Say Cheese!

Not my normal type of blog, but then again, I'm not always normal!

I love social media, its one of those great things that helps us to keep in touch, I possibly value this even more since two of my children went off to University! It can cross miles, in an instant bring us that 'special moment'.  If I could change just ONE thing about it, I would make it compulsory for everyone that uses it to post at least one pic with themselves in it every month!  Why? This is why.,...

I have always loved photography, I have always taken photographs, I think it's the one important thing that not everyone values. Photography has the power to capture 'THAT' moment in time, that scene, that face, that beautiful object, place or thing of beauty.  It can evoke all kinds of emotions, happy, sad, uplifting - a photograph can say a million things.

What saddens me is that fact I know far too many people that just will not post pics of themselves! They are for lots of reasons, but these ones I hear far too often!  No, I have no make up on,  I'm too fat, I'm too thin, I look awful,

A photograph is a single unique statement, its will say whatever YOU want it to say about you. It can say, I am happy with who I am,  I'm a bit crazy, I love life and so much more.

So where are we going with this.  Well this is the point, I'm the youngest of FIVE children, my parents were  happily divorced.  My dad loved photography (possibly the one and only thing I had in common with him) I think the only pictures of me when I was small are of me as a four year old and I have TWO of them!!  Plus two other school pictures.

I sadly lost my Mum late last year, who had dementia, Luckily I have zillions of pictures with my Mum, days out, meals out, celebrations,  and this is what I want for my children, to have zillions of pictures to look back on.

Yesterday I was with my Bestie, those that know me know my favourite colour is GREEN, I drive Betsy my lime green car, my engagement ring is an emerald and I would say a third of my wardrobe is green.  Her youngest son had some amazing sun glasses, lime green, I loved them!  - not everyone shared this enthusiasm,  then suddenly we had a matching hat, and of course a photo or two was taken!  We laughed so much, it was hysterical.  I did not want the pics on the Social Media, but why, we laughed we shared a very funny moment, so here are the pics.  By the way I had to be 'taught' how to do that hand gesture!

Me and my Mum xx

Now for the serious bit, I would love you all to share this post, put up one of your 'moments' in time, and then go and donate £3 to the Alzheimers Society.  share your post with the #picsforalzheimers lets fill social media with picture  moments! If you are reading this please SHARE on Twitter and Facebook  -  I would love this to go viral and look forward to seeing your pics xx   #picsforalzheimers Thank You.

We are so lucky that we no longer have to take a picture head off to the chemist and wait a week to see what pictures we have taken,  Nothing can stop you, only YOU, get out that camera, phone or Ipad etc and get clicking.  Then get texting and donate to a fabulous charity. 

To donate : 

Text DEFEAT to

70111 to donate £3

THANK YOU

Diet or Lifestyle Change? That IS the Question

As healthy living goes, I consider myself to be relatively healthy.  I have been a vegetarian for over 39 years and eat lots and lots of fresh fruit and veg.  My love of cooking allows me to make most things from scratch like pasta etc.

I'm now in my fifties and  those thoughts of 'looking after yourself' enter my head now more than ever.  Like lots of other men and women, I have put on weight, 'baby weight', 'middle aged spread' call t what you will but the TRUE fact of the matter is that I found myself in the 'obese' category.

As Diets go, I think I can tick off lots of the boxes, Slimming World, Weight Watchers, Diet Chef, I seem to have tried them all.  Nothing ever stayed with me, yes I could get to goal weight, yes I could lose weight, but it would always come back.

Then one day on Facebook, this link popped up on my news feed 10 day Green Smoothie Cleanse I a sat in the background, read the posts and just was amazed by some of the testimonials and pictures.  Could this be for real?  The group at that point was just under 60,000 members, surely some of it must be true?

So after about 3 weeks I decided to order the book from AMAZON I mean upto 15lbs loss in 10 days - is that healthy? Was it possible?  So I got the book, read it and decided that a Monday would be a good place to start.  Now at this point, I am the only person on this group from 'across the pond'.  That so did not matter, I got lots and lots of words of encouragement, if I had a question it was answered and lots of tips and advice came back and forth.  A few things were harder to find but actually it was all rather easy.

The interesting bit for me was that as most of you know I'm 'busy' now my 'busy' and others 'busy' seem to be worlds apart, this is mainly based on my ability to survive on between 3-4 hours sleep for the last 40 odd years!  Yes I know 'Margaret Thatcher was like that !!!! (how many times I have heard that!)  The second bit was more often than not I would skip breakfast! The first part of this plan is based on 3 smoothies a day for 10 days.

At this point, I need to bring you back to the title - the 10 day GREEN smoothie plan so guess what? they are all green!  to me that is not an issue and actually they all but one tasted fine to me. ( I still did drink it though!)

My Nemesis was day 4 - I was irritated and it was a tough day - but reaching day FIVE the half way mark kept me going.  Day ten arrived and I decided to weight myself the next morning - I did feel better - what was my loss going to be?  Wowzers I had lost 12lbs!  This then spurred me on to start phase 2 - the modified plan, based on two smoothies and a healthy meal - and this could be any meal so you could switch it around.  I then went on to lose a further 10lbs.

