Dolliedaydream

Baileys Rocky Road

2012-02-10T14:41:00.001Z

Help yourselves and enjoy your weekend! x

Launching Buttons and Bows!

2012-02-04T16:40:00.001Z

My mum (an ex-seamstress) has dragged down her sewing machine and made lucky little Luca a gorgeous Clarke and Clarke Nursery cushion for his very 'Royal Jubilee' red, white and blue bedroom.

I in the meantime have been honing my painting skills and 'upcycling' an old rocking chair I spotted in our local Red Cross furniture store.

And for the girlie girls amongst us she has also designed a range of shabby chic envelope cushions, with vintage buttons and envelope backs as well as a shot silk design.

More designs as well as bunting to follow, along with either an Etsy or E-bay store. Until then pls let me know if you would like to place an order x

Luca and Alfie are fans too!

BOO!

Dark Chocolate Cherry 'Fudge'

2012-01-31T18:22:00.000Z

The season of lurrve is almost upon us but you won't love me if you are currently following a New Year's diet!

I have a few little craft projects for you over the coming weeks, as well as LOTS of sweetie and cake recipes ... starting with some Dark Chocolate Cherry Fudge.

If you have a little silicone heart shaped mould like I used, these look so cute If not don't worry, any shallow baking pan or casserole dish lined with baking parchment will do just fine.

Recipe

One tin of good old fashioned sweetened condensed milk

50g of unsalted butter

200g of dark chocolate (at least 75% cocoa) - I used Bourneville

200g of dark cherry flavoured chocolate - I used Green and Blacks

Place the condensed milk and butter in a heavy based saucepan and slowly heat, stirring with a wooden spoon until just simmering - do not boil

You will know when it is ready as the mixture will coat the back of the spoon

At this stage remove the pan from the heat and allow to cool for five minutes

Add the two bars of chocolate and stir until melted

Work quickly as it starts to set quite quickly, either pour into your prepared tin or carefully spoon into your heart moulds

Smooth the tops with a palate knife or the back of a teaspoon and chill for 3-4 hours in the refridgerator

No cheating! Leave them to set ... if you can :-)

Carefully pop out of the moulds or cut into squares

Eat - yum yum! - or place in some pretty packaging ready for your loved ones

I have recently discovered the fantastic Pipii - check them out for cute packaging and labels

White Rabbits With White Hot Chocolate!

2012-01-25T09:40:00.001Z

To say I am a little obsessed with white hot chocolate at the moment would be an understatement.

Given my current broken, baby feeding sleep pattern the thought of a steaming mug of white sweet choc is one of the main things dragging me out of my slumber on these winter mornings.

I had another lovely Canadian box of goodies at Christmas (thank you thank you thank you Bill!) which as you can see Alfie also wanted to be a part of ...

Amongst some of the 'delicious delicousness' it contained the cutest little pack of Angelic WHITE Hot Chocolate.

I can honestly say this is one of THE MOST delicious treats! Why, why, why is it so difficult to find such lovely treats in the UK? After much chocolate detective work I have found some. Hurrah!

Good old Whittard of Chelsea AND they also have a cute new range of Alice in Wonderland inspired china and tea sets.

Fashion Mojo

2012-01-18T21:08:00.001Z

How Cute?

I need to rediscover my fashion mojo this year.

Following dreary maternity wear last summer and a current, serious lack of funds my frolicks with fashion seem like a distant memory these days.

For the time being I need to be strict with myself (this proves very difficult) and just share my fashion crushes on Dolliedaydream for the time being whilst I try to keep myself OUT OF THE SHOPS!

How boring :-)

These pumps are rather lovely though. Made with Emily Bond's popular linen fabric and designed with the owners pet pooches in mind - they can be bought here!

Best Friends

2012-01-16T22:11:00.001Z

A dog has no use for fancy cars or big homes or designer clothes.

A water logged stick will do just fine.

A dog doesn't care if you're rich or poor, or clever or dull, smart or dumb.

Give your heart and he'll give you his.

How many people can you say that about?

How many people can make you feel rare and pure and special?

How many people can make you feel extraordinary?

(Marley and Me)

Luca LOVES Alfie!

A Peaceful, Healthy and Happy New Year to you all x

2011-12-31T16:56:00.001Z

Nearly time to bid you farewell 2011, what a strange old year you have been.

Thank you so much for reminding me that -

I can make a HOME anywhere ...

I am RESOURCEFUL ...

I am RESILIENT ...

And for our perfect little boy. Your crazy little laugh makes my heart dance with JOY.

We are very lucky :-)

I hope for 2012 to bring me peace of mind in some areas of my life. I hope it is a peaceful, happy and healthy new year for you all too.

Thank you so much for being my lovely blog friends and for your words of encouragement this year. They have meant the world to me xxx

Three Sleeps!

2011-12-22T17:27:00.000Z

Found some lovely vintage looking cat and dog baubles in Past Times for Mummy's Little Pudding's tree :-)

Little Christmas Angel :-)

2011-12-12T12:43:00.000Z

Nearly Christmas!

Rococo Goodies

2011-12-06T20:30:00.000Z

Hint hint Santa pls buy here Rococo Chocolates ... ! x

It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas!

2011-11-27T11:19:00.000Z

It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas!

This year will be a special Christmas, as it's our first with Luca.

Did you or do you have any Christmas traditions with your children or family? I would love to know.

We have decided to start a Christmas bauble collection for him, I'd also heard that lots of people open a few little Stocking fillers on Christmas Eve ... Christmas PJ's a Christmas book that sort of thing.

I think he is going to be SPOILT!

Smiles

2011-10-24T18:32:00.000+01:00

Thank you ladies for all leaving such lovely uplifting comments for my Mummy.

I don't know why she is so miserable because I am always laughing!!

xxx

To Let

2011-10-23T03:44:00.000+01:00

The one night gorgeous Luca is fast asleep and I am wide awake.

I was really fed up on Friday. It was my 38th birthday and Chris forgot to send me anything from the baby ... Men - surprise surprise :-(

My dad and his wife took me out for lumch yesterday to try to cheer me up. Since moving back to the UK I've tried to avoid travelling past our lovely 'old house', because I get upset thinking about what we gave up, however we had to drive that way to the pub yesterday. We rented it for 5 years before making our stupid move to France in April. I loved living there and our landlady was so nice as well. My heart leapt when we drove past because there is a 'For Let' sign up outside. The new tenant must have only been there on a six month basis.

Without jobs I guess there is no way we would be able to get a lease again at the moment and we couldn't afford any of the bills anyway, but I can't sleep thinking about it.

Also really missed little Poppy on Friday. I know she is a cat (lol :-)) but I'd celebrated every birthday with her for the past thirteen years and it was horrible without her. I'd always have a cup of tea in bed in the morning and open my pressies and cards with her sat on the bed purring away and watching me.

Fed up at the moment and I've found some gray hairs ... :-(

Pretty Find

2011-10-19T17:36:00.000+01:00

Pretty find from Ridley and Dowse - Cora Folk Bird Necklace.

Hope you are all having a lovely week! x

Salted Almond Honeycomb Mascarpone Cheesecake

2011-10-10T11:24:00.000+01:00

I've got a thing for honeycomb at the moment. In addition to this 'to die for' Cheesecake recipe, I plan on experimenting with a Honeycomb Cookies recipe later this week.

Watch this space ...

On my hit list of gastro places to visit at the moment is The British Larder Pub in Suffolk. They have an amazing food blog, using unusual and very much local and seasonal produce. I also love their stunning food styling and photography.

I've adapted their recipe (only ever so slightly) and although there is some preparation time involved it is much easier than it looks.

You could also cheat and speed along the process omitting the homemade honeycomb topping and use crushed 'Crunchie' chocolate bars instead. However it is well worth taking the time to make your own salted honeycomb from scratch. The recipe makes quite a big batch so you can store any left over honeycomb in a tin to use in other recipes.

