{35 at 35: Own a designer handbag, check!}

Number 16 on my 35 at 35 list is to 'Own a designer handbag'. I wasn't entirely sure when I'd have the funds to buy said handbag, but then this happened...

I had gone out for a walk with my good friend Jayne, and she happened upon a penny on the street. She gave it to me saying that I needed the good luck more than her... Anyway, later that very same evening, this popped up on my Instagram feed:

Wendy at thankfifi had announced the winner of her Maxwell Scott bag, and the winner was me!!!

So I am now the proud owner of a Maxwell Scott Clarissa Bag and can happily tick off another item on my 35 at 35 list. Thank you thankfifi and Maxwell Scott.

The bag is absolutely gorgeous, it smells amazing and I love that Maxwell Scott is a family run business that still use traditional methods to handcraft their bags in the heart of Italy. Their travel bags have also caught my eye - the Farini Cabin Bag looks beautiful. Definitely one for the wish list!

{35 at 35: use a power drill, check!}

I'm been making progress with my 35 at 35 list... I'm now feeling confident to score off 'Learn how to use a power drill properly and improve my DIY skills'.

I've been doing a lot of DIY in my new house, and my skills have improved dramatically (I think so at least!).

When I first moved in, I put up a hook but ended up with it being squint :-/ Just as well it's in a cupboard!

Since then I've put up mirrors, shelving, more hooks, a Roman blind, a hanging basket in the garden and even a curtain pole. I'm getting better and better.

The curtain pole I fitted (& I made the curtains too!!)

The Roman blind I made and fitted!

I've also put up a load of hooks in my out house/shed (whatever you want to call it!) and have managed to get the place a lot more organised!

Bit of a mess...

Getting better!

My dad gave me a lesson on drilling through ceramic when I was at the old house. I was putting some holes in the bottom of a ceramic pot so that it could be used in the garden for plants, but the same principle would apply for tiles.

You need to choose your drill bit wisely. I remember the first time I tried to drill into a solid brick wall with a standard drill bit, and struggled for ages to figure out what I was doing wrong because I was getting nowhere fast. I swapped my drill bit for a masonry drill bit (thank you B&Q) and in seconds I had managed to make a sizeable hole in the wall!! For tiles, you ideally need a diamond-tipped drill bit.

The most difficult part of drilling to ceramic is to break through the surface. The drill tends to move about the surface rather than bite into the tile and bore through. My dad taught me to put a cross over the tile in the spot to be drilled using masking tape. Once the bit is started, it's just a case of slowly drilling until you make it all the way through.

I've been really enjoying getting handy in my new place ;-)

{35 at 35: Go On A Picnic, Check!}

I've only gone and ticked off another of my 35 at 35 list items. Go me! (Well, really it was R that organised it not me... thank you!).

At the weekend we went and did some exploring on the West Coast of Scotland (you may have seen my Log Pod YouTube vlog? More on this in a separate post).

Well, on the Saturday night we stayed at Glencairn House in Morar by Mallaig, and it was the perfect opportunity to have a picnic on the beach which was just a 2 minute drive away.

Isn't it just beautiful!!

Food-wise it wasn't what I had planned out in my head when I had put 'go on a picnic' on my list (I was thinking wicker basket, glasses of pink fizz, checked blankets, finger sandwiches and miniature cakes) but it was the location and the company that made it perfect.

{35 at 35: Fall in love again, check!}

When I wrote my 35 at 35 list, I had no idea what the future had in store for me.

Here I am two and a half years down the line, and I am genuinely happy.

I also feel able & ready to tick off number 34 on the list, fall in love again.

My one issue was that I was struggling to say those three little words...

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My sister kept texting me asking had I dropped the 'L-bomb' yet, and for every message I responded no. I was too scared.

So when is the right time to say I Love You?

I didn't want to be tipsy because I wanted R to know that I meant it, and that it wasn't just the gin talking! I also wanted it to be face-to-face rather than a text message, but see above re: being too scared. Being sober and saying 'I love you' to someone's face is not an easy thing to do! I'm really shy about these kinds of things and I sometimes struggle to talk about my feelings.

Anyway, in the end I didn't have the confidence to say it aloud, and decided instead to write a message in a card which I left under the duvet for R to find!

I wish I had bought this card - we both love a cheesy pun! {image source}

I was there when he read it (which sort of makes it face-to-face, although I was hiding under the duvet in sheer embarrassment!?!) and as soon as he had finished reading my well thought out love letter (which I had scribbled 10 minutes earlier in the bathroom!!) he told me that he loved me too.

Awww!! 

I also managed to finally say the words out loud too which is progress.

I think I'm scared of getting hurt again. But R & I have taken things slowly and I have waited until the time is right rather than rushing things. And I'm ever so happy :-)

I thought this was very cute, and again another amusing pun!! {image source}

P.S Sorry for all the lovey-dovey chat, the cheese and the gushing!

