Getting Red(y) For Christmas

Things have been a bit quiet here lately, mostly due to ill health and a bug/virus that just keeps going round and round. We are slowly getting everything in order for Christmas though, and one little boy is EXTREMELY excited.
















Valerie

xxx

OOTD - Birthday Edition

I have wanted to do an OOTD for ages, but being the size I am, I have resisted the urge. I am thinking over the things I want for next year (don't we all do that at this time of year), both in real life and for this space. One of the main things I want, is to stop being ashamed of my size and just get on with it. So, to ease myself in gently, here is what I wore on my birthday.







Dress : This is a lovely satin cocktail dress which I bought for the bargain price of £11.49 (+ £3.50 postage) from Ebay.

Black Beaded Shrug : Also bought from Ebay (New and still available) - LINK - £6.74 (+ £1.85 postage), available in sizes 16 - 26

Shoes : Not Seen In Photo - Last year - Viva La Diva - Black patent peep toe. These are no longer available, but I did find a nice pair of Viva La Diva black patent peep toes shoes LINK HERE for £20. Available in EEE fitting.

Valerie

xxx

Bits + Bobs

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1 christmas cake with bailey's cream icing

2 Oscar's nativity costume - a black sheep

3 yummy yarn and my dad's old police whistle

4 Oscar - this space needs a christmas tree

5 the mustacheo'd bols

6 the christmas tree

7 Oscar at the nursery school gate

8 angels and bambi's on the fireplace

Joining in with james for bits + pieces

Have a lovely weekend

Valerie

xxx

Edinburgh's Christmas

To celebrate my birthday last week, we shelved our usual stay at home with cake plans and took the train from our little seaside cottage to the big smoke. Otherwise known as Edinburgh's Christmas fair and market. We had a fabulous time, but if you fancy a trip through, be warned, we spent an absolute bomb.



















Valerie

xxx

Info on edinburgh - here

Nutella And Cinnamon Cupcakes

Following on from last weeks CHRISTMAS COOKIES (which are delicious and contain both cranberries and white chocolate), we have Nutella and Cinnamon Cupcakes. Adequately described as yum,yum, yum.

Ingredients : :

175 gms self raising flour - sifted

175 gms caster sugar

4 Tablespoons  unsalted butter (or spread)

3 eggs - beaten

2 heaped tablespoons of Nutella

2 level teaspoons of cinnamon powder

Method : :

Heat the oven to 180 D

1. Put the flour into a bowl


2. Add 4 tbsp butter and sugar and mix together gently


3. Add beaten egg and mix


4. Add cinnamon stir in


5. Add Nutella and mix


6. When thoroughly mixed, spoon into cupcake cases/trays


7. Bake for 20 minutes


8. Decorate as desired

 

Valerie

xxx

One Another

: : One of us has had a tummy bug followed by a stinky winter cold - The other one has had a 4 day migraine.

: : One of us has had Daddy to himself at bed time every 2nd night - The other one has been visiting her Mum in hospital.

: : One of us has been going to nursery with a spring in his step - The other one has been so proud of her boy.

: : One of us has spent a lot of time crafting - The other one has spent a lot of time knitting

: : One of us has spent the weekend cleaning - The other one has declared that particular activity 'boring'

: : One of us has had to accept a daily bout of indigestion - The other one had decided sitting down to dinner is so last season.

: : One of us posted his letter to Santa - The other one had a tear in her eye because he will never be 3 years old at Christmas again.

: : Both of us got into Mummy's bed last night, with a huge bowl of popcorn and watched The Wizard Of Oz, because some things are best done together.

 

Valerie

xxx

Persuaded By The Elf

I have to be honest and say, when I first saw Richard The Behavior Modification Elf over on Kat's blog, I wasn't convinced. I didn't have any big objection to the principle of the Elf, it was more a case of finding Richards little plastic face a bit scary. I went to the Elf On A Shelf Website and although I liked the 1950's feeling the dolls have, I thought it was probably a non starter because they were American. I then decided to look them up on Amazon and found that you can indeed purchase the Elf on a shelf doll and book for the sum of £29.95 + £2.95 postage. I don't know about you, but with all the other things I have to pay for at this time of year, that seemed like a bit too much?

So I did what any good knitter would do. I converted my DOLL pattern and turned her into An Elf For My Shelf.

 

I also went back on to Amazon and bought the Elf On The Shelf DVD which only cost me £7.99 (a much more palatable number), and I am pleased to report that Oscar loves them both.

Obviously I dont have time to go knitting up Elves to sell in time for Christmas, so I have put the pattern up for sale on RAVELRY and ETSY for the very low price of £1.70 (because I asked myself what I would pay for it, and that's the sum I came up with).  

So, if you fancy an Elf For Your Shelf,  pop over to either website to buy a pattern, I am a fairly basic knitter so I can guarantee they are quick and simple to make.

 

{ ETSY }

{ RAVELRY }

Valerie

xxx