tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18971304103833459732024-03-13T18:50:45.908+00:00life, love and livingMy take on how to live life, love life and start living.
A personal account of household experiments and observations that I have tried to use to make life a little bit easier. Money saving house hold tips. Healthy time saving recipes. Gardening and growing your own. Crafting and home-made gifts.Jo Johttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04455045130307342661noreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1897130410383345973.post-78256354214496547882015-03-29T09:18:00.001+01:002015-03-29T09:19:09.911+01:00It's Amazing What a Change in Pace can do.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF-xbn_GYS3byBfjf8QUn4FqmbWH6m_6GpPnmRNYHHYCjMHRI2acGHt0fZH0TK0RL7AWngUCKrWJoff4RYwktJkOy5xoTBP6Jv9PK6JCZdfJ1ixJIbR5Fy9dkOBbw-q85W-ogl8yVXijM/s1600/It's%2BAmazing%2Bwhat%2Ba%2Bchange%2Bin%2Bpace%2Bcan.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF-xbn_GYS3byBfjf8QUn4FqmbWH6m_6GpPnmRNYHHYCjMHRI2acGHt0fZH0TK0RL7AWngUCKrWJoff4RYwktJkOy5xoTBP6Jv9PK6JCZdfJ1ixJIbR5Fy9dkOBbw-q85W-ogl8yVXijM/s1600/It's%2BAmazing%2Bwhat%2Ba%2Bchange%2Bin%2Bpace%2Bcan.png" height="200" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Things good things happen when you change the pace in which you live your life. As busy as you are, or as scary as your every increasing work load may be, forcing yourself to pause and take stock can open your mind to possibilities you wouldn't normally consider.<br />
<br />
<br />
For the last few months it has felt like I have done nothing but work, don't get me wrong I love my work but sometimes I let it get all consuming. Our domestic arrangements don't help either, sometimes it feels like my husband and I, have my daughter on a time-share arrangement. I'm up at the crack of dawn, while my husband works late into the evening, so we only spend time together at the weekends. Consequently we haven't been getting the quality time together as a family or to do the things we love.<br />
<br />
Well some thing changed. During the well needed Christmas break, my daughter and I joined my parents down at their <a href="http://www.rockandcistuscornishcottages.co.uk/" target="_blank">cottages in Cornwall</a>. Just crossing the boarder into Cornwall acts like sedative to me and I start to relax and that combined with spending time with my Mum, which makes me revert to the secure and comforting feelings of childhood (actually it's because I enjoy my Mum looking after me again for a while and I become very lazy. I know, I know we should be looking after each other equally now but something about being there with her turns me into a kid again).<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8zujHqTSl4Lk4sUGCH0hMLd4kkf04pPaaGrIzY82ZUvyjYbGyxB-_qz8M6MX2m7RCeXWH6LUBPm4TU-GcxpqNYiEm8UquK2WOr-O4YNJ0wutz9OQaVNRsv2Wknz9a4s2f7reW_XeRFtY/s1600/2014-12-31+14.36.52.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8zujHqTSl4Lk4sUGCH0hMLd4kkf04pPaaGrIzY82ZUvyjYbGyxB-_qz8M6MX2m7RCeXWH6LUBPm4TU-GcxpqNYiEm8UquK2WOr-O4YNJ0wutz9OQaVNRsv2Wknz9a4s2f7reW_XeRFtY/s1600/2014-12-31+14.36.52.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">St Nectern's Glen</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We had a smashing time, just the right mix of exploring Cornwall and cosying-it-up in front of the fire. The inner hippy in me always surfaces at some point and a trip to St Nectern's Glen was needed. For those of you that don't know, St Nectern's Glen is a beautiful waterfall set deep in glorious woods up near Boscastle. Many myths and legends surround the falls and it does feel like a truly spiritual place. In more recent times it has become a shrine to loved ones, a place to forge wishes and a place for you to just be. After tying ribbons to the trees in memory of my loved ones past, my thoughts turned to more self indulgent thoughts of me and what I wanted. In a more whimsical state of mind, I thought, yeah I wish for more financial security but that didn't feel right. That's not what I need, I need for my family to be able to actually be a family not a time tabled rota for people that happen to live in the same house. So I wished for us to be a family.<br />
<br />
It was back to reality and back to work, back to school, back to living for the weekends. A few days later I had a chance conversation with a friend. She mentioned a Playground Mum she knew was looking for someone to join her business. I inquired and very soon met with the Director. An entrepreneurially type that lives her life at a 100 miles an hour but absolutely had the right attitude to life. Incredibly driven and passionate about her business but equally determined to dedicate time to her family and outside interests. She offered me an exciting opportunity. I was so excited, fabulous new company, a new boss with whom I shared so many interests, within walking distance of home, everything seemed perfect, but at what cost? I would leave a place I had worked for more than thirteen years, I would leave some great work colleagues and I would leave the safe, the known, and the security that brings with it. Not to mention the change in finances.<br />
<br />
I knew I had some soul searching to do, I knew I wanted to take the job but my sensible head kept throwing in doubts. At half term we were lucky enough to be able to escape back to the cottages and this time my husband was able to come too. As well as our adventures on the beach we took him to St Nectern's. While I stood in the gushing stream, my right welly leaking away as a generous hole had appeared in the sole, I thought 'why on earth am I still hesitating? I asked for change and the opportunity has been given to me'. So there we are, after all those years getting up at 4am to commute to work I'm not going to do it any more. I'm so excited about my new job but I'm even more excited about getting our family life back. Already I feel different, it's Sunday morning and I don't have that feeling of impending doom associated with the next day being Monday. I even spent a couple of hours painting with my daughter yesterday, without worrying about all the things I still needed to do. (I wonder why I always revert to Poppies when I feel a creative urge?)<br />
<br />
So this is a long winded way of saying, every now and then force yourself to slow down, give yourself time and space to ask 'what is it you really want?' because when the answer comes, in veritably the solution tends to follow.</div>
Jo Johttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04455045130307342661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1897130410383345973.post-79843808624674540412015-01-05T15:28:00.000+00:002015-01-05T15:30:42.832+00:00Hand Hooked, Rag Rug Lunch Bags<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg31vPlT-mgRHV90l9phY0toxEnQl8uElDGN2BDJ3noHRmvCCKjD55NEJKaE2zRP5Ey7bB9QXmOVMubBJn1dULmIbmsSSqFmtyKtziRIYaG7hxAKXyBNwpcwcgYO3ocEgdNBLO0dvbhoQ/s1600/Rag+Rug+bags.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg31vPlT-mgRHV90l9phY0toxEnQl8uElDGN2BDJ3noHRmvCCKjD55NEJKaE2zRP5Ey7bB9QXmOVMubBJn1dULmIbmsSSqFmtyKtziRIYaG7hxAKXyBNwpcwcgYO3ocEgdNBLO0dvbhoQ/s1600/Rag+Rug+bags.png" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
Every year as most of my friends know, I try to make some Christmas presents. This year was no different, despite the groans of guess what we will all be getting for Christmas when I announced I had just been on my life changing rag rug course (it truly was life changing but that's a story for another day).<br />
<br />
I decided on lunch bags, partly because they would be simple, and partly because, well everyone eats lunch and there are few people I know that can afford to dine out and a little packed lunch seems to be the meal of choice.<br />
<br />
I'm no seamstress so I sourced the pre-made bags from a little company selling organically and ethically grown hemp bags for a very fair price.<br />
<br />
Then set about making the embellishments. Choosing fabrics and colours that I felt suited the recipients. Where possible I used recycled materials and off-cuts. Rag rug flowers are perhaps the most satisfying elements to make, with taking probably less than half an hour to finish each flower. After completing a flower for each bag, it looked a bit lost and I ended up making 4 flowers per bag and quadrupling the making time but they did look more balanced and maybe because of the extra effort they became a little more of a substantial gift. Then using my trusty glue gun fixed them to the bag. (there are loads of clips on YouTube on how to make them)<br />
<br />
Well I'm not sure whether everyone will use them but I know I enjoyed making them and every petal was made with love and best wishes.</div>
Jo Johttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04455045130307342661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1897130410383345973.post-5424625036488123312014-12-26T07:37:00.000+00:002015-01-02T18:38:16.991+00:00Skimmia Japonica - Number 1 plant for December<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyxo5fiaPpdMDM9jT8JOoZ8hJt9O-Rp_XRklwEa5CZzAopfaePPihNKCHLQO5jogFtfQ2gi3eZuuhE5uUCyoXPCwWryF6DgH4dXxj3wCIkF0Wcze9zHsue1XS5XPk2-pJzN5L18X_D4Ro/s1600/Skimmia+japonica+(1).png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Skimmia Japonica number one plant for December" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyxo5fiaPpdMDM9jT8JOoZ8hJt9O-Rp_XRklwEa5CZzAopfaePPihNKCHLQO5jogFtfQ2gi3eZuuhE5uUCyoXPCwWryF6DgH4dXxj3wCIkF0Wcze9zHsue1XS5XPk2-pJzN5L18X_D4Ro/s1600/Skimmia+japonica+(1).png" height="320" title="" width="320" /></a></div>
Every year, as Christmas gets closer I am reminded of the charms of this wonderful shrub, Skimmia japonica, so it was an obvious choice for my number 1 garden plant for December. There are loads of varieties, most of which are small or moderately sized bushes, ideal for containers. The one I love in my garden on the other-hand, is huge. I have no idea what variety it is but it is a fabulous addition to the garden. This time of year it is at its best, copious numbers of large red berries with large glossy evergreen leaves. A robust plant that can stand a generous prune in December for any number of festive arrangements for the house. It also has the most heady spicy scent, which gives it an additional Yule Tide tick in the box.<br />
<br />
There are 4 species of Skimmia and all are found in Asia; all of the species having attractive berries, aromatic foliage and fragrant flowers.<br />
<br />
The Skimmia species is a member of the Rutaceae family which we know better for giving us citrus fruit such as oranges, lemons, limes and Grapefruit. Other members are as diverse as the bitter herb Rue(Ruta) and Zanthozylum which gives us Sichuan Pepper and Prickly Ash. Many members of the family are edible and provide us with important fruit, spices and medicinal components. Skimmia is probably is the most important of the strictly ornamental plants, even the birds don't seem to eat the berries.<br />
<br />
<div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_2290" style="width: 510px;">
<a href="http://namethatplant.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/watermark_177.jpg" sl-processed="1"><img alt=" The berries of Skimia japonica are a bright shiny red and are very festive looking at this time of the year." class="size-full wp-image-2290" src="http://namethatplant.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/watermark_177.jpg?w=1500&h=1125" height="375" originalh="375" originalw="500" scale="3" src-orig="http://namethatplant.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/watermark_177.jpg?w=500&h=375" title=" The berries of Skimia japonica are a bright shiny red and are very festive looking at this time of the year." width="500" /></a><br />
<div class="wp-caption-text">
</div>
</div>
<strong> </strong><br />
<br />
<strong>Skimmia japonica</strong> and all its forms are easy plants to grow, I do absolutely nothing with mine, except chop it back to clear the path. Ideally they like fertile rich soil which is slightly acidic but tolerate clay soils quite well, we live in a chalky area and the plant still seems to thrive. They like a site which is well-drained but is well watered during the hot summers as they do not like drought conditions but again mine thrives in a sun scorched south facing garden. They prefer a site which is dappled or is more on the shady side or their leaves will yellow even in a strong winter sun. Mine being in an open sunny site suffers a little from yellowing but I quite like having the mixture of dark glossy green with the brighter yellow sun scorched leaves. As they are evergreen they will do best being in a location which is protected from drying winds especially in the winter season. It also looks stunning with a heavy winter frost.<br />
<br />
Use <strong>Skimmia japonica</strong> as an accent, in a winter garden, for fragrance in the spring, along paths where you brush the aromatic foliage. Their colourful berries are bright winter interest and the foliage is not popular with pests. They work well as foundation plants especially when placed near entrances or windows. Skimmias are also popular in a woodland setting or in borders as they are very low maintenance and will need little care over their long life.<br />
<br />
Read more about these wonderful plants here <a href="http://namethatplant.wordpress.com/2010/11/29/the-mysterious-skimmia/">http://namethatplant.wordpress.com/2010/11/29/the-mysterious-skimmia/</a><br />
<br />
</div>
