The End and the Start of Something New

Hello Ladies,

I know some of you have noticed my absence over the last few weeks and thank you all for your kind messages.

This is probably going to be the hardest post I will ever have to write so I hope you will all forgive me if I falter.

I am sad to tell you all that Mr D and I have gone our separate ways, obviously here is not the place to go into any details, but now I'm sure you will understand that I haven't been able to carry on as normal.

I have received an enormous amount of support during what has been an awful and emotional time for me and am ever grateful for the fantastic network of friends and family that have carried me over the last few weeks.

I have just returned from Italy, where my family are at the moment, and feel stronger for spending these early days with them.

I've very much enjoyed creating this blog and have met some wonderful and interesting people along the way.

I feel that I cannot, however, carry on writing under the Name of Mrs D as this is no longer in my future.

I will be continuing to blog as I have loved the experience so far and hope you will join me at my new home. I have named my new blog Kelly's Recipes for Life as my original vision still holds true.

I already have so much to tell you all and my dear friend Victoria has been very busy planning some fabulous diversions to keep me focused on a positive path. I am, now, more than ever, grateful for her friendship.

But for now I'm just trying to:

Lots of Love

xxx

A Weekend Retreat

Hot on the heels of my friend and fellow blogger Rose, Mr D and I are off to Cornwall for a long weekend.
I'm not looking forward to the drive at all but I have a new sat nav (let's hope it works, or it could be a very long time before my next post!)
I have been there before but that was about 5 years ago now and I'm looking forward to seeing the changes in the place (and probably myself!) I will keep an eye out for bargains and beauties and, knowing me, am sure to find a few.

We are staying in Newquay, where the ISA world surfing games are being held this weekend. It is likely to be busy as a result so we will probably head off somewhere quieter like Tintagel, where we can explore the ruined castle that legend says was the home of King Arthur.
But I will be checking out the surfing too!

I hope you all have fantastic weekends and look forward to catching up when I get back.
See you Monday!

Lots of Love xx

I'm a Barbie Girl!

I can hardly believe I have written 16 posts and have not yet mentioned my Barbie doll collection!
And with Barbie's 50th birthday this year I thought it was about time I gave her a mention!
In 1959, Barbie took the world by storm, surprising skeptical toy critics at New York's Toy Fair. Soon, little girls across America, and later, the world, were singing Barbie doll’s praises. In the coming years, both adults and children alike would collect their favorite doll in record numbers. Five decades later, Barbie doll remains one of the hottest selling toys in the world.

Barbie collecting can be an expensive habit. The latest coveted version, released by Mattel for Barbie's 50th, is valued at $50,000. This Barbie is decked out in 34 carats worth of white and black diamonds, which sparkle down to her heels, complete with a 24-karat-gold chain bracelet on her left wrist.
Unfortunately I don't have one of those! but I do have a huge collection of others (to be honest I can't tell you exactly how many, maybe around 200!)

I began collecting seriously about 15 years ago and have been so lucky to have received a vast amount of dolls as gifts from family and friends (my brilliant Dad deserves a special mention here as he never goes anywhere without looking for a special Barbie to bring home for me!).
My collection represents years of birthdays, Christmases and fabulous trips and means so much more than the monetary worth of the dolls to me.
This year I spent my birthday in Florida and received 20 dolls from my Parents, Aunt and Uncle, Baby Cousin and Mr D. (they were fun and games to get home!)

In her fifty-year lifespan, Barbie has had over 100 professions, everything from a rock star to a paleontologist to a presidential candidate. She is a fairy, a princess, and a fairy princess.
In fact if you can think of it Barbie has been there, done it and got the (no doubt fabulous, designer) T shirt!
Which brings me to the enviable wardrobe, fantastic cars, houses and furniture this little lady has it all!
Like any successful person she has taken her fair share of criticism too!
Barbie has been accused of representing a very unrealistic and damaging idea of what a modern adult woman looks like…that it affects a girl's expectations in her life. That she is a bad and dangerous role model but Barbie creator Ruth Handler said : "Barbie has always represented that a woman has choices''
My choice is to be barbie when I grow up!
Who wouldn't want to look that good at 50!
So it is high time I organised and catalogued my Barbies. I hope you don't mind if I share my collection with you over the coming months? I can promise some stunners!


