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Sunday 30 June 2013

Baby shower

I certainly wasn't expecting a baby shower. Not with no.3 but I was quickly reprimanded by my gorgeous girlfriends and told that was no excuse.
And so I was spoilt this week by my friends Daisy, Kim and Tania who co hosted a luncheon for me, my burgeoning bump and my posse of loyal girlfriends.
And what a treat we had. Daisy had organised gluten free cupcakes in lieu of the traditional place cards on the table. And I loved that my name was too long and needed two cakes.
The theme was lilac and blue since we are expecting a surprise and Tania created a menu to tickle our taste buds to the extreme.

Baby Shower...

The food was so utterly delicious that half the table were whipping out their phones to Instagram their plates before diving into a taste sensation. And I was just as guilty.
And then I got to take my sugared almonds from Charbonnel & Walker and all my goodies home and open bumps gifts. Gorgeous Anya Hindmarch nappy bags, body scrubs and massage treatments and an enormous amount of Aden & Anais's twinkle range of muslins, swaddles, cot sheets and sleep sacks. Lucky bump will be stylishly swaddled once he/she makes their entrance.
Thank you all for mine and bump's gifts. So spoilt!

Wednesday 26 June 2013

Sports Day

Mini had her first Strawberry fields sports Day today. It may not have been sunny but our mini was a ray of sunshine in her neon striped Gap playsuit.
The bribe of a chupa chup lolly may have helped but mini joined in enthusiastically in all her races from running to egg and spoon and the sack race.
With her best friend indie-pops alongside her she couldn't have been happier. True love.

Sports Day 2

Run mini run! Hop mini hop!

Everyone's a winner

Thursday 20 June 2013

Bright n' Breezy

Who cares that the skies are grey? Mini pokes her head skywards and soaks up the breeze that's finally hit after a very muggy few days.
Her JCrew star print chambray shorts are worn today with her Maan chartreuse cardi, frilled socks and Boden plimsoles. But my favourite has to be that she sat still long enough for me to plait her hair into 'afenschaukeln' or monkey swings as the hairstyle is known in germany. It's the plait that's looped back to create a 'swing shape' and which we've fastened with her margherita flower hair clips from Next.

Monday 17 June 2013

Little pout

Mini has taken to begrudgingly having her photo taken. It had to happen of course, after three years of non stop snapping.
It's all an act of course, one second after you've snapped she's all 'can I see can I see'. It's just another pose.
Today she's sporting her new crochet cardi from Stella mcCartney picked up in the sale and worn with her Boden printed skirt and matching plimsoles. Say cheese!

Happy Day!

Papa took some great snaps of minis party but I think with no Internet as yet in our new home it will take a while before they make their way to minis fashion file. So instead I've decided to upload a few rubbish ones I took. At least fashion filers will still see what a fun time mini finally had at her birthday bash.
Peppa came to hang out and although mini was a smidge scared her friend Ava was star struck and Noah would stop hugging and nuzzling into her red dress.
Thank you everyone for making it such a great day!

Happy Day 2!

More Peppa fun

Saturday 15 June 2013

Peppa Cake

When I tweeted cake pics post party so many wondered how I managed to make my peppa cake so I thought I'd show a quick how to...
Firstly I use the hummingbird bakery recipe for buttermilk pound loaf. It's a little heavier than a regular sponge but its not quite as sweet and the addition of the buttermilk makes it really nice and moist.
To make the peppa shape I used three different cake tins. A large square, a large round and a small round.
I also added red food colouring to the sponge to also make it a soft pink hue.
Once baked I carved the corners off the sq to make peppa's dress and a little curve off the top to settle the large round cake into it to make the head.
Then I cut the small round into a tapered snout and used the bits that I cut off for the ears as well as for shaping the snout. At this stage it looks a bit weird.
But once I whizzed up a batch of pink icing it starts to take shape. I start with the lightest pink because then with each area I just add more food colouring in order to pipe around the face, then more for the dress, then even more for piping round the dress and the lips.
Finally I use pre bought ready to roll pink and black icing to roll into her arms, tail, legs and shoes. It's not expensive to buy or you can make your own (i did for the eye balls - simply use royal icing with very very little water to make a thick playdough style ball and roll out and cut using a cookie cutter). But my fave pre rolled icing is from Jane Asher's baking shop. This is also where I get the food colouring gel pots. They just have a denser colour than the supermarket liquid ones. And there is a greater range of hues to choose from too. I also bought edible glitter which just gives the icing another depth.
I also always do a cream cheese frosting. It's tougher to make but I think it's just less cloying than the regular stuff. I also use a icing palette knife. It's a long flat flexible spatula that is worth investing in. It makes icing a cake a doddle.
Finally I piped a birthday message onto the board, added some heart sweets to her dress, rolled some more icing in glitter to make a fairy wand and the no.3 and voila! Peppa in all her glory.

Thursday 13 June 2013

Scooter Pals

Hurrah! I've joined the scooter club. I'm so over trying to park at school drop off - even with Florence my electric car, that I've taken up scooting the kids to school on my new white micro scooter. It's fast, fun and mini and I get to chat whilst riding along.
Now all I need is some wheel lights and glitter tassels and I'm good to go...

Monday 10 June 2013

Ballet Buds

Mini wore her birthday tutu she received from BF Indie pops with pride today. And indie joined in too with her matching set. Snap! Pale pink tulle with a smattering of silver stars. Perfection.

Saturday 8 June 2013

Bunny Girl

Phin papa went off to cricket this sunny morning so mini had some mama time. A real pleasure since all I've been doing this week has been packing and unpacking boxes.
Today mini wore her new Stella dungarees which I just picked up in the sale, her Boden stripe t and matching plimsoles and her Hop Like a Bunny flower garland necklace and JCrew bunny hairband. Perfect for hanging around the new house

Thursday 6 June 2013

Sassy stripes

It may get warm and balmy come afternoon but early mornings still carry quite a chill but mini cares not for cold climes. Instead she was cavorting round our new courtyard garden in her Gap neon striped playsuit I just bought her. It's so early 80's Bananarama and her sass carries it off with aplomb.

Sunday 2 June 2013

Adios ibiza

And so we spent our last day in ibiza before heading back to blighty. What a fab week we've had. Mainly lolling about on our enormous sun loungers and eating too much. Phin and mini had a blast and can't wait to return in July.
Bring on the summer.
Meanwhile a quick fashion file shout out to Sharon, a firm follower of Mini's blog who recognised our little fashionista at the airport on our way over. Thanks for your support Sharon and hope you had a great holiday too!