Pink Cupcakes

PINK CUPCAKES HAS MOVED!

Hi.

If you didn't already know, the "Pink Cupcakes - juggling family life with being a writer" blog has moved to here (re-named "The English Writer")

So, if you like -

writing, books, blogging, olives, champagne, cath kidston, stars, anais nin, jamie oliver, chanel, jd salinger, flip flops, butterflies, espresso, degas, henry miller, daphne du maurier, silver shoes, skinny jeans, proud to be veggie, the kooks, kings of leon, nigella lawson, pumpkins, manchester, my cath kidtson wellies, tom delonge, the bluetones, pink cup cakes, cup of tea, lowry, animals, deanna baker (circa 1972), the countryside, goats cheese, pesto, selfridges, the body shop, log fires, emma bridgewater, bernhard schlink, david kross, the reader novel and movie, the virgin gardener, sophie dahl, tate st ives, cornwall, the cotswolds, satin ballet shoes, lush designs, denim skirts, deli's, orla kiely, fish pi, woodford reserve, camembert, vintage playboy, polka dots, pretty undies, and the ocean,

click here to read more...

See you soon,

Karen XX

I Love Hearts

 

Little Fella said to me the other day, "mummy,you like hearts don't you?" it was only then I realised he was right, I do love hearts. 

This got me thinking about how many hearts I have around the house for my my eldest boy to feel he had to ask the question, so here goes, so the one pictured above is outside our front door,

In the guest room/office

Guest room

 

Guest room 

Kitchen

Kitchen

 
Kitchen  

Guest room

 
Our bedroom 

our bedroom

our bedroom

Bathroom   
 

Bathroom

Hallway door

JB's room   

The boys rooms (blue star - Little Fella; Cowboy - JB) made at the brilliant Bekimaries

The embarrassing thing is, I'm sure I've got more stashed away in boxes that I've forgotten about, and now that I have alot of lovely blogger ladies who make all kinds of gorgeous hearts, I think there's more to come.

Oh dear

X

 
 
 

Influence

If you look closely you'll see that Little Fella and JB are wearing new t-shirts...of Tom Delonge.

Nothing to do with me.  Blame Grandad, a transfer and an iron.

Love it!

X
 

Skipping Rocks

Yesterday I was happily skipping rocks in the warm sunshine.

After waking to the sound of "mummy you've got to open your presents now," at 6.15am, I couldn't resist the squidgy face of Little Fella smiling happily at me, "it's mummy's day!"

Indeed.

And this is the reason Little Fella was so excited.  His customised seedling pot.  I have strict instructions to water it and make sure it's in the sunshine "so it can grow". OK, he can't remember what the seed is, but small matters like that are of no significance to him, it's the fact it will grow, and so, it is now my priority to allow it to grow and I will not let him down.

My pink feathery pot was not a surprise. See, despite carefully removing the pink tissue wrapped gift from his nursery bag on Friday, and his dad telling him to keep it a secret, he just can't help himself bless, so there we are at bedtime on Friday and he says, "mummy, I can tell you about the Playdoh present, but I can't tell you about the plant." I stifle a laugh and pretend I didn't hear the latter comment - despite him repeating it.  Anyway, along with some well chosen underwear (I tell you, Kids these days are bloody brilliant), a cute flowey cup, a cuddly "best mummy" teddy and an invalulable lie in, I was stoked to be a mum.

I got to have tea and cake at my favourite cafe, regardless of Big Fella finding every minute painful as JB knocked over a cup of apple juice and Little Fella decided to go walk about on the sun terrace, but as long as I was having a lovely time, everyone was happy (ish).

We took a stroll and stopped off for coffee. JB fell asleep and we went for a drive in the Country. When we arrived home Big Fella took charge of the boys so I could "pamper" myself as we had a table booked for 6 in town, and boy did I take my time, ignoring all the shouting and crying from fights and tantrums upstairs and Big Fella's voice gradually rising, and even when the threats began I continued to happily paint my nails and straighten my hair - after all, it was Mother's Day, and I had so far managed the day without shouting at anyone.

