New year's resolutions 2015

Well, here we are again, the end of another year. This year feels as though it's been dominated by back pain and the easy way out,  although I can see by looking back over this blog, that I did achieve something!

There seems to be a lot of things I want to improve next year, and I know I can't do them all at once. I have therefore decided to make one thing better each month, in the hope that it might become a habit and so will build up over the year.

Monthly ideas include....

Eating - we've been eating a lot of ready prepared stuff, time to get back to proper cooking with fresh ingredients.

Shopping - using the supermarket all the time - time for more farm shop and market shopping.

Car - always messy inside and out.  Needs a good wash and valet and then keeping tidy.

Leisure time - far too much time spent on tablet,  phone and watching tv. Less time on those means more time to sew, crochet, scrapbook etc.

Drinking - too much coffee,  diet coke and vimto isn't doing my teeth any good! I need to drink more water and milk.

Sleeping - too many late nights, too many broken nights, too many lazy mornings, too many afternoon naps. Time to go to bed at the same time, and get up at a sensible time every day.

Beauty - no "beauty" regime at all!

Fashion - I wear the same things all the time. When I get things out the night before, I look better and wear a wider variety of clothes.

House - getting overwhelmed by clutter again - time to go back to the lists and get myself back in a routine.

That's nine months. I have a feeling other ideas may come along as the year goes on.

First month. January. Better eating! Hoping this will naturally lead to better shopping and drinking. Watch this space!

Still baking

Inspired by Pim, I am attempting to cook something from every cook book I own. This is going to end up being a very long list as I own quite a lot of cook books!

So far, so good though. 

1. Sticky chicken p.139
The Hairy Dieters Eat For Life
Si King and Dave Myers

Not a massive success, as the sauce was runny rather than sticky, but everyone ate it. I will stick to my usual diet coke chicken though for this sort of chicken.

2. Bacon Boulangere p.265
Eat
Nigel Slater

I risked this in the slow cooker and it was totally worth the risk! Delicious,  and even better the next day with added cheese and peas.

3. Jammy Flapjack p.78
Eat Vegetarian
Sam Stern

A regular favourite in our house, varied by the jam!

4. Blackberry and Apple Loaf Cake p.60
A Passion for Baking
Jo Wheatley

Still in the oven! Very easy to make, and used up blackberries from the garden and an old apple. Looking forward to this one!

Back to baking

Hurrah for lots of things.
1. The great British bake off
2. A tidy ish house
3. Lots of rest and relaxation
4. Fab friends

The combination of which has ended up with gingery plum cake (good food magazine) amd sticky chicken (the hairy dieters eat for life).

Finally brave enough!

I have finally ventured out in my hand sewed skirt and my hand crocheted top! It's taken me long enough! ! Not great selfie photo of the top though!

They are both very comfortable and I now need more fabric and cotton to repeat this. I am planning a trip to the nearest fabric and wool shop asap.

More making

As a gift, I received a sewing pattern for a skirt. Inspired by the British Sewing Bee I decided I'd have a go. I didn't realise what a big job it was!! I had to choose fabric,  find matching cotton, have an emergency dash to hobbycraft for elastic mid make, work out how to lengthen the skirt, and follow the instructions!

I'd never make it on to the sewing bee though - they only give them 3 hours to make a skirt. It took me about twice that! !

Anyway, success. I've learnt loads about my sewing machine and reading patterns. I've learnt to hand baste (or tack in my language) rather than use my machine as it took forever to get the stitches out! I've learnt my real measurements don't match the measurements on the pattern, and it would have been better to go with my usual dress size, and I've learnt I can make clothes for me!

I have not ordered another pattern from ebay. Honestly....

Lots to catch up with!

Well, over the last few weeks of bad back = enforced rest, I've managed to get quite a lot of making done.

I've finally cracked crochet, and have had lots of practice making a blanket for the sofa. There's also one in process for J, team effort with my mother!

I've sewn a denim bag from old jeans, complete with hand sewing,  cross stitch, sequins and seed beads.

I've knitted one teeny owl, the second and third are on their way. I've also knitted a fat grey owl.

Next project, a skirt!

More cowls!

1. I finished the second cowl, and wore it out today and had some nice compliments.

2. I bought pink wool to make a hat, cowl and mittens for my niece.  Having a sizing problem atm. Hat #1 was huge. Hat #2 was big and twisted.  Hat #3 looks too small but my model was asleep and my niece wasn't here! I will test tomorrow on J and maybe on a similar sized model to my niece when we go swimming. I've never made mittens before so there's a challenge!

3. Had a lovely lunch out with the family today, a treat from my godfather. We then successfully bought birthday cards, trainers and the pink wool.

4. Back still driving me bonkers. It aches so much :(