I've seen quite a few plant marker posts on Pinterest, my spiritual home. Sadly they seem to involved metal stamping of some kind and that, quite frankly, is beyond my threshold of what-can-be-reasonably-achieved-in-my-lifetime. I'm fairly sure that the tools required would throw DH over the edge and may force him to move into his as-yet-unfinished-man-shed and never return. But I am nothing if not inventive. Aside from the fact that our … [Read more...]
My twitter policy: what’s yours?
I saw a post about twitter policy on Laptops and Lullabies, in which Laura put forward her strategy, for want of a better word for using Twitter. I like having a manifesto for how you approach social media. I have come to realise that I know more than I thought, which is thrilling, but I also think that it is worth taking stock periodically and working out how you use the social media sites you frequent, and what you hope to gain from your … [Read more...]
Slow Cooker Pulled Pork
I am new to slow cooking. In fact my mantra of late has been fast cooking: the kind of cooking that can be whipped up in twenty minutes from when I come downstairs having left The Girls screaming put The Girls to bed to when DH walks through the door. My life involves short-cuts and cheats (hence the -esque in the blog title, in case you were wondering). Now what better cheat could there be than to take a bunch of prepared ingredients, … [Read more...]
Snow is falling: top sledging tips
Dashing (safely) Through the Snow Top Tobogganing Safety Tips from The Handpicked Collection If the forecasters are to be believed, we’re in for more snow this winter, which is great news for children who can’t wait to wrap up warmly and run outside for some sledging fun! Make sure your children know exactly what’s what to prevent accidents ruining their favourite wintry activity with these sensible … [Read more...]
Kick-start Christmas: how to make mince pies and an Amazon Giveaway
It's day of the Kick-Start Christmas Giveaway and I'm sitting watching Barbie The Nutcracker with The Girls. I can feel stirrings of something approximating Christmas spirit, despite the early hour. Which makes it the perfect time to tell you about today's Giveaway. It couldn't be simpler: I have a £25 Amazon voucher. No tricks, no plugging. Yours for a comment telling me what you'd buy with it. And if you are feeling generous, you might … [Read more...]
Reindeer Cookies and Gingerbread men
I bet you didn't know what you get if you turn a gingerbread man upside down (and no, it's not a smutty joke.) I didn't either until I was cruising pinterest one day. Invert a gingerbread man and you get a very convincing reindeer cookie. Allow me to demonstrate. First, you will need some gingerbread men. Although I made a dozen ginger-free men. Once your men are baked and cooled, turn them upside down. The head is still the head, it's just … [Read more...]
Have you met the Sharon Fruit?
Did you ever have one of those lightbulb moments that opened up something to you that you had previously dismissed because it looked too hard? For me it was when I saw Lady W use a peeler to take off the skin of a butternut squash. I had no idea you could do that, and it really made me embrace the squash as a vegetable. Before it seemed like such an effort just to get the skin off and I lacked the enthusiasm. Now tell me have you ever come … [Read more...]
