was drawn to this vintage skinny rib polo. I'm hoping I will look cool and retro rather than like a deranged banana, but time will tell.

What I love most about buying second-hand or vintage is the memories invoked. Just look at this BHS label. It takes me right back to days of shopping with my mum for school uniform.

We didn't sweat in those days

The times when our High Street was populated with stores like Woolies; Littlewoods; C&A and Etam. When you could do your grocery shopping in the town centre at Safeway or Bejams. Shoes were brought from Freeman Hardy and Willis (if your mum was with you) or Dolcis (if you were with your mates spending your birthday money).

Happy days of meeting up with giggly girlfriends outside Debenhams and spending the day trying on lipsticks and sneaking sweets from the pick-a-mix at Woolworths. Making dates with boyfriends from payphones that only cost 10p, and arranging to meet later at Wimpy for a milkshake. Times before Amazon and itunes, when you could buy vinyl or cassettes from Our Price. Even Boots and WHSmiths sold singles in those days.

Ahh, free nostalgia with every charity shop purchase.

So, have you had any trips down memory lane recently inspired from a second-hand buy? I'd love you to grab the badge and link up to share what you've found.

Grab my button
and link to my blog

Rhubarb & Custard Muffins

2012-02-02T11:52:00.000-08:00

OK, who hasn't checked out the Fab Food site yet? What do you mean? What are you waiting for?

The latest baby of Christine Mosler of Thinly Spread, it's full of yummy wholesome recipes.

This one for Rhubarb Crumble Muffins caught my eye, and at the local farm shop this weekend I managed to get my hands on some glorious palest pink early forced rhubarb so set to making them.

Sadly I didn't have any porridge oats in so couldn't make the crumble topping. I only had Dorset cereal in the pantry. Yes, I know how ridiculously middle class that sounds: "dahling I have no Scottish porridge oats, but I do have some spelt granola..."

So I crumbled up some cereal, mixed it with a spoon of cinnamon and sprinkled that on top. It gave a lovely crunchy topping, but I'm sure the actual recipe is much lovelier.

Once I'd made my muffins, they were looking good, but I wanted to get some custardy goodness in there somehow. I love rhubarb and custard combo - I love the pudding; the boiled sweets, I even love Roobarb and Custard the cartoon.

Rummaging through my kitchen drawers, I found a squeezy bottle icing thingie that was part of a cake decorating set I got for Christmas. Aha!

I guess for a more gourmet muffin, you'd make your own vanilla custard with eggs and milk, but mine's always too runny. Besides, I have a passion for tinned Ambrosia custard (see, not all that posh!).

It was simply a case of finding a discreet place to squeeze it in. You could experiment with other implements - a regular piping bag may work, and I reckon one of those plastic medicine dosage syringes would work too.

The result, perfect custardy rhubarby mid-morning muffins. Just add a shot of strong coffee for instant pick-me-up.

Special thanks to Chris for the amazing recipe, and for not minding that I tinkered with it!

Linking up with Handmade Thursday.

Love is in the air with Love Hearts

2012-01-31T07:01:00.000-08:00

Get your retro romantic on this Valentines with Swizzels Matlow.

Love Hearts are a national institution are they not? Remember giggling at school over the cryptic messages, the twang on the tongue of the sherbety taste?

As an enterprising sixth-former, me and some friends ~~fleeced everyone in the common room~~ set up a valentine's messaging service one year. We made the infamous red 'love box' where spotty faced teenagers could post anonymous notes on heart shaped papers, then charged 50p each to wrap said note around a tube of Love Heart Sweets and deliver them to the appropriate pigeon-hole. Dragon's Den eat your heart out!

My brother and sister-in-law had personalised Love Hearts as their wedding favours, and I've kept onto mine as a memento of the day.

Did you know that 2.75 billion Love Hearts are produced every year - that's enough to reach one and a half times around the globe!

Love hearts have branched out and you can now buy all sorts of merchandise through their online shop and try their fun online test to see how compatible you and your partner are.

This year, they are launching some new products in time for Valentines.

This adorable keepsake tin filled with sweets is one of the new range. Boys - there isn't a girl I know who doesn't love tins!

A limited run of 100,000 of these vintage style tins have been made and they will be available nationwide priced at only £1.99 while stocks last. Fill your boots.

This new tube containing 10 mini rolls of love hearts will also be available priced at only £1.

And the 4 pack of giant love hearts costs £1.09. At these kind of prices there's really no excuse to forget a Valentine gift.

Disclosure: I was sent a small sample of products for the purposes of this review.

Ruby's 'New' Dress

2012-01-31T03:23:00.000-08:00

Have you checked out what's happening over at Mummy's Busy World lately? A fabulous link-up showing off your kid's style, rocking their outfits.

I'm joining in this week, with a creation of my own - style's about attitude not how much money you spend, right?

So, if you read my Magpie Monday post yesterday, you'll know I got this dress with a beautiful floral pattern. It's not Liberty but the style reminds me of their gorgeous designs and it feautres spring-time flowers - purple violets and yellow blooms on a forest green background. Pop over to yesterday's post to see how much I paid for it!!

Here it is laid out with one of Ruby's current dresses, for scale.

I set about it with my scissors, and using a very simple pattern by McCalls which I used previously on her strawberry print dress, I turned it from a size 18 lady's smock, to a dress for a 4 year old.

I removed the patch pockets and re-attached them. Super simple, the only slightly tricky bit was the bias binding on the neckline and arm holes, but it's only my second clothing make and I managed it with no puckering - yay!

Then I made her a matching hair clip, in the same way as I'd made the felt heart one. This time I used a scrap of green leather and some of the dress fabric (bondawebbed first to stop it fraying).

She stole my green scarf too!

I was sorting my craft stuff out and came across a bag of leather scraps which were given to me by our cobbler. A brilliant shoemaker, he was a great personality and the only person my old man would trust with his beloved Church's brogues. I read in the paper this weekend he sadly passed away, so this is my little homage to him.

He gave us some great tips for prolonging the life of our shoes, which I'll pass on to you:

Always store with wooden shoe trees - preferably cedar wood which has anti bacterial properties
Don't wear the same pair for 2 days running to give them a chance to recover
Don't wear your best shoes for driving as you'll get uneven heel wear

Anyhow, I digress, but I wanted to say Dio vi benedica Mario.

So, what do you think of my creation? Too cool for school?

Ruby's wearing:

Dress and Hairclip - handmade
Green Long sleeved T shirt - Tesco
Bottle Green tights - H&M
Purple Leather Boots - Bo-Belle from Angels & Urchins

This blog post is part of the Thrifty families blog carnival over at Family Budgeting pop on over!

Re-kindle romance with these energy saving tips

2012-01-30T13:21:00.000-08:00

Now you all know what a die-hard romantic I am (no sniggering at the back!). I'm planning a romantic evening in on Valentine's this year - our last as unmarrieds hopefully.

Not only can you get all lovey-dovey, but if you're smart, you can use it as the perfect excuse to save energy, be greener and save some money too - that's bound to get the old man's heart a-flutter.

So, here's my tips for an energy saving Valentine's:

1. Take a bath together.

Not a new idea I'll grant you, but perfect for a little romance. Did you know that 66% of the UK's water is used in the bathroom. The average bath uses 85 litres of water, so if you can hop in together, that's a lot of hot water saved. Better still, share a shower - showers use only 10 litres per minute, so as long as you're not in there all night, this could save even more off your water heating bill.

Pour a couple of glasses of wine, light some candles and have some big fluffy towels ready.

If it doesn't spoil the mood completely, chuck in your laundry after you get out for a soak to reduce washing time in the machine - ok, that might be hard to do discreetly without ruining the romance!

2. Ditch the switch and use candles.

Candle light is synonymous with romance, creating a soft glow and making everyone look more attractive...

Try eating your Valentine's meal without the lights, and leave the bedroom light off in favour of scented candles. Draw the curtain for added cosiness and to keep the warmth in

3. Moonlit stroll.

Leave off the telly, forget the DVD. Save on heating and lighting bills at home by wrapping up in hats & scarves and taking an evening stroll together. You don't need a dog to go for a walk. Enjoy the moonlight, spend time talking and get some fresh air.

4. Real flames.

The rise in fuel bills has brought about the resurgence of solid fuel fires. Undoubtedly real fires are more romantic, but for the most energy efficiency use a wood burning stove rather than an open fire. Because of the efficient way a stove burns wood, you get about 4 times as much heat from a log burnt on a log burner than from an open fire. The fuel is free or low cost, and it's carbon neutral because of the CO2 captured when the wood was a tree.

5. Bedtime.

Not only do electric blankets use energy, they can potentially be dangerous - 5,000 home fires a year are cause by faulty electric blankets. Has that dampened your ardour?

If you feel the cold in bed, far better to use a hot water bottle or pop some extra covers on the bed.

Better still, snuggle up and make your own electricity.

This blog post is part of the Thrifty families blog carnival over at Family Budgeting pop on over!

Magpie Monday - Jumble Sailing

2012-01-30T02:18:00.000-08:00

Joy of joys, a local jumble sale advertised in the paper. It's years since we've been to a jumblie and I was practically having palpitations at the thought.

We used to go often, the thrill of picking up an absolute bargain for 10p, rummaging through the mounds piled high on trestle tables, dodging the elbows and braving the gnats-pee tea in the village hall. However, jumble sales and small children don't really mix - they tend to either get lost in the throng, or announce very loudly "Mummy I'm BORED and it SMELLS in here".

But, this Saturday we braved it, and I'm glad we did. It wasn't an exceptional sale, but I came away happy with my little haul.

I got two plain cotton shirts and a lovely spring-time print dress which I will probably make bunting from. Although, looking at the dress now, I really like the pattern, so I might see if I can down-scale it and make a smock dress for Ruby. 10p each.

After my success with the orange velour top, I grabbed this royal blue velour dress. I've seen a beautiful child's play cape on Pinterest and finger's crossed there's enough fabric here to replicate it. I've already decapitated the bodice from the skirt part of the dress. Also 10p.

All this lot went straight on a long wash cycle when we got in, and I left it out drying on Saturday night while me and the old man went to the pictures. My legendary mother-in-law had ironed it all while babysitting, which was lovely of her - but I feel I really must explain to her that I have never, nor will ever wear these garments. What must she think?!

Ruby was delighted with this pink furry jacket for her Barbie doll, also 10p.

I feel it's important for her to have positive female role models, don't ya think?

Doing a final sweep before leaving, one things had thinned out, I saw two stoneware pots on the bric-a-brac table. I enquired the price and was told £1 each. In hindsight, I realise I was being particularly measly, but £1 seemed so out of kilter with all the other 10p sales, that I didn't want to pay that much. I stood mute for a moment, and she said I could have them both for £1.50 and then proceeded to try and explain how to salt runner beans in them. Bless her, there isn't a chance in hell I'll salt runner beans, I wanted these to perk up my study window sill.

So tell me, where else could you have as much fun for £2?

What 2nd hand gems have you been hunting out?

I'd love you to grab the badge and link up.

Grab my button
and link to my blog

Record every moment of your pregnancy & birth

2012-01-29T09:16:00.000-08:00

Last week I was lucky enough to be invited along to the launch of The Day Baby Was Born, a great new free service by Tommee Tippee.

The day baby was born allows parents-to-be to capture every special moment of the journey, from when you first discover you're expecting, up until baby is born.

I wish I'd had something like this when I was pregnant with Ruby. I had every intention of keeping a diary, recording the first kick, making notes of the times I sent the old man out at 11pm in search of Creme Eggs and Dr Pepper...

I'd intended to keep a newspaper detailing events of the special day, but Ruby didn't come along til 11.30pm and to be honest, that was the last thing on my mind! I had plans to buy a copy of the No 1 single, and keep a note of the weather when she was born...

If this service had been around then, I could have done it all digitally as well as sharing the news via Facebook.

The clever site allows you to link with Facebook, and choose what you want to share on your wall with friends and family. It can capture comments too and add them into your digital scrapbook. You can use it to make your birth announcements and capture people's reactions - as well as cleverly allowing you to filter comments. Don't we all have someone in our families who'll say something inappropriate?!!

It also links with external news and data feeds so you can capture a record of events that are meaningful for you on that special day - whether it's the football results; the news headlines; the stocks and shares or celebrity gossip.

You can start your digital scrapbook at any point in the pregnancy, but the earlier you do it, the fuller a record you'll have, and the more features you'll be able to make use of. You'll get email reminders too so there's no excuse for forgetting to keep it up to date! It's totally secure and YOU get to decide what or if you want to share it on your Facebook page.

Take a look at the site to get started, or see a sample book to learn how it works.

Disclosure: I attended a launch event and received a goody bag. No financial reward was received and views expressed here are my own.

Are we nearly there yet? Book review and giveaway

2012-01-27T08:08:00.000-08:00

The term 'Laugh out Loud' is oft overused these days. It's lost it's meaning. But in the true sense of the expression, it can be applied to Ben Hatch's book by the bucket-load.

Not only did I laugh, but I laughed til there were tears rolling down my face. Til my sides were aching. Til my other half poked his head round the door and asked "what's going on?".

Are we nearly there yet tells of the journey of Ben, his wife and their two pre-school children, who embark on an epic round Britain trip reviewing child-friendly visitor attractions for a guide book. There are moments of madness, where I've secretly planned a similar kind of last yahoo before Ruby starts school. However, one short trip in the car to the supermarket usually brings me back to my senses.

