I'm Feeling CRAFTY!

As the build up to Christmas is getting near I am certainly getting in the spirit. I can't believe that in one week and three days it will be December and that means we are allowed to go out and buy our tree *squeals with excitement*. This year, we will buy it from our local farm Bluebells Dairy as they are grown locally and that feels good to me.
Last week my mum presented me with a surprise and it was the most amazing surprise ever! I'm really hard to surprise as I snoop everything out but this...THIS I never found out about. My mum has been working hard for months on the advent calender above. It's for Benjamin and now we have a little heirloom that will stay in the family. Apparently she was supposed to give it me sooner but my dad ate all of the chocolates in the pockets so mum had to buy some more.
I am also enjoying sherry at the minute. I have only ever tried Harvey's Bristol Cream but I decided to go for it and buy Aldi's own version and I honestly couldn't tell the difference. I could tell the difference when I saw the change in my purse!

 

I have been making a lot of bunting lately as presents for Christmas. I think it so much fun to make, it is quick and yet makes a lovely gift that someone can decorate their room with. Paris, butterfly's, flowers you name it! You can just use leftover scraps of fabric and it still looks effective.

The last picture is of a gift my friend Sarah over at Sarah's Witters made for Benjamin's birthday. She is really good at felt craft and I was so chuffed that she made this and I could display on Ben's door. I've ordered a couple of bits off her for Christmas presents as I really love hand made presents and hope others will too.

 

Are you feeling festive yet!? How are you preparing for it? 

Lately

I like having piles of books to look at on my lamp table. Piles of non-fiction books or magazines or cook books or craft books. Then when, if ever, I get a moment to sit down I can flick through them. I like to surround myself with inspiration whether it be inspirational literature, people or activities. Lately, I am loving 'The Food Doctor'. Not that I want to diet or lose weight I just enjoy learning about what is good for you. It's common sense really but I want to adjust our meals and snacks to healthier options to indulge in a healthier lifestyle. In contradiction, you may notice this book lies almost sheepishly on top of Annie Bell's Baking Bible! Oops.

I'm not saying I don't want treats because I do but they don't always have to be chocolate covered or pastry lined! For example, this evening I made a batch of healthy(ish) apricot and oat flapjacks. I like to make a batch of something on a Sunday to pop into Luke's pack up and for Ben to have something different to snack on.

300g butter
200g organic set honey
450g oats
1tbs dried aprictos
1tbs sesame seeds
1/2 tsp ginger

This recipe is EASY, QUICK and requires only TWO POTS!

Melt the butter and honey. Add the remaining ingredients until combined. Pour into a lined, shallow tin. Bake in a pre-heated oven at 180degrees for 25-30 mins. Cut into squares immediately but leave to cool and set in the tin. DONE!

Our Christmas presents are almost complete. We have bought and wrapped most of them using last years M&S sale wrapping paper. I don't know about you but we always have a couple of people that we only want to spend a couple of pound on but don't want it to be some useless tat that will go in the bin. In these instances I usually opt for food gifts! Hence the crackers and chutney from my work. I don't mean to be biased but I would be over the moon with a little gift like that!

Finally, I will share with you my Christmas cake disaster! I usually make Nigel Slater's Christmas cake however I decided to try the Betty's recipe instead to see how they compare. I came across the recipe in my Good Food magazine subscription and was pleasantly surprised to see how easy this new recipe would be. So, last week I let my fruit soak overnight and got to work the following day only realising once I put it in the oven that I had measured everything in MILLILITRES and not grams! I could have sobbed. A lot of people said the ml>g measurement shouldn't make that much of a difference but it did and I had to get rid of it in the end. Since this catastrophe I haven't bothered re doing it. I keep drinking the sherry instead!

How has your Christmas cake turned out? Hopefully better than mine!

£2.50 Table Lamp and Benjamin Bedroom Overview

I have been searching high and low for a table lamp for Benjamin's bedroom that didn't cost the earth. Places such as Dunelm, Matalan or BHS had a small range of lamps with nothing that fit the bill. One that I found was on the Laura Ashley website and it had a white base with a blue gingham shade however I couldn't justify paying £35 for a lamp plus p&p. I like classic designs and it seemed that I couldn't get one anywhere for a reasonable price.

Whilst I was at a car boot earlier this year I picked up the above lamp shade for 50p. It was brand new in its packaging and I thought it would be the perfect size for his room. All I needed now was a base and I found the design I liked in a charity shop for £1.50. Admittedly, it was dark brown and had a horrid shade attached to it but I saw past that and using the white paint I had used for the book shelf I painted over it. Once it was dry I sanded a couple of areas to give it a slight shabby chic effect and then the lamp shade fit perfectly.

