one hundred and one things

Bad blogger

2011-09-28T14:29:00.002+01:00

I'm dreadful at this blogging lark. Sorry. I'm worse at the 101 thing though, I've even spent the money I was saving (it is a recession people!)
I'm going to have a tidy up of my list, take some things off and add some new things and hopefully I'll be back on track!

8. Lose 4 stones

2011-06-06T22:53:00.003+01:00

I'm back on track. I've pissed about losing and gaining the same 1/2lb for weeks now and it stops here.
This week I lost 2lb and I'm back to my lowest weight (not ever, sadly!) It does work when you actually stick to it and don't have Mcdonalds, crisps, biscuits, chocolate, sweets....

61. Bet on the grand national

2011-05-10T14:03:00.002+01:00

I did it (I didn't go into the bookies, I did it online. I still counts right?) I didn't win.

22. Visit 5 different museums

2011-05-10T13:40:00.003+01:00

Manchester Museum

It's been years since I've been here, not since I was a child. As soon as we walking into the part of the museum which houses the main attraction, Stan the dinosaur, I remembered it well.

Charlotte moaned and wanted to be carried the whole time. Lydia moaned and wanted lunch about 10 minutes after we arrived. Paul moaned about the children moaning. I had a really great time.

Here they are enjoying themselves

Admiring Stan

16. Bake once a month

2011-05-09T21:00:00.002+01:00

I'm baking so regularly now I'm forgetting I'm even doing it. I've made all sorts of stuff. Currently planning anzac biscuits for tomorrow!

8. Lose 4 stones

2011-05-09T20:56:00.002+01:00

I have no idea where I'm up to with this. I have lost and gained the same 2lb for months now. Today I have made a huge batch of super speed soup. I will lose the 2lb next week and I won't regain it the week after...

2. Eat faggots

2011-05-09T20:41:00.002+01:00

I did it. They weren't as grim as I expected but I certainly won't be rushing to eat them again. They were like testicles in gravy. Grim.
I should have probably taken a photograph of me eating them but I didn't.

Rubbish Blogger!

2011-05-08T23:47:00.001+01:00

I've been crap, forgive me. Must try harder.

12. Put photographs in every frame I own

2011-04-13T21:48:00.003+01:00

Erm, I bought more frames... ooops!
I put my photos away when we got our kitten so they didn't get broken and when I went to get my wedding photo back out I'd managed to break the glass. Oh the irony!
So I had to by a new frame for that. And another to match. And I've bought some frames to make a gallery wall on the stairs.

Some of them have photographs in...

8. Lose 4 stones

2011-04-13T21:14:00.002+01:00

I only went and put a bloody pound back on. I didn't even have my jumper to blame it on so I had to come clean about the cake!

35. Throw away 10 things from each room

2011-04-13T20:45:00.003+01:00

I'm getting really into the clearing thing. Last week I filled 5 bin bags of clothes for Lydia's school Bags 2 School collection. I like the feeling of not having lots of old crap hanging round. If I don't like it, use it or need it it's gone.
It's an ongoing thing and I'm planning on clearing the cellar out when the weather is better (so I can empty it all outside and not have to spend any longer than necessary in the dungeon!)

17. Make birthday cakes for each of the girl's birthdays

2011-04-13T19:43:00.004+01:00

My baby is 3! I have no idea how she's 3 already, it's surely only about a fortnight since I was in hospital waiting to go down to the theatre!

For her third birthday cake we decided on a cat (well I did, she wanted a blue cake...) I went for chocolate with vanilla frosting. It was a bit rough as it was supposed to have another layer of the buttercream to neaten it up but it was as sickly as hell so I just left it at one. The pictures I have are a bit crap so here's a cute video

27. Plant sunflowers with the children

2011-04-13T18:10:00.001+01:00

Day 21

27. Plant sunflowers with the children

2011-04-04T22:24:00.003+01:00

Day 14 update. They're growing faster than anticipated!

8. Lose 4 stones

2011-04-04T20:59:00.002+01:00

I lost 2lb this week, I've been trying very hard. I had grapes instead of sweets at work and I resisted the delicious scones at a 3rd birthday party!

Maybe I'll get to my next target next week.

27. Plant sunflowers with the children

2011-03-28T20:27:00.001+01:00

Sunflower update, day seven

8. Lose 4 stones

2011-03-28T20:25:00.001+01:00

I put on 1lb. This was definitely because I was wearing a sweatshirt and not at all because I ate too many biscuits.

8. Lose 4 stones

2011-03-21T19:54:00.003Z

While I'm on a blog roll (see what I did there?) I suppose I better update my weight loss. I stayed the same this week. SW call it maintaining, not sure I like that. Sounds too much like I meant to do it rather than the fact it was a lucky fluke after a week of troughing like a pig.

Must do better.

100. Go for breakfast in a greasy spoon cafe

2011-03-21T19:44:00.003Z

Builders tea and the Daily Mirror to accompany my breakfast this morning. Served on mismatched plates with mismatched cutlery on a table with a wipe clean table cloth.
Breakfast was ok, may continue on my quest with this one but for now it's crossed off.

