The British Homemaker - One day at a time

If good intentions were as visible as the lack of posts here I'd have a pretty full blog! However, since the last post... all the way back to October last year (!!!) I have got lost in the fun, challenges and happenings of life. The diary I keep for this blog is still sat on the shelf next to me, loaded with things I've noted down or added to share here, but still they sit. At the moment I am working like a trojan getting orders out, preparing for my youngest to finish school for the summer and getting the caravan finished ready for us to take off on our travels. There is so much to share that I'm not sure where to start. When I started this blog I had so many hopes for it, so many things I wanted to share, experiences to lean back on and places I wanted it to go, a few years on my business has taken over much of my days, my health is up and down so I have to accredit that the time it needs to get back in control and I have a weakness for hanging out with my friend...

Last year was the only year I've really liked Halloween and that's because Charley got into it and wanted to do something slightly ever so scary but even though it rained it still turned out to be a great evening round here. This year I'm adding to our Halloween goodies and was looking for some ideas, {these are not credited to the rightful owners but I'm happy to if anyone knows whose they are} So lets begin....  1. Any old jar with what I assume to be a small candle inside. Raid your first aid kit for bandages {99p shop will also have some I'm sure. Add a couple of googly eyes and off you go. I'd be inclined to add some wire round the top to form a handle. Naturally not suitable for young kids. 2. Sausage mummies. If they make it to the table I congratulate you! 3. A collection of cakes, sweets and cake pops. Who wouldn't love these? 4. Yep I'm craving the sweet stuff this year. 5. I bought a baby pumpkin just for this purpo...

It's a good job no-one is perfect! I know I'm far from it. It plays on my mind when things are wrong between me and another if they wont be up front about things with me. After all, what do they think I'm going to do? I've always maintained if I am causing you to be unhappy come and talk to me, let me explain, apologise and/or put right. I don't like contention yet I find it a lot within the one community I expect it least and by not talking about it is more damaging than anything because the natural inclination is to jump it up out of all proportion to the point where you loose sight of what the original issue was! But I can't fix everything. I'm not everyone cup of tea and I'm ok with that. I pray for many people, whether I like them or not. Liking someone is not a requirement but a respect is. If I don't like someone I have two choices, tell the world or keep it to myself. I choose the latter but I will always be respectful to that person, just...

I meant to post this on 1st December to see if it could be added to and/or altered for other fun crafts. My teen isn't huge on crafting but the dude is, he will sit for hours making, drawing, designing, writing, colouring and creating something from almost nothing. Add that to the fun of Christmas crafting and it makes for a happy mommy! Every year we have our own little routine in preparation for Christmas, quite simple really and it keeps the kids happy on the colder days and longer nights. Goes something like this: 1st - Tree goes up and decorated 2nd - Decorations around the house From here on we have a rough sketch of what we want to do each day up to Christmas Eve: Make window decorations paper chains operation Christmas child boxes {between 2 ad 6} paper bunting felt ornaments bread and pastry goodies soap/hand lotion gifts teacher/church teacher gifts salt dough decorations personalised baubles chocolate and marshmallow chocolate gifts cookies, cake...

Week three and my little dude is still sick, week two and the teen is also sick... I am assuming that when they are both recovered I will be sick. I have an irrational fear of being ill. But that's for another day. On the 'up' moments with Charley he has been getting down and crafty with my cricut machine. He came up with an idea, I simply followed his directions... An A3 canvas board was covered with some thick fabric then Charley placed his strips of cardstock and numbers exactly where he wanted them. I added a bit of blitzy glitter glue to the push pins {he chose that way to secure them to the board} and job done! He's very impressed with his idea, I a so proud of him for getting something so awesome from his wonderful little mind! Forget the other two advents he has, this is the best....and if he says that over Moshi Monsters then that's the final word!!

