Pink Cupcakes

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

She's a Star

 

I have a tattoo.

It's discreet, and not the most brilliant piece of art but I love it.

 

I'm talking about this as though I've just had it done, when actually it's over 5 years old.  I would absolutely love to have another, maybe two, but I just can't find the courage to go under the needle again, and so I allow myself to wallow in other people's because there's just something about the tattoo that fascinates me.

 

And so it brings me to that man again - Tom Delonge.

I have Tom to thank for the inspiration for finally walking, or rather nervously stumbling into the tattoo shop. I was heavily into Blink 182 and I was playing Lostprophets and My Chemical Romance constantly in my car. Kerrang! dominated our television and I was in love with the EMO haircut and since I had always played things very safe, I thought it was time to 'rebel'.

 

OK, I didn't want an arm full but I did want something significant to my alligence to Tom Delonge - I chose a star. 

Since then, tattoos are almost everywhere, and better than that, they are more socially acceptable.  I don't care about the cliche question 'but what about when you get old', because by then they'll be a generation of pensioners with tattoo's and so we won't look out of place.  

 

Big Fella recently put his name on the list at our local Tattooist (he already has two tattoos).  They have a waiting list until next summer - that's not bad.  Flicking through the design book my desire was once again fuelled, and so I'm thinking about stars again - just something dainty and subtle, something that is very me.

 

Now, designs like the ones pictured are completely beautiful, but I'm not sure they're for me - a little too big maybe, but the stars themselves are perfect, a cutie one on the foot is probably more me than anything.

 
 

If only I had the courage to do it.

 

I recently found this picture of the lovely Jessica Alba and her little pink bow - surely an indication you can have a tattoo and still carry a Fendi handbag (!)

I do wonder sometimes whether I left it a little too late to get a tattoo and whether I had it done in the wrong place for me.  I never intentionally wear clothes that reveal it, and if I bend down to see to one of the kids at nursery, I shudder at the feel of my t-shirt rising and my star exposed; maybe I am not the rebel I thought I was, and so for now I think I will continue to fantasise about a star on the back of my neck, a daisy chain on my foot and my children's names on my wrists rather than join that waiting list until next summer, but be sure of future Karen Roderick characters with tattoo's because I just have to channel this desire somewhere.

Karen XX

Favourite Things

 

I make absolutely no excuses for this post - it is totally girly driven.

 

This is purely to indulge me (and you) in a few of my favourite things outside of my home town, Big Fella, Little Fella and JB.

I don't wear dresses much, infact, I don't even own many, but the 2 pictured above have to be my very favourite. A quirky denim dress by Karen Millen, and a nautical yet cool gown by Joules.  Unfortunately, the opportunity to parade about in these dresses doesn't arise too often, but hey, when they do...

 

I also realise, as much as they are harping on about a "bbq summer" there will also be rain, and so if I have to wear a rain mac (aarrggh!), then I'm going to do it in style.

 

And an essential part of the summer wardrobe, my new boardies.

But clothes aside, because most people know I simply love clothes, I also get high on alot of other things...

 

My rose print eiderdown by Cath

 

Peonies x

 

Jellybeans...

 

Essential beverages kit... it's not all Champagne and cup cakes you know.

OK, so it's all a bit self indulgent and superficial, because obviously I can live without all of the above (possibly with the exception of the jellybeans (!)) but they're all good for inspiring and it's all just a bit of fun.

Thanks for reading

X

Alot can happen in a year...

I'm having a Tuesday morning ponder with a brew and a croissant.

After a hectic weekend with the kids, cats and chickens, today Big Fellas at work, Little Fellas with his nanny, and JB is sleeping in his buggy.  At last; peace, but for how long is anyone's guess.

Anyway, back to my ponder.  After thinking about this blogging game, I realised it's exactly a year since I've been telling all you lovely folk out there about my life, in particular my book, and that's when I started remembering what I'd been up to during my first year as a "blogger".

Well, I learnt the importance of detailed research when editing a book, and how tiring and time consuming it can be, but also how inspiring and exciting.  How reading up about one thing, lead to a passion about another, my "thing" for Paris/France being one of them,  as well as my existing love for London and City life, and fine food and booze but most important, books. 

I think I've read more books in the last 12 months than I imagined possible. I'm literally finishing one and starting another; sometimes I have a few on the go at once, and they're not just my usual safe bets either, I'm taking risks and it's completely liberating (I'm thinking Georges Bataille).

Anyway, getting back to my year.  About this time last year I had almost finished my manuscript and getting it reading to go off to the printers.  I was in negotiations with The Black Apple with regards to the front sleeve artwork, and Big Fella was working with Design One to actually design the cover.

