New Shoes

When I was pregnant with my daughter everyone kept telling me how expensive children are and that we would never have any money. To be honest since she was born apart from the expense of a cot bed, car seat and high chair she really has not been expensive at all.

Mind you I think this could be about to change.

We took her to have her feet measured today and she had grown a whole size from a 3 1/2 to a 4 1/2. We picked some lovely new shoes for her which she was very pleased with and they came to the handsome sum of £25 (my other half is grieving for his thinner wallet as I type).

To be honest I don't mind paying this as her foot had not grown since April and she was overdue for some new shoes. It's when the shop assistant smiles at you as she hands you your purchase and tells you to come in 4-6 weeks for her feet to measured again. Of course it is important that she wears shoes that fit her correctly and her feet are healthy, but at £25 a time it's not for the faint-hearted.

When we got home we put her new shoes in the utility next to her new wellington boots and guess which she wanted to wear - oh yes the wellies that were a fraction of the cost!

Which shops do you buy your children's shoes from?

Do you find that children's shoes are expensive and the shops rely on the fact that they know we will take them there to make sure they have the correct fit and know we will therefore pay the price? Please share your thoughts with me by adding a comment below.

Splish, splash, splosh

Having brought my daughter her very first pair of wellies I quickly thought of a reason why she could wear them and have an opportunity to splash about in the water. Washing the car seemed the perfect activity and one that would help me out too.

Armed with her new pink wellies, coat and hat we grabbed our bucket and sponges and headed towards the car. The minute I put the bucket down she dipped her sponge into the water and copied my every move. She tried so hard and followed me everywhere.

Once we had covered the car in soap suds we filled the bucket with clean water to rinse the car down. My daughter loved this bit and proceeded to stick the sponge under the tap which sprayed both me and her with freezing cold water. She laughed so loudly and said "again, again". We were both soaking, but it really did not matter, I had not laughed so much in ages.

We quickly rinsed the car as it was getting really cold by this stage, especially as my jeans were soaking. As I bent down to pick up the bucket I heard my daughter say "okay mummy, I'm okay". I quickly looked up to see her sitting in a huge puddle of water, splashing it around and laughing. I ran and picked her up, she was soaking through and her trousers were filthy, but she had the biggest smile on her face.

I hugged her tight and although it was only midday it seemed the right time for her to have a nice warm bath and a clean change of clothes.

So she had a whole morning of splish, splash, splosh, I got a clean car, a load more washing to do, but we both had a smile on our faces by the time daddy came home.

Party

My daughter is approaching her second birthday in a couple of months' time as are her friends. My husband and I have been chatting this week about how we are going to celebrate her birthday, we want to make it extra special this year as there were no celebrations at all last year as my brother died the day before her first birthday.

Where do you hold the party - i.e. is my house big enough for her friends and their parents? What food do you have? Do you have a party theme? Is she too young for games? The list can go on and on but after a chat over a glass of wine we have planned her party and told her all about it and she seems very excited.

When we came home today from our weekly music class there was some post on the mat for my daughter. We opened the envelope together with anticipation and I saw it was a party invitation for her friend's birthday in March. I told her what it was and she took it repeating over and over again "party". The smile on her face was just priceless.

At present she has two party invitations in March and her own in April so she is going to be a toddler socialite! Mind you she deserves it, she has been a light in all our lives over the past nine months and it is time to build some happy memories for us all. So "PARTY!"

Ladies who lunch

Today I met two old work colleagues and friends for lunch. My mum was off work today and kindly offered to look after my daughter so I could meet them.

I must say it was quite strange getting into the car without her as she is always by my side. I felt lost to be honest, I missed our little conversations and found myself glancing into the back seat thinking she would be sitting there.

After a long drive I met my friends and it was so great to see them. We went to a lovely Italian restaurant and the menu was superb. We had a good catch up and I really enjoyed it, but there were times when I would catch myself thinking about my daughter and wondering if she was being a good girl for grandma, what she was having for her lunch and I really did miss her.

After a great time we said our goodbyes and I headed home really excited to see my little girl. When I arrived home I could hear her and my mum laughing together and as I walked into the lounge they were playing and my daughter did not even noticed I had arrived, bless her.