Jo Johttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04455045130307342661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1897130410383345973.post-13441741272074223792014-12-22T16:03:00.003+00:002014-12-22T16:13:20.712+00:00Christmas Table Centre Piece using what you have at home<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h2 class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Christmas Table Centre Piece - A little bit of nature indoors</h2>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTVI2litQ29pNdii4BkurJndf377ewSxvIXQkRxhktaoCx_3DYPOPebAzdvu0ihar21SXf98ByuZD3z0YM_w19W4E-65iFkNeCkQ586W-gcLTE1Mq6D_w1oMvOVPaB-LCKUwFPwX7jEd8/s1600/Christmas+Table+Centre+Piece.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="christmas table centre piece" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTVI2litQ29pNdii4BkurJndf377ewSxvIXQkRxhktaoCx_3DYPOPebAzdvu0ihar21SXf98ByuZD3z0YM_w19W4E-65iFkNeCkQ586W-gcLTE1Mq6D_w1oMvOVPaB-LCKUwFPwX7jEd8/s1600/Christmas+Table+Centre+Piece.png" height="400" title="" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Hurrah! I have officially finished work for 2014! Work has been crazy busy for me the last few weeks, so now that I have finished I am left with this surreal end of term feeling. I have got a little bit of time to get Christmassy and get some home-made finishing touches underway. Having a fake tree, I always feel I am missing out on honouring the season and bringing a little bit of nature indoors. So every year I have a stab at creating an indoor arrangement, claiming I am going for the naturalistic look, to hide my obvious lack of flower arranging skills. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This year as well as my random flower arrangement, I have made a Christmas table centre piece (design courtesy of Kirsty Allsop). I'm not lucky enough to have any holly in the garden, mind you in my experience the pain of working with it, it isn't worth it anyway. So instead I used some of my Skimmia japonica, a wonderful sturdy shrub with waxy leaves and a generous crop of red berries. It also has a spicy scent and, probably by association, always reminds me of Christmas. I don't feel bad raiding this shrub because there are always loads of berries that don't seem to be touched, so I'm not depriving the local bird population of a meal. Even so I always feel I have to thank the plant. I don't know why but there are some plants, my bay tree being another, that I feel I have to thank when taking material, it must be my inner hippy! So after making my pleases and thank-yous, I look for something additional to make the framework. Ivy is the perfect plant, with long flexible strands that can be easily woven together and I don't feel the urge to be that grateful and thank it, as it pulls half the rendering off my back wall during collection.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHcYoBlkGEM-7p07g8d_Th_vAusVnbIs6iyajZYmb86t-ZYCj30SKSO9bD9kMfxNvhWKOlUynoRieHx7psrJJOX55OaKdYH9mELCX84BhaogYnEbbKP-gHiH_Fc5__-SvhgbRM5tY7zKA/s1600/2014-12-22+14.27.03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHcYoBlkGEM-7p07g8d_Th_vAusVnbIs6iyajZYmb86t-ZYCj30SKSO9bD9kMfxNvhWKOlUynoRieHx7psrJJOX55OaKdYH9mELCX84BhaogYnEbbKP-gHiH_Fc5__-SvhgbRM5tY7zKA/s1600/2014-12-22+14.27.03.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
After gathering some additional bits and bobs from the craft box and rummaging for unused Christmas decorations, its time to get started.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
1. Make a simple hoop shape by weaving the strands of Ivy<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0qZ6v0BIy0xqGK1BxafgCNvQv8SLu963kxifOqVwdwEGjailVszeZ6uraESm5l2WeAMsOEkES_pVpH6EpY3uA5vHi0rKAv8imtmmyoyCdSdlETvqIWZneSYXg73xGxR670YRH2Q_yzLQ/s1600/2014-12-22+14.30.27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0qZ6v0BIy0xqGK1BxafgCNvQv8SLu963kxifOqVwdwEGjailVszeZ6uraESm5l2WeAMsOEkES_pVpH6EpY3uA5vHi0rKAv8imtmmyoyCdSdlETvqIWZneSYXg73xGxR670YRH2Q_yzLQ/s1600/2014-12-22+14.30.27.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
2. Weave in the skimma or plants of your choice to give a fuller shape and some colour. I have used some gold coloured florists wire but you could use common or garden green garden wire.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGTHgVwM-GxWy9JKDMZXWoUbccbKsYQYQQpcntjzOtKHUiAyBqp5gL0_8JSBQc4kb-1bpZ-_c6Oz5h-s4vdwkxVInoRotl39VpvGjAexDApVy4D98K6ZoH4p6C4Sl0KFhXMZH2mAyYwYk/s1600/2014-12-22+14.38.25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="christmas table centre piece" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGTHgVwM-GxWy9JKDMZXWoUbccbKsYQYQQpcntjzOtKHUiAyBqp5gL0_8JSBQc4kb-1bpZ-_c6Oz5h-s4vdwkxVInoRotl39VpvGjAexDApVy4D98K6ZoH4p6C4Sl0KFhXMZH2mAyYwYk/s1600/2014-12-22+14.38.25.jpg" height="240" title="" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
3. Space some clip on candle holders, I always think odd numbers look better. Then, because I like a little bit of extra bling, using acrylic gold paint, highlight the edges of some of the leaves, or use to pick out the veins in the Holly leaves. I decided against the raffia, as it is possibly a bit dodgy with naked flames but opted for a red Christmassy ribbon. I save any ribbons and decorations from chocolates and gift sets of smellies, that I might have been lucky enough to be given, for these sort of things.<br />
<br />
4. When you are happy with the arrangement, add candles and a Christmas dinner!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUJ6DwpUK2smGlk1HdbP5A0VkQ7CjHIzuEwSM3q-ooUMkMgC2eX_BW6F_CbU9H6YS7tqYNzoEhFKTvj2yT4I1yqiFt4_D4Emy11XvNmmp558W1U5651GaZ3ayb2zIxLHO4iHsGrpVRg4o/s1600/2014-12-22+14.51.45.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Christmas table centre piece" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUJ6DwpUK2smGlk1HdbP5A0VkQ7CjHIzuEwSM3q-ooUMkMgC2eX_BW6F_CbU9H6YS7tqYNzoEhFKTvj2yT4I1yqiFt4_D4Emy11XvNmmp558W1U5651GaZ3ayb2zIxLHO4iHsGrpVRg4o/s1600/2014-12-22+14.51.45.jpg" height="240" title="" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Jo Johttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04455045130307342661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1897130410383345973.post-32900101813389902662014-12-20T05:47:00.002+00:002014-12-20T05:55:04.913+00:00Double Dove Sensitive Beauty Bars Fulfils Its Promises and more...... <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8UvQ0BzVWVqTwP6mYd565HCG-AtYTkyMT0Aq14yB0e5XqrC3ewvELyWFP-l5bjxU7BluF_i6AjvY3lGpRDu-uEFRS91q3OZm8Zoazucl0BKZ11yaDvHralby0P-RFH1iMnro-2D0hS_8/s1600/ove+Sensitive+Beauty+Bar.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="dove sensitive beauty bar review" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8UvQ0BzVWVqTwP6mYd565HCG-AtYTkyMT0Aq14yB0e5XqrC3ewvELyWFP-l5bjxU7BluF_i6AjvY3lGpRDu-uEFRS91q3OZm8Zoazucl0BKZ11yaDvHralby0P-RFH1iMnro-2D0hS_8/s1600/ove+Sensitive+Beauty+Bar.png" height="320" title="dove sensitive beauty bar review" width="320" /></a></div>
When I got the chance to try the Dove sensitive beauty bar I was thrilled. I have used the original beauty bar over the years and have always found it a great product, so was delighted to have the opportunity to try another Dove product free with Buzz Agent. <br />
<br />
It's always very exciting to get samples to try, practically pouncing on the post man as he nervously hands over the parcels as I snatch them out of his hand. This ritual has been observed closely by my seven year old daughter who now shares my excitement, generally claiming what ever booty there is as half hers. So thankfully there were two bars of Dove in my package. So we have both extensively tested the Dove sensitive bar and it does live up to its promises. <br />
<br />
We both have sensitive skin, my daughter more so perhaps. Dove cleans and even softens without leaving the tight dry feel of regular soap. I would imagine if you have exceptionally sensitive skin or suffer from eczema this product should still only be used with caution but for mildly sensitive skin it is definitely better than most regular soaps, so worth a try. But one of the other benefits is that it is a bar, it lasts a very long time, you don't get the wastage associated with shower gel escaping down the plug hole and you really only use what you need to use. I have got to say it has rekindled my love for soap in a bar which I haven't really used for years. So apart from being a very gentle cleanser it is also very good value.</div>
Jo Johttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04455045130307342661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1897130410383345973.post-9212776106590226672014-11-24T17:39:00.000+00:002014-11-24T18:03:57.784+00:00Rag Rug Hand Hooked Turtle Cushion<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv88a7SvmYLrrJEjbbpLqVC2HiMAJYoZzNxxpRNTHKq0w5EjRHVjclUm5i29iny-7gwOUqRtyi4ML2HJ-WTDKzbHEDqpv5Swufvr1BT2T1SWXRc6GLVrWzAhYAwK62OWW3cC9oRMjtXoI/s1600/Rag+Rug.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="rag rug hand hooked turtle cushion" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv88a7SvmYLrrJEjbbpLqVC2HiMAJYoZzNxxpRNTHKq0w5EjRHVjclUm5i29iny-7gwOUqRtyi4ML2HJ-WTDKzbHEDqpv5Swufvr1BT2T1SWXRc6GLVrWzAhYAwK62OWW3cC9oRMjtXoI/s1600/Rag+Rug.png" height="320" title="rag rug handhooked turtle cushion" width="320" /></a></div>
My daughter is seven so only really gets the minimum of homework at the moment, I'm sure this will all change soon enough. So at the moment homework projects still have the allure of novelty and are generally quite fun.<br />
<br />
So I wasn't too phased when she announced, 'I have got to make a turtle for Monday'. So after a little thought we thought that she could make a little rag rug turtle. With great excitement she set about working on her design, and looking for old clothes for materials. The turtle consisted of some old curtains of my mums, an old threadbare tea-towel and a pair of my daughters old PE trousers, which incidentally I had managed to shrink. She set to hooking with gusto for all of about ten minutes before deciding that perhaps, she didn't want to part with her turtle and actually perhaps Mum might be better off finishing it! So there began a new project for me instead and an emergency replacement homework turtle made from felt and a big beach pebble (which again she decided she couldn't part with but after a few tears and some gentle persuading she did actually hand in to the teacher).<br />
<br />
After finishing my daughter's simple design, I was at a bit of a loss to what to do with it, it wasn't quite wall hanging material and not really any good as a rug, so I mounted it (Just with hot melt glue) on a pre-bought cushion.<br />
<br />
There are loads of tutorials on YouTube on rag rugging. It is a really simple craft, which gives you satisfyingly quick results. As crafts go it is also cheap, just using strips of scrap material and some hessian. The rug hooks are also quite cheap at about £12ish.<br />
<br />
The little photo montage below shows you how the design grows from a quick sketch to the finished cushion.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="https://ytimg.googleusercontent.com/vi/LlzE1s-qD_Q/0.jpg" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/LlzE1s-qD_Q&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/LlzE1s-qD_Q&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div>
<br />
<br />
</div>
Jo Johttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04455045130307342661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1897130410383345973.post-26090916318133904582014-11-03T17:46:00.002+00:002014-11-03T17:46:35.134+00:00Hand Printed Gift Wrap<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdMfWbc_uWMfc0huEkJSdGuPD14QHfSX8Gy7iOB5OuCWpAp2wTN_er5TF9vLIxm6eoekFp1urqm7ulYaITIBDbI6BdxqIvHHG6WsAKPrwvxKGRCIGhm8tluJBuNNEpxN-ioogNzhMY9Tg/s1600/Hand+printed+gift+wrap.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="hand printed gist wrap" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdMfWbc_uWMfc0huEkJSdGuPD14QHfSX8Gy7iOB5OuCWpAp2wTN_er5TF9vLIxm6eoekFp1urqm7ulYaITIBDbI6BdxqIvHHG6WsAKPrwvxKGRCIGhm8tluJBuNNEpxN-ioogNzhMY9Tg/s1600/Hand+printed+gift+wrap.png" height="320" title="hand printed gift wrap" width="320" /></a></div>
Never run out of gift wrap again! Making hand-made papers is a real art form but a good cheat is to just print your own. <br />
<br />
We always have a roll of lining wall paper for large scale kids craft projects. It's relatively cheap and means the children can really go to town creating their works of art. As it has to withstand the wallpaper paste it is also quite thick and absorbs paint well. It has a slightly fibrous texture which gives it a rustic artisan finish.<br />
<br />
To make your own gift wrap just take the length of paper you need and let your imagination go for it! Simple sponge or even potato prints work especially well. Or select complimenting colours and use abstract patterns and designs.<br />
<br />
Whatever designs you go for, the results are great and give gifts that real personal touch. Create matching gift tags too and your presents will have a delightful boutique feel, all for the fraction of the cost of shop bought gift wrap. I probably wouldn't have the inclination to make all my Christmas wrap like this but for one off special gifts it gives that additional creative detail.<br />
<br />
I used water colour paints for the swirl pattern and poster paints for the potato print stars</div>
Jo Johttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04455045130307342661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1897130410383345973.post-40655987320163143382014-11-02T06:25:00.000+00:002014-11-02T06:25:58.800+00:00Thai Pumkin Soup<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiwdyorMin2rokfctj_uagkVeJqPxb0ZCYdqev32PTUOreSb1KskvBCfRQ0Obj3LCxL93zY9bTsihY117DT4dLmIvPBwR285M5ktDg6h1moBFkZpEOHpVI6qj4aMELxbZdit3PYhD_s-o/s1600/pumpkin+soup.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="thai style pumpkin soup" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiwdyorMin2rokfctj_uagkVeJqPxb0ZCYdqev32PTUOreSb1KskvBCfRQ0Obj3LCxL93zY9bTsihY117DT4dLmIvPBwR285M5ktDg6h1moBFkZpEOHpVI6qj4aMELxbZdit3PYhD_s-o/s1600/pumpkin+soup.png" height="320" title="thai style pumpkin soup" width="320" /></a></div>
Ok so we have carved the pumpkins but what to do with the unwanted scraped out flesh? Well although I do like pumpkin pie it is a bit of an acquired taste, so my favourite is a Thai influenced soup. <br />
<br />
This warming soup, is a colourful addition to a Halloween party table but also a welcome treat for the grown-ups. Served with warm toasted bread, which you could Halloween-up into mini tombstones, marked up with edible ink. (edible ink pens are fab I just keep finding more and more uses for them!). This soup has got to be one of my favourite recipes and also one of the easiest. If you go easy on the chillies, it also goes down well with the kids because of the natural sweet flavour of the pumpkin. I bulked it out with butternut squash because actually you don't get that much pumpkin flesh out when carving a lantern and also because I have been nurturing the puniest butternut squash you have ever seen nearly all year in the garden. After all the care and attention I have lavished on it, I needed a fitting dish to reflect my efforts.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Ingredients</div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span data-original="1 tablespoon vegetable oil" itemprop="ingredients">1 tablespoon vegetable oil</span> </li>
<li><span data-original="25g butter" itemprop="ingredients">25g butter</span> </li>
<li><span data-original="1 clove garlic, chopped" itemprop="ingredients">1 clove garlic, chopped</span> </li>
<li><span data-original="4 shallots, chopped" itemprop="ingredients">4 shallots, chopped</span> </li>
<li><span data-original="2 small fresh red chillies, chopped" itemprop="ingredients">2 small fresh red chillies, chopped</span> </li>
<li><span itemprop="ingredients">1 tablespoon chopped lemongrass</span> </li>
<li>Kaffir Lime leaf</li>
<li><span itemprop="ingredients">500ml chicken stock, I think it's nicer with chicken stock but obviously vegetable stock will do if cooking for veggies.</span></li>
<li><span itemprop="ingredients">350ml coconut milk</span> </li>
<li><span itemprop="ingredients">475g peeled and diced pumpkin or squash</span> (or both as in my case and sweet potatoes would work easily well)</li>
<li><span itemprop="ingredients">1 bunch fresh basil leaves</span> </li>
</ul>
<br />
<ol>
<li>In a medium saucepan, heat oil and butter over low heat. Cook garlic, shallots, chillies and lemon grass until fragrant (be careful not to burn the garlic). Stir in chicken stock, coconut milk and pumpkin; bring to the boil. Add. the Kaffir lime leaf for a more authentic Tai taste. Cook until pumpkin softens. Some websites say cook for about 15 to 20 minutes but I think it's better if cooked slowly for 45minutes or more.</li>