Since then, I've dedicated most of my working days to it, along with steadily picking up new readers of the blog, which I'm really pleased about.  It's a strange thing blogging, putting yourself out there as such, but kinda cool too, life is lovely, and sometimes you want to tell people about it.

OK, so it was about this time last year also that me and Big Fella had our weekend in York, and I started feeling slightly unwell.  A few weeks later I happily (and nervously) discovered JB was on the way hooray!!

We had a trip to my lovely St Ives, where I found out I could go on holiday and forgo alcohol and still have a great time. I also discovered the fab surf label "Hager Vor" (rough sea in Cornish), and realised I had to make a five year plan to move to this amazing place for my kids sake if not mine and Big Fellas.

My very best friend The Mul passed away and 2 months later "the kittens" arrived.

Along came Christmas and I started getting bigger, but it didn't stop me making divine chocolate cupcakes with a little sparkle, the Karen Roderick way.

I blinked, and 2008 was here, and birth was looming, so more than a little freaked out, we took ourselves off for a short break to the Peak District, a place I'd never been before, but loved, and would definitely go back even if it was freezing!

We had the arrival of the "Playroom", which I wasn't sure about at the time, but is now a total God send.

And finally March brought the release, of A Love That Makes Life Drunk, my first published novel, of which I am very proud. Apart from managing to produce 2 lovely boys, this is the greatest achievement of my life so far.

Then a very beautiful thing happened in April, in the perfectly formed shape of JB (also known as Jib Jabs and Jabbers), and life hasn't been the same since.

During all these months I've continued to work on my next novel (working title "Hope and Jump" after a Bluetones track), discovered fresh and fantastic new bands (thinking One Night Only) and gradually losing all that damned baby weight.  I begrudgingly got myself on Facebook and found I quite liked it, and we've been to Ilfracombe and Woolacombe and continue to get excited about 2 glorious weeks in St Ives in September...

AND...I've painted Little Fellas room, and wonder how long it will stay half decent...

found some amazing Jean Michel Basquiat inspired wall stickers by Brume.

... fallen in love with Petite Anglaise and Catherine Sanderson, refuelling my love for Paris.

...had goose pimples watching The Verve at Glastonbury on BBC 3 and look forward to their album in August; and in the post today I received my copy of One Night Only "You and Me" and a signed photograph of the band (and it's real!!!) - coolio.

OK, so not every thing about the last 12 months has been great, but you know what, after my Tuesday morning ponder, I kinda feel alot happier.

Right, time just ran out, Jib Jabs is awake.

Big hugs

K xxxxxxx

High Maintenance? You bet!

I've recently joined an online forum called "MUMSCLICK" (www.mumsclick.com)

I found it whilst updating Facebook and now I'm a little hooked.  It's a great little place that's open 24/7 and the ladies on line are pretty fabulous, it's like having your best friend on call.

Anyway, apart from taking part in the Mumsclick cafe, there's also loads of other places to visit: the Book Club, Music Club (Album of the Week is Konk by The Kooks - how cool) the Cook Club (my strawberry cheesecake cupcakes are recipe of the week - yippee!), and as regulars to my blog will agree, this is just my cup of tea, and there's always loads of different debates and social groups happening, and most of us are now friends on Facebook as well, it's a great little community, and the lovely thing about Mumsclick is, it's mum's of all ages, and as we know, experience counts for everything.

OK, so there's this one debate in particular I love, "The one thing you wear that never fails to make you feel sexy."   As soon as I saw  it, I knew I had to take part.  Since having JB, my confidence has dropped like a lead balloon, esp where my body is concerned, let alone my mind and sharing what could be considered to be our private intimate thoughts was pretty liberating, and I think most of the ladies felt so too.

Anyway, it wasn't a surprise to discover most of us head towards the same things to make us feel sexy. A good pair of heels (Louboutins and Karen Millen mentioned) and matching sexy/pretty underwear  (AP of course, corsets, lace, chiffon, baby dolls and thongs), came out on top, closely followed by perfume (the luscious No. 5 being the most preferred). Holds ups and suspenders were also up for debate, prompting one "mum" to divulge how the "hint of an outline of the suspender strap" made her feel "super sexy" I just love that, it's so totally on my wavelength (and my writing).

Other "sexy" things included, a flattering dress, a low cut top, a good hair cut, straightened hair, "a nice golden brown tan" ,  fragranced body oil and make up (Kohl in the eyes for a sexy smokey look), and the fantasy ingredient of "buckled biker boots" (ooh missus!) and my personal favourite "a big smile".

Some of us mentioned indulging in a glass or two of the good stuff, whilst others thought a tipple combined with heels could be very messy - indeed ladies.

Of course, when it came to my turn, I totally let rip mentioning everything that had ever made me feel sexy -typical me I ended up writing an essay. 

