Red velvet smores

This was my contribution to my friends American bake-off. I wrote out all the links for the recipes and everything to go with the photos, saved it and came back and everything but the photos were gone - grrr. But maybe it is a good thing as I want to test the recipe again with a few changes so I will come back soon with it!

I made red velvet graham crackers and my own homemade marshmallows (never done this before)

I will return soon with pictures of all the entrants!

Where have I been?

It has been a while hasn't it? Well just after christmas we went on our holiday to America. I celebrated my birthday over there and we came back a week ago, but I caught the flu out there and am just recovering!

I have caught up on all your blogs and I will be back soon with tales from my holiday but for now I just wanted to pop in, say hi and show you a couple of my favourite pictures.

German market in Birmingham and homemade Christmas wreaths

A week or so ago we went to the German Market in Birmingham after work. It was amazing. I really enjoyed it and had a fantastic time walking around and buying goodies.

All the huts were made to be different, the below one was my favourite. A little christmas tradition when we were children was for the little windmill thing to come out on christmas eve for the christmas eve tea (we always had a buffet and I preferred it to the christmas day meal!)

At the weekend I collected lots of bits ready to make my christmas wreaths. If you have been reading my blog for a while you might have seen a post or two about these before 

This year I gave one to my boss as a christmas gift.

And this one was for my parents.

Travelling craft box, christmas and secret santa

I joined in with laalaa's travelling craft box a while ago and it just reached me (well a few weeks ago!) I got a lovely little christmas decoration and card from Katy it is hung up already!

These are the bits I chose - also an embossing plate but I forgot to take a picture of that! Anyway it is now on its way to Madison - I hope you have received it and found some bits you like!

Sorry about the rubbish photos but here are a few pictures of my christmas decs!

Another surprise - I received this lovely heart decoration and card from secret santa - thank you to whoever you are - it was a fantastic surprise and it made me really happy to receive it!

Log stool

This is my dads latest project - it is still being finished - there is lots more shaping to do and a big decision about wether or not to keep the bark on! I love it!

This is one of my recent finds - a very clever candlestick that holds a box of matches at the bottom.

I also go tthe middle 2 mustard spoons (I appear to be collecting them now!) The top one was from my Mum, it all started went I went with my mum to visit my Grandma and I did her washing up, whilst putting things away I came across a tiny spoon (it is smaller than any of these) and I loved it - so of course now everywhere I go I spot little mustard spoons!

Here there are hanging up in their little bucket home!

Elf weekend

 I was at a hen do this weekend, we were all dressed as elves! I looked at the fancy dress outfits online but didn't fancy any of them, so I had to figure out what I was going to do for mine!

I started by transforming some shoes with glue and sequin fabric! I love them.

I made a skirt out of the same fabric and a pair of old reindeer pyjamas All finished off with an elf hat and stripy socks! I don't have a picture of the whole outfit but here is part of it! It was a very wet night as you can see!!!

Before we went out we had afternoon tea, it was lovely!

A mai tai cocktail started everything off! 

Soda bread and my weekend

I have been watching 

The Fabulous Baker Brothers and I was inspired by there quick and easy soda bread recipe. I gave it a go and it turned out really well. It is so easy too!

This weekend I have done paper maiche pinata with my sister and my nephews, I was helping them prepare for a party in the evening, we had lots of fun. I then popped by my parents to see them after there holiday. So a pretty busy saturday!

Today I went with a no plan day and just did what I fancied  I popped in to town for a little bit on a hunt for an oil filled radiator, after I failed I came back home.

I am very lucky to have waitrose walking distance from me, so every now and then, as a treat, I take a wander there and buy a few things. The walk is a nice one as well - lots of autumn changes going on!

It is a good job I walk there because I always want to buy so much, but it is a bit out of my price range for everyday shopping.

Today the fancy packaging on this iced coffee jumped out at me so I got it for Manny, he is a BIG coffee lover. I love the detail on the carton, every side had something different!

I have jsut realised how out of order this post is - oh well! Whilst in town I saw this amazing musician - he walked along the rope whilst playing the fiddle - it was amazing!

Last week I also spotted babar in town,  I used to watch him as a child!

I hope you have all had a great weekend x