Is it nearly Spring yet?

I cannot believe it has been 3 weeks since I was here last.......the time is flying by at supersonic rate this year...but in saying that I am well and truly over January and February...in the doldrums, that's me...

I haven't had much opportunity to take snaps, grey days don't make for great photos...I've been here and there and done this and that but nothing monumental that is worth sharing....well I'll let you decide how you feel about that if you make it to the end of this post!!!!  So, here's what's been on my phone so far....

So, I've had lots of coffee, looked at cute flowers, received a fab book for Valentine's, made bread and wrapped up warm with the little people....

Next time I promise I will of managed to do something really exciting!!!!

More bits and bobs......

Hello

Just a few photos of bits and bobs that I have been snapping in January....

Valentine's designs

Lots of tea drinking..........

Ham, melted cheese and slow roasted red onions with French's mustard

Orange sweet buns...(warm with poached egg, streaky bacon and maple syrup for breakfast is the BEST)

Slow roast veg to cheer up some couscous, I'm really trying hard to love like that stuff

Ripples and ripples and ripples.................

January - what I am up to....

Hello everyone, how is January treating you? I don't get on with January so I am plodding through and looking froward to February with a vengeance, I want to do ballet and swimming in the daylight again, I want to get up in the daylight again...enough of these dark, grey cold months!!

My running is improving...I did three sets of 5 mins today with a short spell of walking between and then a nice yoga session when I got home...5 mins of running sounds pathetic when you say it out loud, but, when I first started I struggled with 1 minute!! Anyhow I am pleased with myself....

There was a cake sale a Little J's school, so I knocked up these little pretties for him...I didn't even bother to take a photo of the delights he bought home in return..ermmmmm.....

My crochet along is coming along nicely, I love making blankets, it is starting to get cosy now....

Lots of lovely slow cooker dinners, tonight it's spaghetti and meatballs. I made an baked the meatballs and then added them to my tomato pasta sauce and they will simmer away quite happily..I have left some out as the kids prefer them without the sauce...hey, their choice!!

An 18th Birthday cake left the Niki M Cakes kitchen at the weekend and this week there is loads of prep for next weeks cakes...better start advertising Valentines designs soon and I've already done my Easter ones! Get me!!

Anyway, enough of my rambling, that's how I feel today......catch up with all you lovelies soon
 xxxx

Poncho Ta ta ta tata ta DAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH

Hello Lovelies

I hop you are all well and enjoying better weather than we are here?? Rain, wind, rain, wind..you get the picture...does not make for pleasant school runs, if there is such a thing..

Anyway I just wanted to show you my poncho!!  I love it, love it, love it..it was really quick and easy to make....I wish I had not used a bigger hook for the neck as I would of preferred it tighter, but, all in all I am chuffed...want to have a look then?

That last picture doesn't really do it's colours justice, but the light here is awful, but I am sure you get the idea and you will no doubt see me wearing it about the place soon....I have done quite a lot more rows than the pattern suggests, just because I like my poncho's longer..that's just the way I roll!!!!

Bye for now xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Bits and bobs

Hello...how are you all?  January is trying it's hardest to beat me, but, I am fighting back.....I don't know about you, but I seem to be all behind, what with a mad busy December, Christmas, New Year, Husband and kids off work.....my cleaning routine fell by the wayside and I have struggled to get back into 'normal' mode, whatever counts as normal round here anyway!!

But, I am back on track and if I do all my jobs today, I can have a real proper day off tomorrow, it is such a rare treat I can hardy remember what to do!!!  From 9am until 3pm I can sit and crochet, drink tea, read magazines, watch telly and not with an ounce of guilt..so I must be quick here and get back to the jobs!!

I have a little list of household 'stuff' that I use to keep me on track, not very exciting I know, but useful, stops me having to think anyway!!

I have also started a new one of these...anyone know what it is?  I'm not telling you yet, I will show you a photo soon of the end result..

Oh, and just because I can, I have got this gorgeous little creation on the go....it is for Little J and he is not that keen on the colours now he has seen them in the flesh, but he likes looking at pictures of it when finished!! Boys eh...a different species, I have no idea?!?

Oh and before I forget another cake I did for last weekend, these are becoming pretty popular and Little A has decided she would like one even though her birthday is months and months away!!

Now, I really must dash...ironing beckons me...I know how to live!!!!!

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Poncho

I saw this cute little pattern the other week whilst reading through Attic24 and I have to admit I love a poncho.  I do have one already, it is dark blue, from Next and has tassles and I really like and it does get quite a few comments....but, this one in Simply crochet is just fab....unfortunately issue 25 had left the shops, so I ordered it online, went over to Wool Warehouse to make my colour selection (they were running a 25% off discount) made my purchase and then got busy with the million other jobs that required my attention the week before Christmas...

So, now, I am all ready to go, wool, hooks, pattern, a couple of free hours...

I am using different colours to those in the magazine, my main colour is a light grey and then some nice greys, blues and a few brights to liven it up.....should be good....I'll keep you posted

xx

Niki M Cakes

I would just like to share with you a few of the cakes I made just before Christmas.....

Hope you like
Thank you
xxxx