It was so good to see her and my mum said she had been a real angel the whole time and when I asked my daughter if she had a nice time, she said "Ma, nice, arrr"

Grantham Gingers

For the first time in 2007 I flicked through my latest cookbook Around Britain Dairy Cookbook, looking for something that my daughter and I could make on a wet and windy day. It was definitely a day to be indoors, especially as the strong winds blew off our shed roof!

I came across a recipe for Grantham Gingers and quickly scanned the ingredients list to see if I had everything. Luckily I had so I quickly weighed everything out whilst my daughter finished drawing her picture. Once I was prepared she came running into the kitchen and pulled her apron out of her Tweenies desk, ready for action.

We had a great time and the biscuits were so easy to make, it is an activity that I would highly recommend to do with toddlers. My daughter was interested in it the whole time and even got excited when the oven alarm went off as she knew they were ready. "Discuits mummy, discuits", she said as she climbed off the sofa and headed for the kitchen.

The end result was just great and so far everyone who has tried them really likes them.

Mine only criticism of the recipe is that the taste of ginger in the biscuits is a little bit too subtle for my taste so I would add more if I made them again.

I hope when my daughter is older and she looks back on her childhood she remembers these days we have shared together and believe me I will never lose the image of her with flour all over her slippers, an apron long enough to be a dress and the biggest warmest smile.

Do you have any memories of cooking when you were a child? What did you like to cook? I would love to hear.

What is your favourite cookbook?

As you can see from the right hand side of the page, my favourite cookbooks are the Quick and Easy Dairy Cookbook and Around Britain Dairy Cookbook. I love the recipes and the useful information it provides such as the fat content of the meal per serving and the amount of calories. They also use ingredients that you do have in your cupboard and not ones you have never heard of.

We all have our favourite books where the pages are usually stuck together with flour or butter and I would love to hear what your favourite cookbooks are and why you like them.

Just click on the word comments at the bottom of this article and share your favourites.

Freezes!

As I was preparing breakfast this morning, my daughter grabbed her winter hat and decided to put it on. She looked very amusing in her pyjamas and a pink hat. She went into the dining room ready for breakfast and stood next to her high chair as she tends to do, waiting for me to lift her up.

As I put her into the chair I suggested that the hat should come off. "No mummy," she said "it's freezes". I could not help but smile. If you looked at her you would think the central heating had broken down.

So rather than argue, she ate her entire breakfast wearing her pyjamas and hat...very stylish.

Perfect pork

I invited my parents for Sunday lunch today and faced the daunting task of cooking the biggest piece of pork loin I had ever seen, which was given to me by my dad. To be honest I had not cooked a joint of this size before, well apart from the 16lb turkey on Christmas Day so I was a bit worried about how long I should cook it for.

To try and prevent the joint from becoming dry, I decided to drizzle olive oil over the meat and then trickled honey over the top of it. Before I put it in the oven I chopped up two eating apples and place them on top of the pork.

I put the meat into the oven on 180 degrees for two-and-a-half hours and it was just perfect. It was very tender and had a subtle flavour of honey which was yummy. I also served the meat with the apples which were very soft and accompanied the meat perfectly.

The pork was served with roast potatoes, roast parsnips, steamed brussel sprouts, carrots and savoy cabbage. There is quite a large piece of pork left so I plan to use this for sandwiches tomorrow with stuffing. Yum yum.

Thank you

I have been blogging now for just over a week and can honestly say I am really enjoying jotting down my thoughts and daily experiences. I apologise if I have ranted some days to you all or been a bit down beat when sharing my grief with you after losing my brother. I hope over the days and weeks ahead my blog will develop and allow me to share my thoughts with you but also some domestic goddess tips. Being a domestic goddess is something I aspire to and not something I already think I am. I hope that people take my blog as it's intended - not a massage of my ego - just a bit of fun, which I hope you will enjoy.

I would like to say a big thank you to all of the positive comments I have received about my blog from fellow mums on the Netmums website and friends. It is so nice to hear that people enjoy reading my blog, so please share your comments or thoughts with me.

A happy day

Today I have received some very good news about a dear friend, she e-mailed me to tell me that her test results we had all been waiting for were fine and it was not the illness we were all dreading it would be. I cannot begin to tell you how happy I am for her. I know she has been through a tremendous emotional journey over the past few weeks and I will certainly be having a glass of wine or two for her this evening.