Apart from the obvious hilarity, I warmed to this book instantly because the family were so familiar. Phoebe is exactly the same age as my own daughter, and has much the same personality. As the grown ups, Ben and his wife clearly love each other deeply (you'd have to to be with someone 24/7 for 6 months). The relationship between Ben and his wife Dinah is clearly one of a couple who fit like a comfy worn in pair of slippers. I mean that in the nicest possible way. They share a history, they know what each other is thinking, they are capable of insane arguments about the most meaningless issues, and their not averse to a bit of good old-fashioned affectionate name calling - just like me and the old man.

For a male author (sweeping generalisation alert) I was quite un-nerved by Ben's insightful writing about his wife. After a disagreement and a bit of sulking, he reflects how Dinah does that barely noticeable slightly slower walk to make it look like he's storming off. How she lowers her voice ever so slightly to make it appear that he's the one shouting. Hell, I didn't even realise I did that, but I do!

As well as the car journey, Ben embarks on an emotional voyage. His father falls ill at the beginning of the trip and this leads to a battle of emotions - pride; resentment; rebellion; admiration; love; and regret. The descriptions of his father on his sick bed moved me to tears as much as the comic scenes.

There are so many passages I could recount for you, but I don't want to spoil the read. If you've got young kids, had young kids or know young kids, this is a must read. Seek it out. Its available on Kindle too at only 99p currently.

I have one paperback copy to give away so read on.

Ben is a big fan of Twitter, so it's great to be able to chat to him there. After reading this book I feel like I know him. There's certainly much 'sharing' going on in the novel and i feel as though I know him a little too well. He was also kind enough to give me an interview...

It was clearly a massive leap of faith to pack up your home and leave your friends and extended family behind for 6 months. What were you most nervous about before setting off?

Ben: The kids were 3 and 1. Charlie was in nappies, still having formula and we’d set ourselves this incredibly ambitious target of visiting almost 1000 family-friendly attractions. We’d have to stay in a different hotel almost every night and we were visiting every single town and city in the country. To be honest if I’d known we’d be driving 8,000 miles we’d never have gone. Neither my wife nor I slept the night before. I’d have been less scared if we’d going on an Apollo mission. It was also the fact we’d rented out the house. If we hadn’t done that I’m sure we’d have given up. My brother predicted that either my wife or I would come home chopped up in a bin-bag in the roof-box. We did have arguments along the way. We even managed a big one about which type of owl was best – tawny or barn. But I think I was most worried the kids would hate it. But they didn’t. To them it was a great adventure.

I'm often guilty of over-sharing on Twitter and my blog. Hilarious as it was, do you think the toothbrush incident was a step too far? Is nothing sacred?

Ben: It was not in the original manuscript actually. I only included it at the last moment during the rushed editing process. I think if I had included at the outset it would have cut. I knew it was massively embarrassing but I thought it was funny as well, so I included it. For some people it’s a bridge too far on taste grounds. For others it’s their favourite sequence of the book. I don’t have a problem with writing about it because in my mind I have a sort of switch that I flick when I write something compromising. The switch means I can tell myself I didn’t really say that and that nobody really read that. I’m pressing it right now as I’m talking to you. This isn’t happening. We aren’t talking about this. I have no idea what toothbrush you’re not talking about. He stuck it where?.....

Do you think Phoebe and Charlie absorbed any of the history, science and geography of Britain on the trip, or did they learn other life lessons?

Ben: They learned nothing at all as far as I can tell. We imagined before we set off they’d come back so steeped in culture that one of them would probably end up the chairman of the Arts Council or something. We held that viewed up until the night when Phoebe wet herself in the Shakespeare Birthplace Museum, the same day and I lost the key to the roof-box containing Charlie’s nappy changing stuff meaning we had to change him on a bench in the rain outside Anne Hathaway’s cottage using 3 KFC Lemonfresh wipes. If they learnt anything though it was to be good friends with each other. They spent all that time with each other and as a result came to rely on each other’s company. They’re very, very close now. Much closer than other siblings we know with children the same age.

How did the kids settle in back once you got back home?

Ben: Well they don’t like driving much. They hate all long trips. Our daughter has also unexpectedly, or perhaps as defensive measure against future trips, developed car sickness. She vomits now during any journey over 20 miles on any non-straight road. We’ll probably hear about the other affects through their therapists in 20 years time.

I can't wait to catch up on what you've all been up to. When's the next book out?

Ben: I am in the process of writing it now. Not sure when it’ll be out. But thanks for asking. Next year, I hope. It’s set in France. I need a good title. Any ideas anyone?

You're clearly a big fan of Twitter. What benefits does it bring you as an author?

Ben: It’s a fantastic tool for authors, I think, because it allows you direct access to your readers. Normally authors meet readers at book signings. That’s a slightly intimidating atmosphere where the author sits at a table in a bookshop and signs. It’s a little hierarchical. You’re sort of setting yourself apart just by being there with your pen poised. On twitter everyone’s equal. People are much more free with their thoughts. There’s no barrier. My favourite book growing up was Catcher in the Rye. In it the main character Holden Caulfied,l a hero of mine as kid, rues the fact that he can’t call up say F Scott Fitzgerald, I think it is, and tell him what great book he’s written. Now you can do that on twitter. Holden Caulfield would definitively have been on twitter.

Finally, I have to ask. Is your wife really that scared of those creatures that shall remain nameless?

Ben: She is indeed. If anything, as every year goes by she is worse. The other day I was going to follow back someone on twitter. Their twitpic was of three tortoises. Dinah wouldn’t let me follow them back in case she looked over my shoulder and saw the picture. I tried to explain to the person why I couldn’t follow them back. They didn’t understand. The person thought I was crazy and blocked me. Cheloniaphobia. Fear of all tortoises and things that like tortoises ie turtles. If we go anywhere risky – zoos, safari parks, butterfly farms are particular bad – I have to guide her through enclosures while she holds a brochure up to the side of her face I’ve earmarked as the “tortoisey one.” The kids all know about it and warn her if ever they see one. “Mum, close your eyes. My hold out your hand.” I blame my wife for all the strange fears my kids have. My daughter was scared of the moon and steam for a long time and my son until recently was scared of all manikins particularly, for some reason, Victorian ones. He would fasten himself to my leg like a shin-pad whenever he saw one.

Massive thanks to Ben for taking the time to answer my questions, but mostly for writing such a fantastic book.

EDIT: This competition is now closed and the winner has been notified.

If you'd like to win a copy of the book, simply leave a comment below saying why you'd like to read it. For an additional entry please tweet "I'm entering @missielizzieb's blog competition to win a copy of Ben Hatch's Are we Nearly There Yet http://bit.ly/wLt65E". Please leave an additional comment to say you've tweeted and remember to leave a method of contact.

The winner will be chosen at random after 5pm on 06 February 2012.

This is not a sponsored post, all views expressed are my own and the prize is supplied by myself.

Add Bio Oil to your daily routine

2012-01-27T03:15:00.000-08:00

I'm sure most of us mums will be familiar with Bio Oil - it seems to be the universally recognised cure for stretch marks. I know I used it during and post pregnancy and never seemed to be afflicted with stretch marks, and I've also used it successfully on a scar.

However, I'd never really thought of it as an everyday beauty product, more something to use as a drastic repair! When I was contacted and asked if I'd like to try some for general use, I was intrigued.

I was sent some suggestions of other uses for the oil - I have to say I'd never thought of using it to soften cuticles or hard skin. There's so many ways in which Bio Oil can benefit your skin. Take a look.

Now, don't laugh. I thought I'd put it to the test on my butt. By pure chance I read something recently about the condition Keratosis Pilaris - or 'Chicken Skin'. It was a revelation to me. I've suffered from this bumpy skin for as long as I can remember, and I never knew it had a name! It started in my teens and just affected my buttocks - no big deal, they're not exactly on display. But as I've got older its slowly crept down to the backs of my thighs as far as the back of my knees, and also on the backs of my upper arms. Whilst it's reassuring to discover that 40% of adults suffer from this (I'm not as much of a freak as I thought) it's not great to hear there's no real cure for it. Its does affect my everyday life. You'll almost never see me in a skirt, and certainly not with bare legs. I hate to go swimming, and if I do I wear a swimsuit with shorts legs.

So, nothing ventured, nothing gained, I started applying Bio Oil daily to these areas. Don't panic, there aren't any before and after shots of my backside coming.

If you've not used it before, then let me talk a bit about the oil. It has a lovely light scent (that'll be the calendula; lavender, chamomile and rosemary oil). Although it's an oil, it's not greasy. I apply it after a shower and then get dressed - I've not had any problems with it getting on my clothes (I might be a bit more careful if I was wearing something delicate like silk though!).

A little goes a long way too. I've been using a 60ml bottle which retails at around £8.95 (you can purchase from all good chemists and cosmetic departments) for 10 days and I've used about 1/10th of the bottle.

So, after 10 days, I asked the old man to do the touch test. Well, after feeling my butt and my thighs, he gave me his verdict. Whilst flattering after nearly 9 years together, most of his remarks were unprintable. When I asked him for a sensible opinion that I could write, he said there was a 'radical and remarkable difference'. After telling him "not now dear, I'm in the middle of a blog post", I have to agree.

Both the visual appearance and the texture of my skin is massively improved. No longer does it feel like I have permanent goose-bumps, but my skin feels smooth and soft for the first time in years. Normal moisturiser simply isn't this effective. I'm so pleased with the improvement, and will continue this routine.

I've also used the Bio Oil as an 'emergency repair' for dry, chapped skin on my face and lips after being out in the cold wintry wind, and I've been sneaking up at night to pop a little dab on Ruby's chicken pox scar on her nose. Is that wrong? Well, I know when I reached my teens, I HATE my chicken pox scar on my face.

So there you have it. Huge thumbs up for Bio Oil from me and my butt.

How do you use yours?

Disclosure: I was sent a bottle of Bio Oil free of charge for the purposes of this review. However, all opinions are my own and are honest and accurate.

Papier-mâché Magnets

2012-01-24T06:53:00.000-08:00

I was searching my brain trying to think up something we could make for Daddy for Valentine's Day. I spotted some heart shaped silicone moulds in Poundland and an idea was born! You can pick up all sorts of different shaped silicone moulds in discount stores such as Ikea, pound shops and Wilkinson's. Ice cube trays and small cake cases work well.

You'll need:

Silicone moulds
Newspaper
Flour
Water
Bowl
Paint & brushes
Glue
Magnets (I bought a cheap set from Wilkinson's and prised them out of their uninspiring casing)

Mix up a paste of one part white plain flour to two parts water. You can add a squeeze of PVA glue if you like, but it's not necessary.

Tear the newspaper into small pieces. The smaller the better.

Dip pieces of paper into the paste and squeeze out the excess. This is a VERY messy job, and Ruby didn't quite get the squeezing off the excess part! I found what worked best was to use some gloopy pieces, then add dry to soak up the excess. Keep building up the layers, pressing down firmly every now and again to compress and make sure you're filling every part of the mould.

I found this quite cathartic, and carried on doing it long after Ruby had gone to bed!

In hindsight, it may have been better to do this in two stages - half filling then allowing to dry out overnight, before continuing, but I'm not known for my patience!

Find a nice warm spot for them to dry out, like near a radiator. Ours took 2 days to fully dry.

Carefully peel back the mould and pop your shape out. If it's still a bit wet at the bottom, you can re-shape any bits that have come loose and leave to dry for a bit longer.

Paint with your favourite colours. You'll need several coats and I was surprised how well Ruby did at this craft. There's a lot of processes and waiting time, but she was happy to do a bit, leave it and come back to it.

Ruby used poster paints for hers, and I used gold acrylic on mine for more grown up magnets for my study!

When you're happy with the amount of coats of paint, and they're fully dry, glue a magnet onto the back. You'll need to use strong glue like superglue or a glue gun.

Stand back and admire your work, and use them to leave soppy love notes to each other.

Linking up with Red Ted Art. and White Lily Green.

Loose yourself in the Land Of Sometimes

2012-01-24T05:41:00.000-08:00

Every now and again, something comes along which is quite simply, perfect. The Land of Sometimes CD is just that. You'll forgive my effusing about it, but I honestly can't find a single criticism of it. I want every child and parent to enjoy this magical journey.

Young twins, Alfie and Elise wander off in their imaginations to the Land Of Sometimes, encountering fantastical characters along the way. Each character has their own story which is told in song. Each style is different from the last, some upbeat poppy tunes, others tranquil soothing melodies.

Ruby's favourite is Little Twink, an up tempo disco song about a cheeky naughty fairy who messes up bedrooms while you're asleep - don't we all have one of them?

My favourite is either the very first song "dare make a wish" or the sublimely brilliant "Mrs Blip", a belter of a song, it's soul but with a hint of the east and sung my none other than Ruby Turner.

In fact, the credentials of this production are immense. The words, lyrics and original concept are by Francesca Longrigg, an accomplished actress, musician and singer. The producer Chicky Reeves has worked with talent as diverse as Ray Charles, Johnny Cash and Radiohead.