Cheesecake Base

150g Crushed Digestive or Gingernut Biscuits

45g unsalted butter, melted

30g marmalade

1. Crush or Process the biscuits into a fine crumb

2. Gently melt the butter and marmalade

3. Mix all of the ingredients together, then pressing into a loose bottomed pie tin and chill for at least an hour

Cheesecake Filling

4 whole medium eggs

120g caster sugar

1 vanilla pod, seeds only

600g mascarpone cheese

60ml crème fraîche

Juice of one lemon

PREHEAT OVEN TO 140 degrees C

1. Cream the eggs, sugar and vanilla seeds until light and fluffy in texture

2. Using a separate bowl cream the mascarpone, crème fraîche and lemon juice until smooth and fold into the egg mixture

3. Pour the cheesecake mixture on top of the biscuit base into the prepared cake tin

4. Bake the cheesecake in the preheated oven for 1hour 20 minutes, give the tin a tap and if the mix wobbles more than once it requires further cooking.

5. Allow to cool completely.

Salted Almond Honeycomb Topping

200g caster sugar

75g golden syrup

2tsp bicarbonate of soda

100g lightly salted Almonds

1. Scatter the Almonds onto a Baking Tray sprinkle with a pinch of sea salt and leave to one side

2. Place the sugar and golden syrup into a heavy based saucepan and melt over a low heat. DO NOT STIR the mixture, just wiggle the pan a little to make sure the sugar melts.

3. Once the sugar has dissolved turn up the heat slightly and allow to caramelize until the mixture turns a deep colour, but be careful that is does not burn.

4. Remove from the heat and carefully add the bicarb. Stir the mixture but take care as the bicarb will cause the mixture to bubble.

5. Carefully pour over the salted almonds onto the tin and allow to cool.

6. Once cool crush the honeycomb into bite sized pieces and crumble onto the top of the cheesecake.

7. If you like melt some dark chocolate and 'zigzag' across the top of the cake.

Voila! Enjoy x

Strawberry Buttermilk Pancakes

2011-10-06T12:01:00.000+01:00

Ooh I love receiving a prize in the post!

This week I have been surprised with a parcel from Canada, including some gorgeous Canadian Maple Syrup.

It's so nice to be able to bake whatever takes my fancy again at home. I rustled 'zebra printed' Luca into his bouncy chair (It's never to early to learn to bake!) and placed him next to me in the kitchen whilst I made some buttermilk strawberry pancakes this morning. Not very seasonal, but very delicious topped with Greek yoghurt and smoothered with warm maple syrup - enjoy! ...

Strawberry Buttermilk Pancakes

Dry Ingredients

140 grams plain flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

2 tablespoons of caster sugar

pinch of salt

Wet Ingredients

3 tablespoons of unsalted butter

3 heaped tablespoons of buttermilk

1 egg

50 grams diced strawberries

1 tablespoon sunflower oil

Greek Yoghurt and warm Maple Syrup to serve

1. Sift all the dry ingredients into a large mxing bowl

2. Melt the butter and then combine with the buttermilk and egg

3. Add the wet ingredients to the dry, mixing well and then combine with the strawberries

4. Gently heat the sunflower oil in a frying pan and place spoonfuls of the mixture into the pan to cook for about 3 minutes

5. Once the mixture starts to bubble use a spatula to turn the pancakes and cook on the other side

6. Serve with warm maple syrup and greek yoghurt

'The French Dont like Sugar' ?!

2011-09-24T09:48:00.004+01:00

Alfie is home!

After nearly nine weeks enjoying undivided attention with his lovely French foster family, he is back with his homies :-)

As you can see from the photos he hasn't quite worked out the difference between baby toys and dog toys, although he has been very good with Luca. He is more interested in his toys than the baby.

He has been missed sooooo much, his mischief too. Chris had a four day journey to collect him. Almost the length of the UK and France, then back again and I am told that he was very well behaved on the journey home.

It's just such a shame that we couldn't bring Poppy home as well. Although I am so happy she has found an amazing, loving new home with lots of new friends. It will just never be the same without her. She has been a BIG part of our family for over 13 years.

I really don't think the people we worked for realise (or actually care) what we have been through the past few months. However like every one keeps telling me;- what goes around comes around ... They have their own animals, maybe one day they will appreciate what it is like to lose a beloved pet, at the same time as their job and home.

Funny how you can have all the money in the world and still be mean - spirited as well as financially. Yet very often it's the people who have the least whom are the most generous ...

'Entrepreneurs' or not, I would never, EVER use business as an excuse to see people without a home or job. Let alone when they are eight months pregnant and living in another country.

Also interesting that amongst a general 'character assassination' when they were terminating our contract, was that the French didn't like the food that we were cooking - as below ...

In particular, that I was 'deluded' for thinking that running a business was all about baking and styling cakes (please see some of the wonderful cake blogs and successful food styling businesses out there!!) and that 'THE FRENCH DON'T LIKE SUGAR'!

And, there was me thinking that the French invented macaroons :-) - At this point in my rant, I would like to add that these people are English not French and that our French neighbours were absolutely wonderful.

Strange then that there are still photographs (MY photographs I hasten to add) being used on their website of my cupcakes lol! :-)

We may be 'deluded' but we are also relieved that we are home with our family and friends and memories of happy times spent with Poppy.

Fish and Chips

2011-09-08T13:12:00.000+01:00

Just spotted these chocolate fish and chips ... genius :-)

For Sale here !

Nature Boy

2011-09-03T07:38:00.001+01:00

There was a boy

A very strange, enchanted boy

They say he wandered very far

Very far, over land and sea

A little shy and sad of eye

But very wise was he

And then one day,

One magic day he passed my way

While we spoke of many things

Fools and Kings

This he said to me

The greatest thing you'll ever learn

Is just to love and be loved in return.

*****

Happy two week birthday little boy xxx

Bear Necessities

2011-08-30T12:51:00.001+01:00

I would love to take the opportunity to introduce the beautiful Bubs Bears,which I have recently spotted on Mytinyholders blog.

Abby at Bubs Bears creates the most beautiful teddies, handmade using patchwork from your babies clothes or your favorite vintage fabrics.

Ever the shopoholic, all of my friends and family had warned me not to go too mad buying clothes for Luca, which he would quickly grow out of. Of course, as a budding baby fashionista I have completely ignored all of that advice and now I have a great excuse (teehee) to carry on shopping because I can save up his little outfits to be made into a future keepsake bear, to be treasured for years to come.

Please do visit Abby at her Folksy Shop :-)

My name is Luca ...

2011-08-27T09:26:00.000+01:00

What a difference a week makes!

Early last week I was just about ready to 'pop' with almost two weeks left to go.

I knew this little boy would be a an early bird and lo and behold my waters broke last Tuesday evening. After a 2 day labour, little boy was delivered (with the help of forceps and a lovely Doctor ... ouch) on Friday 19th August 2011 at 7.28am - 10 days early but still perfect.

What a magical date that has turned out to be, as it was also my friend's wedding :-)

A healthy 7lb and 13 ounces, we all love you little boy xxx

(Thinking of all my American East Coast blogger friends - stay safe in the crazy weather x)

Nursery finds ...

2011-08-05T14:43:00.000+01:00

Thank you all for your lovely messages :-)

We are working hard to get our new pad ready for baby Luca, who should be with us anytime in the next three weeks!

The nursery is starting to take shape with the addition of these latest finds and baby is wriggling around A LOT at the moment, so I expect he is looking forward to seeing his new room.

Hope you all have a great weekend.

Au Revoir

2011-07-19T12:13:00.001+01:00

Three months down the line, eight months pregnant and growing, I find myself taking a quick five minute break from un-packing (again) what few belongings we have left.

Not through our own choice, our French adventure has been cut short, and ironically, as I sort through our possessions I've just come across the pile of 'Good Luck' cards our family and friends sent to us a few short months ago. One of which I'd like to share with you ...

Congratulations K and C! You have so much to look forward to with your new life in France and a little French baby! Keri you will have the little one baking macarons, savouring the delights of the French tea rooms and Parisian haute couture in no time!

I admire you for following your 'yellow brick road' and wish you both every happiness in France ... you truly deserve it.

Keri you have been a real inspiration to me and being around you at (my ex comapany) has given me so much more confidence at work and as a business 'lady ... who lunches'.

I look forward to hearing all about your French adventures and know that we will be 'toujours amis'. So it's not au revoir but bon voyage! We wish you every happiness - all our love xxx

Heart breakingly the saddest part of this strange chapter is about our beloved animals. In the haste of moving over to France and on a really limited budget, I had to wait until the very last minute to organise and pay for pet passports for Alfie and Poppy. Sadly due to her age Poppy has very low immunity to rabies, so I was warned by the vet that although we could bring her into France it was unlikely her immunity would improve and therefore we would not be able to bring her back into the UK. Although Alfie passed his immunity with flying colours, the UK requires that all animals are resident overseas for at least six months following their rabies blood tests. So sadly we have had to leave both behind in France.

