Something so simple...

When it comes to making sweet treats, you don't need to always pull the flour, sugar and other baking goodies out... oh no!

It's as simple as buying a packet of rich tea biscuits, chocolate and sprinkles. It can keep little people entertained for some time. Why not try it!

Lovely Letters

I'm supposed to be doing a book review today but I just feel so rough and it doesn't help that it has been pouring with rain since yesterday morning... its so dark and miserable which matches my mood I guess! Its why it was so nice to come across this great swap idea and I couldn't resist joining and thought some of you maybe interested in it too. I've seen so many blog swaps in the past but have never joined even though I liked the idea of it but I've come to the point where I don't want to swap items for exactly the same items back but just in a different design as it isn't always to my taste or fits in with what my style is (like swapping paper for paper, stickers for stickers etc...). Where as swapping a letter for a letter is something a little different and with my recent handmade writing paper, themed envelope swap etc... I feel a little addicted. I can't wait to find out who my partner is so that I can start crafting... If you'd like to join you better be quick as you only have tomorrow and quite possibly Thursday to do it in. Have fun!

 

Chester Zoo

On Thursday my sister, niece and I went to Chester Zoo....

The zoo has over 8,000 animals, some extinct in the wild and some on the point of extinction.... We saw majority of these animals but with it being so warm most were sleeping or hiding....

or suddenly got up and started running around...

We were there for about 6 hours and made our way around the whole zoo but the map was confusing and we kept missing the parts we wanted to see. There were tonnes of places to eat even though of course we didn't with fasting (my niece did of course), there was face painting... but annoying of all was that if you wanted to go on the train or boat you had to pay to do so what a rip off considering you paid an arm and a leg to get in as everyone over 3 years pays full price.

It was difficult to see those animals that were visible though as the areas left free for us to see was a small one and then it was so crowded you had to squeeze yourself in somewhere. They could have left more space or used transparent plastic.... really there was no need for anything. Also people with prams complained that the path ways were tight.

I had photos of elephants which were so cute but I've deleted them from my phone as I assumed I'd uploaded them but I could have bought one home. The monkeys were adorable too, gosh I really had to get down on my knees to look through a tiny porthole but it was worth it to see a monkey carrying her baby as she climbed around... it was just the cutest thing.... I'd love to go back despite the intensely hot day and it was made worse by not being able to drink as I came home with a throbbing headache but it was worth it.

I'd definately would love to go back one day.... but it probably won't be as crowded as this was a day where Bradford Council had organised for many organisations to encourage families to go out. There must had been at least 15 coach loads full, some double deckers... then there were other coach loads as well as the general public.

Only 3 weeks left until my holidays end, I can't believe how quickly they are going

If you have holidays what have you been up to?

A night out....

At work there have been some whispers about someone celebrating their 35th birthday and I actually get along with that person on an ok level so was a bit surprised that I wasn't asked. Come this morning, I did get an invite as she just didn't have the opportunity to ask me on my own which is true as I hardly see anyone at work as you just end up stuck in your classes all day.

We went to Nando's. I've never been before so was quite curious as I'd heard that their food is really good but expensive. The figure in the middle is someone from work and walking up she looked like a black silhouette so I assumed it was a statue. I was then so focused on taking this photo I walked past her and she couldn't understand why I didn't see her.

They pre booked a space for us but it was horrible in the sense that where we were sitting  we ended up split in to 4 groups and couldn't talk to anyone. Everyone there was someone I didn't mind talking to so that was a shame. Otherwise the actual spot wasn't that bad and we were sat near these hanging baskets (and the toliets!)

I ordered chips and a Vege Burger even though its a meaty joint but I'm used to the fillet burgers we've had in the past as a take away and they are just so fat and chompy that I don't like them. I didn't want to end up spending £10 on something I didn't like. I still can't believe how expensive it is as this cost me £9.40! For the first time in my life I think I will suffer from heartburn because even though I asked for medium spices I'm sure they gave me a hot one as I felt it stick to my insides straight away. I didn't have a dessert as I think I spent enough on my main meal but I would have loved to have tried their Gelato as I've read about it on a lot of your blogs but never tried the almost original thing.

On my way back to the car and its raining, we didn't want rain as we're taking the children to the park tomorrow.

I should be going out again to celebrate a 50th Birthday in my holidays so I'll have to see what's decided then as it will probably just be 3 of us.

Have you been out for a nice meal lately?

Spring has finally sprung...

