6 Unique (and Free) things we got up to today

We found an outside bookshelf with a note reading, "Please feel free to read and place back when you are done." We read most of them. 

Pork Shoulder Steak/Loins (slow-cooked)

Incredibly easy and very tender recipe.You just need to give it some time. This was an easy Sunday dinner served with brown rice and boiled broad beans.

My Therapy for Disappointment

 I am experiencing one of those "bah-humbug moments" in life. It is nothing major. Nothing more than I was hoping to meet some girlfriends for a bit of chatter, until I got a call from H, telling me that it will be another late night and with no babysitter in my pocket, I shall be home tonight. 

Ah to Catch a Bubble

I remember the excitement I felt when I was young and managed to catch a bubble. I hope that you always pursue happiness and catch all the bubbles you like my little miss. 

Stressed & In Denial

I have a client call in 15  minutes but the girls are about 30 minutes from bedtime. I have not yet worked out how I am going to pull it off. Lock myself in the car & pop the girls in the cot? Or in front of the television and hope they are not screaming pounding at the windows ...

There is also an incredibly powerful smell of poo in the air. I am sort of ignoring it, whilst typing this, hoping the baby has only passed gas. But alas, I think the situation might be more serious. Off I go to find out!

A Bit of Guilt

Experiencing anything will change you. I had always wanted children but I can’t say that I ever sat down to work out how having a family would impact my career or how I would feel being a “working” mom. I just kind of assumed that it would all work itself out.

Truth be told – You cannot have it all. None of us can. I am in a cynical mood and very emotional at the moment.  

Kupcake Kids Dekorating

Latest batch - decorations by A, C and friends. I love letting the kids get dirty and get involved. That's what it is all about! 

There was a little girl ...

who had a little curl ...
That made her mommy melt.

I gotta say ... today it was a good day ...

Some days, the sun shines, the bird sing and you don't even notice the rain, stains on the carpet or the mundaneness of being at home. Moments like this are beautiful. 

More Unsolicited Advice for Parents

My eldest is nearly 3. She is no longer a baby, no longer a toddler. I know, reminiscent of "not yet a girl, not yet a woman." But that is not the point.

Oreo Ice-Cream Cake

This one is delicious and yummy and EASY.

Pipe Cleaners - Spiders

pipe cleaners + googly eyes + "incy wincy spider" (twice) = very happy children.

I must not FEAR

And fear - yes fear. In this instance there was a rather large black fly nestled on the window pane. She froze and I spent 10 minutes trying to explain that flies are not all that bad. My efforts were futile and then I spent 15 minutes getting the fly out of the house.

Diamond Jubilee Cupcakes

My contribution to the street-party we crashed. ;) It was insanely fun. Here is a link to my basic cupcake recipe. Hint - the recipe makes 12 healthy sized cupcakes (rather large). If you are making them for kids or for a big party, you can divide the mixture into 24 cupcakes. They are much smaller but just as yummy.

New Buys

Rose earrings by onetenzeroseven   3.75 GBP / $5.90 USD

Simplicity - Simple Elegance ...