The British Homemaker - One day at a time

When I moved into my house I gave myself the month of January to restock my thoughts and plans for this new year. I also gave myself the month off where work was concerned. Epic fail! I can’t help but love what I do and with opportunities arising I can’t close any door without giving it some honest thought. As the month of January draws to a close I see how things are beginning to shape 2012. I feel like I almost have a new life and it feels refreshing, exciting and possible. I have enjoyed making blinds, table cloths, cushions and wall art for my home, I’ve enjoyed movie nights, cuddles on the sofa, girlie nights, making play doh people and baking. I’ve shared in reading exercises to help Charley’s dyslexia, played maths teacher and read well with my scriptures. I have had off the wall chats with my kids and made plans for the following year {and secured them, such as our holiday in August, my Single Adult temple week in Preston and other things}. As I approach February I am pla...

I’ve been updating some of my favourite blogs…and while it’s not conclusive I will be adding as I go along any others that I like and visit regular. If you want to add your blog logo too just leave a comment with the code (usually starts with <a href…) and I will add it in. Because I have so many great blogs to read I wanted to collect them all in one place other than Facebook . I don’t mind what kind of blog you write so long as it’s family friendly and preferably non-political {politics really hurts my brain!}, if I haven’t read your blog already that’s ok too…I always welcome new reads and if you are newbie to blogging that’s totally fine too! I’m not doing any charging for this so consider it a gift from me to you! Debs

On my other blog I started a thankful Thursday {I think there’s a blog thing for that anyway but this is unrelated}, my other blog is about me as a mom, my struggles, my highs and my life. So if you read this there, apologies! Two weeks ago when I was in the height of ecstasy at finally having a home I felt I could see and feel all the blessings just unfold around me so I wanted to record each week what I was thankful for. This week: being able to be a work at home mom when my son is sick the decision to only use the computer at night when I really have to has been a blessing sugar donuts the creative bloggers that I am so inspired by skype comfy slippers {especially my stripy ones!} the housing association I rent from and all the community/work opportunities good neighbour {adjoining my house} the scriptures and finding just what I need when I need it most the power of prayer jacket potatoes jillian micha...

Remember the last year when I talked of all the changes I was making? Well they are closer than ever now. The website for The British Homemaker is currently being rebuilt and will {all being well} go live on the 1st March as the vision, the hard work and the dream begins to unveil. There are writers working on articles as I type, projects in the making and a host of other things which I think you would be interested in. However, there is still room for more monthly contributors on a whole host of subjects. If you are interested go visit the website and look down the left column and see where you fit. They aren’t final categories, just a range that are currently being worked on so far. For too long I have allowed myself to think that I could not make it, I wasn’t intelligent enough or I didn’t have enough...

Are you ready for some more Valentine deliciousness?

There is really some amazingly talented people out there and my pinboard is filling up super fast of ideas I want to try out! Here are few more Valentine ones: Pinterest is essential to life’s well being and mental harmony!! Debs

Do you use Pinterest yet? I have to say that in the year I’ve been using it I have to limit the times I go on…once I start I cant stop! Anyway, for a couple of days I am going to share some great Valentine crafts from there…. You can source just about anything on Pinterest . If you want an invite email me: thebritishhomemaker at gmail dot com. If you are on there already feel free to add me

12 years ago today my older boys and I were baptised. I don’t believe I’ve ever made a better choice aside from having my children. Let me take you back… A little over 13 years ago my lifelong friend died suddenly in a motorbike accident. Mark was 33, father to two and husband to 1. Mark and I had a bond that was more than partners, more than best friends, more than brother and sister, yet was never confused or complicated with crossing ‘the line’ {you know what I mean there, right?} Mark was a man of presence, one of humour and strength. His life had been full of good, bad and all in between. When he died he wasn’t talking to me! I was ok with that though, he was sulking because someone else had fixed my computer and I hadn’t called on him…I’ve always laughed at that because I knew how our friendship was. I know how much I meant to him and I know we are eternal friends. I won’t go into how I learned of his death, it was rather traumatic but I will say it took me 5 years t...