Food was lovely - and so was the drink.

Big Fella and I shared a bottle of Prosecco, and the boys apple juice. JB threw his pizza everywhere, and Little Fella attempted on several occasions to drink the wine from a straw from the bottle whilst we weren't looking.  My pasta was stunning, I do love artichokes, tomatoes and olives, and Big Fella's seafood pizza went down a treat.  We considered dessert, but we were pushing 7pm and our luck as JB should have been in bed half an hour ago, and Little Fella had developed the "sillies" - a sure sign he was tired.

I tidied up the mess as best as I could and we tipped generously for the trouble.

We got a cab back and Big Fella said he'd put both the boys to bed instead of our usual sharing. I was not going to turn that offer down.

 

So, I slipped into my comfy's and curled up on the sofa and thought about the lovely day I'd had, and how lucky I am to have the family I do despite how I may grumble about them sometimes, so when I say I was skipping rocks, that's excatly how my day felt.

Karen X

A LOVE THAT MAKES LIFE DRUNK

My debut novel "A Love That Makes Life Drunk" is 2 years old this month (if going by the publishing date), so I thought I'd give it a nod and tempt those who haven't yet read it or heard about it to read the blurb on the back cover and you decide.

But I especially want to give those amazing folk who have bought and read the book a colossal thank you for all the lovely things you say, and for the ongoing support and to let you know "Hope & Jump" (novel 2) is well on it's way. 

X

EGO

 

With the help of my radio, a cuppa and a croissant, I am finally winning the race to finish novel 2.  I say "finish" when actually I completed it in 2007 - see, that's when I wrote the first draft, after staying in my lovely St Ives on holiday in a cute little cottage called "Trecara".

Trecara

Back in the winter of 2007 whilst on that holiday, I read 'Jamaica Inn' by Daphne Du Maurier and bought a cook book by Joanna Weinberg called 'Relish'.  Weinberg's original and aspirational cooking ideas and recipes inspired important traits in the characters and plot, whilst Du Mauriers passion for Cornwall and Cornish history in 'Jamaica Inn'  fuelled my desire to set Novel 2 in my beloved Cornwall - St Ives to be precise.

Over the months I've been editing and revising, I've read a number of books and been inspired by many things, most of which feature in the book in some form.  There are references to the passionate and exquisite writing of 'Frenchman's Creek' also by Du Maurier (and currently featured in Cath Kidston's book group) and there is a damned big nod to Emily Bronte's 'Wuthering Heights'.

"Hope & Jump" storyboard

Draft 3 has been much easier than the other 2.  I can pin point in the book a time when I felt more settled in myself and with what I was writing - the sentences flow and the characters are now 3 dimensional.  I am happy to say it is almost complete, but now I am apprehensive about how readers will perceive it.

I laid in bed last night with this heavy on my mind.  I'm constantly tired at the moment and my mind doesn't stop working.  I told Big Fella I was going to give up writing, that I'm not sure I want to do this to myself anymore - is anyone listening?  Does anyone care?  I said I need something more fulfilling - I need recognition I am good at something.

An incident at my boys' nursery yesterday prompted a further dip in self-confidence as a member of staff dismisses me in favour of a smarter well turned out 'yummy mummy'.  I feel furious and think - I was/am a professional too! Just because I choose to wear jeans and Converse to "work" and not a trouser suit and name badge it doesn't make me any less worthy!  I get this all the time - I recently went to our local shop and bought a bottle of wine worth £8.99, the assistant looked at me (and the boys in tow - JB screaming in his buggy for an apple and Little Fella shifting off with a handful of sweets shouting "mummy I can have these they don't have gelatine in them) and she says "this is £8.99," and I say "sorry?" and she repeats it and I say "yes, I know, that's fine." and then I reckon she thinks my debit card is going to fail - which it doesn't, to he shock and disappointment.  Yes I sound neurotic and I probably am, but the thing is I was once that professional woman in smart clothes and a name badge, but I gave it up to be a bloody writer and write novels - and now I wonder.

