iPhone Home Button Sticking Not Working Fix....

I have had a problem with my iPhone for months where  the home button intermittently doesn't work. 

It has been driving me crazy and then today I couldn't get it to work at all, I almost had a panic attack but I did manage to contain myself after all it is only a phone........ 

Yes, right, it keeps my whole life organised and in order!

Any how I thought I'd have a little look on Dr. Google as lets face it Google knows everything

And I came across this...

1. Open an official Apple App like the clock or compass

2. Hold the power button until u get the slide to turn off

3. Hold down the home button until the slide to turn off goes away.

and that's it, your phone will now work

I was a little (lot) skeptical but it only went and bloody worked!!!

Woo Hoo!!!

Problem fixed! 

It seems to be a software collaboration issue with the button - rather than mechanical and according to the forum I was on it works every time.

We went camping... Sort of... Euro Camp

For those of you that know me in real life you know I don't "do" holidays that have the words camping, caravans or the great outdoors in the description.

I have adamantly refused to go camping unless it has an en-suite and room service 

So the idea of Euro Camp was a little alien to me (my husband has just admitted he thought I'd finally lost my mind when I suggested it)

But as we have to cut our cloth accordingly and we are no longer just a couple travelling alone, I decided to "give it a go"

As I didn't want to get stuck somewhere horrendous for a week, I booked us 3 nights at Paris La Croix du Vieux Pont and it was in a caravan not a tent but hey it was almost camping... Right?

And I wanted to take the girls to Disneyland Paris so two birds, one stone and all that...

Price was as cheap as chips, 3 nights including the ferry was £220 and then just fuel costs on the top, so all in about £340, which lets face it for a family of 4 is pretty cheap.

We set off early on the Sunday morning, hoping that the girls would sleep the majority of the way to Dover, Isobel pretty much did whilst Amelia never closed her eyes, she was amazed at stars in the sky and I think she was just far too excited. The girls were fabulous on both journeys and as it was a bit further than I initially thought I was amazed at how good they were. Isobel had a slight blip on the way back where she cried for 30 minutes because I wouldn't let her have a lolly 30 seconds after complaining she felt sick but apart from that they were both great.

Lesson learned on the travel side of things - give a day for travelling and don't leave the return journey too late in the day, get home for a reasonable time as it knackers the kids out too much

Ok so we get to site and I am amazed at how beautiful it was, I don't really know what I was expecting but it was lovely.

Booking in was very simple, English agents see you to your caravan so no language problems, marvelous.

The van was ok, it was clean (ish, as expected for a holiday caravan), beds were ok and after hearing a few horror stories about beds I was pretty relieved that the beds were clean and comfortable. They supplied most kitchen/eating equipment and they even supplied a BBQ and coals (not that we used it) which I thought was excellent.

I have to admit the worse bit for me was the staying in a caravan, but that was me and my snobbery issues rather than anything being wrong with the caravan itself. It was also pretty cold at night and the early hours of the morning it was freezing so next time we need to take warmer clothes.

But the actual site was fantastic, pictures don't do it justice. There was lots for kids to do and the facilities were great.

The only gripe about the site was eating/restaurant facilities weren't great. You have to reserve a table to eat in the restaurants even if they are empty??? So the first night we had to go to their fast food hatch, which was very overpriced and the food was pretty rubbish. Then when we did go to the restaurant it was pretty much the same story very average food that was overpriced. 

My last gripe is that the shop shuts ridiculously early so the night we got back from Disney at 8pm there was no where open to get milk and we had to go off searching for milk which we found for sale in pub of all places a mile from site. 

All a learning curve for us Euro Camp newbies and next time we go we will definitely be far more prepared.

BUT we loved it and are looking to book again for Easter holidays. As long as I can get over the fact I am in a caravan and I may have to cook a bit but apart from that I can't recommend it highly enough, the girls loved it which at the end of the day is the most important thing, it was beautiful, lots to do and a great (cheap) family holiday. 

(Oh and I must add that I was very surprised at just how "Middle Classed" the clientele was, far more Abigail and Thomas's than, well, lets not get into the whole name debate but you know what I mean)

Its just deciding now where we go at Easter.... Brittany... Vandee.... Normandy.... Decision, Decisions...

