Anyone for Crochet?

So, having recently spent a few days at my parents I had challenged my mum to teach me how to crochet.  I absolutely love the vintage crochet blankets. I own one that my nan made for my brother when he was born (30 odd years ago!) and The Monster was given one made by my nan when she was a year old.  However, I really want to make a great big one that I can snuggle up under and keep in my living room.  Nan is unfortunately suffering from dementia and therefore is no longer able to make such beautiful creations and mum struggles to stay awake whilst crocheting so it's a DIY job then.

The first challenge was finding a spare hour to have a lesson as The Monster kept us occupied during the day and The Bruiser keeps having marathon feeding sessions every evening.  We finally managed to grab a broken hour the last night of our stay (which consisted of The Bruiser being propped up on a pillow with a boob dangling in his mouth so that I had both hands free!).

I managed to pick up the basic stitches and how to read the pattern I am following and managed to produce this.........

I don't think it's bad to say how many interruptions we had and the wool is the wrong sort for crochet!

Since my visit to my mum's I have made a start on my own blanket and have produced this.........

I know it's not perfect and is also not finished but I am so proud of myself!

Oh well, I suppose I'd better go do something constructive (like the shopping) instead of this blogging lark but I will leave you with some little gems that mum pulled out of the cupboard whilst looking for the crochet stuff.  How beautiful are these?

Ready For Christmas?

I know, I know, it's only January and hubby tells me I shouldn't start thinking about Christmas until at least April but I disagree.  Truth is I have a 6 week old baby, a 4 year old daughter, a 12 year old stepdaughter (not counting all the friends and family) and very little cash to spare! This Christmas just gone I did try to make as many presents as possible (broaches, soap, earrings) but starting in November doesn't give you much time to spare (and having a baby inbetween doesn't help). I also found that loads of people on Twitter were posting some fantastic ideas as they were making them but I just didn't have the time to recreate their brilliant crafts. 

So, this year I am starting now!

I aim to start small.  A Christmas list first of all because if you don't know who you're making for how do you know what to make?

Then I plan on making a list of all the things I could make, which I will add to as the year goes on and other people put fantastic crafty ideas on Twitter etc.  By now you have probably guessed that I like list making........

Then I will assign certain gifts to certain people. 

There, now the tricky part.............actually making the crafts/gifts!  This is my downfall.  Ordinarily it would be because I procrastinate but this year it is because I have Bruiser and at the moment he takes up most of my time in the evenings.  This is why I feel that if I start now, I may have a fighting chance of actually having some presents ready for Christmas and maybe saving some money.

I am making a special little folder in my favourites list and putting links of brilliant ideas in there as I find I often look at some great blogs, think "I could make one of them" and then can never find the link again when it comes to making them.

I also Sky + loads of Christmas cooking programs and Kirsty's Homemade Christmas programs from this year so I plan on watching them throughout the many mammoth feeding sessions Bruiser has to give me ideas and inspiration.

I will blog about the great craft ideas I have come across and any presents I have managed to make as the year goes on.

So there,  the only thing I have to do is follow through with my amazing plan!  (Maybe I shouldn't have committed it to blog!)

Wish me luck!

First Day of a New Routine!

So, it's 11.30am on a Tuesday and I am sat writing my second blog post.  Today is the start of our new family routine because it was the first day back at nursery for the Monster.  My OH has been back at work for a week now after the festive period and paternity leave (he used holidays because paternity pay is rubbish).

I admit I was very worried about how this morning was going to go down.  Firstly I didn't think I'd be able to drag myself out of bed as Bruiser is doing mammoth feeding sessions every night (feeding from 8pm-11pm non stop most nights).  Secondly I didn't think we'd make it out the house in sufficient time and thirdly I thought the Monster would kick off big style when it came to me leaving her at nursery.