P.P.S Have a great weekend folks! 

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{35 at 35 list: Happiness}

I've been giving some thought to my 35 at 35 list, in particular the prompt 'be genuinely happy'.

When I wrote the list, I was in a bad place. My husband had just moved out 2 weeks before and I had a lot to contend with. I was on my own with my 8 month old daughter and my toddler son. I was sad, confused, hurt and scared/excited for what the future may hold.

Two and a half years later and nearing half way to my 35 at 35 list deadline, I thought it was a good time to take stock & reflect on where I was and where I am now.

I think my followers, friends & family would agree that I've come a long way since the start of 2012. 

When I was still living with the kids dad I was in denial. I don't think I was ready to face up to how I was feeling and the situation I found myself in. My health visitor had suggested I might have post-natal depression to which I was told, by the ex, that of course I wasn't clinically depressed. And I agreed with him. But now when I look back, it's clear that something wasn't right. It's only now, that I've come through the other side that I realise just how tough things were and that the thoughts I was having weren't necessarily normal.

I remember when my son was little, my father-in-law would babysit every so often so I could get my hair done. On one of my trips out I actually considered not going back to the house, ever. I was finding parenting very difficult & my son was a difficult baby. It's hard to admit this, but I didn't enjoy his first year & I wish I'd dealt with the situation differently.

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Then when my daughter arrived, the ex & I were going through a difficult time. After all the drama that then followed, I pulled myself together...

I hired a life coach, spent over half a year seeing a post-natal depression counsellor & attended focus group sessions. What was I looking for? I'm not sure if I'm honest. I acknowledged that how I was feeling wasn't right and that I needed help. My health visitor was amazing, and I'm glad that I finally had the courage to listen to her.

I used to be anxious going out with the children on my own.

I used to have to go into the other room to cry so that they wouldn't see me upset.

I doubted every decision I made.

I found simple every day things difficult.

I am pleased to say that I am in a much better place now.

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Things are getting easier, and I'm enjoying my children so much more than I did when they were babies. My confidence has improved and yes, I think I can now say I'm happy :-)

Don't get me wrong, there are difficult days and tantrums and tears still, but overall things are positive.

I've been reading Happier at Home by Gretchen Rubin, and bookmarked this quote:

"While 'happiness' might suggest a final, magical destination, the aim of a happiness project isn't to hit 10 on the 1-to-10 happiness scale and to remain there perpetually; that would be neither realistic or desirable. I sought not to achieve perfect 'happiness', but rather to become happier".

P.S. Thanks to everyone that's been voting for me for the BiBs Family award - this has made me extremely happy and I'm so chuffed to have made it onto the shortlist. If you're yet to vote, I'd love your support. You can vote for me here. Thanks so much!!

{#JanuaryJoy - Learn Something New}

Today's #JanuaryJoy prompt is to 'learn something new'.

This suits me perfectly, as I love to learn new things!

There are a couple of things on my 35 at 35 list which involve learning new skills... #6 is to learn how to use a power drill properly and improve my DIY skills, #9 is to take an advanced driving course (I'm terrified of driving in ice and snow), #26 is to learn about html and #27 is to do a night class in digital design.

At the moment I can't afford to be paying for classes or courses, so it restricts me somewhat.

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After a very quick google, I've found a heap of free online tutorials for learning html for beginners! Does anyone have any recommendations of easy to follow tutorials that I could try? Not really sure where to start!!

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And did you know that B&Q run 'You can do it' classes, some of which are free! I'm thinking if I sign up to the free Power Tools course then I could check this one off my list!

{35 at 35: #ShareAdvent Afternoon Tea, Done!}

For today's #ShareAdvent topic, 'mulling', I'm going to share with you the details of the festive afternoon tea I hosted in my new house.

It's the last #35at35list item that I'm going to be able to tick off this year :-)

I had planned to have a lavender-themed afternoon tea party in my new house as a civilised house warming party and had pinned a whole host of inspiring pictures here of lavender hot chocolate, lilac macarons and blueberry cupcakes...

Anyway, I ended up deciding that a festive afternoon tea would be much easier, and I went ahead and organised a child-friendly afternoon for a few friends.

We had cheese & crackers, puff pastry canapes, warm mulled wine from the slow cooker and mince pies with Baileys cream. Yum!

The cheese & pate

My festive wreath!

Kids hard at work cutting out pastry shapes for our goats cheese and onion chutney puffs!

The living room, complete with "roaring fire"!!

{#ShareAdvent - organise your photos from the year}

The other day I received the USB of photographs that I had purchased following our festive mini portrait session with Zoe Stewart Photography. This ties in nicely with today's #ShareAdvent prompt, which is to organise your photos from the year.

Isn't the packaging just lovely! A very cute wooden USB stick complete with Zoe's little logo (plus some chocolate truffles for me to enjoy!).