The book makes everything easy, like most books it has a beginning, a middle and a end, the beginning is all about the plan, how to get yourself prepared even a shopping list!!! ( I like lists!)  the middle is what to expect and lots of questions answered that will just pop into your head ! The end is how to carry on with your new 'lifestyle' yes this is a lifestyle !!!

Now a bit of the gushy part, how many books have I bought, well the answer is too many, yes they are mostly cookery books, I blogged about them, posted pics on social media etc.  Well at under £10 this book is possibly my most thumbed, most read and inspirational, also the author JJ Smith does a huge amount of pay it forward and to find out all about that then please go take a look on the Facebook Page She and the rest of her 'family' will help and encourage and if you are lucky she will answer some of your posts.  Now to get that into perspective she is The New York Times No1 best seller author! Businesswoman and has a full time job as well as writing books, so I guess she knocks my 'busy' down a bit .

My Books!!!

The best bit, my weight loss is not yet that huge that everyone notices, but they do notice my hair, my skin, my nails and just how 'healthy' I look, I know this is not for everyone, but I do know it IS for me and the other 100,000 plus men and women that are taking part.

Disclaimer: All of this is my own story, its not endorsed in any way by the GSC Cleanse.  I just wanted to share on what it has done for me.  Oh and I'm no longer the only ONE from across the pond!

Plastic Fantastic! And all that Jazz!

I'm very  happy with the payment system used on our  website it is simple, safe and secure.   I did up until its demise also use Google Checkout, but alas that has gone to Checkout heaven.
So all credit cards can be used to pay via Paypal or indeed you can use your own Paypal Account to make your purchase.

However as I went to so few outside events, did I really need a card reader?  So here my research begun. How much did they charge? how much did they cost? Did they work and so on and so forth.  Would it work with my phone?

At events I talked to people who used them, good and bad, I talked to customers and more and more I was asked 'Can I pay by card?'  For every person I directed to the nearest cashpoint,  probably one in three would return to complete the purchase, so these 'lost opportunities'  were exactly that.

So I registered my interest with Paypal to get a Paypal Here card reader.  This was before they had been launched in the UK.  My reader arrived  late September and my first event was October.  Setting up the reader was easy, I also managed to list a few of my best selling items complete with pics! I paired it with my Ipad (at this point I had a android phone and decided that my Ipad was the best way to go).

It was amazing, a few days before the show I decided to post on Social Media and my website that we could take card payments over the phone.  Within two hours it had far exceeded my expectations. It was fantastic and I could send my customers a receipt by using either a mobile number or email!  Boy this was just too easy!!

So the day of the show arrived, we were busy, very busy, we put signs up to say we could take card payments, we even made little badges to wear.  Almost 50% of our sales over the three days paid by card.  We were astonished!  We even took the decision not to have a minimum payment (some other stall holders did)  Yes we took lots of small payments, but every small payment adds up!  The charges for payments taken are low and the fact the money is in your bank within hours is perfect!

It was worth noting that quite a few of my neighbours could not get a signal from their readers (not paypal here) so they were amazed we were able to take payments over all three days.

Since then, I have used it to take payments over the phone and also to take payments from abandoned baskets on the site, by sending a simple email to advise their payment did not complete. You can also send Invoices and set the payment to either be a Total or itemised items.

Having done more research since I have had our reader, I know of other stallholders that have 'rented' card readers.  This is 'dead' money but a good way to test the market, however my card reader was the best £99 I have ever spent on my business.

Disclaimer:
All views on this blog are my own, this post is not endorsed by anyone.  Links and pictures are those used from the Paypal Website.

Life changing moments....

Yes it really is 2.42 am and once again, I cannot sleep.  I haven't posted for a while partly because its been very busy and I had a series of close family and friends berievments and partly because I am rubbish at blogging!

I was involved in a car crash four weeks ago, not our fault I may add, but none the less scary as two of my chidlren were in the car (which has now gone to car heaven as it was a right off!).  My insurance company have been brilliant and I an making a very slow recovery.   My children seemed to have bounced back quicker than me and as my son keeps reminding me that is because I am 'old'.

It sometimes takes these 'life changing' moments to bring us back to earth with a bump (no pun intended!).  I have been overwhelmed with the amount of help we have been offered, and my family, friends and neighbours  have been amazing.  Some days I just could not walk or stand up, but the house just carried on, yes probably the washing wasn't folded how I fold it, the table was cleaned how I cleaned it etc and so on...  but had I not have been unable to do these tasks myself then I think I would have continued being uber critical about the 'small things'  However in the whole scheme of things...... Does it matter? and my conclusion is no it doesn;t!

What matters is that we have a house to clean, we have kids that make a mes and enjoy their howm so that it needs to be cleaned and that between us we do actually clean it.  Now the  cleaning example thing is not that I am super houseproud its just an example of the little things that we take for granted.

I think my accident has made me more tollerant of others who live in the same space, my husband, the children and the dog,  its made me appreciate what I have and not take things for granted. 