Anyway, Big Fella, despite suffering sleep deprivation, listens to me in bed and says "if you don't believe in yourself, how can anyone else believe in you?"  I wiped my eyes and nodded; I know he's right but it isn't that easy - the truth is I have been conditioned to work 9-5 and bring in money, not write for free.

Laptop and coffee

On a lighter night, "Hope & Jump" is brilliant (hum, not bias) - it reminds me of those heady passionate days I first penned it.  I visit the places that inspired me (in particular Tate St Ives) and know I am doing the right thing.  I know it's cliche, but blood, sweat and tears indeed, and as I sit in the little room with a bed and a desk that is my writing space I know I am nearing the end of another adventure.  Sometimes I think I don't want to do another one, but I know I already have 2 more waiting.  It's ridiculous and sometimes I wish I wasn't blessed/cursed with it.

 
Spare room bed I regularly want to lay on and sleep for hours

So, today I will spent yet another day editing.  In Word format there are 420 pages; I am on page 273.  Time is not on my side, but I have chosen to dedicate my life to this, wishing I could perhaps sew and make dolls and cushions like all those wonderful craft ladies whose blogs I follow and who do so well.

I keep my chin up.

Anyway, one amusing thing Big Fella did say to me when I was grumbling to him about the nursery incident last night was, apparently writers have the biggest ego's - I laughed - ego?  What the hell is an ego?  If a big ego is turning up to your kids nursery wearing old sweat pants and a t-shirt slung on from last night, hair scraped back and no make up, then onto slaving over a laptop all day not knowing if anyone really cares about the words you write then yeah, my ego is huge! 

 
Artwork for "Hope & Jump" by Julie Eaton

OK, so I'm taking a breath and will shortly be plying myself with more coffee.  I'm getting to a really gripping part in the novel so I am excited, and just incase you didn't know or hadn't heard, the above picture will become the cover for the new novel and was actually a commission and a scene from the book - which always makes me smile.

Thanks for listening

Karen x

What the hell is in my bag?

I "borrowed" this idea from my Facebook friend Beki 

I smiled as I checked out the vital ingredients in her bag as they were uncannily similar to mine, so I think, what the hell is in my bag?  So, I tip it out and this is what I find:

Notebook and pen, a crappy mobile phone, purse, Vaseline, lipgloss, house keys, car keys, handcream, compact mirror, umbrella, sunglasses, tissues and the all important Tide Times 2010.

Thank goodness I cleared it out a couple of weeks ago as I'm sure it would also feature the following:

nappy, nappy wipes, snotty tissues from the kids, seashells, sand, paracetamol, half a pack of chewing gum, passport, cheque book, shop receipts, box of raisins and sanitising gel.

I think I prefer the top one.

Karen x

Bolly & Olives

It's been a busy week in the Roderick house. 

Half term my sister, our friend and her little boy joined my crew for a few days of sugar rushes, tantrums and too many glasses of white wine and as we wave them goodbye my folks pull into the drive and we start all over again.

Good times.

Actually, it was good times.  Having the grandparents stay meant Big Fella and me had a little time on our own.  We headed straight to our local.  I love this place because 1. it has the most amazing views 2. it sells Champagne by the glass.  Now, what I didn't expect was Big Fella to return with a glass of Bollinger.  House Champagne yes, but Bolly?

Anyway, delighted with his initiative we sat outside wrapped up to combat the icy chill and tucked into toasted foccia, hummus and olives, ignoring the temperatures as we chatted merrily and I briefly forgot I even had kids - we opted for a second round. Lethal.

