Any Home Cooks Out There?

Hi guys,

Summer looks like it's nearly over. The children are heading back to school next week and the temperature is slowly dropping.

So with a new season comes new ideas.

I have started a new blog alongside this one that is aimed at busy mums who like to cook homemade healthier meals for the family.

I've been known in the past to rely on tins, jars and packet sauces (Shock horror I have!!) but home cooking can be as cheap and quick and easy with just the right store cupboard ingredients.

As I get older and care more about my own nuitrition in my life long battle to lose a few pounds, I am more aware of what I am putting in my body and what goes into my kids.

I am FAR from a perfect parent and cook, my freezer still contains ready meals, chicken nuggets and burgers for the days I really don't have time to cook from scratch but I do enjoy what I do.

So, if you are interested, pop over to my new page at:

Mums Kitchen

and join me on an experience of trying to eat better with a budget and trying to please the family.

Disco Fever

In approximately 3 weeks hubby turns 31.

In approximately 4 weeks I turn 32.

In approximately 4.5 weeks we are getting the kids looked after and having half a weekend away. We are going to an adults only theme weekend at our favourite holiday resort in Skegnes. Like I said, it's not the full Fri-Mon break but we are going to go evening on Friday and stay over for Friday and Saturday night coming back Sunday afternoon to sort out the kids for school and hubby for work on Monday. My mum will be staying over to look after the little dears so we know they are in safe hands.

So, like I said, it's a themed weekend.

We've done the 90's one before but this one is Disco Inferno.

It is tradition to wear fancy dress on the Saturday night and I have ordered myself the following costume:

 GROOVY BABY!!!!

I get the full kit of shirt, trousers, hairband and peace necklace but I now have the tough decision of hair.

Exhibit A: Abba hair.

VS

Exhibit B: Amy Winehouse beehive hair.

I am leaning towards B as I think it would look good with the hairband but both would suit my eye colour.

Speaking of eye colour, I have ordered some nice bright blue eye shadow and blue eyeliner and shiny pink lipstick to finish the look as in Exhibit A. I don't think I will bother with the extra glitter. I can see hubby complaining of being covered in it for days to come afterwards. :) (Why do men spoil the fun??? haha)

Live music is pretty much soul and dance groups of the 70's disco era. These include:

Odyssey.
Heatwave
Tina Charles.

(I'm too young to have heard of them all too) and then we have tributes to Lionel Richie, Kool and The Gang, Earth Wind and Fire, Barry White etc.

It's very much about the environment and the vibe so though it isn't stuff I know straight away there will be LOADS of music I recognise and it's going to be fun once the drink begins flowing and we are all dressed up looking cool. And Yes, How can I not promise a photo post afterwards. ;)

My hubby has set me the challenge of driving there the whole 2-3 hours. I normally do 2 hours on a driving lesson so it's not much extra and it's a route I really want to do. I still have 3 driving lessons before we go and once the kids are back at school I would like at least 1 hour a week in our own car additional to my driving lessons with my instructor. I am so much more confident and I REALLY want to get there now. My whole attitude upon driving is brighter and more positive.

Routine Catchup

Our Anniversary ideas didn't go quite as planned last weekend.

We had booked a babysitter so we could have some of the daytime out to go shopping and just have a general look around the places we wanted to see without the kids kicking up a fuss. Liam in particular hates clothes and homeware shops so we don't normally get to look at places that interest myself and hubby. We had also booked a table at a nice cosy little restaurant for a nice little meal for two.

This was cancelled as Matthew and hubby were both up in the middle of Friday night having succumbed to the sickness bug James started off with that Tuesday. By Wednesday night Liam and I had it so we were expecting it to go through the house.

Luckily it was a short bug and we were able to reschedule our day out for the Monday instead. The restaurant was a bit of a disappointment. The food wasn't quite as good as last time we went and the service was slow (but the wine was Delicious) so having really looked forward to it, it didn't live up to expectations. It could have been that we were still a little out of sorts but it was good to have a night off from the kids.

On our actual anniversary we settled for a takeaway and I cooked a romantic meal for dinner Wednesday night. Breaded prawns with garlic mayo dip, slow cooked beef bourginon with horseradish mash and green beans and a hot chocolate pudding dessert with cream.

As an anniversary gift hubby bought me a Kenwood Chef. I've had it a couple of weeks and I use it a fair bit.

It has made some lovely cakes and I am looking for new ways to expand my baking expertise. Hubby has set me the challenge of making a bakewell tart in coming weeks. That should be good. Pastry, jam, cake, icing etc. That sounds the sort of challenge I like.

In other news:

James no longer wears nappies AT ALL. We have now gone nappy free at night. On Monday 13th August we thought it was time to bit the bullet and send him to bed with no nappy. He had an accident that night but none since so nearly 2 weeks later it has been a huge success. I did expect a couple of wet nights but there was just the one so I am really proud of him.

