September 18, 2006

Noodling Around

AS you have probably realised there is not much crafting going on around here lately. Hopefully this will change at some point before I forget how to do everything. But I have surrendered to my pregnancy and I am only doing what I really have to, until my energy is restored. This weekend I pottered about the house, visited a couple of cool shops with Warren ( I haven't felt like I can do this on my own with Emily lately) - which totally made me want to go spend crazy and focused on activities that Emily would enjoy, instead of endless TV.

We made some peanut butter cookies, which let me tell you are SO scrummy and addictive. I got this recipe from one of my closest friends, Si, when we lived together as students. I think its from a recipe book aimed at students, but I am sure he would correct me on that. It is so scrummy I have to share with you.

Peanut Butter Cookies
125g (4oz) butter, softened
200g (7oz) light sugar
200g (7oz) crunchy peanut butter
1 egg
1/2 tsp vanilla essence
150g (50z) plain flour, sifted
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda

Press down flat with a lightly floured spoon and bake in the oven for 10-12 minutes or until golden. Continue baking in batches until all mixture is gone and cool on a wire rack.

Emily also helped Daddy make pancakes for lunch on Sunday, which has fast become a family tradition - we get through so much maple syrup its crazy!

Finally more baking, with a Nigella recipe for butter cookies. Emily had a lot of fun using the cutters, although they are not the most exciting biscuits to eat, I should've stuck to short bread. For a bit of a change we also sorted and made pictures with some of my buttons. She wasn't totally focused on this, but she had been cranky through the day so I will have to try this activity again as it was a lot of fun and a bit different.

Also on the recipe front I am so far behind putting up the recipes for the last two Supper Club meetings - which were very yummy! I have to make a point of doing this and organizing another one - I suppose its been at the back of my mind lately, but I would really like to keep it up.

Oh and if you really want to see pictures of my bump you can have a look here!

Posted by Maxine at 05:55 PM | Comments (5)

September 13, 2006

On a Jazz Vibe

Recently I have been so lazy when it comes to my music consumption. If I can't see something I want to listen to straight away I don't bother and opt for the radio. Thus listening to a lot of mindless rambling and mundane music. I don't have an Ipod and when W is in the car we listen to whatever he has on his. Music is such food for the soul and definitely makes a big difference in how I am feeling that I am now going to make more of an effort. I am currently on a serious jazz vibe and listening to the likes of Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Chet Baker and the new addition of Madeleine Peyroux has uplifted my spirits. This is exactly what I need right now. In fact if money were no object I would open a jazz bar somewhere that only played this type of music, with live gigs and a dress for the decade dress code...if only. Unfortunately nothing like that exists here. If you know of any similar artists like this that I might like, let me know so I can check them out.

On another note my lovely friend Tamara (aka Panda), who is from Canada, was touring Ireland and came to stay with me on Monday night. It was so lovely to see her, chat and go to lunch. She is 30 at the end of the month and is going on a 3 week safari to Africa to celebrate - on her own! How amazing is that?! I would love to experience something like that and be free to jet about around the world...

She also came with her brother Geoff and his new fiance Liv (who is from Norway). Congratulations on your engagement you two! Geoff and Emily hit it off as soon as he walked through the door and he played with her the whole time. By the end she said Geoff was her best friend and wanted him to stay! It was so sweet and lovely to meet them both.

W and I have also started subjecting any visitors to reading Dr Seuss's 'Fox in Socks'! Have you read it? Its completely bonkers and so funny to read. Its also Emily's current favourite...aaahh!

Also Tamara and I had a thrifty visit while we were out to lunch and look what I got! I am so pleased by this purchase - I just love them! Especially as the thong bit on my black flip flops has broken. I have been wearing them come rain or shine!

Oh and I nearly forgot to mention. For the first time ever I used a domestic service this week. I have always been quite funny about this type of thing (as I usually think its a waste of money) but with the way I have been feeling things were getting out of control. So I sent for the 'ironing man' and gave him 2 big black bags of clothes to get through for me! It cost £18 for 45 items which included unlimited shirts - I think this is absolutely total value for money, considering how long it would've taken me to do it! Now I have caught the bug...maybe I should get someone in permanently....hehehe...who am I kidding!?

Posted by Maxine at 03:14 PM | Comments (2)

September 05, 2006

A Picture Summary

Thought I would try and fit in a few photos to let you know what I have been up to and what I have managed to thrift from when I was on my hols. Please note that these are done slightly in haste, but its better than not at all in my book.

Look! I finally scored a jar of buttons. You cannot believe how excited I was by this! A lot of small ones but some nice oversized ones too. Also I couldn't resist this tunic dress, I think it would look great over a pair of black trousers and converse boots - although there is NO way it will fit me now and I just have to hope that it will fit in the future - but for £1 I couldn't say no.

