Art Project - Thumbprints Thursday, Spider!

Art Project - Winter Wonderland Wednesday,

Christmas may be over but boy it's still winter. What with a New Year approaching fast I thought today's project could be to make a calendar. There are plenty of places online where you can make your own and have them printed and posted to you or print up yourself. Or you could just create a table using Word or something and make up a calendar yourself and add a picture/photo/drawing. Another way is to draw a table using paper, a ruler and pens/pencils and add your own photo/picture drawing. Or just simply do a line a day and no table format needed. So much choice!

Here's a set I created on flickr of photos I was going to use to make a 2010 Calendar but as of yet I'm not sure I like the photos I chose.

Instead what I like the sound of today is to get Callum and I (well if I can drag that son of mine away from the PS3!) to make our own from scratch. I'm thinking of using a selection of photos he likes and getting him to do some drawings and we'll maybe go the line a day route. Also it's a project that can be an ongoing monthly one, you could create each month just as it approaches and then add to that any important dates. The world is your oyster.

Right now I'm off to see if I can get started. Fingers crossed I can and we have something to show you all.

Life through a lens - Tribute Tuesday, my sister Eleanor

This week it is my sister Eleanor's turn to be under the spotlight. Well I say under the spotlight but as we found out on Boxing Day there really isn't anything humiliating any of us could come up with for Eleanor.




See how beautiful she is?!?! Well actually all my sisters are but Els I've always thought is the prettiest of us all... sorry rest of you. :D

Of course now we call her Goldilocks because a few months ago she went blond but you know what, it really suits her! So erm yeah Els...

• She did a degree in partying at Cheltenham Uni... or whatever its proper name was.

• She's a complete fashion victim but boy you want to take her shopping with you for clothes, she has fantastic taste.

• Els and our other sister Frankie fight over who is "Favourite Auntie" and try to bribe the kids. lol.

• Our birthdays are 5 days apart and when she was 11 years old I was 22 years old and that same yeah our Dad (who's birthday is the day before Els) was 44 years old.
  

• Daz always remembers when he first met Els, she was this shy 11 year old who hid in her room. She's not so shy these days.
  

• Although she doesn't believe she is she is beautiful and not just on the outside but the inside too. She is a blast to hang out with and when needs be and she needs to act like a big kid and get down with the youngsters she does. So cheers Els for being a great sis along with the others.

Life through a lens - Micellaneous Monday

Lazy day today, just got back from shopping with hubby and crazy son. Utterly exhausted and crazy son is hyper as anything... JOYS!

This was taken Christmas Day when we took a family walk over to Hainault Forest. I love how in Hainault Forest (well it's probably like it in most forests) there are always so many fallen trees that are great fun for kids. Callum loved this particular tree.

Life through a lens - Surprise Sunday, Berry Red

On Christmas Day we decided to go over to Hainault Forest for a pre-dinner walk and... we took the dog. There was lots of ice, wet muddy puddles and a few people but not much colour.

Apart from this!


It was pretty much the only bit of colour we saw in the whole walk. Also I know it's not the most perfect photo but I'm starting to find being six and a half months pregnant a little bit limiting to getting certain shots, especially when you're surrounded by slippery mud and ice.

Life through a lens - Showcase Saturday, No More Photos!!!

I sometimes get comments on my photos of Callum about how great he is at modelling for me. As you can see above that's not always the case... still you can sometimes get a fun photo out of those moments.

Life through a lens + Art Project - Foody Friday, Christmas Dinner!

It has to be done. Of course you'll have to wait for photos... if I get the chance to take any.

This year we're having chicken (turkey prices were stupid and for the same price and less than half the cost we got a chicken).

Obviously cooking times will vary depending on the size of your turkey/chicken but you can prepare this the same way for either bird.

Wash and if necessary de-pluck any remaining feathers. Pat dry the top of the carcass with some kitchen towel to remove all water.

In a bowl mix some butter, some chopped herbs (I prefer curly parsley, sage and chives) and some seasoning (I use chicken seasoning you buy from the supermarket), the measurements again alter depending on the size of your bird, you want enough to be able to stuff under the whole of the skin.

Once mixed together carefully using a spoon push the mixture under the skin of the bird, you may beforehand need to carefully go through with your hands and make room, be careful not to rip the skin. You can carefully from the top push the mixture to the back of the chicken if it helps. Basically you want to end up with the mixture nicely under the skin on the top and round the legs.