My list included: underwear, heels (better if pointed, satin, silver and has ribbons!), bare treated toenails (! - OK, I wear alot of flip flops all year round, it's important right?) Johnson's holiday skin and Ralph Lauren perfume, but in truth, I could have gone on forever, because when I sat and thought about it, there's loads of things that make me feel nice, OK, not necessarily sexy, but they all go towards making me like myself, and I picked up a fair bit of that from the Mumsclick ladies too.  But indulgence aside, even something as simple as my fav Body Shop body butter, knowing I've shaved my legs or my fav PJs can make me feel bloody gorgeous, because it's all in the mind, call it preference or socialisation, who knows.

Anyway, when I analysed it, I realised you don't have to just wear something to make you feel sexy, and you certainly don't have to rely on a man/partner to reassure you either;  a song can make you feel sexy, a book, the feel of something, a smell, a film, a photograph, a colour (think "sexy pink" by Dulux), and food! and all this is achievable with just one person - you.

But I guess the one thing that was evident throughout all this, is we remain women.  We're not just mums, although we love that too, we are individuals in our own right, and bloody sexy we are too.  Since having my kids, I love being a woman even more, girly or professional, sexy or cute, I wanna be everything, and if that makes me high maintenance, then bring it on (thankfully Big Fella knew this before he married me), and as one of the mumsclick ladies put it,

"It's good to be high maintenance and  naughty is good."

Too right. 

Have a sexy weekend.

Karen xxx

I'm better with Evens than Odds

HAPPY 2008 folks!

Now, as a rule for me, Even years usually work out a little more fruitful than Odds, and I'm banking on this staying true for 2008.

If things to look forward to are anything to go by then I'm hopeful this year will bring lots of happiness and excitement.  OK, so it didn't start that great, me and little fella picked up some horrid cold/flu bug on New Years Day and we're only just recovering, but that's cool, because this year I have a baby to look forward to, and of course, the publication of my novel.

After what I would call a hectic Christmas, I'm happy to look forward now and start thinking about Spring.  In fact, as annoying as it might sound, we're already planning our holidays - it gives us something to aspire to as the long dark nights become one hell of a bloody drag. 

Right, so what else am I excited about right now.  OK, get this, my newly acquired Karen Millen shoes.

So I can't really wear them at the moment, they don't look that great with a 6+ month bump, but they'll wait, trust me, they will.

Anyway, for now I'm content to admire them in their box and plan the first time I'll get to wear them and with what.  And something I hope might get you salivating, these shoes are very similar to the ones Lily wears in the novel when she escorts Jefferson to the Costa Book Awards - lets just say, they achieve their goal as far as Lily is concerned, and of course, the bad boy himself is very well rewarded.

OK, so the other thing I hate about January (dark nights being the other), is the Sales.  I've learnt after many years, and lots of wasted money and bags of disasterous fashion faux pas, that they just do not work for me, however, what I have discovered is they are bloody brilliant if you have kids, and with little JB on the way, what a better way to start the year than to head off to Monsoon and pick up a half price bargin - yippee!

Anyway, apart from holidays, shoes and clothes shopping for the kids, 2008 holds a spectactular opportunity for me, and I'm going to embrace it as much as I can, and that my friends is in the shape of "A Love That Makes Life Drunk", and since it's very nearly ready (just waititng for completed copy with new cover), I hope you're still tuned in, and promise you, I know it's worth the wait...and remember...

*click into "My Lovely Novel" category and into blog "INTRODUCING A LOVE THAT MAKES LIFE DRUNK" to download Chapters 1-3 - they're pretty good you know!*

Cheers again for 2007, hears to 2008!  Karen xxx

Time to tell you a little secret...

OK, so I have been keeping quite a large secret, and since my belly is getting somewhat larger, I don't think I can conceal my secret much longer - and nor do I want to.

See, I'm having a second little fella, (little man), due at the beginning of April 2008.  OK, great timing you say, because I now have to endure a Christmas and New Year without alcohol!!!

Anyway, it's a small price to pay for having something so lovely to look forward to, besides, Kaliber and lime isn't all that bad, well, unless compared to Champagne, Chardonnay (because I love the strength) or a crisp cold Pinot Grigio.  And then of course there's the issue of clothes, and it's party season too!

  Anyway, booze and clothes aren't the only things off the menu until April next year, it also seems all my favourite foods are off bounds too - goats cheese, Camembert, creamy coleslaw, peanuts, which is all a bit of a bind since they appear to be the only ingredients alot of restaurants can come up with when providing a non meat or fish eater with a delicious main - except ASK, their cheeses are pasteurised (so they say), so there is some life to being Vegetarian and pregnant.

  Right, so alot of you will be mortified that I've already started collecting goodies together for our eagerly awaited arrival - but since something small like GIVING BIRTH looms, preparing for JB gives me great pleasure and eases my very over active mind (especially now that I've been there before!), which brings me onto my other Little Fella, because now we've started preparing JB's room, our first gorgeous little fella has moved from a 1 bed studio to 6 bed converted barn in Alderly Edge.

