My Hair

I have hair that is somewhere in the region of the middle of my back in terms of length. It is not a flattering length for me. My hair is very thick and has a wave to it. The length it is now means it is heavy and this weight causes the wave to go away and makes the hair hang there doing not much of anything. My hair is now getting gray around the temple. My hair is annoying me. I read somewhere recently that I could be suffering from '1661 hair'. This is hair that could age me as 16 from the back but as soon as I turn around, 61 is probably more likely the age. I am neither of these ages - somewhere in the middle is my age. I have come to realise that I hide behind my hair. I let my hair dictate how I feel about myself. Lately I have not been feeling that great. I think it is time for me to grow a set of balls and just go get it cut. I fancy a shoulder length or slighter shorter bob, with layers and long side swept bangs. I also don't think I am ready to live with the grey - it tells too many secrets! I think a haircut will do wonders for me. Help me get back into the life I have spent so much time avoiding. Yes, time for a good chop!

Dear Valentine

I would really love this to appear at my door around February 14th. I shall explain why I think it needs to come live with me. The charms all seem to represent the very things that have made up our history. That time we spent in Rome, making out under the trees in Villa Borghese, watching the mopeds ride through the streets as though fear was not a part of an Italians vocabulary. When you introduced Nikons to my life and showed me a hobby I did not know I had. The Eiffel Tower, a symbol of the good natured ribbing you like to give me regarding France and its occupants. An umbrella, a perfect symbol of our first kiss at the carousel in Gaeta, in the pouring rain. Would it have been as romantic had we had an umbrella? Probably not.

Those are a few good reasons that this bracelet should come live on my wrist. Thank you
Eternally yours
Valentine xoxo

To make things even easier for you, you can get it right here at Kate Spade

Bouchon Banana Streusel Muffins

In my quest to become a better baker, I have decided I have to challenge myself. The Bouchon bakery book seems like a pretty good place to start! The book itself is a work of art and if all it did was sit on the coffee table looking pretty, it would more than be worth its price tag! However sit and look pretty is not what I intend for this tome! I have made the Pecan Sandies and they were amazing. As today is the last day of Winter Break for my two children, I thought a nice Brunch was in order. I knew Alex would like poached eggs and maybe some bacon, but I thought Banana Streusel Muffins would be a nice warm touch.

I am not going to lie. These are a little time consuming as each ingredient needs to be measured. This is not really taxing but it is a departure from the 1 cup style of measuring I am used to! Last night I made the batter and streusel topping and then this morning it was simply a case of scooping into the muffin cups, topping with a little streusel and then baking for about 30 minutes! Heaven should smell like my house while they were in the oven!

These muffins were a hit in the household and my son tried to eat three! They are moist and light and the streusel topping adds such a nice crunch to the mix. I highly recommend the recipe and the book in general. Muffin heaven is within the pages!

January 3rd

It is January 3rd and I have yet to even put finger to keyboard! My year of living purposefully is not off to a good online start! However, in the real world, I have made a little progress. Dinner has been served both nights with quite a level of aplomb! I have almost finished taking the childrens playroom and making it a space where we can all work or play. I ordered the second desk yesterday and hopefully it will be here within the week. Just need to get some art on the walls and we will be good to go. Owens room is also in need of a desk and a run to Michaels for some frames and it will be done too.

I had vagues wishes to do a photo a day project but I am not sure if this will be feasible. Perhaps I can just put that on the backburner while I accomplish some other things first! Maybe I could do a year of Alex as she enters the double digit years in two weeks. We shall see.

I have been trying to cut out all the processed junk I can fall prey to and whilst it has not all gone, it has been cut in a big way. The headaches that come along with the removal of sugar are not to be trifled with! It feels as though someone is hacking away at my skull with a pick ax!

Today I need to pick a baking project and get on that. My selections are macarons, pate a choux for chocolate eclairs, anything from the Bouchon bakery book, or cinnamon rolls from scratch. Hmmmm decisions, decisions!

One other thing today is to get started on the upstairs hallway. I have let that get a little too wild and Jumanji esq as I have been concentrating on other areas of the house.


Photo taken from my window January 2nd

2013 - Lets do this!

A New Year, A Fresh Start, A Turn of the Page. Is there a better time to start something new? Start afresh? I have many things I want to change about myself, my surroundings and my life, and today seems like a jolly good time to start. One of my main objectives this year is to rid myself of the extra weight that has taken up residence on my body. I also want to do the things I do, better. Be a better mother, be a better friend, a better correspondent, a better cook, a better baker. I want to remove doubts and just start doing. Fear is a terrible thing, it paralyzes and disables me. So on this first day of a fresh new year, I resolve to be all the things I want to be.