RAINBOW BIRTHDAY CAKE

WHAT YOU WILL NEED

Cake tins (I used 7-inch sandwich tins)

food colour gels in the colours of your choice

Greaseproof paper

Cooling racks

buttercream icing(homemade or bought)

THE RECIPE

(I'm retro and use lbs and ounces because that's how my mum taught me to bake)

24oz of self-raising flour

24oz caster sugar

24oz butter(none salted or I use stork)

12 free range eggs

vanilla essence

THE METHOD

(pre-heat the oven to 160c and grease and line the cake tins)

Either in a mixer or by hand cream together the sugar and butter,

Add 3-4 tsp of vanilla essence (or to taste),

add the eggs,

add the flour,

make sure everything is well mixed,

split evenly six bowls and add the food colouring little by little until you have achieved the perfect colour,

put the mixture into the tins and make sure it is flat on the top,

place in the oven, I usually do two tins at a time both on the top shelf so they can cook evenly,

they should take roughly 30 mins but check with a skewer in the middle and check it comes out dry.

turn out onto the cooling racks and carry on baking all the cakes,

Once all the cakes are baked and cooled trim each cake until flat start building up the cakes with buttercream in between each layer,

once it's all layered up go over the whole cake with a thin layer of buttercream and place in the fridge for half an hour (this is the crumb coat)

Get back out of the fridge and do another layer of icing and decorate as required

Slice eat and enjoy!!!

Thanks for taking the time to read this, let me know if you make it and how it turned out.

speak soon!!

T-L-T

 X X.

BACK TO THE BLOG AGAIN!!!

So it would seem motherhood has kicked my arse and meant I haven't blogged for I don't know how long, I've wanted to get back into it for ages and saw this on my friend's blog (Lou Holland check her out!) and thought it the perfect way to get back into it and give you a real insight into me.

That being said here I am at 10.30 on a monday night sat on my bed with a glass of wine answering 100 random questions....enjoy!!

1. Do you sleep with your closet doors open or closed?
Always have mine closed, Mark has his open and it freaks me out! 

2. Do you take the shampoos and conditioner bottles from hotels? 
I have done if its good quality stuff

3. Do you sleep with your sheets tucked in or out?
I sleep with just a quilt but I have to have it folded under my feet

4. Have you stolen a street sign before?
nope, I've never seen a reason to

5. Do you like to use post-it notes?
Yep, I have various shapes, colours and sizes

6. Do you cut out coupon but then never use them?
I have if it's something I really want

7. Would you rather be attacked by a big bear or a swarm of bees? 
A swarm of bees, I feel I'd have more chance or surviving

8. Do you have freckles?
A few

9. Do you always smile for pictures?
I avoid photos whenever possible but if I do have one taken I hate my teeth so keep my mouth shut

10. What is your biggest pet peeve?
Rude people and snobs, there's just no need

11. Do you ever count your steps when you walk?
No

12. Have you ever peed in the woods?
Yes

13. Have you ever pooped in the woods?
NO

14. Do you ever dance even if there is no music playing?
Yes I love dancing 

15. Do you ever chew your pens and pencils?
Never, stationary should be adored not chewed!!!!

16. How many people have you slept with this week?
One.

17. What size is your bed? 
Double but kingsize is the dream

18. What is your song of the week? 
slow hands by Niall Horan, I love it

19. Is it OK for guys to wear pink?
yep.

20. Do you still watch cartoons? 
only with the kids and occasionally The Simpsons

21. What is your least favourite movie? 
Any Star Trek films

22. Where would you bury hidden treasure if you had some?
In my parents garden, their house will always be my safe and happy place

23. What do you drink with dinner?
Juice if I'm being good White Wine or Prosecco if I'm treating myself

24. What sauce do you dip a chicken nugget in?
Garlic mayo

25. What is your favourite food?
Bread

26. What movies could you watch over and over again and still love?
Sabrina(Audrey Hepburn), Airplane-literally so funny, Dirty Dancing