So I guess my life changing moment, changed quite a lot for me,  it also once again reminded me of our own mortality. Which in turn makes me feel life is for the living and the giving, so as I continue to make steady progress, I will try and not waste the opportunities that come along, embrace the joys and spend much more quality time with my children and husband who on the bad days have sat on the edge of my bead, made me endless cups of tea and chatted and been there.  Not because I asked them to, just becuase they wanted to.

So please don;t wait for your life changing moment, we shouldn't need one, what we actually need to do is just open our eyes to see what we really have got !

MK Handmade and Vintage Fair and a BARGAIN to upcycle!

I was lucky enought to be one of the Traders at the recent three day event in Milton Keynes as part of the Festival Fringe Street Bazaar. 

As part of the section from the fabulous MK Handmade and Vintage it is just great to share good quality time with fellow artists and artisans and with such a fantastic mix it is sometimes just a work of art walking around the stalls.  No two are ever the same and such thought and care goes into displaying such amazing talent and bargains.  The Vintage element is the best vintage fair I have ever been to or attended. 

The stallholders are friendly, knowledgeable and love the chance to chat with customers about what they have for sale, how it was made or in the case of the vintage finds details about the items.

My craft room from where I work is due to have a makeover so I was looking out for what I could find, and I did buy these amazing vintage peg dolls which will sit proudly on the shelf above the door. 

I love the Sailor dolls and of course the Norah Wellings vintage sailor man!

Norah Wellings dolls can often be identified by the cloth tags sewn into the clothing or on the bottom of a foot. Her dolls always have an appropriate number of fingers. She also made pajama cases, tea cosies and telephone covers.

Unlike many manufacturers, Victoria Toy Works survived the war years; partly thanks to a line of patriotic toys. The company managed to stay in production throughout the war.

What a sad end to such a great talent, Norah had been in business with her brother, who sadly died, so grief stricken, she did carry on making for a few months and then in 1959 Norah closed the factory after Leonard’s death. Although she had many offers from toy companies wanting to purchase her factory and designs, Norah refused them all, and burned not only her designs and the special tools used to execute them, but all unfinished inventory as well. Any finished dolls she donated to worthy local good causes.  Can you imagine starting a bonfire and burning a lifetimes work? Norah also sold her dolls to major cruise liners - my doll is from TSS Lady Killarney which was a 3,220 ton ship which offered cruises around the islands and sea lochs of western Scotland in the late 1940s and 1950s. Built in 1912, she belonged to Coast Lines Ltd. of Liverpool. I love my new little family of dolls and I know they will all live happily together in their new home.

I also bought myself the most amazing necklace which was hand spun on a spinning wheel by the talented monika zemojduk

The picture does not do it justice!  Monica will certainly be a talent to keep a close eye on!

And then my final BARGAIN find was a cot bumper - now I have no cot or need for a cot bumper, but as soon as I saw it, I knew what it would become - I just love upcyling!

So today with the help of these, and a few buttons and my sewing machine, I now have made the first thing for when my room is decorated:-

It will mean that I have my scissors to hand and the oil cloth table covering is great to be able to sweep threads away from my embrodery and sewing machine.  I have made a different smaller one before and it sits beneath my machine, but this one will not move as I have stitched it to the oil cloth!

So if you need inspiration,love to  find a bargain or just want to go window shopping around an amazing event, do not miss the next one!  Details can be found on the website and of course, we would love you to come and say Hello to us at our stand at  Never Forget!

Diets, Gym, Slimming Programmes and now BOOT CAMP!

As many of you know this year I have a milestone Birthday.  Which I am embracing and looking forward to this  new chapter of my life. Now I'm not quite ready to sign up to SAGA magazine (although some of their discounts may be worthwhile!).  I have in the past tried every diet gong an adapted them to my food intolerances, I have joined and left every type of slimming club (and lost weight at every one of them!) and been a member of most Bedford Gyms which turned out to be the most expensive showers I have ever taken! All of them were a 'trial' and none of them actually 'clicked' with me. Surely there has to be something else?

At this time in my life I would like to think that I have grown into my body and I know to much of it is racing South and also I am FAT - Yes there I have said it I am F A T , I'm not cuddly, curvy or slightly overweight, I am FAT.  My weight did not go on in one go, it went on gradually, it went on after both my second and third children, it went on by attending endless breakfast meetings for work, too much 'entertaining' and rather fabulously far too much Champagne which is my one weakness in life!

Compared to most, I actually do eat healthy - I have been a vegetarian for 37 years and yes much to my children's horror I do buy 'organic' !  So what are my downfalls well they are easy it comes down to just 4 things!!!

1.   I don't exercise - walking Buster around the block is hardly breaking into a sweat is it?
2.   I drink too much (yes chilled champagne or Prosecco or anything cold and bubbly is my weakness)!
3.   I snack between meals.
4.   I serve too big portions.

So my plan to counter re-act the above is as follows: (Doing these in reverse order!)