We put so much time, effort and money - (we had to struggle to find) into moving out there. Quitting our jobs and businesses, as well as our home and saying good bye to friends and family. We now find ourselves without work or a home and with six weeks to go until our baby is born...

Whilst some people's unkindness has taken us completely by surprise, the kindness of what are basically complete strangers has also shone through. Poppy has been rehomed to a beautiful gite;- which coincidentally is called Poppy Cottage :-) She is sharing her home with three other cats and a gorgeous Bichon Frise doggie friend who has taken her under his wing and Alfie is being rehomed until the early autumn when we or family can return to bring him home, where ever that may be.

The blogging community has always been and will always be a great source of support and creativity to me, so please bear with my absence whilst we find our feet again. I will also try to find some time to cheer myself up by visiting all of your blogs as well.

xxx

Red White and Blues ...

2011-05-27T20:38:00.000+01:00

Inspired by the super cute red, white and blue knitted soldiers available from our French interiors store Le Petit Pois, I have managed to get out off 'pink mode'and into baby boy 'blue mode'.

Only three months to go and my mind is turning to nursery ideas. I am also lucky enough to have the pick of Annie Sloan chalk based paint from the store and she has a great red colour called Emperors Silk, so I have decided on a bit of (for me) an unusually patriotic theme of London red, white and blues for Luca.

For anyone who is an Etsy fan or is looking for amazing nursery prints I have sourced the most lovely lady; Gretchen who designs in her Etsy store Chichiboulie. I had spotted a fantastic London baby design but for a little girl, which she has kindly redesigned for me in a red, white and blue boy theme with Luca's name. Gretchen is also based in France, so please do check out her wonderful Etsy store.

In addition I have my beady eye on a Cath Kidston London print cushion, a Powell Craft Soldier cot blanket and a London bus :-)

Un Autre Mois

2011-05-16T15:13:00.000+01:00

Another month has passed me by in France I cannot believe it! So much has happened. I've sadly had to wave my mum off, back to England this morning, following a five day break with me and Chris also had to return for six weeks :-( Not all bad though, he was offered redundancy in his previous role and is currently working his notice, so thank goodness we made the decision to relocate. He is back in France in two weeks so I am counting down the days, but until then it's Alfie, Poppy and I ....

Baby is growing, until about two weeks ago nobody could believe I was pregnant lol but he has suddenly ballooned and so have I. I have my second French hospital appointment tomorrow; a second scan. Although I've already had it done in the UK about six weeks ago, they date and scan you differently over here, so I will get to see Luca moving around again :-0)

All is going well with the Salon de The and Chambre D'Hotes. We had a very busy period over the Easter holidays as well as an English tea party for the Royal Wedding - did you all watch it?

Lots of recipes to share with you, but for today I will leave you with a salted almond (I didn't have any peanuts) honeycomb cheesecake which is proving very popular with our French guests. For all you foodies out there please do visit the amazing food blog and site of The British Larder, you will find the recipe there.

Bonjour Mes Petites!

2011-04-14T16:35:00.000+01:00

Bonjour one and all! Thank you, thank you, thank you for your patience - we are here in FRANCE! Yeehaah :-)

What a mad month.

We had so much packing and organising to do, winding up my recruitment business in the UK, as well as catching up with family and friends before we left and mid wife appointments, but phewee we are here at last.

After a MAMMOTH two day journey, as well as getting lost underneath the Seine, in the car, with the cat and dog, in the middle of Paris, on a Sunday (because the Sat Nav lost it's signal) we are here and starting to settle in and learn the ropes of being Mistress and Master of a Salon de The and Chambre D'Hotes.

We've had a busy, tiring but fun first week with a day off tomorrow to look forward to. We have been meeting and learning about all the local characters in a small, French Midi Pyrenees town, very amusing and I already have some funny tales to tell after just ten days!

Letting my cupcakes, cheesecakes, cookies, scones and plat du jour's loose on an unsuspecting clientelle has been scary, but thankfully no complaints.

Chris has been churning out homemade ice-creams.

Alfie has been escaping near death experiences, twice running straight out into the busy main road. The less said abotu this the better - think he is finding the whole experience a little stressful at the moment, although he is making friends with lots of other cutie french chiens and is alllowed in most restaurants and shops.

My other surprise is that we discovered out petit bebe c'est un garcon, prior to leaving the UK, so pink is out of the question as we will have a little boy some time late August early September.

I am missing visiting you all so, so much, hope you are all fine and dandy and please excuse my lack of comments. Hoping that once we are more into a routine i will have more time to stop by at all of your fabulous blogs as well.

Until then we will leave you with some pictures of our village, Rodez and the Salon de The, as well as lots of love - Kitty, Chris, Alfie, Poppy et le bebe :-)

Gros Bisous

xxx

French Afternoon Tea

2011-03-11T14:04:00.000Z

Three weeks until we arrive!

Just designing an Afternoon Tea Menu to compliment our Menu du Jour, wishing I was sat having a Pret-a-Portea Afternoon Tea at the Berkeley in London. If you could have afternoon tea anywhere in the world today, where would you love to visit?

Please do check out my new blog Chronicles of Le Petit Chou and it would be lovely if you wanted to follow our French adventures!

p.s if anybody knows how I can remove the pink bar which has appeared above my first post that would be a huge help! Thx

Care to Dance?

2011-03-04T16:22:00.002Z

Care to have a Friday afternoon mad boogie with Alfie and my good self (Poppy is a party pooper asleep on Chris' rucksack)?

A bit 'old skool' these days I suppose but I do love a bit of Jamiroquai - gutted they are playing Lyon the week before we arrive in France and Manchester the week after we leave the UK :-( Oh and totally fancy Jay Kay, he is too fit - even in that silly bobble hat (although my mum has always said I have 'weird taste' in men - not sure if that includes Chris or not.. most probably).
:-)

I like the fact he is a complete loose cannon (and a millionaire), and that he can dance ... and you know what they say about men who can dance .. and look at what trouble that has got me into recently. Sorry it must be my hormones today! On that subject have just had my first scan Downs Syndrome results back - LOW risk thank goodness 1 - 12,000 chance - which is a relief bearing in mind I am being classed as a geriatric pregnant) :-)

Today is officially my best day. The FIRST day I have felt sort of 'normal' in about eight weeks ... hurray. Alfie has been walked, the house has been cleaned, I have eaten properly;- including making a chicken ceasar salad from SCRATCH, even the croutons. I have sent off my driving license, I have booked my car in for a pre France service, I have ordered a European car travel pack. I have had a BATH in the MORNING and not at 4pm, done my hair and make up and I am not in PJAMAS :-) I have not been pestered by debt management companies and I have even managed to walk around Somerfield supermarket with the ruffle skirt part of my knickers hanging out of the back of my jeans. Classy. Lets hope it lasts ....

Next week is birthday week for both my mum and Chris so I need my baking head back on.

Until then hope you are all feeling fabulous and I am off to continue my private disco with Beyonce and Britney - before Chris gets home and catches me.

Houlihans on a budget

2011-03-01T16:25:00.000Z

Emma Bunton aka Baby Spice in ASOS maternity dress

Super expensive J Brand Houlihans

ASOS more dash than cash - hurrah!

What is a pregnant English ex pat meant to wear to look cool enough to compete with the chic French ladies in France during the summer?

My mum is of course focusing her pennies on starting to buy outfits for le bebe, I on the other hand have been more selfishly minded and am starting to think what on earth am I going to wear to run the Tea Salon with an ever growing stomach and ever shrinking wardrobe :-)

It is safe to say that I was coveting a pair of J Brand Houlihans last spring/summer, which were unfortunately totally outside of my debt management plan. I have become ever more excited to discover over the past week or two, that they have designed a maternity pair - a mere snip at just under £300.00 :-)

So a little more yummie mummie (with a wallet to match) than my budget can stretch to at the moment.