The nearby fields have all been harvested.  Hay fever hasn't been too bad at all considering (says she who is incredibly sneezy this morning) but wow, are the spiders out in force at the moment! They are the thin spindly leg type of spider but some are as big as my palm (minus the fingers). They are really hard to get out of the bath and I am not touching them!

Liam seems SO grown up all of a sudden. His speech is coming on fast and we are trying to teach him more little phrases. He is such a darling.  We barely use the buggy now so he's getting really good with walking longer distances.

Matthew still is very much into his sports.

It's only 9 days until we go to the Paralympics.

There's less than a week of August left. This year has gone fast.

I'm looking forward to the return to school in just over a week. We are at a point we're running out of things to do and I REALLY miss the exercise. Looks like I am on track to gain the normal 7lbs I normally do over 6 weeks holidays. Mainly due to missing out on that walking routine. Over 2.5 hours a day soon adds up.

Anniversary

Tomorrow marks 2 years of marriage to my most wonderful husband.

So to celebrater, here is a little Meme I discovered last week,

 1. Where/how did you meet:  
    
We met at a bar/nightclub on a night out with mutual friends. It was a works reunion. I began working as a waitress about October time and the day I started was the day after a big leaving party. Half the staff were hungover. My hubby was the chef who had just left. Fast forward 7 years and a big night out gave me more than I bargained for. We had probably met a dozen times before since we knew the same people and hung out at the same places but since we were both in relationships in the past and over the years, we sort of remained invisible to one another until this one time we were both single.

2. How long have you known each other: 

We met on November 17th 2007.

3. How long after you met did you start dating: 

We became friends on facebook after our first meeting and had our first date 8 days later on 25th November.

4. How long did you date before you were engaged: 

About 20 months. Got engaged July 2009

5. How long was your engagement:  

11 months

6. How long have you been married:  

2 years

7. What is your anniversary:  

August 21st

8. How many people came to your wedding reception:  

Around 70. 

9. What kind of cake did you serve:

 

A traditional fruit cake topper and cupcakes. Those with white frosting had vanilla sponge, the purple had chocolate sponge.

10. Where was your wedding:  

Colchester Registry Office and Curve Bar for reception and The George Hotel in between for post wedding drinks.

11. What did you serve for your meal:  

We skipped the formalities and had an evening buffet that I prepared myself.

12. How many people were there in your bridal party: 

3 bridesmaids, 3 page boys, 1 best man, 

13. Are you still friends with them all:   

Yes

14. Did you or your spouse cry during the ceremony: 

No but hubby seemed really nervous and I was just relieved after months of planning and a few extra hurdles regarding health in the upcoming weeks that we'd got through the toughest bits and now we could begin to relax.

15. Most special moment of your wedding day: 

Having my Grandad there. He had a fall the morning before the wedding and had been taken to hospital with chest pains. It was all very touch and go as to whether he would make it or not. He did - just about. The wedding was at 2pm and he was released from hospital at 12. The fact he passed away 6 months later made it all that little bit more special that he was well enough to attend that day.

16. Any funny moments: 

My mother in law got stuck in a bedroom at my mums house when she got changed. My dad had to kick the door in to let her out. 

17. Any big disasters:

Almost, see 16. :)

18. Where did you go on your honeymoon: 
 Cornwall

19. How long where you gone:  
7 days

 

20. If you were to do your wedding over, what would you change: 

I'd have had my reception elsewhere. Or at least hired our own DJ rather than trust in the one they had a contract with. The venue was ok, but looking back, it could have been better. 

We'd have also remembered to get the wedding song out of the car. The dj that supposedly "had everything" had nothing that was any good so we ended up with a substitute wedding song.

21. What side of the bed do you sleep on: 

What has this got to do with anything? lol. The one near the window. (Left)

22. What size is your bed: 

Ikea Double (queen?) it's bigger than regular double beds.

23. Greatest strength as a couple:  

Togetherness. Talking. Laughing. Making the most of life. 

24. Greatest challenge as a couple:  

So far so good. Nothing really stands out as challenging.

25. Who literally pays the bills:  

He does..

26. What is your song:  

"One Day Like This"  Elbow

27. What did you dance your first dance to:  

"When You Say Nothing At All"  Ronan Keating - but it should have been number 26.

28. Describe your wedding dress: 

Handmade by my mother in law, the dress was classic romantic style. Ivory taffeta skirt. Heart shaped top to a lace bodice with flowers and sequins. The sides of the dress were taken in gently so they would drape and the train was there but not too long. 

She also created my veil and adorned it with hand sewn flower sequins.