Spring is once again in the air,

I accidentally broke my nieces bubble aeroplane so bought this bubble machine and hate it. Its so noisy but also all the bubbles clump together if moved around which is a pain so I'm going to keep an eye out for another bubble blower. We enjoyed the sun by having bubbles surrounding us and drawing with chalk on the pavement, it so much fun!

I forgot to share these flowers she bought me the other day, it was so sweet but I really need to remember to put them in my flower press. Its the downside to working all day and coming home to just wanting to rest.

She accidently burnt her foot on an iron today, luckily not badly but I feel such an idiot for not paying more attention. She was sat on my desk chair which I moved so that I could iron my clothes, she was cross about it so sulked off and went on to my bed wanting to look out of the window which I had to tell her off about as she could easily fall out. I put everything back except the chair and started getting changed, she pulled the chair into the right place and sat down so skimmed her foot on the iron which was under my desk. It hurt her but she made out it hadn't and I couldn't see it until I put some Savlon on and it started swelling.  I hope that it will be ok.

I bought a new outfit today as on Friday we will be celebrating the Queens Jubilee. I tried finding a red and white outfit as I have some blue jewellery but I couldn't find anything in all the shops I went to. It's one of the reasons I didn't blog yesterday, I was just so tired, I'd actually gone out with my husband as he wanted some new sandals but didn't like anything so I got a little cross with him, saying he wasn't going on a catwalk and just to buy a pair. The problem is all the shops more of less sell the same thing so obviously all the other men out there are wearing them too. Anyway  in the end I went to Bradford Bazaar and bought this one. My mum was with me at the time and I asked her opinion and didn't get it... now I've bought it she's complaining I paid too much! With Pakistani/Indian sellers you have to haggle even in this country, I hate it. The picture is of the scarf, the rest is fairly plain but I really like it.... its a few shades of blue and white, not pink as the photo seems to come across as.

The weather is amazing but they say by Thursday its going to rain... I hope not as we are going to my favourite park for a David Hockney event. Still I want this week over and done with as we have holidays next week and I can't wait. I don't know yet how I'll spend it as it all depends on the weather.

What's the weather like where you are?

Project: Photo a Day

I really can not believe how quickly 11 days have flown by as I only started this last week which makes it all that more difficult to get my brain around.

I am really enjoying this Photo a Day even though I'm disappointed when searching the entries that not everyone takes photos themselves but use ones from the internet to make them up. It just shows that you can take part in anyway you want if you aren't able to see the thing that fits in correctly.

Day 5: Bird(s)

I went in to the city that day and would you believe I didn't see a single bird! I wasn't sure what I was going to photograph until by chance I went into WHSmith and noticed a whole range of address books with birds on and at that time I didn't realise that I was only meant to have a 'bird' as there were some with just one but my favourite was this one which is why I choose it to photograph.

Day 6: Fun

We went from colouring to doodling and my niece asked me to draw around her toy spoon. I did this and started doodling faces and clothes on to them. She asked me to draw some more and she created these above which are so cute... it was a lot of fun and we had a lot of laughs. This book was an old diary I had but didn't get to use as I got one as a gift too. I stuck Christmas cards randomly on the pages which my niece loved and enjoyed using until this week that is when I accidently dropped my tea cup on the table and it spilled everywhere. I had to buy her a new one, she wanted pink with princesses on but nothing was suitable so we ended up with green with princess stickers on.

Day 7: Someone that inspires you!

She inspires me to bake, try new crafts, go places when I'm so tired, relax at the library.... This photo is now my wallpaper on my phone.

Day 8: A smell that you adore

I could actually think of a lot of smells that I adore but they were just not available... the smell of baking, ripe fruit, flowers, freshly cut grass, line dryed clothes...... this is what I have in my handbag at the moment because of its size. Its a smell that I knew I would like as its one my sister wears so I associate it with her... I have to be careful with perfumes because some are just so strong and could have my nose and eyes streaming in seconds so perfume wouldn't have been my first choice.

Day 9: Something you do Everyday

I decided to go with the first thing I see when I wake up to the last thing I see at night as I look at this clock often enough... On the morning of taking this photo the sun was streaming in and I thought I'd overslept so forced myself to open my eyes and it was 6.04am...grrr... I didn't sleep after that for clock watching. As for my glasses I could not survive without them as I'm short sighted.

Day 10: Favourite Word

is such a simple word to describe so much....

Day 11: Kitchen

My older brother works nights so some days he isn't quite asleep when I get up so will come down to spend some time with our niece but also to eat whatever he can find in the cupboards. There was even a day when he ate my sandwiches that I've made for work as he thought they looked so good.... one day this week he woke up and I ended up making us both crumpets which our younger brother had bought but thankfully he didn't mind us doing that.