Light.
Wednesday, 29 February 2012
Tuesday, 28 February 2012
Monday, 27 February 2012
Sunday, 26 February 2012
Friday, 24 February 2012
Thursday, 23 February 2012
Wednesday, 22 February 2012
Tuesday, 21 February 2012
Monday, 20 February 2012
11 Questions
I'm pretty lousy at following up on memes so I was determined to get this one done for the lovely Sarah of Sarah Mum of 3.
The idea of this meme is that you answer the 11 questions set for you, come up with 11 more questions and then tag 11 bloggers to answer them!
First of all, my answers to Sarah's questions:
1. What made you start blogging?
I just love to write. I actually started another blog long before this one, but it didn't feel right. I was determined not to be typecast as another "mummy blogger", so I deliberately avoided writing about that part of my life. The result was a bunch of depressing posts about my deepest, darkest thoughts. I quickly realised how stupid this was. Being a mum is my most important role and I'm proud to say that my life revolves around my children. I'm a mummy, I'm a blogger, and I wear the "mummy blogger" badge with pride. Even more so now that I have had the honour of meeting so many incredibly lovely, supportive and inspirational fellow mummy bloggers.
2. Thinking of your most popular blog post...why did you write it?
My most popular (in terms of page views) blog post is Admission: I'm a Co-Sleeper. I was inspired to write this post after reading an article about the Milwaukee Health Department Dangers of Co-Sleeping ads on The TRUTH About Motherhood blog. It made me think back to how some people had reacted when I told them my son slept in our bed. I really regretted not standing up for myself a bit more at the time. Those people may never read my blog, but putting my view across in a measured, well-informed way was very important to me.
3. What's your most annoying habit?
I'm probably not the best person to answer this one! The one that annoys me the most is my incessant habit of over-analysing absolutely everything. My family would probably be able to list several more...
4. What's your all time favourite song?
Hallelujah (either the Jeff Buckley or Leonard Cohen version). Every time I hear it I get goosebumps and I can literally feel my heart swell. Here's Jeff Buckley himself - amazing.
Summer. I love feeling the sun on my skin. If Scotland doesn't have enough of it, I make sure I go somewhere that does!
6. Do you have any siblings?
Yes - one of each flavour. I was four when my sister was born and my brother came along seven years later.
7. Who's your oldest friend?
Lovely G - we met when we were three! Thirty years later we're on opposite sides of the world but that bond will always be there. She's like family to me.
8. What's your favourite childhood memory?
Playing outside our house on warm summer evenings. My dad built a house and a shop side by side and the small car park at the back was always full of kids, riding bikes and playing tag. I remember my dad cycling around with my sister on the front handlebars. Such happy, carefree times.
9. What's your biggest regret?
I really try not to dwell on regrets, but I do have some. I don't believe people who say they have none! Probably one of my biggest regrets is not being more assertive when I was younger, which meant some people were able to walk all over me. It's really important to me that I give my children the skills and knowledge to stand up for themselves.
10. What's your favourite achievement?
I know I should probably say my children here, but I don't really see them as an "achievement" - more of a miracle! Running 10 miles in the 2009 Stockport Road Race was a massive achievement for me. I started running to try to work my way through bad post-natal depression, and finishing that race under my target time, with my husband and son cheering me on, was a truly amazing, emotional moment.
11. What's the one main goal you hope to achieve before this year is out?
To self-publish my book. Actually, make that finish my book…hopefully I'll do both!
My 11 Questions:
1. What do you get out of blogging?
2. What would be your ideal job?
3. What is your favourite film?
4. Who inspires you?
5. What is the biggest mistake you have ever made?
6. What is your best character trait?
7. What is our favourite item of clothing?
8. What was the best thing that happened to you last year?
9. What famous person do you admire?
10. What one thing would you change about the country you live in?
11. Where do you see yourself in five years' time?
And the bloggers I'm tagging (not quite 11 of them I'm afraid!):
1. Kate of Life, Love and Living with Boys
2. Sonia of Mummy Loves...
3. Claire of Grumpinator - The Wean Machine
4. Steph of Steph's Two Girls
5. Sara of Tis The Life - Of A First Time Mum
Finally the rules if you want to join in:
1. You must post these rules.
2. Each person must post 11 things about herself on their blog.
3. Answer the questions the “tagger” listed for you in her post, and create 11 new questions for the people you tag to answer.