27. Plant sunflowers with the children

2011-03-21T19:36:00.004Z

We planted the seeds this afternoon after school. It was a treat for Lydia who had apparently not moaned at all on the walk home. She has a very selective memory!

I shall update with photographs of their progress, if there is any. Last year mine didn't grow at all!

83. Listen to 10 artists I've never heard of

2011-03-16T20:42:00.004Z

I can't get this song out of my head, so catchy! Even Lydia sings along which is hilarious. So, I'm spreading the earworm!

8. Lose 4 stones

2011-03-14T17:01:00.002Z

Hurrah! I'm back on track (ignoring the midget gems I ate last week which I discovered today are 1.5 syns per 4 sweets eeeek!)
This week I lost 2lb so I've lost what I gained and 1/2lb more.
I have 3.5lb to go to my next target. Bring it on!

8. Lose 4 stones

2011-03-07T22:00:00.002Z

Urgh, I wasn't going to post this but I decided you have to take the rough with the smooth. Ladies and gentleman, I have gained weight two weeks on the trot.
Not a huge amount (1lb last week, 0.5lb this week) but it's not good. I know exactly why I've gained. Eating like a big fat pig.
The cake in the last post? All gone. The crisps for lunchboxes? Gone. Biscuits because it's not fair that everyone else has to miss out because I'm on a diet? Gone. Cheap and nasty basics chocolate bought to bake with? Erm... that'll be gone too. 600g of sports mixture? Gone. Tin of Roses at work? Gone. I have fallen off the wagon spectacularly.

Tomorrow I'm climbing back on. Spurred on by someone telling me that I'd lost weight (Thanks Edel x) and remembering why I want to do this.

If you see me near a biscuit tin hit me with a big stick ok?

16. Bake once a month

2011-03-02T20:05:00.003Z

I didn't blog about baking in February but I did bake, honestly!

This month I've baked already, and I'm blogging before I forget. This month's bake is the best so far. Amazing. The best cake I've ever made. This little beauty is Nigella's Torta alla Gianduia AKA Nutella cake.

It's from How to be a Domestic Goddess (also here ). It's very dense and sickly but completely delicious and moreish.

8. Lose 4 stones

2011-02-16T10:31:00.003Z

I didn't blog last week as I didn't lose anything and the weekly updates are boring me, never mind you!

This week I have lost 1.5lb and bought trainers and a sports bra!

8. Lose 4 stones

2011-01-31T10:34:00.002Z

I lost another 1lb this week. I'm consistent at least!

8. Lose 4 stone

2011-01-24T16:30:00.004Z

Lost another 1lb and got an award today.

8. Lose 4 stones

2011-01-17T20:09:00.003Z

Weigh in day! I lost another 1lb. Today I bought a dress for a wedding I tried it on in my current size and then bought one 2 sizes smaller. It will fit!

ETA: I just tracked my weightloss on the SW website and apparently I have achieved Club 10 (I've lost 10% of my starting weight!)

8. Lose 4 stones

2011-01-10T10:03:00.001Z

Early morning weigh in today and I lost the 1lb that I gained last week. I had to buy a belt whilst out yesterday so it must be working!

16. Bake once a month

2011-01-08T14:22:00.003Z

This challenge is getting harder now I'm on Slimming World. I didn't even blog about last month's efforts as I didn't really get to sample them (they were baileys cupcakes, they didn't really taste of baileys at all).
This month I made Nigella's Dense Chocolate Loaf Cake for my Nana. Apparently it was nice, I didn't try any *weep*

Dense Chocolate Loaf Cake

Makes 8 to 10 slices

Ingredients

225g soft unsalted butter

375g dark muscovado sugar

2 large eggs, beaten

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

100g best dark chocolate, melted

200g plain flour

1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda

250ml boiling water

Use one 23 x 13 x 7cm loaf tin

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 190C/gas mark 5; put in a baking sheet in case of sticky drips later, and grease and line the loaf tin. The lining is important as this is a very damp cake: use parchment, Bake-O-Glide or loaf-tin shaped paper case.

2. Cream the butter and sugar, either with a wooden spoon or with an electric hand-held mixer, then add the eggs and vanilla, taking care to blend well but being careful not to overbeat. Nigella says: "You want the ingredients combined: you don't want a light airy mass."

3. Gently add the flour, to which you have added the bicarb, alternately spoon by spoon, with the boiling water until you have a smooth and fairly liquid batter.

4. Pour into the lined loaf tin, and bake for 30 minutes. Turn the oven down to 170C/gas mark 3, and continue to cook for another 15 minutes. Nigella says: "The cake will still be a bit squidgy inside, so an inserted cake-tester or skewer won't come out completely clean." Charles says: "Unlike King Alfred, keep an eye on the top of the cake, to avoid burning."

5. Place the loaf tin on a rack, and leave to go completely cold before turning it out. Nigella says: "I often leave it for a day or so: like gingerbread, it improves."

Nigella's serving suggestions: Eat with ice cream; or with a bowl of straw-berries and a jug of white-coloured rum custard; or cold cream cheese.

8. Lose 4 stones

2011-01-03T14:36:00.002Z

First weigh in of the new year = first gain. Booooo! To be fair, I have eaten a truck load of chocolate, a macdonalds, a kebab,and loads of bread.
Back on the wagon tomorrow.