However! I have just discovered a (very similar) skinny maternity cargo pant at the fantastic ASOS website. Hurrah all is not lost - so I ordered a pair .... along with a black lace maternity dress as recently seen on Baby Spice (anyone with any suggestions as to when or where I will have the opportunity to wear a black lace dress in the middle of the French countryside would be most welcome)! ASOS have currently got a great sale on though, maternity and 'normal' so that's my excuse.

Happy Valentines!

2011-02-13T11:14:00.000Z

Happy Valentines!

xxx

One Born Every Minute

2011-02-08T10:01:00.000Z

Help!

Lol that's how I feel today - like what am I doing ... and how on earth am I going to do what I am doing ... and on time?

In addition, how am I going to do what I am doing on time and up the duff?

We officially have seven weeks and two and half days days until we move to France.

So far all I have managed to do is book a small removals van and taken Alfie for his initial rabies vaccine, yesterday afternoon. During said visit to the vets, he barked the waiting room down, yapping hysterically and loudly at each and every person and dog entering the clinic. Whilst the receptionists shot me dirty looks.

I take him for as loooong a walk (as I can manage at the moment) when we get home, after which he proceeds to sneak upstairs and wee on the bed. This is the dog who very shortly will become resident pet in a beautiful Salon de The and B&B as well as a peaceful French village. This poor, sleepy hamlet does not know what it is in for :-)

Anybody got the number of Ceasar Milan on speed dial please? Despite his Kennel Club Bronze Good Citizens Certificate this little dog needs some serious training and bark management.

In addition I still can't eat, let alone bake tempting treats and savouries good enough to woo a French clientele.

I knew I should have stuck to kittens and puppies.

Also freaked myself out and went against the advice of my mid wife's orders, not to watch the Documentary One Born Every Minute last night. Haha oh dear - anyone else in the UK watching it?

Please Universe at the very least let me be wearing nail varnish, lip gloss and mascara at the time of my birth, let me not howl and let me not poo...

Please help :-)

Moomins

2011-02-07T11:26:00.000Z

I've collected Moomin mugs for about ten years, starting my collection off with some purchases from the Skandium store, when we lived in London.

How excited am I to learn there is a Moomin film about to be released this year (hurry up baby or I will have to borrow a child). To celebrate the forthcoming 3D movie "Moomins and The Comet Chase" the wonderful store Cloth-ears have bagged themselves the new collection. Am I too old for a Moomins Tote Shopper?

It is eco friendly after all! All being well think I may get carried away now with a Moomins themed nursery

:-)

Oh how I love thee ...

2011-02-04T10:04:00.000Z

Oh how I love thee... Mulberry Daria Mini Satchel.

Are you big enough to fit in some napppies or to use as a sick bag? (sorry) :-)

AND oh how I love you all my lovely blogettes, for all your kind comments and words of support. They have helped get me through another week spent in the bathroom and truly warmed the cockles of my heart.

Have fabulous Mulberry bag filled weekends xxx

Bun in the Oven ...

2011-01-28T13:27:00.001Z

This post will probably come as quite a shock (but not as much as a shock for us) but my unexplained absence (yet again) is because I have swapped my usual cupcakes for a BUN in the oven lol!

Surprise :-)

Oh what a SHOCK! Only found a few weeks ago and around 9 weeks at the moment, so very early days I guess and perhaps nothing guaranteed at this stage but I can't keep 'mum' - so to speak, any longer.

Not exactly part of the life plan and to be honest I thought I was getting a bit too old, but there you have it a New Year's surprise.

So we will (hopefully and all being well) be having un petit bebe Francais/e in September - right in the middle of the busy season at Le Petit Chou - I really don't do things by halves and am currently having nightmares of giving birth in the middle of the Salon de The in the height of the summer season!

So any handy anti sickness tips GREATFULLY recieved at the moment, as I seem to be spending most of my time looking down the bottom of the loo ;-)

Until then my usual baking is a little on hold, but once I can actually enter the kitchen and look at food again, I hope to be trying out some new recipes and purcashing these gorgeous baking trays from Berry Red.

A Happy and Peaceful New French Year!

2010-12-31T11:49:00.001Z

Hoping you all had a fantastic Christmas and I just wanted to take the time to wish you all a very Happy New Year ... full of peace, health and happiness :-)

May all your dreams come true in 2011

xxx

We are finishing our year in style with haggis and neeps! Then, we will be starting our New Year as ... French!!!

We have been offered an amazing and exciting opportunity to start a new life (fur kids included!) in France next Spring

:-)

We will be the proud custodians of Le Petit Chou, our friend's Chambre D'Hote and Salon de The in Entraygues in the Averyon.

This little village will be home :-)

So looking forward to what 2011 will bring ...

Alfredo Bandido

2010-12-13T16:26:00.001Z

I have a HUGE, LIFE CHANGING but EXCITING announcement to declare on the blog very soon ... (for those who know me well ... don't worry it's not a baby)

Until then I thought some Alfie update photos maybe a little overdue :-)

He was eight, yes EIGHT months old last week! Who would have thought that only a few months ago we had only just rescued him and were trying to save his ears :-(

Our very first fur baby Christmas is not very far away lol! How our priorities have changed.

It's going to be a credit crunch Christmas this year for Chris and I, however Alfie and Poppy will be spoilt and we may as well buy shares in Pets at Home. I have even acquired a pair of Northface ... that's NorthFace MOON BOOTS for walking in the snow (for me not the dog). They are however fur trimmed with a 'lace effect' pattern in the material.

'Beret' cold outside

2010-12-03T15:31:00.000Z

Brrrr - still no snow here (hurrah) but it is very VERY cold.

I am loving warm winter hats at the moment. Having short hair however, I need to be careful when it comes to hats, otherwise I end up looking either bald or about seven years old!

I am however hearting all of these wooley berets ...

I had a small, sneak purchase of the black beaded one from River Island and I now have my 'beady' eye on the cream, pearl beaded one as well :-)

November Daring Bakers Challenge

2010-12-02T12:04:00.000Z

The 2010 November Daring Bakers’ challenge was hosted by Simona of briciole. She chose to challenge Daring Bakers’ to make pasta frolla for a crostata. She used her own experience as a source, as well as information from Pellegrino Artusi’s Science in the Kitchen and the Art of Eating Well.

I set out with early in the month with good intentions to transform the crostata base into a traditional Bakewell Tart, however it was a disaster. One in which I need more time and ingredients to perfect.

So what with it being December and all that I settled for mini mince pies.

Enjoy!

Snow Booties :-)

2010-11-30T16:30:00.000Z

This image made me smile ... :-)

It made Chris groan ... lol

It isn't Alfie but I spotted this cutie on the Chinese Crested page on Facebook, so please do forgive me using your cutie pie image!

I believe we have SNOW on the way ... this will be Alfie's very FIRST snow.

I can't wait to see his reaction and in the meantime we need to think about buying him a warm coat.

I dont think we will be allowed the booties though!

Alfie and Patch

2010-11-27T12:15:00.001Z

Stay ahead of the fashion pack and embrace your inner geek as well as man's best friend with one of these cute dog prints!

Alfie's very own namesake courtesy of Hobbs new label NW3 or the Joules Patch design.

Woof :-)

Lime Madeleines

2010-11-12T09:07:00.001Z

Fortnum & Mason in London is the quintessential London store. It epitomises style,charm and, above all, one of Britain's most traditional pastimes: taking tea.
Select your favourite recipes from the new book, Tea at Fortum and Masons so that you can recreate some of the opulence and luxury at home.

Proust immortalised these French scallop-shaped fancies in his work Remembrance of Things Past. Make sure you grease and flour the tin heavily so they come out cleanly from the mould, then enjoy them just as the French do - dipped in tea!

Vintage baking tins from the ever wonderful Re-foundobjects in Corbridge

Store in an airtight container and eat them within two days.
Serves 12

Ingredients:

80g unsalted butter, melted
and cooled, plus extra togrease
80g self-raising flour, sifted, plus extra to dust
80g golden caster sugar
2 medium eggs
½ tsp baking powder
Zest of 1 lime

Method:

Preheat the oven to 190°C/375°F/gas mark 5.
Generously grease a 12-mould Madeleine tin and dust it with flour.
Whisk together the sugar and eggs in a bowl until thick and creamy. In a separate large bowl, combine the flour with the baking powder.
Add half the butter to the sugar and eggs with half the flour mixture and fold in. Add the remaining butter and flour mixture with the lime zest and fold everything together carefully.