And we are looking at going Glamping at Warwick Castle next summer as well, next thing you know I will be buying a sheewee and an inflatable mattress ;-) 

How to bag a bargain

Ok in all honesty I am rubbish at getting bargains, it always seems like too much hassle to save a couple quid but as I am getting notoriously tight in my old age I appear to be turning into my Nana.

I got a fantastic deal a few months ago on my tumble drier, brand new from a shop but through ebay, a cheeky bid of £79 won me a £300 tumble drier! Woo to the Hoo!

Now it is the middle of summer and the weather is glorious my mind turns to winter (obviously, duh) so I am on the look out for kids Ugg Boots and Hunter Wellies, I refuse to pay full wack (for Uggs any way) but of course I want new so its a bit tricker.

But once again eBay came up trumps and I have got two pairs of Uggs one for £24 and the other for (wait for it..) £15!! and that included the postage.

Its safe to say I was bloody delighted

I have to say that they would not be my first choice in style if I was paying £140 but for the kids they are great.

and I of course wont sell their old Uggs until the weather turns cold so I can get a good price for them. 

Next thing you know I will be cutting out coupons...

For Sale - Laura Ashley Gosford Plum Cushion Covers

Hand made 16 x 16 inch cushion covers in beautiful Laura Ashley Gosford Plum fabric with a cream fabric envelope back 

£9.99 (free post)

Pattern will vary on each cushion cover 

All seams are overlocked to prevent fraying

These cushions covers are made to order so if you require more please contact me 

I can also do other sizes if required

They are made to order so dispatch time is 5 working days 

To guarantee your peace of mind I operate a 14 day return policy

If you would prefer to buy through ebay..

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/181166437770?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

Free Post and Packaging

Happy Summer Solstice

Well to be honest it hasn't quite gone as planned...

Isobel has a nasty bout of croup and I have spent the last three nights sharing a bed with her (how do co-sleepers do it all the time???) which has resulted in very little sleep, she has also been the grumpiest, clingiest little bugger during the day so not much has been done. 

And then yesterday to top it off my sewing machine died!!! Not that it was totally unexpected as it must nearly 20 years old and was handed down to me so I can't complain too much but still ARGH!!! 

Thus resulted in most of yesterday hunting down a new machine. I want to properly upgrade next year to an all singing and dancing embroidery machine so I didn't want to spend a lot and thanks to good old eBay I found one. 

So my Summer Solstice was spent driving to Manchester with a poorly moaning child to pick up a new sewing machine.

We did manage to make some sun cupcakes this afternoon and I have discovered that cake decorating REALLY isn't my thing! I was rubbish, impatient and lost interest after about a minute but the girls enjoyed it.

Amelia also now thinks it will snow tomorrow after my shambolic attempt at explaining what midsummer was all about.

Just rubbish! But I did buy some lovely Sweet Williams to cheer up my kitchen table :)

Lets hope winter doesn't appear just yet...

Fathers Day Gifts...

I'm a bit late with this post (sorry) well I have actually written it once and didn't save it, a few choice swear words were muttered I can tell you!

Anyhow this is what we did for Fathers Day this year...

I like to do something personal with the girls for Fathers Day, they enjoy doing it for a start and I think it's nice to have something to keep and remind us how little they were (are).

Last year they painted gnomes and as we are currently doing the garden I thought another garden based gift was on the right lines.

This year it was bird houses! Even though I'm not quite sure any birds would actually fit in the hole???

So thanks to Hobby Craft (again, even though it ends up costing a small bloody fortune every time I go in) I got the houses and paints, which I then lacquered after the girls painted them to make them water resistant.

They had a great time covering everything in paint and glitter (including my kitchen, glitter EVERYWHERE) but they enjoyed it which was the main thing and Daddy (and Grandad, they did him one as well) loved them.

I also got Daddy a Ladybird World and a Horrible Science Kit, as I want to encourage them to be interested in the natural world and science, I can't think of a better way of learning than doing stuff with Daddy :)


I hope you all had a lovely Father's Day xx

We are going green.... Ish

And I don't mean like the Incredible Hulk, well not most days anyway.