The narrator Nicholas Jones has a gentle but commanding voice, and the storytelling seamlessly joins the songs together coherently. The narration is minimal, so there's no danger of boredom, and equally the music can be enjoyed in it's own right. If for example you have it on in the background as we do when we're baking or crafting at home, you can dip in and out of it. But played in the car or at bedtime, we're totally entranced.

Even the artwork on the packaging is enticing. The cover itself moves away from the traditional plastic type, and instead is a book which can be viewed to enhance the story. The website is one of the best I've seen for children in a long time. You can listen to clips of the songs, download the lyrics so you can sing along, explore the map of the Land of Sometimes, learn more about the characters and use their fun activity section.

Due for release on 6th February 2012 priced at £8.99 you can pre-order with Amazon here now.

I implore you, if you buy one music CD for your kids this year, make it this one. I only wish it was out now, I know a pair of twins with a birthday coming up who would adore this!

Disclosure: I was sent a preview copy of this CD for the purposes of this review free of charge. However, the views and opinions expressed are entirely my own.

What will uDraw?

2012-01-23T03:28:00.000-08:00

Some time ago I wrote about the uDraw tablet for Wii.

Since then, I'm very pleased to say we've now joined the 21st century, and thanks to my brother, we have a Wii - hooray. Not only that, but the lovely people at the world of uDraw, sent us a tablet to play with. The tablet comes complete with uDraw studio instant artist, which is full of great features.

It took Ruby a little while to get the hang of, but being more computer literate that her Mummy, she soon sussed it and was quickly scribbling away. Her artistic skills at aged 3 and a half aren't exactly developed, but I can see her getting more and more use out of the features and functions as she grows. I also think it's going to be great to help her practise her writing and letters. It's a mess free way of creating masses and masses of art, and sharing it with others.

The tablet is sturdy and robust and the stylus chunky enough for even little hands to master. Ruby has great fun 'painting' on different 'surfaces' like cardboard, paper, chalkboard etc with different effects and techniques - you can even create 'graffiti' on a concrete background! ("Graffiti's naughty Mummy").

I tried to get some photos of her creating, but she kept throwing an artistic wobbly because I was disturbing her concentration!!

Artist at work

Take a look at the online gallery to see some of the amazing creations that are possible with the uDraw.

I have to say, that as a left-hander I found it slightly difficult to use. The stylus can be used to draw with either the left or right hand, but the Wii remote contoller docks on the left hand side of the tablet, so I found myself crossing my hands over so I could draw with my left hand and press menu keys with my right. The righties in my house had no trouble though. Also, we don't have the slimline Wii remote, so although ours works fine, it didn't slot in neatly as it's supposed to.

We were also sent a copy of Pictionary which was ace. I love the traditional Pictionary game anyway, and this seemed more fun using the tablet than pen and paper. The game suits my basic stick man style of drawing, and I'm pretty good at Pictionary. I can see this becoming a firm favourite when we have friends round.

The uDraw tablet is available online and in store from all good games retailers.

Disclosure: We were sent a uDraw tablet and games to try for the purposes of this review. However, no financial reward was paid and any views expressed are my own and are honest.

Magpie Monday - cushioning the blow

2012-01-23T02:25:00.000-08:00

There's a car boot sale that runs every Sunday approximately 10 minutes walk from my house. I'd never yet managed to haul my sorry ass out of bed before 10am at the weekend - given the choice of a lie-in in a warm bed and walking around stalls in the freezing cold, my bed will win every time.

However, this weekend I was up in time, so I pootled off down the road, enjoying some time to myself. The old man's farewell of "don't come home with tonnes of crap" and Ruby's plea of "bring me a present back" ringing in my ears.

It's an 'indoor' car boot sale, housed in a giant and dimly lit warehouse. I'm informed at the door that this is the last week, so at least I know I won't have to get up next weekend. There's a brazier outside, billowing out acrid smoke, so it feels more like I'm crossing a picket line than looking for bargains.

Inside there's lots of stalls over overpriced, rusty old 'antique' tools and several people selling off their entire collections of porcelain shoes. Inexplicably there's also a stall which seems to be selling nothing but pack of pot noodles.

Amongst the filthy tat, I manage to find a stall selling lots of sewing ephemera, and pick up a couple of wooden cotton reels to add to my collection and a card with miniature mother of pearl buttons which will be prefect for some craft or other.

She also sells me a vintage pair of pinking shears for £3. My current pinking shears are totally blunt and after asking around it appears they can't be re-sharpened and a decent new pair will cost me £40 minimum.

On the next stall I spot this beautiful old handmade cushion for £2. The tassels are a bit ratty and I expect will soon be having an appointment with my scissors, but apart from that I love it. Even the old man agrees I did well.

What second-hand treasures have you found? Please grab the badge and link up below.

Grab my button
and link to my blog

Baking Day

2012-01-19T11:43:00.000-08:00

We get two whole days a week where it's just me and Ruby. It's 'our special weekend'. Just us, nobody else.

Today the weather was miserable, and we'd had a busy day yesterday, so we declared it 'Baking Day'. Hurrah!

Ruby was very keen to make some olive bread. I have to admit that whilst I do make bread at home, I tend to use the bread maker. But there's not exactly much toddler participation opportunity in that is there?

So, here's the ingredients:

275g strong white flour
50g wholemeal flour
6g sachet of easy yeast
1/2 tsp salt (I left this out)
210ml lukewarm water
1tbsp olive oil
115g black olives

Weigh out the dry ingredients and add to a bowl. Make a well in the centre and pour in the warm water and oil.

Next, bring the dough together then turn out onto a floured surface (that's a LIGHTLY floured surface Ruby!). Knead for about 10 minutes. This was hard work so we took it in turns, but she did perfect the technique.

Next she oiled the bowl with some olive oil on a piece of kitchen roll, and we popped the dough in to rise. Cover with clingfilm and leave in a warm place for an hour to double in size.

Ruby got a bit bored - an hour is ages in Toddler time, so we used the lull to make some blueberry muffins - read on for that.

She was thrilled to see how much the dough had risen and that the yeast had done it's job.

We removed the dough, 'knocked it back' - which to Ruby meant punch it!

Next, to chop the olives. Because we were using olives from a jar, we strained off first and patted dry with kitchen towel.

For the first time ever, I allowed Ruby to use a sharp knife and do the cutting. I think my being a bit more chilled out and giving her more responsibility allowed us to have a much better time in the kitchen today.

We flattened out the dough, sprinkled on the chopped olives before rolling it up and kneading to distribute them throughout the bread.

Then, oil a baking sheet, shape the dough into an oval and place it on the tray. Mark some deep cuts on the top, then cover with cling film and leave again for 30 mins - yawn.

Finally, pop into oven at 200 degrees Celsius for 35 minutes.

Whilst all that waiting and baking was going on, I knocked up a lasagna and Ruby helped grate (eat) the Parmesan.

So, that's main course taken care of. Pudding? Oh yes, the mini blueberry muffins. Here's what you need:

100g blueberries (I used a jar)
50g caster sugar
50g butter
150g self raising flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 egg
75ml milk

We put everything except the blueberries into a bowl and whisked! Again, the first time I've let her use the electric mixer on her own - without me clinging onto either the bowl or the mixer! She was fine.

Then we stirred in the blueberries carefully. Spoon the mixture into mini muffin tins/cases. Tip: leave one empty so it's easier to get a grip and remove from the oven!

Bake for 30 minutes at 160 degrees Celsius.

Our final flourish was to use the juice from the jar of blueberries in a cream.

We mixed two large tablespoons of soft cheese with two tablespoons of double cream, the juice and two tablespoons of icing sugar to make purple cream!

That was dinner complete! I have to say, for once Ruby ate EVERYTHING on her plate AND sat down for the entire meal - a miracle.

Pudding was a triumph too. Daddy has now declared every Thursday 'Baking Day'!

What have I learnt? Less stress = more fun.

I'm linking this up with Red Ted Art who are running a kid's cookery contest with Appliances online and this is my entry to Appliances Online Messy Kids Cooking Competition with Baby Budgeting. Go check them out!

Win Flowers Every Day

2012-01-19T04:53:00.000-08:00

Everyone loves to recieve flowers - whether it's for your birthday, Valentine's Day, when you're poorly, or better still 'just because'.

Funny How Flowers Do That have been giving away bouquets of flowers every day since 3rd November, and they are continuing to spread the love for 100 days. That's a total of 1,000 bunches of flowers!

They sent me a beautiful bouquet which certainly lifted my mood and made me smile. Full of spring flowers, I've split them up and filled our rooms with them.

Why not enter each day? Take part here and follow the prompts. You could brighten someone's day - or even your own!

Wedding Fund Plan

2012-01-19T02:03:00.000-08:00

Did I mention we're finally going to tie the knot? Of course I did (prepare to be bored to tears with the minute details...) for now, I need to come up with a radical saving/money making plan. From now on, I shall be couponing like a good 'un; I shall compare car insurance and energy bills to get the best deals; I shall clear out my junk on eBay and I will open a savings account. I’ve made a start by advertising our driveway parking space for rent, and I’m religiously following money-saving blogs and reading newsletters.

Although I consider myself thrifty in some areas, my money saving is totally unorganised. While I'll save pennies in some areas, we splash out frivolously in others - I shall be sad to see our regular Friday night bite the dust. But I guess I could make my own instead?

I've never really saved up for a specific purpose, so I'm telling myself it's quite exciting actually. For years I've lived by the mantra that saving is for losers - and this has been borne out with the paltry interest rates on offer of late. But no, my mindset has to change.

With the cost of an average wedding reported to be over £15,000 there are a lot of pennies to be saved. Apparently the average spend on a wedding has dropped by £5,000 in the past few years. I doubt that's because things are getting cheaper, more likely that couples are cutting back.

So I'm asking for your help. Besides the things I've mentioned above, what else do you suggest to cut back and save up? Should I set us a target amount or will that only depress me? Where is the best place to open a savings account – is anyone offering any interest at the moment?

Disclaimer: Sponsored post.

Magpie Monday - Bowled Over

2012-01-16T01:39:00.000-08:00

Yes, it's Magpie Monday again!

If you're new round these parts, then welcome, welcome. So, what's it all about then? Magpie Monday is my weekly link-up party where you are all invited to share your second-hand purchases. To show that you can give a new home or a new lease of life to something pre-loved. To prove that we don't always have to buy brand new. This way, we can save a few quid, and by recycling and reusing, do our bit for the planet too.

So grab a cuppa, put your feet up and have a slightly voyeuristic peep at the treasures people have been rescuing.

Most of the items I've shared with you recently have been 'raw materials' to get crafty with. This week I couldn't resist the temptation of this bag of leather scraps I spotted in a charity shop. It's full of nice, sizeable pieces of buttery tan coloured leather and I can't wait to get cracking with it.

Trouble is, I've never made anything from leather before. I really fancy making some flowers for brooches, but there's a bit more googling to do yet I think.

It was a bit of a quiet week shopping wise. I intended to check out my local car boot sale yesterday but as it was 10am by the time I finally surfaced I well and truly missed that boat.

I did manage to get my hands on this lovely wooden bowl though, and I'm over the moon with it. It was in the window of a charity shop and I couldn't quite make out the price sticker. I thought it said £12.50 so when I went in and enquired and was told £2.50 I was delighted.

It's very rustic, a bit wonky but full of character. It's also HUGE, and sits proudly now on our dining table filled with apples. The added bonus being that Ruby can reach this bowl (unlike the fruit bowl in the kitchen) and it fills my heart to see her helping herself and munching away on apples.

What have you been rescuing this week? Grab the badge and link up. x

Grab my button
and link to my blog

Simple Felt Hair Clip - Valentine's Heart

2012-01-15T09:46:00.000-08:00

This is such a simple and versatile little handmade item, but I thought it would be fun to do with red hearts - perfect for Valentine's. Of course, you can adapt it and make flowers or other simple shapes, and use different colours to compliment favourite outfits. While Ruby helped out with a bit of sewing, she wasn't fully comfortable with it. But as it's only a couple of stitches, and older child could do it themselves easily.

You will need:

Coloured felt
Matching or contrasting button
Needle and matching or contrasting thread
Scissors
A suitable hair clip or slide - I used a crocodile clip (tip you can pick up a pack of 4 in Poundland!)

Begin by cutting 3 felt shapes of graduating size. The largest needs to be approximately as wide as your clip. You can use a template, or cut them free-hand.

In your largest shape, snip two slits either side of the centre for your clip to slide through. The style of clip I used needs one to be larger than the other as shown.

Layer your shapes, with the largest at the bottom, and finally hold your button in the centre. Tie a knot in the end of your thread and with one stitch, go through all three layers and the button hole. Take the thread back down the other button hole and through the three layers again. Repeat with about five or six stitches, or until you feel it is secure. To finish, tie a knot at the back close to the fabric.

Slide your clip through the slits at the back.

Enjoy!

Featured on Red Ted Art.

Train your kids about rail safety

2012-01-14T14:21:00.000-08:00

We all teach our kids about road safety. Even now it seems the Green Cross Code is embedded into our psyche and we pass these essential personal safety skills on to our children.

But how many of us teach our children about the dangers on the railway? With the demise of the TV public information films and headteachers facing ever more pressure to meet targets and deliver curriculum, are our children getting taught these messages? A recent survey showed that two thirds of parents hadn't discussed rail safety with their children.