1. Portion control will be on the Agenda, and I will go back to eating only when I an hungry and not because its 'there'!
2. I will have a drink at the weekend if I feel like it but weekdays it will be slim line tonic in a champagne glass!
3. Going to make fruit salad up and leave in the fridge, this will be my 'snack' and have a constantly full fruit bow! 
4. Exercise - I have joined BOOT CAMP (please read below for my first experience)

My lovely neighbour Nikki attends a boot camp and she mentioned that I should go - well we kept in touch with Facebook and she told me that the starter session was this week !!!!!!!  EEEk I had committed and I was terrified!  

Now I had seen her posts about long runs, running around Bedford Park and just the name BOOT CAMP. 

So what I thought was I going to would be running around a park with a bunch of ladies in army gear!  What I actually got was a warm welcome in a school playground.  The only 'equipment' I needed was comfortable clothing, my trainers, a mat to work on and a bottle of water. 

The warm up was great and the exercises 'challenging' but doable and Camille who runs the camp firm but fair! She was attentive to the newbies and encouraged us to just do  'one' more when she could see us flagging, but also told us to do just what we could. My body was put into positions that it has never gone before, I attempted exercises that I have never even seen before. The class was a mixed class with all shapes sizes and ages all with one common goal to have fun and get fit.  It was like no other exercise regime I have ever taken part in. It was great to be outside - great to be encouraged by everyone and I loved the fact that each exercise was in small bursts with a even shorter catch up time before the next one, but above all it actually was FUN! The cool down was good and I could still stand up at the end of it!  I went there looking like a umpa lumpa from Charley and the Chocolate Factory and returned home with a face as purple as Violet - it can only get better ! 

The next morning I ached, was stiff but still felt exhilarated, will I join, will I go back, YES of course I will, the hardest part of it all was actually going to the first meeting but once I was there it was great.  For details on Five Star Fitness Camp take a look here for Facebook or here for the You Tube Video and the website!

So I will keep you posted, I am back again this evening for the second session.  Onwards and upwards.  if I can do it then anyone can do it - I actually think I am definitely the most unfit person there - and if I am honest this is my first real exercise in FOUR years !  so Camille, you have your work cut out, oh and for those that think they are too old..... I will be 50 this year, for those with health problems, I am severely asthmatic (not helped by my extra weight!) and for those that just make excuses, give it a go, the taster sessions are FREE and you can then make your mind up!  So I still may be fat at Fifty (as my birthday is very soon - but I will be FITTER and slimmer by the end of my 50th year ! I know with everyone's encouragement I will do this. xx  I will take before and after pictures on my journey! Oh and write the odd blog along the way!

BUY LOCAL, TRADE LOCAL AND SUPPORT LOCAL.

When you are working from home, it can at times be quite isolating, your choice to work from home can be based on many things, but I think the most common one is working at home Mums (WAHM's) who are juggling family life, children, a home and a hobby or business. There is many a successful business that has been built on a kitchen table - I mean Cath Kidston started her empire by up-cycling furniture and selling at markets.

Well my business did start on the dining room table, then transpired onto being a market trader at Bedford Market which I loved!  I can;t say I was a huge fan of assembling frozen market bars on cold snowy mornings but all in all I had a great experience. I loved the people, my fellow market traders and of course had lots of banter with our Market Managers who new everything you would ever need to know!

So you can sell on Facebook, sell on the wonderful world of WWW. and of course sell to friends and family.  So what else?  Well in our double dip recession, we have never been more aware of up cycling, re-cycling and buying local.  I think two years ago, most of us would spend a tenner and not give it a second thought, now, we want to know exactly what we are getting for that £10.  Perhaps we would jump in the car at Bank Holidays and travel far away, but now the cost of fuel makes this a real luxury for most of us.

In Bedford, we are very lucky to have on our doorstep a thriving list of markets, Bedford is known as 'A Town of Markets' and we have markets for all occasions, gourmet markets for our foodies, the Charter market for fresh fruit and Veg  a handmade market to showcase our local artisans and all those other 'bargains' you find on a market.

We are also lucky enough to have a band of strong business people that shout loud and proud about all Bedford has to offer, our local publication The Clanger   which is an ideal showcase for exactly what is happening in our wonderful town.  We have the little gems of independent traders who are in and around Castle Road, known as The Castle Quarter.

So how else do you get out there and showcase your products, well you get to know who is arranging good quality events around you.  In Bedford we are lucky and we celebrate everything good about our town and showcase some amazing talent!

So for those in Bedford, if you are ready to take the plunge, or just need that helping hand and don;t want to spend out a huge amount but are ready to showcase what you can make and create here are two events that are definitely worth taking part in or coming to see! Oh and to exhibit at these as a stallholder will cost you that all important Tenner!  So go on take a deep breath and show Bedford exactly what you can do!

Monday 7th May Castle Quarter Festival 

Please visit the website or email castlequarter@yahoo.co.uk if you are interested in having a stall or getting involved.

Sunday 13th May - A NEW Indoor Local Farmers/Producers/Craft Market

Please email @castlequarter@yahoo.co.uk if you are interested in having a stall or getting involved.

