The British Homemaker - One day at a time

Do you like white Christmas trees? I have to be honest I have never, ever liked or appreciated them, that is until I saw my moms last year and I kinda sorta maybe almost liked it, a teeny, tiny bit! Being in temporary accommodation when Christmas came last year we had zero tree/decorations so I set out building my own, or at least I planned to when my mom offered me to use her green one. The kids jumped at it and who was I to say no? I mean, they'd had so much to deal with for the previous 8 months that I was going to do anything to put some magic back in their lives if only for a couple of weeks. I think I should learn to stop digressing! ;) This week I went into town to get a couple of things I'd 'added' to my list, one being a 6' white Christmas tree. Now for those of you that know me in real life will know that my Christmas tree is the pride of the season seconded only to the Saviour himself. I usually have a huge one, 8' high by 5' wide at the...

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...

I love things to do with homemaking, diy and creativity and for the last 5 years I haven't had a fire surround for the stockings to be hung... an absolute must in my house but it just wasn't feasible in our former home given the ridiculous amount of doors in just the living room and radiators on the other. However, a few months ago I gained a dark wood one from freecycle with an electric fire, it needs a good overhaul in all honesty but I just haven't got to that on my to-do list yet. BUT that doesn't stop me enjoying the fact that the kids now have a place to hang their stockings and i get to play at mantel dressing.... or is it a fire place? Here in the UK we call it a fire place/fire surround but our fellows in USA call them mantels....so we'll go with both.. keeps the peace, dontcha think? :) I have a gorgeous dark wood framed picture of the baby Jesus above the fire place/mantel, {another to-do list project, lighten up the frame} which i...

The Lds church don’t believe that Jesus Christ was born on 25th December but we do celebrate the day for a few reasons. One being that it’s an opportunity to share in the birth of Christ with other religions and non faith people, two being that we love to have a good time when it is good and uplifting and three because it’s an event that very often brings people together. Our church is all for unity; unity of people, of faiths and of hearts. Today, in our Branch Council Meeting I was deeply touched by the vision our recently called leaders have for the coming year. We have been called the ‘happening branch’; we are well liked and respected by other wards/branches in our stake and I  know from experience we give the warmest welcomes to visitors, members and non members. Our activities are driven by the spirit (I know cos I am the activities leader!), we are driven to include anyone that wishes to come along and take part. We do not ‘bible bash’ and preach. We are friendly, bus...

Get life going so much that you end up burning out. Why? It’s a harsh world out there, we have mortgages to pay, cars to maintain, children to care for and a whole other range of things but let me tell you something… It is more in your control than you think. Shocking? Shocked that I’ve just simplified life as a mother/partner/friend and all other titles we have? You’ll live. I promise. And deep down you know I am right. I used to blame living in a city on how crazy my life was. I dreamed of living in the country to have the slower pace, the nature all around me. I believed once I had all that my life would be idyllic. Cr*p. It' doesn’t work like that. We do. In my time out I had many conversations with so many different people from all walks of life, one in particular, with a local radio show host (more on that soon as its related to The British Homemaker) and off air we talked about how he felt relaxed and inspired talking to me. He proceeded to ask me the s...

Twice a year The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints hold a General Conference where we get guidance and inspired revelation from many of our church leaders. For those that are not in Salt Lake City to be there in person, many watch it via satellite broadcast at their Stake Centres or, like me, at home. However it is listened to or watched depends on what works for the family but it is an event that really should be prepared for in advance to be able to get the most out of it. We watch most of the sessions online whilst in pj’s, eating a range of nibbles and lounging on my bed! Charley will either play with his toys and raise his head occasionally to ask a question about what he’s just heard or, in the last session, he has worked through the various GC packets that have been available to download. The next General Conference is 2nd and 3rd October and now is the time to begin preparation if you haven’t done so already. If you want a totally awesome website to go to with...

Charley: This week Charley started a new school . With having rather drastic winters here and having no car for a long time I realised that the local attachment school held more appeal than I realised. So I checked it out, both my neighbours send their kids there and they gave great reviews. We looked around, asked questions and Charley was sold. Bigger school, lots of after school activities, bigger classes and more advanced work than he was doing. Monday we spent most the day getting the sweaters, PE kit, book bags and all that stuff ready. We labelled, washed, ironed and set out the weeks requirements. Charley loved doing this and is definitely showing signs of preferring to be organised and up to date with things. We made cupcakes, lollipops and bread, packaged some up and gave them to friends in his old school, including teachers. We collected his new glasses, picked up his shoes from Clarks and chose the winter coat he will need shortly, just a shame we had to order one in f...

How often do we hear people remind us to smell the flowers or savour the moment? How often do we do it? I have to admit that I have missed so many moments that I always planned on keeping when they come around that now I am wondering exactly what I’m racing against. I love my work, I love the writing I do, making tutorials, writing classes and workshops. I love speaking with my potential sponsors and fiddling about on the website. I love to sit at my desk and work through my ever growing to-do list. I also love to take care of my home, decorate, make things and dance with my kids. But sometimes, a little change for a little while can keep all that intact. Life is busy, with or without kids. Life is full of responsibilities, whether we want them or not. Life can be difficult and it can be fun. Today I am on day 7 of taking time out of most of the online things I do so I can smell the flowers. Sure, I come on now and again but I don’t linger or work the tutorials I’m still gather...

Sometimes I wish I didn’t feel things. Sometimes I wish I just didn’t care about people or situations. Sometimes I wish I just didn’t care. Sometimes I wish I didn’t have a ‘care in the world’ in the literal sense. I’m told, so often that I care too much, or I should not care so much or better yet that I should control my caring. Umm. Well, when I think about this in the quiet of my room my heart is turned to Jesus Christ. He cares. Unconditionally. He wants us to care. Unconditionally. He was vulnerable, he hurt, he was abused, ridiculed and tortured. But He still cared. To me that is unconditional caring. While I don’t think for one minute that I should be treated as He was, I do think that to be more like Christ I should not condition my caring to conform a ‘what if’ strategy. Neither should I condition it to only care when I get something in return. So that leaves me vulnerable, or does it? No, it leaves me open to upset, hurt and being let down and that is the risk I take when I ...

Becoming a Nanna has been a great thing for me so far. Being a mom I have always enjoyed that role and felt it is truly best area in life. That’s not saying I’m the best mom or I get it all right or that I or my kids are perfect, I am just continuing to do the best I can and never unwilling to try new ideas or methods if it means my kids benefit and grow the be the best they can be. Now I have a baby granddaughter to add to that mix. I have a new role to move into and for as much as I love that little girl I know I will play an integral part in her life so I want it to be appropriate, fun, strong and as supportive to her parents as possible. Bailey makes me feel things that only my children have managed so far in my life. She is a perfect gift from a loving Heavenly Father to me as well as my son and daughter in law. It’s time for me to review my relationship with the Lord to be sure I get His approval of the things I hope to do and share with Bailey. Checking my email I found o...