Home made goodness

In my humble opinion, there is nothing like my mister coming home to an almost cooked dinner ready for him to enjoy after a hard day at work.

I love having things ready for him, I love taking care of him and really I just love being able to do these things. We are so fortunate that I can take a decent break from working whilst this baby is a baby and I get to spend my time making sure both their needs are met.

Today I used this lovely recipe to whip up a quick batch of flap jacks just because I had the ingredients in and it meant not only did my lovely have a home cooked meal - only sweat and sour chicken with noodles - he also got a home made afters.

I love that flapjack can be cling filmed and taken to be enjoyed anywhere! Plus the smell when its cooking .... might just be my favourite.

Maternity Pictures

Be aware this is a photo heavy post!! I have put them all in black and white because I like the effect but really I know I should spend longer tweaking them.

Andy thinks we are having a girl .....

 I think we are having a boy ....

3 Year Wedding Anniversary

So this year of traditionally leather, crystal or glass gifted items is replaced in our household with a baby! Happy Anniversary Mr Lovely Pants. I cannot believe what we have achieved in 3 years or how much more in love with you I grow as time passes.

We decided quite early in my pregnancy that we wouldn't do a whole lot this year simply because I probably wouldn't be up to much - how right we were!!

Earlier in the year we took a lovely little trip away to a spa hotel and had a little pamper with some rest much needed time away.

It was a place just outside of Exeter, Woodbury Park.

We went over the June bank holidays so it was pretty full - which meant single beds!

Andy got himself settled in straight away, little love!

We awkwardly tried to take photos but I was still getting used to my phone and had 27 week odd belly to confuse the situation!

We were happy enough with our little weekend away though, although I definitely wouldn't mind another weekend away when I am less uncomfortable with this massive belly!! 

From honey mooning Newly weds

To expectant parents 

It has been a good 3 years. 

My latest interests #6

I have been having just the best fun with my extra time - I know that I am counting down the days until we meet this baby but just having some time for me between work and becoming a mummy has been the best! My mum has been really supportive this week too, we have been up to all sorts of adventures!

This coming week I would like to:

• Get a home made present ready for our friends who get married at the end of September.
• Take photos of the things I am hoping to sell in my upcoming etsy shop

These are the things I have found interesting this week:

• I made some brilliant Honey and Date loaf earlier in the week and it just makes my afternoon extra lovely!
• I love this etsy shop and I really think that I could do something similar to this with the fimo that Stacey and I have been playing around with lately. 
• Guessing that nesting has kicked in with a baking tinge at the moment, I also made some Cheese and Chive scones. I am considering keeping this recipe and making them each week til the baby arrives because I can take small bites when I am in labour for slow release energy. 
• All my creative  juices seem to be flowing too and I really would like to get a variety of cookie cutters in order to use them with the fimo but also to create our sunday cookies for our family traditions - as mentioned in this post. 
• I am also hoping that my FREE button swap gains momentum and I manage to make new friends!

Button Swap Round up

So in August, once I was finally on maternity leave and uhmm, starting to relax and rest before baby arrives. I decided to push my interests in my little blog harder and start a sponsor swap. Passionfruit ads has made this incredibly easy as there is little management on my part.

This post is to introduce you to the swappers and hopefully encourage you to stop by and say hello to them!

 Jessica from Sewing Our Life Together was my first swap and she was so patient with me whilst I figured the whole Passionfruit ads thing out. What initially drew me to Jessica's blog was her lace dress tutorial, I would love to give more dress making a go I just never seem to find the time. Anyway Jessica blogs about sewing, cooking and her growing family.

 Kelli from Tales of the Younger Twin blogs about life in American college and the sorts of things she gets up. Kelli takes some great pictures and gets up to all sorts of interesting adventures with her sister.

 Charlotte from Berice Baby jumped on board next and I have to say her little boy Hayden has to be one of the cutest little things ever! Charlotte blogs about Hayden, current events in her life, product reviews and doing things her own way. 

 Tiffanie from Life with the Little Man made me laugh the first post I read, the stories that this lady tells about life with a son made me even more excited to experience this life as a Mum. 

Carlia from Nest Building 101 joined up last week and has some beautiful DIY home decor ideas, Carlia has a lot of free printables and tips on her blog that I certainly need for decorating on a budget. 

I haven't been following any of these blogs for very long but I really appreciate the diversity and mix of reading. I am really glad I have started the swap because I am much more aware of how many other bloggers there are out there - I think I was stuck in a rut before, reading the same, writing the same and this has shaken me up to see whats around.

Re-purposing a broken mirror

Andy and I picked up a plain mirror ages and ages ago when it was on sale. It has moved about 3 different times with us. I don't have any pictures of it plain but it was just pine and boring. I painted the outside white and the inner runner a pale olive green.

When we brought our house we decided it was going in the hall way. Unfortunately the mirror got damaged in transit so I had to think of something to cover the damage but also make it cuter.

So I crocheted some hearts, added cute buttons and a felt backing. Then voila! Transformed mirror for a cute/feature piece in our hallway. Now I just hope Andy likes it when he gets in...... who am I kidding, I bet it takes 2 days for him to notice!













 I really like the addition, the felt backing covers the break and the hearts just add a bit of interest.

Taking the grandparents out

I was really pleased to take my Nan and Granddad out with my sister last week, with working I didn't have a lot of time to do things during the day unless it was really planned in advance. 

Anyways we went to China Blue in Totnes and painted a plain clay object, Nan did a champagne bottle for her sister who has been married 50 years in October - this is crazy, almost as crazy as me being married 3 years at the end of the month.

Stacey painted a rocket photo frame.

Stacey will thank me for this!!!!

I don't even look pregnant here!! But I am.

I am massive. 

I.. I started with wanting to write our anniversary date on a little coaster - we aren't really ornament people so it had to have a use. Except I made a mistake so I turned it into a giant button coaster!! Then added our wedding anniversary date to the bottom just to add it really!

I quite like it :D