Thursday 18 December 2014

Snapshots

As I havent done a snapshots for a while this is a very random and long stretching collection of pics! The end of autumn, an ever growing preggo bump, the sun in Topsham, hanging in our tiny temporary home, out n' abooot the local fields and lastly our annual festive trip to Longleat. I have said it before, and I will say it again..... Longleat is AMAZING. Every year my eyes water when I pay for the tickets and I wonder if it is worth it - well, as always any doubts disappeared as soon as we drove through the gates! The animals had both my boys enthralled, they went on a train to see Father Christmas in his Winter Wonderland and this year they had a Festival of Light. It was the most magical, beautiful, spectacular installation of lights you have ever seen - it was like actually wondering through a fairyland dream...... I want to go again..... and again..... and again......
My colour consultant - the people of B+Q now know Mo chops by name!

last of the leaves
stalking

avatar


bootiful

Longleat tree

happy chap

Apologies for the completely gratuitous selfie. Havent got any bump pics of this lady so needed to take one to look back on... 33 weeks......

in the car on the lookout for the cheetah

taking Christmas tree selection very seriously

this lasted less than 24 hours before every decoration was pulled off and chewed, used as footballs or hidden. Sigh.

beasts

scrummy

magic.

please do not touch the installations......

Goosey loved our treat

rhinos

lake of lights

dreamy

more rhino

safari of lights

gazelle

watch out Daisy they're coming....

always on the lookout

blue eyes

uh oh moles you are gonna get it

walkers

poppy heaven

pounce


stunning

stormy day

all aboard the Santa express 
right old David Bailey

look mum reindeer!

Topsham boats

eeeeeeek.

free LSD

decorating 
actually looks a bit like a horror movie!

young farmers

Saturday 13 December 2014

Father Christmas Preview

A few people have asked me what I think Lenny and Maurice will be getting from Father Christmas this year. Well, if today's behaviour is anything to go by then the answer is not a lot! However, I have been in touch with the North Pole and if they miraculously learn to share and stop snatching from one another then I think Father Christmas has these treats in store.....

LENNY

1. Recorder 2. Melamine Cup 3. Chocolate Money - from Sainsburys 4. Felt Mouse Slippers 5. Johnny Morris Bedtime Stories 6. The Wind in the Willows 7. Lollipops 8. Puzzle - from TKmax 9. Lion Plate 10. Spiderman Electric Toothbrush and Punch and Judy Toothpaste - from Superdrug 11. Classic Jokes - whoopee cushion, snapping gum and fake dog poo 12. Colouring Pencils - from TKmax 13. Shadow Puppets

MAURICE



1. Chocoltae Money - from Sainsburys 2. The Tale of Jeremy Fisher 3. Mr Men Stories 4. Harmonica 5. Mouse Felt Slippers 6. Humzingers - from Waitrose or any health food shop 7. Brambly Hedge 8. Mustela Multi Sensory Bubble Bath 9. Tiger Plate 10. Train Puzzle 11. Lollipop Sponge - from Primark 12. Rainbow Blocks - from Sainsburys

Monday 8 December 2014

For girls that need spoiling this Christmas.....

1. Clothbound Classics - Amazon 2. Reid Coffee Table - Swoon Editions 3. Leather Satchel - Asos 4. Lily Lolo Eyeshadow - Feel Unique 5. Pipe Ring - Hattie Rickards 6. Cotton Cushion - French Connection 7. Wall Mounted Oak Flower Pot Holder - Made in Design 8. Cashmere Jumper - Chinti and Parker 9. Knotted Blanket - Zara Home 10. Magazine Basket - Zara Home 11. Art Print - Art Finder 12. Cable Knit Socks - H+M 13. Kitchen Aid Mixer - John Lewis 14. Underwater Camera - Amazon 15. Avocado and Jojoba Day Cream - Pai 16. Cup and Saucer - Toast 17. Penhaligans Earl Grey Candle - Feel Unique 18. Enamel Coffee Pot - Workshop Living

Tuesday 2 December 2014

Chickpea, Carrot & Coriander Falafels

For every 10 'brown rice' mega healthy recipes I try out on the kids they actually try, eat and enjoy 1. This a recent hit. Super easy, very cheap and I have been known to eat a whole batch to myself. It is taken from A Girl Called Jack which is awesome for veggie pulse and grain based dishes. Of course my boys smother theirs in sweet mango chutney but other than that they really are health food disguised as mini burgers.

Makes 12ish falafels (4–6 per person) - I have never made this stretch to this many..... 8 is my limit!

1 onion
1 carrot
a generous shake of ground cumin
1 tablespoon oil, plus 2 tablespoons to fry the falafel
1 x 400g tin of chickpeas, drained and rinsed thoroughly
a handful of chopped parsley
a handful of chopped coriander
1 tablespoon flour, plus extra to shape the falafel

Peel and finely chop the onion and wash and grate the carrot.
Put in a frying pan, add the cumin and fry together in the 1 tablespoon of oil over a low heat for a few minutes until softened.

Tip the cooked onion and carrot into a large mixing bowl along with the chickpeas, add the chopped parsley and coriander and stir in the flour. Mash it all together with a potato masher or fork until the chickpeas have broken down into a mush. The oil from the carrots and onion will help combine the chickpeas together, but you may need to add up to 2 tablespoons of water so the mixture can be shaped.

Flour your hands and mould the mixture into about 12 golf ball shapes. Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil in the saut̩ pan and fry the balls until golden brown and slightly crispy on the outside Рthis will take about 10 minutes.


Tip: Instead of making falafels, shape the mixture into 4 burger patties and fry on each side. These are delicious with mango chutney or ketchup.

Sunday 23 November 2014

An Alternative Advent


With doting godparents and grandparents around ever ready to lavish chocolate and treats on my children I have decided to take a rather more high-brow approach to advent this year (don't you know...!) Forget the sweet treat calendar, this year it is a countdown of adventures. Throughout the year I have collected books from second hand shops and bought those we have borrowed time and time again from the library to make a collection of 24 'advent' tales. The boys will take turns to open one each morning and we will read it after bath that evening - although something tells me we wont wait that long. It may be too late to collect 24 books in time for Dec1st this year without blowing the Christmas budget out of the water and ordering them all from Amazon in one hit but you could borrow them from the library? After all it's the excitement of opening a new story each day isn't it? Here are the ones I chose:

Wednesday 19 November 2014

Keeping the vision.....

A few people lately have ask me if I am going cold on the blog as posts have been slightly fewer and further between. This is very far from the case - I love doing the blog - it is my little project away from endless nappy changes, the tower of washing and the Lidl scrum! Time at the moment is very hard to find - between ferrying Lenny and Mo here there and everywhere, midwife appointments and usual household chores I am trying to fit in designing and project managing our house renovation. It is a game of juggling that is for sure but I am keeping a very firm eye on the end goal. By Spring next year we will be back at home (which will be completely finished), the boys will have started slightly more nursery and our new baby gal will be here - I am sure I will have my feet up drinking tea….. I know, but there is always hope!! To keep my vision very much alive I pour over blogs/ magazines/ catalogues in bed to grab ideas. This beautiful Parisian home of Caroline Gayral has my mouth watering - the perfect mix of modern and antique in a white and pastel colour scheme. Of course our furniture is mostly from Ikea and we currently have a palette of white, white and white with a touch of grey - I know, very practical for 3 kids under 3.5 - but who knows maybe I can up cycle?! I have attached a few pictures of the 'work in progress' - I hope you have your vision goggles on!!