Is There Anything Better Than Home Baking?

Perhaps there is but really a good home baked something-er-rather (which is how I say it) lavishes love in a very special way.

So.... have you heard about the sisterhood ninja bake off? I failed miserably at stealth last year but I did enjoy the joy. Nominate, bake, ninja...do them all.

Find out all the very exciting details here. You don't have to be a blogger to do this and you don't even have to be a baker - that's what bakeries are for my lovelies!

Sign up - be on the in - start practicing your ninja moves.

Because as Mother Teresa says:

Love you more than a sticky iced bun with a jam volcano hidden inside. xxxx

Friday Surprise

The Atlas took today off to surprise me

and now these wee ones are reading with the best daddy in the world.

Happy Friday

don't forget to enter Wednesday's giveaway

Love you more than a well-loved book we just found again xxx

 

Make My Week - Crafting Humility

Often I make things that aren't perfect, in fact I usually joke I wouldn't need to make the intentional mistake in a quilt (as the Amish do, because only God is perfect), because it's unlikely I'll ever achieve perfection.

I made this baby quilt - and it just wouldn't do anything I wanted it too. Everything felt wrong about it. The back shifted off while I was quilting.... on it went. I abandoned it several times during the process in frustration.

And then when it was complete I felt a whisper that I needed to give it away to someone who is in fact very clever and crafty.... and I struggled with that, a lot. Because this person knows how to sew and the imperfections are SO obvious.....

In the end I swallowed (gagged) on my pride and sent it anyway.

Because sometimes I need to reveal the imperfect in me and not just the stuff I'm impressed with.

This is a journey I'm on.... praying a prayer to become more humble turns out to be a difficult prayer when it starts to be answered. You don't become humble with out a little humiliation along the way it would seem.


Love you more than a graciously received, imperfect gift. xx

We Recommend - for the suit wearing man and giveaway

The Atlas and I have an unspoken arrangement when we go out - I am allowed to wear whatever crazy ensemble I feel like and he can wear whatever t-shirt and jeans ensemble he wants. He does not have my crazy taste. So, we pretty much never 'match' and we really don't care.

At heart The Atlas is a casual dresser. Jeans and a funky t-shirt are his non-work uniform. He wears a shirt to work every day, and from time to time (when required), a tie. So he doesn't really have need of ties for Christmas... so where does one go for small, practical (he likes practical) but still fun and funky?

shhh.... I'm going to slip in some super cute cufflinks into his stocking.

I bought him some R2D2 ones earlier in the year, when he was bemoaning the inability to wear his nice double cuff shirt, and they are right up his alley. Not too 'hipster' but not too 'gold with a small diamond to match my tie pin' either.

I bought these from Linkz and I was really impressed with the kind of range they have. Lots of heroes and villains and star wars and Lego... (and some sensible ones too if that's more your mans style). They came in a gift box and they were delivered quickly. And they have stayed in one piece... unlike a pair I bought him from somewhere else another time....

So when I asked them if they wanted to be part of the we recommend series they sent me a pair for you too :o) Is there a star wars lover you love that would like a set of storm trooper cufflinks? Course there is!!

Like some cufflinks to put in someones stocking? Here's 3 chances to enter:
1. Pop over and tell me which set you like best from their range
2. Link in your own recommendation post this week - linky is open for a week - please do I'd love your recommendations too!
3. Tell me a wardrobe fail you've had recently... in the interests of sharing, The Atlas came home the other night and I was standing at the stove cooking (I know, he is so lucky!) and he pointed out the fact I had 2 big tears right in the buttocks area of my dress. Not sure how many other people enjoyed that during the day.

Separate comment for each please. Winner drawn next week and I'll send them to you in time for Christmas.

We Recommend for Christmas 

our posts about genuinely lovely things

instead of buying landfill let's make considered purchases that go the distance 

Code on the right. Thanks for your company and for helping out with new ideas for me. :o)

Love you more than The Atlas loves Star Wars xxxx 

I Redeemed the 'Fail Dress'

You may remember this dress that was initially a fail so I threw my hands up and left it on the dress form but now I have conquered! I've finished it!

Actually I just decided I wanted to wear it instead of stare at it on my dress form any longer!

I put it on and man-handled The Atlas into helping me pin some surface darts into the neckline (he really *loves* helping me tailor!).

Then I turned that hem line up and sewed it with not thoughts for length or evenness.

Threw a belt and a cardi over and I was good to go. Sometimes you just have to force yourself to finish. I find when I sew in my undies, sitting on a cold swiss ball (my sewing chair of choice), at 7.54am I am motivated to get that thing finished so I can put something on.... or is that just me?

Joining in with the lovely Kelly at WW tomorrow.

B.M.W.B - When Spring Turns Into Winter

Last week we were hit by a cold freezing snap.

I remind myself that as we head into real Spring weather these will be fewer and fewer, so I should make the most of it.

So we raced home from school and I cranked up the fire and the boys got in their jammies.

Stephen Fry read us Paddington Bear on CD, he is amazing!

And we ate hot buttered toast and super fluffy milos.

It was such a wonderful nesty afternoon.

Becoming the Mama I want to be is about taking time to enjoy the journey of parenting, to honour it's value and to hopefully inspire and encourage each other. 

Simple. Achievable. Intentional: becoming the mama I want to be

Button code on the right if you want it

Love you more than chocolate sprinkles xxx

36 Weeks

This one, loves the star ceiling at the top of the gondola. I love that he still has the freedom of expression to lie on the floor.

This one, every curve on him lovely.

These brothers, a gift to each other and a gift to us.