Fresh Apple Cinnamon Muffins

I'm off of sweet sweets with this pregnancy. Well only marginally. The girls wanted to bake cupcakes and cookies, but this, I thought, was a good compromise. Easy to make. Not too sweet (does not call for loads of sugar). Easy for the girls to help and they are a kid perfect size. The recipe says it makes 12 but I only managed to get 10. Still - I am making another batch tomorrow. Oh - I also left out the nuts. 

Forever 31 : A Dear John Letter to Forever 21 & Abercrombie & Fitch

To My Sweet Darlings,

Let me just start by saying that it’s not you. It’s me. I’ve changed. You haven’t. I don’t blame you necessarily. I am not sure how to put this into words but I will try as best I can. I’ve tried to hold on for as long as I could. But the truth is that my needs have changed and you haven’t changed with me. Sadly, as a result, I am no longer able to comfortably visit your shops greeting the happy young attractive well-groomed but funky staff only to try on clothes that are poorly made, fall unflatteringly to accentuate my ageing curves, sagging arms, tummy strained by childbirth and just plainly remind me of a time gone by.  

I quite literally need more, and that is something that you are unable to give me. I need more support, a more carefully cut pattern and lines that compliment, not to mention a more forgiving return policy and an alterations department.

Peanut Butter Brownies

This Mother's Day in the UK, instead of buying gifts, the girls made brownies for Granny and Auntie. This was an easy recipe to do with the girls. I did all of the heating up and they did all of the pouring, mixing & adding. The best part was how excited they were to give the gifts away once completed. The time for our guests to arrive couldn't come soon enough and jackets were barely off before they were each shoving a box in someone's face. As for the brownies they are lovely with a perfect flaky crust. Just as brownies ought to be.

Crazy Hair

I finally managed to get C's hair into braids. It took me about 10 minutes per braid and they were so tight that they stood stiff in the air like antlers, none-the-less they were braids. No small feat as the hair gods haven't really blessed her with lovely long locks. 

St. Patricks Day boutonniere and necklace

St. Patrick's Day is just days away (and its snowing outside) so C and I used colored paper, a cookie cutter, pipe cleaners and sticky tape to make necklaces for the girls and boutonnieres for H and I.

Perfect Sugar Cookies (Easter Themed)

I have to say, I think that these cookies taste fantastic and the girls think they are incredibly cute. They are a perfect balance of butter and sugar appealing to both children and adults.  The dough is so easy to work with that even kids can handle it and mine did. The frosting recipe is easy and dries hard for mess free storage.

A Talent of Sorts: Ear Inserter

C, my youngest, is two and a HALF. If you ask her, she will emphasize the "HALF" because she is a kid and desperately wants to be older, until she turns thirty when she will want to be younger.

Another Diet & My Hoo Rag

I’ve been running 20 miles a week for the last month and tracking my calories using MyFitnessPal on my iPhone. In five weeks I have lost 6.6 pounds (3 kilos). I’ve taken to running, even in freezing temperatures, snow and rain.