Happy Blog Birthday!

2011-01-01T23:04:00.002Z

My project is a year old! To celebrate I've had a cull of the things I'm not likely to do (my blog, my way ;o) ) and I'm looking for new stuff to add and new blogs to follow. I'd love to read yours, leave a comment and I'll check it out!

8. Lose 4 stones

2010-12-27T20:05:00.001Z

Lost 1/2lb this week, woo!

7. Make a Christmas cake

2010-12-21T14:07:00.003Z

So, not being one to do things by halves, I decided to make not one but nine christmas cakes! Ok, so they're only little ones but nine seperate cakes all the same.
I started back in October by soaking the fruit in brandy, then in November I made the actual cakes. For the last few weeks thay've been living in a cupboard and being fed brandy every few days.

And here they are, the finished articles. I've already given one to Lydia's teacher. Sadly I only have a rubbish iphone photo of that one, but trust me, it looked fab!

This is the recipe I followed Boozy Fruit and Christmas Cake

8. Lose 4 stones

2010-12-20T16:39:00.003Z

(I might blog about something else soon...)

Today's rather dull update is that I lost 1/2lb this week. Good considering the chicken fried rice, pizza, chocolate, biscuits, warm coconut macaroons etc etc.

Now, let's see if I can keep up my no gain record next week...

8. Lose 4 stones

2010-12-13T12:26:00.004Z

I didn't have high hopes this week. The Christmas thank you presents have started to arrive at work, as well as a chocolate hamper from our area manager.
Some kind of advent miracle occurred though and I lost 2.5lb again! I was so shocked I asked her to double check!

8. Lose 4 stones

2010-12-06T12:45:00.003Z

2.5lb off this week meant I finally got my stone award. I also got slimmer of the week and am currently looking for recipes involving 3 apples, 2 kiwi fruit, a grapefruit, a courgette and a packet of chicken and mushroom pasta 'n' sauce.

So, a quarter of the way to my original goal. I'm at the annoying point where my clothes are too big but the next size down is still too small, hopefully I can rectify that by christmas.

16. Bake once a month

2010-11-29T09:27:00.003Z

Chocolate Orange Panettone Recipe Here

8. Lose 4 stones

2010-11-22T13:17:00.004Z

A rather miraculous loss this week, only 0.5lb but I really was expecting to gain. I've eaten a tonne of celebrations at work and my friend Kerry forced me to eat scones with too much cream at the 1st birthday party of her youngest!

I've now set my target on the SW website, it always seemed too far away but now I've lost almost a quarter of my original target it seems more achievable. It estimates that if I keep losing at the rate I have been I can be at that goal by my birthday. Hopefully, if I get my arse into gear I can do it before then.

31. Get fitted for a bra

2010-11-16T19:56:00.000Z

I can no longer throw them over my shoulder like a regimental soldier. Not clothed anyway.

8. Lose 4 stones

2010-11-15T22:35:00.001Z

I maintained. Grump. And the first person to say it's better than gaining will get a punch in the nose.

86. Get new glasses

2010-11-09T12:00:00.003Z

I've put this off for ages. I hate wearing glasses. Really, really hate it. I'd have laser eye surgery in a shot but I'm beyond skint and would have to sell a kidney or a child to fund it. This is a bit tricky as I can't see anything without them. I've had my current ones for 5 years and they really needed changing as a) They're knackered, b) my delightfully tactful husband told me they were dated and c)I can't bloody see anything, even when I'm wearing them.
So finally this month I ~~was forced, kicking and screaming~~ popped along for an eye test. After being told off by the optician for not being able to read the eye chart, even with my glasses on (I told you, it's a wonder they haven't sent me a guide dog) I spend an hour looking at frames. I hated them all. Every single pair. Too big, too small, too narrow, too Dame Edna, the arms are too wide, the wrong colour, too Elton John...
It took me a week to find an acceptable pair, well two as they were buy one get one free. I'm still not sure about them, they're different. I like familiar.

8. Lose 4 stones

2010-11-08T12:26:00.003Z

2lb off. Consistency is my middle name. (it's not, it's Marie. Consistency is better though, more exotic, so I'm considering deed poll)

8. Lose 4 stones

2010-11-01T11:55:00.002Z

Another 2lb off this week, 10.5lb in total.

8. Lose 4 stones

2010-10-25T12:38:00.001+01:00

2lb off this week and my first award! Woo!

22. Visit 5 different museums

2010-10-22T20:07:00.003+01:00

Bolton Museum

It's half term, day 3. Three long days. We have a wobbly tooth so every other sentence is about the tooth fairy and when she's not talking about it she's wobbling it. Time to get out of the house! So off we went to Bolton.

First to the aquarium which has recently been made a bit more buggy friendly. It's only small but the girls enjoyed it, especially the exhibit about looking after the environment. Never has a retro crisp packet caused such excitement!

Lydia doing her best fish impression!

The upstairs to the museum. The local history exibit was closed (due to reopen tomorrow!) but we still managed to see the dinosaur, some (slightly horrific) mummies, and lots of other stuff. Best loved of all was the Noah's Ark. Lots of tantrums when it was time to move on!

