small kitchen tales

  I am not a list person, I just do.   Now remembering to do, that is another thing. This week I just plan to do a few simple things, too many things and I get a bit flustered. This week my most important thing is to hang out with the little guy, he needs me, he is calmer when we do things together, I get way more cuddles and "i love you mummy"'s and you know what... I love it , I can cuddle him all day long if he'd let me and he would let me .   (and...I won't get angry with him when he falls off the chair at the cafe and spills the coffees & breaks the mug...) This week I am going to send off some cards, just because I think it's nice to receive a handwritten message in the mail.  It won't be anything poetic or significant, just a hello because I want to. I got random.org to choose some names for me from here Nikki , Claire , Littlemisspip , Anushka , Kellie , Cat , Tracey , Jess , Melissa and Libbie Can you please email me your addresses...

  for cups of tea (again)     honey pancakes drawings of me smiling tidy creative space wonderful surprise mail from sweet friends far away Happy Earth Hour and grateful weekend friends and why don't you pop round and say hi to my awesome buddy , she'd lufff it ♥ ✗ ♡

Time does fly when you are having fun! I have had a year of ups and downs, hopefully more ups than downs, but you know what, you stuck by m.e and made me smile every time you popped by and left a sweet word.  Every time you sent me an email, every time you shared a bit more about you and wanted to find out a bit more about me. This year has been more about me as a person, a mum, someone who likes to create more things than just a cake or a cupcake and I enjoyed it. So I once again thank you for allowing me to be me and talking back so i knew that you were listening. Huge love, hugs, hearts and cupcakes to you lovely friends ♥ ✗ ♡

We went blackberry picking again and came home and made you a cake. Blackberry Cake print me ingredients 2 eggs 40ml olive or vegetable oil 100g caster sugar zest of one lemon 1 cup buttermilk * 300g plain flour 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder fresh blackberries or any other fresh berries raw sugar for sprinkling method Preheat oven to 190C/170C fan, grease and line with baking paper a 25cm square tin or 30cm rectangular tin whisk eggs until light and fluffy, add oil sugar and lemon zest and keep whisking for another few minutes, then add buttermilk and continue whisking until well combined sift in the flour and baking powder and just mix until combined pour into prepared tin and gently scatter over blackberries until cake is covered sprinkle with raw sugar and bake for 30-35 min and test with a skewer * how to make buttermilk : 1 tablespoon of vinegar in a cup and then fill up to 1 cup with milk, set aside for about 10 minutes at room temperature i guess that me...

I love that we are just a group of girls chatting away, talking about our problems, sipping tea, reading about each other and feeling like we all belong to this group that no one outside it can understand. I love that I was able to share my sadness and that you knew exactly what to say to make me feel better, that I wasn't alone, I am not going crazy, you knew because you felt it at some time or another. I love that you sent me personal emails as well with your stories and that you didn't mind telling me what you are going through or have been through. I love that you are there for me if I needed a chat. I love that your arms opened up sooo wide to let me in. So today I am especially grateful for your big open arms that made things a little better even if for a moment... thank you ♥ ✗ ♡

Hand carved stamps, quite relaxing to make and good for some lunchbox surprises. Happy creating friends. I don't know what to say, you guys are fabulous... thanks ♥ ✗ edited to add links for supplies Speedball Rubber Blocks Tools ♡

I feel a bit like this lately, i haven't been around much, google reader says I'm on 1.9 posts a week.  I'm feeling a bit flat, a bit emotional, things get a little difficult to cope with.  Tantrums and squabbles are just too difficult. The camera is not my best friend at the moment, the images just don't seem to work like I want them to.   I get like this every so often, I deal with it and keep going.   The fuzziness is slowly creeping back. What is happening around the globe is upsetting. My heart goes out to them. I have been "sad"* before and I just deal with it on my own.  Do you ever get like this, for no reason, just because?  What do you say to a 5yr old that asks why you were crying?   Hugs to you and sending hugs to a gorgeous girl who is on the road to dealing with her struggles. ✗ ♡ * varying degrees of depression 

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for yummy, well dressed hot mugs of soy chai with honey and a jar full of wonderfully coloured jellybeans Hope you are having a grateful day, a grateful weekend, or even a grateful moment or two. I am grateful for your wonderful sweet words, I am not ignoring you, I love that you pop by, I am just a little behind with replies and popping round. Big squishy hugs to you ♥ ✗ ♡

It was international Women's day the other day and I lucky enough to enjoy a few morning gatherings and a wonderfully organised movie screening with lots of other women. I enjoyed a few hours of being a woman, not just a mum, not just a partner, but a woman. Today I am celebrating creativity around me. The henna tattoo on my hand was a creation by a talented woman from India t he fabric covered canvas I made so I can store my beautiful brooches created by lots of other wonderfully creative and talented women the lovely family portrait by the little guy framed and admired the magic of liquid chalk for drawing on the window and practising our school words   and of course the gorgeous girls in the background creating what they do best... a bit of a mess. Hope you have had a day full of creativity and enjoyed being a woman ♥ ✗ ♡

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