4. Choose 11 people to tag and link to them in the post.
5. Let each blogger know that you have tagged them.
The idea of this meme is that you answer the 11 questions set for you, come up with 11 more questions and then tag 11 bloggers to answer them!
First of all, my answers to Sarah's questions:
1. What made you start blogging?
I just love to write. I actually started another blog long before this one, but it didn't feel right. I was determined not to be typecast as another "mummy blogger", so I deliberately avoided writing about that part of my life. The result was a bunch of depressing posts about my deepest, darkest thoughts. I quickly realised how stupid this was. Being a mum is my most important role and I'm proud to say that my life revolves around my children. I'm a mummy, I'm a blogger, and I wear the "mummy blogger" badge with pride. Even more so now that I have had the honour of meeting so many incredibly lovely, supportive and inspirational fellow mummy bloggers.
2. Thinking of your most popular blog post...why did you write it?
My most popular (in terms of page views) blog post is Admission: I'm a Co-Sleeper. I was inspired to write this post after reading an article about the Milwaukee Health Department Dangers of Co-Sleeping ads on The TRUTH About Motherhood blog. It made me think back to how some people had reacted when I told them my son slept in our bed. I really regretted not standing up for myself a bit more at the time. Those people may never read my blog, but putting my view across in a measured, well-informed way was very important to me.
3. What's your most annoying habit?
I'm probably not the best person to answer this one! The one that annoys me the most is my incessant habit of over-analysing absolutely everything. My family would probably be able to list several more...
4. What's your all time favourite song?
Hallelujah (either the Jeff Buckley or Leonard Cohen version). Every time I hear it I get goosebumps and I can literally feel my heart swell. Here's Jeff Buckley himself - amazing.
5. Which season do you like best and why?
Summer. I love feeling the sun on my skin. If Scotland doesn't have enough of it, I make sure I go somewhere that does!
6. Do you have any siblings?
Yes - one of each flavour. I was four when my sister was born and my brother came along seven years later.
7. Who's your oldest friend?
Lovely G - we met when we were three! Thirty years later we're on opposite sides of the world but that bond will always be there. She's like family to me.
8. What's your favourite childhood memory?
Playing outside our house on warm summer evenings. My dad built a house and a shop side by side and the small car park at the back was always full of kids, riding bikes and playing tag. I remember my dad cycling around with my sister on the front handlebars. Such happy, carefree times.
9. What's your biggest regret?
I really try not to dwell on regrets, but I do have some. I don't believe people who say they have none! Probably one of my biggest regrets is not being more assertive when I was younger, which meant some people were able to walk all over me. It's really important to me that I give my children the skills and knowledge to stand up for themselves.
10. What's your favourite achievement?
I know I should probably say my children here, but I don't really see them as an "achievement" - more of a miracle! Running 10 miles in the 2009 Stockport Road Race was a massive achievement for me. I started running to try to work my way through bad post-natal depression, and finishing that race under my target time, with my husband and son cheering me on, was a truly amazing, emotional moment.
11. What's the one main goal you hope to achieve before this year is out?
To self-publish my book. Actually, make that finish my book…hopefully I'll do both!
My 11 Questions:
1. What do you get out of blogging?
2. What would be your ideal job?
3. What is your favourite film?
4. Who inspires you?
5. What is the biggest mistake you have ever made?
6. What is your best character trait?
7. What is our favourite item of clothing?
8. What was the best thing that happened to you last year?
9. What famous person do you admire?
10. What one thing would you change about the country you live in?
11. Where do you see yourself in five years' time?
And the bloggers I'm tagging (not quite 11 of them I'm afraid!):
1. Kate of Life, Love and Living with Boys
2. Sonia of Mummy Loves...
3. Claire of Grumpinator - The Wean Machine
4. Steph of Steph's Two Girls
5. Sara of Tis The Life - Of A First Time Mum
Finally the rules if you want to join in:
1. You must post these rules.
2. Each person must post 11 things about herself on their blog.
3. Answer the questions the “tagger” listed for you in her post, and create 11 new questions for the people you tag to answer.
4. Choose 11 people to tag and link to them in the post.
5. Let each blogger know that you have tagged them.
Sunday, 19 February 2012
Can Mummy Make Chocolate Chip Sponge?
(to serve 12)
150g butter
175g dark brown soft sugar
150g caster sugar
3 eggs
200g plain flour
90g wholemeal flour
2.5 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
250ml milk
1.5 teaspoons vanilla extract
170g dark chocolate chips
Preheat oven to 180C/350F/Gas 4.