It's a fabulous place and free! Much recommended by us.

7. Make a Christmas cake (part one!)

2010-10-20T18:54:00.005+01:00

So I've started my christmas cake! I bought the fruit weeks ago but I've only just got round to acquiring some brandy (thanks MIL!) I'm following the recipe from Ruth Clemens' blog The Pink Whisk (she was a finalist on the BBC programme The Great British Bake Off)

I've been soaking it since the weekend and stiring it everyday. It's currently living in the cupboards wrapped up in cling film and a tea towel.

It smells lush!

16. Bake once a month

2010-10-18T21:22:00.004+01:00

This month has been a quieter one, baking wise. I'm not really the kind of person who makes muffins with crushed up bran flakes, I'd rather do with out!
I got an urge to bake in saturday though, so I flicked through my new baking book and settled on lamingtons. And very good they are too (I've eaten several since weigh in!)

15. Cook 10 things from a recipe

2010-10-18T19:44:00.003+01:00

Slimming World Lamb Dhansak (from SW magazine October 2010)

Serves 4

Fry Light
1 carrot, chopped
1 onion, chopped
1 red pepper, deseeded and chopped
1 garlic clove, crushed
2.5cm fresh root ginger (i used my namesake, lazy ginger!)
1tbsp tandoori spice mix
397g lamb, cubed
255g cherry tomatoes
400g can green lentils inc water (I did this in the slow cooker and it was too watery.would leave the water out next time)
284ml lamb stock
salt and pepper
basmati rice
fresh corriander (i left this out. fresh corriander has no place in my house. bleugh)

Spray a large, deep frying pan with fry light and place over a medium heat. Add the onion, carrot and red pepper and cook, uncovered for 10 minutes.

Add the garlic, ginger and spice mix and cook for a further 2 minutes, stiring constantly.

Stir in the lamb, cherry tomatoes, lentils and lamb stock. Season well and bring to the boil. Cover and cook for 25 minutes until lamb is tender. Cook the rice in boiling water for 10 minutes and drain.

When the curry is ready, stir in most of the coriander and check the seasoning. Sprinkle the remaining corriander over the curry and serve with the rice (but no naan bread as a sharwoods plain naan is 16.5 syns!!)

8. Lose 4 stones

2010-10-18T19:33:00.002+01:00

Half a pound. Half a measly pound.
I weighed at a different time of day so that'll be it won't it? It'll mean a better loss next week won't it? (the only acceptable answer is yes by the way!)

8. Lose 4 stones

2010-10-11T11:59:00.003+01:00

2lb off this week. Treated myself to a stale cake from Greenhalghs. This town needs a Starbucks!

8. Lose 4 stones

2010-10-04T13:33:00.002+01:00

So I've made a start on #8. I've joined ~~Fat Fighters~~ Slimming World.
First weigh in this week and I've lost 4lb.

16. Bake once a month

2010-09-26T14:33:00.002+01:00

I've baked a few times this month. For the school autumn fayre I made Rocky Road, Brownies and fairy cakes (pink glitter for girls and Ben 10 for boys. Nothing like a gender stereotype cupcake topping!) People were very complementary and my tins came back empty so I presume they were ok!

I also made Victoria Sponge cupcakes which were fabulous in my head but slightly disastrous in real life (all the jam sank to the bottom) but apparently went down with Paul's colleagues!

Yesterday as a treat for no crying at swimming lessons (hey, bribery is a mum's best friend) we made smarties cookies. Biscuits are not my forte. They're kind of like unrisen cakes (there's some ingredients mentioned in the method that aren't on the list which threw me a bit) but they're edible. It could be that I'm just greedy and will eat anything though...

34. Go swimming with the children

2010-09-07T22:25:00.002+01:00

Obviously there's no pictures. I contemplated taking a picture of us outside the pool but wasn't sure that being labeled a nutter was much better than a pervert. I may go back and recreate the moment when the pool is closed (would that make me less of a nutter or more?)

I've not been swimming for 6 years, since I was thinner. Thanks to this project I've bought a costume (two actually, thanks to the children helpfully removing the labels so I couldn't send one back) and actually been swimming. I actually had fun. Well, if I ignore the part where I couldn't find my underwear. I was panicking ever so slightly. I couldn't decide which would be worse, going without any underwear or asking at reception if anyone had handed it in. Turns out I'd stashed it in the leg of my jeans, presumably so I'd know where it was. Oh and the less said about Lydia weeing on my flip flops the better...

Triple Whammy!

2010-08-31T09:49:00.004+01:00

A day out to the seaside on a lovely, sunny bank holiday meant I could cross three things off my list!

24. Paddle in the sea

80. Build a sandcastle

98. Visit a place I haven't been since childhood

I also managed to get a family photo (by getting Paul to balance the camera on a wooden post whilst I shouted "Don't knock it off!" "If you drop it in the sand I'll cry!" and other helpful things.)

13. Have 10 family photographs taken

11. Go on 10 dates

2010-08-29T13:28:00.004+01:00

I can't help but think I was being slightly ambitious when I thought up my list. 10 dates? 8 months in and I've only managed 1! We, I mean we.

