Project Life 2015 | Recording Our Family Moments

Happy hump day!

I couldn't help but add this picture in of Ozzy sat at the table watching me take photo's. (I didn't eat all of that chocolate although I may have helped hehe). 

This year as our family has extended I have decided that I need to record more of our precious moments together. Over the years I have had loads of digital photos, however as I have had laptop disasters or software failures I have lost a lot of these images. 

I was going to do just a normal family album or attempt to scrapbook but after watching a few YouTube videos I decided that I would give Project Life a go. 

All of the above were purchased from Hobbycraft online.

To start my project I selected a D ring binder in Jade , project life mini kit - the baby boy edition, the 3x4 Jade edition insert cards and the big variety pack of inserts.

This was enough to get me started. The pens that I began to use were the Sharpie fine point markers. After using these on a few pages I was not happy with the result especially when I had used them on the Baby Boy inserts, as the ink had ran through meaning that I could not use the other side to write on. 

Some people may be fine with this as it is possible to put a different card on the other side, trying to be thrifty though I would rather write on both sides so that I can stretch the cards out further.   

So I decided to invest in some different pens from Paperchase, I prefer to write in black rather than blue but these are available in both colours. 

Whilst in there I found the sticker stand and just couldn't resist buying a few packs to jazz up some pages in the future. I was surprised at the price as well, these packs were between £1 and £1.50, I thought that this was really reasonable.   

  This is just a sneak peek at one of the pages I have done so far. I have been finding it so enjoyable looking through the photo's of Edwards first few weeks and putting them into the album. 

I plan on posting more about Project Life, if there are any questions that you have about it feel free to leave me a question in the comments. 

xx

All opinions are my own and this post is not sponsored. 

Busy Day

Hello Lovelies, 

Yesterday we had our appointment to register Edward, we had to wait 3 weeks as the register office is so busy at this time of year. 

We had to be at the appointment for 9am, we had to set off at 8am and only just managed to make it on time! I forgot how crazy the traffic can be in Sheffield on a week day. 

We had to find somewhere to feed Edward as he was getting restless. Luckily there was a Costa close by. I was also in need of a coffee after the early get up (we shared a cheeky chocolate twist as well). 

After a quick trip to the hair dressers for Anthony we had a look around a few shops and then headed to Meadowhall. Anthony treated me to a Zizzi's, I would definitely recommend the calamari starter it's delicious! 

So after a busy day yesterday I am staying at home, having a pj day and watching Les Misérables. 

I hope you all have a great day whatever you are doing. 

xx

Country Walks| OOTD

Hello Lovelies,

This week we had our first walk in the village where we live. We are very lucky to be currently living in an area which is surrounded by countryside, I had been waiting for a day when the weather was not as wet. 

We all wrapped up warm in our woollies and Edward wore his winter friends Snow Suit in his pram to keep him extra snug. Anthony's parents had taken Ozzy for a walk so we have yet to go on a full family walk but I don't think it will be too long. 

I got my selfie stick ready to take with us but then found out I had forgotten it. I think baby brain has continued from pregnancy. 

It's a good job that Anthony is tall enough to get a decent picture of us.  

I love this (apart from my hair being tucked under my scarf). 

It ended up being a pretty windy walk so I had to wrap my scarf around me more to keep myself warm. 

OOTD: My hat, scarf and coat are recent buys from New Look. Jeans are maternity Joni jeans from Topshop, these are by far the most comfortable maternity jeans that I have. The mittens are what My mum makes and sells they are upcycled from old woollen jumpers and lined with fleece, they are amazingly warm and cosy.

It was so nice to get out in the fresh air and have a gentle exercise. Edward slept for the whole walk.

What have you been up to this week? Also if you have a blog leave me a link in the comments and I'll have a sneaky peek. 

xx

Everything's Changing | 2015

Hello Lovelies, 

I hope you all had a fantastic Christmas and New Year. This years Christmas for me was a little different, if you have been following my blog or instagram you will know that my due date was on the 26th of December. 

From Christmas day until around my Birthday on the 3rd of January all seems to be a bit of a Blur. We welcomed our bundle of joy on the 27th of December after my waters broke at midnight of the 26th. (It just so happens that this is the day that the deep snow decided to fall in Sheffield). 

Anthony dug the car out of the snow as soon as my waters had gone to prepare for the journey to the hospital. We went in at 4.30am and by 7.16pm on the 27th we had welcomed our little boy, Edward Anthony. I am so pleased that I did not have a birth plan as I think I would have been very disappointed. I may post about my labour at another time.

I can honestly say that I have never been so in love. Our lives have changed completely and we wouldn't change it for the world! 

Week one :D

 I will hopefully be blogging a lot more this year along with recording our family memories in different ways. Anthony very kindly bought me a new camera for Christmas with some accessories and for my birthday I also got a selfie stick and other accessories from my sister. 

Thanks for reading

xx

Chocolate Chunk Cupcakes

Happy Thursday Lovelies, 

This weekend it was my Sister in laws birthday, we spent the weekend visiting Welbeck open art studios and baking cupcakes. 

