More of the same...

Well I know at least one of you (Courtney!) is looking forward to reading/seeing this post! ;)

As you can probably imagine, I have done very little with my hair over the last 6 years! So I guess its not that surprising that I am now going a little hair mad!

With that in mind, as well as the fact that I have a rather large fondness for all things red, the below pictures shouldn't be too much of a surprise!

With my new red lippy and a flower :)

I used a different eyeshadow shade than normal.
Quite like it with the red hair

What do you think? I wasn't sure at first, it didn't come out how I had hoped... Don't get me wrong, I didn't hate it, but I didn't love it either. However, two sleeps later, it is definitely growing on me! :D

PS I was going to take a pic of the back, but this is literally my bed hair (its amazing what a great haircut can do!) and it didn't look quite so stylish from the back!

Thanks for reading! x

Macaroni Monday :9

Mmmmm! Macaroni! :9

Sadly this is not on tonights menu, but is a meal I made and photographed some time ago... Sadly I haven't been able to indulge for a couple of weeks as my stomach has been a little particular! I don't really want to go into all the grisly details, lets just say I've not been eating properly!

But anyway... back to the macaroni!

I like a number of different Macaroni cheese recipes, but I've been making this baked version for a looooong time... I can't even remember where the recipe came from! It may possibly have been my high school cook book from home economics class! :O I'm not sure if this is the same though, I think it may have been modified over the years! lol

Ingredients:

• 50g butter (real butter works best, but you can use margarine too)
• 50g plain flour
• 500ml full fat milk (you can use skimmed, etc. but the flavour wont be as rich!)
• 200g macaroni (to be honest, I use whatever shaped pasta I have in the house)
• 250g grated cheddar cheese (the stronger the better!)
• pinch salt and pepper
• 1 rounded teaspoon of mustard (you can use any kind, I like english mustard or wholegrain as the seeds look really nice in the sauce)

Method:

1. Bring some salted water to the boil and add the pasta (follow instructions on pack to cook your pasta till al dente and drain) 
2. pre-heat the oven to 180ºC
3. Melt the butter in a large saucepan over a low heat
4. Add the flour and cook for a minute, stirring all the time
5. Gradually stir in the milk, a little at a time else it will get lumpy!
6. Turn up to a medium heat and bring the milk mixture thickens and begins to  boil. You need to keep stirring all the time else the sauce will go lumpy at the bottom of the pan.
7. Allow to boil over a low heat for a couple of minutes then add two thirds of the cheese, the mustard and salt and pepper to taste.
8. Mix the pasta to the sauce and pour into a suitable oven dish
9. Sprinkle over the remaining grated cheese (a couple of handfuls of breadcrumbs is nice too)
10. Bake in the oven until cheese turns golden and bubbly (I think its about 30mins?)
11. Alternatively, brown the cheese under a grill... make sure it doesn't burn!
12. ENJOY!

And here's one I made earlier!

A portion on a plate...

I never know what to serve with Mac n cheese... On this occasion
I went for beans and onion rings!

Do you have a favourite mac n cheese recipe? What do you like to serve it with?

Thanks for reading! x

T-shirt re-vamp!

Just over seven years ago I was on holiday in Hong Kong. Whilst engaging in a little retail therapy a rather flashy belt caught my eye.

I realise now I should probably have taken a photo of said belt so you could get a picture in your mind as to what I'm talking about... maybe I'll do an update in the future...

The buckle is about 3 inches in diameter and is full of diamante crystals... You can guess how it caught my eye! Needless to say, the belt has been my favourite waist accessory ever since.

This may sound like a rather happy story! But just like as the old yogurt advert explained, you can't have pleasure without the pain... in this case it is the fact that my beautiful belt likes to create holes in my t-shirts :(

OK... I know its not a huge problem, but sometimes you get a t-shirt that you really love and you know you'll never be able to replace and then it becomes a bit annoying!

Well I decided it was time to do something about it. Out came the needle, thread and my sewing book and I got to darning all those pesky little holes!

Incidentally, should anyone be interested buying a book on sewing techniques, for an absolute beginner (like me) The Sewing Book is IMHO a better option. The step-by-step photos are larger and there are a number of projects at the back of the book to get you started!

