123...Flowers!

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I've been feeling a little under the weather lately. Like a lot of the population I was bitten by the cold that seems to be doing the rounds. I was bunged up, tired, sore and on tonsillitis watch, I prayed very hard to not get tonsillitis as I get it very badly; not something I fancy coping with on my own with 2 children!

Our Week That Was ~ Weeks 32, 33 & 34

Hey everybody! I've been a bit slack on the blogging front but it's okay. I have missed my weekly catch ups so here is 3 weeks worth of catching up in 1 post- yey! 

Week 32 started with me changing Midges room around. She wasn't sleeping well at all and it was becoming very stressful for all of us. I moved her room around and totally de-cluttered so now she has a more free flowing space and plenty more room. I can confirm that now she is sleeping tonnes better which is great. I have been to my Aunts a few times recently to help with her de-cluttering and moving. This week we were joined by a lovely little kitten who hindered more than helped the cleaning up process! I made a video of his antics here.

We also got all wrapped up for the school run this week because finally the weather took a turn and gave us some chills and a little drizzle too (it's now full on pelting it down!) I also baked a rather delicious vanilla cake which I shared with a friend who visited for coffee. We haven't seen each other in years, it was so, so lovely to catch up. I hope I can re create this cake for my birthday!

Room change// Cute kitten distracting us from working// Midge all wrapped up// Vanilla cake for pudding!

I ran a swap recently called A Taste of Home. I had a nice little number of people sign up and received my parcel this week from tattooed Mummy. I loved her gifts of recipe books, cider, sweets and plenty more as you can see. Little A was most impressed with the chocolate buttons. I finally got my prize from Goodfellas this week. Lots of vouchers for free pizza and a gift card which I promptly spent on 3 gifts for Christmas for my mini cupcakes.

Double rainbow// Happy with some chocolate buttons//Swap gift// I won a prize!// Yummy wraps for lunch

Week 33

When it wasn't raining we enjoyed some sunshine although it was still pretty cold. I took some lovely photos of the trees and green we pass everyday on the school run; I'm loving how quick the leaves are falling from the trees. We also had Little A's ENT appointment which went really well. He has a slight pressure build up which they'll check again next year, no blocking and he was ace at the hearing test which he passed with flying colours. Great news.

Our green// Happy babies on the wheels// Little A having his hearing test

I visited my Aunt again this week and we really got some stuff sorted. She moved in at the end of the week I'm told and is very happy to be home after staying with my Gran for so long after her operation. I took this lovely photo from the skylight in her bedroom, isn't it a great view to wake up to? I enjoyed a few hot chocolates, some at home and one or two in a local coffee chain *wink wink.* I went to a baby shower on Saturday which was a big deal for me! I didn't get all dressed up which felt so much better. The mum to be is due in a couple of weeks and has plenty of lovely things to pamper herself and the little one when he arrives. 

View in Penzance// Hot chocolate at home// Mummy and A// Baby shower gifts

Week 34

Autumn has really arrived! I loved pulling on my warm boots and crunching in the leaves with the children. We made the most of the leaf crunching as they get tidied up around here!? I spent Tuesday with my sister in law, I met her new kittens and we went shopping, saw my little niece and I had a nice day overall. I didn't have my phone with me so no cute kitten photos this week! It's been so, so dark at 7am which is the time we get up and get ready for school. To end the half term, Midge and Little A had a Halloween disco at school. Little A was a power ranger and Midge was a witch.

Warm boots// Witch for the disco// Dark at 7am// Mr Magpie on the wall// Broken post box!

I had super junk cravings this week! I made a great free from mug cake (thoroughly enjoyable and not for sharing) I had some pizza from Dominoes which definitely hit the spot! We enjoyed our last school run this week before halt term with crazy fast biking and scooting and more leaf jumping. I went to the GP and I'm now back on my original dose for my anxiety *boo* but it's all good. I'm also getting some more tests done to check on my lungs. 

On Thursday evening Little A and I went to The Works after hours. It was so good to see the reception children having so much fun. I got to browse with no one else there but a few fellow parents. I took advantage of our 20% discount for the evening and I even made a video of our trip which you can see here! the children had story time, made up hampers to win prizes, got to see some toys and even had a mini disco with food and drink while all the parents were in the shop mooching and catching up. It was a great evening!

Mug cake!// pizza// More pills and an x-ray due from doctors// Little A before our school trip//Midge and A on the school run// I got my Halloween decorations up!

Hope you're all having a good half term and if you're back to school already then I hope it was a good break for you all. Let me know what you've been up to or are planning in the comments below!

Cupcake Mumma

Goodbye October

My favourite month of the year has passed. I was born in October and grew up having the most wonderful fancy dress parties at my home so October holds real, wonderful childhood memories for me. Then there's Halloween which for me is harmless fun. We lit our Jack O Lantern and let people know we were Trick or Treater friendly! Everyone was polite. We even took Midge and A out with our niece who was doing a sleepover and they all loved it. I was so proud of their manners and they had so much fun!