Once upon a time a long time ago I developed a bit of an interest in Paganism. I was young so the magical aspect was the initial draw but it was the nature base of the religion that made a more lasting impression.

As time went on I changed my out look (as you do) and never really gave it much thought again... Until now

Not that I am particularly interested in the religion as such but I feel pulled towards a more natural, self sustained way of life. Maybe it's becoming a mother or maybe I'm just that way inclined I don't know but I would like my girls and I to follow the seasons, be aware of the changes that nature goes through, try to source produce locally etc etc

Now don't get me wrong I am really no earth mother, I have no plans to run around naked during the full moon (even though my husband may encourage this) and I shall not be ditching my car for a broomstick, no I'm definitely no earthly goddess, I like the finer things in life too much.

So here's the plan to introduce a bit of nature into our lives...

We have already started buying our fruit and veg from the local farm shop, which the girls love doing as they have chickens running all over the place which they find hilarious 

All meat products I am trying to source locally or at least be British, I tried my local butcher but I was a bit disappointed with the quality so this is a work in progress

We have started composting

Breaking myself in gently this year we are growing pumpkins (very badly), strawberries and sunflowers then next year a small veggie plot is the plan.

And last weekend we spent a thoroughly enjoyable day at a nearby forest collecting pine cones for kindling for the winter

We have been hanging bird boxes and lady bird houses

                                       

And of course making the most of the beautiful weather and working out doors.

With the summer solstice being only a few weeks away I need to get my thinking cap on as to how we are going to celebrate our first nature festival


Out of small acorns grow huge oak trees



:)

Did you get your first choice school?

Excuse me whilst I sob into my pillow...

We didn't get our first choice....

Or second choice....

We got our third choice!

I think that is why this post is two months late, I've been in denial and pretended it wasn't happening but now it's time to face facts and admit it to myself.

At first I wasn't too fussed as all three schools are good schools, (it was actually my second choice but my husbands third so thats how it ended up in bottom place) and the third choice school also has an excellent school nursery that Isobel can start in January.

But as time has gone on I've got more disappointed.

There isn't much in it regarding Sats and Ofsted BUT my first choice school is the best school in the area, and has a fantastic reputation where as my third choice school has just had a new head who is doing marvels with the school it's just not quite up to my first choice.

And the killer kick is we missed out on our first choice by 0.03 miles!

0.03 miles!!! Gutted!

So we are on the waiting list and up to now we are first in the que (yes, that's how close we were, missed out by one sodding place! Excuse me whilst I go and sob again).

And just to rub my nose in it, pretty much all of Amelia's nursery friends are going to my first choice so the mums are all glowy and happy and I want to scream!! Ok well maybe not a scream but still it gets me all irritated, not that it takes much but hey ho.

But and it's an important but, I do know how ridiculously lucky we are that we have such good schools to choose from and its a nice middle class area so no Jeremy Kyle types but still I am keeping everything crossed we get the call we are in, it will probably come the day after I order her school uniform....

Month of May catch up....

Ok so I'm still crazy busy so here's a quick catch up for the month of May!

We have been to....

Chester Zoo, love, love, love this place

A day out with Thomas the Tank Engine

And contrary to their faces they had a great day out!

The girls went on a train for the first time.

A big old steam train that went from Bury to Rochdale (and back).

It was fantastic, we had a little picnic and I love this picture :)

We went to Blackpool, Amelia the thrill seeker wanted to go on every ride she could and Isobel wouldn't go on any, chalk and cheese.

We had Amelia's 4th Birthday.

4???? Where on earth did those years go?

She had two parties, one for all her friends and one for family and thankfully it didn't rain.

And August 2008 must of been a very aherm.. busy month as we've had parties every weekend this May.

The girls and hubby did a bit of gardening, put in a border, potted lots of tubs and hanging baskets and he even made a table (more to come on that one)

Craft wise, I finally got around to learning how to make bunting and did a very simple birthday bunting for Amelia and I have sussed the dreaded door stop.

