I can feel a sewing course coming on...
Pretty patterns all in a row
I can feel a sewing course coming on...
A Stripy Wall for the New Nursery!
When I woke up this morning (at 5am -- thanks, Fern) and heard the rain outside, I knew today was the day to get cracking on painting a stripy feature wall in my baby-to-be's nursery!
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I had already purchased the paint over the weekend, so I was good to go. Fern and I had our first jammies-all-day day, and didn't actually get dressed til 3.30 this afternoon, when we donned our gumboots and went singing in the rain!
Here's a looksy at the old plain-jane wall (with all the nursery crap piled in front of it - hey - Ive got 13 weeks to get my act together!)
The preparation for the stripe wall was a piece of cake really, I mean it only took about 3 HOURS to pencil and tape my (somewhat dubious) straight lines. All those helpful how-to websites failed to mention the possibility of a wall that turns out not to be entirely straight, and the poor leveller had a meltdown! I eventually abandoned it, and went back to my trusty ruler instead. Actually, the taping part wasn't as bad as I thought - it was the penciling that kinda did my head in.
And the final result? See for yourself!
NB: the colour I have used for the stripe is Taubmans Opal Mist, and the rest of the room is Dulux Whisper White....
I am totally chuffed with how my stripy wall came out! I didn't even drop too much paint on the floor! Now, I'm going to add my embroidery-hoops to the wall and work on finishing the rest of the nursery. Next stop - the nursery mobile!
Stay tuned..... x
Message in a Cookie
My blogging friend Katena emailed me today to show me her lovely new toy that has just arrived on her doorstep from the US. What a fabulous idea - a message in a cookie - you can find them here.
Katena had her first attempt at using her new cookie cutters trying them out on fondant instead of dough and the results are great - can see lots of uses for these little babies. Not only do you get words and 3 shapes but also individual letters.
Really, not particularly busy
I spend my days fending off well-meaning types who tell me I'm busy. Instead of asking 'how are you?' they say 'how are you, busy?'. In 2010 it's like a mantra. There seems to be a fear that if you're not swamped, stressed and running around madly that somehow you're not doing it right. You're not interesting or worthy.
But, instead of joining the busy brigade, I feel like I'm pretty much under control and would adore the opportunity to answer 'I'm fine, how are you?'. I don't find that my life is a juggle or a struggle or even a muggle at all.
There's an assumption that when you're a 'working mum', you're going to be stressed out and bleeding. But it's actually the SAHM who do it tougher if you ask me.
At work, you get to sit down. At home your left butt cheek hits a chair and it's like you've pressed a 'mmmuuuuuum can you...' button.
At work you can eat your lunch without having to explain exactly what's in it. You don't have to share it. You don't have 3 pairs of eyes steadily watching you eat it. You just eat.
Most importantly, when you're at work, there is no one messing up your house.
The only time I think the WM has it busier than the SAHM is in the mornings. There is a lot to accomplish before 7.45am at our place and we need military-like obedience to The Routine if we're going to make it out the door on time. (Military-like obedience in preschool set? We are frequently late for work.)
So, um, I'm fine, how are you?
[Image: Claro Cortes IV / Reuters]
Pretty relaxed garden
The weather here in the UK is beautifully sunny and hot so I have been spending more and more time in my garden. I wish it was as pretty as the ones above! I love all the white with touches of yellow and green in the patterns on the soft furnishings. It all looks so calm, sophisticated and pretty. Oh, and that parasol is divine!
Have a sweet day!
Choc Chip Heaven
Bill Granger's Chocolate Chip Cookies
125 g. (4 oz.) unsalted butter, softened
1 1/4 cups tightly packed brown sugar (don't substitute whitey sugar as brown is the key to the divineness, me thinks)
1 teaspoon vanilla essence
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 ½ cups plain flour
½ teaspoon baking powder
a pinch of salt1½ cups of chocolate bits (but, you know, the more the merrier!)
Preheat the oven to 180 C (350 F). Put the butter and sugar in a bowl and beat until light and creamy. Beat and beat and beat because the lighter and creamier, the better the cookie. Stir in the vanilla and egg. Add the flour, baking powder and salt and mix until just combined - this will seem like way too much flour, but just keep folding and folding, it will all come together. Fold through chocolate chips.
Place spoonfuls of cookie mixture on a lightly greased then lined baking tray, allowing room for spreading. Bill says to cook for 15-20 minutes, until they turn pale gold, but (depending on oven hotness) I say cook for no more than 11 mintues so you get the light crunch on the outside with the doughy, softy yummo on the inside. Experiment to see what you like best.
Allow to cool on the tray for 5 minutes before putting cookies on a wire rack to cool further. Makes about 16, depending on how big you go! Will keep in an airtight container for a week.
I made a double batch yesterday (that's Cappers devouring the wooden spoon in the photo above). Cook half right now and then roll the rest of the dough into a cylinder shape, wrap it in baking paper then cling film and then put it in the freezer to keep for up to a month. When it's time for cooking, just slice the dough, put on the baking tray and into the oven for 14 minutes instead of 11.
OMG, I need to go and eat a CCC immediately!
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