Wow, times does fly!

Wow, I can't believe that the last time I wrote in my blog was August! In my defence, I have been very busy, here's a quick update - Firstly, August marked the month that I was moved from Duo management of the Food section, to solo management of the GM section (General Merchandise - clothing etc). It was a shock at first, but we have all worked hard as a team, and had a good Christmas & I must admit, I do love having a section of my own :D The next thing was Dave's 30th Birthday trip to Salzburg! Which was lovely, I would recommend it has a holiday destination to anyone. Mozart was the top dog over there, with him being the son of Salzburg, so he was pretty much on every type of souveneir you could think of. One of my favourites was Mozart Duck :)

We stayed in the most gorgeous family run B&B, which was so traditional. It was surrounded by the mountains, and I really can't stress how quaint and how friendly the family were. Freshly cooked breakfast every morning, heaven!!

The next big thing after that trip, was a surprise trip from Dave, to Lapland in November. We stayed at the Santa Claus Village, in a cabin, with our own sauna. It was amazing, real proper snow, every day!! We got to meet Santa (which can be stressful, as they film you, but that's a whole other story!)

We went on a Reindeer ride, and a Husky ride, both of which were awesome, especially the Huskies, they built up such speed. Because we were early in the season, we pretty much had the place to ourselves, which when your an anti-social pair like us, is even better!! Also it mean't the staff had more time, so at the Husky park, we had a private tour and we were shown some new Puppies!! So cute!!

Lapland, of course is in Finland, and Finland of course is home to the Moomins! So lots of cute opportunity there, at very reasonable prices, compared to buying things in the UK. I got a wooden Moomin, a purse, a Christmas tin with the characters, a cuddily Moomin Papa (I love his hat!) and Dave bought me an amazing bag, which is made of woven felt. (It hasn't stopped raining here since he bought me it).

It was a fantastic trip and I didn't think I would enjoy a winter holiday, but I loved it and would happily go on another, especially as we also got to see the Northern Lights! After Lapland it was work, work, work, as we were in the Christmas period. Had our annual meet up in Manchester, Dave and I stayed with the lovely James and Emma in their amazing Mill flat, and it was made better by the fact that Anita made it over from Poland :D It was a lovely weekend, and was great to be spending time with everyone again.

My crafting has pretty much screeched to a halt :( But I must get back on track, as Kezz wanted a handmade picture for her 30th Birthday. I did make myself a whipped cream phone cover, which I was pretty pleased with!

Had a strange Christmas, felt a bit same day, but with nice presents and food added. I did a bad cold, with a very evil cough, so I think that didn't help. I did get amazing presents. I am always spoilt and am so lucky. Dave bought me a new laptop, its taken me a while to adapt to Windows 8, but we are starting to get along now. Oh and an amazing Snorkmaiden necklace! It goes perfectly with my new pink dress (a £7 sale bargain). My surprise from Judy was revealed, she had managed to get me two of the Hello Kitty Olympic charms!! She found them in her local shop in Japan, and I was very lucky to get two different ones, Volleyball and Badminton. I also got a Gold medal in one!! Judy also got me a Nano block stitch model from Tokyo Disney (will add a picture next update). So that brings us into 2013, which is now the year of my 30th. I have so many things planned (this is due to everyone being spread about & some being busy on dates near my birthday). So my celebrations start in February with a meal with Brenda & co, then I have my Manchester celebrations, then my works meal, then my actual birthday! Which will be celebrated in a car, travelling to Kent to see my A'Heather and then it's off to Disney! We're under 8 weeks now, can you believe!! So looking forward to it, cannot wait!

Loves nice surprises!!!

I have come home to a very nice surprise tonight, a message from my friend Judy (mentioned lots & currently in Japan). Judy has just been to Tokyo Disneyland, JEALOUS!!!

I cannot wait to see her photos, (I'm hoping she took lots), but I am also excited as she has said, that she has managed to get me something that I have mentioned on this blog!!! Now as you know, I like alot of things on this blog, so, wow??!!?? I wonder what it could be!! Think, think!! Lol!!!

Is it Disney, Hello Kitty??? I may drive myself mad, ha ha!!!

I am a very lucky girl though :D I am still addicted to the Olympics, however my viewing was disrupted today by having to go back to work, boo!! However we have won more medals, yay!! Team GB now has 40 medals!!! 18 Gold, 11 Silver and 11 Bronze!! So excited!! Last night I watched Usain Bolt win the 100m in 9.63 seconds!! Amazing!! I love this picture of him doing the 'Bolt' with our mascot Wenlock :D

Go Team GB!!!

29 Medals so far, 8 Bronze, 7 Silver and 14 Gold!!!

Congratulations everyone!!!

London 2012 Olympics!

