Sarah and I signed up for a 5 week cupcake decorating course at our local college. It was a bargain price of only £10 for the 5 weeks so we couldn’t really say no! After attending my first half day cupcake decorating workshop last summer I was keen to learn some more techniques.

I was surprised that we were mainly going to be using sugarpaste to make decorations for our cupcakes. For some reason I had never really considered this, and always thought cupcakes should be decorated with buttercream swirls! For the first class we learnt how to make cute little faces – baby faces and pirate faces. It was good fun but I definitely need some practice using the sugarpaste – I found it very difficult to get it smooth and even. It didn’t help that I had to cut off the top of my cupcakes to make them even with the cases – this made the surface very uneven and bumpy. However, my hands aren’t too covered in food dye today haha… so that bit was a success!

Here are my end products haha… not perfect, but all right! I also made a quick little flowery decoration with some scraps of sugarpaste that I had left.

Next week we are learning how to make animal faces. I won’t be there however, as I am heading to Lanzarote with my mum for a wee break. I will be expecting Sarah to be able to teach me though when I come back!

Do any of you use sugarpaste to decorate cupcakes or are you buttercream fans like me?! x

Well, following on from my 20111 Achievements post I guess it is time to share some goals that I would like to accomplish in 2012. I have a sort of bleugh feeling about it all to be honest – just the feeling that things are never going to change. Yes, I ticked lots of things off my “I want to do list” last year but am I ultimately any happier? Hmm… maybe a little, but I guess having small goals like that is the only way to keep going.

OK so 2012 is the year that I will turn 30 (in March) but I am not going to try to make 30 goals – I don’t want to list things just for the sake of making up numbers.

1. I WILL get my blog re-designed.

2. I want to learn how to crochet.

3. I want to learn how to use my new sewing machine properly and make some fab things.

4. I will try and pay off as much credit card debt as I can.

5. I want to get involved with a local animal charity.

6. I would like to start selling cupcakes.

7. I will be more organised and pay all my bills on time (have ordered a fab Simon’s Cat desk diary).

8. I will use my purse and not lose my cards/money all over the place (just have to find my purse first!).

9. I need to increase my income (no “want to” about it).

10. Meet some new people and make some more friends.

11. Be a nicer person and say “I love you” more haha!

12. Increase my confidence in dealing with my “job” etc.

13. Have lots of fun playing & training with Chester & Holly our fab puppies.

Is it unlucky to have 13 goals? I’d better think of another one then…

14. Knit more things.

Think that’s about it! Here’s to 2012 *clinks glass of fabulous pink fizz*

*NEWSFLASH* December book review is up on 2nd day of January – very quick for me haha!!

Perfume by Patrick Suskind

Source – Sent by Charis. I remember hearing about this book and the film as well but I had never read it. It was a little disturbing and gruesome in places but I really did enjoy it. I have always been interested in perfumes and scents so it was good to read a book about them. I wonder should I watch the film, is it worth it?? 4/5

The Shops by India Knight

Source – library, picked at random. I liked the cover of the book and I recognised the author’s name so I thought I would give it a go. It is not a novel but an account of the author’s experiences with shopping throughout her life and lists of the best places she has found to buy all number of different items. Most of the recommendations are in London however. A nice easy companionable read. I think I would like to try reading some of her ”proper” novels. 2.5/5

The Drowning Girl by Margaret Leroy

Source - bought in Home Bargains for 39p months and months ago! I picked this up a) because I liked the cover and b) because it was only 39p lol! I assumed it would be pretty rubbish so I avoided reading it for ages. I picked it up one night as my library book was downstairs and I couldn’t be bothered going down to get it. And wow – I was hooked right from the beginning with this book and read half of it in one night! It tells the story of a little girl with behavioural problems and her unusual past. I though it would be predictable at the end, but it wasn’t. I would totally recommend this book! 4/5

The Luminous Life of Lilly Aphrodite by Beatrice Colin

Source – Sent by Charis. Ooooh I loved it! You have to read this if you haven’t already. I finished it and immediately wanted to read it all over again, and that rarely happens to me with books! It is set in war time Germany – a period of history that I have always enjoyed reading about. The only teensy thing that I didn’t like was that every chapter started with a random few paragraphs about cinema and film in Germany at the time. It wasn’t directly related to the story so I never really read them. 4.5/5

It’s Not Grim Up North by Judith Holder

Source – the title caught my eye at the library as we had been discussing the North/South divide at the pub quiz one week (!). It was Ok – it was very biased towards the North and I found myself not really caring, but I’m not even English anyway! There were some good bits of history in there and some interesting facts and figures. Mainly I tried to read it as quickly as I could so I could finish it! 2/5

Wow – 5 books in 1 month?! That is a record for me!