It’s rare that I get bored, but today I did…a lot! In the end I got out Kirsten’s brand new cupcake maker that my mom bought her for Christmas and used it. Well that’ll show her for spending the weekend at her friends, right? Lol Anyway, good ole Lakeland have come up trumps with this baby, it’s easy, it’s fast and it’s fun. Oh it’s pretty too! There is no limit to what kind of cupcakes you can make. Had I have put in more mix there was space for them to be bigger too {note to self for next batch!} These babies went down very well with Charley and his friends {don’t you love it when your kids have friends right next door?} even with the fruit. Gotta do the 5 a day, right?

Definitely not a good picture but it’ll do for now! I want some input….this lovely pine welsh dresser has been given to me by a lovely lady and I’m spinning over it. Ok so I have one in storage but that's for another project…this, however is just the right size to stay in my kitchen. So far I’ve just added some oil cloth buntings I’ve made {the top one actually has The British Homemaker inked on the ribbon} but I want to paint it….and I’m totally and utterly confuddled on what colour to use. I live in a brand new house that is naturally very contemporary yet my style has evolved over recent years and I’m definitely into the retro/vintage thing { see here for the wall art } I’m not using any particular colours but I am loving the pastels right now. Yet again I love the bright turquoise too. No, scrap that I’m saving the turquoise for the living room accents! ...

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There are many challenges out on the intertweb for  photo a day challenges and I’ve started and failed many b/c I forget to go back and keep uploading, shucks I’m not even very good at keeping this blog up to date! So I decided to go it alone, only I don’t want to record the world around me, I want to record what I feel on each day of this year. I will still be taking lots of photos of the kids, cos you just have to do that don’t ya? But this is something for me, call it a personal assessment if you like, but by the end of the year it will be a blog that goes into my memory box for my kids. If you wanna join in, please feel free…anyone that links up to me I will make it a routine to link back.                       1camera-1moment-1year

Oh boy! If only you knew how much we have wanted to lay straight on a sofa, to cuddle up with a fleecy blanket and watch a movie together, to not have your legs hanging over or your neck almost snapped. This little beauty was given to us by a lovely lady who has replaced hers. It’s strangely matching my curtains too! It’s not taking permanent resident with us but while it’s here it’s very welcome and loved! Today this is my new best friend. What’s yours?

I have secured one in the past but I’ve never actually put one up from start to finish…till now and guess what? 24 hours later it’s still up! Job done!! These curtains were given to me by my RS President who had 3 pairs of Next sage green ones that were unopened and unused! Anyway, the pair for this room were too small in the length, so using the bottom from a second pair I added a 12” panel to each one and called it sorted. I’m still undecided if I will panel over this with a contrasting and vibrant patterned fabric when I see it, we’ll see. I think I should have ironed them first though….

I stopped falling into that trap a long time ago. Instead I tend to spend some time just thinking about the last year and what I’ve learned from it, where it took me {and my kids} and pick out the parts we need to fix, build on or change and make them a part of the new year. The things that have gone well for us we either keep doing or take them further..whichever the case is. This  year I’m not too clear on where I want to take The British Homemaker . I love my business, the variety I offer in all things homemaking, sewing and baking as well as recycling and eco living, but we didn’t have a typical 2011 and I am beginning to see how severely my kids were affected. They are happy and positive but they have lost faith in me. I am the one parent who has always managed to save them from that hard fall except this time. They are trying hard to believe me when I say it’s all going to work out and we can get through anything after that stint. Yet I still see they are doubtful. I...

My BFF is clever, smooth, fun and faithful. I love my sewing machine. She has helped me make and create. She hasn’t given up on my and gets into the smallest of places I need her to get into. What is your favourite today?

No matter how many times I walk round the house or look at my tenancy agreement It just doesn’t sink in that we are no longer in the homeless system. I find myself staring into the air thinking back over the last 8 months. Tears will easily and unexpectedly visit when I am happy just washing up or making a bed. My heart is heavy with gratitude, my mind is full of ideas and my life is full of a more certain future for my kids as well as myself. As Dorothy said: There’s no place like home

  I hope you have a wonderful, happy and healthy 2012! Debs