I ended up indulging in a little retail therapy and bought Little Fella and JB clothes they didn't even need (from Joules of all places) and worse still the bubbles had seriously corroded my brain and I bought a dress and t-shirt for myself from an uber cute and cool independent boutique in my town - all wonderful of course until the euphoria of my weekend spending evaporates with Monday morning and I think oh dear.

 
 

So now it's back to Monday and back to finishing my second novel "Hope & Jump" (see details on the left hand icon) and since it's been over a week since I've sat properly at my pc I can't even remember what I was supposed to be writing about, I don't think it's just because of my weekend extravagances but more to do with being so damned tired.  I cannot describe to you the pain I feel at being sleep deprived thanks to a squidgy 2 year old in the next room and the frustrating thing is it's rapidly becoming the norm in our house. 

I used to think JB woke through the night when he was ill, but now he does it every night to "assert" himself (apparently) and so my Saturday afternoon of Bolly and Olives seems a long time ago as I write these words and know I need a gallon of coffee to get me to 2pm, but hey, at least I have a dented bank account to remind me of the good times.

Right, coffee it is and Page 177

K x

LOVE

Today something special happened - the fantastically brilliant Angels and Airwaves released their 3rd album - "LOVE" - and what a day to do it.

The cool thing about "LOVE" is it's completely FREE to download - apparently it's do to with corporate underwriting, but I have been impatiently waiting for this album since "I-Empire", so for me it really is a special day.  So, I download it to my PC, to my iPod and burn to disc and it's playing just about anywhere I can get it.  As you can imagine, it's driving Big Fella to distraction, but he remains calm, after all, it is Valentine's Day, but it bothers him because it's that MAN again.  So, we're driving into town this afternoon and the album is playing, knowing he will get the desired bite he wants he insinuates the songs sound the same.  I scowl at him without saying a word, to which he laughs and says "he is the man whom shit wouldn't melt in his mouth" I laugh because I see the funny side, I have to say, if Big Fella was as "obsessed" with say, Cheryl Cole as I am with Tom Delonge, yeah, I might come out with a few quips too.

And OK, maybe I did push it a little too far earlier this week when changing my Facebook profile picture and my mobile screensaver to a rather delightful but risque photo of Tom revealing a little underwear and ass.  I thought I'd get away with it until Little Fella picks up my mobile and says "mummy, the man's trousers are falling down and I can see his pants", I snatch the phone back and attempt to laugh it off as Big Fella shakes his head at me in despair.

 

I am a perpetual teenager.

I know I am bias but I love the album already.  Yes it's not dissimilar to 'We Don't Need to Whisper' and 'I-Empire', but I love Angels and Airwaves for the sound they give me.  Tom Delonge's voice is distinct, angst and honest - there is no mistaking him whether it's AVA, Blink 182 or Box Car Racer - he does what he does and damn I love it!  Maybe I don't always have a clear head about these things, maybe I'm too involved to turn back, but it's FREE and all you have to do is download at the link below, so if you want to experience rebellion and listen to something sexy, passionate, raw and rocking, go on, do it!

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fapps.facebook.com%2Fmodlifedigital%2F&h=e0582cce361aa1c0f9d445df1c66b59b

You may see a little of why Tom Delonge remains this girl's unlikely hero

x
 

Book for the Lovers

Me and the nice lady at York Publishing Services got our heads together recently and decided since we're in the month of Lovers why not offer my debut novel "A LOVE THAT MAKES LIFE DRUNK" at 20% off the original retail price of £9.99 as an EXCLUSIVE - that means folks, you get it for an amazing £7.99.

Now, since the book is bursting with love, passion and reciprocated desire, and the artwork "Mr and Miss Sweetiepie" (painted by Emily Martin) was originally inspired for Valentine's Day, the book is indeed the perfect Valentine gift.

If you are outside the U.K and want to participate in this EXCLUSIVE offer please contact pinkcupcakes@live.co.uk for further information.

Not so much 'Song for the Lovers' but 'Book for the Lovers'

Available at YPD-books.com NOW with many thank you's

Enjoy,

Karen X