Birthday Shopping

At the beginning of September it was my birthday. I had a lovely day where we went out for pancakes (a dutch speciality) topped with bacon and apple, then we headed off to Haarlem in search of this shop. My parents had sent me some money in my card, so where better to spend it than a shop that sells Cath Kidston and Greengate. Bliss!

I picked up a set of 2 tea towels and these gorgeous spoons made from pottery.

A set of tins. My husband asked what I was going to use them for, I quickly answered ”for cakes”, which satisfied him enough to stop me feeling guilty for being frivolous!

I then popped in to Dille & Kamille on the way back to the car and bought a jam funnel, 2 rolls of red and white string and a couple of little baskets. Perfect

Oh and we even managed to get a babysitter so we could go out for a nice meal, shame the babysitter has now gone off to University in the UK……

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Supermarket shopping

Supermarket shopping isn’t high on my list of fun activities, it is so uninspiring. But the other day, I found a couple of cute items that brought a smile to my face.

Now, you know I made some fabric napkins the other day, because I wanted to stop going to Ikea and buying their paper napkins all the time. However my resolve was broken when I saw these on the supermarket shelves. Now my pretty fabric napkins will generally be used as everyday ones but for a treat these paper cuties can come out.

Then in the magazine aisle I happened upon Anna magazine. I can’t read Dutch (to be fair my spoken dutch is limited too), but the pictures were so inspiring I had to buy it.

I hope to be able to make sense of some of the instructions so i can make some of this gorgeousness.

Now I have to dash because holiday bags need sorting, clothes need ironing and general pre holiday mayhem must commence. 

Until next time…..

Sunday Stash 4 – a bit late!

I was busy yesterday with Mother’s Day. I was spoiled with fresh croissants for breakfast, cards and some pretty pansies. We then went out to lunch for pizza, followed by shopping at the Stoffen Markt (fabric market) in The Hague. Unfortunately as I expected there was not a lot to interest me at the market, but I did come home with a few goodies.

Sunday Stash hosted by Tamara at 1/4 of an Inch.

Check out the other stashers here

Happy Stashing!

Treats from America

My husband recently travelled to Boston for a training course at Harvard. All I asked was, could he get some maple syrup because we are partial to Nigella Lawson’s Banana Buttermilk pancakes on the weekend. Who can have pancakes without maple syrup anyway?

Well we had a lovely surprise when he opened his bag. What a treat! He bought some maple syrup, maple and cinnamon triple nut butter, hot cocoa mix and 2 charming magazines. I simply love the Martha Stewart cover, I love pink, and displaying flowers in a jug, plus it just shouts spring to me. 

Despite the maple syrup being quite expensive, don’t you just love the bottle. Too irresistible to pass up.

Thanks darling, shame you have no more trips planned!!

A Miniature Winter Wonderland

Yesterday we eventually found some spare time to take a trip to the Garden Centre I visited with my parents to see the miniature winter wonderland. The children were really pleased with the surprise – I only told them that we were going to see something exciting at the garden centre, I think they thought I was telling fibs, because in general the garden centre is not a place they think there could be something for them, unless of course it involves ice cream!

 

 

 

 

Weekend Frolics

I don’t know about you but I seem to have a lot of unfinished jobs lingering about that really need to get sorted out. I have the Christmas cake to marzipan and then ice, ( i bought the marzipan on Saturday), the Christmas pudding to make, a couple of gifts to finish and pop in the post to the UK, the Christmas cards to finish off and send, the children’s Christmas cards to sort out, (they signed them all today I need to put into envelopes for school)…….the list goes on.

On to other news..

My parents have left this afternoon after 4 days with us, we had a super time, and it even snowed! We went shopping on Friday and then I took them to a local Garden Centre which is better then any I have seen in the UK and looked at their stunning Christmas displays. (I didn’t take my camera this time but I am going again soon because they have a gorgeous miniature town set up that the children will just love, and I will take some shots then) On Saturday my daughter who is only 4 was in her Ballet school production of the Nutcracker – awww it was so beautiful. She was a snowflake and was wearing a beautiful white tutu – gorgeous. Then finally on Sunday we went for a ride out to Noordwijk and walked along the beach front in the sunshine. A perfect end to a lovely weekend. It was just a shame that my husband had to miss it. He will be back from Singapore on Friday though – thank goodness.

Noordwijk Strand December 7th 2008

 

Until next time

Time flies

Where does time fly to – because I need to get some back! I love the build up to Christmas but I am never organised enough. I write lists, then re write them, and all of this to-ing and fro-ing makes me feel better but in the end I just need to get on with it. 

I have a busy weekend coming up, my parents are traveling to The Netherlands from the Uk so we will all be super busy, especially because Saturday is completely ties up with children’s activities. We have rugby in the morning and a ballet performance in the afternoon. My daughter is so excited about the ballet especially because her teacher is also performing with them and she is wearing pointes! Every little girls dream, hey?

I just about completed all the Christmas gift shopping yesterday. (Just 2 left)  My husband took the day off and we headed off in to our local town. It is so different shopping in The Netherlands near Christmas as the shops are amazingly quiet and calm. It was so good to have my bag carrying husband with me because there is no way I could have carried all those bags by myself, because even his hands hurt and he never complains.

Finally I wanted to show this picture taken in December last year when we had a heavy frost. The weather here is cold now and I love looking at these pictures, they make me feel festive.

I have added a list in my sidebar of some of the free tutorials out there, I have already made a few of them, and I will endeavour to make a few more once this crazy busy time of year is over.

Until next time..

Saturday Shopping

Some yummy things on Da Wanda – I just need to find some money to buy something….. 

Pumpkins

I have been busy shopping in Amsterdam today buying boots!! So I haven’t even been near the house today as it is nearly an hour away by train. Come to think of it I haven’t even cleared up from breakfast and it is now 5pm Mmmm, I really must crack on and stop playing on the computer.

Checking out my bloglines and on How about Orange she has some pumpkin ideas and has a link to this – I love it!

I have got no time for anything else today as there is a kitchen to tidy, dishwasher to empty, drier to empty supper to get…..the list goes on. See you soon.

Shopping and placemats…

Had a great morning yesterday, I went with a couple of friends to the Haagse Markt which apparently is the largest outdoor market in Europe. Some of the stalls were amazing, and there were plenty of bargains. I picked up a load of zips, some spotty fabric, and some meat and veg. By the time I go again I intend to buy one of those pull along trolleys like my Grandma used to have to do her shopping with because by the time we had finished walking round, got the tram back and then got home my fingers were going blue with the weight of the bags. Ouch! I would really love one of these Orla Kiely ones but really will have to have something a little less expensive!

My husband comes back from Libya today so I will have to do some jobs around the house to make it look like I do something whilst he is out at work. With all the damp weather we have had recently the garden has sprung into life and so it needs a jolly good tidy up, so i will have to add that to my list of things to do.

A while ago I made this placemat. I started making them, made 2 and then realised I didn’t have enough fabric to make a set of 4 which was my intention, I still haven’t got around to buying more of the same fabric, so I will probably just have to get them out when we have a cosy meal for 2.

On the subject of placemats I also made these during the summer and they have come in really handy when having cold drinks that may sweat. I made them from a pattern in this book and although you can not see the quilting – they are quilted!