<li>In a blender, blend the <span style="color: black;">soup in</span> batches to a smooth or slightly chunky consistency, whatever you prefer. We like it really smooth. Serve garnished with basil leaves or if you are feeling decadent a swirl of cream or yoghurt.</li>
</ol>
</div>
Jo Johttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04455045130307342661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1897130410383345973.post-11192335350376925662014-10-29T16:52:00.000+00:002014-10-31T07:47:41.676+00:00Top 5 Easy No Bake Halloween Treats<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I love Halloween! It's a great excuse to eat sweets and have fun, when else do we get the chance to dress up?! Every year we get together with our closest friends and have a little afternoon Halloween party. It won't be quite the same this year as sadly one of our friends passed away earlier in the year, but we are determined to keep up the tradition and I know she would want us to too. However there is one slight problem, my oven has finally given up the ghost and I need some easy no bake Halloween treats for this years party. After scouring the nets here are my top 5 favourites so far:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0qOJ7msL-5TmzWGsAKWkXSl3kCY5M5GbrgP1cKpGI7Us0Wt7oYkz_PjYBNaG_FLkqey_jeyt1CQ7zkd54mNHUBap_UkXS0-5Oui0PBlz8HmBvnXFSJXdV9hBWf8zuGuiX2bNBrEV2qmM/s1600/d346782eee52c7649a587b2440ca2bfb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0qOJ7msL-5TmzWGsAKWkXSl3kCY5M5GbrgP1cKpGI7Us0Wt7oYkz_PjYBNaG_FLkqey_jeyt1CQ7zkd54mNHUBap_UkXS0-5Oui0PBlz8HmBvnXFSJXdV9hBWf8zuGuiX2bNBrEV2qmM/s1600/d346782eee52c7649a587b2440ca2bfb.jpg" height="320" width="106" /></a></div>
<a href="http://www.the-girl-who-ate-everything.com/2011/10/draculas-dentures-for-halloween.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Number 1 - Vampire Dentures</a><br />
<br />
Fabulously easy toothy treats from <a href="http://www.the-girl-who-ate-everything.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Girl Who Ate Everything</a>. If you buy the chocolate chip cookies, there is absolutely no cooking involved.<br />
<br />
All you need is:<br />
Chocolate chip cookies<br />
Red icing (frosting)<br />
Mini marsh-mallows<br />
Slithers of Almonds (for the fangs!)<br />
<br />
Apparently they originally won 2nd place by Lori Fillmore in the Nestle 2010 Spooktacular Baking Contest. Thanks for sharing this fab recipe, I may even cheat more and buy ready made icing!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1XWc5aWmxhwc07ihbjGgXZJ_ZQLyquDRs3NefdzbinT4H0OuWqjg64bn8fmTwXMh1dWC_Ru0_glvZVdanh6ekvt8qxd_Hg_4rLrjVbMd2sS79iOEONFE01Bnmtso_pEg-M_Uz1skX31E/s1600/20fb238a2205d206776c07ff9357833f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="banana ghosts no bake halloween bakes" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1XWc5aWmxhwc07ihbjGgXZJ_ZQLyquDRs3NefdzbinT4H0OuWqjg64bn8fmTwXMh1dWC_Ru0_glvZVdanh6ekvt8qxd_Hg_4rLrjVbMd2sS79iOEONFE01Bnmtso_pEg-M_Uz1skX31E/s1600/20fb238a2205d206776c07ff9357833f.jpg" height="240" title="" width="320" /></a><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/400187116862803426/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Number 2 Ghosty Bananas and pumpkin oranges. </a>Thanks <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/ineczka84/">Inga Elizondo</a> for this one. I thought I had better put a healthy one up near the top of the chart. This one is simplicity itself. Bananas with chocolate chips, and peeled satsumas with celery stalks.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Pjf6RK_1PtNfj6QlwOLnS5cBTZZNwy5ve8Xqfnv8soKa8UdXsY0mYy359S6khnu9z5gGL8ujly7CcTLkjKqwOC3wusHCW7kr2cYGr-b7kdwFM2kusKIuLN9T_EAjT5WwfNGbHpKNPf8/s1600/b2aafb29b86b62f24e0f7d3ab7fea2c5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="severed finger no bake halloween treats" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Pjf6RK_1PtNfj6QlwOLnS5cBTZZNwy5ve8Xqfnv8soKa8UdXsY0mYy359S6khnu9z5gGL8ujly7CcTLkjKqwOC3wusHCW7kr2cYGr-b7kdwFM2kusKIuLN9T_EAjT5WwfNGbHpKNPf8/s1600/b2aafb29b86b62f24e0f7d3ab7fea2c5.jpg" height="320" title="" width="212" /></a></div>
<a href="http://www.jojoebi-designs.com/2009/10/halloween-finger-food.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Number 3 Finger Food</a><br />
I nearly didn't pick this one but they are so gruesome I just had to. I wasn't going to pick them because a) I'm not over keen on frankfurters and b) my poor husband lost the ends of two fingers a few years ago and thought these were a bit near the knuckle! Ha ha no pun intended! All you need are frankfurters, ketchup and a little piece of onion for the nails.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8KChmg0p5SX5U0i03cAeYyCz7EULAsAVwM5e66JA96ybt2Vd9VqpmOrXQFTXJV7NN6pcsJihRGEM8rlHC04r_VMFecSTxLNLBIHJdKzoj37bZCCPuINXGcAs95nyvZco0yvBEPQnsOQE/s1600/cheese+string+brooms.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="no bake halloween treats cheese string brooms" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8KChmg0p5SX5U0i03cAeYyCz7EULAsAVwM5e66JA96ybt2Vd9VqpmOrXQFTXJV7NN6pcsJihRGEM8rlHC04r_VMFecSTxLNLBIHJdKzoj37bZCCPuINXGcAs95nyvZco0yvBEPQnsOQE/s1600/cheese+string+brooms.jpg" height="314" title="" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/400187116862803447/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Number 4 Cheese string brooms</a><br />
Super cute cheese broom sticks. I couldn't find pretzel sticks here in the UK so used twiglets instead, taste yummy but produces stunted brooms, more like feather dusters really, but fun all the same. They are a little bit fiddly to tie with the chives, which is why I am using <u><span style="color: #0066cc;">moms.popsugar.com </span></u> picture and not mine!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXUpfDZA8gTFQUibjfDKv9jteVx0BWnbqUE7WOJAsXper4tPsiPrFLchCQP89CA3z4c8kfu8nOm8-c9S9KvUEclQLdS9Jxoi8C7jgwn8uQXJWSx-H7rhIVFvWuwpPTBRE3iVAZmMvYc8o/s1600/30ba875fa9383aecbfb71900a6c885b6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXUpfDZA8gTFQUibjfDKv9jteVx0BWnbqUE7WOJAsXper4tPsiPrFLchCQP89CA3z4c8kfu8nOm8-c9S9KvUEclQLdS9Jxoi8C7jgwn8uQXJWSx-H7rhIVFvWuwpPTBRE3iVAZmMvYc8o/s1600/30ba875fa9383aecbfb71900a6c885b6.jpg" height="320" width="130" /></a></div>
<a href="http://www.itsalwaysautumn.com/2014/09/24/easy-mini-donut-spiders-easy-halloween-treat-kids-can-make.html#_a5y_p=2500159" target="_blank">Number 5 Mini donut pretzel spiders</a><br />
Another easy treat to assemble. I used the mini donuts from Tesco but any small ring donuts would do but they definitely work better with chocolate dipped ones. Once I had made one I left the children to make the others. We found it quite hard to get the smartest to stick but a tiny spot of icing holds them in place.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
To see these and lots more <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/jojog1972/no-bake-halloween-treats/" target="_blank">no-bake Halloween treat ideas see my Pinterest board</a> or to read more about why we enjoy <a href="http://jojo-lifeloveandliving.blogspot.co.uk/2010/11/we-love-halloween-tat-why-we-can-enjoy.html" target="_blank">Witches, Pumpkins and other Halloween Tat here</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Jo Johttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04455045130307342661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1897130410383345973.post-84225054667044008202014-10-28T16:33:00.000+00:002014-10-28T18:16:31.432+00:00Nerines for Autumn colour - My Number 1 plant for October<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5SLhNNq07v_n-tEhqOcuxi7pb-dXQUg69maLd6k9gDHDh8Gu5VMOKrj4H7fRLz2mXgz0ZPIHqeq-W2lpidOoQzQBPgfII0hp2qTpXN61ny4jDAT2wdXtS3sJ_V0jvq0O4q4asSKM2xOU/s1600/Nerines.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="nerines for autumn colour" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5SLhNNq07v_n-tEhqOcuxi7pb-dXQUg69maLd6k9gDHDh8Gu5VMOKrj4H7fRLz2mXgz0ZPIHqeq-W2lpidOoQzQBPgfII0hp2qTpXN61ny4jDAT2wdXtS3sJ_V0jvq0O4q4asSKM2xOU/s1600/Nerines.png" height="400" title="nerines for autumn colour" width="400" /></a></div>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
Nerines for Autumn Colour</h2>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
There is nothing like the Nerines for prolonging the colour well into the Autumn. The vibrancy and poise shown by the Nerines is that generally reserved for spring and summer performers.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The defiance these magnificent bulbs show holding back the ravishes of Autumn and Winter, as they display their great trumpet blooms. Sturdy upright stems these gorgeous plants from South Africa can pretty much cope with whatever the Autumn weather throws at it. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
They benefit from being planted in a southerly position on good well draining soil, but mine thrive in a north west facing garden, and bring a welcome splash of colour, in an otherwise now sleepy bed. They quite like to be over crowded, I have got some growing in a well established pot of bamboo, the more they compete with each other for space, the better the show each year. I do feed the ones in the pot, mainly because the bamboo is such a greedy plant, but the flowers are no more or less impressive than those planted directly into the ground.<br />
<br />
I do believe they are now available in whites and reds but I have the near native bubble-gum pink variety but I think I will try an add some white ones this year.</div>
</div>
Jo Johttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04455045130307342661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1897130410383345973.post-89730832165562731992014-10-20T15:26:00.000+01:002014-10-20T18:02:23.323+01:00Repairing my tired and dry hands - E45 Hand Cream Product Review<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgADFt4miFUt7qC4VmmJiCRLsiS7inUkvkSWPf9DyM_gtw7MCTbRS_Wl5CnCxbLJ3Sq2bwh1BzR1_p8nK3xtm7ygTQp-3P_ZntslpdKExRCebH5JwMbRhWVpNvH18qNwdOaCtCETPBnY74/s1600/E45+Product+Review.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="e45 hand cream product review" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgADFt4miFUt7qC4VmmJiCRLsiS7inUkvkSWPf9DyM_gtw7MCTbRS_Wl5CnCxbLJ3Sq2bwh1BzR1_p8nK3xtm7ygTQp-3P_ZntslpdKExRCebH5JwMbRhWVpNvH18qNwdOaCtCETPBnY74/s1600/E45+Product+Review.png" height="335" title="e45 product review" width="400" /></a></div>
This is my first product review through BzzAgent and so far so good I've been very impressed. I do a lot of gardening and we have lots of pets, so there is lots of hand washing going on, which can leave my hands dry and sore. I do use a regular hand cream which works well but often leaves my hands feeling greasy. I am intrigued to see how the E45 creams compare with my usual cream. <br />
<br />
I have been using the E45 Intense Recovery hand cream for several days and already seen a noticeable difference. My Hands are definitely smoother, less dry and although a little early to tell my nails seem less flaky and prone to splitting. Quite a light cream, no over greasy residue.<br />
<br />
I have also used the E45 Repair and protect overnight hand cream, which was light and readily absorbed into the skin. However for a fragrance free product definitely had a stronger smell than the E45 Intense Recovery cream<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/SXNpok4GTIs" width="560"></iframe><br />
</div>
Jo Johttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04455045130307342661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1897130410383345973.post-6076214165206536622014-10-17T15:25:00.001+01:002014-10-18T04:21:44.756+01:00Gorgeous Glass Fridge Magnets<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYLorsEZ1EDF1SHRy3gTA1PuRTN0pegC1EwxQJuCFU7gEOCJKIKY6cBmjxcjaUxG10AD6XzS4DQAWATkl3tZqqu26qwUBK0SxNRzCexavMquFhJW-N8LwaEmsbYYiOxvFNHW5L8Beb4Gs/s1600/Recycled+Magazine.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYLorsEZ1EDF1SHRy3gTA1PuRTN0pegC1EwxQJuCFU7gEOCJKIKY6cBmjxcjaUxG10AD6XzS4DQAWATkl3tZqqu26qwUBK0SxNRzCexavMquFhJW-N8LwaEmsbYYiOxvFNHW5L8Beb4Gs/s1600/Recycled+Magazine.png" height="335" width="400" /></a></div>
These simple fridge magnets make use of all those gorgeous gardening magazines and catalogues.<br />
<br />
Such a simple idea using your favourite magazine images and floristry glass nuggets.<br />
<br />
The optical properties of the glass nuggets naturally magnify the images behind, making eye-catching almost 3-D pictures. The glass nuggets I used were fractionally larger than a 5pence piece but you can get a range of cabochons and glass nuggets specifically for this sort of use from most good craft shops. I went for the floristry nuggets because I like the unique slightly irregular shapes but you may prefer something a little more symmetrical, I also had some in the cupboard! <br />
<br />
1. Using a five pence piece I cut out the images from various magazines and comics.<br />
2. Using watered down PVA or Modge Podge and a paint brush lightly paint the face of the image.<br />
3. Place the glass nugget on the face of the image and push down firmly until the image changes from milky white to a clear picture, carefully squeezing out any air bubbles.<br />
4. Wipe away any excess glue<br />
5. When dry fix magnetic sheet cut to shape (again available from good craft shops).<br />
<br />
I made these ones for a craft stall I had back in the summer.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmcZhQmMMozK57fKloNqAV8OaJHOa61f9IfFnh7gi4a1HsqnOLZOVYYICdOW2BL0T0DhoF16UT9VMy6jTfkCZWZI6-cIaM25d_DBW7plJUBb4HSrrZhyRGhn7NKB2FW-5hREK3wmkZz_U/s1600/2014-06-13+17.05.55.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmcZhQmMMozK57fKloNqAV8OaJHOa61f9IfFnh7gi4a1HsqnOLZOVYYICdOW2BL0T0DhoF16UT9VMy6jTfkCZWZI6-cIaM25d_DBW7plJUBb4HSrrZhyRGhn7NKB2FW-5hREK3wmkZz_U/s1600/2014-06-13+17.05.55.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid7igjgT8qwY15b65544oxW_42HE1WepprOV8-XB0EcAGJJR2Lf-zT0a3JvnEp2o_mlX1rEKNLcgNtI82djqDAbszdOQ6Y1_Usgcbpsp9V9eK1xr6pR7Gnz-EdBoSVY3m_8U8XEBWL2b4/s1600/2014-06-13+17.06.11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid7igjgT8qwY15b65544oxW_42HE1WepprOV8-XB0EcAGJJR2Lf-zT0a3JvnEp2o_mlX1rEKNLcgNtI82djqDAbszdOQ6Y1_Usgcbpsp9V9eK1xr6pR7Gnz-EdBoSVY3m_8U8XEBWL2b4/s1600/2014-06-13+17.06.11.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs18rFRa-qqDNeu3uednR58o8skT00X4jtrWwvQAC5LfhyphenhyphenqwU8vz0YcFSzzGCOGF11miteVXEehUdICCp5JnMPehmOdqukjCB_0_dDSUhCFIy9wAC6cu3Fn10LYD7PG8gO5dvmuAOTnQQ/s1600/2014-06-13+17.05.41.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs18rFRa-qqDNeu3uednR58o8skT00X4jtrWwvQAC5LfhyphenhyphenqwU8vz0YcFSzzGCOGF11miteVXEehUdICCp5JnMPehmOdqukjCB_0_dDSUhCFIy9wAC6cu3Fn10LYD7PG8gO5dvmuAOTnQQ/s1600/2014-06-13+17.05.41.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
For another craft idea using old seed catalogues and magazines see my post on making and <a href="http://jojo-lifeloveandliving.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/autumn-bounty-bowl.html" target="_blank">Autumn Bounty Bowl</a></div>
<br /></div>