Grease and flour two 23cm round cake tins.
Cream together butter and sugars in a large bowl. Beat in the eggs.
Sift together the flours, salt and baking powder in another bowl. Add this alternately with the milk to the creamed mixture.
Stir in the vanilla. Chop the chocolate chips coarsely and add to the batter.
 |
| I had a little helper for the best bits - adding the chocolate chips! |
Pour batter into prepared tins and bake for 25 to 30 minutes.
I had high hopes for this cake, but I was disappointed. First of all, all the chocolate chips sank to the bottom of the cake and got stuck on the cake tin base. And it just wasn't as moist as it should have been. I'm beginning to realise that even the most simple cake recipes don't always turn out as planned...
Saturday, 18 February 2012
Friday, 17 February 2012
Thursday, 16 February 2012
Wednesday, 15 February 2012
Tuesday, 14 February 2012
Monday, 13 February 2012
Sunday, 12 February 2012
Can Mummy Make Chickpea and Lemon Burgers?
I really want to try some vegetarian recipes so I thought this recipe for chickpea and lemon burgers would be a good place to start. Mr J is a red meat lover, so we'll see what he thinks of these…
(for 4 to 6 burgers)
2 medium potatoes, peeled
400g can of chickpeas
juice of a large lemon
1 small onion, very finely chopped
1 clove of garlic, finely chopped
50g cheddar or other hard cheese, grated
2 tsp chopped fresh herbs (I used parsley)
salt and pepper to taste
flour for coating
oil for roasting
Preheat oven to 170C/325F/Gas mark 4.
Cut potatoes into quarters and boil until they are soft.
Drain and rinse the chickpeas and mash half of them in a large bowl. Add the lemon juice and mash some more.
Drain potatoes and mash. Add them to the mashed chickpeas, the whole chickpeas and all other ingredients (expect flour and oil). Mix well.
Flour a chopping board. Form the mixture into patty shapes and coat them with flour on both sides.
Place in an oiled roasting tin. Cook for around 30 minutes, turning halfway.
I think I used too much potato, but these still turned out pretty well and tasted great! I served them with sweet potato chips (made by Mr J - I can't take the credit for those) and a green salad. I was so busy scoffing I forgot to take a picture...
(for 4 to 6 burgers)
2 medium potatoes, peeled
400g can of chickpeas
juice of a large lemon
1 small onion, very finely chopped
1 clove of garlic, finely chopped
50g cheddar or other hard cheese, grated
2 tsp chopped fresh herbs (I used parsley)
salt and pepper to taste
flour for coating
oil for roasting
Preheat oven to 170C/325F/Gas mark 4.
Cut potatoes into quarters and boil until they are soft.
Drain and rinse the chickpeas and mash half of them in a large bowl. Add the lemon juice and mash some more.
Drain potatoes and mash. Add them to the mashed chickpeas, the whole chickpeas and all other ingredients (expect flour and oil). Mix well.
Flour a chopping board. Form the mixture into patty shapes and coat them with flour on both sides.
Place in an oiled roasting tin. Cook for around 30 minutes, turning halfway.
I think I used too much potato, but these still turned out pretty well and tasted great! I served them with sweet potato chips (made by Mr J - I can't take the credit for those) and a green salad. I was so busy scoffing I forgot to take a picture...
Saturday, 11 February 2012
Project 366 - Day 42/366
7 of the 11 cousins. My favourite little people, to mark my 100th blog post.
Friday, 10 February 2012
The Art of Compromise
In a few weeks time, the grotty old outbuildings on the back of our house are going to be knocked down. I'm worried. Not about the mess, or about the thought of my husband wielding a sledgehammer, or even about where we are going to store the boxes and boxes of junk husband's precious knick knacks when their current home is no more.
I'm worried about what comes afterwards. You may already know that my husband and I don't see eye to eye on a lot of things. This is most true when it comes to our home.
Apparently moving house is one of the most stressful things you will ever do in your life. Not true. In our case, the moving part is a dawdle. It's what happens afterwards that brings me out in a cold sweat and fills me with dread.
Decorating.
