Manifesto for 2012

I am not keen on making resolutions. They are usually unrealistic and never achieved.

However, I like the Mum In The Mad House idea of a Manifesto.

Some of my manifesto are matters of necessity rather than preference but they are going on my manifesto regardless. I am not saying I will or wont achieve these things, they are simply things I would like to work towards.

• Return to the working world and start my new job,
• Try and reduce Munchie's breastfeeds so that I do not have to express or worry about him while I am at work,
• Not to let my Thursdays off become days for chores. I will try and plan fun activities for me and Munchie
• Maintain our weekends as a family and continue our family walks.
• Try and master circular knitting
• Complete my Kiss tapestry
• Arrange a date night with Mr C once a month
• Continue with my ongoing weight loss
• Attempt Project 365 (I may live to regret this!)

Have you made a manifesto or resolutions?

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The One Where I Forgot How To Shop

I had been looking forward to yesterday for weeks. No children, no men, money to spend, best friends and lots of shops. 

Other than a picking up a few bits in supermarkets I haven't clothes shopped in probably around 18 months. Being pregnant and then post birth puts a girl off enjoying shopping. Shopping with children and pushchairs is beyond painful so I just stopped even trying. 

However, I stood with my friends in the middle of Debenhams yesterday, I stood and looked around, surrounded with rails of dresses, coats, underwear, shoes, pyjamas. I was just so overwhelmed and didn't know where to start that I actually stood and panicked and gasped to my friend that I had forgotten how to shop. What do I do and where do I start? 

Thankfully I soon recovered and caught the others up. I might have had a slow start but once I found my shopping mojo I was soon laden down with my sale bargains. 

We had a great day, bought lots of lovely things, spent most of the day laughing and also discovered a new way of categorising shops. 

Thin people Shops (Top Shop and Jane Norman)

Young People Shops (Top Shop and River Island) 

Going Out On The Lash Shops (Lipsy)

We soon agreed that we were the type of shoppers better suited to Next, Monsoon and Debenhams. 

Mr C and the boys had a great day together, they had lots of fun and Munchie proved again that he doesn't need me as much as I think he does. He managed all day with no milk and ate everything in sight and then some to make up for it. (Of course today hes back to refusing all food again).

Now I just need to work through my new purchases and decide which old clothes I am going to get rid of in order to make room for my new ones. 

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Silent Sunday

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Crochet Christmas Crafts

My recent urge to get the crochet hook out again and become one with stripes resulted in a crazy plan to churn out some Christmas crafts.

Hot water bottle covers to be precise. A little bit of guess work and trial and error and I soon had something I was happy with and the hot water bottle production line was born.

Here are two of my creations. Hopefully the lucky few recipients will enjoy being kept cozy by something pretty.

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Santa Visited Me Early

My two wishes from Santa this year were sleep (which I am now getting most nights) and a local job.

My Christmas wish has been granted early.

I have this week been offered a new job and given in my notice. I am both scared and excited by this but mainly I am relieved at not having to return to my old job.

I love my job, I like where I work but something needed to change. Last year the commute left me in tears and I just can't face it anymore.

An hour each way as a minimum (it's taken me 3 hours in bad weather). A dangerous rural 'A ' road. A ridiculous amount of petrol. Nights spent unable to sleep due to dreading the snow that is forecast to arrive over night. Queues at the bottom of a very steep hill and watching the cars infront of you attempt the assent and sliding all over. Passing cars overturned in ditches after hitting black ice. 

After 6 years the enjoyment of my job is no longer worth the hassle and stress of the commute.

I never did the nursery drop off or pick ups with Snaffles. I didn't know the other children, parents or even his key worker. At times this broke my heart. I don't want to have the same regrets with Munchie.

Moving from a city job to a rural town job was never going to be as good financially and career wise it is technically not an equal role. I know to some my change in job will seem illogical, a waste of my studies. However to me I see it as a job I know I will really enjoy, a firm I am excited about joining , and a job that will allow me to be more like the mum I want to be.

I already feel happier. The thought of returning to work no longer makes me cry. I am looking forward to some adult company, a hot cup of tea and being independent again. I do not want to continue spending 7-8 hours for a 3 day week in my car commuting. This is time I could be spending with my family. My family are my main priority, my career can wait.

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The Giant Kiss

Sometimes you see something and instantly fall in love with it. I recently saw Heather  finishing her Emily Peacock 'Kiss' tapestry. The second I saw it I knew I wanted to replicate it.

I had two hurdles, the length of time it was predicted to take and the price.

It is predicted that it will take 6 months to complete. Heather said a more realistic time scale would be 12 months. I love my various crafts but I like to flit between projects. Would I stick with this and finish it?

Then there was the price. The large kits retail for around £80, I could neither afford nor justify this price. However, after a bit of time spent researching it I soon discovered that you can buy the wool and fabric for almost half of that price.

So, I have acquired a pattern chart, sourced the materials and begged a tapestry frame and I am all ready to go. 

Watch this space for updates of the progress of the giant kiss. 

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Review: Photobox

Photobox are one of the companies you will usually hear me singing about regardless of whether I am doing a review or not.

An offer to review a photo calendar was a great chance for me to indulge my photo habit. Turns out I couldn't contain myself to just one photo product and I ended up treating myself to a canvas too.

I ordered a family calendar. Here are a few of my favourite calendar pages;

Things I loved;

• Photos are easy to upload. 
• Pages are easy to lay out with plenty of design options. 
• Individual dates can be personalised with photographs. 
• There is an option to upgrade and have the pages laminated.
• You can order spiral bound to hang on the wall or loose leafed to stick to the fridge.
• The loose leaded version comes with fridge magnets.
• The laminated version comes with a wipe off pen.
• The traffic light coloured faces which indicate the quality of the image you are using.
• Print quality and finish are always flawless and exceptional

Things I Didn't Love; 

• The picture boxes are very narrow it was difficult finding images which worked well.
• The laminated loose leaded version should have come with magnets and a wipe off pen. Both of these were missing from my order. Despite 2 phone calls, emails, some tweets with customer service and 5 weeks since my order I am still awaiting my magnets and I have now given up. 
• I understand that some orders are occasionally wrong, however the customer service needs to deal with this more efficiently.

Overall I love my finished product even if I am left a little disappointed in the missing accessories and aftercare.

There is still time to order photo gifts for Christmas delivery (order by 17th December). They make great gifts for grandparents. 

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Homemade Gift Wrap

Take one roll of brown paper. Add some potato shapes, paint, and a child and .......

voila, home made Christmas Gift wrap. 

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Stripe Love

Oh stripes, how I have missed you so.

I was overcome with a sudden urge to dig out my crochet hook last night.

Thankfully I have a well stocked wool stash and I was soon able to get myself some hook action.

I know I have said it before but there is something so very therapeutic about generating row after row of bright stripes.

A few cautions rows as the wool amd fingers become one and then the fingers take over and something beautiful starts to appear before my eyes.

My dearest crochet hook, I promise I will not forget you for so long next time.

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The Christmas Dinner

It's about time I got my Christmas dinner menu planned and organised.

I have my Christmas online shopping slot booked but so far I have no idea what I need to order.

It is Munchie's first Christmas. I am so excited about his first Christmas dinner. It is just the four of us for dinner this year so less time cooking means more time with my boys. However I still want a nice festive feast.

One course or three? What to make for each course and what side dishes to have with the turkey? What non turkey option to buy or make for me?

What are you having for your Christmas dinner? Can you inspire me?

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