Linaloo

Tuesday morning

I bake with the children quite often. At 3, 4 (and 35) this can be quite a messy, time consuming event and I definitely have to be in the right frame of mind. More often than not I stick to muffins. One does the wet ingredients, the other's on dry. But there's always a fight about the bowl licking at the end.

Today we made banana crumb using this recipe. It's our favourite muffin recipe. In attempt to be vaguely healthy we used whole wheat flour and half the amount of sugar recommended.

Sunday night

I have that Sunday night feeling, slightly knackered from the weekend activities but looking forward to the week ahead. The children finally get back to preschool tomorrow and our “normal lives” will resume. My Sunday night ritual usually involves the following:

Folding laundry whilst watching this.
I don't watch much TV these days, but I make an exception for this series!

Meal planning for the week.
Ha! You didn't realise I was that organized did you?! Although it has less to do with being organized and more to do with that I just can't bear the whole "what shall I make for dinner" dilemma every night of the week. At least this way I only do it once a week.

Writing a "to do" list.
Stuff I have to do this week includes:
Make and send invitations for Ruby's party
Make birthday bunting
Hang those kitchen curtains finally
Ring local schools about registering for kindergarten in September (yikes!)

Going to bed with a good book.
This month is the turn of "A Complicated Kindness" by Miriam Toews, to be read in time for book club in two weeks.

I just wanted to add about the tobogganning in yesterday's post that they did land safely and the children were actually shouting "again!" when they reached the bottom. Note the only one laughing is my speed demon daughter!

Flying

Introducing the iClutch

First I made this slightly smaller version of the Artsy Clutch in Amy Karol's Bend the Rules.

Then, after looking on flickr at the Bend the Rules pool I spotted this clever idea and simply had to make one for myself!

Voila - the iClutch.

Thanks Elise for your stroke of genius!

Queen of routine

Happy new year!

Thank goodness it's all over now and life can get back to normal. I've enjoyed the holidays, the drinking, the eating, the celebrating, the giving, the eating...but I definitely over indulged on the food front and am yearning for the comfort of my normal routine. I am the queen of routine, it makes me feel safe and happy and I think my children fair better for it too.

I'm not a resolution person really apart from the "lose 10lbs" which I make every year - except maybe this year it should be more like 20! But I do have a short list of projects I plan to do in an effort to expand my crafty horizons:

Learn to knit
My Granny taught me to knit when I was about 8 but I don't even remember how to cast on or off, so I'll have to start from scratch. Any suggestions for foolproof beginner projects would be greatly appreciated!

Make a log cabin quilt for my bed
I'm in love with this one that Amanda Jean made last year. I'd like to make a red version of this.

Try a felting project
I'd like to make my own felt - haven't the foggiest about where to start but love the look of the real 100% wool stuff.

Have a go at soft toy/doll making
Have you seen these? Truly amazing!

Make more clothes for the kiddiewinks

Not very adventurous perhaps, but baby steps for me!