I don't know about any of you, but I am addicted to the Olympics! I have the App and everything! Luckily I have been on holiday this week, so I have been able to watch quite a bit, infact as I type the Men's single skulling race is on, and our Team GB lad is doing really well, infact he has just won Bronze, so well done!!! I'm so pleased as well that Team GB's first Gold was brought home by the girls! :D

So what cute items can you purchase, to help support your country or just add to your growing kawaii collection, well - Hello Kitty never lets us down and she too has been ready to celebrate the Olympics, especially as they are being held in her hometown of London!

I love this plush, with the headress on!

I love these Hello Kitty Olymoic charms too, I wish I could find somewhere to get my hands on them.

Paperchase as normal, have provided a full cute collection for the games! Dream team features cute little bubble bunny/puppy (not sure??) people representing all the different nations! I have already bought a couple of bits :D including the pass case, which is a bargain at £1.50 -

The UK keyring at £3 -

Dream Tean A5 notebook £6 -

Lastly I love the backpack at £19.75 -

If you want a cute bag, and to do your bit for a very worthy charity, get yourself to your local ASDA and pick up the Peppa Pig shopping bag for £2, all proceeds go to Tommy's baby charity.

Then I musn't forget our officail Olympic mascots Wenlock and Mandeville! There has been alot of controversy around these two, but I have always liked them. There backstory is that they are drops of steel, that fell from the last girder going into the Olympic stadium and they formed Wenlock and Mandeville.

I had to join in and purchase a plushie -

I also love the little chocolate versions that Cadbury's have done, there yummy too!!

So theres my round up of the Cute Olympics!! I'm focussing back on the sports version now!! Go Team GB and good luck to all other competing nations too!!

I Work Cake, Sleep Cake and Eat Cake!

This month has been a very Cakey month, infact it has been commented that 95% of my personal Facebook updates recently have all mentioned Cake. It started with work introducing a new range of cakes and they were all save a third, then with my discount off as well, it would have been rude not too!! The marbled chocolate brownie is my current favourite! Then for Fathers Day my Dad asked for a new mixer, and now he is back in the swing of baking cakes again, and he's really good!!! He just made some (which I decorated) for Jakki's 50th Birthday, and they have gone down a storm, everyone who has tried them, loved them!!

Above is the just final product after I decorated them! Inspecting them is Mr Elephant (more about him at another time). Now as you know, I have posted before about cupcakes, as I am quite a fan (I have so many recipe books, just to look at the pictures, lol!) but I figured you can never have enough Cupcakes, so lets dedicate a whole post to them and include cute big cakes too!! A new business has started in Barrow called The Cake District (loving the play on The Lake District), and this lasy is very talented!!! Check out her Facebook page! Just to show you some examples, first are her Baby cupcakes, now these are perfect for Christenings or Baby showers, and even the hardened "not keen on kids" people like me, surely must coo at how adorable these cakes are!!

She also makes some amazing big cakes, like this Alice styled Eat me cake -

Totally relying now on the fact that Dave doesn't read my blog, I have commisioned the following cake for his 30th in September!! Can't wait to see it in the flesh as it were!!!

So thats my local talent covered, now going further afield, in America there is a company called Savoy truffle and Cake - www.savoytruffleandcake.com and this lady makes the most amazing high end cakes, look at the picture of the Kimono silk wedding cake!! But my favourite is the Totoro cake!! Look at the detail, amazing.

Of course I have to get my Disney themes in somewhere, and there are some amazing Disney cakes out there, with alot of people having great creativity and talent. Some of my favourites are - Alice in Wonderland Cupcakes found via the Cupcake blog, again its the detail that amazes me!

The Muppets made their grand comeback last year and Disney Cakes shows us how awesome they look in Cupcake form too -

We all loved Squirt in Finding Nemo, he's even cuter on a cake!! -

Leaving the Disney theme, we have pictures of Cakes which are just well in my opinion, awesome!! First, they may not be cute but they are fab, don't go into the water, its Jaws!!!!!

This next cupcake makes me think of my friend Vince, as when we went to cons, he always survived on Cup Noodles!!

Epicute have some lovely cupcake pics, I love this Kawaii selection -

Then I saw these Whale cakes and I actually squealed!!!

Recently I've seen alot of people utilising Oreo cookies in their cupcake decorating, (another of my favourite tasty treats), but my favourite so far has to be these Panda cakes -

I really do love these, I think they are such a clever design!!! If you want a cute character check out Askingfortroubles Cakeify, I mentioned previously I had ordered the pen, well I was so pleased with I went and ordered another one, along with a phone charm!!

Soo cute and a bargain at £1. Now if you could actually bear to cut into these cakes and actually eat them, perhaps you would want to do this with uber cute utensils -

Whilst we dream of these lovely cakes, wicked critters has done a lovely illustration, which must surely be from a cupcakes perspective, lol, enjoy and now I'm off to find some cake!!!

Interest survey???

Anyone interested in a Hello Kitty Giveaway competition in the future?? Leave comments to show your interest!!

Asking for trouble

http://www.askingfortrouble.org/crafts/