Unfortunately, some of my thinner t's had suffered pretty badly and the holes were just to darned big to darn!

Did you like my word play, you did didn't you! ;)

And so, out came the leftover fabric from Wiyots curtains and the embroidery thread I used to make friendship bracelets with in high school!

I knew they would come in handy one day!

I added an applique butterfly (to cover the holes) with french knot details on the wings, some lazy daisy flowers (I think thats what they're called?) and some viney type things! :)

Please ignore the vacuum... I know I do! ;)

I know its not perfect, but I was quite pleased with it, especially for a first attempt! And yes it would look better not so central, but as you can imagine that's where the belt buckle creates the holes!

What do you think?

I should also have taken a photo of the inside so you could see the holes... Ah well!

And just cos I'm loving playing with my hair at the moment, here's my style of the day!

All about the flicks! :D

As I was writing this post, Shoshone wanted me to get Buzz Lightyear from the toy box for her. This is how he emerged:

"Ole!"

Does anyone else suspect he maybe in Spanish mode? ;)

6 Years!!

Tuesday just gone was a special day for Danny and me. It was the 9th anniversary of when we got engaged and also our 6th wedding anniversary :D

I'm not sure what the traditional gifts you are supposed to give are, but for us we went off in the search of new shoe's! :D

Danny failed to find a pair he liked... and has somehow managed to turn shoes into an ipod nano! 

But never mind that... Here's my newest littlefoot decorations!

I know I didn't make them or anything, but I was so excited I couldn't wait to share them with you! :D

My Incredible Hair!

It was really difficult to decide what to blog about today... So many things that I want to share! But I thought I'd better start my potential blogathon with this...

I'm sure you all knew it was coming!! 

Thats right... It's the one about the hair!!! :D

As I'm sure you are all aware, I decided a while ago to chop my lengthy locks off and donate them to a the Little Princess Trust who make real hair wigs for children... If this is the first time you're reading my blog, you can check out my first post here!

When I did the original post I hadn't taken any pictures... but as the date for the chop approached, I finally managed to get a few snapshots. :)

My hair hanging down to my waist

Saturday 20th August was the day! On the morning I stood in the shower washing my hair for the last time and I began to feel very sentimental! As I looked at my hair I could see the last inch of the highlights I had for my wedding, just above that would have been the time I was pregnant with Wiyot and then Shone...

Yep, not your typical lathering session!!

Still, off we went to the salon... I had reached my fundraising target and there was no turning back! I have to admit, it was the most stressful trip to the salon I have ever had! Like going for a driving test or something, everyone waiting to see how I got on! lol

Ironically, the hair salon a few doors down was called Rapunzels! If I had known I may have gone there!

Danny came in with me to snap a few photos for evidence:

The lovely Rachel asking how much I want off :D

Not sure if she was nervous, but I had to convince her to go shorter!

Going...

Going...

Gone! :O

You can't tell on this pic, but the hair measures a whopping 46cms!

AND THE NEW STYLE....

Ta da!

I was really happy with it! It felt so soft and silky, and my head felt so light!

But then I went to bed... 

and as with all hairstyles, it mutated during the night!

It turned into...

Mrs Incredible hair!!! :O

OK, so it just flicked out on one side... But now I LOVE it even more! I literally could not wait to breakout the face paint and  the Incredibles t-shirt I made last year!

I may also have run round the house singing the Incredibles theme tune and striking Elastigirl poses... However, there is no evidence to support this! ;)


And for the first self style...

I like it curly too!

Just did a plain blow dry shaping it with my fingers. I really liked how it turned out... Kinda 1950's bob, which I am really rather pleased about! :D

In conclusion... I am LOVING my new do!

!!! PS if anyone still wants to make a donation to the Little Princess Trust, my JustGiving page will be up till 20th September!!!

xx

The Simple Woman's Daybook, August 2nd

I know I only just did one, but I quite enjoyed it and want to do another... and well it's my blog, so I pretty much get to do whatever I want! Ah indulgence! lol

If anyone else wants to give it a shot, check out The Simple Woman's Daybook!

