Catchup on Social and Family!

Its been a while. So I'll do two posts. This one is a summary of what we've been up to without mention of me crafting!

First up - end of October was Sashas Hen do.

 

Michael Jackson Tribute Night +Wyboston Lakes 

It was a good laugh, even though the food was pretty bad. They ran out of potato (who runs out of potato?!!) So gave me extra aubergine. Lucky me. 

When we complained, they gave us luminous green risotto to go with our beef instead. Mmmm....

I did get to wear my Hell Bunny pansy dress which was originally meant for mother in laws wedding though :) Bit tight on me (not the dresses fault) and I had to sew the straps down because for some reason they fasten at the back with buttons. That's a disaster just waiting to happen

Just a garden centre shot. Cos I like it.

There was an overnight trip to Bewilderwood at half term...

...followed next day by a visit to Norwich Castle

There was a Halloween Party @Houghton Mill 

With a walk by lantern light (or disco-ball-on-a-stick in Noahs case)

There was a Halloween Party at the Comrades Club - almost missed it as I thought it was on the Saturday when in fact it was on the Friday. Found out half an hour before it started. 

I still won best dress adult though, simply by putting this frock on (bought on sale in Sainsburys in Norwich the day before)

We had an afternoon at Nene Park in Peterborough...

...and another trip to the garden centre

It was my 'babys' 6th birthday. He had a bouncy castle party for all heroes and princesses.

My Captain America (yes I forgot his costume for his own party - daddy had to dash home and retrieve it)

He got a lovely shiny keyboard...

...and a beautiful red haired doll (complete with Anna outfit I bought from China)

I can't believe my lovely boy is six already :)

We visited the Cambridge science centre. Joey looks good in a space helmet - no?

I only bought ONE dress in the sales (and it wasn't on sale) This is Lindy Bop. I wanted to go festive for the upcoming Christmas Market

And most recently, we visited @Wimpole Hall where they are currently doing lots of lovely christmas activites. (Its free for National Trust members, which we are)

The boys put on a light puppet show

Made pomanders and lavender bags

Decorated gingerbread shapes

had a wander to the walled garden, past huge christmas trees

then had a massive tantrum because the hot chocolate was finished and the crafty cottage shut as we arrived too late. We won't go into that...

Finally - it was decoration day at school last Friday. They all wear festive jumpers and make decorations all day. The parents are allowed to come in and help

And our tree

Cosmetic Purses and a Handbag handbag. Plus Christmas plays and carol concerts.

Its a busy time at the mo. There are parties to be had (by children) concerts to be done (by children) and things to be made (by children and me!)

I'll cover crafts first.
I made a large purchase over the weekend. Four bolts of Amy Butler fabric.

 

 

I didn't mean to go so nuts, but they are end of line and a super bargain at £5 a metre. My mum gave me some money for christmas. This took a large chunk of it!

I had already bought a metre of two of these fabrics a couple of weeks ago, and used them to make some cosmetics purses for family. I didn't use a pattern, and I used some lovely bright 8" zips I got on ebay. I think I just did 3.5" x 10" for the patterned fabric, 4.5" for the red fabric, and 7" x 10" for the lining. Sewed on some zip ends. Sewed in the zip. Sewed across the base to make the corners at about 3.5" width. Bobs your uncle. Not as quick as a basic pencil case, but not much more work and looks pretty nice.

  

I also finished my Cate (swoon patterns) handbag last night. I'm cross with myself for not making the pleather higher up the bag. I miscalculated so you can hardly see it as its on the base, but still quite happy with the bag in general. I love this melody miller ruby star linen-cotton fabric. Its my handbags handbag!

  

 

Also this week - Noah had his first christmas play at school (they don't do traditional nativities) He was a chicken. He didn't do much but pull faces at me but the whole thing is quite cute. I'm not allowed to post pics of that.

 (Noah at the carol concert - in the middle - elf hat on)

They also put on an out of school club carol concert. All the Y3s boycotted it (including Joey) because they refused to sing 'Let it go'. (I know full well Joey secretly enjoys Frozen) so he sat with me, and Noah pulled faced and rolled his jumper up and down :)

Tuesday evening I went out for a 'quick drink' with some of the reception mums. I can't really hold my drink any more, so 3 glasses of red and a sambuca later, I was pretty sozzled. I did of course have to work on Wednesday morning, but fortunately the boys were on a play date after school so I got a rest.

Voodoo Vixen have a new plus size model, so that's me out I guess. A quick fb message to say 'nice to work with you but we have a new face' would have been good, but hey ho that's business. She is gorgeous (the new model) but has been sl*gging of the MUA on fb so I'm not sure VV will use her again. Like me she isn't a professional model, but she has a fashion and lifestyle blog (which clearly I don't have - I just have a bit of everything blog!)

On Saturday we visited Wimpole Hall, which is about half an hour away from us. We have a national trust membership so its free for us. They have a lot of Christmas activities on at the mo (although Noah managed to convince this stall holder to let him and Joey make dried arrangements - this wasn't actually an activity - they were just being very kind!)

Inside the hall was decked out beautifully. The boys found some tiddlywinks sets to play with – very grand setting to do so – I’ve bought them some for Christmas as they had lots of fun.