Anyway, yesterday was our anniversary. We've been married 6 years now. Here we are, the happy couple. We scrub up ok don't we? Shame that was the last time I actually scrubbed up at all!

So, my mum looked after the children while we went to the cinema. It was the first time I'd been to the cinema to see an adult film (hey, not that kind of adult film!) in more than five years. When we got there I realised why. How expensive? £7.50 each for the film, £7.40 for a hotdog and a coke. Mental. But I enjoyed it, and I even laughed at Adam Sandler.

35. Throw away 10 things from each room

2010-08-25T20:48:00.002+01:00

I've had a bit of a clearout of Lydia's wardrobe. I was supposed to be looking for stuff to eBay but I got distracted by the 5 years of birthday and christmas cards that were in there. I decided to keep just the 1st birthday ones and then the ones from mummy and daddy for the other birthdays. The amount I'd saved was starting to get ridiculous. I also binned the shoe boxes I'd been inexplicably been keeping. I have no idea how it all fitted in as I seem to have thrown lots away but created no extra space!
Hopefully my clutter mission will continue at the weekend!

16. Bake once a month

2010-08-06T20:55:00.004+01:00

It's only the 6th of the month and I've already baked twice!

Brownies: http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/1223/bestever-brownies?pager.offset=120
They really are the best ever! I put turkish delight in mine (I seem to have a fetish, I made (slightly disastrous) TD cupcakes last week too) They were fantastic. I'm rubbish at brownies. I made some a few weeks ago that were like chocolate cake that wasn't quite cooked through, urgh. Have I mentioned how good these were? Delicious!

Fairy Cakes: I intended taking some of the brownies to work but I ate them all instead. So yesterday I knocked up a quick batch of buns. Well, it was supposed to be quick but I was a bit mithered and was trying to simultaneously make tea. Result = 1 egg smashed all over the floor and one tray or slightly over cooked chips! Still, the cakes went down ok. I might even do it again for them!

22. Visit 5 different museums

2010-07-28T23:08:00.004+01:00

We paid a visit to the grandly titled Museum of Museums today. The reality isn't quite as grand! Situated in an old warehouse at the Trafford Centre, it comprises lots of exibits from other museums including an exibit about the FA cup from The National Football museum, some vintage cars, a couple of trams and buses, some cool vintage ice cream vans and some war memorabilia.

We enjoyed it (Charlotte possibly less than the rest of us, she spent a lot of the time saying "I go home Now!") and Paul got to harp on a bit about Bolton Wanderers and the White Horse cup final (first football game at wembley, estimated 300,000 fans, Bolton won 1-0 blah blah blah. I do listen sometimes!)

It's not fully open at the moment so entrance is free (normally £6 for adults and £4 for children, personally I doubt it's worth that, unless they get a lot more stuff, but I'm a bit tight now I have to pay for 4 people!)

http://www.museumofmuseums.org.uk/

16. Bake once a month

2010-07-13T21:17:00.004+01:00

July's bake isn't really a bake at all (I have made other things, pistachio cupcakes, but I didn't take any nice photos!) Lydia and I made Rocky Road for her to give to her teacher as a present. Yummy and very easy, even for a 5 year old!

83. Listen to 10 artists I've never heard of

2010-07-07T23:14:00.004+01:00

4/10 Eliza Doolittle.

It's quite possible that everyone else has heard of her and are wondering if I've been living on the moon. I don't get much chance to listen to the radio at home and I used to keep up to date with new stuff at work but now we're not allowed a radio *weep*
Anyway, I read something in a gossip column about Eliza Doolittle (it was the daily mail but keep that to yourselves ok) so I looked her up on We7.com (I've ditched spotify, we7 is much better). It turns out I quite like her. Maybe new music isn't all noise.

Quick catch up

2010-07-04T20:34:00.003+01:00

16. Bake once a month
I baked fairycakes for my sister's birthday. This month I'm going to try and bake something other than cupcakes!

20. Go to the theatre
I took Lydia to the Octagon in Bolton to see a fabulous adaptation of Whatever Next!
We both loved it (me a little bit more than her possibly!)

75. Grow and eat our own strawberries
I've planted a little strawberry plant in a pot at the back, fingers crossed we get some fruit from it!

17. Make birthday cakes for each of the girl's birthdays

2010-07-04T20:01:00.004+01:00

For Lydia's birthday I decided to make not one, but 24 cakes!

She wanted Hannah Montana cakes so I bought little plastic rings from ebay for the top of them. I had a little wobble midweek and decided to buy a plastic flavoured one from Morrisons. Then I had an unexpected morning off work on friday so I decided to give them a go. They turned out much better than I had expected them too. So good I've been asked to bake for the PTA's autumn fair!

9. Read 10 books

2010-06-01T00:16:00.005+01:00

I've just this minute finished another book! Since I finished the last I've tried to read a few more (twilight-rubbish, latest Marian Keyes- not as good as her others) but I find it hard to read these days. Too much internet I suspect. Anyway, cutting to the chase, I picked up Girl Friday by Jane Green in the supermarket. I've read a few of her early ones when I used to read a book a week on my journey to and from Manchester but I've read nothing of hers for years. It's got shocking reviews on Amazon but I thought it was ok, typical chick lit which, to be honest, is the best I can manage these days!

