Craft haul

I nipped into my local Aldi store after work today to stock up on some cat food and whilst browsing around I saw these fab crafty items. Seeing as 2 of the points from my post '25 things to do before I'm 25' are learn how to knit and get serious crafty I thought I just had to nab these up quickly before they sold out. 

Now what shall I make?

Prices:

Mini Sewing Machine: £14.99

Sewing Kit: £3.49 each

Wool: £3.49

It's time to get crafty...

25 things to do before I'm 25

I have seen a few lists like these recently in the blogger world (101 in 1001 days for example), so I thought I would create my own. Each point I will hopefully blog about, so enjoy.

To be completed by the 22nd August 2015 (the day before my 25th birthday).

In no particular order...

01. Move out
02. Learn how to knit
03. Go to Paris
04. Make perfect Macarons
05. Plan a trip to Australia for the very near future
06. Read the Twilight series again
07. Learn how to make a dress
08. Get seriously crafty
09. Become a jogger
10. Complete the 30 Day Shred
11. Spend the weekend away in a log cabin with a hot tub
12. Become an auntie again - hint hint sister ;)
13. Get 500 followers on this little blog of mine
14. Go to Edinburgh
15. Look into my family tree in detail
16. Have a Harry Potter marathon
17. Print all my photos out and put them into albums
18. Have a Twilight marathon
19. Visit Harry Potter Warner Bros, Studio Tour
20. Make Sole Gin
21. Go somewhere fancy for Afternoon Tea
22. Go camping (again)
23. Go to a spa for a day
24. Cook a successful roast dinner
25. Go to Alton towers

Crazy cat lady

I recently posted a couple of cute pictures of my cats on Instagram and have received quite a few 'likes' since - well what I consider to be quite a few 'likes' anyway. So I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to introduce you to my lovely cats (sorry if you're not a cat lover).

Here is Daisy, she is 5 and a half years old, she's a mum to Wooly and Alfie and you only have to say fish in my house and she'll start meowing in delight.  She gave birth to Wooly and Alfie a year and a half ago and for the first few months she was a loving mother. She even hid them from me as I was constantly peeking at them trying to take photos. But that has all changed now, she hates them and hisses at them whenever they try to come near her. Poor boys.

Here is Wooly, he's a bit dopey but we love him. Wooly loves marbles, there are marbles dotted all around our house where he picks them up, plays with them and then loses them, he even puts them in our shoes. He is certainly a character.

Last but not least, here is Alfie. He is very much like Daisy in his markings, with his white lip and one black toe being the only real visible difference between them. Alfie and Daisy can certainly stand up for themselves if they ever get into a fight, where as Wooly will run straight indoors at the first sniff of trouble.

Here is a cute photo of when Wooly and Alfie were kittens. The photo after this was taken a few days ago.

I hope you've enjoyed reading about my lovely cats, I probably look/sound like even more of a crazy cat lady now...

Positive words

I love a good quote and especially if it makes me feel good and keeps me feeling positive. 

Here are a few I've found which will hopefully perk you up if you're feeling a bit down. 

And finally...

Cracking good job, Gromit

If you have been in and around Bristol these past 10 weeks then you would have seen quite a few Gromits dotted around, or if you're like me you might have even gone on the Gromit Unleashed trail. 

I dragged my boyfriend along one sunny Saturday to help me hunt the Gromits down but much to my disappointment we only found 53/80, I know that sounds a lot but I wanted to find all of them. 

If you didn't find all 80 Gromits either, then don't worry you have another chance. From the 18-22nd September all of the fun figurines will be at the Beacon House (former Habitat Store) at The Greatest Dog Show on Earth exhibition before they are auctioned off to raise money for Bristol's Children's Hospital. You will also be able to buy some Gromit merchandise, including smaller sized figurines in the most popular designs.

Head to the website for more details: http://www.gromitunleashed.org.uk/

So if you took part in the Gromit Unleashed trail, let me know how many you found and what your favourite designs were. 

Here are a few of my favourite Gromits...

Gromberry

Where's Wallace?

Gromit Lightyear

Blossom

Dog Rose

So... what shall I paint my Gromit?

Apple and Blackberry Muffins

I love blackberry picking (or any type of 'Pick Your Own' as a matter of fact) and this Apple and Blackberry Muffins recipe is perfect to use up my freshly picked blackberries.

These muffins are so easy to make and more importantly they are DELICIOUS! Why don't you give it a try?

First you need to go blackberry picking, or you could just go to the supermarket but I think picking your own is more fun. Once you've got a good tub full you will then need to wash them.

Ingredients...

200g blackberries (make sure you give them a wash)

3 dessert apples

2 eggs

240ml milk

120ml vegetable oil

200g granulated sugar

375g plain flour

4 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Makes 18 muffins 

Get baking...

1. Pre-heat the oven at 200 degrees centigrade/gas 6

2. Place the eggs, oil, sugar and milk into a large mixing bowl and whisk

3. Sieve the flour, baking powder and cinnamon over the wet mixture and mix thoroughly

4. Peel and core the apples, then cut into small pieces

5. Gently stir the apples and blackberries into the mixture

6. Fill a muffin tray with paper muffin cases and fill each case with about two thirds of the muffin mixture

7. Bake the muffins for around 20-25 mins. 

I used Delia's recipe for a guide. 

Let me know what you think :) 

Mars Bar Krispies

These Mars Bars Krispies are so simple to do and taste amazing! Lucy, my sister first introduced them to me probably about a year ago now and since then I have made loads. Yes they're simple but everyone I know loves them. Why don't you give it a try?!

So here's how you make them... 

Ingredients...

5 Mars Bars (chopped)

150g butter (cut into cubes)

100g Rice Krispies or Coco Pops (I use Coco Pops - more chocolate never hurts)

75g milk plain chocolate (break up into pieces)

Get started...

1. Use a 20cm square tin (or if you're like me just use any flat medium sized tin you've got lying around).
Rub small amounts of butter in each corner and in the middle of the tin. Then line the tin with cling film, the   butter will help the cling film stick to the tin and not slide around and the cling film will allow you to easily lift the krispies out when chilled.

2. Grab a heatproof bowl and place it over a saucepan of simmering water (don't let the base of the bowl   touch the water).

3. Add the chopped Mars Bars and cubes of butter into the bowl and stir until melted. If you're thinking it is taking ages to melt, don't worry give it time - but keep an eye on it.

4. Pour the melted Mars Bars and butter into a separate bowl and add the Rice Krispies or Coco Pops and mix until completely covered.

5. Spoon the mix into your tin, making sure you press the mixture into all corners and ensuring you have a flat layer.

6. Use the same heatproof bowl over the simmering water to melt the plain milk chocolate.

7. Once melted drizzle the chocolate over the krispies and ensure you cover the whole surface.

8. Leave on the side to cool down before placing in the fridge until set. I normally leave it in the fridge overnight, but if you just can't wait then just leave for a couple of hours.

9. Using the sides of the cling film, lift the krispies out of the tin and cut into squares, then serve on a plate and tuck in!

I have used BBC Food Recipes as a guide, see below for the link.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/chocolate_crispy_cakes_25316