I want to be in America!

So whilst browsing one of my current favourite sites Kaboodle I realise that people in the U.S. have access to some really gorgeous stuff that I haven't been able to find over here or if they do ship I am slightly concerned about getting hit with excessive customs charges. Unfair!

Kaboodle is a great site where you can make wishlists, shopping lists etc and send them to people. You can also browse other users lists for inspiration. I have used Kaboodle this year for my Christmas list and sent it to Himself (I am not usually that forward, but he did ask!).

I know have a list of all things lovely that I really want but can't have because they are across the pond and I will share a few of them here with you.

So first up, this really cute mushroom kitchen timer from Fred Flare. It seems truly wrong that I can't provide this little fella with a home in my new kitchen.

Carrying on with a slight mushroom theme, I love this mushroom soap dispenser. I have no idea where I would use it, perhaps in the playroom, but who cares - it's so sweet and has the same face as the little timer above! It's $15.00 and available from Doe, Sanfrancisco.

Now, this is a novel idea and I haven't seen anything like it in the U.K, but someone might prove me wrong! It's from The Happy Burping Company and is called a "Restaurant Saver". It's basically a pouch that you carry around with you that has some paper, crayons and scissors in it. Perfect for all those melt-down moments at the dinner table!

Next up is these Ice Kabobs from Perpetual Kid. Just what is a kabob anyhow? I am presuming it is what we call a kebab but maybe someone can enlighten me! Great ice sticks that could also be used as stirrers.

And that's just the tip of the iceberg! There are many more American stores that I love and that I am unable to get my sticky mitts on their wares. I am thinking of starting up an email campaign against them to persuade them to ship to England, starting with Anthropologie.....

Baking madness!

I love baking. I am a Nigella Lawson domestic goddesss type wannabe but unfortunately over the past year I haven't had much time to induldge myself. Whilst searching the Internet sometime last year for a flower cookie cutter I saw in a magazine I came across the Wilton site and nearly died. They have so much lovely stuff, and yes, it is yet again an American site but I have located a stockist in London (the Knightsbridge PME online store), I just haven't checked them out yet. So my Wilton wishlist would be as follows.....

Cupcake Pan
I think this is just so adorable, and oh the possibilities for making lovely big cupcake birthday cakes. It is $11.99 (and out of stock, boo hiss) which seems a bargain to me as I work that out with my very sketchy knowledge of exchange rates to be about £6. However, due to me living in rip-off England the equivalent price here is £10.99 - that is shocking! Still, I like it so much I will no doubt buy it after I have ranted and sulked for a little while.

In other pan news, I am also loving the Dancing Daisy Pan and the Topsy Turvey Pan, which again are $11.99 in the U.S. £10.99 here.

Flower Perimeter Cutter
This was the cookie cutter that led me to Wilton in the first place and I still don't have it! It's only 69p though so when I order my pans I will chuck this in and maybe a few of the comfort grip ones as the plasticky ones are better for little fingers.


Mini Star Pan
This pan is so sweet, I have never seen a cake tin like this before and will definately be buying one of these. I have years of kids birthday parties ahead of me and this is perfect for making cakes that are a little different. It's £11.99 which is probably a little expensive for a bun tray, but worth it for something that is quite unique.

love & kisses
Mrs M x

So here is where it starts

6 weeks after giving birth to what was in fact a rather large baby for petite little me, today is D-Day. Yep DIET day. I had set myself a start date of my postnatal check which happens to be this afternoon, so from today - no more takeaways, no more picking at biscuits and chocolate all day, I need to lose the extra weight I am carrying in a vein attempt at becoming a bit more of a Yummy Mummy and less of a Slummy Mummy.

Obviously this can't all be done by diet alone and there is the little thing of exercise that is required to tone up my (very) lax tummy muscles, lose the blubber that seems to have settled itself down cosily around my hips and thighs and work on the horrors that are my bingo wings.

Once I have got somewhere with the above, I shall be transforming myself Gok-styleeeee with new hair and make-up.

It could be a long haul but Little Chunk has his Christening in September so I need to look svelte, or at least a little less like a beached whale, before then.

So I shall be doing my weigh in and measurements later today to kick start me. Am currently toying with having "the last supper" at lunchtime in the form of the Zinger burger that prompted my labour.........decisions decisions.