56. Make a daisy chain

2010-05-24T23:36:00.004+01:00

Modern daisies are not like the daisies of my childhood. For a start there aren't millions of the pink tipped beauties everywhere you look. Maybe there still is on the school field but I think they'd object to me just rocking up 15 years later to pick daisies. And they might ask for the Tricolore back.
Anyway, the ones in my mum's garden are a lot weedier than old school daisies, thinner stems which made nipping them with my (much bigger) hands very difficult. It took me ages to do and I was quite proud that I'd managed it.
Then this happened. Trashed in seconds and I remembered why I hadn't spent much time making daisy chains in recent years.

May 17th 2010

2010-05-17T22:24:00.007+01:00

So, as it turns out I'm a rubbish blogger. Who knew? (people who subscribed to my last blog, hush now) So this is another catch up post! I promise I'll get better. And I haven't got my fingers crossed behind my back or anything.

15. Cook 10 things from a recipe
This month I've been meal planning in an effort to eat better. Nothing fancy, spag bol, sausage casserole that kind of thing. I googled for ideas and found a recipe for Spanish Rice on netmums that we tried. It was lovely and easy and I'll definitely make it again.

16. Bake once a month
A while ago I was seduced into buying novelty shaped cupcake cases in John Lewis. I hadn't had chance to try them out until last week when Lydia had her class dog to stay (not a real dog, they'd have had no hope of her going near one of those never mind having her picture taken with it!) We had to do lots of 'fun' things with him so Lydia could write in his diary. So, chocolate cupcakes it was!

26. Wear make up, just because
Today I am wearing make up and the most exciting place I went was Morrisons. That's definitely just because!

28. Give away all the books that won't be read
I've had a big clearout of all my books. We've got nowhere for bookshelves so they're just gathering dust under the bed. I've kept the ones I love and the ones I'll read again then I've put 2 huge boxes in the cellar for carboot season. There were some baby books that I wanted to get rid of but I didn't really want to sell (I have no idea why, I think it's the idea of people trying to haggle over the price of things that mean something to me) so I packaged them up and sent them to my lovely friend Laura who is expecting her first baby. I hope they're as helpful to her as they were to me. (I binned the unhelpful, Gina Ford type ones long ago!)

35. Throw away 10 things from each room
This month I blitzed the bathroom where I threw out lots and lots of half used shampoos and things. I also cleared my bedroom, as well as shifting all the books out I chucked handbags and shoes and made a big ebay pile.

47. Release a balloon with a message on a label
When a kind man in Clinton Cards gave the girls a balloon each we decided to attach a label to one and let it go. Now I have to decide whether I should write her a letter myself or wait and see if someone really finds it and writes to us!

65. Text or email a friend every month
One of my oldest friends is pregnant and I sent her a quick text to say hi and that I hope she's doing ok.

84. Have a pro photo taken of Charlotte
Tried. Failed. She hates men, including photographers. We'll try again in a couple of months!

96. Be strict and delete all the rubbish photos
Tried. Failed miserabley. I looked at the first file and I couldn't delete any! There are 30 photos. All 30 are rubbish. Complete crap. I still couldn't bear to delete them. They're more than just photos, they're moments in time, moments I'll never get back. I'll buy a hard drive.

97. Get copies of all the old photos and make an album
My mum gave me some photos of me that were from the albums she took from my nana and grandad's house when my nana died. I bought an album and put them in (this is very good going for me, I have drawers of photos and drawers of albums. They rarely meet.)

April 11th 2010

2010-04-13T13:50:00.000+01:00

19. Have a picnic in the park.

Woo hoo! It's sunny!
For Charlotte's birthday I decided to invite a few friends round and have a little teddies bears carpet picnic. Our house is teeny so it was to be an intimate affair and not much chance of letting the children play outside in our courtyard garden *cough* as the weather was predicted to be grim (when I decided to host there was supposed to be snow on its way!). If only I'd known that the weatherman would be so wrong. It was a glorious weekend so a quick change of plan meant we headed off to the park.
Our local park used to be rubbish, only a year ago I blogged (in my rather neglected park blog) about how rubbish it was. 2 swings and a rubbish slide thing. And lots of dog poo and broken bottles. Oh how it has changed! There's park benches, lots of little children's equipment, a deathslide, some big swings. Fab.
We threw down some blankets and cracked open the sandwiches. The children had a fab time and so did we. I think we needed wine though. Must plan better next time.
It's such a shame that the weather can't be guaranteed, it would have been lovely to invite everyone but I couldn't risk that it might rain and we'd all be wedged in our front room!

April 10th 2010

2010-04-13T13:32:00.000+01:00

16. Bake once a month

Continuing the 'Birthday Weekend' (I thought you only got those when you turned 18 or something. 2 is little, hope we're not setting a precedent) I made baby owl cakes to go with the now deceased mummy owl. Poor orphan owl cakes.