Divide the mixture among the moulds and bake for about 10 minutes until cooked and golden.

Cool on a wire rack.

French Festive Sparkle

2010-11-04T08:41:00.000Z

I have already spotted the emergence of the first few festive and glittery pre Christmas blog posts, which is so exciting. This is a great opportunity for me then, to introudce our friend's French interiors store Le Petit Pois.

An Aladin's Cave of all things beautiful for the home and very dangerous ground letting me loose inside :-)

They have just started to display some glamorous and glittery festive decorations which I just knew you would all enjoy looking at! More goodies to follow over the next few days.

Enjoy ...

Le Petit Chou

2010-11-02T16:07:00.003Z

Back to reality after a wonderful French weekend. We have had a lovely time, I only wish I could have packed you all in my suitcase to experience the beautiful Le Petit Chou and guess what? ... My humble little cupcakes have graced the very finest of French Salon de The! How excited was I to do a spot of 'guest baking' and russle up some carrot cupcakes :-)

Home made icecream!

Our friend's Chambre d'hotel and Salon de The was only launched last summer and is already proving a hit with chic visiting Parisiens and locals alike. Bindy also owns an interiors store in the village (another post and piccies to follow) so many of the pieces of furniture she has restored herself, as well as being for sale in the shop.

In addition they have launched an Epicerie Fine selling a range of delicious produces for all you gourmets out there! As usual my suitcase was over weight on the return journey :-)

I have lots more tales and piccies to post about our trip this week and I hope it inspires you all to visit them one day ...

Oh la la!

2010-10-28T10:17:00.001+01:00

Tomrorow we are off on an adventure to the medieval village of Entraygues-Sur-Truyere in the Midi Pyrenees to experience life and business in France. I am so exited. We are visiting friends who quit the rat race to renovate a number of beautiful properties and gites as well as opening an interiors shop Le Petit Pois and a Tea Shop called Le Petit Chou :-)

I just know that all of you Francophiles out there will adore their website and I look forward to returning to you all with lots of photos and hopefully macarons!

October Daring Bakers Challenge: Let's go Nuts for Doughnuts!

2010-10-27T09:15:00.006+01:00

The October 2010 Daring Bakers challenge was hosted by Lori of Butter Me Up. Lori chose to challenge DBers to make doughnuts. She used several sources for her recipes including Alton Brown, Nancy Silverton, Kate Neumann and Epicurious.Hurrah thanks again for an excellent challenge! Ok I admit, I very almost dipped out of this challenge both for the fear of burning down my kitchen and a general deep fat fry phobia. However I am happy to say that I was so glad I made the effort to join in.

I would never have thought to try making doughnuts from scratch and am pleased to have gained a new found skill.

It's was my birthday on 21st October (!) so I have been a bit of a 'Last Minute Charlie' with this challenge. I had the baking bug this afternoon but didn't have time to nip out to buy yeast or the patience to wait for the dough to rise (sorry!) so I decided to stick to the 'cake method'.

I also kept it traditional and stuck to cinnamon sugar topping but will look forward to trying my icing and filling skills next time and have been really inspired by some of your flavours.

As ever Alfie the fabulous baking dog doesn't like to miss out on some goodies or a photo opportunity!

I wanted UK measurements and a non yeast recipe so I used a BBC Good food recipe

Ingredients

2 eggs

100g/4oz caster sugar

100ml soured cream

350g plain flour

2 1/2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp bicarb

1/4 tsb cinnamon

sunflower oil for frying

a cup of caster sugar and 1 tsp of cinnamon for dusting

Preparation method

Whisk together the eggs and sugar until frothy, then stir in the soured cream. Sift in the flour, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda, salt and cinnamon. Mix until everything comes together in the bowl into a sticky dough. Transfer to a lightly floured surface and knead briefly with your hands until the dough becomes soft and smooth in texture.

Technique: Kneading bread

Using a little more flour if you need to, roll the dough until it's about 5mm/¼in thick. Cut out circles in the dough with a pastry cutter, approximately 7.5-9cm/3-3½in diameter. In the centre of each one, cut a smaller circle approximately 2.5cm/1in in diameter. Transfer the rings and centre circles to a piece of greaseproof paper and roll out any trimmings, repeating until all the dough is used.
Heat plenty of oil in a deep-fat fryer or saucepan to 180C/350F/Gas 4. If you don't have a thermometer, drop a 2-3cm/¾-1¼in cube of bread into the hot oil. If it sizzles straight away and becomes golden in about a minute, the temperature is fine.

Drop a few doughnut rings and the centre circles into the oil and fry until golden on both sides (about 2 minutes). Once cooked, drain on kitchen paper to absorb excess fat, then toss in the sugar and cinnamon. The easiest way to do this is to use a large plastic sandwich bag to shake around a few doughnuts at a time so they get an even coating of cinnamon sugar.

October Plum Cake

2010-10-05T12:41:00.001+01:00

Inspired by the seasonal produce at our local Farm Shop - Toogood Farm and The Wonderful Goddess's Kitchen Blog I've just russled up an October Plum Cake.

Once you start eating this you just can't stop!

Ingredients

2 eggs and 1 yolk

140g butter

140g golden caster sugar

140g self raising flour

zest and juice of 1 orange

1 teaspoon vanilla extract or 1 vanilla pod

200g plums (or damsons) stoned and chopped

Topping - 100g caster sugar and 2 tablespoons of orange juice

Cream together 140g golden caster sugar and butter

Beat the eggs in a small bowl and slowly add to the creamed mixture, whisking

Gently fold in the flour (I used a round cake tin and used 200g sr flour) and add vanilla and orange zest

Pour into a lined baking tin (round or loaf tin) and sprinkle with remaining sugar and orange juice.
Bake for about 45-50 mins at 170 degrees

Pampered Pets ...

2010-10-02T11:44:00.002+01:00

How Alfie and Poppy would love one of these pampered pooch beds from the French Bedroom Company

Cosying Up

2010-09-28T10:16:00.000+01:00

The nights are starting to draw in and the temperature is dropping.

I am feeling in a cosy mood, ready to curl up in front of the fire in the afternoons with a vintage welsh blanket, a mug of hot chocolate and a pile of good magazines .....

I love the early days of autumn just before things turn a little too frosty. My Birthday, Halloween, Bonfire Night and Christmas are all just around the corner and I start to daydream about new comforting recipes and restyling my homeware accessories to make the house look more cosy.

Do you enjoy this time of year?

All photos and products available from the wonderful RE-found Homewares and another favorite of mine Cox and Cox. The dear little reindeer fire lighters are too cute!

September 2010 Daring Bakers Challenge!

2010-09-27T08:32:00.001+01:00

The September 2010 Daring Bakers’ challenge was hosted by Mandy of “What the Fruitcake?!” Mandy challenged everyone to make Decorated Sugar Cookies based on recipes from Peggy Porschen and The Joy of Baking.

Firstly a HUGE thank you for letting me be part of the wonderful Daring Baker's Challenge and lovely to meet you all and see your fantastic creations! I've enjoyed this challenge so, so much and I have maybe even been converted from my beloved cupcakes to cookies.

The challenge this month was to bake and hand ice some sugar cookies with the theme of 'September'.

For me, September signals the start of autumn or what I refer to as 'birthday season'. Kicking of with my lovely friend's baby girls' FIRST birthday on Saturday, followed by mine in October ... Halloween ... and Bonfire Night (-in the UK) all of which I love. Of course September is rainy in the UK so I have chosen Umbrella's to keep me dry and butterflies to remind me of summer.

I have been down to London this weekend for my friend's baby's FIRST birthday so we packaged all the cookies in pretty cellophane, tied with ribbon and handed them out as birthday favours.

and we have a COOKIE MONSTER at home :-)

I pretty much stuck to the original recipe, but flavour wise added a few extras because we have just returned from a September holiday in Madeira - so I kept to the traditional dark spicy bolo de miele - Madeiran Honey cake, I flavoured my cookies with a little cinnamon and orange peel and added a touch of honey to the Royal Icing.

Basic Sugar Cookies:
Makes Approximately 36x 10cm / 4" Cookies
200g / 7oz / ½ cup + 6 Tbsp Unsalted Butter, at room temperature
400g / 14oz / 3 cups + 3 Tbsp All Purpose / Plain Flour
200g / 7oz / 1 cup Caster Sugar / Superfine Sugar
1 Large Egg, lightly beaten
5ml / 1 tsp Vanilla Extract / Or seeds from 1 vanilla bean

Directions

• Cream together the butter, sugar and any flavourings you’re using. Beat until just becoming

creamy in texture.