After this is done (and you've gotten someone to kindly put the tap on so you can wash and soap your hands) cut in half one small onion and one lemon and place one half of each inside the carcass. Next had two squashed garlic gloves.

Sprinkle some seasoning (again I use chicken seasoning but paprika works great as well) over the outside of the carcass and rub into the outside of the skin (carefully). Once the carcass has a nice even seasoning colour to it pour over the cooking oil you will be using (goose fat, olive oil, or even fry light are great). Then add so little dollops of butter on to the top.

Put in oven and cook.

With my bird I like to add my potatoes and if we've doing chipolatas wrapped in bacon those too. With my potatoes I par boil them, add them to the roasting tin, sprinkle chicken seasoning over and then olive oil. I then use the juices from the bird to baste the whole meal and try to do it every 20-30 minutes. Oh and I never use foil, if you're careful with the basting you don't really need it.

Hope that all made sense and fingers crossed I can get a photo.

Happy Christmas, did you all get loads of lovely presents?

Art Project - Thumbprints Thursday, Father Christmas

Yes you can laugh at my Father Christmas. lol.

Very easy to do (and I'm sure everyone can do much better than me!).

Red paint, dip your thumb in and make an upwards thumbprint (for his big belly).
Next dip your forefinger in the red paint and above the previous thumbprint make a smaller one for his head.
Wait for paint to dry then draw in all the necessary features.

See easy!

Have a wonderful day tomorrow everyone and I hope you all get what your heart desires.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Art Project - Winter Wonderland Wednesday, Sparkling Ice Crystals

Here's a link (Sparkling Ice Crystals) to where I got this from but as you can see I've altered mine a bit, I couldn't find any white pipe cleaners and I have tonnes of beads already (not many white though) so I used what I had. Feel free to do what you like, it is after all your own creation and who said ice crystals have to be white. Also instead of using fishing line I used some of that thin elastic you get for jewellery making (again I had loads).




Not yet finished but I'll hopefully have it finished by the end of today. I've had to stop and make superhero rings for Callum out of FIMO.

Life through a lens - Tribute Tuesday, My sister Rachel

This weeks Tribute Tuesday is to my sister Rachel, Wacky Wachel, which is funny in a way because she is due to fly home from Germany for Christmas today too.

What can I say about Rache?

When Daz and I got married Rachel was one of our bridesmaids but apart from performing that duty we also put her to good use by playing the flute (and I think even singing) in the church at our wedding, she performed Ava Maria and it was the most beautiful thing. She was nervous as hell but on the day she didn't let us down.

When pregnant with Callum one night (about 2pm in the morning!!) our phone went. It was Rachel. "Sis I've been up London all night with my friends and I got to Romford but I didn't realise the bus doesn't go any further... and I haven't any money. Can I come stay at yours please?" See Rachel doesn't really think things through. lol. Anyhow what was a sister to do? So in traipses Rachel, drunk as anything and all talkative. "Rache, it's a weekday I've got to work tomorrow, plus ermm you know... pregnant... need sleep?" Rachel then proceeds to talk to my bump "Hello in there, I'm your Aunty Wacky Wachel. We're going to have so much fun." She then bizarrely asks me what we'd do if we had one of those babies that was both sexes (her exact words!), ermm you mean a hermaphrodite sis? Anyhow that comment must have really played on my mind (and the answer is obvious, we'd love it the same as any other child of ours) as from that night on I had constant dreams about it and then... well that's probably more embarrassing to me...

Oh ok... when Callum was born it all sort of went a bit wrong and ended up with me having to have an emergency c-section and Callum put into special care. It was 13 hours before I got to see my son for the first time. Anyway Daz went down to Special Care to check on Callum and they took some photos of him so that when I came too Daz had something to show me. Back up to the recovery room goes Daz to check on me and wait for me to come to which I do. He tells me that we have a beautiful baby boy. Now this is where most people would say "Is he ok, five fingers, toes etc?" isn't it? What do I ask? And I'm totally blaming you for this Rachel!!! I say "Has he got a big willy?" Yes, that's the first question I asked about my son.... I was on morphine if that excuses anything.

Show us those muscles!!!

