Christmas is creeping in...

Hi everyone,

This year I decided to do Christmas gradually instead of the usual rush. I've been squirrelling away since September and feel so much better for it. I've even wrapped some presents! 

The vintage decorations are up and the real tree will follow soon. This year I have garlands and tinsel and baubles from the 60s/70s. The grandchildren have simple card advent calendars which I found sealed (old 80s shop stock) with pictures and no chocolate. Auntie Charlotte bought them chocolate (dairy free) ones too. 

I love these Christmas tins I found in tesco...

I will reuse them each year and fill them with home baked Christmas treats. Speaking of baking, I had a big fail yesterday! I had a spare loaf going a bit dry so we made bread pudding for tea. Henry loves baking as much as Daisy now and had great fun squishing all the soggy bread! It was a simple recipe which meant he was really involved in every step, although he was more interested in picking out the dried peel and eating it! The end result looked good...

Sadly it was not enjoyed though. I think the texture was unfamiliar to them so we won't be making that again!

This however was a result...

Spotted by Charlotte on Facebook. I now have a sideboard and somewhere to store the board games and photographs. A bargain at £15. I also picked up two dressing tables and a chest of drawers. Furniture was built to last back then! 

A busy weekend is ahead with Christmas baking and letters to Father Christmas to be written. 

Such a special time of year.

Mandy x 

Planning a vintage Christmas!

Hi everyone! Sorry I've been absent again, just so busy as usual. Things are calmer now though as I continue to create a simpler life. 

My thoughts are obviously on Christmas now and planning a wonderful time for the children. I've been squirrelling bits and bobs away since September so I'm pretty organised. So much better to plan ahead and be able to actually enjoy the run up to Christmas. The children are getting excited already! 

We had a vintage style Christmas last year and the children really enjoyed it. Here's a few memories...

Christmas cakes and Yule logs.

Trifle!

I loved soda stream back in the eighties!

Always a real tree...

With vintage baubles.

We bought the children vintage toys...

Boxing Day board games! Frustration, Buckaroo and Mouse Trap are favourites.

I'm hoping to blog throughout December with lots of festive treats!

Mandy x 

Thank you!

Thank you for your kind comments.

I've decided for now that I'll continue to write here but make a few changes. I hope you like it!

Busy day today, but I'll be back tomorrow.

Mandy x

Is it time to say goodbye?

As the title says, I'm thinking about ending my blog. I've tried to get back into  regular posting but my heart really isn't in it now. 

Life has changed so much since I first started and I have to be so careful what I write. I'm still thrifty and still enjoy a challenge, but I've changed too. My interest now is in vintage and I've been slowly transforming our home, replacing the modern tat. I'm constantly making changes for the better but I can't see my blog managing to evolve with my interests. I want to move in a new direction now and may have to start again. 

My blog has become boring and uninspiring. I miss the interaction I used to get with likeminded people and find that on Instagram now. 

Thinking things over...

Mandy x

Baking Day!

I love baking and collecting vintage cookbooks and recipe leaflets. I rarely use modern recipes now so really should pass on those I don't use. 

My latest find is this one for Trex...

This cooking fat is ideal for Daisy as its dairy free. I've been using it to improve my pastry as the sunflower marg I use for cakes makes the pastry too soft. 

Today I baked two recipes out of this little book...

Coconut muffins

A moist ginger cake

Sadly I had to open the oven as the muffins were catching so it did sink in the middle but the outside is lovely, really sticky! Since cooling I've sprinkled it with icing sugar...yummy!

We had this oven baked chicken at lunchtime. It was delicious. 

I'm going to try to remember to photograph my cooking and baking more.

It's been so busy here with my new venture and everyday life but soon I'll be ready to share this with you all.

Mandy x

Enjoying the sun!

Well this morning as I write this it's dull and raining, but we've all loved the glorious weather recently. The children have spent all day in the garden, enjoyed picnics and eating outside and lots of ice lollies! By the end of the day a good soak in the bath is needed!! 

The tuff spot is great fun and also welcomed by our hen Sandy chick chick...

I've been spring cleaning my kitchen and found some out of date pulses and cereal. I hate throwing anything out and these were perfect for the tuff spot. Hopefully nothing will have chance to go out of date in my cupboards now as I'm not food hoarding anymore!

I've been much better at using up the fresh food and not wasting any. The veg from our veg box was delicious! I roasted lots of them. I've also started composting again too. All the veg peelings or endy bits we don't eat either went in the compost bin or out for the chicken. I normally use the recycling box provided by the council and put them out weekly, but now I only put food scraps from our plates in there that I can't use or compost at home. We're trying to minimise this too. 

I saved loads of money on my grocery shop last week by only buying what we need plus a few treats. This week will be reduced further as I make those treats myself! As I turn eco warrior, I've made a few swaps in my cleaning and laundry products plus kitchen roll etc. These are more expensive but that's the choice I've made. I'm not ready to make my own yet (one step at a time!)

Sorry but when I'm dishing up I forget to photograph what I've made. These were remembered though :)

Apple crumble made using some softer eating apples that needed using up. Served with cream!

A second pudding because I don't like cooked fruit but I do like chocolate fudge pudding! This was magic. You put the cake mixture in first then pour over a cocoa, sugar and water mix. The cake rises through and leaves a rich chocolate sauce at the bottom. We had it with cream fresh out of the oven on Sunday then yesterday with chocolate custard. I did a roast on Sunday so I used up the leftover veg yesterday and made bubble and squeak served with the leftover cold meat.

Finally...

This is me!

Listening to music while the children were  out with Grampy. The photos on my blog are very outdated but I just haven't had time to change things yet.

Mandy x

Update...

Back again after a break over the Easter holidays. I've been so busy! 

Lots of changes have been made in our home so I've been really busy with that. 

I have remembered to take a few photos to share with you though...

Easter goodies for the children...

Fun times with the children...

Baking...

Lots of home cooking and baking...

Vintage 

Finally, we had our first organic fruit and veg delivery!

Lots of positive changes going on that I can't wait to share with you :)

Mandy x