29. What kind of flowers did you have at your wedding:  

Pink and white artificial roses with diamante centre stalks.  The bridesmaids had the same, just on a smaller scale. I made all the bouquets myself and it's one thing I am really proud of. They went as a perfect compliment to the dark shimmering purple of their dresses. Which again were created by my mother in law. I didn't want it too purple but the contrast worked and kept it all girly still.

And the flowers in the hair? I made them too. Diamante button sewn into the centre of a flattened out artificial white rose and attached to a hair comb.

30. Are your wedding bands engraved? 

No, I thought my ring was pretty enough as it is.

Kids to Plants

If I could describe myself in one word, this would probably be:

Nurturing

It's one of those things that I have found is part of me and as I grow older it evolves.

Going back to when I was a kid, I loved kids, I would take over as cheif carer with my brother and cousins at christmas and keep them amused. As I got older I began babysitting for neighbours. I would be strong but fun with them and would reward them with treats the next day if they behaved.  It wasn't bribery but I think respect should be rewarded with respect.

Then I aged that bit more. I became pregnant and a wife. My pregnancies were mostly smooth though there were a few hiccups along the way and during that time, my body did what it had to, my emotions changed and the love I have for these kids is immeasurable.

Through the nurturing of pregnancy and throughout the early months, I did the best for my babies. We all do. As they grow older they become less and less dependent of me though a mothers job never slows down. It takes on a different path. 

I am a changable person. I like to be able to accept changes to try to improve things, improve myself.

I love cooking. I always have and while I will never win any rosettes or Michelin stars for my type of cooking, I cook with love. I've grown to love baking. It was something I started doing for the kids and since I have had a new oven, I do it all the more.

My wonderful hubby also bought me a Kenwood Chef as an early anniversary present.

I was given it on Thursday and I have already given it two workouts.  

First a super moist chocolate cake and then on Monday, Liam helped me create some fruit scones. I have cooked scones plenty of times but I have finally found a FANTASTIC recipe where the scones rise like they should. They say a bad chef always blames their tools, well I on the other hand owe part of the scones success to Ken (my affectionate name for the mixer). It was the easiest recipe ever, they rose evenly and tasted as good as they looked.

I count turning out food that look like they were bought in as a sign of success. I'm sure my husband thinks I am crazy when I say, "these are really good, it's like I bought them" meaning I bought them from somewhere nice like a deli or specialist shops. I amaze myself sometimes.

Now I have mastered looking after children, and cooking I am taking on a new project.

PLANTS.

I have NEVER been good with plants. I've tried over the years and always failed dismally..........

Until Now!

This is my spiderplant.

It started off as a tiny little growth of plant from my nans. I just took a leafy looking stem, planted it and watched it grow. It's great for amatuers like me as it doesn't need too much watering and is climate friendly. It has done so well over the months.

So much so that it is sprouting all it's own spider babies and lots of them. The roots look good, the long stalks they are growing off look very healthy and strong.

Today I took off the 5 largest babies and replanted them. I am looking forward to seeing how well these babies do. I love the idea of fresh plants around the house and I love a vase of flowers on the kitchen table most of the time. (When I get to do my girly stuff, I do it good.)  I'd like a plant in the bathroom, in my bedroom and the outroom just to give it something. (I still want that room painted light green)

So, now the kids are growing up and I have a little more time to spend on other things, the nurturing side of me refuses to die down. My childbearing days may be over but I have 5 new babies to keep an eye on and watch grow.

And The Verdict Is This..

What can I say about my darling boy Matthew?

Yes, there are times he can be hard work but on the whole, the boy tries hard.  He didn't have the best start in life and I know I have made a few mistakes but he is a good kid.

Last Wednesday we had to attend a follow up appointment regarding the ADHD testing. The specialist we saw before was a real lovely gentleman and I was happy to have him again. He went through in extreme detail of the report the undercover observer from his class a few weeks back.

He told us what the observer had written word for word and explained what they had been looking for.

In short, he was a little fidgety at set times but in general, he was VERY well behaved. He was eager to get on with his work, he put his hand up to answer questions (something he didn't do before), He waited his turn for things (again, this was a BIG struggle for him).and showed focus when he did work. 

So based upon the observers notes we have been signed off from their books.

MATTHEW DOES NOT HAVE ADHD in any shape or form. He is just a little boy with a little too much energy at times.

I am SO proud of him.

We have noticed big differences over the months and even the specialist said that by the time he gets to see kids, it can be 18-24 months after referral by the time they get to him and in that time lots can change.

Matthew is a LOT calmer than he has ever been. Part of it - I believe - is that we have altered his diet and he is smart enough to understand that this is doing him good and when he does get treats, he does appreciate it that much more.

My little boy is also growing up.

Of course, he has genetics and I can see where he gets impatience from. (Me) And his father never really thought about things before carrying them out.

