Free For All Friday: 10 Things to Do in Autumn

1. Make a family time capsule and bury it in the garden (or hide it in the loft).

2. Have a baking day, nothing says Autumn to me like the smell of baking. Apple pies, rock buns and parkin all hold special memories.

3. Go for a night-time walk and see what stars you can spot (there are apps that can help with this).

4. Board game tournament, winner stays on. 

5. Movie marathon, pjs and duvet optional. 

6. Start a craft project. Crochet/knit a blanket, mug hug.  Try this blog for ideas torontoknitcafe

7. Drink hot chocolate at sunset, at the beach

8. Make a family 'Bucket' List. For ideas visit dazeofadventure.com 

9. Tell spooky stories. here

10. Wrap up warm and go for a walk kicking though the autumn leaves. 

What I Ate Wednesday

Today I had a working breakfast. Coffee, a pecan and fudge muffin and processing Avon orders. 

Lunch was one of the new Covent Garden Skinny Soups. This one was Goan Spiced Chicken Soup with Lentils. Lush. 

I had a bit of a snacky day too, so carrots and houmous came to the rescue. 

Hubby made tea, so it was a Tomato and Spicy Pepperoni pasta bake. 

Then while I was watching Archer Vice I munched on this Graze punnet. 

I think it was Dark Rocky Road. 

Family Friday: 10 Facts About Me

1. I have a conflicting streak where I love to be the centre of attention, but don't like people paying too much attention to me.

2. I have a thing about science fiction/fantasy and superheroes. TV series, films and graphic novels I love them all.

3. I get bored far too easily, and then I have crazy ideas of things to do.

4.  I get distracted by shiny things far too often.

5.  I make my own wine, and then I drink it.

6.  I share my birthday with the day that Holst first performed the planet suite.

7.  I stand by the idea that carrots scream when being uprooted, after reading it in a free book of facts I got in a magazine.

8. I was asked to leave cookery and needlework classes at secondary school.

9. I have never officially solved a Rubik's cube.

10.  I played violin for 8 years, and can't remember a note.

Family Friday: Getting Organised

At the risk of harping on. There has been some big changes this week.

This obviously will impact on our family life.

After 10 years spending a majority of my time at home, I have strangely managed to see more of my children this week while I've been working full days in the office.

The week has gone in a flash and now the weekend is here.

It's been a week of meetings, meals out and a tv marathon with takeaway. So tomorrow is a housey day. We will do the weekly shop, my menu for next week is already sorted, deliver my remaining Avon orders and then get down to the business of tidying up - hopefully at some speed. Then, and only then, we can get to do something fun.

I'm just not sure what yet.  What I do know though is that weekends are going to be important.

A time for us to be together and go and do things. Now to track those things down and make them happen.

Family Friday: Cooking Kid

Last week I set my Cubs a task, to help their parents at home in a range of chores/activities.

My eldest son JJ was no different.

For a week, he cleaned his room, made his bed, he sorted out the shoe cupboard and laid the dinner to list a few of the tasks.

He also cooked. His favourite food is lasagne, but I wasn't feeling the stress of teaching him how to make a bechemel sauce. Instead I headed to the cupboard and pulled out this beauty.

I've never really been a packet user. My mum used to way back when, for things like savoury mince, but as I was a diet club member for most of my adult life (somewhat unsuccessfully may I add) I have avoided them. However, I thought this looked interesting and a good cupboard standby. 

All JJ needed to add was some meatballs, which he made from lean mince formed into balls with some salt and pepper, onion and red pepper. 

Those knife skills just scared me!

He fried off the meatballs, onion & peppers. Added the sauce mix to the pan and left it to cook out and thicken, 

At this point he also boiled up some pasta (that's the shiny pan). 

After mixing it all together and topping with cheese we baked it for roughly 20 mins. 

The finished dish looked like this:

I think it's fair to say he did a really good job. I enjoyed my tea that night anyway!

If I see this packet mix again I will definitely be buying it. Quick and simple to make and it was quite simply child's play. 

Family Friday: The Day It All Went Wrong

We had some big plans for today.

We were going to go somewhere further afield and make use of the out of season prices.

Alas, Patsy the Battletram didn't agree with these ideas. So instead gets an extended stay at my mechanic's pleasure. Oh the joys. I didn't expect that after having my vitamin injection this morning that I would be high tailing it up to the garage with the world's loudest ever exhaust. It was just embarrassing.

So instead we rounded out half term with an impromptu lego-themed day, and an emergency visit to the dentist for me.

Bean bags on the floor, adults huddled on the sofa, mummy feeling rather sorry for herself and her bank balance!

We've always had a touch of Lego obsession in this house. We have the games, the tv specials and some films not to mention the blocks, some of the giant box we have were mine from the 80s.

We are really looking forward to seeing the new film, anything with Will Ferrell in is usually a hit at BeeBee Towers with the husband too.

Family Friday: Half Term Ideas

As a parent with my finger firmly attached to the internet, I have been looking around for things to do with the boys when they're off on Half Term next week.

The youngest boy child has decided that he really wants to go to the seaside... wind and blowy gales included, the eldest has come home with a list of chores to do for Cubs so he can get his Home Help badge. Oh what a Cub Leader I am, bribery with a badge so he'll tidy his room for a week.







On his list are the following:

1. Cook a simple one-course meal. I'm thinking along the lines of beans on toast (or more likely spaghetti hoops then his brother will eat it too).
2. Lay a table and serve a simple meal. This can be done with requirement number one. 
3. Wash up afterwards and show how to clean a saucepan or similar cooking utensils, cutlery, glassware, etc. This may include loading and unloading a dishwasher. Anything that means I don't have to!
4. Under adult supervision, wash and iron your Group scarf. I hate ironing those, and he screws it up in seconds.
5. Sew on a badge or button. He has plenty of buttons that have popped!
6. Keep your room clean and tidy and make your bed for a week. This one is my favourite! 
7. Clean two of the following: windows, silver, brass-work, basin or cupboard. Would it be cruel to pass him all the spoons that haven't been polished for 10+ years.
8. Clean and tidy a living room. He'll hate me for this!

And if I'm brave I may also add make a cup of tea/coffee to the list. 

If he manages it he'll get this badge for his uniform.

Now what to do on a windy day on a UK beach when the winds have been at their worst? 

We could head towards Hornsea, a shale beach with lots of rocks. Suitable for making pets with...

and some gorgeous fish and chips. And some kite flying to boot.

We could also go to Bridlington or Scarborough, which at least have shops close by to shelter from the biting wind, before a final decision is made I best keep an eye on the weather reports.

Family Friday: Simple Car Game

My eldest boy has a favourite game, the one where you take it in turns to make up a story. Each person telling a different part of the far-fetched tale.

It's a great way to pass the time, but I find that it takes far too much concentration when you are trying to drive the car. So we've started ABC lists instead.

So far we have had animals, fruits, vegetables, names, places and word association, the only limit is your imagination and not knowing any 'X' words.

I've found this also rather good for distraction purposes too.

Family Friday: Valentine's Day Crispies

Family Friday: Pot Luck Dinner

Once a month my friends and I gather for a meal.

We all take a dish from a particular cuisine.

This time we chose Greek. I took pitta breads, taramasalata, houmous and tzatziki and a greek salad.

There was also a beef stifado, mousakka, stuffed peppers and tomatoes, lemon pilaf, prawn toast (we always have prawn toast mmm), oreo truffles, cheesecake.

We laughed the night away with ouzo and a few games of this...

The table looked full with all these goodies

please don't judge, it is really funny. You just can't be easily offended!