Motivational Words

I haven't blogged about it in a while but I've still been plodding slowly away in the background trying to grind away those pesky pounds. I had that initial burst, a lull, and then slowly, but surely things started to change as posted about here.
It continues to be an up and down journey and I've never declared the words, "I'm on a diet", as that would guarantee failure.
I've watched with interest posts about the 5:2 diet but just know I would not cope on the fast days running around after 6 year olds at work.
Being at work is easier. Breakfast is a bowl of Granola, for lunch I take in a box of healthy crudités - cucumber, carrot, cherry tomatoes, celery, grapes - a small pot of hummus and a few breadsticks, I forgot the latter yesterday and still survived, then I eat at 5 with the children where I have significantly cut down my portion size and refuse to hoover up their leftovers!
Currently I am back in the zone of exercising, once the children are down for the night. It is this that often gives first and I continue to be an 'All or Nothing' type.
This morning I stepped onto the scales and am so close to crossing the two-digit number barrier - you work it out! - and this motivates me to carry on.

I also look on my Motivation - the words Pinterest board for some arse kicking words of advice when I feel I'm about to slip.

And when I look like that I will be posting a picture!

 

So, what's your motivation?

 

x x x

 

All the above images can be found here from where the original source of image can be located.

#pinaddicts challenge no. 6 - Pecans & Bananas

The #pinaddicts challenge works as follows:

Pin to your #pinaddicts board on Pinterest.

Choose something to make for the challenge.

In your post put the original image with original links.

Post your fantastic effort at recreating.

Link up and go and check out the other #pinaddicts!

This month we are linking up with Kerry at Life, As I Know It!

#pinaddicts challenge no. 6 - Pecans & Bananas

This month I have decided to go down the baking route. Partly because another project I have on the go is taking me way longer than I thought it would and partly because I have pinned so many scrummy treats to various Pinterest boards I thought it was about time I made some of them.

So, for your visual delight and to get your mouths drooling I have attempted the following...

http://www.justataste.com/2011/11/pecan-pie-bars/

Pecan Pie Bars

AND!....

http://www.the-girl-who-ate-everything.com/2011/04/banana-coconut-upside-down-cake.html

Banana and Coconut Upside Down Cake

Can you tell that sticky, caramelly, sweet, nutty things rock my tastebuds?!

I played around a bit with both recipes as the quantities didn't match my tin sizes, and also I had different ingredients in my cupboards, but the changes worked - phew.

For the Pecan Pie Bars I used...

125g butter and half a cup of dark brown sugar beaten together until smooth.

To this I mixed in 1 1/4 cups of plain flour and a pinch of salt until crumbly.

This mix was pressed into a 7" x 10" lined tin and baked at 180c for 20 minutes.

For the topping I melted about 100g butter, a cup of light brown sugar, about half a cup of maple syrup and half a cup of honey. My measures were approximate and I don't think it matters too much to be completely accurate for the sticky topping!

Once melted I stirred in about 120g of chopped pecans.

This mixture was poured over the base and baked for another 20 minutes.

Once it had stopped bubbling, cooled down and set it looked like this!....

*Drools*

The banana and coconut upside down cake was, erm, fun shall we say?!

There was a bit of stickage in the tin and rearrangement of bananas required so I would score it about 4 for presentation. But it was the taste that mattered and it was scrummy - especially warm with custard.

The original pin used a Betty Crocker mix (?!) but I know how to mix 4oz S R Flour, 4oz Stork, 4oz caster sugar and 2 eggs together so that's what I did.

In the bottom of a round cake tin I laid out 2 sliced bananas, poured over the syrup made from about 50g melted butter and half a cup of dark brown sugar. Over this I sprinkled a cup of dessicated coconut and then on went the cake batter.

This concoction was baked for about 35-40 minutes.

Once cool flip the tin and good luck getting it out.

Apologies for the mixes of measures but I was jumping from cups to scales to old fashioned cake mix recipes from my head.

Anyhows - ignoring the mess on top - this is how it came out...and look, it has been eaten so obviously tasted good.

So, are you drooling yet?!

x x x

#pinaddicts challenge no. 5 - Chai Tea Loveliness!



This month is hosted by Simply Outnumbered and this is how it works!

The #pinaddicts challenge works as follows:

Pin to your #pinaddicts board on Pinterest.

Choose something to make for the challenge.

In your post put the original image with original links.

Post your fantastic effort at recreating.

Link up and go and check out the other #pinaddicts!

#pinaddicts challenge no. 5 - Chai Tea Loveliness

This month I decided to put the sewing machine to one side and focus on Chai Tea having become recently addicted to the stuff.

The following pins on Pinterest inspired me to have a go at making my own.

http://acozykitchen.com/chai-iced-tea/

http://shopcookmake.blogspot.co.uk/2011/06/iced-chai-tea.html

The first version required spices and condensed milk so was more time consuming, fattening and expensive to produce. The second version used teabags, milk and a couple of cloves so was quicker, had fewer calories and was cheaper to put together!

I did, however, have a go at both.

I played around with a couple of recipes and used the above ingredients plus black peppercorns...and TEA!

Next time I will ditch the ginger - it didn't work for me.

Mistake - I should have added the tea at the end!

An hour later: Iced Chai Tea Latte!

The easier version just involved steeping the teabags and cloves, cooling off in the fridge and adding cold milk and ice.

I actually preferred the latter version as it was less sickly sweet. I do, however, plan to tinker around with using fresh spices to make it a more authentic chai tea taste.