• Tip: Don’t over mix otherwise you’ll incorporate too much air and the cookies will spread during

baking, losing their shape.

• Beat in the egg until well combined, make sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl.

Add the sifted flour and mix on low until a non sticky dough forms.

• Tip: I don’t have a stand mixer so I find it easier to switch to dough hooks at this stage to avoid flour flying everywhere.

• Knead into a ball and divide into 2 or 3 pieces.

• Roll out each portion between parchment paper to a thickness of about 5mm/1/5 inch (0.2 inch)

• Refrigerate for a minimum of 30mins.

• Tip: Recipes commonly just wrap the whole ball of dough in clingwrap and then refrigerate it for an hour or overnight, but by rolling the dough between parchment, this shortens the chilling time and then it’s also been rolled out while still soft making it easier and quicker.

• Once chilled, peel off parchment and place dough on a lightly floured surface.

• Cut out shapes with cookie cutters or a sharp knife.

• Arrange shapes on parchment lined baking sheets and refrigerate for another 30mins to an hour.

• Tip: It’s very important you chill them again otherwise they’ll spread while baking.

• Re-roll scraps and follow the above process until all scraps are used up.

• Preheat oven to 180°C (160°C Fan Assisted) / 350°F / Gas Mark 4.

• Bake until golden around the edges, about 8-15mins depending on the size of the cookies.

• Tip: Bake same sized cookies together otherwise mixing smaller with larger cookies could result in some cookies being baked before others are done.

• Tip: Rotate baking sheets half way through baking if your oven bakes unevenly.

• Leave to cool on cooling racks.

• Once completely cooled, decorate as desired.

• Tip: If wrapped in tinfoil/cling wrap or kept in airtight containers in a cool place, un-decorated

cookies can last up to a month.

I've really enjoyed joining this group and look forward to the October challenge :-)

For all you Ikea and cat lovers :-)

2010-09-22T08:25:00.000+01:00

Gosh it's been almost a month since my last post - I really do hope you are all happy and well.

We had the opportunity to take a last minute holiday to Madeira which was lovely, so a longer post and piccies to follow but in the meantime I am just loving this new Ikea advert :-)

Hello Again from Alfie ...

2010-08-24T15:21:00.002+01:00

Woof :-) A big Hello to you all from wonder dog Alfie...

We have really focused on chilling out with this little bundle of fluff for the past week or two, in a bid to cheer myself up a little bit and to enjoy some fresh air.

This was Alfie's first trip to our local beach, which he just adored!

He loves to eat shells and have a run ...

and then come home for some cakes with Poppy :-)

We are off to a new puppy training class this evening so Alfie will be able to show off his tricks - 'sit', 'lie down' and 'paw' as well as (hopefully) learn some more useful ones like 'Alfie come Back!'

Moonmins please help me ...

2010-08-13T15:38:00.001+01:00

(Topshop accessories)

I love the Moonmins :-)

How I would love to fill these two flasks with champagne cocktail's and run away this weekend!

I have had a week of COMPLETE and utter CR*P, one of those when you actually feel like somebody has put a LARGE jinx on you and like things can never get better. Not to drag a dark could over all of your heads too with all of the details but just one of the cr*p events has included my mum being burgled (hook through her letter box). Her house keys and her car has been stolen in the early hours of Tuesday morning. She had only had her car for four months :-( It has been found in North Wales (!!) but has been involved in a four car pile up, 3 young lads and a girl have been arrested but no doubt like the rest of the crusty British legal system will be let off the hook whilst we all suffer.

I don't know! Whilst I am in a grim mood I will love and leave you all, wishing you a lovely weekend and return in a more postive frame of mind next week.

xxx

You Can't Measure Cuteness

2010-08-04T19:30:00.001+01:00

Who could resist these cuties?

A great excuse to do some MORE baking!

Measuring Cups @ Anthropologie website :-)

Weekend Awards ...

2010-07-25T12:37:00.002+01:00

I have been awarded two wonderful Blog accolades from the beautiful Morellocherry from Frosted Rosepetals. I am so pleased to have recently found MC, she has a fantastic foodie blog, with not only delicious recipes but also gorgeous food photography.

Thank you, thank you, thank you - I would love to invite you all to take an award and to join in - post TEN of your loves or share TEN bloggy facts ... xxx

Personally I love to have time off with Chris to wander the streets of a new City. Discovering cute places to stop off for coffee and cake and of course a touch of retail therapy.

Sunday morning relaxing with a new copy of Country Homes and Interiors and Country Living and a cappucino :-)

Sitting under a sunshine yellow parasol, looking out to sea and daydreaming ...

Browsing bookshops for new recipe books then trying out a new recipe, although more often than not it tends to be something sweet rather than savoury!

Moving back to Lancashire after all those years in the London rat race, when I have time to reflect on how lucky I am to live in the countryside and be able to wander the lanes ... even more so now with Alfie!

Growing old disgracefrully :-) I spotted this wonderful elderly PINK lady in Ibiza Old Town but I was too shy to snap a faceon photo of her! Oh please let me retire to Ibiza one day with pink hair ...

The fur kids!

Favorite vintage finds ...

Classic Cars - love 'em!

(All my own pictures in this post)

Cupcakes of course - newly tried malted malteaser flavour :-)

Hope you have all had happy weekends
xxx

Great British Blog Bake Off and Giveaway

2010-07-19T19:55:00.001+01:00

Don't forget TWO weeks until the Great British Blog Bake Off Giveaway - OPEN TO ALL from the 31st July. Please leave a comment telling me you would like to join in, what you will be baking (Great British theme, think Victoria Sponge, Scones etc) and where you love or would most love to visit in the UK. Please pop my Bake Off Button (below) onto your own blog, then blog about and post piccies of your baking any time from 31st July up until Sunday 8th August.

Hurrah, please tell all of your bloggy friends and I really hope you can join us - open to WORLDWIDE bloggers with a love of BRITISH baking!

I will be adding to the giveaway goodies over the next two weeks.

The goodies pictured so far came from the beautiful Yorkshire village of Haworth, which I know a lot of you shopaholics and vintage lovers will have already visited.

For those a little less local, Haworth is famous for being the birth place and home of the Bronte Sisters.

It is such a pretty place to visit with some lovely shops including the wonderful Rose and Co Apothecary a fave of mine and where I discovered many of the giveaway goodies!

Alfie LOVED his first trip to Haworth in particular the fabulous Pooch Boutique , where he was treated to a brand spanking new 'mannish camouflage' harness :-)

As well as the The Kings Arms Pub where he enjoyed some dog biscuits as well as some of my Sunday Roast. It would be rude to go to Yorkshire and not scoff a REAL Yorkshire Pudding and that's a HUGE compliment from a Lancashire lass!

Oh, and not forgetting Poppy who was treated to a handmade vintage catnip mouse from Rose & Co and nearly swiped my hand off trying to play with it :-)

Etsy Owl and the Pussycats

2010-07-19T15:42:00.000+01:00

Aww my little Etsy shop has been included in JezikaRae's Etsy Treasury, which is exciting - she has put together a really pretty selection of Owl and Pussycat treats here ...

Watch this space for details of my Blog Bake Off Giveaway - I will be posting some pictures of the goodies I have to GIVEAWAY this week and hope you will all be able to join in!

Singing and Screaming in the Rain!

2010-07-16T17:19:00.002+01:00

see more EpiCute

Wishing you love for the weekend!

Mine will be spent recovering from singing and SCREAMING in the RAIN and drinking PIMMS at the JLS concert at Warwick Castle last night - lots and lots of fun lol!

Hope you enjoy yours :-)

xxx

Noonton and Cocobean Brooches Extraordinaire!

2010-07-14T07:56:00.000+01:00

Who could resist one of Nina's bespoke designs?

Buy one whilst you can because these cuties will be selling like hot cakes or should that be hot dogs ...! AND I've already bought TWO so be quick :-)

Please do pay Nina's stylish blog a visit. Nina is a Stylist who has just graudated with a FIRST CLASS HONOURS degree in Fashion Design and Manufacture. All you lovely ladies that appreciate vintage treasures, fashion, cupcakes and design will adore Nina's blog Noonton and Cocobean

Please form an orderly queue at Nina's Etsy Shop HERE!