I also got this lovely and soft mohair cardy which has one big chunky button which fastens nicely above my bump. I have been wearing this lots. My mom picked up this mammoth knitting and crochet bible for me.

My mom had spent some time crocheting me these flowers so that I could learn and also to use in my cratfy endeavours. I will have to find a use for them! She also crocheted some cute little baby things too.

While I was away I managed to finish knitting this chunky scarf, which despite the fact that its half teal and half cream (I only had a ball of each!) I quite like it. I also had another go at crocheting this pink scarf for Emily, including my first go at a flower. I am quite pleased how it turned out, even if neither of them are that exciting I am happy!

And look what I came back to after a week away! It was such a lovely surprise. I went away with a garden full of rubble and weeds and came back to it completely paved and decked. Now Emily has a lot more space to play and we have a lovely area to sit. As you can see our garden is extremely small so we had to try and make the most of it, so no grass I'm afraid. Please note the washing is for that added touch of realism!

Also a peak at the photo-intaglio/carbarundum print that we bought for our 5th anniversary. It was very hard to get a good shot of this but hopefully you get an idea of what it is like. The print is so beautiful and delicate, I just love it.

Posted by Maxine at 08:49 PM | Comments (6)

Sporadic Posting

Just wanted to say that my posting has become and will probably stay very sporadic for the next while. As you have probably gathered by now I am not having a great pregnancy, I am now in my 31st week and I feel like I will never experience the late pregnancy burst of energy. The baby is perfectly well, I am just finding it very hard. I can't really stand up for prolonged periods (even making a cup of tea is too long a standing period sometimes) as I get really faint, I feel breathless constantly and just want to sleep all the time. I feel like I could stay in bed all day. It really is so frustrating. I can hardly entertain Emily, let alone do any housework, or crafty things. Its Emily's 3rd birthday the end of the month and I was even thinking of canceling her party, but I know I would feel too guilty, so I am going to try at least to organise this.

It was her first day at Playgroup today and she just loved it and had a great time. Although within the hour I spent waiting for her I nearly passed out and had to sit on a chair in the car park. Its really starting to get to me. People keep saying that its not long now but it seems like an eternity to me. Apparently the baby is very big and over the 90th percentile, so they are going to keep a closer eye on me, nothing to worry about (apart from the labour of big a baby!! But Emily was big so I expected this one to be).

So I will continue to try and catch up with the billions of posts that I have floating about in my head. Including some of the goodies that I have been accumulating lately, but you will just have to be patient with me.

On a slightly separate note I am already half way through the wonderful book that Caroline sent me in the Book Swap and I am thoroughly enjoying it. Did everyone else's swap go ok? I would love to know how they all went, let me know if I have missed reading about it on your blog.

Posted by Maxine at 07:59 PM | Comments (3)

September 03, 2006

The First of a Few Posts

I just can't get myself into gear at the moment and I feel I have a lot of catching up to do. SO I am going to start here with a post about my week break in England. Back to the place where I was born and raised for 18 years, before I made my great escape to the big smoke!

After a three hour flight delay, which I suppose isn't too bad, but enough for me as my flight was less than an hour it was a big pain. But we got there safe and sound and I was able to get some of the rest I needed. It was great to be able to have afternoon naps, knowing that Emily was being looked after.

We still managed to fit in a good few things. Including a trip to the Black Country Museum, I think I must've been about 10 the last time I was there. It was great, like going back in history. I actually felt like I was intruding into peoples homes because everyone was in costume and taking their roles quite seriously! Emily had great fun playing with the old fashioned toys in the street and we even took a canal boat ride through the limestone tunnels and into the mines.

I think she liked the tram ride best though, as simple as it was. I suppose its a real novelty getting transport other than the car. We queued for ages for traditional fish and chips and let me tell you they were YUM! I would recommend visiting the museum for anyone passing through the Midlands, it was a great day.

The rest of the week we pottered about, relaxed and played games in the house. We managed to fit in a good car boot sale and a jaunt around a good few charity shops. So yes I did come back with more things - an extra bag in fact! But I will be posting about these separately as I hardly have the energy to do them all at once.

By brother and his family drove down to visit us to, much to Emily's delight. She just loves playing with Ciara and Sam and it was so cute seeing them snuggled up on the hammock together, both sucking their thumbs!

Well its not the best or most informative post I've done but its a start and one post crossed off the list of many things I have to talk about at the moment. I'll be back once I have built up my next burst of energy. x

Posted by Maxine at 09:55 PM | Comments (4)

September 01, 2006

Check these out

Links courtesy of my lovely hubby, who finds so many amazing things that I never get around to posting about.

All I can say about these is "WOW". Enjoy

The Little Giant Girl
Eric Grohe Murals

ps. I will be mammoth posting very soon...

Posted by Maxine at 11:41 AM | Comments (1)