Jo Johttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04455045130307342661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1897130410383345973.post-43680192244259219122014-10-07T17:34:00.002+01:002014-10-11T09:05:04.887+01:00Super Easy Ginger Gread Biscuits<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSM3ojRYAuIAZTqnNyuYSl1VVmlb4u_e9_xg7aN6-j1VMIO___pgrzcDMoD6MGyhdOx0zMHLGbMnSNJ8Z2Rjf7m7BCJ58BqTaR84VQSwI-MeJJFNYmTOrghxhAsCE_S-_tLGWv95jD7fs/s1600/Easy+Gingerbread.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSM3ojRYAuIAZTqnNyuYSl1VVmlb4u_e9_xg7aN6-j1VMIO___pgrzcDMoD6MGyhdOx0zMHLGbMnSNJ8Z2Rjf7m7BCJ58BqTaR84VQSwI-MeJJFNYmTOrghxhAsCE_S-_tLGWv95jD7fs/s1600/Easy+Gingerbread.png" height="335" width="400" /></a></div>
I can't claim any of the recognition for these super easy Gingerbread biscuits. I have tried lots of recipes over the years with varying amounts of success, many of which either didn't cook through properly, or the other extreme, they were so hard that they would make your brain shake when you took a bite. With all my botched attempts it would be easy to give up, but the thing is I love gingerbread. If you get it right it is such a versatile recipe. More than any other biscuit recipe gingerbread is perfect for creating beautifully decorated morsels, which are as easy on the eye as they are on the palette. However my daughter and I made this batch so they aren't quite up to the harvest festival show, but for us they are very pretty. And for the recipe.......<br />
<br />
<br />
I stole it from my daughters Brownie Guide manual. I was so happy that after many less than perfect trials with previous recipes, I thought I would share them you. Great texture, fairly easy to roll out and just enough spice to give them a little kick. Well done to the Girl Guides!.... thank you<br />
<br />
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
Ingredients for really easy gingerbread</h3>
<br />
100g Soft Margarine<br />
100g Soft Dark Brown Sugar<br />
2 Tablespoons golden syrup<br />
2 teaspoons ground ginger<br />
1 teaspoon mixed spice<br />
200g Self-raising flour<br />
Coloured writing icing for decoration.<br />
<br />
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li>Beat together the margarine, sugar and syrup.</li>
<li>Stir in the dry ingredients to make a dough.</li>
<li>Knead very gently, then roll pout to 50mm thick.</li>
<li>Cut into desired shapes.</li>
<li>Bake at 180C or gas mark 4 for 10 to 15 minutes until golden brown.</li>
<li>Leave to cool before having fun decorating them!</li>
</ol>
<br />
Thanks again to the Girl Guiding Association and their book Brownie Adventures<br />
</div>
Jo Johttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04455045130307342661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1897130410383345973.post-4437792974924062132014-10-04T06:01:00.000+01:002014-10-04T08:42:01.803+01:00Poppy Field, Rag Rug Art<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAcu7NcCiltTMqIfXJuFgUCnzflkVmopAH3AtUzRYW1PajZw2PESarxoT36V54bjKMdPhcI3I4bI2wkJnDP2iAgS07OyQksXPRvNZzogYG19LZv8r_Vq6e5E4qYH4RfGfJNiDcBUh3q-k/s1600/Poppy+Field.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="poppy field Rag Rug Art" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAcu7NcCiltTMqIfXJuFgUCnzflkVmopAH3AtUzRYW1PajZw2PESarxoT36V54bjKMdPhcI3I4bI2wkJnDP2iAgS07OyQksXPRvNZzogYG19LZv8r_Vq6e5E4qYH4RfGfJNiDcBUh3q-k/s1600/Poppy+Field.png" height="640" title="poppy field Rag Rug Art" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
One of my favourite projects this year and one of my first rag rug attempts. Rag Rugging or hooking is one of the most therapeutic crafts I have had a go at. Incredibly simple, once you have mastered </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9ttCQTH_ODoRy-qjTRBKFqJINIDyRnDbIL9Qa2sz34yoJMS-G5sRq5uULwFuiwui5KnCxeMYlWkGPeskyz1KBobkHmEpJV41xsIAozxJDiWBAHZ6Xw3KYEPK-XD7RNgUC5FAOahp40BA/s1600/2014-06-21+16.03.26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9ttCQTH_ODoRy-qjTRBKFqJINIDyRnDbIL9Qa2sz34yoJMS-G5sRq5uULwFuiwui5KnCxeMYlWkGPeskyz1KBobkHmEpJV41xsIAozxJDiWBAHZ6Xw3KYEPK-XD7RNgUC5FAOahp40BA/s1600/2014-06-21+16.03.26.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
just one or two techniques you can start to make some beautiful pieces. As you use mainly scraps of fabric it's a great way of recycling and it means it's one of the cheaper crafts you can take up. This picture was made from mainly old pillow cases and pyjamas, although I did by the ribbons for the poppy heads. I love poppies and my inspiration comes from a gorgeous field that never fails to perform each year with the most fabulous display, high up on the South Downs in West Sussex.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/205863542/poppy-field-rag-rug-wall-hanging?ref=shop_home_active_1" target="_blank">If you would like to buy this wall hanging - view it on Etsy</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/wOn-kLgPuXE?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br /></div>
Jo Johttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04455045130307342661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1897130410383345973.post-73691124217877300442014-09-30T17:22:00.000+01:002014-10-03T16:11:20.392+01:00Apple and Sultana Drop Scones<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcA-65Hi1NNUgslzOAs6yttyVYqjyiuRmjR_rHvvFtYXrLbIVQUM6RmNK7xSQVlblJoVoVsOBLnKwaW9mlQ_Pqh0eMnQazEMeQ0iyoewOYAp6qVdoKId56WcMuXsq4yACx9WpM_fs30fQ/s1600/apple+and+sultana+drop+scones.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="apple and sultana drop scones" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcA-65Hi1NNUgslzOAs6yttyVYqjyiuRmjR_rHvvFtYXrLbIVQUM6RmNK7xSQVlblJoVoVsOBLnKwaW9mlQ_Pqh0eMnQazEMeQ0iyoewOYAp6qVdoKId56WcMuXsq4yACx9WpM_fs30fQ/s1600/apple+and+sultana+drop+scones.png" height="235" title="apple and sultana drop scones" width="400" /></a></div>
I don't know what it is that makes children so hungry after school, but the truth is they are generally ravenous when they get home. Consequently I am always looking for a snack that will satisfy them, act as a bit of treat but not ruin the chances of them being hungry enough to eat all the vegetables I live in hope that they will consume at dinner.<br />
<br />
As a child my mum would cook the classic drop scones (also called Scotch pancakes) as a treat every once in a while. I remember the warm stack of mini pancakes would disappear in minutes, there never seemed to be enough. Because of their Moorish nature, and quite frankly my lack of will power, I sought to see what could be done to perhaps make them slightly healthier.<br />
<br />
So here is my take on the classic drop scone. So essentially the main difference is I have added chopped dried apple pieces and sultanas, ok so lots of sugar here but its natural sugar and has the benefits of fibre and other nutrients. Another way to increase the fibre content was to substitute some of the flour with wholemeal flour, only about a fifth so it's not too dry (or noticeable). I actual replaced the caster sugar with granulated Stevia (a natural sugar alternative which has all the sweetness without the calories and doesn't give you the sugar crash of regular sugar). I also used rice bran oil, which as all the health benefits of olive oil, plus it has a higher smoking point so more of the nutrients are preserved, it also has more vitamin e.<br />
<br />
Ingredients<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span data-original="125 g (4 1⁄2 oz) self-raising flour" itemprop="ingredients">100g white self-raising flour</span> </li>
<li>25g wholemeal self-raising flour </li>
<li><span data-original="2 tsp caster sugar" itemprop="ingredients">2 tsp caster sugar</span> (I used Stevia instead to reduce the sugar content) </li>
<li><span data-original="1 egg, beaten" itemprop="ingredients">1 egg, beaten</span> (I had to use two but that's because I was using our bantam eggs) </li>
<li><span data-original="1 tbsp melted unsalted butter" itemprop="ingredients">4 tbsp Rice bran oil</span> </li>
<li><span data-original="150 ml (5 fl oz) semi-skimmed milk" itemprop="ingredients">150 ml (5 fl oz) semi-skimmed milk</span> or water </li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
Small handful sultanas</div>
</li>
<li>Small handful dried apple pieces</li>
<li>1/2 tap cinnamon (optional) </li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Combine the flour, sugar (Stevia) and cinnamon if using. Make a well in the middle and add the beaten egg and milk/water mix to a smooth batter. Stir in the fruit.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Heat the oil in a heavy based frying pan. Add the batter in small dollops, may be four or five to the pan. When air bubbles start to appear in the batter its time to flip them over using a spatula. Once lightly golden on both sides remove and set aside. Best eaten while still warm. Now if you manage not to eat them all, they do freeze well. Freeze in small after school portions, they can be popped in the microwave frozen as needed (about 30 seconds). I have got to confess, I had to make two batches because I kept eating them as I was cooking them and there wasn't enough for the photo!</div>Seo by <a href="http://seo.uk.net/">http://seo.uk.net/</a>
<br /></div>
Jo Johttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04455045130307342661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1897130410383345973.post-7862097624352297102014-09-28T08:54:00.001+01:002014-09-30T16:09:46.548+01:00Autumn Bounty Bowl<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgESxLjKM0veKouLMPdYPnAk5tEa4g_cPzMIDb7ntwGf4fcEVd75ZpJLlh4t3ZekF-owtOgArG1XICaGiaLuCKTvuDuad3QyO4MTzteJTONIAhaMOQ-1aRd24cx54OnvwPxGxwKfnmmj3s/s1600/Easy+Kids+Craft.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="easy kids craft decoupage bowl, autumn decoration" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgESxLjKM0veKouLMPdYPnAk5tEa4g_cPzMIDb7ntwGf4fcEVd75ZpJLlh4t3ZekF-owtOgArG1XICaGiaLuCKTvuDuad3QyO4MTzteJTONIAhaMOQ-1aRd24cx54OnvwPxGxwKfnmmj3s/s1600/Easy+Kids+Craft.png" height="400" title="easy kids craft decoupage bowl" width="400" /></a></div>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
Decoupage Autumn Bounty Bowl</h2>
<br />
Make the most of your Autumn bounty and make a gorgeous display with this dead easy decoupage bowl.<br />
<br />
I can spend hours and hours going through gardening seed catalogues. The gorgeous vibrant colours, the anticipation they bring as you look forward to the new season of colour. I hate to throw them away after I have made any selections, so we are always looking for new ways to use them. One creation was a decoupage shoebox for the copious amount of hair bands we seem to collect. <br />
<br />
So inspired by the Autumn harvest we looked for something else to decorate. My daughter and I like to craft together, so projects have to be fairly simple, with quick results or attention spans tend to wane. Decoupage is a great kids craft, it fulfils the messy aspect required by children, and getting fairly good results from little skill or from tiny hands means it's a great craft to help build confidence and creativity. To make the Autumnal Bounty Bowl you will need:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<em>1 balloon</em></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<em>Bowl for keeping balloon steady</em></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<em>Watered down PVA</em></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<em>Scissors</em></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<em>Magazines or catalogues</em></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<em>Marker pen</em></div>
<em>Gold acrylic paint</em><br />
<em>Paint brush</em><br />
<br />
<strong>Instructions</strong><br />
<br />
1.Taking a balloon and using the traditional paper Mache technique of laying strips of newspaper <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2qLtnVHEcAniufRtDZr2td8ct0ohcHUtKcJo-jN4uM4RoI9SEuw8eksswqkh-0w1E8tvLoHNSbQfU-vRgk0pZ0WT8-_p_cFRzlxsrUKqCZjs9R_hXIhqE_NuR-fHnKfGrE_v6v42h4-8/s1600/20140920_142339.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="easy kids craft decoupage bowl, autumn display" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2qLtnVHEcAniufRtDZr2td8ct0ohcHUtKcJo-jN4uM4RoI9SEuw8eksswqkh-0w1E8tvLoHNSbQfU-vRgk0pZ0WT8-_p_cFRzlxsrUKqCZjs9R_hXIhqE_NuR-fHnKfGrE_v6v42h4-8/s1600/20140920_142339.jpg" height="150" title="easy kids craft decoupage bowl" width="200" /></a></div>
over the upturned balloon (use a bowl to steady it), brush over each strip with PVA glue, I guess you could use the wonderful modge podge for this too, but I had just PVA to hand which I slightly watered down. <br />
<br />
2. Once two or three layers of newspaper cover half the balloon, it's time to select the images you want to use. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaS5ndZ9Couml7KlDvUVNSbE4sVNOWQAp7gtX9qAyz0iZOmzRUAe7q5K2H5SBsllBiTP_b3ZQ8fSNa0KZ-TsW2HBTqnDPh89g5qRpw121fAwh2fgUFHgfmhOoTASJ1swnkrobYSHIiaWk/s1600/20140920_142429.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="easy kids craft decoupage bowl, recycling catalogues" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaS5ndZ9Couml7KlDvUVNSbE4sVNOWQAp7gtX9qAyz0iZOmzRUAe7q5K2H5SBsllBiTP_b3ZQ8fSNa0KZ-TsW2HBTqnDPh89g5qRpw121fAwh2fgUFHgfmhOoTASJ1swnkrobYSHIiaWk/s1600/20140920_142429.jpg" height="150" title="easy kids craft decoupage bowl using catalogues" width="200" /></a>Single colour themes look really effective but I chose a multi-coloured range of images with different shapes and textures to reflect the colourful bounty of Autumn. <br />
<br />
When you have got the coverage you like, leave to dry at least overnight. The more generous you are with PVA the more rigid your bowl will be.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVpRl10G9ifuOOHCttXMMi8EhIvzGhFVI_ZcUOvj4TYAe-lUGcv3_KbQu_S8EC1vzeeqdn_rZTmOKS7EjzEi4LUkvqGe7JgLMT0f3ZVzbMuc-RiKSFye1JvNFJ0yo13CblFS24bAELr8Q/s1600/20140920_145116.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="easy kids craft decoupage bowl autumn crasfting ideas" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVpRl10G9ifuOOHCttXMMi8EhIvzGhFVI_ZcUOvj4TYAe-lUGcv3_KbQu_S8EC1vzeeqdn_rZTmOKS7EjzEi4LUkvqGe7JgLMT0f3ZVzbMuc-RiKSFye1JvNFJ0yo13CblFS24bAELr8Q/s1600/20140920_145116.jpg" height="150" title="easy kids craft decoupage bowl for autumn" width="200" /></a><br />
<br />
3. Once dry and hardened, pop the balloon and carefully peel it away from the shell of your bowl. My daughter particularly enjoyed this bit. You will need to trim the edge of the bowl to give a pleasing finish. <br />
<br />
You could go for a regular straight edge but is actually quite tricky and a shaped edge can look very effective.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
4. Using your marker pen draw the shape of your <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMGqurkDDHkdGboqFNGCaXnss2B4ENIA8LKdfRskJp4dclluEuw6cCF7kYa7-eb61h-Xw19eJKwS8zANAYx_e71exbqRk2JhJMSAYbPBwulgokUvce-vE_T_LvTkNx9FrpLtF4-72Qw6g/s1600/WIN_20140927_080824.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="easy kids craft decoupage bowl, autumn display ideas" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMGqurkDDHkdGboqFNGCaXnss2B4ENIA8LKdfRskJp4dclluEuw6cCF7kYa7-eb61h-Xw19eJKwS8zANAYx_e71exbqRk2JhJMSAYbPBwulgokUvce-vE_T_LvTkNx9FrpLtF4-72Qw6g/s1600/WIN_20140927_080824.JPG" height="112" title="easy kids craft decoupage bowl" width="200" /></a><br />