I had a lovely day on my birthday with surprise flowers and thoughtful gifts from family, friends and even pen pals. Before the day arrived I was lucky enough to see the Harry Potter Studio Tour with Midge and my Mum. This was an early birthday gift and I loved it. It definitely makes October a memorable month now!

Of course I've loved, as I do every year, the joy of Autumn. The last colourful flowers, the gorgeous leaves, the nights in with a mug of soup and a duvet.

I will miss October but look forward to the next as always. In the mean time there are birthdays and Christmas to look forward to. Hope you had a happy October everyone!

Cupcake Mumma

Gluten & Dairy Free Carrot & Raisin Cake

This week I bring you a delicious gluten and dairy free carrot and raisin cake for week 8 of the Great Bloggers Bake Off with Jenny and Helen. It's not a novelty cake but it is a free from cake with a vegetable in!!

I wasn't sure I'd like this cake to be honest but it was SO GOOD! If you'd like to bake this cake then the recipe is below. Enjoy!

Ingredients

175g light muscovado sugar

175ml sunflower oil (I was caught out and used vegetable oil but luckily it was fine!)

3 large eggs

140g grated carrots (about 3 medium)

100g raisins

grated zest of 1 large orange

175g self-raising flour

1tsp bicarbonate of soda

1tsp ground cinnamon

Method

• Preheat the oven to 180C and line your cake tin
• Tip the sugar into a large mixing bowl, pour in the oil and add the eggs. Mix a little then stir in the grated carrots, raisins and orange rind.
• Mix the flour, bicarbonate of soda and spices. Stir all the ingredients but dont over mix. It should be runny but all nicely blended together.
• Pour the mix into your tin and bake for 40- 45 minutes, until it feels firm and springy when you press it in the centre.
• After the cake is cooled you can mix together some icing sugar and water to make a thick icing to drizzle over the top and sides.

CupcakeMumma

My Reasons to be Cheerful

• I've been doing a fair bit of crafting which has kept me busy. Crafting always makes me happy!

• Little Man is finally on the mend after being under the weather this week

• Midge had a great time at her first party of the year at the weekend. It was lovely to see her playing with all her friends 
• It's October. It's Autumn. It's nearly birthday! So many reasons to feel cheerful!

• I'm really looking forward to Halloween. I've got a bag full of stuff to decorate the house with and am now planning food and crafts to finish things off!
• My Mum has left her job. This is a reason to be cheerful because she was not happy at all. She'll be unemployed now for a few weeks before starting her new job.
• The Husband has got back into football which is great to see. He loves his football and i'm glad he's having some 'his time' and enjoying a hobby he hasn't been able to enjoy for a couple of years 
• I've got some lovely things coming to me in the post. I love getting mail!
• Finally, my sister has settled in really well at university so I couldn't be happier for her.

Life and Times of a Student Blog

An Autumn Wreath

I made a wreath this week out of anything I could find around my house. I've never made a wreath before so wanted to have a go at making one. Now, if I lived in the countryside I would've made a wreath that was big and sturdy so I could hang on my front door. I have a small porch but as I live in the town nothing would last long. Items would be damaged/stolen/chucked about- sad really but it's true! So I went for decorating my lounge door and I really, really like it.

I printed out all sorts of different patterns and colours and cut out a few flower and leaf shapes. When I was happy with how I had arranged them on my wreath (which is 2 cardboard circles cut out and stuck together by the way) I stuck them all down with glue, made a hole in the top and found some suitable ribbon from my stash,

I wasn't totally satisfied so I rooted around my draws finding some odd buttons which looked perfect for my fall theme. Screwing up some orange tissue paper to fill a small gap, I made these mini pumpkins. I think they finish it all off nicely.

To make the plain lounge door just that little bit more special, I cut out left over paper, cut off a short piece of string and made some mini paper bunting with the words 'Happy Fall' on the tiny flags.

What do you think? Not bad for paper and cardboard I don't think and just the first step in the prep for the Halloween party my daughter is really looking forward to.

Linking up with The CSI Project this week for their Fall wreaths and porches prompt.

Autumn Gold

I love Autumn, it's my favourite season by far so when I checked in with The CSI Project this week and saw our crafting challenge was 'Gold,' I thought I should make something I could wear over this lovely season. I had a look around and found this lovely necklace so thought i'd have a go at making something similar.

I bought some 24 gauge gold wire from Ebay, an old gold necklace for £1 from my local charity store as I didn't have any gold chain, and finally I raided my draws for some beads that would match the wire. In the end I opted for some small purple ones after being unsuccessful finding my larger purple bead stash!

This was a fiddly project for someone who hasn't made anything like this before so it does require patience! It's also not a project I could photo step by step, maybe next time! For now, here is my Autumn Gold Nest Necklace:

First of all I threaded the 4 beads onto the wire then started wrapping the wire around until I was happy with the size of my 'nest' and the beads felt secure. I made a loop before cutting the wire to allow me to place a jump ring for attaching to the chain.

After taking apart the old necklace from the charity store I was left with a very long piece of chain- ideal! I cut the length I needed using my pliers and reattached jump rings as well as a new clasp. Now my necklace is all ready for stepping out into the Autumn wind (and rain!)

What do you think?

CupcakeMumma