Homemade cloth nappies

Today I made my first cloth nappy and I am very proud of it!

When I first looked at what I needed for cloth nappies, I spent a lot of time looking at all the very (VERY) many different options available. Some of them were absolutely adorable, and almost always very expensive, and not always sensible when I though about using them long term.  So I came to the conclusion that we would use terry squares and fold - economical, size adjustable, fast drying, no plastics, probably with fleece liners for ease and comfort.

But I didn't stop looking.  It is somewhat addictive, there are a world of cloth nappies out there and a whole community of people making, buying, using, blogging them.  I couldn't help but wanting the cute patterned, printed nappies that I saw all around, they just weren't what I wanted function wise.

A Christmas teaser

We have begun making this years round of Christmas presents and as usual my husband has come up with some fantastically creative ideas for gifts for friends and family that tend to put my ideas to shame!

Still we are a team and some of his ideas he needs me to make, so I'm not totally useless!

Here is the first lot of gifts all cut out and ready to go through the sewing machine.  These are for the toddlers in our life and I am very very excited about them and incredibly pleased with how they've turned out.  But unfortunately you'll have to wait to see them until after the little ones do.

The Sound of Happiness

Is a Ukulele.

Nothing (I have found) sounds so light and friendly and inspires such a happy mood.

We were lucky enough to have a friend sing at our wedding and among the song suggestions we gave her was 'Somewhere over the Rainbow' by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole.  She came back saying she was unable to find a backing track for it,but had almost mastered it on the ukulele so would give it a go live if we wanted.

I was incredibly excited about this and she was amazing.  It made me cry!

This inspired me to have a go at learning the ukulele myself and just after Christmas I bought myself a cheap one and some books.

While the instrument may be cheap (I got it from Amazon for less than £20).  It has a lovely sound, I don't feel that I need to immediately invest in a high quality instrument, although I may at some point.  At the moment my lovely (yellow) ukulele is doing me proud.

World Book Night 2013

I have just discovered the most wonderful thing.

World Book Night.

Tonight is World Book Night 2013.

And I did not know!

One of my Rangers mum's is a World Book Night 'giver' and had bought some books along to the meeting tonight to give out. It seemed like a nice idea, I'm always in support of books and sharing them, but I didn't have chance to have a conversation with her so didn't really know what the purpose was or what it was all about, so I came home and did some research.

I visited the World Book Night website, read a little about what it was about, read some more about the people who are involved and why, I read their testimonials, tales of people they had given the books to, and I cried.   

It is the most wonderfully sweet, amazing concept, and I truly believe it is helping change people's lives.  Tonight across the UK and Ireland 20,000 people are acting as World Book Night 'givers' distributing free copies of selected books within their own communities to encourage people to read and share the joy of books.

The website encourages people to become a 'reading ambassador  sharing their experiences of reading, encouraging others, supporting local bookshops, giving books as gifts, all things I totally support and aim to do more of. 

Please visit the website.  Read what it's all about and read what it means to the people giving, and how their gifts have been received.  It is incredibly heart warming, somewhat bittersweet and completely amazing, I challenge you not to want to get involved!

World Book Night

Book Review - The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins

This is by far the most sinister and disturbing book I have ever read, it's only possible rival being Sister by Rosamund Lupton.

I found it all the more sinister because nothing overtly terrible happens for well over half of the book.  There are hints of deception and terror but nothing concrete.  You know something is going on but can come up with seven different scenarios of what that might be and are not at all convinced that you might not just be imagining things.

Macaroon Misadventures

In January I bought a couple of recipe books in a sale for 99p each, one on macaroons and one on whoopie pies.  I fancied giving them a go and even invested in a new silicone piping bag from Lakeland to help the process.

Since then the books have sat on the shelves and the bag in the cupboard, with me not finding the time or inclination to use either, but this weekend I decided to give it a go.

I wanted to make some sweet treats for my mum for Mothers' Day and thought that a few macaroons in a nice bag/basket with ribbon would be just the treat.

At the same time as buying my silicone piping bag I also bought some Star Kay White extracts as they were on offer, Lavender, Rose and Lemon.  I decided on doing some lavender and some rose.

I started with the lavender, I did not bother with the rose!

Happy World Book Day!

Today is world book day and as many of you will know I love books!

As such I wanted to celebrate today with all of you.  I have a £10 Waterstones gift voucher to give away to one keen reader, just complete the Rafflecopter widget below to be in with a chance of winning.

Good luck and Happy Reading!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

My first foray into vintage mystery

The area of pre 1960s mystery stories is not one I can claim to know much about.  I can think of some obvious candidates (Sherlock Holmes, Agatha Christie) but beyond this very short list there is just blank!  Not that I don't find mystery stories enjoyable, some of my favourite Enid Blyton books are mystery series, but its just a genre I've not read much in and know little about.

It was with this in mind that I decided to join in the Vintage Mystery Challenge, hoping to extend my knowledge and hopefully find some enjoyable reads.

So wanting to get started, but not having a clue where to begin, I visited my the book stall on my local market.

Tea Time Treats - Perfect Pudding

Tea Time Treats is a monthly challenge run by Karen from lavender and lovage and Kate from What Kate Baked.  This month's challenge is being hosted by Kate and the topic is 'Perfect Puddings'.

In our house there is one very clear winner when it comes to puddings - the crumble.  Its delicious buttery golden topping can cover a variety of flavours, and is often the way of choice for using up garden fruit.  In fact due to an unfortunate childhood encounter with a bug ridden berry, it is not easy to get Arthur to eat garden fruit.  However it is always easy to get him to eat crumble!   We like it with custard, with cream, with ice cream, with tinned milk, cold or hot the crumble is a winner.

So when challenged to make the perfect pudding crumble had to be it.  Having finally been able to get out in the garden at the weekend, the snow and frost having past, I noticed a lovely clump of young rhubarb just ripe for the picking so the flavour was chosen.

Vintage Mystery 2013 challenge: Scattagories

Next Thursday (7 March) is World Book Day and in the run up to this I have been looking for some reading challenges to participate in.

One I have decided on is Vintage Mystery Reading Challenge 2013: Scattergories hosted by Bev at My Reader's Block. The challenge is to read at least eight vintage (pre 1960) mystery books fitting into a list of categories.  You can find the full list of categories and sign up post here.

I'm not sure which categories I will go for yet, I need to do a bit of research, but will keep you updated and hopefully post some reviews of the books I choose.

Update!  I have done my research!  My first foray into Vintage Mystery