desired bowl edge. Use sharp scissors cut your bowl edge.<br />
<br />
5. Once you are happy with the border of your bowl, paint the inside with a tough acrylic paint and leave to dry. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5X2cjX5PRmpBrzPy1RjkEkKpvy_l4bAAEhF8Aq6H0NN-PYn94odo4tLnUytjUUAmmDbMxTp9i5lV8awyqnFzuizPGOYWzVACFFPZL6q5bJ3zknL8H124cE9TuLem-wpjtQeFUuHcwe0o/s1600/WIN_20140927_081433.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="easy kids craft decoupage bowl" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5X2cjX5PRmpBrzPy1RjkEkKpvy_l4bAAEhF8Aq6H0NN-PYn94odo4tLnUytjUUAmmDbMxTp9i5lV8awyqnFzuizPGOYWzVACFFPZL6q5bJ3zknL8H124cE9TuLem-wpjtQeFUuHcwe0o/s1600/WIN_20140927_081433.JPG" height="112" title="easy kids craft decoupage bowl" width="200" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
To give the bowl a glossier finish, give a light coat of spray varnish inside and out and leave to dry thoroughly.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY99nE48ZBDf7nou_qW7YJJO6l61vdSVX_DS_-imFptzMddM0FI_4MoSFOhtUzzKwMqgsYl22c0JPORTRQzD6w6LeDmeZmzBUvRluhPR_wfX261zzUfXqARH-PY5QXE8LZGy0tpbpToEo/s1600/2014-09-28+07.22.10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="easy kids craft decoupage bowl, crafts to do at home" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY99nE48ZBDf7nou_qW7YJJO6l61vdSVX_DS_-imFptzMddM0FI_4MoSFOhtUzzKwMqgsYl22c0JPORTRQzD6w6LeDmeZmzBUvRluhPR_wfX261zzUfXqARH-PY5QXE8LZGy0tpbpToEo/s1600/2014-09-28+07.22.10.jpg" height="300" title="easy kids craft decoupage bowl" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
04a393512910785ef72c1e7b7497fd805d210d78cbab100229</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br /></div>
Jo Johttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04455045130307342661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1897130410383345973.post-55271215992200061112014-09-26T13:42:00.001+01:002014-09-26T16:47:23.912+01:00Blogloving, Sharing is Caring<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkmTLnrxGsx5NetoYDFO5XCk2OQp1JKd1bpdH5-FOL1uKpU_3ZAooZ2DL0t2aVyJpRbVGy0KrxxDVN0VxFuxH9bSW-EXLQyXEkIxIyR1pT9eWAxxrdDcEr_lz2tco3r_bbL339kXWCFzg/s1600/Bloglovin_png_zps523b9839.png" height="273" width="320" /></div>
<br />
Ooh just signed up to join the lovely people at Bloglovin. Really supportive Blogging Community <a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/12926133/?claim=ndrsafz3thx">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a><br />
<div a="" href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/12926133/?claim=ndrsafz3thx">
</div>
</div>
Jo Johttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04455045130307342661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1897130410383345973.post-66435440722987469202014-09-22T18:04:00.000+01:002014-09-22T18:04:52.176+01:00My Number 1 Garden Plant for September - Heliniums<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBilR2QZG8Lo1XbSDuO4U_QfFlcg2ip4YJcCLYvbjd5tnX6ECOOafyS9bKRMQaIKNcO1EtONhppEtJ6wsqo096omggqcyW8sCyHq0atIwmWYKcnC779Y6StopmRszPMkLnoIzNO3_h1PM/s1600/Heliniums+(1).png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBilR2QZG8Lo1XbSDuO4U_QfFlcg2ip4YJcCLYvbjd5tnX6ECOOafyS9bKRMQaIKNcO1EtONhppEtJ6wsqo096omggqcyW8sCyHq0atIwmWYKcnC779Y6StopmRszPMkLnoIzNO3_h1PM/s1600/Heliniums+(1).png" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
My Number 1 Garden Plant for September - Heliniums.</h2>
As the summer starts to fade so to do some of the more blousey blooms of the hot months. However I love the garden as it slides into Autumn. Daisy like plants come into their own bringing with them deep warm colours. So my Number 1 plant for September was a hard choice, as so many gorgeous Autumn daisy like plants seem to have caught my attention this year.<br />
<br />
I have narrowed it down to the Heleniums. Heleniums are members of the Aster family <i>(Asteraceae).</i> The species from which the garden forms of Helenium have been bred grow wild in North America.<br />
<br />
According to <a href="http://www.helenium.net/">www.helenium.net</a> "Heleniums are much under-rated hardy perennial garden plants. They are a mainstay of the autumn border but are so often overlooked by gardeners, garden journalists and growers. Why can this be? They are hardy, colourful, easy to grow, tolerate difficult growing conditions, provide months of colour, are attractive to pollinating insects and unaffected by most pests and diseases."<br />
<br />
Having a small garden every plant counts, so choosing plants to extend the season with little effort are well worth investing in. Heleniums have everything I look for in a plant, they provide deep warm colour, with strong architectural shape and are perfect for a cottage garden border. Easy to grow and suited to a wide range of garden conditions, however they are often found in very moist or even wet conditions making them ideal for our British climate.<br />
<br />
They are at their best right now so pop to the garden centre and give your garden a colour boost!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Jo Johttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04455045130307342661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1897130410383345973.post-4706114332790360782014-09-21T08:24:00.000+01:002014-09-22T18:20:08.764+01:00Keeping Chickens as Pets<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhv3B_IJQ-Meuy0p8dfPv3TrAtVxGfjzOzw6FxQAaEJFCnXHkfA9KZ_ZnL90fo5lDL3J7pWg-GCNTnsYEBLvMTiQfVsngOL_uPxANK-pWZcLX5y9SPsDxWns_RdE7dMNz8UQlZxut1bk8/s1600/Keeping+Chickens+as+pets.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="keeping chickens as pets" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhv3B_IJQ-Meuy0p8dfPv3TrAtVxGfjzOzw6FxQAaEJFCnXHkfA9KZ_ZnL90fo5lDL3J7pWg-GCNTnsYEBLvMTiQfVsngOL_uPxANK-pWZcLX5y9SPsDxWns_RdE7dMNz8UQlZxut1bk8/s1600/Keeping+Chickens+as+pets.png" height="300" title="keeping chickens as pets" width="400" /></a></div>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
Keeping Chickens As Pets</h2>
<em><strong>I don't know why but a life long ambition of mine was always to keep chickens as pets</strong></em>. I just love everything about them, their quirky personalities, the noises they make, for some reason they just make me happy when I'm with them. So as my 40th birthday present my husband finally gave in and we went and collected Alice, Martha and Heidi.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdGXCC1V7kfplOQi-OkYWkDMMDEYKixIi1IiArbMCAXwoh1jGXgAjIOIaIUxFDs2sLZ8vfHSJfnSUJY8QwVMTGOZ4-OuaWM6r8QEvb6rQssH7zmyy7-NLGtbAYvS4WY8zXM9dJ-lKmuIY/s1600/20140522_174029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="keeping pet chickens" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdGXCC1V7kfplOQi-OkYWkDMMDEYKixIi1IiArbMCAXwoh1jGXgAjIOIaIUxFDs2sLZ8vfHSJfnSUJY8QwVMTGOZ4-OuaWM6r8QEvb6rQssH7zmyy7-NLGtbAYvS4WY8zXM9dJ-lKmuIY/s1600/20140522_174029.jpg" height="240" title="keeping pet chickens" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peacock, Bonnie & Bluebell</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Since my girls came and joined the family they have proved to be everything and more, that I'd hoped them to be. As a novice chicken keeper, I chose the comical Pekin Bantam, which are a great breed to start with. A small bird, with short squat body, pom pom tail and fluffy feathery trousers. We are now on our second set of girls, Bluebell, Bonnie and Peacock. Every bird has a distinctly different personality. Bluebell, soft cuddly and affectionate, Peacock, the Barbie doll bird, a little bit ditsy but truly beautiful, and then Bonnie, a little bit grumpy and a little bit of Mrs Mangle about her, for those that remember the matriarch from Ramsey Street.<br />
<br />
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
So what makes Chickens good pets?</h3>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiTtg1Hb23s0GuCBtud-PVTZ6IZmqOA6nYpHbxI1U7rX83AQigQuNsBNApk6q-ciaz-VLR-W_yAo9NtomKCKOCrb8iXTRifp3gX5HONYbvuS8xE7tEvrHhbrbJSxOPd14MPJLuFetLCvs/s1600/20130604_153641.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="back yard chickens eggs" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiTtg1Hb23s0GuCBtud-PVTZ6IZmqOA6nYpHbxI1U7rX83AQigQuNsBNApk6q-ciaz-VLR-W_yAo9NtomKCKOCrb8iXTRifp3gX5HONYbvuS8xE7tEvrHhbrbJSxOPd14MPJLuFetLCvs/s1600/20130604_153641.jpg" height="240" title="fresh eggs from back yard chickens" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Friends with benefits</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
You get all the love and interaction of a regular small pet but of course you get the eggs, just like friends with benefits! I'm often asked how can you keep chickens and have a pretty garden. Well my garden is far from perfect but I grow a huge range of edible and decorative plants in a small space and still let my girls have free range of the garden.<br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
</h4>
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
Chickens - great pets for the garden</h4>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWNvrZj6ZRgYO413ceRxgXY8pP3SvKtvEyitW5ZJwkIP-xbMZuuQXs-DLiHGix2xaIpZwQa47n_mpisYtQ1Yapyv9JrwdgamRy_Ev1T0XK5ImJmk9fW27V2uuSLqu-YjLCYNa4BfvN2FE/s1600/20140516_065233.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="gardening and chicken keeping" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWNvrZj6ZRgYO413ceRxgXY8pP3SvKtvEyitW5ZJwkIP-xbMZuuQXs-DLiHGix2xaIpZwQa47n_mpisYtQ1Yapyv9JrwdgamRy_Ev1T0XK5ImJmk9fW27V2uuSLqu-YjLCYNa4BfvN2FE/s1600/20140516_065233.jpg" height="320" title="gardening and chicken keeping" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Garden, not too shabby, although we have chickens</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
They do love to scratch for grubs and do eat lots of different vegetation but it's a balance. They keep the creepy crawlies that can harm the garden down and in return some of my plants have doily like leaves. Now I don't know about you, but I'd rather have a few doily leaves, knowing that they will be turned into delicious fresh eggs, rather than providing food for slugs, and the loss is tiny and unnoticeable across the whole garden. Perkins are also the one breed that are least likely to wreck your garden, their fluffy feet mean that they don't like getting muddy feet and consequently don't scratch up the grass. The only adjustment I have had to make to the garden is to edge the borders. The girls love where boarder meets lawn and will extend the boundary given the chance. So to keep things neat, I have edged the boards with log roll, it keeps the lawn edges crisp and gives the girls handy garden length perches. They also keep the lawn length down, together with help from the guinea-pigs, I have only had to cut the grass twice so far this year. Obviously they help keep the nutrients in the soil tip top, chicken poop is a fertilizer second to none, helping me grow a wide range of fruit and veg in a much smaller space than normally possible. Also reduced chemical fertilizers and pesticides means gardening with a clearer conscious.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFumlYYWyzazKR0qQxIK71xY9VJP1nO0hEbasb8yvGeoEyxM_Ige7QiMmJD2IBzLYNpAT0oBWqHllatuke8ymJ-Npcio3xMmmKXje4i_OB_PBzUONBYE1sBYvXXi_9zR3fFED4VoZ2F1g/s1600/20130425_191433.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="chickens make great pets" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFumlYYWyzazKR0qQxIK71xY9VJP1nO0hEbasb8yvGeoEyxM_Ige7QiMmJD2IBzLYNpAT0oBWqHllatuke8ymJ-Npcio3xMmmKXje4i_OB_PBzUONBYE1sBYvXXi_9zR3fFED4VoZ2F1g/s1600/20130425_191433.jpg" height="240" title="chickens make great pets" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A quick after school cuddle with Peacock</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
Chickens as family pets</h4>
Perkins are incredibly friendly, they will follow you round the garden, they genuinely want to be where ever you are. So whether you are working in the borders or relaxing reading up on the decking, they will always want to be within a few feet of you. They adore my daughter, as soon as they hear her voice, they will charge the length of the garden, doing their fly running, galloping wildly, while madly flapping their wings for extra oomph! I love the little tap on the back door while I'm cooking dinner, just their little reminder to make sure they get their dinner too.<br />
<br />
</div>
Jo Johttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04455045130307342661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1897130410383345973.post-80052738222148049722014-09-13T06:23:00.001+01:002014-09-22T18:36:47.033+01:00Sanity Saving Crock-Pot Ready Meals<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQaE0OUK6LHriGO26Vu85D0O4LUOeYjsikYx9HW02MnuoWewZIs-uomY5h-FjvS8BYb1CGnMU0wsh-OMMvVyFWNH-I_jEEc5WbakHdpg7qo0_828x4qr5sGlhqJy9P9k6QSPoYY9XuGXo/s1600/Freezer+Ready+Meals+(1).png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="crock-pot freezer ready meals" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQaE0OUK6LHriGO26Vu85D0O4LUOeYjsikYx9HW02MnuoWewZIs-uomY5h-FjvS8BYb1CGnMU0wsh-OMMvVyFWNH-I_jEEc5WbakHdpg7qo0_828x4qr5sGlhqJy9P9k6QSPoYY9XuGXo/s1600/Freezer+Ready+Meals+(1).png" height="400" title="crock-pot freezer ready meals" width="265" /></a></div>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
How a trip to Essex has given me back an hour everyday and saved me some sanity?</h2>
<div style="text-align: left;">
A late summer trip to see a very dear friend of mine, who had recently moved back home, led me to a huge time saving practice for the kitchen. She introduced me to the art of <em>pre-prepared freezer meals</em> that you pop straight into your crock-pot ready to give you warming nutritious meals at the end of a busy day.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Her actual words were "I thought you would have known all about crock-pot ready meals". I let the annoyance, that she had discovered this wonderful kitchen art before me, slide and then raided her Pinterest boards when I got home.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
And so after 4 hours (that includes the shopping time) I have 44 meals sitting waiting to be devoured, and all I have got to do is pop them in the crock-pot and maybe do some extra fresh veggies on the day, if I'm feeling all righteous and Super Mum.<br />
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
We in England call them slow-cookers, but I have adopted the Americanism 'Crock-pot' because 'crock-pot' actually sounds quicker and as this has probably bought me an extra hour each working day, I think it's appropriate.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