27. Last person you kissed/kissed you?
The hubster

28. Were you ever a boy/girl scout?
Yes.

29. Would you strip or pose nude in a magazine?
I'd love to have the confidence but I don't think so

30. When was the last time you wrote a letter to someone on paper? 
2004, my brother was on tour of duty in the army

31. Can you change the oil on a car?
No

32. Ever gotten a speeding ticket?
Yes, completely thought I was in a 40 zone not a 30 whoopsie!!

33. Ever run out of gas?                                                                                               No 

34. What's your favourite kind of sandwich? 

Chicken, bacon and stuffing

35. Best thing to eat for breakfast? 
Avacado and poached egg on toast

36. What is your usual bedtime?
11 pm onwards but the baby wakes me up through the night still

37. Are you lazy?
not in any way

38. When you were a kid, what did you dress up as for Halloween?
the classic witch with a bin bag cape

39. What is your Chinese astrological signs?
I'm a pig

40. How many languages can you speak?
English, bit of French, bit of German and I learnt Latin in school.

41. What magazines do you read?
None 

42. Which are better: legos or lincoln logs?
Don't know what Lincoln logs are so lego

43. Are you stubborn?
Hell yes

44. Who is better: Leno or Letterman?
Not a clue

45. Ever watch soap operas?
Never

46. Are you afraid of heights              Yes

47. Do you sing in the car?

Yes doesn't everyone.

48. Do you sing in the shower?
I'm an even better singer in the shower than the car, the acoustics are amazing!!

49. Do you dance in the car? 
Only a little

50. Ever used a gun?
Yes, I did an army course in college and we had to do target practice when on camp.

51. Last time you got a portrait taken by a photographer?
Five years ago when I got married.

52. Do you think musicals are cheesy?
They are but they get my toes tapping.

53. Is Christmas stressful?
No I love the hustle and bustle in the end it's all worth it. 

54. Ever eat a pierogi? 
yes savoury ones

55. Favourite type of fruit pie? 
Gooseberry.

56. Occupations you wanted to be when you were a kid? 
A soldier or a childrens author

57. Do you believe in ghosts?
Yes.

58. Ever have a De Ja Vu moment    A couple of times.

59. Do you take a vitamin daily? 
No.

60. Do you wear slippers?
Everyday

61. Do you wear a bath robe? 
Everyday in winter.

62. What do you wear to bed? 
T-shirt and shorts

63. What was you first concert?
PJ and Duncan, the out on the tiles tour

64. Walmart, Target or Kmart? 
Target looks like the dream

65. Nike or Adidas?
Nike.

66. Cheetos or Fritos?
Cheetos.

67. Peanuts or sunflower seeds? 
Sunflower seeds

68. Ever heard of the group Tres Bien?
No..

69. Ever take dance lessons? 
Nope.

70. Is there a profession you picture your spouse in? 
Nothing different to waht he already does

71. Can you curl your tongue? 
Yes.

72. Ever won a spelling bee? 
We don't do them in England but I would definitely never win if we did

73. Have you ever cried because you were so happy? 
Not that I can think of I don't cry that often

74. Own any record albums?
I used to

75. Own a record player?
I used to, wish I'd kept it now

76. Do you regularly burn incense?
Never

77. Ever been in love? 
Yes.

78. Who would you like to see in concert? 
Pink again, I saw her in 2012 and loved the show

79. What was the last concert you saw? 
Little Mix

80. Hot tea or cold tea? 
Hot tea everytime

81. Tea or coffee?
Tea.

82. Sugar cookies or snickerdoodles? 
I don't have a sweet tooth so probably neither

83. Can you swim well? 
Yes I love feeling floaty light in a pool

84. Can you hold your breath without holding your nose?
yes

85. Are you patient? 
Yes I think it's a mum thing

86. DJ or band at a wedding?
DJ.

87. Ever won a contest? 
No.

88. Have you ever had plastic surgery?
No, but I would love a breast reduction.

89. Which are better: black or green olives? 
Green olives 

90. Can you knit or crochet? 
I can do both.. 

91. Best room for a fireplace?
I have a coal fire in the hall and another in the living room, I'd love one in the dining room as well..