April 9th 2010

2010-04-13T12:41:00.000+01:00

89. Visit a farm

April 9th was my baby's birthday. Not so much of a baby now, a big number two girl who can talk, and is starting to count, surf the internet and browse you tube on an iphone and spending most of her time arguing and fighting with her sister. Bliss...

Anyway for her birthday we decided to go to a farm a few friends had recommended, Park Fold Open Farm in Bolton. I've always been a bit wary of open farms, there's quite a few big ones around here where they seem to want to bleed every last penny from you by having animal themed bouncy castles and huge entrance fees.Not that I've ever been to one, that's just the impression I've got when I've looked into it. I wanted something a bit more like an actual farm. But clean. No stinky pigs for me! Park Fold is exactly that, it was lovely. Because of the time of year there was chicks and ducklings, lambs and piglets. Lydia got to feed a lamb (Charlotte wouldn't go near, she wouldn't even stroke one) and we petted rabbits and guinea pigs. The girls played on tractors outside (we had a fabulous day, the first of a few days of lovely spring sunshine). We even went on a tractor ride (This was a bit hairy and at times I imagined overturning into the pond and how our horrific deaths would be reported in the Daily Mail. I'm a touch melodramatic.)

Much fun was had by all. Even me.

April 8th 2010

2010-04-13T11:28:00.000+01:00

17. Make birthday cakes for each of the girl's birthdays

So, here it is, the first of the birthday cakes!

Charlotte turned two on April 9th. At the moment we have a bit of a thing for owls, I seem to be subconsciously drawn to them, and we have lots of clothes with owls on. A while ago my lovely friend spud made one for one of her megaboys and I fell in love with it. It looks fantastic but was so simple to make and it tasted quite delicious too. Sadly there wasn't much to taste. After a birthday tea at my parents I carefully put the cake into the tin, using the lid as the base so the sides wouldn't get squashed when I was getting it in and out. I then carefully handed it to my husband, explaining that the tin was supposed to be upside down so not to turn it the right way. Then he carefully carried it outside and dropped it on the drive. I might have had a small breakdown.

March 13th 2010

2010-03-17T00:03:00.000Z

25. Buy 10 bunches of flowers

I bought Paul's mum some tulips for mothering sunday and whilst I was there I picked up a bunch of dafodils for myself. They've not opened yet, I'll take a photo when they do as they're very spring like!

March 16th 2010

2010-03-16T23:56:00.000Z

5. Have my haircut every 6 months

I went in and told her to do what ever she wanted. I'm not sure I'm feeling the love atm, I'm telling myself it will grow. My fringe is already doing my head in, and as we speak I have one of Lydia's clips clipping it out of my eyes!

March 15th 2010

2010-03-16T23:46:00.000Z

16. Bake once a month

Last month I bought a new cupcake book, the Primrose Bakery cookbook. There are some gorgeous cakes in it, the peanut butter ones were lovely.

Today I made coffee cakes with coffee buttercream. Yum!

I am a bad, bad blogger!

2010-03-03T19:40:00.000Z

I have been keeping up with the list though, honestly! February was a little bit hectic and Lydia was off school for 2 weeks after she developed chicken pox part way through half term! So, I'll catch up here the things that I've done.

10. Send 10 cards, just because
I sent Dawn a fab card with old ladies in a social club on the front to let her know I was thinking about her.

16. Bake once a month
This month I made themed chicken pox cupcakes with Lydia!

25. Buy 10 bunches of flowers
I bought myself some gorgeous tulips

35. Throw away 10 things from each room
I had a clear out of some of the junk in the kitchen, I think it might take a few goes to make it look clutter free though!

52. Get curtains for the lounge
I did it!! We've lived here almost 10 years now and have never had any curtains! We're up steps and not overlooked so it never seemed like a priority but when I saw some nice ones reduced at Tesco direct I decided to go for it. The window is huge so all the ones I really like are very expensive so I just got some plain ones.

55. Dance around with the girls once a week
I love doing this! Lydia calls them slipper parties as I get them ready for bed and we have a last minute burst of energy before milk and stories. Paul's just got Just Dance for the wii so I expect that will be brought out regularly now!

65. Text or email a friend every month
Text my lovely friend to let her know I was thinking of her.

87. Get an iPhone
Wooo! I got it the minute my contract was up! Love it, currently boring everyone with photos of every boring detail of everything, just because I can!

See, I have been productive. Kind of! Must update more in March!

I failed!

2010-02-11T13:55:00.000Z

7. Spend 1 day without internet each month (0/33)

I couldn't go a whole day without logging on. I tried so hard! There were days when I didn't log on all day but then forgot and checked facebook on my ipod. Or I suddenly needed something from Next! I am addicted. Instead of cutting it out totally for one day I'm going to try to stay off when the girls are around.

I watched this very apt children's programme this morning:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00qp1pm

And this article:
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/features/2843636/Meet-single-mum-addicted-to-the-internet.html

February 11th 2010

2010-02-11T13:31:00.000Z

9. Read 10 books

I've just finished my first book! Not my first book ever, but my first book for a long time. I find it really hard to concentrate since I had babies. I find I need complete silence to read and that doesn't happen often and even when it does I'm glued to the internet.