So that's the time saving, lets look at the cost saving. Total ingredients for 44 meals cost approximately £39, giving me a portion cost of just short of 90p, throw in some rice and veggies and stuff and you are probably looking at £1 per portion. Now in this day and age, I don't think that is bad, I used to budget for a £1 a portion fifteen years ago when I first moved in with my boyfriend (He hadn't earned his promotion of husband at that point). So time and money saving, together with trying some new recipes means, I think this experiment is going to be a winner.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<strong>So what did we cook?</strong><br />
<strong></strong> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<strong>Sweet Teriyaki Chicken</strong><br />
1 cup soy sauce<br />
1 cup sugar<br />
1tsp garlic salt<br />
1/2 an onion<br />
1 1/2lb chicken breasts<br />
<br />
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<strong>Chicken Curry</strong> (which I can't wait to try, loads of Mangoes and sweet potatoes)<br />
3tbls flour<br />
4tbls Curry powder<br />
2lbs Chicken<br />
2 cups set potatoes<br />
2 cups baby carrots<br />
2 cans Mango<br />
1 Cup of Onion<br />
2 cloves garlic (minced)<br />
2 cups good chicken stock<br />
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<strong>Orange Chicken</strong><br />
2 cups carrots<br />
2cups bell peppers<br />
1lb chicken<br />
3 cloves of minced garlic<br />
1/2tsp pepper<br />
8oz orange juice<br />
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<strong>Beef Stroganoff</strong><br />
2lbs stewing beef<br />
2cans of condensed mushroom soup<br />
1cup onions<br />
2tbls Worcestershire sauce<br />
1/2cup water<br />
2 cloves minced garlic<br />
1cup chopped mushrooms<br />
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<strong>And a spicy chicken thing</strong> I forgot to note the name of (sorry)<br />
2lb chicken breast diced<br />
1/8tsp cayenne pepper<br />
1tsp paprika<br />
1/2tsp ground ginger<br />
3 sweet potatoes<br />
1 onion chopped<br />
1 cup apricot preserve<br />
3tbls cider vinegar<br />
1tbls soy sauce<br />
1 cup chicken stock<br />
2tbls cornflour<br />
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
There are loads of great sites with crock-pot ready meals but the ones I have use so far are can be found on my Pinterest board <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/jojog1972/slow-cooker/" target="_blank">slow Cooker</a>.<br />
<br />
So thanks to my dear friend from Essex, for giving me the extra hour in the day I have been looking for!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
</div>
Jo Johttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04455045130307342661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1897130410383345973.post-9088355109019273842014-03-27T07:12:00.000+00:002014-09-22T18:37:26.968+01:00My Recipe for 'healthier' Chilli Dipping sauce without sugar<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj05Damm3jnRxDFW6eMs8qyGLJAlMoMOpR4qcqZCtF_QOjGk53Ip8jkdCH3_hneG0QTiNr8uwCYRWYS12KjYDCgvHicrw2G3p_j0DimB_btmHHtjCU4sJL7MlQDD8KLckkkBP_GrbNXujE/s1600/Low+sugar+Chili+Sauce+(1).png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="lower sugar chili dipping sauce" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj05Damm3jnRxDFW6eMs8qyGLJAlMoMOpR4qcqZCtF_QOjGk53Ip8jkdCH3_hneG0QTiNr8uwCYRWYS12KjYDCgvHicrw2G3p_j0DimB_btmHHtjCU4sJL7MlQDD8KLckkkBP_GrbNXujE/s1600/Low+sugar+Chili+Sauce+(1).png" height="400" title="lower sugar chili dipping sauce" width="266" /></a></div>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
I love chilli dipping sauce, the sticky sweetness with the hit of the chili is delicious but I'm always conscious of the sugar content, try my sugar free alternative. Well ok its not quite without any sugar but a much healthier alternative with a low GI so you don't get the sugar crash that's often associated with regular sugar.</h2>
Regular chili sauce requires quite a lot of sugar which is simmered down to give a nice rich syrupy consistency to the sauce but that comes with all the negative attributes associated with sugar. However it can be made inter a healthier condiment by substituting the sugar for Agave syrup or natural fruit extracts like sweet freedom. Sweet freedom has 25% less calories than ordinary sugar and is already syrupy in consistency. You also use 25% less gram for gram than sugar, is tolerated by Diabetics (as part of a healthy diet) and has a low GL (Glycaemic load). Agave syrup works in much the same way but is made from the Agave cactus rather than from fruit.<br />
<br />
Now for the recipe......<br />
I don't very often measure anything out so please feel free to adjust the quantities to taste.<br />
1 cup of white wine vinegar<br />
2 cups of water<br />
2 cloves of garlic finely chopped<br />
2 small chillies (seeds out if you want a milder flavour)<br />
300 grams sweet freedom<br />
<br />
place in pan and bring to a boil. then simmer gently for 10mins. If you want a thicker sauce you could add some cornflower mixed with a little water to make a paste. Use as a straight forward dipping sauce or use as a marinade for prawns or chicken, great with noodles.</div>
Jo Johttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04455045130307342661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1897130410383345973.post-74535004285946336712013-11-23T07:34:00.000+00:002013-11-23T07:34:26.924+00:00How to build your creativity<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="module lens_intro " data-mod-pos="1" data-mod-type="intro" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-top: 30px;">
<span style="color: #266806; font-family: inherit; font-size: 2.8rem; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em;">Ready to Start a Journey of Creativity and Spiritualty</span><br />
<img alt="" class="pull-left lens_intro_img" src="http://i2.squidoocdn.com/resize/squidoo_images/-1/lens18680981_1322683424paints.jpg" style="border: 0px; float: left; height: auto; margin: 4px 10px 10px 0px; max-width: 250px; vertical-align: middle;" /><br />
<div class="module_intro" itemprop="description">
Most people feel they would love to say they are fulfilled spiritually and creatively but rarely is this the case. The truth is both creativity and spirituality are not something you are given but more about things you discover on the way of life's great journey. Unfortunately, with the pace of most peoples' modern lives, life's journey tends to be a mad rush to get from A to B as fast as possible with little time to explore our own feelings and spiritual beliefs. This lens is intended to give some suggestions of exercises that are simple to carry out, but either slow us down and give us time to breath, or open our minds to start exploring. The exercises I suggest will be non-religious or rather not religion specific so everyone what ever their spiritual path will feel comfortable taking part.<br />
<br />
So lets stop rushing through life's journey and start enjoying the scenary!<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="module_intro" itemprop="description">
<span style="color: #266806; font-family: inherit; font-size: 2.8rem; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em;">Notebook Therapy </span></div>
<div class="module_intro" itemprop="description">
<span style="color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 20px; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.4em;">get scribbling, make room for creativity</span></div>
</div>
<br />
<section class=" module textmodule " data-lazyload="no" data-lmi="154105240" data-mod-pos="3" data-module-type="textmodule" id="module154105240" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-top: 30px;"><div class="text_module">
<a href="http://www.squidoo.com/type=text" rel="nofollow" style="color: #2c730a; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="type=text" class="text_img_right" src="http://i1.squidoocdn.com/resize/squidoo_images/250/draft_lens18680981module154105240photo_1318359825writing.jpg" style="border: 0px; float: right; height: auto; margin: 4px 4px 12px 10px; max-width: 300px; vertical-align: middle;" title="type=text" /></a>It is often reported that a stumbling block to developing creativity is the fact that most peoples heads are crammed full to overloading with information from the day. Worries, to do lists, constant internal dialogue, visual and audio stimuli all buzzing around our brains, no wonder there is no room for creativity.<br />
<br />
There are all sorts of wonderful techniques for quietning the mind and some of those I will investigate as we cover different exercises. But many of these meditive techniques take practice and some even years of training and dedication. We want to skip that and fast track ourselves to being open to creatvity.<br />
<br />
My First exercise is to grab yourself a notebook and pen. Get ones that you really like so that the whole process is a pleasure. Find your self a quiet moment where you wont be disturbed and get scribbling. Write what ever comes into your head, your to do lists, meal<br />
, random thoughts. It will act as a mind purge. You may only be able to stick to it for a minute or two at first but stick with it and try and fit in some notebook therapy every day, gradually building up your time.<br />
<br />
Over time you will find your mind starts emptying of the junk you don't need, freeing up valuable space to develop your creativty or explore your spirituality. The obvious getting things off your chest will act as a therapy session (cheaper than regular therapy) you may start to view emotional issues in wa you hadn't before and with time positively learn to<span class="itxtrst itxtrstspan itxtnowrap" id="itxthook1p" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; bottom: auto; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; float: left; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; height: auto; left: auto; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px !important; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-top: 0px !important; min-height: 30px; padding: 4px !important; position: static; right: auto; top: auto; white-space: nowrap !important; width: auto;"><br /></span> with them if not accept them. Not only that but you will start to see threads of creativity as your mind becomes freer and more used to this free flow of expression. thoughts will come more easily, and start to form more tangible ideas. Don't restrict your self to words, doodle, sketch, use coloured pens and bring your notebok to life.<br />
<br />
Your on your way to being more creative!</div>
</section><br />
<div class="mobile_ad_module" id="div-gpt-ad-1360092775182-0" style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<section class=" module textmodule " data-lazyload="no" data-lmi="155414677" data-mod-pos="5" data-module-type="textmodule" id="module155414677" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-top: 30px;"><hgroup class="module_header" style="margin-bottom: 15px;"><h2 class="module_title" style="color: #266806; font-family: inherit; font-size: 2.8rem; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin: 4px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">
Great Creativity Advice from a great creativity Blog I've discovered</h2>
</hgroup><div class="text_module">
<a href="http://www.squidoo.com/type=text" rel="nofollow" style="color: #2c730a; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="type=text" class="text_img_right" src="http://i3.squidoocdn.com/resize/squidoo_images/250/draft_lens18680981module155414677photo_1322251647paint.jpg" style="border: 4px; float: right; height: auto; margin: 4px 12px 10px; max-width: 300px; vertical-align: middle;" title="type=text" /></a>I discovered this creativity blog by Justine Musk. I think she is totally right, by pursuing creativity not only do you feel more fulfilled and more rounded as a person but also others have a more 3dimensional perception of you too. I haven't explored many of her other posts but probably worth a more in depth look.<br />
<a href="http://justinemusk.com/2011/11/06/creativity-benefits-productivity/" rel="nofollow" style="color: #2c730a; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">10 reasons why pursuing your creative work is actually highly productive (+ not selfish or self-indulgent) by Justine Musk</a><br />
1. Carving time from your regular, 'productive' life to pursue a hobby or project that you're passionate about means that you increase your chances of being in flow.<br />
<br />
Which I wrote about in this post here.<br />
<br />
Long story short: flow is you in your element. It reinvigorates you. It wakes you up to new possibilities for yourself and increases your sense of well-being.<br />
<br />
This is good for you.<br />
<br />
It's also good for the world, because<br />
<br />
2. Your happiness and well-being are contagious.<br />
<br />
Human beings are wired into each other to an extent that most of us don't even realize. The mirror neurons in our brain enable empathy: we absorb and reflect what other people are feeling, and their moods influence our moods (which go on to influence the moods of others).<br />
<br />
This is called emotional contagion.<br />
<br />
And because of how we network off each other, you're more contagious than you know.<br />
<br />
In their book CONNECTED, authors Christakis and Fowler show how we're influenced not just by our friends, but our friends' friends, and even our friends' friends' friends. What you do and what you say and how that makes other people feel ripple out along the invisible lines that link us to each other, just as the bad mood of someone you don't even know comes echoing down to affect your day.<br />
<br />
When you are happy, you are healthier, more productive, better able to contribute to society. Imagine if you could cultivate all those benefits in yourself - and radiate them out to the people in your network.<br />
<br />
The world becomes a better place.<br />
<br />
3. You are less likely to tolerate other people's bullshit when<br />
DOES NOT DEPEND on their acceptance or approval.<br />
<br />
Elizabeth Wurtzel expresses this rather nicely:<br />
<br />
I would argue that a woman is more likely to put the kibosh on her manhandling, leering boss if she has lots of things she likes to do, because there is something about loving life and yourself and your enthusiasms too much that makes it hard to put up with any idiot's crap. And the people most likely to be in possession of that quality known as joie de vivre are people who have insane interests, consuming passions, constant sources of enjoyment that do not depend on the approval of other women. Women must learn what it means to be besotted with something other than some useless bloke.<br />
<br />
When you look to your creativity for a sense of your identity (you don't know who you are until you know what you can do), that means you are not looking to other people to define your worth. After all, as Eleanor Roosevelt so saucily put it, "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent."<br />
<br />
So developing your creative side increases your sense of personal power because<br />
<br />
4. It deepens and strengthens your sense of who you are.<br />
<br />
We are what we make. It was writing, for example, that helped me find my way back to myself when I made the mistake of giving waaaaay too much of my power to someone else (*cough*a man*cough*). I let that someone shape my sense of who I was - or more specifically, who I wasn't - according to what that person thought I should be (which had everything to do with that person's agenda serving that person's interests).<br />
