cute tags

My paper obsessed girlfriend has recently opened up her Blonde Brat Pack shop on Made It. I thought I'd share them with you as they really are so cute....
....and playful and perfect as a finishing touch to a brown paper package tied up with string.

let me eat cake.

England and cake go hand in hand for me. This is one of many devonshire teas with mum at a local farm cafe. I eat A LOT of scones when I come home. This is a favourite spot. The scones are fresh and perfect, the jam comes in a little pot, the cream is clotted and the plates are Cath Kidston. Pretty brave I think! Oh, and I also like the mug the tea comes in too. Whilst we're on the subject of cake....

....here is Kitty's birthday cake. She was 2 last week. Pretty simple in comparison to my usual efforts but I did make the Twirling Betty mini bunting which I think sets it off nicely. I love being at home. I remember that doilie from when I was as little as Kitty is now. There is so much nostalgia around me here [big deep breath].......

....and since I had arranged a spooky Halloween weekend away with my girlfriends, I found yet another excuse to make a cake. I also carved my very first pumpkin this year, sad but true, and he's sitting there nicely in the background taking it all in.

Tomorrow night M & S Christmas Pud with Brandy Sauce is on the menu. Home is where the heart (cake) is.

i am seriously....

... obsessed with British supermarkets. Here I am, taking pictures at my local, with plenty of confused looks being thrown my way. But how sweet is everything! I agree that Australia do so many things better, and on the fresh food front I think they claim the prize. But the packaging and wording ' a scatter of mini marshmallows' 'add sparkle with jelly diamonds' make me want to buy EVERYTHING in sight!

Jars of yumi things everywhere.

Asian products were to die for. Their marketing strategy sure did it's work on me. I mean you have to buy 'a nest' of egg noodles even if they do reach their sell by date before your saucepan!

I love to believe that I will always abide by the 'fresh is best' rule.....but......when they put together a lovely little package like this and throw in a free bottle of vino, ....SOLD!

belle & boo halloween

Am off to a Halloween weekend with my girlfriends from university this week. We've booked a huge manor house not far from my parents place and we're going to eat lots of Tesco finest food and drink lots of multicoloured wines. I am most definitely going to invest in some of these cupcake wrappers by Belle & Boo and make some to take with me.

How sweet are the invitations too!?

I also have Kitty's 2ND birthday this week too. Lots of party paraphernalia to get buying methinks.

Still absolutely loving being back in the land of tinsy winsy country lanes, superb supermarkets and lots of wonky pubs.

it's the simple things in life like....

... discovering a new tea room....
...with my favourite girls...


....only to find....

...a big fat piece of chocolate cake inside....

that make me very happy indeedy. Another lovely day back home in England.

through the eyes of a ten year old....

We gave Ashley a camera for her trip to the UK as an early birthday present. Just a basic digital one. Here's a snippet of her snaps so far. These are totally unprompted and I think completely inspired.

london traffic
london eye

london cake shop

kitty in mum's back garden

mum's back garden-norfolk

I'm looking forward to seeing what else she'll come up with. I'll share some more later......

a wedding in a barn...

The cake was made by a local lady who works from home. I loved it, Cath Kidston inspired.

The bouquet was made by the bride's Auntie. So pretty, made with the same fabrics used for the dress.

There were sweet little touches all over the barn. There were no fresh flowers on the day and everybody took a vase home as a keepsake.

Everything was very simple and understated which made it very cosy and inviting. My bunting looked 'made to measure', but certainly wasn't (!) and you can just spot one of my carnival mobiles hanging over there off one of the oak beams. There were hearts and mobiles and tea lights everywhere. Great venue and a special day.