Banana and Walnut Breakfast Slice

2010-07-06T21:08:00.000+01:00

I've been feeling a little lazy when it comes to icing cupcakes recently, so have slightly adapted a Banana Cupcake recipe into a Banana and Walnut Breakfast Slice recipe.

Super easy to bake in a square pan and whack the icing ontop in one go - no fiddling around with piping bags.

Enjoy!

Banana and Walnut Breakfast Slice

125g soft Unsalted Butter or Stork

125g Caster Sugar

2 Eggs

125 Plain Flour

1 teaspoon Baking Powder

1-2 Ripe Bananas

(Optional) 'Dollop' of Plain or BananaYoghurt

50g Chopped Walnuts

125g Cream Cheese

125g Sifted Icing Sugar

Cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy, add eggs one at a time - I use a hand held electric whisk

Sift and fold in Flour and Baking Powder

Add Bananas and Yoghurt

Mix in chopped Walnuts

Bake at 170 Degrees - My oven took about 40-45 minutes

Leave to cool then combine Cream Cheese and Icing Sugar - Top the cake and sprinkle with a little Cinnamon.

The thought of this 'Breakfast Cake' helps some way towards my new early morning dog routine

:-0)

What's it all about Alfie?

2010-07-05T18:16:00.000+01:00

Surprise!!!

Well having put 'Dream Dog' project on hold this little bundle of fluff just came along on Saturday completely by chance!

So over to Alfie ...

"Hello everyone pleased to meet you all at last. I am a 10 week old Chinese Crested Powder Puff - or as my mum lied to my dad - a Chinese Crested With Fur, because apparently he thinks powder puffs are for girls.

I've been told I appeared with my sister on The Dogs Trust Facebook Page as a special appeal. We were both brought to the rescue centre in a real state. Somebody has cut off the ends of both of our ears, but the horrible lady made out that we had been play fighting! Come off it, we are only big enough to hurt a dandelion at the moment.

Dolliedaydream pretended she was having a new gas meter fitted on Thursday afternoon and came to visit us both. My sister had already found a home in Shropshire so I was feeling kind of lonely. Lucky for me I ran over to DollieD gave her a lick and she was smitten. She just had to break the news to her husband who was working in London that day!

But who could resist my charms and good looks? Dogs Trust managed to organise a super speedy home visit by the lovely Michelle (who also owns 3 Chinese Crested and 2 collies) and the rest as they say is history.

After an informative dog owning induction, the Muggles were able to bring me to my new home on Saturday morning.

I've settled straight in, we are thankfully having some sunny weather so I am LOVING the garden. I have a mad hour in the mornings racing circles around the lawn. I'm too excited to eat much at the moment and that pesky cat keeps trying to steal my food and THEN has the cheek to attack me if I go anywhere near her.

Poppy I think she is called. She sounds like The Omen when she trys to attack me, but I am getting good now at barking at her, then running away quickly.

The Muggles think it is ironic that they have given me some leather pigs EARS to chew. I'm not sure what the joke is, but it's my favorite toy.

I've already made some local friends. I had my first (of many I hope) visits to the pub yesterday to watch the Muggles and my fur grandmama eat their roast dinners, whilst I slept on their feet under the table. My next door neighbours little boy likes to play with me and I am just starting to get used to having a walk down the lane in my harness but I dont like the cars very much.

I even met the post man on my walk this morning and I've promised never to bite him as long as he agrees to deliver me some treats from time to time ...

Yaaawn well that's it for me for today. I'm still a little sleepy from my antibiotics but I'll be back with some more dog ~~tails~~ tales later in the week.

In the meantime DollieD has told me to remind you about her British Blog Bake Off, so please keep reading for some more details and a happy belated July 4th to all our American friends.

Much love Alfie

xxx

Great British Bake Off!

2010-07-01T08:48:00.003+01:00

So I have been awake since 4.15am, which has set me off thinking it's about time I hosted another giveaway!

In light of the recent, dare I mention it England football disappointment, I've decided I need to become a little more patriotic and what better way to celebrate my 'Englishness' than to host a GREAT BRITISH BAKE OFF! on the weekend of 31st JULY which is also my WEDDING ANNIVERSARY :-)

So I'm going to make you work for your money this time or should that be 'bake for your giveaway' ...

A chance to show off or to practice your very best BRITISH baking skills :-)

I will be collecting British goodies over the next two weeks on my English travels to add to the giveaway but just to get things started ...

some Fortnum and Masons English Breakfast tea ...

Union Jack Hearts, London Wrapping Paper and note book to name but a few.

Open to EVERYONE yes EVERYONE Worldwide - So to be in with multiple chances of winning:

1. Please leave me a comment to tell me you would like to join in. Include what you would like to try baking and either your fave place to visit in the UK or where you would DOLLIEDAYDREAM of visiting in the UK one day.

2. Add my BAKE OFF! Button to your blog and invite your friends

3. Let me know if you are a follower or join the gang

4. Blog about your baking on the bake off week/end

Keep it fun don't STRESS, if you are a couple of days each side of the BAKE OFF! weekend just eat a scone and dont WORRY. Why not get really carried away and start the day off with a full English breakfast or host a full on English teadance or afternoon tea! Drag out the bunting and Union Jacks ... :-)

Some ideas to get you started ... Victoria Sponge, Parkin, Scones, English Breakfast Cupcakes? I can't wait to hear what you choose!

Parisian Picnic

2010-06-30T10:43:00.000+01:00

I have a summer cold ... how is that possible in the much anticipated, sunny weather I wonder?

I am actually sat on my sofa with a bumper pack of tissues, some lemsip and a tube of throat pastilles. In my imagination I am stepping into my prettiest summer ruffle dress and inviting you all along for a Parisian day out and of course a picnic...

I don't fancy flying to Paris today, so lets travel in style and hop inside a vintage trailer instead ...

Lets take a little piece of England and we'll indulge and treat ourselves to a traditional Fortnum's luxury hamper ...

Don't forget to pack the vanilla meringues and pressed glass cake stands ...

and the rhubarb and ginger cordial ...

If you are loving all things Paris and picnic today check out these beautiful earrings from Adornyou's Etsy Shop

Rest your head awhile on TheFrenchNestCo's chic cushion

Or indulge in Jojolarue's tempting macarons ...

Atchoo!

Weddingtastic

2010-06-24T15:44:00.001+01:00

Sending you all some pretty, sweet wishes xxx

I am so happy to be back!

How have you all been? Very well I hope and enjoying some much needed sunshine.

Well I have caught up with some of my work now and am hoping to be able to take a break towards the end of August so that will be something to look forward to.

Some exciting news that Kelly-Ann; my lovely, one and only employee has got engaged yipee, so I have a wedding to buy an outfit for next summer AND I am also hoping to design and bake the wedding CUPCAKES - Hurrah

Happiest Weekend x

2010-05-21T17:53:00.000+01:00

Missing you all :-(

Hope to be back VERY soon and wishing you all much love for the weekend.

xxx

Rescue Fur Babies

2010-05-13T19:00:00.000+01:00

I sheepishly return to my blog with a pretty teacup posey and a cake for you all and to say a quick "Hello" and "How are you all"? Very well I hope.

Work has been my top priority the past two weeks, as a small company I have to take advantage of my busier times but would much rather be whiling the hours away with you all - I've even been carrying out evening telephone interviews and getting goggle eyed updating my work database and just flicking my laptop off and hopping into bed by 9pm most evenings.

I've also been completely and utterly preoccupied on both the UK election results and more interesting PUPPY WATCH - I have made four visits (some sneaky ones during office hours without my husband) to the local dog rescue and been scouring the rescue websites for hours and hours on end and hence abandoning my lovely blog. I have been like a dog with a bone ... no pun intended :-)

Until then we have been practising with some woodland walks with our 'imaginary dog' in Delamere Forest and catching some cute pictures of other people fur babies having fun!