When she was younger she had this wobbly tooth that refused to come out. You know the type, the one that bends right back and forth but just stays in. Well we dealt with that... and yes our own Mother let us. You know that trick they say about tying a bit of cotton/string around the tooth and the other end to a door handle and slamming the door shut... and out flies the tooth. Yep we did that. Actually I think Mum even held Rachel down. lol. Anyway it worked and out flew the tooth.


I remember when Rachel was born she had to have her hips in plaster (she was a breach birth baby), I always remember her sitting on that old sofa of Mum and Dad's in her plaster legs. I think I even have a photo somewhere of her like that.


One year we had a family holiday to Bognor Regis, we stayed in my Dad's business partner's caravan (and god did we break things). I don't remember the name but nearby there was a sort of theme park. You know some of them have one of those outdoor theatre places for the kids, normally clowns put on a show? They had one at this place and somehow Rachel ended up being called down to sing... (was it Happy Birthday?) I think they heard her singing... well more like shouting in Timbuktu. It wasn't until years later that she developed her beautiful singing voice.


On one of my birthdays being out shopping with Daz and my mobile going off. It was Rachel all the way from Japan, she got the whole bar she was drinking in at the time to sing Happy Birthday down the phone to me... in Japanese and broken English. lol.

Even though I haven't seen much of Rachel over the last few years due to her living in Japan for five of those years and this year living in Germany she's always been a fun sister to have around. She can drive you crazy with her forgetfulness but she can also give you hours of entertainment. Love you sis.

Like Mother like Daughter... actually most of us in my family like a good old drink.... it's the Irish in us.

Life through a lens - Micellaneous Monday, A mixed bag

Callum waiting for the lights to be on the Christmas Tree so he can start helping with the decorations.

Can you see the heart-shaped raindrop?




Frozen snow (well I suppose that's ice really) on top of our garden parasol.

Life through a lens - Surprise Sunday, Happy Christmas and I Love You

Firstly I would like to wish everyone you knows me and who also reads this blog a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!



Young love is such a strange, beautiful and funny thing. Since we moved into our home last year Callum has developed the hugest crush ever on our teenage next door neighbour... MAJOR CRUSH!! And for a six year old he has surprised us with his questions on love and his love for Alysia. We've had all forms of questions from him "How old do you have to be to get married?" "I really wanted to kiss Alysia today, how do I go about doing that Mummy?" to him stating that he needs to practice his kissing so it's perfect when he asks her to marry him. Who knows where this love of his will lead but today he wrote out her Christmas card and this week we have plans to make Alysia a special Christmas present.

Young Love with a smudge

Life through a lens - Showcase Saturday, Red

I don't know why but this has always been one of my favourite shots, maybe because it was one where what I actually wanted to do came off in a photo.

Life through a lens + Art Project - Foody Friday, Chocolate Tree Decorations

Nice and simple.

For this you can use any kind of chocolate, dark, milk or white.

Break the chocolate up and place in a glass bowl. Place this bowl over another bowl or a saucepan of hot water. I usually use a mixing bowl and put a tea towel underneath to stop it slipping. Mix around until all the chocolate is melted to a consistency where you can pour it. At this stage if you wish you can add some food flavouring, rum, mint, orange, whatever you fancy really. Just a little drop though. :D Mix this in careful. Next pour the melted chocolate into your mould, you can use whatever you want, I've got some Christmas ones. Once poured in give the mould a little tap to knock out the air bubbles and then place in a sturdy safe place in the fridge to cool and set. When set, empty out of the mould and decorate in whichever manner you wish.... then you can either eat them of put in some clear plastic and tie a loop with ribbon at the top and put on your tree. Enjoy either way!

Art Project - Thumbprints Thursday, Snowmen

This is one of the Christmas cards I've made this year. Very easy to do.

Basically dip your thumb in some paint and make one large print. Above that make a smaller print. Next dip your forefinger in some paint and on top of the second thumbprint you did make a small one. Once the paint is dry you can draw in eyes, mouth, a carrot nose, a hat and if you wish a scarf. Oh and don't forget the arms. With this card I used paint and glitter glue and then I drew round the edges of the thumbprints on the glitter glue snowmen.

Simple!

Art Project - Winter Wonderland Wednesday, Boxes

As mentioned before I love adding that little home-made touch to gifts. This year for Christmas Callum (with Mummy's help) has made some home-made gifts for people and I thought it would be nice to add that extra little touch by making some home-made boxes for them to go in.