This week, there was a tragic fatality on my rail line. It's opened up some old memories. Ones that I'd prefer to forget. I've seen things that I can't unsee, heard stories that I wish weren't true.

I worked for over 10 years on the railway, joining at the tail end of what was British Rail. The things I learnt in my training are ingrained. But how many members of the general public know these facts?

Did you know for instance, that the overhead power cables can carry over 25,000 volts of electricity? Did you know that this silent and invisible killer can jump and arc by up to 9ft? Did you know that the electricity (both overhead and on third rails) is ALWAYS on - not just when a train passes through as some people alarmingly think.

I'll never forget the time I saw a (very tall) man walking along a platform. He had his young daughter up on his shoulders. In her hand she was holding the ribbon to a foil, helium filled balloon. He thought I was totally crazy when I asked him to put his child down. Until I explained.

Photo credit: www.trackoff.org

Or the time I was waiting on a platform and saw a group of boys playing dares with each other. They were early teens, and were egging each other on to see who could stand closest to the edge of the platform for the longest while a train came in. They were stood, toes on the edge, chests puffed out as a train pulled in, inches from them. I got a load of verbal and a karate style kick in the back as thanks for giving them a rollicking. I got my own back though. I took the CCTV footage of them into their headmaster and it was shown to the entire school assembly. They were also shown some rather graphic photos by the British Transport Police. Weren't so cocky after that.

One of my many roles on the railway was in HR. Part of that role included delivering training and induction courses to new entrants. During the safety session we'd show CCTV of a student on a platform. She leaves her suitcase by the edge of the platform and wonders off to check the departure board. In that moment a high speed train passes through, the turbulence whisks the suitcase off with the train and her entire year's work is spread for miles. Paper blowing in the wind. If the video elicited giggles, we'd simply say: imagine if that wasn't a suitcase, but a buggy with a child in it. That normally turned them green.

You see, the yellow lines are there for a reason. Trains can travel at 125mph. The turbulence they can cause is powerful and you can be pulled under with the slipstream if you are standing too close.

© Copyright Thomas Nugent and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence

Up to 60 people are killed each year in this country crossing the tracks. Of course, unlike a car, a train can't swerve out of your way. Nor can it stop quickly - it can take up to a mile and a half to come to a complete standstill.

OK, OK, I know it's a fine line between teaching your kids to be safe and sensible and scaring the hell out of them. For this reason, I'm not the person to do it!

There is a wealth of information and resources available to parents and teachers. Schools can arrange safety talks and visits from the British Transport Police. The information is tailored and age appropriate, so please, please take a look at some of these useful links and spend some time talking to your children about how to enjoy the rail network and stay safe. Why not encourage your nursery or school to cover it too.

Please.

http://www.trackoff.org/Dangers.aspx

http://www.trackoff.org/ResourceList.aspx

http://www.teachingzone.org/transport/index.htm

http://www.teachingzone.org/railway/index.htm

http://www.networkrail.co.uk/Safety_myths_mean_parents_put_children_at_risk.aspx

http://www.btp.police.uk/

Win the official Roald Dahl stamps – Gloriumptiously collectable

2012-01-13T04:09:00.000-08:00

EDIT: This competition is now closed. Congratulations to the winners @christinemosler and @piperanddaisy Please contact me with you addresses. Thanks to all for entering.

Royal Mail are thrilling children and adults alike with their first stamp launch of the year, featuring Roald Dahl's best loved characters.

Each Special issue stamp features original illustrations by Roald Dahl’s long-time friend and collaborator, Quentin Blake – a splendid celebration for collectors and fans alike.

The stamps and sets can be purchased from Post Offices; online and from Royal Mail's official eBay store.





I have two presentation packs to give away to lucky readers here.

Simply leave a comment below telling me you'd like to enter.

For an extra entry, please tweet "I'm entering @missielizzieb 's blog #competition to win scrumdiddlyumptious stamps from @royalmailstamps here http://bit.ly/zf0Krx" Leave an extra comment below to say you have done so.

I will draw two winners at random after the closing date of Monday 23 January 2012 at 12:00.

Open to UK entrants only.

But that's not all. To spread the word about these scrumdiddlyumptious stamps, Royal Mail are running a competition over on their Facebook page to win a Roald Dahl story collection, a pop-up edition of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and a stamp presentation pack, so head on over there.

Caravan of Love

2012-01-12T07:49:00.000-08:00

For some time I've had a little dream. A fantasy world where me and my family pack up our troubles and head for the hills. Lately it's become something of an obsession, and I've started pinning like crazy on Pinterest and even looked into caravan insurance quotes. I suspect it won't be long before I start pouring over the classified ads looking for a suitable mini home to tow.

It's true, caravan holidays of my childhood weren't always perfect. Like the time it took us three days to drive to North Wales due to the car radiator overheating repeatedly. But looking on the bright side, we'd never have got to stay in that Brummie pub car park for the night, or witnessed the delights of the farmers field and limited toilet facilities in Telford the following night, after we pitifully limped north-west.

But recently, I've had some fabulous caravan holidays, staying in statics on campsites. Ruby loves the excitement of having a mini home, and I'm seriously tempted to invest in a tourer.

We're not a two-weeks-in-the-sun type family. We prefer to take lots of mini-breaks throughout the year, exploring our great isle. What could be more perfect than chucking your bags in the car on a Friday night and hitting the open road? I imagine it might work out more cost effective in the long run than staying in self-catering or hotels.

Picture from Cath Kidston Magazine

Caravanning is cool. Just look at my pinterest pins if you don't believe me! Tempted?

Disclaimer: Sponsored post.

Making Shapes with Haba from Toy Jeanius

2012-01-09T11:29:00.000-08:00

For my latest Toy Genius mission I was sent a Pattern Mosaic Game by Haba.

Well known for their high quality traditional toys, this didn't disappoint. Each polished wooden tile is a beautiful colour, bright and appealing for little hands. The toy is suitable from ages 3 and upwards and Ruby enjoyed some thoughtful time copying the patterns on the six included cards.

We started with some of the easier ones such as the boat and the bird,

before she graduated to the butterfly.

Ruby is really beginning to enjoy spotting patterns and repeats around her and this game encourages that even further and supports her Early Years Foundation learning. You're never too young for tessellation I say!

I'm looking forward to some free-style pattern making. She loves to create things out of blocks, so this has the capacity to expand her creativity and allow her to make beautiful shapes and pictures.

So there you have it. A toy that is beautiful to look at, long lasting, offers hours of play, is educational and requires no batteries!

Check out the Toy Jeanius site for more toys that tick all the boxes.

Sponsored post: Thanks to Toy Jeanius for sending this toy free of charge for the purposes of this review. All views expressed are my own.

Magpie Monday - Frugal Fabrics

2012-01-09T02:36:00.000-08:00

Morning my little Magpies! Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas. After a couple of festive weeks off, Magpie Monday is back and raring to go. I hope you'll join me in sharing your second-hand finds.

This is a great time of year to visit charity shops, eBay, car boot sales etc as lots of people are getting rid of unwanted presents, duplicate items or simply having a clear out. Don't forget to take your donations in too.

I don't have a great deal to show you this week, there hasn't been much time for shopping.

I did manage to sneak a quick whizz round my favourite house clearance shop the other day after taking Ruby to the dentist - imagine how thrilled she was!

I pacified her with a huge pencil case full of pens and pencils, then got rummaging in the linen boxes.

I'm still a learner on the sewing front, so I find this a great way to get hold of stashes of fabric for very little money. If you re-use old duvet covers, sheets, table cloths and curtains, you can get yards and yards of good quality fabric for a fraction of the price you'd pay in a department store or haberdashery.

I got some pretty pillowcases.

Some flower-power retro pillowcases.

I plan to use these to make more pyjama bottoms for Ruby. They are really quick and simple to make, and teamed with a plain Tshirt, that's been appliqued to match, I think they look brilliant. Check out my earlier blog post to see how I made these.

I also grabbed this pretty pair of vintage curtains. Much too small for most modern windows, I had intended to make a cover for one of Ruby's small bed quilts. Or I may have a go at making an adult pair of PJs for myself!

Please do take a look back through the blog. I've finally got settled in our new home and unpacked all my crafty bits, so you may spot a few 'makes' and 'upcycling' projects on the blog from items I've shown in previous Magpie Mondays. Also, check out my 'Take one Jumper' challenge, and join in with an upcycled project of your own.

What have you been rescuing this week? Grab the badge and link up. x

Grab my button
and link to my blog

Burn Baby Burn - Acriflex to the Rescue!

2012-01-05T05:40:00.000-08:00

Some time ago I was sent some Burn gel called Acriflex to review.

A tough one really - what should I do...follow people around expectantly with the tube hoping some scalding calamity will occur? Deliberately put my hand in the fire so I can test out the product? No. Thankfully, it has sat, unopened for some time.

Recently however, we have had cause to use it a couple of times. The old man foolishly touched his drill bit after drilling holes in the wall - ironically to put up the medicine cabinet in the bathroom! Thankfully the burns gel was to hand, so we rubbed some on. The swearing ceased almost immediately!

The other day I managed to burn my finger quite badly while taking out a tray of baked potatoes from the oven. Our dog seems to have reverted to puppy hood and started chewing the tea towels. Consequently when I assume one is quadruple folded and suitable for removing items from a 200 degree oven, I often find that due to large dog mouth shaped holes, there is in fact only a double layer - or on this occasion, a single layer!

This really was the most painful burn I'd had in a very long time. After running it under the cold tap (I am haunted by being told that your skin carries on cooking after a burn), I applied some of the gel to the burn. The relief was instant. Better still, I never developed a blister.

I can honestly say this product really works. Acriflex uses the principle of osmosis to cool and rehydrate your skin. Were you paying attention at the back of your science lessons?

I'm keeping this product in my first aid kit, and recommend you do too. There's also Acriflex Cream which can be used to treat burns; scalds, sunburn and blisters and minor cuts and abrasions.

Acriflex is available from all good chemists. The cooling gel is suitable for adults and children from 6 months old, but of course, you should always seek medical advice for serious injuries or burns.

Sponsored post: Thanks to manufacturers Thornton and Ross for providing me with the samples free of charge. All views expressed are my own.

Gym Slip-Up

2012-01-04T13:10:00.000-08:00

After having Ruby's name down for trampoline lessons since moving into the area 4 months ago, finally today is the day of the first session.

She mutters under her breath all morning that she doesn't like trampolining anymore, but I remind her how much she actually does, while silently cursing the leisure centre for debiting my card a full term's worth of fees and an annual gym membership. Why on earth does a three year old need a gym membership? Hell, I've survived nearly 40 years without one.

It's a pretty sneaky trick I reckon. These places should offer taster sessions or pay-as-you-go rates. Most three year olds are just as likely to announce the following week that they HATE trampolining and what they really want to do is judo/street dance/tambourine lessons...

We arrive somewhere early for once. Although, to be fair this is only because I bundled her into a taxi from the rail station. Somewhat counterproductive as one of the main reasons I was so keen to give in to this bouncing obsession was the exercise she'd get from it - that and the hope that it might save our bed springs.

But it was raining hard, she'd already had a full-on day with dentist appointment, cousin's birthday party and a 2 mile walk, so I wasn't risking meltdown halfway up the road.

At the main desk we're met by a surly receptionist - is it in the job description that to sit on a front desk you must be brusque, sullen and have a face like you're licking piss off a nettle? Why does the look they give you make me feel the urge to check the soles of my shoes to make sure I haven't trod in a giant dog shit?

"We're here for the trampolining lesson" I inform her.

"Yes?" She barely raises her head.

"It's our first week, so I'm not really sure where to go or what to do."

"Go through the double doors and the gymnasium is straight in front of you. Go right in".

Gymnasium. The word strikes fear into my heart. Memories of shamefacedly wearing gym shorts at school, being forced to climb those ridiculous wooden frames like ship's rigging, the smell of rubber plimsolls and sweaty feet.

There's a gaggle of small children and parents - all of whom clearly know each other. Kid's are frantically discarding socks and shoes, and Ruby sits down and does likewise. A friendlier lady at the door asks her name, checks her list and declares she's not on it. No matter she says, come in, come in.

All the girls (for it's predominantly girls) are kitted out in leotards and leggings, and I feel slightly embarrassed on behalf of Ruby who's standing there expectantly in a pair of tatty tracksuit trousers and a long sleeved top. I think my discomfort rubs off, because she begins to cling like a limpet to me and buries her head in my chest, refusing to join the circle. I look round and notice there are no other parents in the room, but offer to come and sit with her anyway. Looking like a sore thumb in my coat and boots, I enthusiastically try and join in with the warm up, hoping Ruby will follow suit. She starts to cry.

The lady with the list comes to check our name again and asks how we booked. After recounting the tale of the telephone booking I'd made a few days earlier, she disappears again.

I try to get Ruby to join in with the game of tag that everyone else is playing, but she's having none of it.

Eventually, 15 minutes into the half hour lesson, the lady returns with clipboard.

"I see what's happened" she says. "You've been booked for trampoline lessons".

"That's right I reply".

"You want trampoline lessons?"

What is this mad woman talking about? "Yes" I tell her.

"Oh. This is the gymnastic class" she explains patiently, as though to an imbecile.