I wasn't content with stopping with the tea though and wanted to have a go at these:-

Chai Tea Cookies

http://www.americancupcakeabroad.com/cookies/chai-tea-cookies

Here's my attempt!

They were delicious, with or without the chocolate!

Not wanting to be left out the children grabbed some dough, minus the tea leaves, and made their own Jubilee Crown biscuits.

What do you think?!

x x x



#pinaddicts challenge no. 4 - Fabric Storage Boxes

I cannot believe it is month 4 of the #pinaddicts challenge already and May sees the lovely But Why Mummy, Why?  hosting the linky.

The #pinaddicts challenge works as follows:

Pin to your #pinaddicts board on Pinterest.

Choose something to make for the challenge.

In your post put the original image with original links.

Post your fantastic effort at recreating.

Link up and go and check out the other #pinaddicts!

 

#pinaddicts challenge no.4 - Fabric Storage Box

 

This month I was influenced by the following pin to make some small storage boxes and tidy up my shelves.

 

http://sometimescrafter.blogspot.co.uk/2009/04/tutorial-fabric-scrap-basket.html

 

The above link has a detailed tutorial.

 

But here's how I did mine!

 

I am now planning to make a cuboid shaped box for keys and work lanyards to be chucked into by the front door.

What do you think?

x x x

 

 

#pinaddicts challenge no. 3 - iPad cover



It's month 3 of the #pinaddicts challenge and April sees the lovely Sew Scrumptious hosting the linky.

The #pinaddicts challenge works as follows:

Pin to your #pinaddicts board on Pinterest.

Choose something to make for the challenge.

In your post put the original image with original links.

Post your fantastic effort at recreating.

Link up and go and check out the other #pinaddicts!

#pinaddicts challenge no.3 - iPad cover

This month I returned to my sewing machine to make a cover for my iPad.

I was inspired by the following two pins on my #pinaddicts board.

http://oneshabbychick.typepad.com

http://teaginnydesigns.blogspot.com

I really liked the zipper on the above design but my basic sewing machine does not have a zipper foot - time for an upgrade I think! So I took the elements from each tutorial that I could do and mashed them together.

I found some gorgeous fabric from www.fabricrehab.co.uk and set to work.

For the outer sleeve I used two pieces of fabric cut to 10.5" x 8.5" and interfacing the same size.

For the inner sleeve the fabric was cut to the same dimensions.

For the flap I used two pieces of fabric and one piece of interfacing 3" x 3".

All the parts were made by placing right sides together with interfacing pressed inside. The two long sides and one short side were sewn on the flap and the outer sleeve. For the inner sleeve a 3" opening was left at the bottom.

A piece of velcro was attached to the outer sleeve and the flap pinned to the opposite side:

This piece was then put inside the inner sleeve - inner sleeve is inside out at this point.

The seams were pinned and the sleeves sewn together around the top opening.

Then the outer sleeve was pulled through the opening in the inner sleeve like so:

The opening in the inner sleeve was sewn up and the sleeve was tucked into the outer sleeve. Then the top opening was sewn around again and a final piece of velcro attached to the flap:

And it was all done!

What do you think?

x x x

#pinaddicts no.2 - We have a winner!

The time has come to randomly draw a winner for the second #pinaddicts challenge

This month the prize up for grabs is a £50 Experience Days voucher!

We had 43 official link ups plus @Trayzzr2, who had a mix up with me over linking up so I have included her in the draw. If you add me as well we had 45 creations!!

SO WHO WAS MISSING FROM LAST TIME THEN?!?

Just kidding.

I went very high tech with the selection this month and wrote out the numbers 1-44 on a piece of paper!

I crossed out the #pinaddicts team members - sorry guys!

Cut them up and threw them in the fruit bowl.

In went the claw hand.

And out came number....... (drum roll please).......

....22!!!

THAT'S NUMBER 22!

No 22 is better known as Michelle from Increasingly Crafty who made these gorgeous beanbags!

I am now off to to hunt her down - wish me luck.

Well Done No.22 Michelle!

x x x

NEXT MONTH THE HOSTESS WITH THE MOSTESS IS THE LOVELY LOUISE OVER AT

SEW SCRUMPTIOUS

#pinaddicts and why it's good for me

It sounds crazy but the #pinaddicts challenge has given me a focus and reignited my love of making things. Typically I seize on something new, go at it for a bit, then give up.

Knitting is a good example.

As is getting fit!

With #pinaddicts I have a monthly focus. I can choose from the things I have pinned and take my time to do it. I can do it with a cup of tea or maybe a cider and so far I have had success with bunting and t-shirt flowers! This is the key I think. My challenge to myself is attainable - in a short amount of time. My fitness and toning up is going to take a lot longer. I regularly pin motivational pictures, workouts and quotes but do I go back and get motivated by them? *whispers* No!

It seems others are achieving loads with #pinaddicts too.

Here are the great things the #pinaddicts team members have made this month.

Each of these lovely ladies will host the linky each month.

Click on the pics and pay them all a visit!

Our team leader Kerry made Chocolate Spoons:

April's linky host, JustAboveAverageMum, made burger cupcakes:

 

ButWhyMummyWhy made a fantastic Calm Jar:

Mum2BabyInsomniac made fabulous Mod Podge boxes:

SewScrumptious went ModPodge crazy too:

SimplyOutnumbered kept her hallway tidy:

If these inspire you check out more here and link up on the first Monday of every month!

x x x