Of course we want both of these events to be a huge success so go, BUY LOCAL, TRADE LOCAL AND SUPPORT LOCAL.

We will all give you a warm welcome and hope that everyone has a great family day out!

As mad as a box of Frogs!

For Mothers Day, Mark's Mum had asked if she could have a new set of towels for her bathroom, now that's a simple request isn;t it?  Yes you would think I could go to the shop and buy her lovely new fluffy towels, no not at all.  Marks Mum is mad on............... FROGS!

Now the last set I made for her had frogs embroided onto them, and I think they may be about 7 years old now! So new frog towels were on the Agenda.

I found a great appliqué pattern and delved into my fabric stash as I knew I would want them to be speckled frogs!
So take some towels.... and lets begin.

Now you can appliqué by cutting out your shapes and machine sewing, but for those that know me, I love embroidering so my appliqué will all be done in the hoop on my embroidery machine!

So hoop you first towel and then stitch out the first colour which will be the outline for your first fabric!

Now remove your hoop from the machine, but DO NOT un-hoop.  Using curved edged embroidery or appliqué scissors to cut as close to the sewing line as you can without cutting into the stitches.

It will now look like this:-

Now place back into your machine and carry on with the next colour of embroidery, this will now appliqué around the shape.

Carry on with your chosen design and follow the colour changes and instructions.

Next we have to embroider the shape for the next piece of fabric.

Remove your hoop as before but do not un hoop and trim to the sewing line.  Place back in machine to embroider the next colour.

Lets put a smile on this frogs face.....

And some eyes so he can see!

Hand towel and face cloth finished.

bath sheet

The finished gift!

Oh and she loved it!

You don't need to have a embroidery machine to appliqué - you can cut up your shapes and either hand stitch or use a machine to zig zag around the edges! Have Fun.

The Frog applique design was from five star fonts and can be found here! http://fivestarfonts.com/applique-fonts/frog-applique-monogram/prod_858.html

Magpie Monday - A What not!

My lovely neighbour Simon is a very talented carpenter, he and his wife has recently had what I would call a 'blip' and to face this blip they decided to get very busy, and Simon was instructed to make a new 'cupboard'.

Simon needed an additional special type of saw, which he loaned from my husband and when he brought it back, he and his wife asked if I would like the old cupboard for my craft room.  So I rushed over to see it, and five minutes later it was in my dining room and waiting to be painted white, once the weather improves.

It will then be in either my craft room or store room and will hold my many treasures.  Now to me, its not a cupboard so I have lovingly called it my what not!  Can't wait to paint it white and fill it with my lovely fabrics etc.

It is very sturdy and well made, and it cost me the loan of a saw! Sorry picture not great, and I have cropped it at the bottom, but you will get the idea!

Joining in with Magpie Monday with the lovely Liz at Me and My Shadow.

Now I can never pass a great cookery book! - Magpie Monday

I ventured into town last week to do some chores and banking.  I had not been into town for about five weeks!  So I was very conscious it had to be a race around town even though it was Wednesday market day.  So I got all my lovely veg etc from the market and did my shopping and banking.  I went back to the car to put my heavy bags away and had about twenty minutes left on my parking ticket.   So I decided I would pop into the Oxfam bookshop.  I'm so very glad I did!

This is what I bought!

Ruth Watson - Something for the weekend with eight around the table!  Well I did not save it for the weekend, I made the pearl barley and pea risotto which was great.  Some of you may know Ruth Watson from the popular channel 4 TV programme the Hotel Inspector.   Its a great book and I quite admire her loathing of vegetarians (even though I have been one for over 35 years!), she has a certain style that is endearing.!  I have since found it cheaper on EBay, but Oxfam wins hands down.  RRP was £25 it cost me £3.49!

My second great buy was this: 

Which is the 50th Anniversary edition of Good Housekeeping the cooks companion.  Its great, very technical in places but easy to follow.  Once again its cheaper on Ebay, but I love the Oxfam bookshop and I even got to tick the gift aid box on both purchases. This was also £3.49.

So pop into your local Oxfam bookshop to either donate books, or buy them, its a win win situation!

1 2 3

Well this is my first attempt at a blog hop and also to take part in reasons to be cheerful.

Well here goes;-

Firstly I have re-connected with a great friend via Facebook and we are going to meet up  for a coffee very soon, just need to get our diaries together.  We met years ago via a networking group, as we changed our careers we lost contact.  I cannot begin to tell you how excited I am and I know it will be like we have never been apart.

2.  I joined the WI! which is it own is mammoth for me.  However the group I have joined is very empowering, a mixture of ages (more younger than me may I add!)

3. Tomorrow we have Nanny and Grandpa coming over for lunch - which will be great, I love that fact it will be very cold outside and we will be warm and comfy inside watching football on the TV (if it is not cancelled due to bad weather!) No roast dinner for us though, I'm cooking curry (at there request). Also making a brand new cake recipe.

Phew!!! What a Week!

This week has been..........................................  A M A Z I N G!

I have managed to take less than three painkillers so far with my torn tendon in my finger, but I can't wait to see the consultant next week to see what the outcome is going to be - I know it will be in its little cast for at least another four weeks!