I found a nice site called Kids At Art who had very easy to understand and follow instructions on how to make Origami Boxes. There are plenty of sites out there with instructions and some even have print out versions but I liked this site the best. I also liked the idea of using old Christmas cards to make the boxes. All in all it took about five minutes to make one box and with the help of an adult I think these should be easy enough for kids to make.

And now to finish making about ten more. lol.

Life through a lens - Tribute Tuesday, my sister Katie

This weeks Tribute Tuesday is in honour of my sister Katie... aka Bossy Boots.

Katie at her 30th Birthday Party

What can I say about Katie? Hmm... well ... do I embarrass her or not?

When Callum was still a baby Katie was working round the corner from us at the hospital and so would pop in for lunch. I remember her always bringing something nice in to eat and then her getting down on the floor on Callum's baby gym and playing with him and saying "I'm Favourite Auntie Katie.". She's always had a great way with kids and I know that if/when she decides to become a Mum herself she'll make a brilliant one.

Katie loves her food!! However Katie doesn't like waiting for her food, well she didn't when she was a kid. If dinner was later she'd cry. Aww bless. Also I remember how fussy she was with certain foods. Bread has to be fresh! Milk has to be fresh off the doorstep and not opened. Are you still like that Katie?

"I'm nothing like Sarah!". I've heard this is what Katie says when she's drunk. lol. Years ago Daz and I had a small New Years Eve gathering at our old flat, just family. Anyway Katie turned up right at the end of the evening totally wasted and embarked upon making her own cocktails. This basically involved her just throwing together in the hugest glass she could find every type of alcoholic drink we had. Once made she proceeded to drink it all. Then she saw the time and realised she should go home. Maybe this is when I should mention that our flat was on the first floor and the staircase was steep and narrow. See where this is going? Yep she went head over heals all the way down and lay there at the bottom like one of those actors do in a movie. We thought she'd broken everything, well at least something! But nope! Up she got, wondered why she was lying on the floor and went home. Apparently she didn't even remember turning up at ours. lol

You know how I said Katie is fussy with food? Well she is with clothes. How many outfits did you have for Daz and mines wedding Katie? lol

If you need a broken Swarovski Tiara taken back to the shop and replaced, Katie is the girl to do it. I never did hear how she got a brand new one but she did.

Sorry if I've embarrassed you sis, as well as giving us moments of laughter you give us plenty of moments of love. Katie may be strait talking but she has a good heart. Thanks sis!

Do you like butter?

Life through a lens - Micellaneous Monday, What do you say it is?

Every year Daz and I have this debate over one of our Christmas tree decorations. I say it's a donkey and he says it's a giraffe. What a giraffe has to do with Christmas I don't know but that is what he is convinced it is. Of course I was the one who bought the decoration and it had "DONKEY" on the price tag but still that means nothing. lol. Now I can understand why he says Giraffe but ... well he is wrong!

So what my dear blogging friends do you think it is?



Oh the only argument that Daz puts forward that doesn't wash with me is that it has spots... we have a pink camel and a purple elephant... enough said I think.

Life through a lens - Surprise Sunday, Your Hand in Mine

Firstly I'd like to apologise for not having gotten round to visiting anyone's blogs these last few days, things have been hectic what with midwife appointments, Christmas shopping, Christmas Decorating and School Nativity Plays. I promise I will and I'm really missing reading your wonderful blogs. Thank you very much for still popping by my blog to catch up. Hope you are all having a wonderful weekend and I will catch up with you this week (fingers crossed tomorrow!) x



I wonder how much longer is left before that little hand is bigger than mine.

Life through a lens - Showcase Saturday, Broken Glass

I love how if you look closely at things you can always find something in them. Callum and I will often in the summer head out into the garden, lie on our backs and look up at the sky for some cloud spotting, fun and relaxing. In this shot in the middleit reminds me of a dragonfly. Can you see it?

Life through a lens + Art Project - Foody Friday, Cheesecake

Sadly when I made this a few months back I didn't get round to taking a photo and as I've just been told to cut my sugar intake down I won't be making it for a little while, however when I do I will be sure to take a photo and add it. This is a lovely fresh recipe and if like me you are pregnant and want some cheesecake you can have this without the worry of eggs etc and also if you are slimming it's very good.

Cheesecake

serves 12 people.