Lots of Love xxxx

Shoppin' and Swappin'

Another successful TK Maxx shopping trip to report! (that place is magnificent!).

I have been looking for a really nice chalkboard for the Kitchen for ages and was really pleased to finally find this one in my local store.

I've now decided that the kitchen needs repainting a slightly more exciting colour that the off white it is at the moment in honour of my latest love! I will be sure to update you all on progress.

I also couldn't resist this little matching box that will look fab in my bedroom.

I also got a little lovely for Victoria but I'm afraid I can't tell you about it until I have given it to her because it will ruin the surprise!

Yesterday was also the posting day for the Twilight swap so this little lot is winging it's way to Denise as we speak. I am so excited and I hope she likes everything!

Same place tomorrow :)

Lots of love

Christening Cakes

Today was my little Niece, Leah's, Christening. I've been really looking forward to it for ages now as I love an excuse to dress up
(well, more importantly the excuse to wear a hat without being mocked!)

It was a lovely day and Leah was a very good girl, happy and smiling throughout despite how overwhelming it all must have been for her.

As you will all know by now, where there is an opportunity to bake, I jump at the chance!
I really wanted to make something a bit more involved that my usual cupcakes, so I offered to take care of the main christening cake.
This was my first large project, and for an important occasion so I wanted to keep it simple to avoid tripping myself up by trying to be flash!

I made 2 simple, 9 inch, round Madeira cakes using Nigella's Mother in Law's recipe click here to try it for yourself.
The recipe really easy and quick to make and produced perfect results (which is always a relief!)
One cool, the cakes were sandwiched together using raspberry jam and butter cream, covered in white Regal Ice and the fun began!

I had already made icing butterflies and a set of 'building blocks' to spell her name and attached these to the cake with royal icing.
I then really impressed myself by managing to pipe out the date of the christening (my first attempt at piping writing!).
While the date was still wet I covered it with lilac edible glitter to make it stand out.
Once all the icing was dry I brushed the wings of the butterflies and the letters on the blocks with lustre powder and gave the whole lot a dose of iridescent glitter. Unfortunately this didn't photograph well, so take it from me the stuff that looks like dust is glitter!
I am really pleased and proud of my first attempt at a 'proper cake' and everyone was very complementary, which was nice because I always see the flaws in my own work!

I couldn't get away without making cupcakes as well, so by popular demand there were vanilla, chocolate and carrot cake cupcakes
The carrot cake cupcakes are ultra easy and give brilliant results. They are my absolute favourites and if you like carrot cake you really should try these. Click here for the recipe.
The Vanilla cupcake and Chocolate cupcake recipes were from Martha Stewart living and as per most of her recipes (as long as you follow the instructions to the letter!) were very successful. click here for the vanilla recipe and here for the chocolate.


That's all for now, as usual I am impatient to see what the rest of you lovely people in blog land have been up to!

Lots of Love xxx

First Sight

As promised a sneak preview of the crafting I have been doing for the Twilight swap!

I have had a really good time making for this, it has been just as much for myself as for my swap partner, Denise.

I have found some fun items, have tried new techniques and am really pleased with the results.

The deadline for sending the packages is the 25th July so I really need to get a wriggle on with finishing all of the projects in time, but I am having so much fun and it's so easy to get distracted with new ideas!

So here are a few sneaky images of the things I have been working on for the last few weeks. I will, of course, give you a proper view of the contents of my swap package one it has been safely received by Denise. So I think that is as much as I can show you all for now as I don't want to spoil the surprise.

I have been Lurking around Polka Dot Moon but Denise is giving nothing away as yet!!!

I suppose I will just have to be patient!

Lots of Love

I'm Back!!!

I can't believe its been so long since my last post! It certainly doesn't feel that long as I have been so busy!

