I have too many shoes

Great things come in small packages or so the saying goes . . . So I've applying this mantra to my week! In the spirit of being a recessionista and domestic goddess, I baked some cupcakes to provide as gifts.  With the amount of cupcakes I can produce from the batch of ingredients bought, I'm definitely making savings against shop-bought cakes, they also taste better too! I  tested out another recipe from the Hummingbird Bakery cookbook, this time vanilla cupcakes with chocolate frosting and chocolate crispy bits.  I packaged them in a great cupcake gift box (available from Sainsbury's) so they really looked the business.  While everyone testing the cupcakes liked them, I honestly preferred the vanilla frosting and sprinkles. I like receiving presents and parcels in the post too. I've just received the latest copies of Easy Living , Glamour and InStyle to read.  I just don't know which to start reading first!  Perhaps it should be InStyle wh...

I've been in self-exile while recovering from a lovely chest infection and I'm finally on the mend.  During my exile, I've realised a number of things. 1) I need to work, despite Sky+ recordings, magazines and DVDs I was still bored 2) I actually dislike the majority of daytime television 3) I have a slight addiction to Homes Under the Hammer. I love it when a neglected run-down property gives a complete makeover. 4) That Mary Portas is my new style icon, I'm hitting my forties next year and Mary has proved that older woman can still lead the way in fashion.  I've been watching her current series Mary Queen of Shops on BBC2 and its really good, both how she is helping small businesses and wears some fab clothes too!  There are a couple of items in my wardrobe that could emulate her style. 5) The need to declutter - with our house renovations, we've visited other friend's houses to get ideas for the flooring in our hallway.  They're at that stage...