Crazy weather and hair horrors...

This time last week I was hanging my washing on the line, and applying factor 30 to the parts of me exposed to the sun, for fear of burning in the balmy weather!  In the space of three days, I have lost tiles off my roof, had rain water pouring into my loft and lost a pair of smalls off the washing line!  Just loving the spring weather! 

So along with claiming on the house insurance - for the roof repairs, not the underwear - I have to work out a way of writing to Mr Gordon Ramsey and explaining to him that he can no longer call his cottage pie shepherd's pie, because it's made with beef not lamb!  Thanks so much to all of you who joined in the debate last week, and gave me your own version of the recipe.

Happy Birthday to me!

Another week, another year older. Any wiser?

Well that remains to be seen. Having celebrated birthdays over the last month with my two boys who are now 16 and 20 years old, it was my turn to play the numbers game!

And before I say anything more, I really do have to thank all of you who made me some truly beautiful birthday cards. Babs, Celia, Ann, Tina, Marilyn, Yvonne, Daryl and Christine, you are incredible!  Having presented so many craft shows with Dawn and Leonie, I know what you begin with, and to see the finished result - with examples matting and layers, embossing, decoupage, you name it you've done it - was lovely.

It wasn't just cards I was spoiled with either, but some fab presents including a digital photo frame, which is now on my bookcase and, because you can put your memory card directly into it, has photos of my birthday popping up every five seconds!

I have soundtracks to both Hello Dolly (one of my favourite musicals) and also Slumdog Millionare - brilliant film. I got an arm-band to hold my iPod in place while I pound the pavement in training for this year's Race for Life.

I also got books, scented candles, a dress, a pair of suede gloves, bulbs for the garden and a pussy-willow tree.  To top it all, my partner Colin completely surprised me with the most beautiful birthday cake (pictured above). And... he'd made it himself!

My son's birthday and our Silver Day event

This week seems to have flown past what with Sam's birthday party on the Saturday and then our Preview for Silver Day in the middle of a busy week at QVC, here we are almost at the weekend again!

There were a number of raised eyebrows in the family when I said Sam was having his 'do' at home.  Mutterings along the line of 'give 'em an inch and they'll take a mile', but I'm happy to say apart from a glass full of cobalt blue liquid - which I'm given to believe is some kind of alchopop - being found in the middle of the lawn on Sunday morning, all was well. Oh, and just incase you were thinking the mutterings may have been to do with underage drinking, Sam was 20, so all legal!

I will never forget the day he was born. It was a Friday and not just any Friday, but Red Nose Day. As I waddled towards the ambulance in the full throes of labour the driver asked me if I wanted to wear a Red Nose during delivery...?

Why, I hear you ask. I was never really very sure, but declined on the premise that I would look comical enough no doubt giving birth without having to highlight the event! He was a beautiful baby though and as good as gold, and hasn't really changed... much!

How do you deal with stress?

As I sit here writing to you, the sun is streaming through my bedroom window, highlighting the cobwebs on my pendant light and giving my lovely cat, Dodge, a chance to catch a few rays... isn't he handsome?! (below right). I've even found the first flower of spring in my garden too... think it's an iris! (left) 

I've got up a tad earlier this morning in the vain hope that I might get more done before I leave for work, so that on my journey in I'm less stressed about all I've left undone! I still have my Velcro rollers in but have decided against leaving them in while I drive after what happened yesterday... but I'll tell you about that in a moment.

You see, it's all to do with how well we deal with stress isn't it? I'd love any suggestions on how you all cope with it. Some lovely lady on breakfast television yesterday was talking about a book she's written, which is a guide to help working Mums juggle their responsibilities and therefore be more productive with their day... quite frankly I'd like to know where she finds the time to write a book, but that aside... 

I didn't fully realise I was stressed until a recent visit to my dentist unveiled the fact that I've been grinding my teeth so badly at night that I now need to wear a gum guard! 

No idea what this is? Neither did I. Think Phil Vickery, England Rugby, and the not-so-toothy grin... yes I now have to wear something similar to bed each night. My partner's only comment was, "I don't mind, just don't speak with it in." Draw from that what you will!

Spring fashion and getting that sun-kissed holiday look

In between domestic duties I've enjoyed some cracking hours at QVC this week. I hope you managed to see some of our Fashion Day - I had the joy of working with the Tiana B range of dresses and have seriously never had as many compliments about my outfit. 

The beautiful black and white dress I was wearing sold out - as did pretty much everything - but as my last attempt to change between shows was close to a calamity (I was heading into the studio with a completely sheer top on, and only my boil wash bra underneath!), I kept it on for my Dreamkeeper hour and then with Simon Wilson for his fab accessories show.

Of course there was more fashion this week with Kim and Co, and I thoroughly enjoyed my launch of the Kim & Co TSV with Kim. I wasn't at all surprised to hear that it had sold out before my 7pm show with her later that day. 

Rising early to make pancakes for breakfast

Thanks so much to all of you who wrote with your comments about Banoffee Pie last week - makes my mouth water just to write the words - but I'm now far wiser as to the ways and means of making one and am under duress to get into the kitchen and 'whip one up'!

So far I've managed to abstain... that said I did have my friends for supper last night and made Strawberry Flim Flam - which I believe to the same as Eaton Mess just with strawberries... (plus, crushed meringue and whipped cream) Delicious! 

Something else that was delicious were the pancakes we had for Pancake Day last Tuesday. I've been making them for the children for as long as I can remember, and we usually have them for pudding in the evening. But this year my daughter Lucy requested that I made them for breakfast instead, which was a little strange 'cos she's the only one of my three who doesn't normally eat breakfast.

But, never one to turn down a challenge, I set my alarm that night, and with its jarring tone literally ringing in my ears, stumbled downstairs after what felt like a very short amount of time in bed.

Perhaps it's just me, but I don't seem very well co-ordinated in the mornings. Trying to mix the batter, warm the plates, slice the lemons, and then toss the pancakes was a real struggle and when I put the eggshells in my pocket rather than the bin I knew I was in trouble! All that said it made me smile to see my three heading off to work, college and school with a warm pancake or three inside them.

Love Ali xx