We are also in the midst of conference and exhibition time at work. My next one in Brighton in a few weeks, at which I am a Speaker and have a looming deadline to submit a paper and presentation in time for that. Then hoping for weekend away in Bournemouth which again is all the way down on the South Coast so lots of driving ahead. In the meantime I have an appointment (at last) for (minor) surgery on my tooth on the 26th May, thank goodness. I will be left with a couple of stitches, so I just hope that it will be miraculously healed in two days in time for the next UK Bank Holiday weekend.

Until then my posts may be a little sporadic, but I will try my upmost to keep up with your adventures and my commenting ...

xxx

Thrifty Weekend

2010-04-29T11:24:00.002+01:00

Vintage clothing has never been more in fashion. Chic, unique, and often cheaper than its modern-day counterparts, what’s not to like? Hollywood A-listers such Kirsten Dunst, Reese Witherspoon and Sienna Miller often delve into the thrift shop when they want a glamour hit on the red carpet, but you don’t need an A-list budget to work the vintage look.

When it comes to vintage fashion, there are two types of collector. The first are style mavens who are looking for something that nobody else will be wearing. The second, and less common, type are those who buy to collect. But whatever the reason for collecting, the pleasure of finding a one-of-a-kind design is oh-so rewarding.

Wow what a busy week! Hope you are all bright and sprightly this week.

Chris's car broke down last Thursday so I have been busy, busy, busy helping to drop him off and pick him up for the past 5 days, as well as getting myself out and about.

I had a brilliantly busy weekend :-) Firstly I had the pleasure of my very first Bloggy meet up with the wonderful Sharon from My Passport to Style, a fellow fashionista and Lancashire Lass we had a lovely day getting to know more about each other and sharing some cakes!

Sharon is a fantastic, enthusiastic and knowledgeable Style Advisor so anybody looking for advice please do visit Sharon's blog were she has further information about her company.

I am TERRIBLE for ... wait for it ... gasp ... throwing things away. I know, I know. Marc by Marc Jacobs military denim jackets, Tapestry coats, Viv Westwood cardi's, the lot have been chucked over the years. To be fair mostly in my twenties, pre E-bay days when my wardrobe collection just got totally out of control and refused to fit into our tiny London flat. But old habits die hard and Sharon caught me out with a pile of clothes just waiting for me to throw away.

I have been 'tasked' with relining a (fake whoops don't tell anyone) Miu Miu bag with some material with a dress that was on it's way out amongst a few other potential project which I will endeavour to photograph and post about very soon :-)

I am not a natural thrifter so lets see how I get on...

We also managed to meet a friend for traditional Sunday roast and then had a concert Sunday evening to see the amazing Gil Scott Heron in Manchester. We saw him in concert about 10 years ago in fact Chris actually dj-ed the warm up set for him in Bournemouth prior to him ending up prison for drugs - Gil Scott Heron in prison for drugs that is not Chris! He is looking incredibly frail now but still has the most amazing stage presence and voice.

So this weekend is a Bank Holiday in the UK phewee an extra day off work and I need to catch up on some Zzzzzz. We have also been given some exciting news that we can have a puppy so am hoping to be able to visit a few rescue centres and see if we can find a new friend!

Girls night in!

2010-04-20T20:31:00.000+01:00

Poppy and I would like to invite you to a Tuesday Girls Night in!

Don't forget your baby dolls ...

Chris is on a training course, so quickly lets grab a tin of pink paint and redecorate whilst he is out ...

Cake is on the Tuesday evening menu ...

and if you just pop by my pink kitchen ...

and grab yourself a pink mojito ...

or a good old cup or Rosy Lea ...

and put your feet up in front of the tv :-)

On that note I am off to cut myself a slice of tiramisu cheesecake and to watch The Delicious Miss Dahl's cookery show

Happy Tuesday! xxx

Fine and Dandy Fennel Soup with Goats Cheese

2010-04-19T19:26:00.001+01:00

Firstly, I hope you are all fine and dandy. I barely had the opportunity to switch on my laptop in the evenings last week, the days just ran away with themselves, so I have missed catching up with you all.

We had a lovely weekend, my elderly granddad is staying with my dad and his wife at the moment, so we all had a day out with him in the sunshine on Saturday. Yesterday Chris and I had a sneaky visit to our local animal rescue centre and last Tuesday evening I went to visit a psychic! More tales and photos to come later in the week. Until then, inspired by a foodie post on the beautiful Reverie Daydream blog, I have been meaning to post this recipe and some photos for months.

enjoy ... hic :-) xxx

Adapted from the wonderful 'Table in the Tarn' cookbook.

4 bulbs of fennel

2 cloves of garlic

250ml chicken stock or milk

100g goats cheese - crumbled

300ml double cream

25g butter

little grated nutmeg

a splash of pernod or even better ABSINTHE

Slice fennel into quarters and steam with garlic for circa 25 minutes
place in pan with milk or stock, bring to the boil and gently cook for 5 minutes
Add crumbled cheese
Liquidize
Return to the pan with the butter, cream, nutmeg a splash of absinthe or a squeeze of lemon and lots of seasoning.

This is such an easy but impressive recipe ...

Lancashire Lambs

2010-04-09T18:11:00.001+01:00

Spring seems to finally have SPRUNG!

Come for a stroll with us to visit the Lancashire Lambs, down the lanes surrounding our house ...

Have you all had a wonderful week?

I always go quiet on my blog when I am chasing invoices :-) Oh the perils of running a small business and having to try to wedge money out of our 'big boy' clients. Anyone would think I had provided them with a service!

One day soon I WILL be in a position where I dont have to chase all the time...

Leopard print coat = not very well camouflaged when approaching poor sheep

Happy weekending ladies ... and Ste :-)
xxx

Find your Love ...

2010-04-05T13:56:00.003+01:00

Bird Bath
Originally uploaded by shaktiheskin

You know that dream you carry around with you each day?

It's kind of important.

Wasn't it what you were put on planet Earth to do?

They say everyone has a calling, can you still hear it?

Doesn't it eat away at you?

That treadmill you are on, did it ever get too much?

Did you ever wonder what it would be like to do your thing?

Did you ever feel that time was passing you by?

Just how many days have you left before your last?

Did you ever wonder about stuff like that?

Did you ask yourself "what was stopping you"?

There is never a right time.

You will be too old. Too young. Too something or other.

When was the last time you took a risk?

Did you remember how alive it made you feel?

There are no guarantees of success.

It's not called a leap of faith for nothing.

It's not too late, honest.

Jump.

You might fall.

You might fly.

(David Hieatt)

Happy Easter xxx

2010-04-04T18:57:00.000+01:00

Wishing you all a very Happy Easter!

I hope you have had a lovely looong weekend.

It's so nice to have some time free from work hurrah :-)

I have spent LOTS of time BAKING and decorating cupcakes ... double lemon, bitter chocolate and white choc and raspberry.

I'd also ordered some super cute cake boxes and ribbon online and the SWEETEST gift cards from Mary Jane at Sassy SadieLee and Beehive Cottage on Etsy which I am so, so pleased with. I will do another post to celebrate these, but this lovely lady had included som extra goodies in the shape of three CUTE Easter gift tags which just went perfectly with my boxes of cupcakes, thank you thank you thank you xxx

Taking Liberty at Easter

2010-04-01T11:14:00.000+01:00

Oooh I ALWAYS seem to miss out on things these days, am I am living in some sort of fashion black hole in the countryside!

I'd spotted quite a few American bloggers writing about the new Liberty of London line in collaboration with the store Target. For some reason it's been playing on my mind this morning, so I have just logged onto Liberty's website only to discover they have been selling a 'selection of the collection' at both the London store and online.

Drats all the size small clothes and the cake stand have sold out. Boohoo :-(

If you love Liberty prints there are still some items available online or you lucky American bloggers keep your eyes peeled next time you visit Target!

and the Winner is ...!

2010-03-28T16:32:00.001+01:00

Elly at the wonderful blog My Everyday Things.

visit her beautiful blog here ...

Congratulations my friend you are the proud new owner of some English Easter goodies - I just hope they arrive in time. Please do e-mail your address to me and I will take your parcel to the post office straight away xxx

Poppy wanted to help pick the winner at first, then we decided to use my new bird jar, do a lucky dip and leave it to Chris to pick out a name in the garden!

Thank you so much to everyone else who took the time to enter and post about my Giveaway. I've enjoyed it so much, have met some lovely new bloggers and will think up my next Giveaway very soon - so please do keep in touch.

Enjoy the remainder of your weekend everyone

xxx