Ingredients:

6 plain digestive biscuits crushed
28g/1oz of low fat margarine
2 tbsp of orange juice (or a different juice depending on the flavour of jelly you use)
1 sachet of sugar free orange jelly crystals (or other flavour if you wish)
454g/1 lb of very low fat natural cottage cheese
454g/1 lb of very low fat natural fromage frais

1. Melt the butter and then mix in juice and crushed biscuits. Once fully mixed press onto the base of a 20cm/8 inch shallow dish.
2. Make up the jelly with 284ml/ 1/2 pint of boiling water and leave aside to cool. Once cool put 3/4 of the jelly, the cottage cheese and the fromage frais in a blender or food processor and blend until smooth. Pour this mixture on top of the biscuit base and chill until set.
   
3. When set pour the remainder of the jelly over the top and refrigerate overnight or until set.
   
4. Cut and eat and enjoy.

EDIT: Even though I had this typed up yesterday I was silly and entered the wrong date so it didn't auto post on the right date I wanted. Doh.

Art Project - Thumbprints Thursday, Flower

It's a good friends birthday this weekend and rather than buy birthday cards we like to try and make them in our household, adds more of a personal touch. I normally end up doing flowers. lol.

As before start off with your card, paint and pens. I've used yellow and pink paint and a green glitter gel pen on blue card. As I'm making a birthday card I've folded the card in half.

Start with the yellow paint and dip your finger into the paint then make a small circle. Clean your finger and then dip your thumb into the pink paint and around the edge of the yellow finger circle make five thumbprints (like petal shapes). Then simple draw on a stalk and leaves and ta-da finito.

Art Project - Winter Wonderland Wednesday, Paper Ornaments

This project is very easy to do and you can use the finished result/s either as a single tree ornament or string some together to make a chain.

What you'll need:

• Some coloured card
• Ruler
• Pencil
• Scissors
• Stapler
• Sellotape
• Decorations of your choice (but aren't necessary).
• Ribbon
  

Heart Shaped Ornament

1. Cut two 6 inch strips and two 4 3/4 inch strips.
2. Line them up so that it goes in this order: 6 inch, 4 3/4 inch, 4 3/4 inch, 6 inch.
3. Make it that the ends of all of these match up when laid on top of each other.
4. Staple this end.
5. Next cut your ribbon to your desired length and form a hoop with it by taping one end to the top of one of strips in the middle and the other end of the ribbon to the other end of the other middle strip.
6. Bend the unstapled ends into a heart shape so that a smaller heart is inside a larger heart.
   
7. Align the ends and staple.

If you wish to decorate your card you can do this before you staple the strips together, you could sprinkle some glitter on the strips or use some Christmas themed stickers or just use pen, pencils, paints. It's up to you. Of course they look just as nice undecorated.


Teardrop Shaped Ornament

1. Cut two 6 inch strips, two 5 1/4 inch strips and one 4.5 inch strip.
   
2. Line them up so that it goes in this order: 6, 5 1/4, 4.5, 5 1/4, 6.
3. Make it that the ends of all of these match up when laid on top of each other.
4. Staple this end.
5. Next cut your ribbon to your desired length and form a hoop with it by taping one end to the top of one side of the middle strip and the other end of the ribbon to the other side of the top of the middle strip.
6. Next make a crease 1/5 inch from the top of the unstapled ends on the 6 inch and 5 1/4 inch strips.
7. Then align all the ends and staple together.
   

As above with the heart shaped ornament it is up to you if you wish to decorate.

And if you wish to make a chain of these all you simply have to do is thread a nice piece of ribbon through the top of the hoops on each individual ornament and secure.

I hope you found this fun and easy to follow.

Life through a lens - Tribute Tuesday, my sister Emma

For those that know me and my family you'll know that I'm the eldest of 7 kids. Yes I know in the photo above there are three kids missing but do you know what? I don't think there are many photos of us all together, maybe wedding photos and at the moment I'm feeling too lazy to get the wedding album out and then the scanner out.

I've thought long and hard on how to go about my Tribute Tuesdays, I don't want to offend any of my siblings or family but how exactly is the best way to go about choosing who is next? So I've opted for my siblings to go in age order and after that I'll do my Grandparents and then Aunts (alphabetically I think is safest) and then cousins. Next will be my extended family and after that we'll see who is next. And of course I'm saving the best to last with my wonderful husband Daz and my son Callum.