Book of the month = The Luminous Life of Nelly Aphrodite

Book of 2011 = One Day

What was your favourite book of 2011?? Let me know and I will read it x

In January 2011 I made a list of 28 things that I would like to accomplish in the coming year - (28 things as I was 28 at the time!). So I thought it would be good for a look back and see how I did.

1. Eat well – more fruit & veg and less chocolate!  Yep, wouldn’t be without my smoothies & juices now!

2. Keep up the exercise (shouldn’t be hard with 2 puppies!) Yea, I guess so.

3. Go to the theatre to see either a play, musical or ballet.Yep, went to see The Nutcracker.

4. Have a massage. Yes, got this for my birthday in March.

5. Have a facial. See no.4

6. Do some volunteer work for a local animal charity. No, unfort not.

7. Start the process of getting my teeth straightened.  Yep, have been to my 1st consultation.

8. Increase my income. No

9. Knit a scarf. Yes, started although need another ball of wool to finish it!

10. Learn how to sew (properly!). Yes, went on a sewing course.

11. Try to be more tolerant. Ahem, ask Gary!

12. Try to be a happier person. Hmmm maybe getting there a bit.

13. Bake more. Oh yes!

14. Get the ball rolling on either a house extension or a new house. Nope, can’t afford it!

15. Learn to use our camera properly. Kind of!

16. Re-design my blog. Nope

17. Blog more frequently. Not really

18. Start a Totally Bike blog. Em.. no not yet

19. Have a holiday in a lovely cottage in The Lake District. Groupon trip bought for March 2012.

20. Love more. Eeek..?

21. Be more “present” and stop sressing about the past/future. Probably not!

22. Cancel my gym membership that I never use! Ah sugar… I did actually try but they couldn’t find me on the system..

23. Plan & save for our skiing holiday in Jan 2012. Haha don’t think this will be happening!

24. Learn how to decorate cakes/biscuits to a good standard. Been on a cake decoration course.

25. Go on a cupcake course. Yep!

26. Win the lottery! Haha nooo – there is always tonight tho!

27. Visit more restaurants & try new foods.Yes, been to a few new restaurants.

28. Keep a “Happy Diary” of 1 or 2 things that make me smile every day! I did do this but only until April…

Well, overall I don’t think I did too badly?! I have some “resolutions” if you must, in mind for 2012. Do you feel like you had a good/productive 2011? x

Well I hope everyone had a lovely, very merry Christmas?! What did you all get up to? I was feeling very nauseous in the run up to Christmas – but I managed to recover in time for Christmas Day so I could enjoy my food! We stayed in England this year for the first time – just the 7 of us. It was nice and relaxing and stress-free. Oooh and guess what Santa got me?! A sewing machine & he made our front bedroom into a lovely craft room for me!

We made sure all of the animals had a lovely day and Santa brought them all some goodies! Here are Holly & Chester in their Christmas hats (which they didn’t keep on for long)!

We went to my brother’s house on Boxing Day for dinner and had a good time. And yesterday we took the pups on a road trip to Talacre Beach in North Wales. They very rarely get to go to a beach so this was a real treat for them – they loved it!

I got cookie cutters for Christmas last year that make a lovely stacked Christmas tree. Today I got round to trying them out. I had a lovely morning baking & listening to the Michael Buble Christmas album (which is v good!) and the Little Mix single (yes, I’m sad & bought one haha)!

This was the first time I had tried to do proper icing on biscuits – where you need to pipe round the edge first with a thick royal icing and then “flood” the centre with runnier icing. The result wasn’t too bad, although you may notice that my icing leaked in a few places!

I am entering my Christmas tree made out of biscuits into English Mum’s Big Christmas Bakeoff! The closing date is tomorrow (18th) at midnight, so if you are quick you may still be able to enter!

