Sarah Youde

and the winner is..

Firstly, thanks to everyone who entered to win the vintage crochet book.  I have now drawn a winner.  You are going to love the twee-ness of this book but remember to imagine the patterns done with modern colours because some of them are still really nice despite the age of the book.

I have spoken to random.org and he has chosen a winner for the vintage crochet book and the winner is

 

......

 

Someone who

 

.......

 

posted a comment at number

1!!

 

That makes Angie the winner.  Angie could you contact me with your address and I will pop it in the post for you :)

Egg Sandwich Love

When I mention the following and find that people do not use their Breville sandwich toaster to make egg sandwiches I am shocked!  Don't you know what you are missing?

To put right this affront to the lovely egg sandwich I am making them public so that those of you who haven't tried this delicacy can give it a go.  It was my Mum that did this as I was growing up and I have to say that my children (and me!) love it as much as I did then.

I am sure a lot of poeple do this but if you don't, just try it!

All you need to do is the following:

• Put the sandwich maker on to warm up (please note:  it must be a sandwich toaster that seals the edges such as the Breville)
• Take Your pieces of bread and spread one side of each piece with butter - thinly
• Place a piece of bread into the toaster butter side down (ie touching the hot plate)
• Take a spoon and press the bread into the triangular cavities of the toaster to make little dishes or hollows

For the next part you have to be quick to prevent the egg running out (because those hollows you made don't really stay down but they do help)

• Crack an egg into the bread using the edge of the egg shell break the yolk in half and get half of it in each half of the sandwich
• Add a little salt and lots of pepper (if you like pepper as much as me)
• Put your other piece of bread on top (butter side up) and close your machine.  The butter makes the outside lovely and crispy
• Cook the sandwich for about 3-4 minutes (or longer if you want a harder yolk). 

The egg expands to fill the sandwich and, believe me, they taste delicious hot or cold.  They will be very hot at first so I cut them in half for the kids to cool them down.  My children love to dip them in red sauce :)

Enjoy!

Stitches @ Westpoint Exeter

I woke up on Saturday morning and I did not feel well at all. In fact I spent the first ten minutes of my day talking to God on the big white telephone if you get my drift! I then struggled back to the bedroom because I had half an hour to get ready to go to the Stitches craft show at Exeter before Jo was picking me up. So between sitting on the floor, laying on the bed and generally groaning I managed to get ready to go. Not going was not an option, I was looking forward to it so much.

So despite walking around like a zombie and constantly feeling like I was going to faint or something I braved the show and had a lovely time (sort of!). I managed to buy a couple of things and we popped into Trago Mills on the way home for a little bit of extra shopping. By this time I was dropping and Jo ran to the fridge and brought back a much needed lucozade.

This is what I bought.

A few more distress inks (I will have them all one day!).  A book of Tim Holtz tickets that Jo and I went halves on :) I was really excited to find the Ranger Enamel Accents and I got a lovely brick wall template / mask.

At the show there was a lovely underwater scene exhibit in aid of the RNLI which was knitted. The whole thing. Knitted!

The pictures are not very clear because I couldn't hold my hand too still but you get the idea. I loved the mermaid.

 

I am still feeling (and looking) really rough. I braved a family barbeque yesterday in aid of Mark's Dad's birthday and just about survived it and much as I would like to go back to bed now the kids have been dropped off at school I can't because at 11am I have an appointment with a man from Ipsos Mori.  Bleauuuuurgh.

Seven Things

Thank you Lisa for giving me the Versatile Blogger award :)

The rules are that I need to tell you 7 things about myself and then pass the award onto five other bloggers.

Here are seven things some of you may not know about me :)

1. I am allergic to mushrooms.
2. Before getting married (18 years ago!!) I worked in a jewellery shop and used to write the descriptions and prices for antique sales using calligraphy which I learned with my Mum when I was about 15.
3. I was born with only one kidney and it wasn't discovered until I was 19 years old.
4. I wanted to be a journalist or an author when I was at school and I still wish I had pursued it.  My English teacher signed my autograph book when I left school stating that he hoped to be invited to my party on 'This Is Your Life' when I became a famous author. 
5. I have a tattoo (just a little one).
6. The first time I met Mark in a pub he sent the barmaid with a drink.  When she said which one is your girlfriend he had to reply that I was the one 'hanging off the end of the bar headbanging'!!  (Ha ha, got to love that rock music!).
7. I was about 5' until I was 19, I then grew to my current height of 5' 7" by the time I met Mark at 21.