Never Forget has been very very busy with not only the website but also lots of new projects on the business to business side and one very exciting enquiry from a previous winner on Dragon's Den! Can;t say to much about that at this stage, but it was lovely to have the opportunity to tender for this very large contract.

Thursday could not come quick enough for myself and my lovely neighbour Angie!  We drove off to our first WI meeting filled with trepidation and thinking have we done the right thing?  Have we chose the right meeting? And even, are we in the right place?  (which was quickly clarified by the lady we met at the gate)!

So we ventured in, were greeted and welcomed and given a host of handouts including the latest edition of The Bedford Clanger which is our very own what is on in Bedford FREE newspaper. The name Clanger to those not knowing what a clanger is it is a traditional pasty made in Bedford wikepedia's take on it is this:

The Bedfordshire Clanger is a dish from the county of Bedfordshire, in England. It is an elongated suet crust dumpling with a savoury filling at one end and a sweet filling at the other comprising a main course and dessert in one package.
The savoury end is traditionally meat with diced potatoes and vegetables (although a filling without meat is also possible), and the sweet end is usually jam, or sweetened apple or other fruit. Traditionally the top pasty is scored with a few lines to denote the sweet end.
Historically, the Bedfordshire Clanger was made by women for their husbands to take to their agricultural work as a midday meal. The dish is still available at various bakers and served at some hotels, restaurants and local places of interest.

I could see a few friends and we sat down with Christine who I worked with at Bedford College. We had a lovely talk by Ruth who told us all about making a 'Green Roof' for your garden shed or even a bird box!

At 'half-time' it was tea and cake, Yummy I had the lemon cake which was divine.  We then heard about all the new and exciting events coming up all of which are on the

  Scone Roses Facebook Page.

When we came out, I said to Angie, well what did you think?  Jolly Good fun!!! Yes me too, loved it, we went off positively skipping to our car and talked about the evening all the way home!

So now its Friday, my busiest day of the week, new stock arriving today, have to get 20+ hoodies embroided for Oliver's school Skiing trip.  Tomorrow taking a good friend to visit her husband who is in hospital. Sunday we have Nanny and Grandpa coming over for lunch to watch Derby County on TV - but not a roast dinner in sight!  They want Curry! so curry and cakes to make on Saturday evening. Whatever you are doing this weekend have a great one!  Hope you all manage some good quality family time!

Hawaii Five O - A time to reflect

Well this year, I will be hitting the big Hawai 50 - Yes I feel I must now 'grow up' and accept the fact that the scary number is upon me.

So should I hide away and go into a depression, No having none of that!  In true Ellie style I have compiled 50 things that I will try to fulfil this year.  I suppose, I'm not as daring as I was in my 'youth' my bungee jumping days, leaping out of planes are now beyond me, and with three children each day I get more and more aware of my own mortality.

So in my 50th year I would like to be more serene? (not  a chance) Calmer (I would not know calm if it came at me on a number 8 bus).  Actually, I just want to embrace this new decade and like twice before when I have had life changing  moments, I will use this in a positive way.

So my 50 challenges are written down and I am ticking them off as I go, I'm not sure if to achieve all fifty is realistic, but I will give it a bloody good go!

So the first one I have started is to join the WI - now before everyone thinks I have joined the Jam and Jerusalem brigade fear not (although I quite like making jam!), we have a few meetings near us, one I feel I am not yet 'old enough' to join and the other I feel I may be one of the older members (so that is where I am heading on Thursday with my lovely neighbour Angie).  We had discussed this at the end of last year, but with Christmas and everything else decided it would be a 2012 project.

So this is where I am heading:-

More details can be found on there Face book group

I think  it is such a cool logo!

I will post more about it, once I have been and met everyone, they meet monthly so I should be able to manage that. Of all the things on my list, this so far is the one I am most excited about!  After all, I love cake making, sewing, crafting so watch this space!

I have also booked myself on two photography courses, which I am really looking forward to. I will blog about this once I have been on them.

And the next thing off my list is to do more networking!  I will post about this after I have been to me first meeting!.

So bring it on, I'm not fifty for a few months yet, but I will embrace this new time and look forward to all that this year brings.

Have You Ever seen a Cheese roll down a hill?

I recently had the pleasure of meeting Alan Bamber from Bamber Sewing. So what I hear your cry, well actually, it was refreshing, a pleasant experience and also great to share some time with someone else who is also passionate about customer care, selling the right product to you and all of those other 'old fashioned’ sentiments that sadly for some are only in days gone by. 

Bamber Sewing has a great family history that has stood the testament of time, they have been trading since 1946! Good old fashioned customer service is built into everyone that works there, I’m sure if you chopped their heads off, you would have customer service embroided through every one of them like a stick of Blackpool Rock! 