On Thursday Victoria and I went to MAC in Convent Garden to have a make up trial for the wedding. I had a really good time and was very impressed with the artist, who Understood exactly what I was after. She was really helpful, explaining step by step what she was doing. I love make up and am pretty capable around a set of brushes and some products but even so I found some of her tips really useful. The session cost £25 but this is redeemable against products after the session and if you are anything like me you won't be stopping there!!!

They also give you a diagram like this of the products used and where so you can re create the look at home.

After the appointment I went to try on my wedding dress and am pleased to report it fitted! (huge sigh of relief) I have lost alot of weight for the wedding and had lost momentum but this has given me renewed enthusiasm to carry on with the plan.

So the rest of my time has been filled with getting my stuff made for the Twilight swap that has a fast approaching deadline!!! I may have been a bit ambitious but I'm really pleased with how it is going so far.

Look out for a sneak peek tomorrow!

Better go as I need to catch up with all my blog land friends :)

Lots of love

Come Craft with Me!

Today I have been doing some crafting, unfortunately I can't show you what I've been up to because I have been working on projects for the Twilight swap and don't want to ruin the surprise for Denise!
Instead I thought I would take on a mini tour of my craft room!
I love the shabby chic look and try to mix vintage and modern finds but had to compromise a bit in this room. I needed practicality and lots, and lots of storage!.
I tried to keep to the general theme of the rest of the house by painting the walls a pale apple green laying a white wooden floor and keeping the furniture white. I kind of figured that there would be so much lovely stuff to play with in there the modern furniture wouldn't grate too much!

The room is heaving with goodies which I try to keep organised in boxes (but always find things seem to move themselves!!)
There are so many things in this room that make me smile but here are a few of my favourite things!


My books, especially the Rachel Ashwell ones! I can get lost in the pictures!




I have tried to bring the vintage theme into the room with pictures like this, I also have some vintage style scrapbook pages of my grandparents on the walls which I love!





Prima flowers and ribbons always seem to find a way onto my paper crafting projects, I love a flower!!!


I spent ages trying to find an acceptable chair! I really didn't want an 'office' chair but needed something practical and comfy as it was quite likely that I would end up in it for long stints. I found this White wicker office chair in Ikea and thought it was the very thing I was looking for (the cute cushion was a gift from Victoria)



I'd better get back to it now, hope you liked the pictures! I'd really love to hear about where you fellow bloggers craft too :)

Lots of Love xx

A Sincere Apology!

Hi ladies! So sorry I didn't mention where to buy the tin I used for the giant cupcake I am thoroughly ashamed of myself for missing such a vital piece of information, I promise will never withhold information from you all again!The tin I used was a Wilton Dimensions giant cupcake pan, the website link is here this will give you all the relevant information. I had seen the pan in America and fallen in love with it but it was a bit hefty to get home (along with all the other stuff I had already bought!). I had a search when I got home and found them on good old Amazon. Click here to take you directly to the page.

I would wholeheartedly recommend it and will definitely be buying some more of Wilton's novelty pans! There are some great pictures of decorating ideas just look at these!

I am soooo gonna use any excuse to make these to see what I can come up with!!!

Cupcake anyone?

Love xx

Just the One!

Happy Sunday ladies! Hope you have all had a lovely weekend?

Sunday seems to be my baking day and today was no exception. We were invited to a family friend's house for the afternoon for a BBQ and drinks.

Always happy at an excuse to produce some baked goods I offered to make some cupcakes for desert. The reply was a joking 'just the one! you know we are all skinny and don't eat much!' (we always make way too much food!). Little did she know that I was just waiting for an opportunity to use my new 'giant cupcake' pan and the perfect excuse had just been offered on a plate!

I used the recipe on the box for double chocolate pound cake (you can get it here). It was really easy, although I thought I heard the mixer groan at the sheer volume of mix!
I was concerned that releasing the cakes would be hard but was really impressed when it just lifted off leaving two, perfect, halves of this monster. When cool I trimmed the cakes so that they sat properly and stuck them together with chocolate icing, glazed the top section and finished with white chocolate chip 'sprinkles'. I think it looks great and now want to make more so I can have fun being a bit more creative with the decoration.
She really appreciated the joke when I walked in with it and told her I had just made one like she had told me to!
By the way the cake recipe was yummy!