The girls have decided they want to share a room, up to now we've had a few late ish nights but they are doing pretty well, it's lovely to hear them chatting in bed, very cute.

As they are very close anyway I'm hoping it helps to cement the sister bond, they already hold hands where ever they go, long may it continue as it warms my heart.


Amelia has started her swimming lessons (and Isobel is moaning because she wants to go as well)

Kitty had a hair cut and has digressed back to Cujo (argh). He has been booked in go get his bits cut off so I'm hoping it calms him down a bit.

It was also my birthday, getting ever closer to that 40.... Eek 

I will be back on track with the blog next week, need to get half term out of the way and I have cushion orders coming out of my ears but I have loads to write about.

School placement

My learning to cook update

Making princess crowns

My new table

Making bunting

See you on the other side xx

Erm my plant pot is waving at me....

Well not quite waving but it's definitely high fiving me!

I'm convinced this little hand has just appeared. We've had the pot for eight years at least and I have never seen the hand before.

My husband thinks it was covered with soil but I am really not convinced, I think I would have seen it.. Surely???

But it's starting to creep me out a bit! I mean where on earth did it come from???

So my plant pot can high five off... Unless it could be the next hand of God like those images in toast...

Hmmm... I wonder how much I would get on eBay for a haunted flower pot...?

Home Made Yorkshire Puddings - Revised

Another food blog!!! 

As you know I am determined to start cooking things from scratch and next on my hit list was Yorkshire Puddings.

No more Aunt Bessie's for us (well that is the plan)

I trawled the Internet for recipes and they all looked pretty similar and easy enough and this is the one I went for.

125g of plain flour
300 ML of milk
2 eggs
Pinch of salt & pepper

Sieve the flour into a bowl
Make a well and put in the eggs
Then mix until firm
Add the milk and mix thoroughly

Leave to stand for 30 minutes

Oil and pre heat muffin tray

Add Yorkshire pudding mixture and cook for 25-30 minutes

Do not open oven door until they are cooked (as I learnt to my horror last week as I ended up with very flat stodgy yorkshires and I only opened the door for a second)

Makes at least 12 Yorkshire Puddings and I always have some mixture left.

And that's it! Simple and very tasty Yorkshire puddings. Amelia currently will only eat yorkshires so I am judging her as a bit of a expert and she says they are much nicer than Aunt Bessie's so that's good enough for me :)

Update

Ok after my early smugness my yorkshire puddings stopped rising (damn you yorkshire puddings!!)

So after much sulking and head scratching (and the power of Google) I know add 3 eggs rather than 2, make sure my oven is on full wack, get my oil sizzling before I add the mix and then turn the oven down once the mix has been in for 10 minutes and (touch wood) they have been great since.

Sunday catch up....

Sorry I've been a bit quiet of late, I've had a horrible chest infection that has exhausted me, along with being ridiculously busy, I don't seem to have had a spare minute.

We have been planning Amelia's 4th Birthday party and after going through every type of party imaginable she has finally decided to have a soft play party (thank god! At least we can just leave them to it). So the invites have been sent and all I now need to do is come terms with the fact my baby is almost 4!!!!

Talking of my beautiful 3 year old (still saying it whilst I can) she finally got her gymnastics jacket after we ordered it 2 months ago (don't ask). The absolute delight on her face when she got it though was well worth the wait. She hasn't had it off since Tuesday and even went to bed in it on the night she got it, bless her :)

In other news, I have managed to make a start on some of my other projects (at last!)

I made a garland for my kitchen window, I originally was going to make some curtains but as the kitchen can be quite dark I decided against it but I still wanted "something" and I saw this on Pinterest (gotta love that site) and went for it.

It looks great but I can't get a decent picture of it, for the life of me (grrr)

I plan next week to paint my kitchen chairs (I know, I've been saying it for months but I mean it this week).

Also I'm on the look out for a shelf unit to refurb and then the kitchen will be pretty much done (until I rip it out and put French doors in)

Oh and I'm after a big ass rug for in there as well.....