<br />
The result was a kind of amputation of self, a numbing-out. Reading through my blog and other writings, as well as the reactions they inspired, brought me back to enough sense of self that I could build on, reset, start again. Saying I'm happier for it is like saying I was happy to walk away from a car accident. What you feel, instead, is a deep shaken sense of relief - and gratitude for the second chance (or third, or fourth).</div>
</section><br />
<div class="mobile_ad_module" id="div-gpt-ad-1360092775182-1" style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<section class=" module textmodule " data-lazyload="no" data-lmi="156090628" data-mod-pos="10" data-module-type="textmodule" id="module156090628" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-top: 30px;"><hgroup class="module_header" style="margin-bottom: 15px;"><h2 class="module_title" style="color: #266806; font-family: inherit; font-size: 2.8rem; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">
5 more tips for building your creativity</h2>
</hgroup><div class="text_module">
<a href="http://www.squidoo.com/type=text" rel="nofollow" style="color: #2c730a; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="develop creativity" class="text_img_right" src="http://i1.squidoocdn.com/resize/squidoo_images/250/draft_lens18680981module156090628photo_1325307189creativity_coloured_bulbs" style="border: 0px; float: right; height: auto; margin: 0px 0px 12px 10px; max-width: 300px; vertical-align: middle;" title="develop creativity" /></a>more great advice from <a href="http://justinemusk.com/2011/11/06/creativity-benefits-productivity/" rel="nofollow" style="color: #2c730a; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">10 reasons why pursuing your creative work is actually highly productive (+ not selfish or self-indulgent) by Justine Musk</a><br />
<br />
5. and knowing who you are allows other people to know you better.<br />
<br />
We all want to connect. We all want to be recognized for who we are (and not the car we drive, the clothes we wear, the title on the business cards we do or don't hand out). But how can other people - including your friends and loved ones, including your own<span class="itxtrst itxtrstspan itxtnowrap" id="itxthook3p" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; bottom: auto; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; float: left; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; height: auto; left: auto; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px !important; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-top: 0px !important; min-height: 30px; padding: 4px !important; position: static; right: auto; top: auto; white-space: nowrap !important; width: auto;"></span> - know you, the way they want and need to know you, if you don't express those deeper parts of yourself?<br />
<br />
We are what we make. But are we making the right stuff?<br />
<br />
6. which means you have a stronger personal 'brand'.<br />
<br />
God, there's so much about personal branding these days. You're a brand, I'm a brand, soon even the family dog will have a brand. But all the douche-y associations with branding (bad branding) aside, the reality is that other people will react to you, choose or ignore you according to the mental imprint they form of you. Being known for something that you do (and are good at) outside of the way you earn your living can make your 'brand' more memorable.<br />
<br />
Who would you rather talk to at a cocktail party: an accountant, or an accountant who moonlights as a jazz pianist?<br />
<br />
When I was 17, I spent a year as an exchange student in Australia. I lived with four different host<br />
,which means I had four different host 'fathers'. One had a passion for bonsai. He was often in his greenhouse, nurturing his remarkable little trees. Of all the people I met that year, twenty years on he's the one I remember the most (along with this crazy Belgian girl who liked to get us into trouble, but that's a different kind of blog post).<br />
<br />
When I was a teenager, my own passion for fiction writing paid unexpected dividends when my school nominated me for a four-year scholarship to a highly competitive Canadian university. I had an erratic academic record (let's just say that I did not have perfect attendance). I wasn't valedictorian (the thought inspires laughter). I wasn't much of a joiner (the one time I tried out for and made a sports team, I quit when I discovered that all the mean girls were on it).<br />
<br />
What I did do, was: write novels. And other things. I had so much practice under my belt that I'd gotten rather good at it. "Justine," my guidance counselor told me, "that's going to set you apart." And it did (I was one of a handful of students chosen from across the country to get this scholarship.) It was, I realize now, my first lesson in the importance of differentiating yourself- which, in today's cluttered, noisy, post-consumer society, is not just important but necessary.<br />
<br />
7. It opens you up to new people, ideas, and connections.<br />
<br />
As Michael Margolis points out in his speeches and courses on 'brand storytelling' (ie: how you present yourself through your bio or your 'about me' page), your interests allow people (including, say, the potential employer interviewing you for <span class="itxtrst itxtrstspan itxtnowrap" id="itxthook5p" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; bottom: auto; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; float: left; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; height: auto; left: auto; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px !important; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-top: 0px !important; min-height: 30px; padding: 4px !important; position: static; right: auto; top: auto; white-space: nowrap !important; width: auto;"><br /></span>) to find points of connection. Your passion allows you to open up new conversations with people, which brings richness and diversity into your life.<br />
<br />
A less-than-obvious benefit of this has to do with the importance of weak ties. (Strong ties are your relationships with family members and close friends; weak ties are acquaintances, people you know only passingly.)<br />
<br />
Sociologists have discovered that most new information (like the kind that would help you in a job search) comes to us through weak ties. People inside the same networks tend to know the same stuff. It's by linking - however casually - to people outside your usual habits, places and routines that you open yourself to new influences, new facts and forms of knowledge. This could end up changing <span class="itxtrst itxtrstspan itxtnowrap" id="itxthook6p" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; bottom: auto; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; float: left; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; height: auto; left: auto; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px !important; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-top: 0px !important; min-height: 30px; padding: 4px !important; position: static; right: auto; top: auto; white-space: nowrap !important; width: auto;"><br /></span> (or introducing you to your life partner).<br />
<br />
8. It makes you creative in other areas of your life, including your regular work.<br />
<br />
Creativity thrives at the intersection of different disciplines and perspectives. The way to seem like a freaking genius is to take ideas from a field totally alien to your own, and find ways to adapt and apply them. Creativity, after all, is finding the unexpected connections between things: combining and recombining old ideas until you come up with something - original.<br />
<br />
In the book THE MEDICI EFFECT, Frans Johansson suggests that the best way to stimulate the kind of creative insight that, you know, changes the game (what exactly is 'the game', anyway?) - is to educate yourself in a second discipline, something other than what you already do or what you're already known for.<br />
<br />
When you pursue your creative work, you might regard it as something you're doing strictly 'on the side' - but you're opening the door on a dimension of ideas that just might find their way to the center of your life. In a good way.<br />
<br />
9. It's good for your brain.<br />
<br />
Dude, learning something new is so good for your brain. It's like the old saying goes: Use it or lose it. The brain turns out to be far more plastic than we realized. It changes and grows according to the experiences we provide it. Developing a new skill(set) forces the otherwise-lazy brain to form new neural pathways that keep you sharp as you grow older (and older). One of the best ways to stave off Alzheimer's? Learn a new language. Or a musical instrument.<br />
<br />
Your brain will thank you.<br />
<br />
10. It makes you totally sexy.<br />
<br />
I mean, c'mon. Being passionate about something - anything - lights you up with the kind of energy that attracts total supermodels. (I swear to God.) Which doesn't necessarily mean that they'll sleep with you. But they're more likely to consider it. Or at least to consider considering it.<br />
<br />
You know what I mean</div>
</section><section class=" module textmodule " data-lazyload="no" data-lmi="156090629" data-mod-pos="11" data-module-type="textmodule" id="module156090629" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-top: 30px;"><hgroup class="module_header" style="margin-bottom: 15px;"><h2 class="module_title" style="color: #266806; font-family: inherit; font-size: 2.8rem; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">
The Creative Brain</h2>
</hgroup><div class="text_module">
<a href="http://www.squidoo.com/type=text" rel="nofollow" style="color: #2c730a; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="creative brain" class="text_img_right" src="http://i3.squidoocdn.com/resize/squidoo_images/250/draft_lens18680981module156090629photo_1325308275creative_brain.jpg" style="border: 0px; float: right; height: auto; margin: 0px 0px 12px 10px; max-width: 300px; vertical-align: middle;" title="creative brain" /></a>It has been established for many years that people that display different skills, whether an excellent artist or a brilliant mathematician, have different parts of their brain more highly developed. This has lead to the theory that people with highly developed "right" brain activity are more creative than the "left" brain logical types. Whether this is something you are born with or something that you can develop is open to debate.</div>
</section><section class=" module textmodule " data-lazyload="no" data-lmi="156090630" data-mod-pos="12" data-module-type="textmodule" id="module156090630" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-top: 30px;"><hgroup class="module_header" style="margin-bottom: 15px;"><h2 class="module_title" style="color: #266806; font-family: inherit; font-size: 2.8rem; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">
The Right-Handed Brain</h2>
</hgroup><div class="text_module">
<a href="http://www.squidoo.com/type=text" rel="nofollow" style="color: #2c730a; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="right brain activity" class="text_img_right" src="http://i3.squidoocdn.com/resize/squidoo_images/250/draft_lens18680981module156090630photo_1325308677right_brain_activity.jpg" style="border: 0px; float: right; height: auto; margin: 0px 0px 12px 10px; max-width: 300px; vertical-align: middle;" title="right brain activity" /></a>Traditionally the Right- Handed Brain person is thought of as the naturally creative person. Creative, daring and flexible, you are likely to consider your intuition as valuable as your IQ in making decisions. You "see" in pictures not words. But by boosting your left brain, you could become more organised and that could make you more productive.</div>
</section><section class=" module textmodule " data-lazyload="no" data-lmi="156091016" data-mod-pos="13" data-module-type="textmodule" id="module156091016" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-top: 30px;"><hgroup class="module_header" style="margin-bottom: 15px;"><h2 class="module_title" style="color: #266806; font-family: inherit; font-size: 2.8rem; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; margin: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">
The Left-Handed Brain</h2>
</hgroup><div class="text_module">
<a href="http://www.squidoo.com/type=text" rel="nofollow" style="color: #2c730a; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="left hand brain activity" class="text_img_right" src="http://i1.squidoocdn.com/resize/squidoo_images/250/draft_lens18680981module156091016photo_1325309299left_hand_brain_activity." style="border: 0px; float: right; height: auto; margin: 0px 0px 12px 10px; max-width: 300px; vertical-align: middle;" title="left hand brain activity" /></a>Those with left-handed brains tend to be thought of as logical and analytical. You are good with words and wonderful at detail and reasoning, logical is your middle name. You are good at finding the right persuasive argument. You find inspiration in being quiet and alone. But by boosting your right brain you could become more intuitive and that could make you more creative.<br />
<span style="color: #266806; font-family: inherit; font-size: 2.8rem; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #266806; font-family: inherit; font-size: 2.8rem; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em;">What's next?</span><br />
<span style="color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 20px; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.4em;">More Creativity & Sprituality Exercises</span></div>
</section><section class=" module textmodule " data-lazyload="no" data-lmi="154106757" data-mod-pos="15" data-module-type="textmodule" id="module154106757" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-top: 30px;"><div class="text_module">
<a href="http://www.squidoo.com/type=text" rel="nofollow" style="color: #2c730a; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="type=text" class="text_img_right" src="http://i3.squidoocdn.com/resize/squidoo_images/250/draft_lens18680981module154106757photo_1318362302creativity-1.jpg" style="border: 0px; float: right; height: auto; margin: 0px 0px 12px 10px; max-width: 300px; vertical-align: middle;" title="type=text" /></a>I will be adding more and more exercises to help build your creativity and explore spirituality, so be sure to drop by again. Feel free to use the comments box to add any of your own suggestions on how you get your creative juices flowing!</div>