Good God. Is it possible to feel more socially inept? More gauche and stupid.

"Oh" I stutter. "This is where the receptionist sent us".

The nice lady draws back a screen to reveal 3 massive trampolines and a small group of children similarly attired as Ruby. We slope off muttering apologies.

Thankfully I am redeemed as Ruby spots the boinging, and she agrees to allow me to go and get a coffee and watch from upstairs.

Praying that none of the other mums had witnessed this total parenting fail, I order a coffee and watch through the window, waving maniacally and doing double thumbs up every time she jumps/falls over.

No sooner had I finished my coffee, I noticed all the mums shuffling back downstairs to collect their offspring. Ruby was still bouncing, so I returned my empty coffee cup to the counter and made my way back.

As I pass the counter, a suited man decides that this is the very moment to turn abruptly with is over-full Americano Grande, elbows me on the right boob and slops scalding hot coffee all over himself. I apologise profusely (although strictly speaking he walked into me and wasn't looking where he was going), and he gives me a look of disdain worthy of a receptionist. The lady behind the counter then rushes over (rather over-dramatically if you ask me), and frets about whether anyone's injured? Should she get the first aid box?

Coffee guy replies that he thinks we're all ok, and glowers through his eyebrows at me.

I make a hasty retreat, shove Ruby's boots back on, pour her into her coat and whisk her away.

"That was great" she says. "Can we do it again tomorrow?"

Take One Jumper Challenge!

2012-01-02T13:12:00.000-08:00

As you know, I love to thrift and I love to craft, so turning something old into something new has all the excitement of pure alchemy for me. I don't profess to be good at making things, in fact my new mantra is "it's not perfect, it's handmade". Anyway, it adds to the charm I think!

Quite a lot of my Magpie Monday posts have shown items that I've bought with the intention of upcycling, so now it's time to show you some of the outcomes - if only to prove that they don't sit languishing in my cupboards forever (well, not all of them).

Before Christmas I bought a wool jumper with the specific intention of making Christmas stockings from it as inspired by Maggy at Red Ted Art.

Well, ever the tightwad, I thought I'd try to get two stockings from the body of the jumper (sorry, it's the only picture I've got of them!) .

Fitting two was remarkably easily, and thrilled with my frugal cutting, I though I'd see how far that jumper would stretch (metaphorically speaking - after felting it on a hot wash, that jumper wasn't stretching anywhere!).

Next up, I made a cover for a mini hot water bottle which was given as a Christmas gift. I love the thought that when the recipient is feeling cold or poorly, this present will be there to give them a hug from me.

With the cuffs and lower arms I made a cute pair of leg warmers for Ruby.

They are remarkably easy to make. If you hot wash your jumper first to felt it, then cutting is simple and the wool won't fray or unravel. You can simply cut off the desired length of arm to suit the height of your child and turn and hem the unfinished ends. I decided to use some of the ribbed V-neck part of the jumper to trim the other end.

I love these, in fact if you spot a mad woman in a charity shop trying to put her feet through the arms of a jumper, that will be me in the hope of finding a jumper I can make a pair of leg warmers for myself from.

Since my new coat thoughtfully has a special pocket for handwarmers, I thought I'd have a go at making a pair. I filled them with rice and lavender. It seemed like a good idea, but alas I hadn't thought it through properly. That pretty glittery thread running through the wool is obviously metallic as it sent my microwave into exploding spasms. Ruby has now commandeered these as mini scented pillows for her teddies instead!

Finally, based on the padded hearts I made with School of Craft, I managed to make six tree decorations of varying sizes.

I still have a bit of the jumper left! No bad for a couple-of-quid-slightly-mis-shapen charity shop jumper.

So, here's my challenge to you...

I'd like you to take one jumper - it could be old; moth-eaten, accidentally shrunk, no longer fits or a second-hand buy - and turn it into something else. Blog about it and link back to this post, and join up below. You can recycle an old post if you've already done a project, or write something new. If you're stuck for inspiration, give me a follow on Pinterest and check out my Upcycled Stuff board.

There's a lovely juicy carrot to encourage you to get stuck in to this challenge, in the form of some gorgeous Jennie Maizels Clothes Plasters. I will select one entry from those linked up here by Monday 30th January at 5pm, to win these three sets of clothes plasters. Perfect for embellishing or extending the life of your/your kid's clothes.

I've selected the following designs which I think are fairly unisex. They are simple to use - just iron on for instant pzazz as featured in the Telegraph, Grazia and Easy Living.

One lucky person will win all 5 of these gorgeous plasters.

So come on, take one jumper...and show me what you can do!

Silent Sunday

2012-01-01T04:58:00.000-08:00

Concept by Mocha Beanie Mummy

Mocha Beanie Mummy.

Happy New Year - look out for each other

2011-12-31T09:25:00.000-08:00

I want to wish you all a very happy new year.

I'm not one for resolutions really, but I know 2012 is going to be a very special year for me and my family, and I hope it will be for you too.

Whatever you're up to tonight, have fun and I hope you're with the ones you love.

I'm not big on New Year's Eve. Somehow it always makes me a bit maudlin. I'm lucky that I have friends and family around me to pick me up, but not everyone is so fortunate.

If you're feeling low, the festive season can seem like a sad and lonely time. If you're missing loved ones, suffered a break-up or bad fortune, you are not alone. There's always someone to talk to.

If it helps just one single person, then please pass this around.

MIND

www.mind.org.uk

0300 123 3393

Samaritans

www.samaritans.org

08457 90 90 90

Alcoholics Anonymous

www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk/newcomers

0845 769 7555

Stonewall

www.stonewall.org.uk

Info line 08000 50 20 20

London Lesbian and Gay Switchboard

0207 837 7324

SANELine

www.sane.org.uk

0845 767 8000

Preventing young suicide

www.papyrus-uk.org

For people in Northern Ireland

www.lifeline.info

0808 808 8000

Childline

www.childline.org.uk

0800 1111

Depressionalliance

www.depressionalliance.org

Refuge

www.refuge.org.uk

0808 2000 247

Eating Disorders Association

www.edauk.com

0845 634 1414

Shelter

www.shelter.org.uk

0808 800 4444

NHS Direct

www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk

0845 4647

No Panic

www.no-panic.co.uk

0808 808 0545

Stay safe and look out for each other. xx

List compiled by the lovely Big Fashionista.

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-23T00:46:00.000-08:00

After last year's offering, I think I'll make this something of a tradition.

So here, to wish all my lovely readers, supporters and twitter friends a wonderful Christmas, is my perfect angel.

Wishing you an yours a magical Christmas and a new year full of good health and happiness. xx

My Ultimate Christmas Song

2011-12-21T13:35:00.000-08:00

The year is 1994. I am 20.

The preparation to a night out begins with shaving my (then) boyfriend's head and helping him lace up his 18 hole Doc Martens, before pouring myself into skin tight black jeans and a body hugging crushed velvet black body, applying WAY too much scarlet lipstick and dousing myself in Body Shop Dewberry oil. Then the backcombing of my hair begins, followed by a can of Silvikrin hairspray. Given my penchant for smoking Rothmans and drinking Jack Daniels, I am a walking fire hazard.

Every Friday and Saturday night (and pretty much most weekday nights) is spent in the town's 'alternative' nightclub. The air is filled with Patchouli oil, visibility is virtually zero due to the cigarette/spliff smoke, and walking to the bar is like wading through treacle due to the snakebite and black sodden carpet.

In order to dance here you have to fight for your space. You either join the shoe gazers shuffling to the Jesus and Mary Chain, else you violently pogo with the punks and the skinheads to Sham 69. Nirvana unites everyone. A bit of Madness, Nightboat to Cairo tests your mettle, and here is where I perfected my somewhat 'confrontational' dance style which does not go down well at family weddings.

Then, something monumental happens. This song comes on. The moshing stops. Harmony reigns. There are arms held aloft. A head appears behind me and between my legs and I am raised aloft, 6 ft in the air. When I look down, I see a shaved head, completely covered in a spiderweb of tattoos and we gently sway. Everyone gently sways. When the song's over, I am returned to terra ferma. The mans does not utter a word, and I don't see him again. Even my (then) boyfriend doesn't kick off.

It's a beautiful moment.

I was tagged by the beautiful Nicki for Claire's meme: My Ultimate Christmas Song. I am now tagging:

Christine at Thinly Spread
Tim at Bringing up Charlie
Fi at Childcare is Fun

How to make Peppermint Snowflakes

2011-12-20T09:53:00.000-08:00

After much Twitter debate the other week about whether or not to get presents for Ruby's Nursery teachers (opinion was split about 50/50), I decided I'd make them each a token handmade gift.

I devised this alternative method of making peppermint creams because I'd bought a fancy-pants icing cutter/plunger thingie and was determined to get some use out of it! I'd tried it with no success on air drying clay for my tree decorations, and regular peppermint cream mix (icing sugar and water). Perhaps it was because it was designed to cut royal icing?

So, instead of mixing icing sugar, I simply added a few drops if peppermint to the ready made icing and kneaded it in. It's a great way of being able to cut out intricate shapes that the normal icing made from powder doesn't seem able to cope with.

You will need:

250g ready made royal icing
50g 70% cocoa chocolate
few drops of peppermint oil
edible glitter (optional)
cookie/icing cutters

Makes approx 35 snowflakes. I costed this up from my local supermarket and reckon it costs about £1.50 not including the wrapping or edible glitter. Incidentally, I couldn't get hold of edible glitter in my local baking shop, only lustre powder. They said they'd taken it off the shelves because imported glitter was labelled 'non-toxic' rather than 'edible' and they were seeking reassurances it was safe. Eek!

Add a few drops of the peppermint oil to the icing and knead in (the ready made icing seems to take more than the powdered version, so I added about 4 drops). Roll out with a rolling pin having 'floured' your surface with icing sugar. Try not to roll too thin as it makes the cut shapes too fragile. About 50-75mm worked well for me.

Cut out your shapes and place on a tray covered with grease-proof paper. Pop in the fridge to harden a little.

Melt your chocolate over a saucepan of water, taking care not to boil or get water in the chocolate. The easiest way I found to coat my snowflakes, was painting the melted chocolate on with a brush. They were simply too tricky to handle for dipping and I wanted one side white and the other chocolate coated.

Put a blob of chocolate in the middle of the shape with your brush, then gentle draw it out to cover the points of the snowflake. Try and work quickly, and if your chocolate starts to harden in the bowl, re-heat it. Don't worry too much if it looks messy - it will dry neater and anyway, this will be the underside. If it's really messy, just tell the recipient your child made them!

Pop back in the fridge once the chocolate has hardened. The addition of a chocolate coating really makes the delicate shape more sturdy.

If you're using edible glitter or lustre powder, add this to the bare side once the chocolate is firm. Again, I used a clean, dry paintbrush for this.

Place into little polythene gift bags, add a label and tie with a bow - voila!

Are you giving your child's teacher a gift for Christmas?

BritMums Video - Does Father Christmas Visit your House?

2011-12-20T01:26:00.000-08:00

I'm joining in for the first time!!

Apologies, but it seems at the moment there's always at least one person in this house with a snotty nose and unbrushed hair!

As I've totally lost my voice due to tonsillitis, I thought I'd post this taken a few days ago - when I could talk. Ahh yes, talking...I miss that!

Christmas Photocrafts Challenge

2011-12-19T06:45:00.000-08:00

Oh dear. I so wanted to have a completed make to share for the Kodak Britmums photocraft Christmas Challenge. I've managed to assemble all the equipment I need and found a photo I want to use, I'm just lacking the energy and fitness to do it.

It's been one virus after another here and I feel like I've been under house arrest for weeks.

So instead, I'll have to show you what I want to do, and hopefully update once it's complete.

We always leave a treat out for Father Christmas and this year I want to make ~~her~~ his own special plate. ~~She~~ He's specifically told me that a mingy mince pie and a glass of milk won't cut it this year - ~~she~~ he wants a huge chunk of Stollen and a large glass of port.

So, I'm going to make a special plate for this purpose, using one of my favourite photo's of Ruby. I've chose this one because it has just the right mix of 'butter wouldn't melt' and devilment in her eye!

I've sourced some specialist paper online that will turn your prints into water-slide decals, and I'm going to print this picture and transfer onto a china plate. I've also downloaded a child-like writing font, so I can add the message "Santa, I've been a good girl'. I'm not sure that's true, but I think the piece of stollen will look nice sitting on that!

If you want an easier, cheaper, and more child-friendly craft, you could do this with your kids by cutting and gluing a photo onto a paper plate and getting them to write their own message to Santa.

Hopefully I'll be able to show the finished product soon.

Visiting the Nick Jr TV studio

2011-12-15T03:21:00.000-08:00

As a blogger I get some truly amazing opportunities for which I'm hugely grateful. Ruby is also a very lucky girl because we get invited to places most little girls don't get to see.

None more so than our recent behind the scenes visit to the Nick Jr studio in London. Such a special day was it, we even got to take 'school ted' with us so he could write about it in his diary and Ruby got to stand up at nursery for 'show and tell' and thoroughly enjoyed telling all her little friends where we'd been and who we met.

Myself, Louise, Carol and Pippa and our kids were all invited to a tour of the set and a special meet and greet with The Bopps.

