Links!

Maybe these tips will bring some inspiration.

This makes me proud to live here.

This hit home.

More good life tips.

Fun photo project.

Amazing talent.

Such a sweet gesture.

What?!?

40 things.

Before I turned 30, I had a list of things I wanted to do and ever since I've been working on a list for before I turn 40. I was surprised how much I've ticked off already. Here goes...

~try scuba diving
~buy a house
~see the northern lights
~see an opera
~do the three peaks  
~learn to plait Isabella's hair
~hot air balloon
~bake bread
~climb a mountain
~go on a camping holiday
~complete a calligraphy course
~watch the BBC top 100 films
~cultivate a garden
~eat lobster
~eat at a Michelin star restaurant
~buy some 'proper' bedding 
~restore a piece of furniture
~invest in new glasses 
~learn to play backgammon
~fly a kite
~read the works of Charles Dickens
~try three new hairstyles
~capsule wardrobe project
~visit Africa
~learn to play poker
~see a whale in the wild
~sew a dress for myself 
~go on a girls weekend away
~uncover the mystery around my greatgrandmother
~paint Easter eggs & Egg hunt
~go to the shooting festival
~fondu night
~pay it forward
~learn to rollerskate
~cheese tasting
~bake and decorate a cake
~see Stonehenge
~be debt free
~take Isabella and Joshua to Disneyland
~run a half marathon

Currently...

...preparing for a girly weekend away.
...missing our big girl who's on holiday with my in-laws, but...
...enjoying the quiet.
...reminiscing over baby photos.
...watching some new series'.
...marveling at how fast my baby is growing up.
...appreciating my wonderful husband.
...feeling very blessed.

Recipe: Wheat-free Lasagne

Ingredients:

• 360g spelt flour
• 3 medium eggs
• 60g butter
• 200ml milk
• Parsley
• 500g mince
• 1 tin chopped tomatoes
• Rosemary
• 1 onion

Instructions:

1. Combine 300g flour and the eggs into a dough. Allow to rest for half an hour in the fridge.

2.Brown the mince, add the onion until browned, add the tomatoes and rosemary. Cook for ca. 10 minutes on a medium heat.

3. Melt the butter with ca. 60g of the flour. When it thickens, add the milk and parsley and remove from the heat.

4. Remove the pasta dough from the fridge. Using lots of flour, work the dough through a pasta machine into sheets. Cut the sheets into manageable lengths and cook in boiling water for a minute each.

5. Layer the three components in a baking tray. Add cheese to the top and bake in the oven at 180° until the cheese is melted and golden. Yum!

Make it Monday: Salt Scrub

 Following my recent foray into cosmetics with soap, I decided to give a body scrub a go.

I used recipe number eight from here and it was very easy, it took just five minutes.

At the moment I think it looks too fluidy but I will try it in the shower and then I may alter the balance. If I can get a good balance, I think this would make a nice gift.

Weekly Wisdom

Every new beginning is some other beginning's end.

The Saturday Update

We've had a really busy week here.

On Sunday we got out early and went to a flea market. When we're up so early with the kids anyway, it's good to get out.

I took Joshua to the outdoor pool on Monday. We didn't swim but had a nice catch up with friends.

We headed into Bremen on Tuesday to have coffee with a friend who's moving away and do a spot of shopping.

Thursday was a quieter day. Isabella was on a trip with nursery and we prepared for her last day.

Friday was her last day at nursery and it was a good one. I can't believe how fast her time there has gone. Another phase comes to an end.