So this weeks Tribute Tuesday is to my sister Emma.



Emma is 3 years younger than me and while we've always had a rocky relationship as sisters we've still had plenty of fun moments together. She has two beautiful children, Eloise and Alex but I'll do a separate post for them.

Some memories I have from my childhood of Emma:

• The time while playing Hide-and-Seek and she hid in my bedroom. We had all given up looking for her but she hadn't heard that. She was in my room sitting on this tall chest I had right by the bedroom door... and the light switch. The door to my bedroom rather than being one of those that opened into the room was one that opened out. You can imagine my shock when I went up to my bedroom to get something, opened the door which felt a little stiff and then heard a yelp and cry. Emma had been holding onto the door handle and when I gave it a tug to open I had yanked her off the top of the chest of drawers, thrown her across the room and caught her head on the light switch. Notice how it was my fault? lol. Well Emma ended up at hospital having to have stitches while I had to stay at home and listen to my Auntie Ida tell me how bad a sister I was and how it was all my fault. Hello?!?! My bedroom?!?!? Finished the game?!?! Oh well Emma forgave me.

• She always loved to make Mud cakes in the garden but use Mum's best pots and pans.

• Borrowing a red nail varnish of mine and then denying she had used it... although she had red nail varnish over her duvet cover.

• Oh Emma do you remember that wedding dress you originally bought? And the musical garter? I think enough said but I still chuckle at the garter.

• The time we were on holiday in Ireland and you got bitten by that horse on the chest or was it the back. Anyhow it was just a few days after you had been bitten by that dog on the back/chest and you had matching bite marks on the back and chest.

I could probably do a hundred more childhood memories but I'll leave it at those... OK one more...

• The time I came home from Brownies and Mum said her and Dad had to rush you up to A&E as you'd swallowed some paracetamol. We had Valerie and Ron come in and look after us while Mum and Dad took you up to Harold Wood where they gave you this ghastly medicine to make you throw up. I remember hearing afterwards how they kept you in over night for observation and that you spent the whole time running up and down the ward with a toy pushchair. lol.

Thanks for being a great sis Emma.

Life through a lens - Micellaneous Monday, Painting

A bit of a boring post today. I'm going to start decorating our front room today which I have to get finished by the weekend so we can get our tree up. Yes I know leaving it all a bit late but... well I don't have an excuse. lol.

These are old shots taken, gosh in 2007. They were from my old Olympus mju camera which was a lovely little hand-held camera. At the time I remember loving how the green on the bristles was against the rust colour.

Life through a lens - Surprise Sunday, Bumpy

27 weeks and 1 day

Today marks three months until my due date. Yep apparently in three months time we will hopefully have a healthy beautiful baby. I can't believe how quick the time is going but also how different this pregnancy is to the one I had with Callum, hmmm maybe (fingers crossed) this one is a girl. I'm loving all the kicks and movements I get and being able to share those with Daz and Callum. I wonder how Callum will take his role as Big Brother, I know he is a caring and loving child but I do wonder how he'll cope with suddenly not being the only child. I also wonder how the dog will be, silly I know but I'm so intrigued to see what Dash makes of a baby, I reckon he'll like the smelly nappies. Of course I know that Daz will make a fantastic father, he already is to Callum and I know he will take everything in his stride and cope well and dote on Bumpy as much as he does Callum and I. This is going to be our last Christmas as a 3 person family, it's quite scary to think how different our lives will be this time next year but it's also exciting, so many thoughts and questions in my head.... but hopefully I'll have had some better nights sleep than what I get at the moment. lol.

Life through a lens - Showcase Saturday, Blowing Bubbles

I'm forever blowing bubbles

This shot was taken Father's Day 2009. It was a lovely day, hubby's parents came over and we had a BBQ and we blew bubbles and ate watermelon... and typical to Callum he got filthy dirty, I don't know how that boy does it. I wanted to try and capture a photo of him blowing bubbles and to also capture the warmth of the sun and the colours of summer. Sadly the shot didn't come out as planned but I think with a bit of editing I've managed to salvage it. I love the vividness I've added . In the end it's become one of my favourite photos.

And for those who wish to see it here is the original shot.