The Bopps are a regular feature to our morning routine, showing on Nick Jr at 7.35 each morning. Ruby loves them so much and hearing her howl with laughter at their antics is a great start to the day. If you're not familiar with the programme, well, how can I describe it? I guess I'd say they are a bit like the 60's show The Monkees meets traditional British panto. Lots of singing, dancing and slapstick comedy. Take a look at some of the clips here.

Keith and Stan are such genuinely lovely guys and had so much time for the children, chatting and joking around with them. Give them a follow on twitter, they'd love to say hi, or check out their Facebook page.

We're really happy to hear that they are going to be performing at Wychwood Festival next year - we must get tickets!

While we were at the studio, we watched them filming some special Christmas links for Wake Up World which will be broadcast all next week. It was fascinating to see behind the scenes and we can't wait to see the finished result on the telly.

We met the insanely beautiful and talented Helena Dowling, presenter of Wake Up World, and Ruby was totally starstruck - she even gave Helena a little kiss!

I can't believe how well behaved Ruby was. She kept completely quiet throughout the filming, and managed to resist the temptation to press any buttons!

Make sure you tune in to Nick Jr in the mornings to catch The Bopps on Wake Up World.

We want to say a huge thank you to Nick Jr for organising this special trip and to Keith, Stan, Helena and crew for taking time out of their busy schedules to welcome us.

Me and my shopping are famous (a little bit!)

2011-12-14T06:02:00.000-08:00

After being on the lovely Weekend Kitchen show with Nick Coffer the other week, I got a phone call from the producer of BBC 3 counties radio's breakfast show. It seems I am getting a name for myself as a bit of a rent-a-gob!

Anyway, they wanted to run a piece this week about how the current economic climate is affecting families and if/how they are changing their shopping habits.

I agreed to meet the interviewer at my house on Monday and he did a quick recorded chat, and then walked down with my to my local supermarket to see me in action!

I can't begin to tell you how odd it was in my local shop, walking around with a young man shoving his dictaphone in my face. I got some strange looks, and Lord knows what the staff thought - permission to record was sought beforehand so they knew we were coming!

The old man was a bit worried when I told him what I'd agreed to - he didn't want people thinking we were struggling! I found this quite interesting - I mean, you don't have to be on the breadline to cut back or watch the pennies do you? What do you think?

Equally, I was then worried and didn't want to come across as one of those infuriating "poor me, poor me we can't afford our second ski holiday this year and our Christmas hamper will have to be Waitrose not Fortnum and Masons".

Anyhow, here's the recording, there was loads more I wanted to/could have/forgot to say.

Click the picture to hear my 3 minutes of fame!

So I'm curious, have you changed your food shopping habits recently? What are your tips to save money on your food bills?

Fabulous Fabric Crafts with Dylon Paints

2011-12-13T13:29:00.000-08:00

I don't need to remind you what a HUGE fan of Dylon products I am. I'd happily play with them all day long.

I was recently offered some fabric paints for Christmas crafting, and although I'd used them before when Ruby created her own TShirts, I was keen to try something a bit more grown up this time.*

*read: I wasn't sharing.

I wanted to try and be as creative as possible, so let me know what you think. Here are some decorations I made for Ruby's tree using the Dylon 3D paint to add texture and interest (silver glitter paint and deep pink pearl paint).

I made them using felt table mats, and simply cut out the pieces with scissors. I managed to get a set of 2 placemats at a knock down price - these were in all the department stores this year, but clearly didn't sell well so you can get them very cheaply (who'd have thought that place mats you can't wash or wipe would be a flop?!). I bought mine in BHS but I've seen them in John Lewis and Debenhams. Of course you could use ordinary felt and cut shapes yourself, but I like the thickness and firmness of this felt, plus it's a whole lot easier to cut out shapes that are already there.

The paint is incredibly simple to use. Just squeeze it out just above the surface of the fabric - a bit like icing a cake. After a while of doing these my hands did begin to shake though!

Once dried I threaded some clear nylon thread to hang (my weapon of choice for tree decorations as it's very strong and almost invisible).

I love the way they move gently on the tree, and by adding detail on the front and back, you get a real 3D feel.

Myself and Ruby LOVE the tree in her room. I know she's lucky to have one, but every single decoration is either handmade or from a charity shop.

Next I tried out the liquid fabric paint. I was sent a gorgeous shade of turquoise and wanted to incorporate it into my living room decorations. However, being hopeless with a paintbrush, and having no artistic ability whatsoever, I decided the best way to go would be stamping!

I cut a simple heart shape from a dish sponge, and stamped onto some hessian.

A triangle piece of sponge created little Christmas trees. These have now been incorporated into bunting and tree decorations and some will be stuck to luggage labels as gift tags.

Here it is in the bunting - this is from a School of Craft kit that I adapted.

And made into tree ornaments. Two squares simply stitched together, use a frayed length of hessian stitched between the two pieces for a hanging loop. I like the rustic handmade look of these.

You could use this paint on all sorts of fabrics and if it's an item which will be laundered like clothing or soft furnishings, you can fix the colour by simply ironing with a hot iron.

There are no end of possibilities for Dylon fabric paints - you could decorate your Christmas table linen and napkins, personalise shopping bags and cushions, add names to Christmas stockings - the only limit is your imagination.

I've done one more thing with the paint to show you, but I should point out that Dylon customer services quite clearly advised me not to! I didn't listen though (does that make me a craft rebel).

I've been upcycling a jumper into lots of different things (more on that later) and wanted to make a hot water bottle cover as a Christmas present. I thought it would be nice to put a motto on the front, and as you just squeeze the paint out, it's easy to hand write, just as though you were using a pen.

Of course, it makes sense that as the 3D paint is only washable at 30 degrees, you shouldn't really use it with a hot water bottle that contains water at nearly 100 degrees. Just so you know.

I did a trial run before stitching together and laid my fabrics on top of a filled hot water bottle, to see if there were any untoward effects. There weren't, but bear in mind that I have 3 thick layers of wool material between the bottle and the paint.

Anyway, I think it was worth the risk - I love it!

Dylon fabric paints are available from all good haberdashery stores and branches of John Lewis, or check here for your nearest stockists.

What do you think? Have I inspired you?

Sponsored post: I was sent a selection of fabric paints to sample however no other reward was given. The opinions expressed here are my own.

Giveaway: Chocolate with a heart from Chocadores

2011-12-13T07:49:00.002-08:00

It's time to bring you another competition from my wonderful friends and sponsors, Chocadores.

They are passionate about the quality of the chocolate they stock, and about the ethics and credentials of the makers and chocolatiers they promote.

If you ever needed an excuse to eat delicious, rare, organic dark chocolate, then how about this. Original Beans will plant a tree for every bar purchased and each chocolate bar comes with it's own tracking number so you can trace the tree you've funded.

"Buy a bar - Plant a tree: Each bar contains a certificate with a lot number, which designates the location of a new tree so that customers can track their contribution. The people and partners behind Original Beans have come together across countries and backgrounds, drawn by a shared passion for farming, a love for the sweet delicacies of the Tropics, and a desire to foster innovation to conserve threatened rain forests."

Chocadores are giving away a bar of Porcelana chocolate by Original Beans to one lucky reader.

Need more persuasion?

"Discovered by Original Beans in 2006 in the foothills of the Andes, this “forgotten” white cacao, or “Porcelana”, in its original state is ultra-rare and appreciated for its exceptionally vibrant, fruity flavours. With tasting notes of Kumqat, lime, apricot, raspberry flavours and notes of toasted pecan. Silver medal winner at this year's Academy of Chocolate Awards."

If you'd like the chance to win, simply pop over to the Chocadores website, and take a look at the chocolate bars. Then I'd like you to leave a comment here saying which is your favourite bar wrapper/packaging and why. Chocadores will pick their favourite answer and one winner will be sent the bar in time for Christmas (depending on the mail!).

While you're there, why not check out all the amazing chocolate and coffee range if you're still looking for Christmas presents.

For extra entries you can do any of the following and leave a separate comment:

1. Follow Chocadores on Twitter
2. Follow me on Twitter
3. Tweet "I'm entering @missielizzieb's blog competition to win luxury chocolate with @chocadores. You can too here: http://bit.ly/tXrnHA"

This competition will end at 5pm on Sunday 18th December 2011. The judges decision is final. Entrants must leave a method of contact with their entry.

Make a Dancing Penguin

2011-12-13T02:27:00.000-08:00

The world's gone penguin crazy!

There's Happy Feet, Club Penguin - hell even David Attenborough's getting in on the action.

So I thought it might be fun to make our own, and it the spirit of recycling, I'm basing it on the Easter Chick we made earlier in the year. I was hoping Ruby wouldn't notice the glaring similarities, but she did. *note to self: must be a more creative and imaginative mummy.

You'll need:

Card
Poster paints in black, white and orange (or use coloured card)
4 split pin paper clips
Glue
Googly eyes and small piece of orange felt or card (optional)

We cut out the pieces from a template I made onto card. We used an old cereal box, but I think these would make nice Christmas cards, so next time we'll do it on 'good' card.

Feel free to click and print this template if you wish, or you'll need a circle for the head, 2 oval shapes for the body - one slightly smaller than the other, 2 feet and 2 wings.

Ruby then painted the shapes.

Once dry, assemble. Glue the white chest and black head to the black body, then use the split pins to attach the wings and feet. Add detail for the face, and your penguin is ready to boogie.

I did the cutting and making the holes for the pins, but Ruby managed the rest all by herself. I think she's made a great job of it!

Christmas Cupcakes

2011-12-12T09:54:00.000-08:00

The Fabulous Bakin' Boys have launched a new range of treats for the festive season.

The boxes of six cupcakes are available in either mint chocolate or orange chocolate, and we were sent some minty ones to try. Each box contains two each of milk; dark and white chocolate flavour topped cakes.

Each cake is individually wrapped so they suggest maybe popping one in your Christmas stocking - I'm sure Ruby would be more thankful of that than a satsuma or a walnut!

If you can get past the dinner lady mafia, maybe you could pop one in the lunchbox as a festive treat.

Don't get me wrong - these aren't what I'd call 'gourmet' cupcakes, but nor are they pretending to be. They are not what I would bring out for my poshest guests, but they're worthwhile having in the cupboard for unexpected visitors who seem to drop by, and they make a welcome change from the ubiquitous mince pie.

The cupcakes are available from supermarkets nationwide.

While I've got you, can I also tell you about a cool competition the Bakin' Boys are running at the moment. They are looking for a mini baker, so if you have a child aged under 12 years, and they have a passion for cooking, get them to enter their new cupcake suggestion here for a chance to win a trip to the bakery and see their cake being created.

Sponsored post: I received one box to sample and review however, no other reward was received. Any views expressed are my own.

Magpie Monday - Gimme the Drugs!*

2011-12-12T00:14:00.000-08:00

...by which I mean Lemsip and Throaties. Please also send chicken soup, hot water bottles and my new favourite tipple of choice - Port.

*not the hard stuff -don't do it kids it never ends well.

Yes, I'm laid up with flu - cue lots of ahhhs and sympathy.

This has however prompted my only thrifted purchase of the week... a new bathroom cabinet.

Since we left our cavernously huge cabinet behind when we moved house, our toiletries and stash of lotions, potions and ointments which rivals Boots the chemist has been variously stored in drawers and boxes around the house, so a new cabinet was very much on our to-do-list.

On Saturday we set off for a happy family outing to the DIY store (as you do), and happened to drive past a charity shop. One of those 'proper' charity shops where the stock spills out onto the pavement. And there stood a lovely mirrored, double door cabinet.

I made the old man pull up while I dragged my achey bones over to have a closer look. It was clean, neat and tidy and only £6.50. It looked just the ticket to me.

I could see him sat in the car shaking his head in a rather annoying fashion (this is why I shop alone), so I left it. When I got back in the car, he said it was clearly too small.

Oh yes, clearly. I mean you have a much better vantage parked the other side of the road, looking at it in your rear view mirror, than me, who is standing right next to it...

Anyway, off we continued to the DIY store. They had lots of choice of cabinets, but they were all much of a muchness size-wise. All pretty much like this. The EXACT same cabinet at £61.50.

Well, guess what? He decided that perhaps it was big enough after all so we went back to the charity shop to buy it.

We paid practically a tenth of the price, we re-used something that someone else no longer needed, and more importantly I scored a moral victory.

What have you been rescuing this week? Grab the badge and link up. x

Grab my button
and link to my blog

Handmade Christmas - Plant Pot Bird Feeder

2011-12-08T04:18:00.002-08:00

I thought it was about time I showed some tat-to-treasure posts, from some of my Magpie Monday hauls.

A couple of weeks back I picked up this lovely little stash of old terracotta tom pots for not very much money at all (as they're going to turn into gifts, I won't let on quite how tight I've been!).

The same day, I visited the Bedford Pop-Up shop which is showcasing and selling lovely wares from local artists and crafters. I bought these gorgeous tags from Scarlett Rebecca and I knew somehow I wanted to marry the two together.

So, based on the old favourite 'yoghurt-pot-bird-feeder' which I'm sure you've all made in the past, I made these lovely upcycled beauties. I hope they will be received as a thoughtful gift for someone who loves eco or vintage-style.