We had to use an american recipe for the cupcakes as Sannie did not have any weighing scales and I didn't take mine. I will list the recipe that we used and a recipe with measurements in grams as well. 

Cups 

• 1 cup of unsalted butter
• 1 cup of caster sugar 
• 2 and 1/2 cups of self-raising flour
• 3 eggs 
• 1/2 cup of milk 
• 1 teaspoon of baking powder

Grams 

• 150g unsalted butter 
• 150g caster sugar
• 150g self-raising flour 
• 3 eggs
• 1 teaspoon of baking powder 

You can add any flavouring to the mixtures, we chopped up a cheap chocolate bar to make choc chunks and added these. 

Method

1. Preheat oven to 180 degrees F
2. Place bun/muffin cases into a muffin tin 
3. Cream the butter and sugar
4. Mix in eggs and flour a little at a time 
5. Add baking powder and mix
6. Mix in chopped chocolate   
7. Spoon mixture into cases 
8. Place in oven for 10-12 mins or until golden brown on top
9. Place cupcakes on a cooling wire and leave to fully cool 
10. The fun part DECORATING time!! 

We forgot to add baking powder ooops!!

To decorate the cupcakes we cheated and bough Dr. Oetker chocolate icing in a can.(I would highly recommend this if you are not to keen on having to wash a lot of dishes) I did find that the can only decorated around 8 cupcakes though. 

For toppings we used Asda's own popping candy and chocolate toppings which included; white chocolate stars, white, dark and milk choc covered cereal, milk choc covered toffee pieces and brownie pieces. 

We also had a bag of matchsticks, I found that I ate more of these than I used for decorating haha. 

This was the result!!

 

Nearer Christmas I will hopefully be doing more Christmas themed baking, as long as I have the time and energy. Baby is definitely taking up a lot of energy at the minute and when he's here I'm sure I will be very busy, but I will hopefully have more mummy and baby posts :D.   

Let me know if you have a go at making your own cakes or any cheats that you have for decorating. 

xx

Christmas Nails, Blogmas (Maybe)

Hello Lovelies, 

I can't believe that it is December already! Where has the time gone, not only is it nearly Christmas but it's also nearly my due date eeeekkk. 

I was going to start a YouTube channel but feeling huge, emotional and the fact that at any point I will be having a baby, I decided that maybe it's not the right time. So instead of filming vlogs etc. I opted for trying to blog more through Xmas. 

I have a list of blog posts that I want to do so hopefully I will be able to upload more, I'm not making any promises though, just in case haha.   

So here is the first Blogmas post. Christmas nails. I have searched through my nail varnish collection for the most Christamassy/ Wintery colours that I have. I may have even purchased a couple more.

Before painting my nails I always use collections 2 in 1 Base Coat and Ridge Filler. I find that this gives me an even base to cover over. It also protects my nails from staining if using a darker colour.

I may post some combinations and nail art using the varnishes. Let me know in the comments if you would like to see this post. 

 Usually around Christmas I tend to stick to my Reds and Glitter, however this year I have also been loving Icy Blue shades. 
Left to right here are Ciaté caviar pearls midnight in mahattan, this was one from last years Ciaté mini mani Christmas Calendar, next is Barry M that I was gifted last year (I think), I believe that it was a superdrug special, Sinful Colors in the shade Cinerella has been a go to this year, it is such a lovely shade. Last but not least in the Icy Blues and glitter is Collection Bedazzled nail effect in the shade Razzle Dazzle. This has silver and blue glitter in, I love to use it on it's own or as a top coat.

  The Ciaté mini caviar and glitter (sprinkles) are from my advent calendar last year. R to L: Twinkle Toes, Metallic Pearls - silver, Caviar Pearls Metallic gold, Sequin dallas dolly, Caviar cookies and cream and varnish Fit for a Queen. 

Onto the classic Christmas reds and glitter. Ciaté boudoir  and Barry M red glitter. The Barry M glitter is more of a full varnish than a glitter top coat. 

Essie shades are; A List (Red) and Set in Stones. These were my cheeky purchases from the weekend when I was supposed to be Christmas shopping ooopsie. I haven't used these myself yet but did paint both of my sisters nails, I have to say that I was impressed with the application of the essie polishes. 

xx

Pregnancy update

Hello lovelies, 

Just a really quick update today. Firstly want to say so sorry for the lack of blogging. It's something that I really enjoy doing and need to get back into again. 

I am now 32 weeks and 2 days, so we have at least 8 weeks until we get to meet our baby boy. I'm so excited, I can honestly say that I am ready to start getting things a bit more organised.

On the agenda for this week is: packing hospital bags because realistically baby could decide to arrive at anytime now. Attending modwife and antenatal appointments and then some well needed rest. 

I will be uploading a hospital bag post for both me and baby in the next week or so. I have a few of the necessary items that I need and I have to get some more. 

Any suggestions of what I need to take or what you found useful? 

Also through December I am thinking of doing vlogmas / lead up to baby vlogs on YouTube. It is something that I have thought about doing a lot but I'm a bit nervous about getting started. Actually picking up the camera and talking down the lense is a bit daunting. 

Any advice? 

Hope you've all had a fantastic weekend. Let me know what you've been up to. 

Lillybet xx