Life through a lens + Art Project - Foody Friday, Fruit

*sigh* I feel as though everything is conspiring against me cooking today. Alas I don't have the full ingredients to make what I wanted today so I have opted for an easy cheat option for today's Food Friday and next week will bring to you what I wanted to do so today.




Ingredients:

2 small bananas
2 pears
1 apple
Few handfuls of strawberries
Lemon Juice


Slice the bananas, dice the pears and apples, hull and slice or quarter the strawberries. Mix together in a bowl and sprinkle over some lemon juice. Eat.

Simple but so tasty.

Art Project - Thumbprints Thursday, Reindeer

I love the cheeky look on the 2nd reindeer's face, his has mischief planned I reckon.

This weeks Thumbprints Thursday is Reindeer, I thought as we are now in December I should really do something Christmassy.

What you'll need:

• Paper or card in any colour you want

• Paint in any colour you wish

• Pens

This time I chose to do mine on some white paper and use a plum coloured matt emulsion paint (I always have lots of different tester pots of colour in the home). Using just my thumb I carefully dipped my thumb into the paint and made various thumb sized prints, single ones for a face only and two thumb prints for a whole full bodied reindeer. Once the paint was dry (or in my case nearly dry) I then used a silver gel pen to draw on antlers, a face and if needed feet. Very simple and quick to do. You could use some tissue paper to put the thumbprints on and then use as wrapping paper for all those Christmas presents or you could do this on some nice card folded in half and use to make a Christmas card.

Here's how mine looked. I'm going to add some more reindeer on in different colours and set this by for when it comes to wrapping up presents.

Art Project - Winter Wonderland Wednesday, Origami decorations.

Yesterday while sorting through some drawers I came across a packet of origami paper that my sister Rachel had sent over as a present when she lived in Japan. I've never done origami before but I remember seeing somewhere that did instructions on Christmas decorations you could make using origami. So I used the ever useful Google and found some tutorials. It's easier if I link you to them as they have more detailed instructions and lots more to do.

First I tried out the Origami Christmas Tree Bauble on Activity Village. It was a little fussy to do and probably not for little young fingers but I eventually managed to get my pregnant addled brain around it and came up with this!

Then I tried out A Snow Crystal from the Christmas section of the Origami Club.com website, they have some fun things to do there, although my head just couldn't get around the Christmas tree one. The snow flake though was easy enough to do and something I think you could do with kids and they had a few different designs you could do. And of course you don't need to use special origami paper you could use Christmas wrapping paper or normal paper and just decorate it. The important thing though is to make sure it's a square shape (don't ask how long it was before I realised this was important and how many screams I let out.) I'd love to see your creations, have fun!

Life through a lens - Tribute Tuesday, my Dad

This weeks Tribute Tuesday is dedicated to my Dad.



Apparently when I was very little and I was either ill or upset and my Dad wasn't home I'd go sit upstairs on the toilet crying "Daddyyyy come home pleaseeeeeeeeeeeee." I think maybe that sums up how I feel about my Dad. Sure aged 36 years old I don't do that now but he is still the person whose advice I always seek. He can be a miserable sarcastic so and so but underneath it all you really know he's a big softie. If you cut part of your finger off and need taking to A&E urgently he's a good person to have, he'll just take the complete pee out of you for doing something so daft. If you're at a nightclub miles from home and get thrown out for throwing up everywhere you can count on him to come and pick you up and drive you home although you'll get the silent treatment.



When I was younger I sat my cycling proficiency test. The bike I had was an old hand me down from my cousins who had at the time just emigrated to Australia. I was terrible at riding a bike. As well as having to pass the test my bike also had to pass, something it wasn't going to do. I got sent home with pages of things that needed to be fixed on the bike and by the morning. What would any father do? He stayed up till the early hours fixing that bike. The next day came and it was the final day and the day of the tests. I was abysmal but my bike was sparkling and like new. I felt really bad that I was going to fail as my Dad had been up so late fixing the bike... so I told the examiners what my Dad had done... and somehow I passed. Maybe this is where I should say that my Dad isn't one of those handy men Dads. If you need a letter written or a university essay done he's your guy but changing a plug... go to my Mum. Anyhow I passed that test and promptly rode my sparkling bike all the way home using the road not the pavement. Sadly as mentioned I wasn't very good at riding a bike and had many accidents.

Anyway he may be stern but he has his heart in the right place. Here's to you Dad for being you, one in a million.