Have any of you made giant cupcakes? I'd love to see your results!

Love xx

A Crack Shot!

Today I emulated Bree Van Der Kamp and explored the world of firearms! Well, OK! I went paint balling with a group of friends for a birthday celebration.

I had always been curious so was happy to get the chance to go.

I can confirm it hurts when you get hit but it was great fun (and if gun slinging is good enough for Bree It's good enough for me!)

I think I'll wait for the bruises to heal before I think about going again though!

Hope you are all having a fantastic weekend!!!

Love xx

Crafty Girls!

On another TK Maxx trip today (in strict personal shopper mode for Victoria of course!) I was lucky enough to come across this fab note card set by Claudine Hellmuth called Crafty Girls!

I have really admired her mixed media collage art for a while now and keep meaning to have a go at it myself!

The set contains 20 notecards, 4 each of 5 designs, and I think they are brilliant, and I certainly know a few crafty girls who might like to receive one! (but not before I have framed one of each for my craft room!!!)

And even better this fabulous artist is a blogger just like us! visit her blog here!

Love xx

And the Lion Fell in Love with the Lamb

WHAT A LUCKY LAMB!!!!

Well it's no secret to my friends that I loved the Twilight series of books so I'm really excited to have signed up for a twilight swap organised by Denise over at Polka dot moon!

This will be my first swap so I already have my thinking hat on!
I have seen some of the other swaps that have been going on and it all looks like great fun so I'm really pleased to have been included. Thanks Denise!!!

Now if you can only arrange for my swap partner to send me Edward Cullen I would be most grateful!

Love xxx

Monday

Today, inspired by T Cake's post 'Cupcake finds', I popped over to TK Maxx and bagged myself some of the fabulous cook book tins she found. I love them! They are really cute, and who says practical can't be pretty? Thanks, T Cake, for sharing such a great find!

While I was there I also came across some great little CK soaps and hand creams. The soaps are 25g size and came in a pack of 9 with 3 fragrances (Rose and Carnation, Lilac and Lavender and Lemon and Geranium). The hand cream tubes come in threes in the same fragrances and I couldn't resist the cute tins of Lilac and Lavender cream.

I love having some nice bits like this stashed to give as gifts (or maybe a future giveaway!)

On a sadder note, this afternoon I joined Victoria and her family to bid
farewell to Nanny Molly.
A beautiful lady, who we will all miss a great deal. I consider myself extremely lucky to have known her and was honoured to have been trusted by the family to find a suitable tribute to this wonderful Mum, Nan and friend. Victoria and I decided on a pretty rose called 'Our Molly' which now graces the family garden.
She will never be forgotten.

Lots of love x

Banns and Baking

Hello again! Hope you have all had great weekends doing all the things you love.

Today was a very special day for Mr D and I as it was the first time our banns of marriage were read at church. We are getting married at High Beech and I thought you might like to see a picture. It really is a lovely church, pretty and more importantly full of kind and friendly people.

I was extremely pleased that some of my family were able to join us and am really looking forward to next week when Victoria and Ben will be coming. We will, of course, be setting of to a nearby boot sale afterwards to find some bargains!

After Church I couldn't resist having a little bake, I have loads of recipes I want to try so thought I should make something yummy as a treat for Mr D. As he is a big chocolate fan I made him some chocolate cupcakes from a recipe I found on Martha Stewart Living (my favourite website I can always find what I want on there!)

The recipe was really easy and gave good results, some of the comments on the recipe were from ladies who said their cakes sunk a little but mine came out fine. The only thing I would say is to be careful not to overfill the cases as these cakes rise dramatically. If you want to try these yourself click here for the recipe.

I topped them off with piped buttercream icing (coffee flavoured, at Mr D's request) and a chocolate star. I think they came out pretty well. I'll let you know the results of Mr D's taste test when he tries one!

Well I'd better be signing off now as I'm impatient to see what the rest of you have been up to this weekend!

Love