When I look around Benjamin's room I absolutely love it as I feel it is personal to us. I also appreciate how little money I've actually spent on it and yet how effective it is. Yes it is a bit mix and match and not everything flows but that is almost what makes it work.

Bedside table was in the sale for £20



Alexander Clarke Print found in charity shop for £2.50

Upcycled Chest of drawers

Peek inside Benjamin's wardrobe showcasing all of grandma's hand knitted jumpers.

When you have a baby on the way it is easy to get swayed into Mama's and Papa's complete Nursery collection but I urge you to think twice as the majority of it is only used for a short period of time and by using different bits and bobs you can make it unique to you and your baby.

Recent Book Reading

This book is one I would never, ever choose to read. It shouts love - heartbreak - and then a happily ever after, predictable story line. I rarely read a girly, chick lit type book but my mum recommended this to me and assured me it was really worth a read and I am so glad I did. I couldn't wait to read the next page and the story line was actually rather UNpredictable!
It follows Holly, a single mum who one day comes across a charm bracelet at work in her Vintage shop. After having her own charm bracelet since a young girl and knowing how much it means to her, she decides to embark on a journey to return the charm bracelet to its rightful owner by working out what each of the charms mean. Sounds a bit watery when I write the plot out but you can't guess where she ends up and it is quite a magical tale set in the weeks leading up to Christmas in a bustling New York scene.

The book I am currently reading is The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck. I absolutely love reading books about other cultures and discovering stories about how they lived many years ago. I will give a full review once I have finished it but if you are considering a new book, I definitely recommend this so far!

Recently

Recently life has been moving far to quick for my liking. Surely Christmas can't be just 7 weeks away? I know I have been excited about it but it is creeping up on us just a little too quickly. When I know it is almost Christmas I always know it is almost New Year and I am not ready for 2014. I am still quite enjoying 2013 and can't get my head around it being almost over.

I feel like at the start of this year there was so much to look forward to such as weddings and holidays and Benjamin milestones and now I look back at them in the past. They're just in my memory now.

Recently we went to an amazing wedding at Peckforton Castle, in Cheshire. Free bar, stunning 3 course meal, hog roast, out of this world four poster bed. Need I say more?

 

 

The wedding had an amazing Autumnal theme running throughout. As you drove up to the castle there were pumpkins all along the drawbridge walls, with carved out hearts and tea lights flickering within. The whole ceremony area had scented tea lights and cinnamon sticks creating the most warming, atmospheric reception. The table plan was in an ice sculpture with fallen leaves and conkers which I thought was so unique.

It really made me consider an Autumnal wedding! You know, if Luke was to EVER propose. (Hint Hint Luke) I mean, you know what you are getting with the weather and you can make such a cosy, lovely wedding using some of natures products!

Benjamin stayed at my parents for the weekend so it was a real treat for me and Luke to spend a night together not having to worry about anything. It is important to have these moments together as we are still a couple, not just mum and dad.

What do you consider a treat?

Some people may say a shopping spree or a holiday, a trip to the cinema or a meal out.

For me? It is as simple as a lie in any time past 6:30am, a spontaneous hug from Benjamin, an hour alone on my sewing machine or a Saturday visiting friends and family.

I have truly learnt the value of money since moving out of my parents house and having Benjamin. I have learnt to budget, to plan menu's and to say no to things when I can't afford them. I have turned into less of a materialistic person too. I never look for things such as clothes and make up for myself but rather I look for clothes for Benjamin and offers on bath products. And spending time with family and friends or enjoying time in my own home, free of charge is much more full filling.

Sounds silly but sometimes it's more fun not having loads of money (I'm sure if I had money I might not be saying this!) What I mean is it's nice planning and organising where your money will be going for the month, any money you put away for savings feels really worth while and any item you buy which you have saved up for will be so much more appreciated.

You begin to train your eye to spot offers, free events, coupon collection deals and money off vouchers. For example, I am shopping at Morrisons at the moment so that I can take part in their Christmas Bonus deal. Collect 9 tokens over 10 weeks when you spend £40 or more (I always do) and then I get £40 off my final Christmas shop in December. Well, for me this is ace because I don't need a specific Christmas shop as we eat at our parents so this means I can stock up on meat to freeze and maybe the odd tipple or two...

What about you? What do you consider a treat?