Besides this wonderful news I have had a lovely day with my daughter. Today was the first day back at her Jo Jingles class. She was so excited and really enjoyed learning some new songs. I love sitting back watching her mix with other children and learning new skills. The funniest moment was when her best friend came up to her at the end of the session and gave her a hug, as he went to walk away with his mummy he turned to my daughter and said "goodbye darling". It was so cute and funny at the same time. What a happy day.

Wet play

Like most mothers and fathers up and down the country, my daughter and I were restricted to spending the day indoors because of the dreadful weather. So I had to get my creative hat on and plan a day of activities for us to do, so that we did not overdose on CBeebies and drive each other crazy.

After breakfast I set up the kitchen and taped pieces from an old roll of lining paper to the floor and set out paint, crayons etc. I put my daughter into her painting apron and let her get creative. She loved it, she told me she was painting a cat, a car and Po from the Teletubbies . She then asked me to paint certain things for her which she loved watching. We had great fun and after about an hour the activity had run its course. I noticed that even though she was wearing a long apron she had still managed to cover her entire feet in paint. So once we had tidied everything away I ran a bath for her, gave her lots of toys and she played happily in the bath.

To be honest when I woke this morning and saw how awful the weather was and knew we would not be able to go to the park or for a walk, I was dreading the day. But when her daddy returned home from work and she said to him "painting, mummy, nice" I knew she had obviously enjoyed the day as she then showed him her works of art.

She is now safely tucked up in bed and as I reflect on the day, I can honestly say that I have enjoyed our time at home, painting, reading, playing games and simply enjoying each other's company. It is moments like this that I know I made the right decision to be a full-time mum and I feel proud that I made this decision. Women these days are not praised for being mothers, there is an immediate expectation for them to return to work after six months of maternity leave and continue with their careers.

The thing that saddens me the most is that it is my generation of women that look down their noses at mothers who choose to stay at home, thinking we are not challenged, ambitious or intelligent. I say to them spend a whole day with a toddler and you will have the biggest challenge of your life.

Let's Get Physical

I have just returned from my first fitness class of the New Year in the annual attempt to shed those extra pounds gained over Christmas. Why do we all do it to ourselves every Christmas? Why do we over eat and then spend the first part of the New Year trying to lose the excess weight?

When my friend and I arrived we were greeted with a new teacher, a younger lady with a fab figure, the kind of figure I would love to have and dream about. To be honest though I like having this new teacher, as it’s a good incentive to work hard in the class, as if I do one day I may look like her (I can dream can't I).

I really enjoyed the session although it was very hard in parts and I could feel the extra weight on my stomach as I did the exercises (not a nice image I know). Hopefully after a couple of weeks of attending my class I should be back to normal.

I feel really tired now and think an early night is in order, so I am fresh ready to face a new day.

Night, night everyone.

Domestic Goddess for the Future

I had to share this with you all. Here is a photograph of my daughter's very own Little Henry vacuum cleaner which amazingly picks up dirt.

My daughter really loves this toy which my parents brought for her at Christmas. She potters around the lounge pretending to clean which is lovely to watch. However, the added bonus of her own 'Henry' is she loves pretending to vacuum when I am doing it. When I go to the cupboard under the stairs to get out my cleaner she grabs her 'Little Henry' and follows me around the house. It is a magical sight and keeps her occupied whilst I clean. So thank you to mum and dad for buying such a cool present and in helping to create a domestic goddess for the future.

Sunday Roast

Sunday is one of my favourite days of the week. Sunday to me means time with my other half and daughter, relaxing at home and of course a roast dinner.

I have always enjoyed Sunday lunch probably because my mum makes the best one and we have grown up enjoying time around the table eating good food and catching up with each others news. This is a tradition I want my daughter to grow up with, I think this time as a family is so important and special.

Today I have cooked roast beef, with roast potatoes, steamed leeks, brussel sprouts and carrots, Yorkshire puddings and gravy.

If anyone were to ask me what my top tips would be for a roast dinner it would be:

(1) To make the perfect roast potatoes, boil them for around 15 minutes and when draining them rough them up in the colander. Before putting them into hot oil, (I tend to use olive oil but on special occasions I use dripping) sprinkle some flour onto the potatoes this helps to make them lovely and crispy. Make sure the fat is really hot before putting your potatoes into the tin. If you want to add a Mediterranean flavour to your roast potatoes put about four whole garlic cloves into the roasting tin.