92. Do you want to get married?
I'm already married

93. If married, how long have you been married? 
Five years 

94. Who was your high school crush? 
I went to an all girls school so my only crush was on a teacher.

95. Do you cry and throw a fit until you get your own way? 
No

96. Do you have kids? 
Yes an eleven year old and a one year old

97. Do you want kids? 
I would love a huge tribe of kids but one more will do me

98. What is your favourite colour? 
Pink.

99. do you miss anyone right now?
My grandparents especially my nan, I'd give anthing for one more cuddle with her.

100. Who are you going to tag to do this next? 
No one, but whoever does it should let me know so I can see their answers. 

Thanks for taking the time to read this, and I hope this will be the first of many new blog post.

speak soon bye!!

T-L-T X X.

PARENTHOOD SURPRISES

So second time round and I thought I knew everything about parenthood but it's kind of nice to know it can still surprise me. 

I completely forgot the tiredness you feel even when the baby has slept through the night and the fact that half the things I want to do in the day really don't have a hope in hell of getting done.

I remember smugly going off on maternity leave and saying about all the baking I was going to do, the house would be completely decorated by the end of the year(I've managed two rooms, high five to me), Me and Chloe were going to do crafts every weekend (not happened once yet, still hopeful for Christmas crafts though!!).

My hour long candlelit baths are a thing of the past as are my three times a week hair washes, to be completely honest leg shaving has even got knocked down the list (so happy winters coming so it won't matter as much) I've got into the habit of a quick shower and once a week washing my hair if I have time, my evenings are spent doing washing and I can't remember what it's like to be out at night unless it's to go to Asda or parents evening.

I was also surprised by how much I love her, this may sound strange but to be honest when I was pregnant I couldn't imagine how another child could possibly be as loved as Chloe is, I just didn't think it was possible at all but as soon as I had her there was that complete and total rush of love that you'll only ever feel for your children.

I'm amazed that after ten years of being a parent I still question my decision's, I feed on demand there's no way I would ever wake a sleeping baby to give them a bottle I firmly believe if they're  hungry they will wake up, obviously my health visitor wasn't impressed with this at all, nor was he happy when I told him I'm going to start weaning at four months (this weekend is the start woohoo). To me, it seems cruel to let a baby take in so much liquid that they overflow, I just think it's much kinder to start giving them little spoonfuls here and there.

I'm amazed that parenthood is still terrifying to me, it is another tiny human being that will forever be a part of you, that you would defend to the death and envelope in love, their whole future can depend on how you raise them, the school you send them to, and the personality that you help develop.

Needless to say the constant changes of baby clothes, all my clothes being covered in sick, not having time to straighten my hair or paint my nails, developing the skill of doing everything one handed so I can cuddle Abbie to sleep (I'm typing one handed now), the constant rocking motion every parent develops so the can keep the baby calm, have all come flooding back to me.

All that being said I wouldn't change a thing about either of my girls and already I'm feeling broody again so hopefully in a couple of years I can read this back so I'm less surprised by it a third time round.

Please come back and leave me comments, also go over to facebook and Instagram and give me a like.

speak soon bye!! xx

40 weeks pregnant, pissed off and feeling ranty

So I am officially 40 weeks pregnant and so completely ready to have this baby now, I feel like I've done my part I've kept her safe and warm, fed her, rested while also keeping active, I've dealt with the aches, pains, sickness, dizziness and tiredness that goes hand in hand with being pregnant, I have got through working in an already hot kitchen in a heat wave and now I fully feel I deserve to go into labour and have a baby to snuggle and love and bring home to be part of our family.
Yes, I have been lucky my pregnancy was an easy one, there is a lot of women I know that would have loved to have it so easy but now I'm impatient and so completely over it.
This hasn't been helped by the fact that I honestly thought labour was starting last Thursday and it turned out to be a false alarm, seriously such a tease!!!

So many people have said just enjoy the rest while you can, but I wasn't made to rest and do nothing I finished work 6 days ago and it already feels like I've been off forever, there are so many other things I could be doing like painting the hall, sorting out the playroom, doing the gardening,but no one will let me as soon  as I get the mop out to do the floor you would think the crime of the century had been committed, and as much as I know people are doing it because they care, it is driving me mad, I know my limits I know how I feel in myself and know how far I can push myself before I need to stop.
Women decades ago certainly didn't let a little thing like being pregnant stand in the way of their daily lives, they didn't stop looking after the brood of children they already had, while probably doing a little cleaning job on the side, whilst cleaning their whole house every day, so when the hell did society get so pathetic as to think pregnant=weak?