They have a great department that can service your machine and if you take the time to visit the website and read Mr Bamber (Senior) blog you will understand exactly what foundation this company is built on. I was in stitches reading about how he had to make a delivery on his bicycle, but you will have to read it for yourself as he can tell it far better than me! The one thing that no-one can sell to  you is ‘caring’ and they all have it in bucket loads, They will give you honest advice, sell you exactly what you do need instead of what you think you want! You cannot buy the amount of expertise they have within their workforce and the fact you are one phone-call away makes them approachable no matter where you are based and yes they ship throughout the UK and beyond.

So now you get the idea, they are possibly one of the best kept secrets in Manchester. Their range of sewing, embroidery machines knows no bounds that, with a great range of accessories and haberdashery really does make this a one shop stocks all. 

Of course, in the times of a recession and make do and mend they are now reaching out to a very new band of customers, sewing machines are coming out from under stairs, out from the lofts and getting dusted off. So go on, visit your Nan or Gran get out that sewing machine and get making! Bamber’s can help you with any sewing notions, missing parts or even if you just want to  be  sure that your machine is safe and you need that machine checking over! From patterns to buttons, thread to bobbins they will have what you need. 

If you are a bit rusty or just want to learn a new skill, then please take a look at there workshop page, for details of up and coming courses,  which of course would make the most perfect Christmas Gift!

I personally love the range of Madeira Threads which I think are the best in the market, no thread breaks and a lovely sheen that makes everything you embroider simply look stunning!

So lets get started, with a great competition as  they have offered a perfect gift for one lucky winner. How would you like a sewing basket filled with all of those important essentials! 

So we now want to spread some sewing love, and the lovely folks at Bamber's  Sewing are giving away a fabulous sewing basket filled with all of those lovely things you will need to get your sewing mojo back! this prize is worth over £45 so how great will that be!

Its easy to enter, please view there facebook page  You do not have to like it, but of course we would love you to do that if you want to! so, go and look at the website and see exactly what you do like about it and of course if you want to get details of special offers then please do sign up to there newsletter. 

You will have one entry for any of the responses that you have said you like,  , one additional entry on Twitter and one for any retweet and one if you sign up to there newslettter!  So lots of opportunities to enter and win! If you enter via twitter, please respond with your Twitter ID, please leave your Id on the blog, say how you have entered and don’t forget to leave any comments on Facebook, I know that Alan and The Team would love to hear from your all! To comply with Facebook rules, you do not have sign upto Facebook to enter the competition, or like any of the pages to enter, we want as many entries as possible, so just leave your comments on this blog or an of the other ways to enter.


So leave your comments below to advise how and where you have entered and don't forget to go and say Hi to the team over on Facebook!

The winner will be chosen on 17th December by random .org so you can be sure to have the prize in time for Christmas! Enjoy, and Good Luck!

Oh,  I nearly forgot, about that cheese rolling down a hill, I dare you not to have a chuckle when you read this!

Paint Pot or Bunting?

You know how sometimes, you just need to brighten up a room, or perhaps have a special 'calm' place to sit and read. Well we can't always race off with the paint pot and brighten up that special place can we?

So my immediate and perfect answer is this years 'next best thing' bunting!

Its cheap, effective and can easily be put up or down.

Immediate uses that come to mind are:

• Birthday parties
• Garden parties
• Children's bedrooms
• Perfect in a shabby chic kitchen
• Great to dress a sale table at craft fairs

So if you can't sew won't sew,  how do you find such swathes of loveliness to adorn your special place? 

Well how about looking at Creative Stitching who do some great bunting and guess what some of it is in the SALE!!!

This blue and white checked bunting with sweets

on adjacent flags is now only £5.00/set!

One for the girls

Pink and white flower bunting

I love this Strawberry Fair Bunting

Wouldn't that look great if you sold strawberries at markets or from your garden?

There are just so many to choose from, so why not go and take a look.

Bunting is the way to go and not a paint brush in sight!!

Are you a Natural Beauty?

With two teenage daughters, I was very worried that when they started using make-up I would see girls with make up plastered all over them, plus that our bank balance would be hit with lots of 'mistakes'.

My girls are very different, one a very girlie girl and one who does not wear 'make-up' in the true sense of the word.  So how do you combat such different tastes?

My eldest would never walk into a store and take a look and test etc, but I was still aware that she would  need to look after her skin and be able to combat teenage spots etc.  So, thank goodness for the Internet and this fabulous site,  Lilys Perfumery. 

We can all now sit and browse the site at our leisure in the comfort of our own home and have that very exciting moment, when our lovely postman Dave brings our very gorgeous packaged goodies.

Now please humour me and let me share with you some of our favourite buys and why!

Gale Hayman Lipstick - £3.99

This is the fabulous Gale Hayman lipstick barely there.  It does exactly what it says on the tin, the colour I think is perfect for every skin tone and just gives your lips that luscious sun kissed look.  I actually bought this for myself, but funnily enough it seems to have jumped into my youngest's make up bag! The casing is fab too, with the signature Gale Hayman leopard print at the top of the case, if you have never tried Gale Hayman before, I think this is a definate make-up bag staple!

My must have, never will be without it,  is.........