Here's what you need:

Vintage terracotta plant pots (you can buy modern ones in garden centres if you can't find old ones)
Bird seed
Strong string or twine
Beads or buttons larger than the drainage hole in the pot
Solid fat - vegetable, lard or dripping (from experience though, lard stinks, so better to use dripping or Pura)

If you're using recycled pots, first give them a quick wash and brush to remove any debris.

Loop and knot your string with a bead or button - it looks nice to have one inside the pot and one outside but bear in mind this will mean it won't stand upright, so may affect how you wrap the gift.

Ensure your hole is 'water-tight' whilst at the liquid fat stage by squashing some tin foil around it - there's nothing worse than liquid lard everywhere believe me!

Stand your pots upright in a cup or mug and fill with bird seed. Melt the fat gently in a saucepan until liquid and pour over until it is filled.

Refrigerate until solid and then it is ready for the birds to enjoy.

I've wrapped mine as gifts with tissue paper, cellophane, coloured raffia and of course, Scarlett's lovely tags. So much more grown up than a yoghurt pot I think, and the pot and be used to grow seedlings in come the spring!

If you like it, put a pin in it!

Pin It

Linking up with Handmade Thursday.

Wrap up for Winter with Lands' End

2011-12-06T05:14:00.000-08:00

I've reviewed clothing for Lands' End before, and so impressed was I with it, I placed orders myself, so it was really nice that they asked me to review a snugly winter coat - for me this time!

I chose the Diamond Down Jacket, which is shown beautifully by their lovely model on the site.

But for here, you'll have to make do with this second-rate model.

Matchey-matchey

The coat is available in Angel Blue, Deep Amethyst or Pink Begonia which I opted for. Super warm due to it's down filling it also has a water-resistant finish to keep you dry in that horrid drizzly mizzly weather we seem to be having.

I never remember to put a hat on so the hood with faux fur trim is a welcome addition when the winter winds pick up.

Say Hello Eskimo

Perfect for the nursery run; shopping and of course

Walking the dog

What do I like most about it? Well, apart from the undeniable warmth it gives, I love the shape and inner draw-cord which means you still have a waist and unlike some coats you're not left like some shapeless Michelin man.

The pocket linings are so incredibly soft, it's like slipping your hands into little pillows. They are lined with the softest fleece I've ever felt and there's also a little internal pocket for a handwarmer which is a nice touch.

It's very easy to move in and feels light unlike other winter coats. See how versatile it is!

I can do this

and this

and for the boys

Negatives? To be honest I'd have preferred it a teensy bit longer to cover my derriere, but I have that problem with a lot of jackets and jumpers - guess I have a long body. There is some feather loss as they do occasionally work their way to the surface and poke through the fabric - like you get on a duvet. I have to be careful not to wear it with leggings and Uggs and big gold hoop earrings or I'd end up looking a bit Bianca Jackson.

But overall, I do love this coat. The temperature has dropped here over the last couple of days and I'm already feeling the benefit of the down filling. I think it's going to keep me snug through whatever the great British weather throws at me.

Sponsored post: I was sent this coat free of charge for the purpose of this review, however any opinions expressed are my own and are honest.

On the radio

2011-12-05T04:18:00.000-08:00

Did I mention I was on the radio this weekend?

No, actually I probably didn't. So terrified was I of screwing up and humiliating myself that I tried not to let on. The idea being, if it went well I could let people listen on iplayer, and if it didn't I'd keep my trap shut.

Well, guess what - it did go well. Considering.

Considering that speaking in public is one of my biggest phobias. That I was freaking out I'd blurt out a tourettes style string of expletives and blasphemy. That I was nervous one of my family would ring in and out me as a take-away lovin' fraud. That I was in the same studio as amazing cooks and chefs who would make my pile-it-high food look like something from a pig's trough...

Bricking it

Nick Coffer (aka My Daddy Cooks) has been trying to get me to guest on his BBC 3 Counties Weekend Kitchen radio show for a while now. I've always managed to slopey-shoulder it, but eventually his producer pinned me down, and Saturday was the day.

I had to produce a main and a dessert, so after much deliberation I decided to use up some of the marmalade I've been making and stock-piling, and came up with Sticky Spicy Pork Belly

and Orange Panettone Pudding.

You can download the free fact sheet with the recipes here.

and listen to the show here - but be quick it's only available until the end of the week.

Listen to James Perry talking about his amazingly perfect food

and Katie Khakpour-Smith from The Charming Cupcake Company explains how to make beautiful chocolate ganache at home to give as Christmas gifts.

My food seemed to go down fairly well. Everyone's still alive as far as I can make out, and Nick cleared his plate.

Do try the pork belly recipe. It's a great budget family dish (a £2.50 piece of pork belly feeds us three), and it's a lovely one to make when you're home all day and can enjoy the lovely aromas that fill the house.

What a great experience! I loved it. My poor old man got a ribbing about still not proposing after 8 1/2 years, and my mother-in-law was mortified that I'd told everyone I was wearing second-hand jeans, but apart from that I think everyone was proud of little old me.

Huge thanks to Nick and his producer Emma for having me along. Thanks to James for his amazing food, and to Katie for her scrumptious choccies and master class, and good luck with her imminent arrival. x

Magpie Monday - On the tiles and in my drawers

2011-12-05T02:21:00.000-08:00

There are a few characteristics I think you need to be a successful second-hand shopper.

One of the most important ones to me is foresight - long foresight! When you see something in a charity shop or at a boot sale, you need to be able to think how you can use it and incorporate it into your home - if not now, at some point in the future. You need to seize the moment and grab it while you can, because chances are it won't be there the next day, the next week and certainly not the next month.

You need patience. Things on your 'want list' don't always turn up straight away, and equally you may buy something that waits in the shadows for some time before it can fully shine.

It also helps if you have an understanding other half/plenty of storage space/no desire for an uncluttered house, but we wont dwell on those points.

Take my box of old tiles I bought. About 4 years ago, I spotted a box of beautiful ceramic tiles hiding in a crate under a table in the Red Cross shop. They were priced at 50p each, but I asked if I could take the whole box. I got them for £10, pretty good because there were two designs, some border tiles and certainly way more than 20 individual tiles.

I couldn't find a use for them in our house at the time, so they sat biding their time in the shed. When we recently moved house I knew instantly that they'd be perfect for the living room hearth, so when we re-decorated I asked the old man to take out the existing tiles from the fireplace.

I've never seen him move so quick, and he'd got them out before I had chance to take a picture, but here they are chucked in our garden awaiting a new fate.

There was nothing particularly wrong with them, they were just plain old utilitarian quarry tiles, and certainly nothing special to look at.

Unlike these:

He's done a fantastic job, and the 'new' tiles totally transform the whole room. They look like they were meant to be. It makes me happy that they have been given a new life and will be enjoyed for many years to come.

We still have the other design, and I'm hoping after this successful mission, I can persuade him indoors to make a splash back for the bathroom sink.

Oh, I promised you a look inside my drawers too didn't I?

Well (adopts husky M&S voice), these are not just any drawers...

Not only are they special because I managed to get them for the knock-down price of a tenner on eBay, they are special because they do this:

I am not one to worship at the alter of HD, and don't like the over-riding feature in a room to be the telly. In our previous house the TV was kept hidden away in original built-in cupboards, and we really found it was a case of 'out of sight, out of mind'. We switched on the telly much less, because it wasn't in your face, so I was on the hunt for a TV cabinet.

To be honest, this wasn't exactly what I had in mind. I wanted a white painted one, or one I could paint myself, but when this came up I thought it was so unusual I put a bid in. Now I guess I'll have to re-think what other furniture we'll get, because I can't paint this!

What second-hand gems have you found? What do you think are the traits needed for great charity shopping?

Grab the badge and link up. x

Grab my button
and link to my blog

Christmas Craft Kits

2011-12-04T10:12:00.000-08:00

If you've been reading the blog these past few months, you'll know I've loved attending School of Craft's sewing lessons.

I've re-kindled my love affair with my machine and realised how relaxing hand sewing can be. I've stitched and made gifts that I'd have never have thought possible, so I want to say a HUGE thanks to Jo for this.

My last School of Craft event was a few weeks ago, when I went to one of their 'Crafternoons'. What a lovely way to spend a Saturday! In a nice hotel, with lots of lovely new friends, chatting, munching cake, drinking coffee and making Christmas decorations.

We each chose one of the new, specially designed kits, and set to. The beautifully packaged boxes contain everything you need for each project - right down to the pins and a needle. So if you're a new sewer, or looking for something you can pop in your bag and do on the go, these are perfect. The materials used are natural fibres and excellent quality.

At the Crafternoon, I chose the little padded hanging hearts. They were simple to make and have a lovely rustic homemade feel about them. The kit contains enough material, thread and padding to make five hearts (of course, I'm know for my tightness when cutting out, so I managed to squeeze six out!)

I heart hearts

Since I had the pattern, once back home, I raided my cupboards, and have made more. I'm stitching some blue ones without hangers to pop in a glass jar in the bedroom.

and some diddy pink ones for Ruby's tree

I also bought a Christmas bunting kit, which I've yet to do, and Jo kindly sent me a stocking kit for me to review here. I loved making the stockings. Her template designs are perfect - I can never seem to draw a decent stocking! The toe detail with contrasting fabric really makes them special.

Look at my stockings!

Because I'm slightly OCD about decorating the tree, I've made colour co-ordinated ones for our living room!

The kits probably take about 2 hours to complete, and as it's hand stitching, it's perfect for doing in front of weekend trashy TV!

The kits are available to buy in the We are Bedford pop-up shop, and online at School of Craft's new Folksy shop for £12.50 each. They are great value, as literally the only thing you need to supply yourself is a pair of scissors.

Grab while you can - the kits were featured in The Telegraph magazine this weekend, which is an amazing achievement - well done Jo! x

Featured in a proper newspaper -how cool is that?

Disclosure: I was sent one kit to review free of charge, however I've purchased two more myself and am a regular customer.

Extreme Housewifery

2011-11-29T09:04:00.000-08:00

So they reckon that an average housewife is worth over £30,000 if they were paid a professional wage for all the tasks they carry out... Childcare; cleaning; laundry; cooking and grocery shopping all add up if you were to pay an outsider to do these roles. Add to that, the PA role shopping around for car insurance, taking messages; waiting in for deliveries; trips to the dry cleaners and organising holidays...the list is endless.

Well, I say we need danger money too!

Fortunately I haven't been as unlucky as the poor soul who recently died following a freak accident, after tripping over and landing on the knives in the cutlery basket of the open dishwasher. This made my blood run cold when I read about it, and it has convinced me to make sure all my cutlery is pointing downwards in the dishwasher!

Still, this past month, I have managed to:

nearly knock out my front teeth and (I suspect) break my nose after the hose came off the end of the vacuum cleaner and the metal pipe flicked up and whacked me full on in the face. For days on end I'd wake up and rush to the mirror to check my teeth hadn't started going black. My nose still hurts now nearly 4 weeks later.

suffer agony when I accidentally squirted dishwasher rinse aid in my eye whilst opening the sachet. Even after pouring water to flush it out of my eye for about half an hour, I was convinced I was going to go blind.

no sooner had my eye recovered that I suffered a freak laundry accident. Pulling one end of a pair of my tights out of the wash bin, it suddenly came loose flicking back directly into my open eye and whacking me on the eyeball!

Seriously, this housework lark is fraught with danger - be careful out there!

What's the weirdest household injury you've suffered?

Sponsored post.

Angel Wings Pillowcase Pyjamas

2011-11-29T06:26:00.000-08:00

I've recently become quite addicted to following Domestic Goddesque's pillowcase PJ tutorial, making PJ trousers out of old pillowcase - go check it out, it's fabulously easy and you can knock up a pair of pj trousers for your little one in about half an hour - 1 hour.

I do a lot of charity shop buying, so it's great to finally have another use for all the pretty, but lonely single pillowcases I've accumulated ( there's also Domestic Goddesque's pillowcase skirt tutorial, and a dress tutorial on Red Ted Art).

After making the pyjama trousers. I've been using some of the leftover fabric to applique onto a plain T Shirt to make a co-ordinating top. But this time, I wanted to do something a little bit different, so I came up with the angel wings PJs.

Perhaps a little pair of horns and a trident would be more appropriate, but I'm hoping some of the angelic vibe will rub off on Ruby - particularly at bedtime!

First, make your trousers as per the tutorial linked above.

You should be left with a piece of fabric which looks something like this:

I'm very ~~tight~~ frugal with my fabric, and try to get as much out of it as possible. Draw a basic angel wing template on paper (keep it simple as you'll be machine zig-zagging around it!).

Choose a plain T Shirt, that's a good fit for your child, to turn into your PJ top. Judge the size of your wings by placing your paper template against the shoulder/back area of the T Shirt.

Next, you'll need some Bondaweb. This can be bought quite reasonably by the 1/4 metre from haberdashery stores. Transfer your design onto the smooth, paper side of the Bondaweb. Flip the template over so you have a 2nd wing in reverse.

Roughly cut out each shape leaving a cm or two all the way around. Place your shape with your drawing side uppermost, onto the WRONG side of your fabric. Hold a hot iron onto the paper for about 20 seconds, until it has fully bonded.

Now cut out accurately around the outline. Peel off the paper backing and place onto your T Shirt (remember, these are wings, so you're ironing these on the back of the T Shirt!).