So the first book was Dear Fatty by Dawn French. I bought it ages ago after someone told me they'd enjoyed it but never quite got round to reading it. I enjoyed it too. It was very funny in parts and also quite sad, I had a good old weep!
If anyone wants to read it I'm happy to pass it on.

January 24rd 2010

2010-01-25T21:04:00.000Z

21. Go to the cinema

On sunday morning we got up early (too early for a sunday, sundays should be alarm free) and took the girls to the cinema as a treat for Lydia's good schoolwork. Kids AM is only 95p each so if they didn't like it then it wasn't a massive loss. One of the reasons I've not been to the cinema is the extortionate price (that and the fact Dave has fallen asleep during every film I've ever watched with him)
Charlotte was surprisingly good. She's a bit of a menace at the best of times so I was slightly worried about taking her somewhere she'd be enclosed and have to stay quiet. Three packets of raisins and almost a whole tub of popcorn kept her occupied though!

This is what we went to see. I secretly enjoyed it. Guinea Pigs rock.

The girls waiting for the film to start. I didn't get any decent photos as Lydia puts her hands over her face, Victoria Beckham style, when the flash goes off!

January 19th 2010

2010-01-19T22:27:00.000Z

83. Listen to 10 artists I've never heard of

Today I posted on twitter asking for recommendations of new music I could listen to. A couple of people replied (Nic, Powderfinger are indeed fab but I'd heard of them so they couldn't count). One of them was Blake McKibben. He asked if I'd look him up on iTunes if I had the time. So I did. I listened to the little snippet things and it sounded ok so I downloaded it. It's fab, I love it and have already listened twice. The internet rocks. Sometimes.

Here's the link to his stuff on iTunes if anyone wants to give him a listen
http://tiny.cc/blakemckibben

January 9th 2010

2010-01-09T20:30:00.000Z

83. Listen to 10 artists I've never heard of

Ellie Goulding
I came across her name whilst reading the bbc news website. She's won the BBC's Sound of 2010. Apparently "her "folktronica" sound mixes a traditional acoustic approach with a more cutting-edge electronic style".

I'm starting to think I haven't heard of these people for a reason and I should stick to Girls Aloud!

94. Watch all the upopened dvds I own

Last night I watched Devil Wears Prada. I bought it when it first came out on DVD as I reallyy wanted to see it at the cinema but I didn't have anyone to see it with (what's that I hear? Is it a small violin ;o) ) As with every other DVD I've bought in the last few years it's been on the shelf, unwatched.
I actually really enjoyed it and it was good to turn off the laptop for a while.

January 7th 2010

2010-01-09T00:41:00.000Z

16. Bake once a month

Another snow day and I'm starting to go a bit stir crazy. I thought baking with two was a bit ambitious (especially when one of the two is Charlotte) so we opted for something easy. Chocolate Wheels.

Take a sheet of ready rolled puff pastry, spread with chocolate spread, roll up, slice, bake for 20 minutes.

I put them in the oven so it's baking, ok?

January 5th 2010

2010-01-05T18:29:00.000Z

49. Build a snowman

When my husband woke me up at 7am to tell me that I wouldn't have to get up to get L to school (I know, he could have quietly turned the alarm clock of and left me to sleep!), I knew there was one task I would be able to cross off. There was a bit of snow when I went to bed so I thought I could make a mini one today but no, when I got up it was indeed deep. Wooohooo!

To set the scene, this is the street outside my house. Lydia is lying in the middle of it. The car is parked, it looks like I've thrown her in front of a moving car but I haven't!

This is the side of my house (and Paul building a bigger and better snowman)

And here we are, me and my snowman!

January 4th 2010

2010-01-04T23:18:00.000Z

12. Put photographs in every frame I own

This might not seem like an important task but trust me, if you could see how many photoless frames i have you would realise I'm not far out with my estimate! There is also quite an imbalance between the photos of the children. Definitely precious first born syndrome. It's going to be quite a while before I can cross this off The List.
So, this is the first photograph I've put in a frame. What's bad is that I don't think I like the frame. I think it needs a plain frame and a mount. There's only one thing for it, I'll have to buy another frame...

January 3rd 2010

2010-01-04T00:40:00.000Z

83. Listen to 10 artists I've never heard of

A friend suggested that I check out Laura Marling. I looked her up on spotify (how good is that by the way? can't believe I only got it this week). I'm on track 7 and I'm still not sure if I like her or not. I will give her another listen another day, maybe she's a grower.

Please feel free to suggest stuff I might not of heard of. Some of my favorite music has happened on my this way.

January 1st 2010

2010-01-01T22:59:00.000Z

So here it is. The start of a new year, of a new decade and of a new challenge for me.

I first heard of the 101 things in 1001 days project last year when a few virtual friends started their projects. I tried to make a list then but I didn't get very far and I soon lost interest. I followed some of their blogs and decided that one day I'd join in with them, if I could think of enough exciting things to put on my list. And so today is that day.

Whilst compiling my list I decided that the things didn't have to be huge things, or important things or even very exciting but that they must all mean something to me. I hope they might be of interest to some of you too.

I do reserve the right to change my list at anytime, it's my project remember!

So, here we go...