Time flies eh? So many plans were scheduled for this 6 week period but with the loss of my little Billy-Norman life has taken a couple of twists and turns I didn’t expect. The alternative hasn’t all be bad though, just unplanned! Taking up bike riding to replace the car has been fun {so far} Charley loves our night time rides out where he can just chat, chat and chat some more. Having this time with him has been priceless, listening to him talk about his day, his friends and see how he’s developing his opinions and boundaries is refreshing. The dude is totally my kid! So using pictures and a few words, here’s a little how it all went.... Kirsten doesn’t do well in the heat but she does enjoy being in the garden so this little ‘tent’ was ideal for her and Jake to chill out....odd pieces of fabric, a few canes and plenty of cushions made for a happy teen! Of course, Charley had to follow suit but he wanted something a little less ‘made up’, if I could have made a cave...

  The first week of the school summer holidays was fun. Friday: I ended the week cutting the grass, strimming, putting up new buntings and lights, getting plants repotted. This ^ is  how hard I worked! Saturday: The kids decided that poor Jake was going to get it again...this time as Baby Jake from a CBeebies programme! Why are these two even watching that channel??? Sunday: We went over to my sisters for dinner, hung out for the afternoon and most the evening and just chilled, ate and laughed. Monday: Kian {nephew} and Charley playing ‘fencing’. Kirsten and my heads were always in danger! Tuesday: We freeze our favourite drinks with a lemon or lime inside, ideal on hot days like today. Wednesday: Preparing for the online craft fair summer sale. Justo ne of the items I’m offering. Thursday was spent packing and travellin...

    My absence has been rather exciting, time consuming and full of ups and downs. I have almost got to the point where I can officially launch my new venture...even though it has already started trading...by accident! Party in a Box has been a growing idea that has not been without trial and error, yet each time I turn around I have more interest, followed by demonstration bookings and pre-orders. I guess it was just meant to be! The worst part was securing the business in the legal sense, the biggest headache was deciding what stationery theme I wanted, I am just too indecisive! :) So, if you want to pop on over to my new Facebook page, like it and share it with your friends and family I will love you forever and I will like, share yo...

When I saw this pinwheel tutorial on Miss Mustard Seeds blog I about skipped for joy! Not only because I could play with them for hours {don’t judge!} but I remember the Dick and Jane books {as well as Janet and John!} and I loved the idea. Guess what we’ll be doing this weekend? Oh, don’t forget to go check out the full tutorial!

Wow, I really did have a good blog break didn’t I? It wasn’t intentional, just so many things going on that I have to literally stop and pull back now and again, I no longer wish to have a life that causes me to have an over loaded mind and an over flowing calendar. Family first then my home then the business. I guess I am very fortunate in being able to prioritise in that way but after 8 months of being homeless last year you learn a lot about yourself and you soon find a perspective in life that can be liberating. So while I’ve been absent from here I have been very present in diy projects, sewing projects, gardening and other stuff…bit by bit I will start sharing…well soon as Kirsten gets home with her camera…mine has died! Today though I want to share this with you….I totally love the idea… Click on the photo to visit My Pigeon Pair blog…you will be glad you did! Let me know what you do to keep your kids entertained. Debs

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...

Charley is an innocent 7 year old who loves all things magical and imaginative. Last year everything was scored off the scale, from the mention of Santa to making cookies. He would do the I-need-a-pee dance at the sight of the tree or a gift. This year he’s taken it all in his stride. He has taken any opportunity to bake, make and create yet until the gingerbread house he hasn’t instigated anything himself. This worries me. Is my baby losing the magic, or has it been the toll of the year just pulling him back? Admitted I have lost all momentum this year with all the things I’ve had to deal with but I’ve tried hard for it to not affect him. Maybe I didn’t do enough, I don’t know. Then we watched The Polar Express together and he was back to a million questions a minute needing the answers to be just right. It was then that I saw that the magic is still there for him, he still believes. I’m not ready for him to question the magical side to Christmas . I’m not ready for him to st...