Elizabeth Arden Sun Goddess Bronzer Powder - £10.49

This is amazing price, I first bought this on holiday in Miami, and it certainly had a Miami inspired price tag to go with it!  So I'm thrilled to be able to get it delivered to my door at such a fabulous price. The compact with the mirror is fabulous and the brush is great, I use it as a blush and just to brighten and lift without  having that too much make up on feel.

Ed Hardy Geisha Blue Make up set by Christian Audigier - £18.99

Ed hardy inspired, not only looks good but is iconic and timeless and a great funky set for teenagers or those young at heart!  I wish they had these when I was younger!  Would make a great birthday gift or well done in your exams present.  it is fully loaded with all of any girls must haves:-

• 6 Eye Shadows
• 3 Lip Colours (7g)
• 1 Bronzer (8.5g)
• 1 Solid Perfume: Love Kills Slowly
• 1 Solid Perfume: Love & Luck
• 1 Lip brush
• 1 Eyeshadow brush
• 1 Blusher Brush

And finally just to indulge myself, for those like me that sometimes get it 'wrong' for those hard to buy for people in your life, then please take a look at;

Mens Fragrances - Womens Perfume and of course who does not like to receive a Gift Voucher !

So you think Social Networking is boring? ................ Think Again!

So you have a blog, you dip into Facebook , Twitter and Linked in and now you just sit and wait, and with a wing and a prayer you will have that Eureka moment and millions of followers!  Well, actually No it's just not like that, more or a case of what you put in, you will hopefully get out.

Like all Social Networking platforms, they all have there place and you need to 'pitch' what you are doing in a interesting and informative way, but how do you keep up with trends, what's the next 'best thing' and mingle amongst like minded people?

Well there is one site, that will grab you by your boot laces, have you marching for England! (and Scotland, and Wales and overseas!).  Ladies and Gents, let me me introduce you to SEND IN THE TROOPS! which strangely enough is not political, nothing to do with war or such like but a Fabulous site that empowers you to help each other.

So for a quick how to, pop over to the main page and look in the notes section for how to join (simply hit like !) how to march! you will then join other FB peeps and march together, and more importantly how to get marched on!

If you are marching, the 'SARGE' will advise which page you have to march onto, you like it leave a comment, and hopefully all likes get returned.  If you are chosen to be marched on then you can expect at least 200+ more likes overnight!

Now this is not for the feint hearted, Sarge runs a type squad and if you Can't keep up, you can go back and find the sites you missed, a list is always put up after each march.

Some quick top tips!  Keep your comments current, do not paste the same comment on each link as FB will see this as spamming!  Always sign in from your personal page and leave the likes/comments from your business page.

Now some facts:-

• Send in the Troops is just over 3 months old and has over 8,600 followers!
• Its empowering, you can meet and greet like minded people and share info etc.
• If you want to know who can supply something, imagine having over 8,000 people that can help you!
• It is actually great FUN!
• It's one of the fastest growing, professional networking sites that is FREE!

So go, on join the Troops, dust off your Jimmy Choos ! get on that lipgloss and get marching!

Aahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh its half term again!

Well we all have that feeling as busy Mums/Dads don;t we, Yes the upside is that its great as no school runs, so its easier to get around and its lovely to have your children at home. However most of us have only just recovered from the recent Bank Holidays and the extra one for the Royal Wedding.

The other un-certain thing is the weather !  Fabulous if we have loads of sunshine, but what do you do, if it is raining.  When my three were small, I had a 'making table' which they loved.  it was always set up, covered with a wipe down vinyl tablecloth and full of wondrous goodies! To be hones, I had just as much fun as them, as I would always make myself available to be 'creative' with them.
I mean, you always love glitter and bling, after all a girl can never have too much bling! and actually the boys enjoyed it too!  So how can you create a good making table?

My top tips would be to buy some basic items, but first and foremost that wipe down vinyl tablecloth, after all, you know in all the chaos things will get knocked over and spilt and pva glue always manages to get everywhere!

So once you have your table and a cover, lets think of what to put on it!  One of the first making things you can do is to make some storage container, now I don't want you to go out and buy them, I don;t even want you to use your best Tupperware!  Make them, empty ice cream cartons, butter cartons etc and decorate them! Now lets have some ideas for the type of things you can put on your 'making table'

Well I think tissue paper is always a good start! its colourful, tactile, can make fab flowers and the like and sounds great when scrunched up.

Now whilst I have my health and safety hat on, always use children's scissors after all, you do not want your kitchen scissors to disappear but more to the point you must make sure that small hands are sensible with scissors!

Pipe cleaners are great too, so many things you can made and do, and because you can bend them and make something, then tomorrow your fabulous cat could become a little cute dog!

And of course lets not forget the GLITTER! after all it has to be done, and children love all that sprinkling and mixing colour!

So with Fathers Day fast approaching, make it more personal and get the children to make cards, much more fun and it will keep them entertained!

We would love to see what you make and create! 

Also remember to display there artwork in the kitchen or on a wall, encouragement goes a long way!

For more ideas for more items to add to your making table, why not visit Rainbow Creations who can offer a great choice at good value and all delivered safely to your door!

Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post, just happy to spread the word on a good reliable web site.