It took us many tortuous hours to decide on wallpaper for the hall, because we couldn't agree. As with many things of the marital nature, we had to compromise. I hate compromise. Not because I'm so stubborn and pigheaded that I can't see things from someone else's point of view (honestly!). Nor because I think my ideas/tastes/wallpaper samples are superior to somebody else's. It's because we end up settling.
I hate his first, second and possibly third choice of wallpaper. Ditto he with mine. So we go for the first one we both like in equal amounts. Which is number 4 on both our lists. We settle for a wallpaper that neither of us love, just because neither of us hates it.
Six months after we moved into our house, we still had a pile of pictures gathering dust in the corner of the room. Actually, make that two piles. His and Hers. It was the wallpaper all over again. But more difficult. How do we compromise on what pictures to hang on the walls? Bin everything that doesn't get the thumbs up from both of us and go out and buy all new stuff? No. We proceed on a 'one for one' basis. So he gets to hang his ancient picture of a grouse (or partridge, or pheasant, or some other grotty old game bird) in the upstairs hallway, on the condition that I can display my black and white Time magazine ballerina photograph in my daughter's bedroom. (We all know who got the best deal here, hmmm? Which one do we see every time we walk down the stairs?)
I have never met a man who has to be so involved in the decoration of our home. Previous cohabitees did not give a rat's ass about what type of rug was on the floor of the living room. Growing up, it was certainly my mum who made all home decor decisions. I don't think my dad would even notice if she papered the kitchen with neon stripes and installed a disco light over the breakfast bar.
I realised what a problem this was when we recently replaced our crumbly old bathroom suite with a brand new one. We decided to go for it and retile the walls and floor at the same time. That bathroom became the bane of my life for the next two months. Dear husband set me a budget with strict instructions not to go over it. At the same time, he went through the B&Q catalogue, marking the items he liked. Problem number 1: the incompatibility of his expensive taste with the amount he was prepared to spend. I told myself it was a challenge, and set about finding cheaper options that looked as much like the expensive ones as possible. You want a square shower bath with a mahogany side panel? No problem, here's one at half the price! I have no idea how many hours of my life I
Anyway, to cut a long story short, this was all a waste of time. After the floor tiles were down my husband decided he didn't like them anymore, because they looked cheap. At this point I counted to ten and then calmly reminded him of the budget, which unfortunately did not make expensive tiles an option. So why was he so surprised that cheap floor tiles looked….cheap? Reader, I wanted to lamp him.
Anyway, up came the first lot of floor tiles and down went another lot. I love them, they are beautiful, but they were six times more expensive than the original ones. Yes, six times. In one fell swoop, husband blew his budget out of the water.
So, while the prospect of extending our home is exciting, I'm completely dreading it. We will have a whole new room to argue about. The floor, the walls, the lighting, the furniture. Wooden floor or tiles? Blinds or curtains? A double vodka or a large glass of wine? No, that wasn't a misprint. That's what I'm going to need to get me through it. Wish me luck.
 |
| Before. |
 |
| During. |
 |
| After. |
Thursday, 9 February 2012
Wednesday, 8 February 2012
Tuesday, 7 February 2012
Can Mummy Make Blueberry Muffins?
As I seem to be on a bit of a roll with this baking lark, I decided to try muffins this week. I looked at dozens of different recipes online and finally, swayed by the promise of "the best blueberry muffins ever", I chose this one. More importantly, it seemed pretty foolproof. Oh, how little I knew.
(to make 12 muffins)
110g plain flour
110g butter
65g caster sugar
2 free-range eggs
1.5 tsp baking powder
125g blueberries
pinch nutmeg
Cream the butter and sugar together then slowly add the eggs and mix for three minutes.
Add the flour, baking powder and nutmeg, and stir to combine. Refrigerate for at least an hour, preferably overnight.
Place a spoonful of muffin mixture into each muffin case, filling each to just over half way. Place eight blueberries in each muffin.
Bake in the oven at 200C/400F/Gas 6 for 20 minutes, or until golden on top.
It didn't quite go to plan. My muffins looked ok (from a distance), but turned out more like bricks than delicious, soft, squidgy treats. I have no idea what went wrong, but I think it could be a combination of factors:
My creaming technique could do with some improvement.
My muffin cases were too shallow.
I left them in the oven for too long.
Does anyone have a muffin secret they're willing to share with me?
Monday, 6 February 2012
Sunday, 5 February 2012
Saturday, 4 February 2012
Friday, 3 February 2012
Thursday, 2 February 2012
Wednesday, 1 February 2012
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)