I can confirm that I woke up with OH's alarm, fed Bruiser and put him back in the cot, woke up the Monster and whilst she was having breakfast with OH I had a wash and got dressed, got the Monster dressed, packed up the bags, packed up Bruiser and was out the house only 10 mins later than what I'd intended.  The Monster was quite happy being left at nursery (I think she'd missed her friends and mum's company just wasn't cutting it anymore) and I had a nice stroll home whilst chatting to a girlfriend about the trials and tribulations of breastfeeding.

I'm now sat watching This Morning (love Hollie Willoughby and the Silver Fox), having just fed Bruiser (and had him puke down my cleavage) and typing this blog.  You'll discover that I normally do 3 things at once, this being a skill I picked up when the Monster was a baby.  I'm also waiting for my mum to arrive as she's visiting for the day having not seen us since Christmas.  We then plan on taking advantage of Bruiser being little and we're going out for lunch and I plan on raiding every charity shop in Harrogate as I haven't been in them for ages.

Ok, so I'm going to sign off as mother has just arrived and is about to start crying at how much Bruiser has changed since she last saw him..............I will post and let you know of any purchases made!

My First Ever Post

So, this is my first blog.  You will soon discover that I haven't got a clue how to work these blog things (pretty disgraceful seen-as-though my mum has had a blog up and running for over a year now and it's really good!).  I've already deleted a box and can't get it back?!?  Anyhow, I thought it would be fun to share some of my interests with anyone who'd like to follow.  I plan on sharing my interests, passions, obsessions and anything else that I find generally funny with you. 

Some of the things you might find coming up on this blog may include:-

Crafting, I love Kirsty's Homemade Home and similar programs.  Anything that I think I can make myself and save a few bob I will give a go.  So far I have made, candles, soaps, jewellery, Christmas decorations, cards, decorated wine glasses.

Baking/cooking, I love food, love watching cooking programs (Jamie Oliver is a favourite) although most of my cooking is based around the saving money option i.e. bake a cake to take into work instead of buying one. 

Sewing, this again is based around the saving a few bob thing.  I will confess now that I have no patience and no training when it comes to sewing hence most of my creations are complete botch jobs that are pure fluke when they turn out OK!  I have yet to make an item of clothes but that is something I plan on tackling this year.

Charity shop scouring, I love it when I have some time on my own to look through charity shops.  This year one of my New Year's Resolutions is to learn the art of charity shop clothes buying.  I love buying pots/crockery/toys/bags and stuff but being above average size I find that most of the larger size clothing looks like it came from someones Gran.  However, I promise to have an open mind and will let you know of any successes I have.

Vintage,  I love all things retro and vintage.  I wish I was one of those women who has really retro hair or fashion tastes because I really do love how they look I just don't have the time to follow a particular fashion trend (or the money).  I like second hand furniture for the look and quality.

Films,  I used to go to the cinema all the time before I had children but now I don't have the free time or money!  I do still love films even though I am a little late to see them.

Reading,  I love reading.  I used to read books all the time (chick lit) but now it's mainly magazines and it takes me long enough to get through those.  My current monthly obsessions are Red, Country Living, Country Homes and Interior, sometimes Period Living and my newest additions, Mollie Makes.

My children and husband.  My husband and I have been together 7 years this April 2012 (we both just had to work back to figure that one out!).  We married last May and  had the most amazing wedding ever.  We have a daughter (the Monster) who is 4 years old and a son (Bruiser) who is only 3 weeks old.  My husband also has a daughter (Sprout) from a previous marriage who is 11 years old.  I find that my life revolves mainly around the kids.  Either getting the Monster to nursery or other activity, feeding Bruiser (which I seem to be doing all the time at the moment) or keeping the husband happy.  You will also discover what a challenge the Monster is.

Finally work.  Although I work to live it would be silly to say that work does not feature in my life a lot,  I will try to only include the funny, interesting bits about work though.

So I will leave this with you for now (the Bruiser is ready for another feed).  Hopefully I will be back with another post soon.