Matthew did speak to his dad last week for a short time and the conversation went well. Even I had a few minutes talking to him. He seems to be on a better track at long last. I know the marriage failed for a number of reasons but I want him to move on and find happiness like I have. No matter what happened in the marriage, I want him to sort himself out for himself.  Everyone deserves to be happy and I hope for his sake he has sorted out his demons. Yet history tells me this all could be an act for now.  Matthew handled his dad in a very sensible and mature manner so I am really proud of him for that too. There has been times Matthew hasn't wanted to talk to him at all and I've had to more or less force him to just to be polite to his dad but Matthew is learning like the rest of us, a phone call every few months makes life alot easier.

My little man is growing up and becoming a real little gentleman.

Liams Things - His Lunch Bag and Daisy.

Well, first and foremost, for Jenn and Goodtiming, here is Liams special little lunch bag.

The owl trend has caught on over here too. However, the squirrels may outnumber the owls and we also have the hedgehogs but this is very much a Liam style bag. He loves animals and he loves the outdoors so all in all it reflects his personality in a way.

Look how much Daisy is adored by the growing young man.

He is so gentle and caring towards her.

She really is a little companion for him and he will often just disappear to the back room to look through her cage to talk to her. He loves feeding her carrots and grass and she comes out every evening for playtime.

This is the first pet we've had for a good few years that has taken a shine to me. I don't always have a knack with animals but she seems to like me.

She is rather adventurous and hasn't destroyed or damaged anything yet. Give me a rabbit over a dog any day.

Liam really is growing up so fast. Little did I know 3 years ago that this baby was going to be pretty much on time and arrive in just over 5 weeks.

We spent the day yesterday visiting a toy shop looking at what we could get the little darling for his birthday and have some great ideas. We are thinking of getting him one big present and asking for family to get him accessories to go with it. He looked at many many things but one thing really got his attention to the point he was playing with it in the middle of the toy shop. However, just having a look at it online again, it is priced up as alot more than what it was in store so I think we need a closer look at that. We are probably buying it next week as hubby gets paid if it is the right price in store. All will be revealed in due course. All I can say is Liam is a practical player and has a great imagination.

Boredy Boredy Bored!

Since it's Saturday night and I have no real purpose for rhe evening, let's do listy post:

1. Liam has learnt to burp on demand.
2. We got a pet rabbit from the animal rescue centre. Her name is Daisy. We just paid the nice people a charitable donation. She was found hopping along a seafront all on her lonesome and she was so pretty she has become the new family pet.
3. Liam just adores her, as does James.
4. We got big news this week, Liam can start playgroup once a week from September!!!My baby is off to school! I will have a complete morning free every week! This is going to be strange. The school nursery didn't think there was much chance of him getting in for January but I feel that he is ready for interactiong with more children than just his brothers. I think it will do him good and help him progress just that little bit more. Otherwise, realistically, he won't be mixing with kids his age for another year. I have his first ever little lunch bag ready and it's so cute. I will post a pic as I know someone (namely Good Timing) will like it. :)
5. On Wednesday this week Matthew has another meeting with the ADHD department at the hospital as before. We are still sure he has got ADHD. We should know more on Wednesday evening.
6. I am fed up of the Olympics.
7. I miss the sunny weather.
8. I miss being on holiday.
9. I haven't forgot my second picture post regarding the kids on holiday. 
10. If you havent seen it, there's a lovely scenic photo entry back a post. I've just finished reading a book where it's inspiration was blatantly in the back drop of the hills of this village. North Devon. Tick. Hill. Tick. Floods from the hills causing destruction. Tick. It was a revelation reading it. James Herbert - The Secret of Crickley Hall is a great book that I would recommend to anyone who likes a bit of a mystery.
11. Have I said before how much I hated Fifty Shades of Grey? Rubbish!
12. Facebook is boring me. But it's amazing how it hacks into your personal information. I got my neighbout up as a person "I may know". Despite living her over 2 years I've only known her first name since just before Christmas (to send a christmas card) let alone her surname.
13. Matthew has a new best friend in our road. Jack seems a nice kid, he's 10 but very good with Matthew. The two play football regularly and it's good for Matthew to have a friend with similar interests around his own age.
14. Although I am fed up with the Olympics on tv ALL the time. I am very much looking forward to going to the Paralympics in a few weeks.
15. The day after my birthday we are going to Legoland again. That will be fun and this time Matthew can come too.
16. I've been watching what I eat this week now I'm back from holiday and have lost 4lbs since last Saturday. It's a good start of a long old repetitive road!
17. I always liked the number 17.
18. Today is my nans birthday. She may have been gone over 4 years now, but things like that you never forget.
19. I love Songpop on the Iphone. But not that the songs and categories are TOO American.
20. Earlier this evening I spent 30 minutes mopping the floor. That was a waste of my life as it still looks crap. Who puts a white/grey lino on a kitchen floor? That's it for now. Enjoy your weekend.