What else have I done.... Oh yes... sew, sew and more sewing. I have some new fabric which is beautiful to touch and predicting its going to be popular.

And I got some fabric to start making some bunting, I'm starting simple with some birthday bunting for Millie Poo so I will post that hopefully next week.

And that's about it, hubby is off next week so visits to a local farm, swimming and a ride on Thomas the Tank Engine are all planned.... Happy Days!!

Sunday catch up

Well it's been a busy old week

Spent lots of time with my sister, which is something I love doing and we don't do enough off, I think a little pampering weekend is on the cards soon.

Then it's been all cushions, cushions, cushions! Mad busy, which is fabulous. Well, apart from the girls wrecking my house whilst I sew (argh) but I am not complaining :)

I am currently buying new fabric for some lovely spring time cushions, bunting and I want to crack the door stop (bloody cube shape!)

Time to step it up a gear I think.

Cooking wise it's been a low and then high, I had the family around for lunch last Sunday and I was all smug about my Yorkshire Puddings and guess what.... They didn't rise!!!!!

How frigging typical!

Then Monday I made Toad in the hole and it was perfect YAY!!!

All comes out equal in the end...

But now we are all ill well the hubby and I are coughing and spluttering, feeling sorry for ourselves. A quiet weekend is on the cards with a visit to grandparents on Saturday and a little walk and the pub on Sunday.

Hopefully we will be back fighting fit sharpish.

Yummmmmy Toad in the Hole

Cushions, Cushions, Cushions

My very talented sister cutting Amelias hair

Cousins having fun!

Real gravy....

Today I made gravy for the first time and all I can say is "Oh my god! Why have I not made gravy before!

(I didn't get chance to take pictures so proper blog post next Sunday)

It was simple enough to do (it did go a tad lumpy but my siv soon sorted that out) and it was by miles the nicest gravy I think I've ever had and I'm really not exaggerating it was divine.

In fact my whole roast was perfect (happy dancing), the lamb melted in your mouth, roasts were lovely, my Yorkshire Puddings were perfection and I got all my veg fresh from the farm shop yesterday and by god you could tell the difference. Poor Kit Kat had no left overs!

Even Miss "Fussy Pants" Amelia ate something other than just Yorkshire Puddings.

My homemade apple crumble is now in the oven so lets see if I can do a full house :)

Laura Ashley Woodland Creatures Childrens Nursery Cushion Cover 16"

Beautiful Hand Made Cushion Covers made in Laura Ashley Woodland Creatures Fabric.

Size 16 x 16 inches

I can do other sizes if required

This cushion cover has a cream envelope reverse

£7.99

Laura Ashley Josette Bolster Cushion Cover

Laura Ashley Josette Bolster Cushion Cover

Same fabric front and back

Zip fasten

£14.99

Toad in the Hole

I was delighted with how well this recipe turned out.

Now I know it's a very simple one to do but I was surprised at how tasty it was and it looked great.

And of course as we know I am no Nigella so any success is to be celebrated :)

The Recipe

Toad in the Hole

125g plain flour
300 mil milk
3 eggs
A pinch of salt and pepper
Sausages

Siv the flour into a bowl and make a well in the middle

Add the eggs and then mix until firm

Gradually mix in the milk

Season with salt and pepper

The mix thoroughly until smooth

I also siv the mixture to ensure it is lump free

Let the mixture stand for 30 minutes

Heat oven to 240c

Heat oil in your roasting tin until the oil is smoking.

Whilst oil is heating I fried the sausages (but you can grill them if you prefer)

Once the sausages are cooked I put them onto a plate ready to quickly add them to my Yorkshire pudding mix.

Get your heated oil out of the oven and immediately add the Yorkshire pudding mix then sausages and put back in the oven.

DO NOT OPEN THE OVEN DOOR UNTIL ITS COOKED

After 10 minutes turn the oven down to about 180/200

Total cooking time 25 minutes

Serve and enjoy!

I used Asda extra special thin Cumberland sausages which are 90% pork, since the meat scandal I have definitely changed my buying habits and these sausages where surprising good value at £2.50 for twelve, I pay more than that normally for sausages with no actual meat in them!