(2) Steam your vegetables if possible as it helps to keep the flavour and goodness.

(3) Always have a glass of wine at hand to help the chef when cooking. :0)

Anyway, the meal was well received and there is even some beef left for my other half to have on his sandwiches with horseradish sauce for work.

I am off now for another Sunday must, a brisk walk around the village to walk off that extra roast potato. Happy Sunday.

Looking Good

The trip to the shops was a very successful one. I managed to get some lovely new clothes and a pretty necklace and earring set (which my mum treated me to, aren't mums just lovely). I really enjoyed my time in town and it was the first time since my brother died that I actually felt like my old self.

I have just been organising my wardrobe like all domestic goddesses do and put my items into the appropriate colour section...oh yes all of my clothes go into colour order, it makes them so much easier to find. My scarfs and handbags have their own wicker baskets and shoes are paired neatly on the shoe rack. I have also taken out some clothes which I have had for years and never wear and are probably very out of fashion. I will take these to the charity shop on Monday.

It will be great to put on some new clothes and start to dress like a woman again, even if I am not going out that day, I think it's important to still make an effort.

Anyway, all in all a very productive day but do you know what the best thing of all was....spending time with my mum, it was magic.

Image is Everything

I have been thinking for some time now that I may act like a domestic goddess but do I actually look like one. When I look at the curvaceous well presented Nigella and the immaculately dressed Anthea it kind of puts me to shame. I must admit since giving birth to my daughter it has taken me a while to lose the baby weight (which I am pleased to say I have now done) and I have not really smartened up my image since leaving work. I do tend to find myself in jeans most of the time especially if I am going to various toddler groups, but is this really the image of a domestic goddess? Surely I should put more effort into the way I look and dress in a more feminine way.

I am not saying that I should dress up in high heels and dresses to do the cleaning but I think it is time to address the way I look and take more pride in my appearance. I bet Nigella does not wear baggy grey tracksuit bottoms around the house.

So I am now on mission to look like a true goddess. Tomorrows task is a trip to the shops to purchase a few new items of clothing with my dear mum in hand for some shopping advice. Then its back to aerobics in the week to tone up and a hairdressers appointment is booked for one weeks time.

Surely I too can look as gorgeous as the domestic goddesses portrayed to us on TV....well nearly as good!

Christmas is Over

Christmas finally came to an end for me today as I took down the tree, put the lights neatly into their box and took down the holly from the pictures and fire place. The house looks so bare and sad, it almost feels empty. To be honest I am pleased Christmas is over and I never imagined I would say that as someone who has always loved Christmas and all its festivities.

This Christmas was different to all the rest, it was the first without my brother. For those reading this who don't know me, he died suddenly in April aged just twenty years. For me this year Christmas mearly emphasized that he is not here and god does that harsh reality hurt.

I have been in a very reflective mood today thinking about the year that has gone and the one that lies ahead. Fearing the unknown and wondering whether a date for his inquest will ever be set.

In true domestic goddess style I have thrown my energy, upset and anger into my house work and gave it a good new years clean. Even my daughter helped and we ended up having quite a giggle.

So now I am sitting in not so much an empty and bare room but a room which is clean and ready to face whatever this year throws at me.

Domestic Goddess?

For many years now (well since I have been married which is five now) friends and family keep telling me I am a domestic goddess. I always feel very flattered by this comment especially if it comes after I have made a meal for everyone, it makes me feel happy that people enjoy the time at our home.

To be honest I have not given the idea of being a domestic goddess much thought until recently, but more and more people keep giving this title to me. It struck me that maybe I am one when I was watching Nigella and Anthea over Christmas, as they shared their pearls of wisdom about how to run an orderly home - I thought well I do that all of the time and in fact I thought some of my ideas were better. The only difference between us is they get paid a fortune for doing it and I just get the satisfaction knowing that our home is run as best as it can be.

So what is a domestic goddess? When I type the name into Google it lists websites devoted to Nigella and her books, it does not really tell me what a domestic goddess is. So I think I will make up my own definition, so here goes. I think a domestic goddess is someone who can run an orderly home, they are domesticated and enjoy every aspect of maintaining a home.

There I think that sounds ok.

As I now have a definition of what a domestic goddess is and the name has been given to me by friends and family, I think I will share my pearls of wisdom, tips and advice on all things domestic with the world. Watch out Anthea!