Wooohooooo we have the 1st snow of the year today! And it started while I was out shopping – how Christmassy!

I was queuing up at 8.30am at my local Boots to get this:

Soap & Glory set only £25 reduced from £60. Merry Christmas To Me -  From Me!

I enjoyed a festive pralines & cream latte from Costa which made me feel a little hyper & dizzy! (I am very sensitive to caffeine & sugar!).

And I saw the perfect dress for Christmas Day – didn’t buy it though, going to make sure I can afford it first and maybe look for some online discount vouchers!

The snow started getting heavy while I was driving home & I was a teensy bit scared, but I made it home (skidding to a stop in the driveway haha!).

Not sure if the dogs will get a walk today – maybe just around the streets as I don’t fancy driving again in that snow to the local nature park!

Here is my little Holly pops enjoying her first ever snow:

Who else has snow today?! x

I don’t know if many of you know but my OH Gary runs an online bike shop – Totally Bike. Bikes as in mountain bikes, kids bikes etc… Loads of people think he sells motorbikes lol.. He is bike mad and set this business up from scratch, with me doing some helping of course!

If any of you are looking for a bike for a Christmas present – either for a little one (ie kids!) or for your other half – please check out our range. If you see something that you like, please contact Gary through the site and he may be able to offer you some further discount if the product allows it. We try to keep our prices as low as possible, in some cases we only make a couple of pounds profit (yes -really!)

A couple of my favourite bikes for children this Christmas are:

This little Princess bike for girls – how cute is this?! I would loved to have owned this when I was wee:

And for boys – the Spider bike – cute or what?!

Both these bikes, and most other kids bikes come in a variety of sizes – 12inch, 14inch, 16inch etc… and there is a handy sizing chart on the website to help. They look a lot better in real life than in these pics – the colours & finish on them is fab. They are also really well built & sturdy, unlike some kids bikes that you would buy in the supermarkets etc.

Other kids favourites include BMX bikes, and Jump bikes which come in some funky colours!

Please check out our site if you are thinking of buying a bike for Christmas! If you need some advice before buying we have an online chat option or you can always get a fast response via email. Remember to tell all your friends too! LAST ORDER DATE FOR CHRISTMAS IS MONDAY 19TH DECEMBER!

P.S. – We have some great Christmas deals on cycling gift-sets etc (from only £6.49)… which would make a fab gift if your OH is a bike fanatic! These sets offer fab savings & contain top quality products. Check them out HERE!

P.P.S. – If you are stuck for a gift for the person that has everything – how about a uincycle?! They are surprisingly popular this Christmas! I would love to have a go on one! And they come in lots of fab colours including PINK

True to form I am late again with my reads from the previous month. See yesterday’s post for my excuses!

In November I read:

Keeping The Dead by Tess Gerritsen:

Source – lent by Bec. I love Tess Gerritsen and I am usually so fussy about reading her books in order as they feature the same characters in them but I seem to have missed this book out. It was a good read, nice & familiar as I knew all the characters etc but I must admit it wasn’t just as good as some of her other books. It had the predictable “cop gets shot down then manages to drag himself up and rescue the other cop at the last minute” bit. Don’t worry I haven’t spoilt it for you – you knew that was going to happen anyway didn’t you?! I still enjoyed it, just because it was Tess. 4/5

The Secret History by Donna Tartt:

Source – recommended by Bec. Mmm where to start? This was quite a big book with small writing and an ominous black cover. I certainly would never have picked it up if it hadn’t been recommended. I did enjoy it overall. It took me a while to get into it but the middle and end of the book was better. There was a lot of talk about the Greek language etc and I admit I skimmed over these bits lol..! Basically it is about a group of friends who share a dark secret… Intrigued? Reed it, it’s not a waste of time. 3/5

Raw Food Life Force Energy by Natalia Rose:

Source – library. I am still intrigued by the whole raw food thing. I try to eat as healthy as I can most days. I enjoyed this book – it explained the benefits of a healthy raw-based diet without being strict. There are also a good lot of recipes included. 4/5

Book of the month = Keeping The Dead

Book of the year so far = One Day

 You can read my previous months’ book posts HERE and HERE! What’s the best book you have read recently? x