Tip - Getting Rid of Stubborn Smells

If you have children then you know that when toddlers are sick it is THE most horrendous smell that seems to linger for weeks.

My youngest is a sickie child, I have lost count of the times she has vomited in her bed, over the carpet, on my living room rug (which I ended up throwing out as I didn't know this little gem then), in the car, in fact she has been sick more in one year than Amelia has in total. She is a nightmare!

This is my tip for removing the smell of sick and any other unpleasant smell.

Mix washing powder with bicarbonate of soda and brush gently into the area, leave overnight then vacuum.

No more smell

This works like a charm

I also use it to freshen up my carpets and it makes your room smell wonderfully clean and fresh.

Sunday Catch Up

It's been a nice old week this week (well apart from Friday afternoon but I shall get to that later)

Easter Week meant hubby was off on Monday and we had a nice trip out to the beach in the snow! It was blinking freezing but a good day, girls were well wrapped up and they had a great time building sandcastles, going on donkey rides, chasing the dog and eating dongnuts, it was fab.

Then hubby went working away for the rest of the week so I spent a lot of time at my mum and dads, which I love doing. Even though I haven't lived there for 15 years (WHAT!!!!! 15 years!! Give me a minute I've just put myself into shock, 15 years???) deep breaths, lets carry on! My mum and dads will always be home and I love spending time with them and my girls adore them, Amelia stayed there this week with my 5 year old niece but I can't get Isobel to stay, the little clingy madam, she just cries "Home Mummy, Home".

During the school holidays I have my niece whilst my sister is at work, my niece and Amelia are as close as sisters, they bicker, they argue but they have loads of fun and are always so excited to spend time together it's lovely to watch them playing.

I took them both to the cinema on Thursday whilst Isobel was at nursery to see Wreck It Ralph, Amelia fell asleep and Ella was mesmerised but blimey it's not cheap is it! Nearly £40 for 3 tickets, 3 drinks and some sweets, I don't understand the logic of making it so expensive. Surely if it was cheaper people would go more often, I know I would now that the girls are getting old enough to go. .

Then Friday arrived, Amelia hadn't been well at my mum and dads during the night coughing. She wasn't too bad during the morning then after lunch the dreaded croup cough kicked in. I had taken the dog for a walk and my hubby called me to come home as she was struggling to get her breath, so off we went to A&E for the second time in 5 weeks. She was poorly little girl and its awful to watch, makes my heart go out to those parents who have to deal with child illness every day, it must be so hard. The children's department are wonderful, they get you in and seen within minutes and very shortly after the wonder drugs are administered she is quickly on mend thankfully.

Poorly Me Me, fast asleep in hospital :(

And finally we have sunshine!! It's still a bit chilly but gosh it's nice to see that sun. Nothing much was planned for the weekend, a few little walks with Kit Kat, playing in the garden and then a big family lunch on Sunday, just lovely.

Enjoying the sunshine

Tip - How To Remove Stains From Oil Cloth

If like me when you first purchased your oil cloth, did you think stains would just wipe off?

Yes?

So did I!

So you can imagine my horror that very first day I used my brand new Laura Ashley Amelie Oil Cloth and the girls had spaghetti bolognese (yes you can see what is coming...) and lets just say they aren't the tidiest of little eaters but I wasn't concerned, it would wipe straight off..... Right?

Erm no, it wouldn't come off

In fact, it stained bloody awfully.

I tried everything to get the stain out from bleach to toothpaste and nothing worked.

I was mortified so I put a distress call out to the wonderful people of Twitter and someone heeded my call.

The tip was from the marvellous @_Ger_Foley_ and I was advised to leave the oil cloth out in the rain, yes that's right the rain!

I thought they were bonkers but I had nothing to lose and we were having the wettest summer on record so my washing line wasn't getting any other action, I gave it a go.

And guess what?

It only went and worked

No stain... At all!

I was impressed to say the least and apparently the rain removes all sorts of stains including biro!! (Not that I've had to try that one)

It does make me question what's in our bloody rain though, but hey who am I to argue with the great Mother Nature who obviously likes Laura Ashley.