I would like to pass the Versatile Blogger award to:

Jo Willis

Racheal Elliot

Karen Leahy

Moreen

Carol

Come on girls!  Tell us a few secrets.

Other Stuff

Lorraine and Janice are back from CHA and have no doubt selected some wonderful products for future Scrapagogo kits.  If you are a Scrapapgogo member or if you are thinking of joining you won't want to miss the newly announced member incentive scheme.

Mark goes on leave at the end of the week and so that is when our holidays truly begin.  We are not going away this year but are planning lots of days out with the children.  I suggested that as well as visiting the local attractions such as Woodlands that we go and visit some of the lovely places around us here in Devon and Cornwall - you never look in your own backyard do you?  I am particularly looking forward to a planned trip to taste some of Rick Stein's fish and chips in Padstow.

I have got some layouts to share this week but they are on the main computer and I am currently sat on the sofa with the laptop so I will update the blog with those in a couple of days.

Don't Impress Me Much

I was pointed to this little web application which tells you what your name would be if you were a piece of Ikea furniture...umm, I'm not THAT impressed!

mmmm!

Can you tell that I am bored?

Domestic Sluttery

I love the Domestic Sluttery blog, I subscribe to it via blog lines.  I just wanted to point out the great competition they have on the blog today with gorgeous prizes of around £500!  Don't enter though, I want to win it!!

Have a look here.

This is what you could win!

Just a Quickie

Well, I went out last night with the girls.  We ended up in a 70's / 80's bar which Mark thought was hilarious, we all enjoyed it though.

Here is a piccie of us all in full swing, the photo isn't great quality as I pinched it from Facebook!

I didn't realise my earrings were quite that big lol, the wind and rain were nearly washing them out of my ears!  I was really proud of myself, I had a great time but didn't go silly with the drink so I was out of bed and dressed before Mark went to play golf at 9am this morning! 

We must do it again some time soon :)

Bleeeeeuuuuuuurgh

I am, unfortunately, a TMJ  (Temporomandibular Joint Disorder) sufferer and the last few days have been a nightmare because it has been playing up such a lot!  I was in tears last night because it feels like you have a migraine, earache and toothache all at the same time - basically I feel like I just spent 10 rounds in the ring with Tyson AND he bit my ear off!  My face feels swollen and I can't touch my cheekbone - urgh!

Picture Source: http://lloydchiro.com/

Luckily, I feel a bit better at the moment because 30/60mg of Codeine helps a bit :)  I intend to keep myself dosed up as it is the Plymouth all day crop tomorrow and I am really looking forward to it -  I have already missed the evening one this week :(

I am excited as I ordered myself a 3" scalloped circle punch and that has arrived - it is gorgeous.  I also ordered 5 reels of foam tape because I use it on just about everything and I was completely lost when I ran out the other day!

Well, I have to go and finish some scrapping work whilst I am feeling a bit better.

Cheesy, Hammy, Eggy

This is my favourite breakfast time indulgence!  Mark makes it for me as a special treat, it's a Navy thing and it tastes delicious.  I thought that, perhaps I am being a little mean in not sharing this on my blog so here goes, the recipe for Cheesy, Hammy, Eggy:

Ingredients (Makes four slices)

4 Slices White Bread (white tastes much better with this recipe)
4 Slices Ham
5 Eggs
250g Cheese
Teaspoon English or Dijon Mustard

Method

• First make the cheesy mixture by mixing together 1 egg, 250g cheese and the mustard.
• Place four slices bread under the grill and toast on one side
• Turn the toast over and put the ham on the uncooked side making sure it is just inside the edge of the bread.
• Cover the bread with the cheesy mixture spreading it right to the edge.
• Put the toast back under the grill to melt the cheesy mixture all over the bread.
• Fry four eggs.
• Remove the toast from the grill and place on your plate, top with a fried egg and pepper!

Enjoy :)

I don't suppose it's THAT fattening!!!  It's the best hangover cure ever.

Christmas Tree Heaven

We went to Endsleigh Garden Centre the other day, I always like to go up around Christmas Time because the Christmas Tree displays are stunning.  I tried to take some photos with my mobile phone but they were rubbish.  Mark had his N95 so I grabbed that and took some photos to share - they are not great but you get the idea.  If you live near Plymouth it is well worth a trip just to see these gorgeous displays in person. The first one was my favourite and was called The Botanic - you can't see the beauty of it here but it had beautiful butterflies on it.

Oh I wish I was rich!  I would get them to come and do one for me next week.