A long long day

DD is a poorly panda today. I'm pretty sure it's all teething related but she is suffering something chronic. So we are camped out on the sofa with snuggly blankets, lots of fluids and a stack of DVD's. First up we have Evita. I love love love this movie, I always tear up at the end. And I sing along badly the whole way through.

Next we move onto the classic Citizen Kane. I love the storyline, the glamorous ladys, the handsome actors. The killer ending and message. It really is just one of those perfect films, even if Family Guy does dislike the lack of boobs lol.
And thirdly we have The man in the iron mask. Again I love the story and the costumes. I had a huge crush in my teens on Mr. Caprio. I also have a huge pile of films to work through if I need more entertaining. One of the perks of having second hand films in our shop is that we get first dibs and can watch anything we fancy before it goes on the shelf.

What are your favorite films, and what do you have on your "to watch" pile?

Saturday sales and update.

White EWM top 20p - 2 WF DVD's £1.50 - Molten Brown gift set £1

A few little bargains from the community centres table top sale. Apparently they have one quite regularly. The top is a welcome addition to my dwindling collection. The DVD's will give OH and I much entertainment as we love anything WF and Molten Brown for £1 is incredible! I have always wanted to try it.

My parents gave me this wonderful wooden jewelry box a few days ago. I used to belong to my Aunts Mother who sadly passed away a few years ago. I came with some costume jewelry which I have kept a few pieces of. The rest was donated to a local charity before it could become clutter. I'm currently using it for my current quilting project as the little compartments are perfect.
I also recently picked up this stunning Laura Ashley dress for just £1 in a Cancer research shop. It is perfect and wonderful, I felt so glamorous and special when I tried it on. I'm hoping to keep hold of it and wear for my wedding in September.

x x x

Car Boot Sale Bargains

Hello my lovely readers. Today has been simply wonderful as we hit not one but two car boot sales this morning. First the lovely Southsea Sea Front car boot and second the Allington Lane car boot sale.

Cath Kidston Kids Pencil Wallet 20p, 2 VTECH interactive books 50p each, Salt and Pepper set Free, Crabtree and Everlyn shampoo and conditioner 20p, Duck Plate Free, 2 Duck books 10p each.

The duck plate and salt/pepper set came from the same stall which had a "free please take me" box. DD is obsessed with all things duck so her very own duck plate is a fantastic find. The toiletries will be perfect for my weekend away next week, and as for the Cath Kidston case! WOW!

Shiny dress 25p (For DD), Brown top 20p, Blue top 20p, TY beany duck £1

Crochet granny square blanket 20p, Hungry Caterpillar set £1, Blut Dress with shorts 25p

I know I can make them but for 20p I couldn't pass up this colorful blanket for pennys. And to think someone spent so much time making it!!!! I have been looking for a hungry Caterpillar book for a few months now so I was super please to find this cardboard edition with a cute Caterpillar toy. DD is currently fast asleep hugging him so I couldn't add him into the picture lol.

Wooly Cardigan 30p, Christmas dressing gown 50p, Wicket tea set £1.50

The tea set and the dressing gown have already been squirreled away for xmas presents for DD. I've never seen a wicket tea set before and is wonderful a light for DD to play with without risk of damage. Before we hid the set she was sipping tea from the little teacups, and pouring the tea.

What bargains did you find today?
x x x

Disasters into delights

There has been a huge disaster in our home!!! Yesterday we treated ourselves to a bar of chocolate from the pound shop thinking it would be a treat. But when we got home we found out it was actual a bar of that horrible chocolate candy stuff that has no right to class itself as chocolate. You know that horrible brown stuff they put in advent calenders? One huge bar of it was now living in my kitchen!

However all is not lost! For after a little research and a some clever thinking I have skillfully created a nummy treat from this disaster. Enter a recipe for Chocolate Triffin. Even better is a non cook recipe perfect to entertain the kiddies on a horrible wet day.

Ingredients;
1 bar of chocolate
Several broken up biscuits
Handful of marshmallows
Handful of dried fruit/raisins
4 tea spoons of cocoa powder
4oz of Margarine/Butter/Spread
2 Desert spoons of Honey/Golden syrup
2 Desert spoons of Sugar

Method;

Melt the sugar, cocoa, butter and honey together using a few short blasts in the microwave. Once your mixture is smooth and delicious smelling, resist dipping in your fingers and instead add the broken biscuits, marshmallows, raisins and anything else you have to hand into the mix. (I recommend chopped glace cherrys and coconut)
Once everything is nicely covered pop the mixture into a buttered dish and push down firmly to fill as many of those tiny gaps as you can. Leave to one side far away from inquisitive toddlers.
Melt the chocolate using the microwave again and stir until smooth and tempting to drink.
Pour the chocolate over the first mix and spread evenly. Leave to cool a little and then pop into the fridge to finish hardening.

Once is nicely set, hack it into pieces and eat as fast as humanly possibly.





Crisis averted
x x x x

Rain Rain Go Away

Today is a complete wash out here at The Frugal Handmade Home. We were supposed to be going to a water festival but it has been , somewhat ironically, rained off. Next we decided on a mooch around the local charity shops only to find OH has accidentally taken both sets of keys to work with him and we can't go out.
Ho Hum.
So we've made a nummy frugal lunch of dippy eggs and some sneaky chocolate biscuits. That should keep us quite entertained for a while.
x x x

Home Sweet Home

I am officialy home now from my holiday. I've tackeld the mountain of holiday clothes and caught up with my emails. Now I am off for a long hot soak in my much missed bath with some cherry brandy in lemonade,and the new Cath Kidston catalouge. Heavenly

x x x

Staunton Park Part 2

Sorry it has taken me so long to post Part 2. I'm heading off on my holidays tomorrow so there is lots of organising and packing going on. DD also took her first little walk on her own and I was so proud of her!!! I have also just become an Auntie for the first time. Lots and lots going on!!!
OH and DD pretending they are giants next to a Shetland Pony.
One of the many ducks at Staunton. DD loves ducks and spent most of the visit shouting quack at anything that moved.
DD feeding a kid (baby goat) with a little help from daddy. I was really impressed with her lack of fear around the animals.

Me and DD watching the most fluffy goat I have ever seen. I think he is eyeing up my jumper in this photo but I'm not sure lol.

See you in a week folks
x x x