...it's the stay puft marshmallow man...

Boy am I glad to write to you :) This weekend I have been most productive and have localized said productivity to the kitchen. Again I created the GF cupcakes and divvied them up between my folks and my whanau to some delight but more about the cuppies in a minute...
Firecracker is celebrating her 3rd night in a Big Girl's bed...I haven't had a chance to spruce it up so that's my Summer project...

I have finally finished those star cushions I told you about a while back. I'm NEVER DOING THEM AGAIN!! But here's the finished product...

From this....

to this... :)

So :) I've decided to wear my running shoes all. the. time. And for good reason. I've turned into a bit of a whale in recent times which is partly related to stopping breastfeeding/learning to bake/complete reduction in physical fitness/daylight savings...okay, maybe not daylight savings as that's really only just started to occur but honestly, I can not make the time!! :( I took up running last year and I was good at it. You've all probably seen this...

I can't take the credit but I sure as hell can identify! So my mission is to get back into it. If you see me running in broad daylight, please don't toot. I'll probably trip and fall into a bush or roll down one of the steep streets in my neighborhood :) This is my new running song and YAY, she's a Kiwi :)

Back to the cuppies...there's one left. And that's the last time I bake them. I have given the recipe to my mother so I have no excuses. Most of my blogging will be about food, but slowly I hope to overwhelm you with fitness info and personal bests. My apologies but my health is totally worth it :)

Keep shining xxx

P.S. I got this fantastic flour sieve for free...to sit on my shelf until I repaint it and never use it for the baking that will soon cease to exist *sigh*



...dreams of planning a time travelers ball...

Hands up if you enjoy that overwhelming urge to put into practice something you've seen online??

I do. I enjoy it very much and frequently :)

There's a place near to where I live, it's called a Castle but is more of a mansion in ruins...think the mansion in Great Expectations (the Gwyneth Paltrow versus Ethan Hawke version) and it overlooks the ocean from high 'atop' a cliff. Frankly it's one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen but have never been able to get near it. 

 

Fueled by images like these...it's easy to dream about holding an event in such a place :) 

I love ghost stories, masquerade balls, dramatic scenes of anything taking on a life of it's own so I think the mesh dresses would look amazing on a croquet lawn matched up with suits and lit with different colors (at night of course)...and the umbrellas!! They remind me of the mops in The Sorcerers Apprentice (Disney). Such a fantastic idea!

Any-who, might do it for my 30th lol :P Who knows?

Off to bed, keep shining xxx

aahhhh...(chuckles)...good times :)

Where is that moderately sized rock to hide under when you need it?!

Today was one of those glorious days...I'm sure some of you have had them.

You know, the ones where you haven't quite had enough of that delicious, tasty FOOT!! And NO! I'm not talking about fetishes. Although, some people to have fetishes for the blushers that walk among us. Another irrational fear to add to the list.

1. A dialogue...

Me: (smiles cheekily - god only knows what that really looks like) Do you think you could tell the landlord we need a new toilet?

Handyman: But, this toilet is fully functional...

Me: I know (more hideous smiles) but, it's very ugly and old...I don't think it should be making that tapping noise.

Handyman: I see...

Me: The plumber who was here last, he told me to tell the property manager to get the landlord to replace this toilet...on it's last legs etc...

Handyman: A wee secret then...I'm your landlord.

Me: shite.

So what did I do?
I made him a cuppa tea and acted like nothing had happened.

2. A scenario...

We're in the car sitting at a set of lights when I notice a man trying to lock his bike to a tree next to our car.

He looks very familiar.

I'm staring. I'm really trying to figure out how I know him and at the exact moment I realize who he is, he stares straight back at us. 


"Poor dude" said The Rock, as the man grimly picks up his bike and wheels it to the nearest lamp-post.

I'm blushing and beginning to sweat a little...partly due to (A.) the fact we are completely stationary and I've just been caught blatantly staring at one of the (few...) 'romantic figures from my past', I desperately wanted to drive off; and (B.) because the whole time I was staring I hadn't realized that he'd been unable to lash his bike to the tree due to his lock being too short.

This all happened on the same day...today. Due to be over in 25 minutes.

On the upside, yesterday I successfully made my first batch of Gluten Free cupcakes for Mum and Dad's dinner party.

Also, Firecracker has locked onto Wrong Direction and dances with carefree abandon to all of their Greatest Hits (it'll probably be available by Xmas)...might post a video depending on crap internet provisions.

Keep shining...or in my case blushing and sweating :P
xxx

Sporadic fits!!

I'm a chocoholic.

I don't mean to be but it helps me get through the days. Not that there is anything wrong with my days. I'm am as blessed as any person can be; with husband; with child; with a roof over my head; with education; with the ability to fend for myself etc. The list could go on and on until the break of dawn!! But sometimes I'm brought to my knees by the realities of life. I'm not going to go into details, but I'm thankful for what I have. 

This is a sentiment I've developed over the years (although I still take many things for granted...many, many things I'm sure) but I've decided, in conjunction with the Rock that Firecracker would possibly benefit from this kind of sentiment also. We are going to add something to her routine now that she's talking and processing her thoughts out loud. Instead of prayers before bed, we're going to give thanks and think of ways to give back. Just before story time. I'll keep you posted on how it works out. Thanks to a special friend for planting the idea in my head :)

Back to being a chocoholic, I just ate a white chocolate brownie while drinking a hot chocolate. It needed to be admitted and hopefully I'm on the road to recovery. Since I stopped BF-ing Firecracker in December, my weight has shot up...thanks to my love of chocolate and driving instead of walking, it's time to do something about it. 

I'm contemplating banishing sweets from the house but that could give Firecracker negative images of food consumption...maybe I could put them in a safe and give The Rock the key...too far? Well, if anyone has any suggestions, I'd love to hear them. I've eaten chocolate (in one form or another) almost every day since Firecracker was born (2 years ago) and I'm ready to let go.

Oh, I almost forgot. I have to make a GF Cake for tonight's dinner party with my parents...guess what flavor :s

Keep shining xxx