The other very annoying thing is my husband coming home from work every day and saying without fail "any changes?no twinges? oh well, maybe tomorrow!" I know I should be grateful for him asking but does he not think I might get in touch with him in work if I thought labour had started????

I'm fully aware I sound like a right moaning cow in this post and honestly I know how lucky I am, I know the unbelievable happiness I'm going to experience when my little lady finally makes an appearance but I really am feeling cranky, uncomfortable and I just want to meet her and it will be very nice to be able to put shoes and socks on without it feeling like a massive workout.

I'm going to take my sulky arse to bed now and hope that labour will start in the night, hopefully, my next post will be perkier and will have photos of my baby instead of my belly!!

Please check out my facebook page Tor's little thoughts (link in bio) and give me a like I'm a much happier person over there I promise.

PREGNANCY UPDATE- 30 WEEKS PREGNANT

So I am finally nearing the end of my pregnancy and I could not be more excited to meet my little lady.

I have my hospital bag stuff ready to go I just need to put it in a bag and by the front door, My clothes aren't fitting too well anymore so pj's are my new best friend (as you'll see by the photo at the end).

On the upside my belly has now grown enough to make my boobs look smaller woohoo!! my hair has grown so much and my skin is the nicest it's been for a lot of years.

Down side is I am stupidly tired all the time which means I'm generally in bed at 9 and enjoying naps on my days off from work, I've started getting some nausea again but nothing like the morning sickness I had at the start.

I'm hoping I'll have the nursery ready in a couple of weeks so photos of that will follow as well as the crafty things me and Chloe have been making ready for the new baby.

As for the baby she is a little wriggler especially when I'm in the bath she's or after I've eaten, she is growing well and the midwife is very happy with her growth and development.

I finish work in 9 weeks and I'm really looking forward to it, working in a hot kitchen for long hours is starting to take it's toll now.

So that's it for now but I will post another pregnancy update in 5 weeks and then at 40 weeks then hopefully my girlie will be here and I can introduce her to you.

Here's my bump I don't think I'm overly big for 30 weeks but it's really starting to pop now.

PRETTY CHRISTMAS BOXES

 So this is a little later than I planned to put this post up but, in all honesty these boxes are so quick and easy to make there's still plenty of time to do them ready for Christmas.
I saw them on someone's vlog last year, loved the idea and just had to do them.

These are the boxes I made finished and hidden in the spare room to stop any sneaky peeks before Christmas.

These are the items you'll need to do the style I chose, a box the size you require, brown paper, ribbon of your choice, glitter pens, scissors and sellotape.

Take the flaps off and make sure the bottom of the box is strong enough to take the weight of your presents.

Cover in brown paper making sure all the edges are taped securely on the inside of the box.

Put on the ribbon securing at the back.

Decorate however you want, I am certainly no artist but it was a lot of fun to draw christmassy pictures with the glitter pens, and I'm sure that people will appreciate it more because I have put the time and effort into making them look personal.

Another cute idea would be letting your children decorate the boxes for you.

So that's it the very quick and easy way to give people presents in a more personal and pretty way than just simply buying a gift bag, if anyone does make these I'd love to see how they decorated theirs.

I'm hoping to get another post up in the next 2 days which will be a bakeware haul then I have December Glossybox review and new cosmetics review to do as well before new year.

So until next time have a good week and don't forget to check out my facebook page and give it a like link is in my bio.

PACKING UP AND MOVING ON

As I've gone on about we are moving house but finally that is happening tomorrow, there is literally hundreds of boxes, bags and crates holding everything we have built up as a family over the last four and a half years.

On one hand I am super excited on the other I am still nervous about moving out of our beautiful village but in my heart I know this is the best move for our family.

So I will be back in a couple of weeks when hopefully there are a few less of these and a lot more full shelves and cupboards.

We don't have internet until the second week of November so I may do a couple of blogs following our move in my first week back.

Until then I'll leave you with this ridiculously cute picture of my girlie who packed herself to send to her grandparents house, she's so bloody adorable!!!