Outside my window... It is sunny again! With big white fluffy cotton wool clouds floating along.

I am thinking... I still haven't dug up the onions and garlic! I am a terrible gardener! At some point I will get organised!

I am thankful... for Courtney's extremely generous donation and blog post!! You are a star!

From the learning rooms... Wiyot's been enjoying using the blackboard, using it to draw pictures (very funny one the other day - Mommy with very long hair, and big boobies & Daddy had an angry face with a big frown >:( lol), write messages to me and also read one's I've left for him :D Also he's been building stuff with his lego, on sunday he built a Lego Starfighter that he got for his birthday, with help from Daddy... usually he does them by himself, I think Danny really wanted to play though :D Shoshone's been practicing her colours and is currently going round the house pointing out the colour of everything, especially PINK!


In the kitchen... My cup of tea is getting cold, the washing needs doing and I need to figure out what we are going to eat this week as we are over flowing with vegetables! 


*I must remember to cancel our veg box!*


I am wearing... Khaki combats and a kind of peach and cream stripy t-shirt.


I am creating... My donation page... just don't feel very creative today.


I am going... Nowhere! I should go to the library and the bank, but I really can't be bothered today!


I am wondering... When the rest of The Vampire Diaries, Season 2 will be on Virgin on demand... I noticed the first 6 episodes yesterday... and I admit, I had a late night marathon! 


*Yawns* It seemed like a good idea at the time!


I am reading... Still reading A Wizard of Earthsea. Took me a while to get into, but I'm quite enjoying it now.


I am hoping... Everything goes ok on Thursday, we're having our front door replaced! I always get very nervous when we are having work done on the house! Keep your fingers crossed for me!


I am looking forward to... Sunday and hopefully selling a load of stuff we have hoarded over the years! Although it will be the first time the kids have spent the night away from us... :'(  So I guess I should add, I am hoping the kids will be ok at their grandparents... and I'll be ok without them!!!


I am hearing... The kids playing together - Wiyots Lego figures are talking to Shoshone's little dollies :) Sooooo cute!


Around the house... I need to make some space, my grandparents are visiting tomorrow! :)


I am pondering... whether to go do some gardening... I REALLY should but... 


One of my favorite things... the joy on Wiyots face when he realises he CAN do something!


A few plans for the rest of the week: Sort out the car boot sale stuff, exchange and build the kids desk we got the other day (why does it seem you can rarely buy stuff these days without there being at least one problem?). Also head to the bank, library, shops.... etc!


Here is a picture for thought I am sharing...

Taken by Wiyot... I don't know why, but I really like it!

Littlefoot... Let Down Your Locks!

Ok, so nobody would be using my tresses to scale tall towers... 

I guess Wiyot and Shoshone could use it to climb through the living room window. But that all seems a little too painful, not to mention pointless considering the front door is just a few steps away! 

What I'm getting at is, I really have no use for my hair. However, that doesn't mean someone else wouldn't have a use for it!

For example the good folks at The Little Princess Trust who make and supply real hair wigs for children suffering from hair loss.

And so the time has come to go...

... from this ...

... to this!

Thats right, its time to loose my locks!

As I sit typing, my hair measures 70cm, measuring from the top of my head.

Apparently Rapunzels hair in Tangled was an impressive 70 feet...  I hope she donated hers to charity, could have made a fair few wigs with all that!

After a quick measure, I'm guessing I'll be able to donate 40cm of hair, possibly more depending on where they cut! 

But here is where you, my wonderful fellow bloggers come in! This admiral charity cannot help all those little princesses without the money to make the wigs. I don't know how much it costs the good people over at the Little Princess Trust to do their thing, but I'm aiming to raise £100... 

Hopefully more!

Please, please, PLEASE help me raise some money! 

To help you can head over to my fundraising page and make a donation

or...

help me share my little (pony) tale by mentioning me on your blogs

or...

BOTH! :D

I was hoping to post some pictures of my lovely locks, but can't seem to find any :( Consequently, don't expect this to be the last post on this topic!

Thanks for reading! xoxoxox