When you're happy with the positioning, again press with a hot iron for 20 seconds or so until the fabric is fully adhered to the T Shirt.

Set your sewing machine to a short, close zig-zag setting and stitch all the way around the outline. Once that is complete, you can go back and add detail.

That leftover piece of fabric was bugging me, and looking at it I thought it would make a perfect pyjama case.

Now Ruby has a pair of angel wing PJs and their own little pouch, perfect for overnight stays! And if you decide to make these as a Christmas gift, they'll be ready wrapped!

I think these would look so pretty made from a crisp, white cotton pillowcase, with a bright contrasting stitch to applique the wings on. What do you think?

Pop over to Red Ted Art to see more Santa and Angel craftiness!

Magpie Monday - Chicken in a Bucket

2011-11-28T02:19:00.000-08:00

Not much thrifting for me this week I'm afraid.

We've been working hell for leather to get the house decorated for Christmas - not decorated as in 'hang up a few baubles and holly' more the 'ripping wallpaper down, re-painting and sanding floors' kind of decorating.

Yesterday we grabbed a few hours off, and after the vile chicken I bought for Sunday dinner from the local supermarket the other week, we decided to drive to the next village and go to the posh supermarket in search of a poulet who hadn't been pumped full of water and goodness knows what else.

A quaint, Georgian market village, much like Midsomer without the crime rate, there was clearly a hullabaloo going on there as we arrived. The supermarket car park was full, and part of it had been sectioned off to accommodate a Christmas fete of some sort.

Every member of the population here seems to be in either the WI or the Lions, so there were plenty of mulled wine and home-baked cakes on offer. The scouts were roasting their nuts, and the Morris dancers jangling their bells.

Never to miss an opportunity to sniff out a bric-a-brac possibility, we ambled over, and sure enough there was a local charity stand selling all manner of wares.

Under the table I spotted a wooden bucket, which the stall-holder authoritatively told me was for putting my Christmas tree in. For 50p I couldn't refuse it.

I may beg to differ. It might well be planted up with spring bulbs and then hold host to some herbs in the summer. For now I'm deciding whether to paint it or leave it au naturel. What do you think?

Grab my button
and link to my blog

Win a family ticket to London Dungeons

2011-11-25T02:47:00.000-08:00

It doesn't seem five minutes since the last half term and before we know it the kid's will be breaking up for Christmas.

If you're looking for a fun day out, or things to do in London to reward the kids for trailing around the sales, why not treat them to a trip with a spooky insight into 1,000 years of London's darkest history.

One of the top London attractions, this has surely got to be on most kids to-do list.

Find out about the Great Fire of London; the plague; Jack the Ripper and loads more in the most terrifying history lesson you'll ever experience!

You can win a family entrance ticket for 2 adults and 2 children right here. The ticket is also valid for Blackpool, York or Edinburgh if you cannot get to London.

To enter, simply leave me a comment below to let me know you wish to enter. Please remember to leave a method of contact.

You can gain an extra entry by tweeting "I'm entering @missielizzieb's blog competition to win a family ticket to the London dungeons here: http://bit.ly/vpTNze Mwah ha ha." Leave a separate comment to say you have done so.

The winner will be drawn at random after the closing date of Wednesday 30th November 2011 at 7pm. UK entrants only.

Sponsored Post: We received a complimentary ticket for hosting this competition and the prize is fulfilled by London Dungeon's PR company.

Sylvanian Families have sucked us in!

2011-11-25T02:20:00.000-08:00

A lovely PR lady contacted me to see if we'd like to review some of the best selling ranges of Sylvanian Families sets of the year.

Launched in 1985 these little critters passed my by as a child so I wasn't entirely sure what we were letting ourselves in for.

A very clever piece of PR has taken myself and Ruby by the hand and sucked us into a vortex, where we spend our days happily skipping around Sylvania pretending to be little fuzzy mammals, dressing up and playing house. I'm not sure there's any escape.

We were sent the motorcycle and sidecar, complete with George and Mildred raccoon who go on lovely raccoon OAP day-trips. George wears his vintage helmet and goggles, while Mildred wraps up under her shawl, giving directions to George, who presumably is too stuck in his ways to invest in a sat-nav.

The biggest thing to happen in (the real world) 2011 was of course the Royal Wedding, so it's no surprise that the Wedding Celebration Set did very well. The whole party is here including bridesmaids and pageboys, all ready for a Sylvanian wedding breakfast.

I loved the fact that the press release suggested using William and Catherine Balmoral bunnies as wedding cake toppers. If I do ever manage to persuade Ruby's Daddy to tie the knot, I suspect she'd like nothing more than a Sylvanian themed wedding. We'd hold it in the Regency Hotel, and she'd presumably have me and Grandad arriving on the motorcycle and sidecar. I do fear however, that this would have Daddy running for the hills...

It is very easy to lose yourself in the world of Sylvanian Families. The attention to detail on all the figures and accessories is incredible and the play sets literally cover every aspect of life in Sylvania you could possibly imagine.

Check out Flair Plc's website for more inspiration. Also available from major toy retailers.

Now, if you'll excuse me, George is taking me for a day trip on the bike so I must away...

Sponsored post: We were sent the two sets to sample free of charge, however all views expressed are my own and I expect to see Flair Plc's profits soar if Ruby's Christmas list is anything to go by.

Handmade Advent Calendar

2011-11-24T02:27:00.000-08:00

This week I whiled away a happy couple of hours making this advent for Ruby. I'm pretty pleased with the results.

Made from covered matchboxes it really can be made for pennies. I bought the matches in bulk and they worked out about 7p each (of course, I still have the matches...and ideas for this little lot? Crafting...large bonfire...)

I've not really done papercraft before, but enjoyed wielding a craft knife. I used decorative papers that came free with a magazine and some old magazines and maps. First cut out a cardboard template then cut your papers to size. Cover the matchbox outer using Pritt stick or similar, then add your numbers. I used silver stickers for the numbering but you could print and cut numbers.

Finally, I filled each box with a little treat for Ruby - hair bobbles and slides, rubbers and pencil sharpener, mini candy canes...

I saw a similar idea on the interweb and now I'm damned if I can find it again (Pinterest - hurry up and send me an invite!), so thanks to whoever I borrowed this from.

What I like most about it is you can adapt it to fit any look - use magazines, comics, wallpaper etc. You can also adapt the advent gifts to match the person.

I can't wait for the 1st of December now.

Stick 'em up! A Giveaway from Scotch

2011-11-22T12:38:00.000-08:00

Every now and then, a product comes along that sounds just perfect.

I was offered the chance to try some Scotch Restickable Tabs, and I have to say, these tick a lot of boxes for me:

They are perfect for craft activities
They are re-usable - once the stickiness is lost, wash them in soapy water and they can be used again
They are transparent so can be used on glass 'invisibly'
They remove cleanly (although not recommended for use on wallpaper, delicate surfaces or 'flat' paint)

Each tab is capable of holding up to a quarter of a pound in weight, so I thought I'd give them a go. I tried them out to hang fairy lights in Ruby's room. Although I used quite a lot of tabs to evenly distribute the weight, so far so good!

Sadly I didn't find them terribly effective at holding fabrics - they don't hold up my bunting (sob). However, I'm looking forward to using these to stick up our Christmas cards this year, and may even use them to make some cards myself - they'd be ideal for getting a slight 3D effect on paper crafts.

Scotch Restickable Tabs are available from Rymans, Staples http://www.3mselect.co.uk/ and other outlets, but I have 5 packs to give away...

If you'd like to get your sticky mitts on a pack, simply leave a comment below telling me what you'd stick with them.

For an additional entry (leave a separate comment) please tweet: "I want to get my sticky mitts on Scotch Restickable Tabs with @missielizzieb http://bit.ly/ubH73S"

This competition is open to UK entrants only. Please ensure you leave contact details eg Twitter ID or email. The five winners will be chosen at random. Entries close at 5pm on Wednesday 30th December 2011.

Sponsored post: I was kindly sent a sample of the tabs and the giveaway prizes are sponsored by Scotch Tape.

Magpie Monday - Yet more crafty finds!

2011-11-21T02:19:00.000-08:00

I was so happy (more happy than is probably within the bounds of 'normal' behaviour if I'm honest) with the results of my upcycled granny blanket, that this week I've been on the hunt for more trash that I can turn into treasure.

The worst thing about moving out to the sticks is the fact that I now only have one local charity shop to peruse on a regular basis. To be truthful, I don't like it much. It's run by an army of women-of-a-certain-age who tend to look most affronted if you enter the shop part way through their important ~~gossiping~~ conversations. They also stock the shop in the most minimal manner possible, I suspect only offering things that they would personally give house-room to. Suffice to say, my taste is not their taste.

So, I've rediscovered the joy of eBay! I'd forgotten how much I love having toot delivered to my door.

I purchased these old keys for a song (I won't reveal prices this week as I'm planning on turning everything into something else and they may well end up being given as gifts). So, the question is, what on earth am I going to do with a bunch of rusty old keys?

On Saturday I was back in my old town attending my first School of Craft Crafternoon. More on that later, but I spent a blissful 3 hours stitching, drinking coffee and eating cake, so it doesn't get much better than that.

I couldn't be in the vicinity of my favourite house clearance shop without popping in for a mooch - it would be rude not to. I picked up these pretty old terracotta tom pots, again for a brilliant price.

I've already worked out exactly what I'm going to make with these, so I just hope it turns out as it is in my head. I love the old markings on the pots - according to Google these are possibly Victorian. Two of them are marked as being produced in Nottingham, so if my plan turns out there may be a couple of Twitter friends up that way getting a crafty Christmas present in the post! Any ideas what I'm plotting?

This pretty little pillowcase is also destined for other things, and that will feature on the blog soon. I love the yellow cabbage roses on it, but a single pillowcase is not much use on it's own.

Finally, I bought a wooden box of dominoes. I'm sure these have brilliant crafting possibilities, I just can't think of them right now. I remember Faith Hope and Charity Shopping made a cool domino brooch, so maybe that. Or does anyone have any other bright ideas?

So, what (most likely, more sensible) second-hand purchases have you made lately?

Grab the badge and link up x

Grab my button
and link to my blog

The No-Crochet Crocheted Poncho!

2011-11-16T11:30:00.000-08:00

A little while ago I was mooching around a craft market. I spotted some beautiful crocheted kid's ponchos. They really were lovely, but at around £15 each they were a bit pricey for my budget. Don't get me wrong, I'm not begrudging the price, I'm sure they took hours and hours to make and when you take that into account, £15 was actually very reasonable.

However, I know I can pick up hand crocheted granny blankets for a couple of quid in almost any charity shop I go in, and these were essentially little crocheted granny blankets with a hole in the middle...

(did you hear the penny drop then?)

I present to you, the cheat's crochet poncho...

First you need to find a suitable granny blanket. We have loads of these, I can't resist buying them, but to be honest apart from letting Ruby use them to make little beds for her dolls all over the house, I was never entirely sure what to do with them!

Search in charity shops, you can usually find them for £3-4 or less depending on size. The animal rescue shelter shops seem to be a good place to look. They must have an army of crocheters making blankets to chilly canines and cold cats.

So, you'll need a blanket with a central square. Once found, fold in half diagonally into a triangle to gauge the size - chase your small child around the shop in an attempt to see if it will be the right size - fend off disapproving looks from shop staff.

Once back home, gather your supplies. You'll need your blanket, some matching or contrasting wool and scissors. A large needle will also help.

Real crocheters should probably look away now. You'll either be horrified at what I'm about to do, or you'll be wetting yourself laughing at my total lack of understanding of the mechanics of crochet.

So, check your central square will fit over the head. You can just do this by eye, but Ruby thought it was funny for me to measure her head (as well as making little beds everywhere, she's also obsessed with measuring things). For the record, her head measures 52 cm.

You'll need a length of yarn about twice the length of the circumference of the square (do squares have circumferences? Or is that just circles? Oh, you get what I mean!).

I wanted my yarn thicker than a strand of wool, so I took three lengths and plaited them together. If you can't find matching wool, you could always use ribbon instead.

Fold your blanket in half into a triangle again, and starting at the bottom point of the internal square, thread your yarn through the last loops of the preceding square (see what I mean about lack of crocheting technical ability? I have absolutely no idea of the terminology, so why don't you look at the picture instead).

Continue threading all the way around. In hindsight, when I realised that it wouldn't actually unravel before my eyes, you could do the cutting first, then threading. This would give you a bit more room to manoeuvre, but I was too scared!

Now comes the scary part. Start cutting the middle square away from the rest of the blanket, careful not to cut through the other colour or your yarn you've just threaded.

Keep cutting all the way around, until you have completely removed the interior square.

I'm sure there's probably a thriftier way of doing this so you can re-use the wool from the centre, but hey, I'm just a snippy snappy happy kinda girl.

Your poncho is now basically complete. I made some pompoms to add to the ends of the ties, but you could thread on beads or tassels - anything really to decorate the ends and stop them from pulling back through.

Hey presto! I'm not sure if I should admit this, but although I made it for Ruby, I've actually been wearing this around the house myself! It's lovely and cosy and the old man is pleased because he's muttering something about turning the central heating down.

Hope you liked this little tutorial, and apologies to real crocheters out there!

Linking up here:

and here:

also featured on the Thrifty Families Blog Carnival