</section><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=1897130410383345973" name="module154105241" style="background-color: white; color: #2c730a; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=1897130410383345973" name="module154105240" style="background-color: white; color: #2c730a; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=1897130410383345973" name="module154106090" style="background-color: white; color: #2c730a; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=1897130410383345973" name="module155414677" style="background-color: white; color: #2c730a; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=1897130410383345973" name="module156090732" style="background-color: white; color: #2c730a; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=1897130410383345973" name="module156090628" style="background-color: white; color: #2c730a; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=1897130410383345973" name="module156090629" style="background-color: white; color: #2c730a; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=1897130410383345973" name="module156090630" style="background-color: white; color: #2c730a; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=1897130410383345973" name="module156091016" style="background-color: white; color: #2c730a; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=1897130410383345973" name="module156091122" style="background-color: white; color: #2c730a; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=1897130410383345973" name="module154106757" style="background-color: white; color: #2c730a; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=1897130410383345973" name="module154938932" style="background-color: white; color: #2c730a; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"></span></div>
Jo Johttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04455045130307342661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1897130410383345973.post-90446023383904893212013-11-11T20:14:00.002+00:002014-09-20T21:59:42.077+01:00Charming Holiday Cottages to Let in North Cornwall<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwyhDyYV_R9fyPEUZ1qSdIItcbgjA1aT6urHG98vM0Xp_Ry_hRDx0TZ4ZDTGjomxv9uNFfTXHWM7_qby0IoXg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<a href="http://www.rockandcistuscornishcottages.co.uk/" target="_blank">North Cornwall Holiday Cottages To Let</a><br />
<br />
These lovely familiy run holiday cottages to let in North Cornwall hold a speacial place in my heart. Please check out our new video.</div>
Jo Johttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04455045130307342661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1897130410383345973.post-74157365947634105372013-10-02T06:05:00.000+01:002014-10-01T15:21:06.334+01:00Healthy Fat Free Snacks usin my Stokli dehydrator<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
Fat Free and Tasty, Dehydrated Nibbles, The Ultimate Healthy Snacks</h2>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p><br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAgBzV_NrBM89NExRUA1El4abrMDf0kjbgB3BM3wdniuEb8e_dHLkRXLsPLPySkCk7Ve4CLGkVs5DfhnzG9SqCM1L_vhIWaUBCdbeKNgnk_0hcex371a4E3T-3k9jm7WDxPK0iumZ8VyM/s1600/vegetable+crisps.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAgBzV_NrBM89NExRUA1El4abrMDf0kjbgB3BM3wdniuEb8e_dHLkRXLsPLPySkCk7Ve4CLGkVs5DfhnzG9SqCM1L_vhIWaUBCdbeKNgnk_0hcex371a4E3T-3k9jm7WDxPK0iumZ8VyM/s1600/vegetable+crisps.jpg" /></a></div>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
Dehydrating Food and Healthy Snacks using a Stokli Food
Dehydrator</h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p><br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have had my Stokli Food Dehydrator for a year now and
after some tasty experiments I wouldn't be without it. The Stokli Dehydrator
uses warm air to gently preserve food without losing much of the nutrients
associated with cooking or other preserving techniques. Ideal for making
nutritious health snacks for all the family but also preserving gluts, from
home growing from the garden or allotment, drying herbs and flowers and much
much more.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
How Do Food Dehydrators Work?</h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p><br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Dehydrating food is a
very gentle way of preserving food. A Food dehydrator works by exposing food to
low temperatures of heat for a long period of time in order to remove the
moisture from the food. Without<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhCLy1QQQrDI5r_NK1xcn_WZdkEjuH4aF1iLvs2oy9yRqEjd6s0uOjRUhvRR6heU-ru7tuKlx2cMGiWehsiCZwCEB2dRQbJ_oE0ked_Y_aadkb64Eeshz4n8JIswruLXJkyut_uCX7tVg/s1600/drying+herbs+with+stokli+dehydrator.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhCLy1QQQrDI5r_NK1xcn_WZdkEjuH4aF1iLvs2oy9yRqEjd6s0uOjRUhvRR6heU-ru7tuKlx2cMGiWehsiCZwCEB2dRQbJ_oE0ked_Y_aadkb64Eeshz4n8JIswruLXJkyut_uCX7tVg/s320/drying+herbs+with+stokli+dehydrator.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
moisture, bacteria, moulds and yeasts are
unable to grow. Food dehydrating also slows down enzyme action, although it
does not stop it entirely. This means that when water is added back to some
foods after drying, they return to its original size and weight.<br />
<br />
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
Vegetable Crisps</h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p><br /></div>
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
The ultimate health snack</h4>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p><br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Vegetable crisps or
chips are a low fat snack that can be munched guilt free. It's a great way to
get children to eat more vegetables and they probably won't notice the
difference between these super healthy ones and regular crisps.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Many articles written about making vegetable crisps suggest
blanching or part cooking the veggies before <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjouev1PlEZx7ncslgFybaygawhz1-XzN9wIHXQOFfEsBdUNSQSGMa9C1bnk3WicBSH-bPfuSZsm2PPAsfwzVpwsk7jlNYi8eKVTfUw-VnOgTqMZDl-8fAz80k_wA5D0U43EoAKrWKUHmA/s1600/Crisps_peeled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjouev1PlEZx7ncslgFybaygawhz1-XzN9wIHXQOFfEsBdUNSQSGMa9C1bnk3WicBSH-bPfuSZsm2PPAsfwzVpwsk7jlNYi8eKVTfUw-VnOgTqMZDl-8fAz80k_wA5D0U43EoAKrWKUHmA/s200/Crisps_peeled.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
drying. This helps preserve the
flavours for much longer. However my crisps never hang around that long and are
always munched as soon as they are ready so don't have a chance to lose any
flavour. Dehydrating from raw will preserve many more of the important
nutrients from the vegetables. Always start with vegetables at the peak of
freshness. Good veggies for crisps include sweet potato, carrots, parsnips and
beetroot.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If possible, pick and dry them the same day. If you cannot
dry them the same day they were picked, then store them in your refrigerator-
not at room temperature to preserve their freshness.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Wash the vegetables in cold water and trim away any bruised,
mouldy or decayed spots; peeling is optional. However, the vegetable's skin
will toughen as it dries but somehow that does add to the crunch! For speed I
use a food processor which also makes sure the slices are all the same
thickness.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I like to season my crisps, maybe not as healthy as plain
vegetable crisps but does enhance the flavours. A quick seasoning is to use a ready-made
seasoning like "all-purpose seasoning" this can be sprinkled on when
the vegetables have been prepared but still moist so the seasoning sticks to
the slices. Experiment with different flavours, try adding chilli for a fiery
kick, or a drizzle of sweet chilli dipping sauce for something softer. Garlic
powder used in moderation will give a mellow flavour but perhaps my favourite
is a dusting of Italian herb seasoning.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Always arrange vegetables on the mesh dehydrator sheets in a
single layer.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The temperature for how to dehydrate vegetables is lower
than of that for fruits. Set you dehydrator at about<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgULK8uwH45OfYnVBwcqSNH_M3FlXGmaz0kH8XyPKy9_o3be0xEdB7T8W1wYA-xLBn_6wYGFgtGfhOhjas4R4V2HTK9CkIIJYhlm7VgvJQboN7HPMavLX3xfv3wjkOTKMHOeEserAfR5W8/s1600/veggie+crisps.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgULK8uwH45OfYnVBwcqSNH_M3FlXGmaz0kH8XyPKy9_o3be0xEdB7T8W1wYA-xLBn_6wYGFgtGfhOhjas4R4V2HTK9CkIIJYhlm7VgvJQboN7HPMavLX3xfv3wjkOTKMHOeEserAfR5W8/s320/veggie+crisps.jpg" height="292" width="320" /></a></div>
115º F until your
vegetables are at the desired dryness.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Drying times differ on the vegetables, the way they are cut,
the humidity in the air, the types of vegetables, etc. You want your dried
vegetables to have the texture that is somewhat leathery or brittle.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Cool the vegetables in the dehydrator for at least 30
minutes, but not more than an hour before removing and storing. Leaving the
dried product in the dehydrator for too long will have the vegetables absorbing
moisture from the air.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Store in zip lock bags in handy snack sized portions.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Enjoy!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi54_yx2Rsf8aTdRsvbgsusYIFdNGxcIpkHXUu-f5UaVsFGivoGLTBhqeLgbEoBo_n33zNyjx_KCAinnwLxPmNjXOcnBALA6s4sPE51HMwvimuIgTk-FsOgTkg0qJIzbs5qMebpB9F-BXw/s1600/DSC00005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi54_yx2Rsf8aTdRsvbgsusYIFdNGxcIpkHXUu-f5UaVsFGivoGLTBhqeLgbEoBo_n33zNyjx_KCAinnwLxPmNjXOcnBALA6s4sPE51HMwvimuIgTk-FsOgTkg0qJIzbs5qMebpB9F-BXw/s320/DSC00005.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
Drying herbs for the kitchen and the hearth</h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p><br /></div>
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
An alternative way to
prepare your herbs drying herbs using a dehydrator</h4>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p><br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
OK it’s not the most natural way of doing things but the
dehydrator is a convenient method of drying herbs. If you intend to use some of
your herbs for culinary use the dehydrator will dry and preserve your herbs
quickly but extremely gently. The quick<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBFRdwqJHiDUPxHFBB0-qsQcg24YZwKap1MuBEelUX8kdgPkStavz-OxQy2gnzTGd6NujupP66bEyrcuqm_bXIJ7URgeJnLu-BZzkQ-n8FJEOHaWAQ9zUfp1pHDP1Sg4y7PvnRqCT6wCs/s1600/sage+jar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBFRdwqJHiDUPxHFBB0-qsQcg24YZwKap1MuBEelUX8kdgPkStavz-OxQy2gnzTGd6NujupP66bEyrcuqm_bXIJ7URgeJnLu-BZzkQ-n8FJEOHaWAQ9zUfp1pHDP1Sg4y7PvnRqCT6wCs/s200/sage+jar.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></div>
drying preserves more of the natural
oils of the plants, so flavour is often more intense and it also gives less
time for moulds etc. to grow, giving you longer lasting safer herbs.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv0wYmpl7a1E0oWKMwx-pcnR9k2l_TKVOYLXqtha0a2_dUxx7w4yW8IIoP0JQk66OHjldbp0C7HgVSOlyRnyMx6NLMZsVdJdS1mKIx7BC6OrB6h0HObSrh3N7xMU6GV5e9lhV8VvEeQSk/s1600/356.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv0wYmpl7a1E0oWKMwx-pcnR9k2l_TKVOYLXqtha0a2_dUxx7w4yW8IIoP0JQk66OHjldbp0C7HgVSOlyRnyMx6NLMZsVdJdS1mKIx7BC6OrB6h0HObSrh3N7xMU6GV5e9lhV8VvEeQSk/s320/356.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
Herbs make great gifts</div>
Jo Johttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04455045130307342661noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1897130410383345973.post-45769906422814620692013-09-27T06:29:00.001+01:002013-09-27T06:29:54.878+01:00The Great Sewing Revival - I'm not letting it pass me by!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOQPYDG3Z1vi6G7uUFfIY0zhbVN_zceAtPlSyfomHsPfN2jg1J25UoKt7QmS2Mlh6mmMqeShiPAF69Sp42VPod_mn1VvcN4dN_-O7anqeKWek35LhxBJ9BAVa3drOzjm_r4h2MrevlAgs/s1600/sewing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOQPYDG3Z1vi6G7uUFfIY0zhbVN_zceAtPlSyfomHsPfN2jg1J25UoKt7QmS2Mlh6mmMqeShiPAF69Sp42VPod_mn1VvcN4dN_-O7anqeKWek35LhxBJ9BAVa3drOzjm_r4h2MrevlAgs/s1600/sewing.jpg" /></a></div>
Thanks to Kirsty Allsop and friends, sewing and crafting is very much 'on trend' at the moment. Craft magazines are flying off the shelves and the WI is enjoying a real renaissance, but the whole sewing revolution is just passing me by. Now I am a fairly creative person, I enjoy crafting, gardening and cooking but I really struggle with sewing.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
My Mother is a great seamstress and often makes her own curtains and and has made beautiful things for my daughter. You would think that would have rubbed off on me, but I think it has skipped a generation. In fact my daughter loves nothing better than to spend time making little creations with fabric and thread. One of her favourite activities is arranging and re-arranging all the bits and bobs in her sewing box, a cherished gift from Grandma. I don't even have a sewing box, anything remotely connected with this past time is kept in the junk drawer, including my collection of loose needles. There it all sits, next to the sellotape and the bit of grey blu-tak. It's like a little booby trap, waiting for you to route around for new batteries or the instructions for the telly, then it attacks and you inevitable find yourself at best a little pricked or worse looking like an acupuncture trainee! (OK so we will add sorting the junk drawer out to my to do list, then I can write the post titled 'Feng Shui for your kitchen drawers' that I have always wanted to).</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So what? I hear you say, make jam instead and still be part of the craft revolution, but the thing is sewing isn't just a fashionable past time for all those stay at home mummies, its actually a really useful skill to have under your belt. As I have progressed further into my adult life it has become apparent that simply buying a new pair of trousers because the hem has come down isn't really the most viable option, and running to my mum every time I have a loose button, can not go on forever. what really brought it home to me was when my daughter got three badges to put on her Rainbows uniform, she looked at me with sad despairing eyes and <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6bIJFUF1n_eu4rwneo5mYBSRw02y7_C0jGsyJR4Fx8_cehjmfUPIyteq4IadM7o3kruefPetLqTp_HiJ08snXc1ZhyphenhyphenqviARXttuvUkIHjNWjOia7nneCv2ZkO1we6hV_JmWB1UOHhRPQ/s1600/download.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6bIJFUF1n_eu4rwneo5mYBSRw02y7_C0jGsyJR4Fx8_cehjmfUPIyteq4IadM7o3kruefPetLqTp_HiJ08snXc1ZhyphenhyphenqviARXttuvUkIHjNWjOia7nneCv2ZkO1we6hV_JmWB1UOHhRPQ/s1600/download.jpg" /></a></div>
sad "oh no Mummy, what are we going to do? Grandma is on holiday"!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So I am taking the bull by the horns and going to give it a go, I am persevering, It may have taken me ten weeks but by hook and by crook I have got two of those badges on!</div>
Jo Johttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04455045130307342661noreply@blogger.com0