So I've been busy organising my photographs for our annual photo Christmas card and a few photo Christmas gifts as well!

Last year I used a template from Vol. 25 for my Christmas card and similarly, in 2010 I used a Vol. 25 template. There's just something about the designs that I love. Anyway, this year is no different and I've downloaded the most recent 'holiday card' templates...

I'm over the moon with the results from our photo session and as I type I have another browser window open so I can organise some prints for my walls!

Photography by Zoe Stewart Photography

Digital template from Vol. 25

PS My Microsoft #GBTypeOff giveaway ends tomorrow. Enter here to win a ergonomic keyboard and mouse worth £99.99

{35 at 35: family portrait session}

The other day we ticked off one of the items on my 35 at 35 list, 'Have a family portrait session'.

I was very excited to have a festive mini session with Zoe Stewart Photography. Her work is just beautiful and I've been following her blog for a while now. As soon as she released the dates of the festive sessions, I snapped one up! It was £45 for a 30 minute session.

Zoe has decorated her studio with some amazing bare trees covered with fairy lights and stars, complete with a wooden sledge and furry blankets/rugs. Isn't it just adorable!!

Here's a shot of her daughter Ruby - she's gorgeous {image source}

And again :-) {image source}

Zoe's studio is in Edinburgh. It was really easy to get to & parking wasn't an issue either. We were welcomed in by a very friendly Zoe, and I promptly got the kids changed into their clothes for the shoot. I definitely wasn't risking any accidents in the car on the way through from Glasgow!

The studio is perfect... I was seriously in love with all the accessories and props that Zoe has dotted around the place. So many baskets, blankets and bows for the baby portraits. For the Christmas sessions she had giant marshmallows, candy canes and (non-alcoholic) mulled wine... and the Christmas tunes were on her music player. 

Zoe Stewart Photography

I urge you to go look at her website... www.zoestewartphoto.com 

The baby photos are just so amazing!

Anyway, we were made to feel very welcome and Zoe was great with my two wee rascals! My son decided that day to start with some crazy smile and kept sticking his chin out (honestly!) but from the sneak peeks it looks like Zoe has managed to get some lovely shots despite his silliness. 

I'm really looking forward to seeing the rest of the photographs. Watch this space :-)

Zoe Stewart Photography on Facebook

{35 at 35: Log Fire, Check!}

Item number 12 on my 35 at 35 list was to 'spend an afternoon in front of a log fire' and I did just that on Saturday at my friends Kath and Peter's new house. Ok, so it wasn't an afternoon, it was an evening, but I'm going ahead and ticking it off the list. We even went one better... we drank champagne in front of the log fire!!

I'm going to do a separate post on their house as it's just beautiful and there are so many lovely things that I want to share with you about it. But for now, here's a sneak peek at their fireplace and their terrace...

Kath even made me a paleo dinner so I could stick to my diet! Thank you, you are amazing! xx

Just perfect!! Good food, good company, champagne, log fire... it was a brilliant evening in.

Drinks on the terrace, yes please!

{35 at 35: Biscuit Decorating, Check!}

When I spotted on the Glasgow Baking Club blog that Zoe Clark was coming to Mrs Jones kitchen to teach a biscuit decorating course I immediately signed up.

Last year I had the pleasure of attending a session in Mrs Jones kitchen where I made the most amazing birthday cake for my littlest's first birthday party. Have a peek at the cake here.

Anyway, 'learn how to decorate biscuits properly' is also on my 35 at 35 list and Zoe's cookies are just beautiful:

Zoe Clark's teapot & teacup cookies

This morning I arrived at Mrs Jones kitchen to be greeted with tea & a cake (perfect start to the day!) and I met the other ladies that were attending the course. Zoe was lovely and an excellent teacher. I'm amazed that we managed to get through so many designs in such a short space of time.

First we were shown how to whip up the Royal Icing. We then took a small amount of Royal Icing to which we added some colour. After taking some out for the outlining piping bag (for which we used a 1.5mm metal nozzle), we watered down the icing a little for the flooding piping bag (no nozzle was used, we just cut the end off the bag).

The blank cookies.

Piping in the Royal Icing outline on the birdcages with a 1.5 nozzle.

Flooding the cookie with a watered down Royal Icing - I chose a mint green colour.

The shoe cookies - they icing I selected for the shoes was grape violet, but the lighting in this photograph makes them look pink.

Getting there..!

Zoe teaching us how to over pipe the birdcage

Look at all the pretty coloured biscuits!!

Ta-da!!

My selection of finished biscuits... birdcages, cupcakes, teapots, shoes, dresses and heart lollipops.

These vanilla biscuits have a 2 week shelf life and will be ideal for the littlest's 2nd birthday party this weekend. What perfect timing!!

I'm keen to hone my technique and must try and get some practice in!! Biscuit anyone??