egg hunt

we had our egg hunt inside again this year (raining pooh!)

lottie's eggs

ellie's eggs

it took them ages to find all 17 (each) of them (i have evil hiding techniques mwahaha!)

each containing this lot

and lottie found the giant egg!

it wouldn't be easter without...

melted dark chocolate, crushed shredded wheat, mini eggs, rainbow edible glitter

the only time of year i eat shredded wheat (and it still tastes like cardboard!)

handmade easter gifts

easter popcorn! plain popped corn, coloured white chocolate melted and drizzled over, smashed mini eggs

all bagged up ready for recipients

decorated egg cartons

inside box number 1...

introducing box number 2...

not forgetting box number 3...

happy easter!

lottie was very excited...

ellie was very tired...

easter-coloured old hound was having a naughty piece of chocolate...

winnie!

we let winston upstairs for some time with mummy

he decided to spend the time with his sister lottie

strange cat...

either boo has a cold nose or he is praying

st patrick's day

lottie's way of celebrating?

make rainbow waffles

(alas there were no pots of gold at the end)

goodbye harold

how i always wished i were janine...

valentines

my work costume this year was "all heart"...although ellie thought it should be titled "all boobs"

(the wellies were not part of the ensemble but i was about to walk home in the storm)

these place cards were made using a cardboard egg carton for the roses!

i found a yt tutorial and we painted them and added glitter and think they're lovely

duct tape

a very lovely youtube subscriber of mine sent patterned duct tape to me (we can't get it here) and lottie was itching to use some

so she found a tutorial on yt to make these bows which can be used as a hairclip, bowtie or handbag decoration and had to make one in each colour

she is chuffed to bits with them

(craftlife on yt)

chinese new year

the dragon is out again

the celebration tree and festive tablecloth

it is year of horse so lottie made stencil horse heads

and origami horses

and another paper horse

and old school lanterns

we had fortune cookies after chowmein chicken noodles, egg fried rice, breaded prawn tails and prawn crackers

we didn't launch our lanterns as it was tipping down or do our snaps to chase away evil spirits (will try saturday...weather willing)

gung hey fat choi to you all!

baking

lottie's blueberry muffins...i never really thought muffins were "all that" until lottie made these and now i get it!

she used nigella's recipe from her "how to be a domestic goddess"

despite it being chinese new year, my children decided to make a valentine cake...betty crocker devils food cake mix and home-made cream cheese frosting (and what appears to be all my edible glitter and sprinkles)

burns night supper

my lovely table

i made wee pillar box hats out of a gift bottle box

and some ribbons and applique flowers

modelling aforementioned hats

children singing "auld lang syne"

we had scotch broth to start; haggis, neeps and tatties for main and clootie dumpling for dessert...washed down with whiskey and coke

jay recited "oh my luve's like a red red rose" and ellie addressed the haggis when it was served

with highland music in the background, it was a joyous evening

(and after 3 drinks i slept like a baby!)

dessert

this was my children's highly nutritious dessert last night

whilst the oven was still hot from cooking dinner, i threw a couple of giant american marshmallows in and then sandwiched one between 2 choccy digestives

ellie had to endure this one

and lottie forced down this one

preparations

microwave clootie dumplings

haggis, neeps and tatties

just waiting for tonight!

thrifty queen!

all these were 75% off

and this is usually £17 per bag but currently on offer for £11

AND

i had a coupon for £5 off

so i only paid £11.48 for the whole lot!!

my new hobby is coupon and free sample collecting; thus far i have enjoyed free cereal bars, free waffles, free milk, free envelopes, free make-up and there is more to come

i've also started watching extreme cheapskates and am excited to be privvy to more thrifty ways (i had ellie pavement searching for lost change today!)

not that i need another reason to love him...