OK, so I have put off potty training to move him in before Christmas, because I have a feeling from January onwards our house will be one of total chaos.

So, like a carefully planned operation, I gradually moved Little Fella from the studio to the conversion, regularly taking him in, showing him around and getting him used to it and it really seemed to be working - and oh yes, the first night was brilliant, he crashed straight out until...

OK, so by now, me and big fella are in our oils - who the hell said it could unsettle them, could take time, maybe weeks? Not our son, he's an angel...OK, rewind, because nights 2 and 3 were an absolute nightmare!

Night 4 was a little better, but only because we bribed him with a late night out in town to see the Christmas lights, followed by a long bath - and night 5, well, who knows...

Right, so there you have it - my lovely little family, but do you know what, despite the awful broken sleep I'm having, plus a growing stomach, seeing the scales going up on a weekly basis, crappy clothes, spots, no booze, no creamy cheese or peanuts, breathlessly running around after an erratic toddler whilst holding my bump, I know being the 4 of us is going to be pretty cool - but 4 it is - 4 it stays!

Cheers folks, Karen xx

PS. If you haven't done so already, click onto INTRODUCING A LOVE THAT MAKES LIFE DRUNK blog to download Chapters 1-3 - Enjoy x

Cold Crisp Mornings

Don't you just love this time of year?  Halloween's over, and Guy Fawkes is out of the way, and it's time to look forward to my favourite time of year - Christmas.

Anyway, enough of that for now, because I'm happy to see the back of the mild weather and hooray for crisp cold mornings.

It's pretty build up where I live, but out the front of our house, we are blessed with a "glimpse" of the countryside, and on mornings like today - bone crunchingly cold but the ground covered in a beautiful sheen of frost, it's at it's best.

This morning, as with most mornings, little fella "helped" me bring in the milk and we shared a moment to watch the sunrise and it actually lifted my mood since I've been a bit of a stressy nightmare to live with of late, and although you can't see that well from the photo, it's crisp and oh so fresh!  With bare feet and PJ's, me and little fella shivered back inside to resume my stress.

But this cold snap has got me thinking about Christmas, and since working in our local town centre, the place is buzzing (I use this word lightly and strictly for affect) with festivities, well, at least I am.  Our Christmas works meal has been booked and a deposit put down, and I've merrily dusted off my lovely Monsoon gown and fluffy cardy for the occasion, the only thing I have to decide on now is what shoes to wear - but I have 4 weeks to do this thankfully. 

Anyway, as previously mentioned, I have been a little stressed, so to cheer myself up, I bought myself some flowers, in Christmasy colours of course, and I'm dead pleased with them, they look a treat in our dining room and it did cheer me up.  I hinted this fact to Big Fella but I think it fell conveniently on deaf ears.

OK, so maybe alot of you out there don't want to talk or even think about Christmas just yet, which is a shame really, because I love the idea of log fires, pine trees, all butter mince pies, a succulent dinner and a wonderful day with the family - OK, hold it right there, let's stop thinking "White Christmas", my day is more like the nightmare parts of "It's a Wonderful Life" plus broken down heating, rotten satsumas, ridiculous amounts of alcohol, trillions of chocolates, all pastry and no filling mince pies, a burnt nut roast and worrying about how many calories are in one bloody truffle!  Not to mention a pulled down Christmas tree courtesy of little fella and the cats - oh no, life is no ball, but do you know what, I wouldn't change it for anything...oh, alright then, maybe a lovely pair of  glitzy shoes for my Christmas party!

Right, I'll leave you with this gorgeous print by the lovely Black Apple, Fox in the Snow, because it's one of my favourites and suits my wintery mood.

Cheers folks

Karen x

My Lovely Little House (part 1)

A little while back, I was reading The Black Apple typepad and was inspired by her love for her kitchen. So much so, like the lady herself, I wanted to show you around my house too.

First up, little fellas cool wigwam. Ideally for the garden, but since our summer's been a wash out, it's been a permenant fixture in the dining room.

The garden.  Not been used much this year, but hey, the chickens still love it.

The second most important room in the house. The bedroom.

The spare room. This is quite cool, because wrapped around the head board is a string of vintage Bunny Girl lights that I found on some obscure website. I love them.

The family room. A cute little room attached to the kitchen and full of loads of great books. I love this room because it's like a mini library; a place to enjoy a glass of wine and watch the rain (!) hammering against the patio doors (pic taken at Christmas - obviously).

The dining room. Not used much, but it's home to a lovely Smeg fridge.

The living room. Heavily inspired by the lovely St Ives in Cornwall.

The Study. The most important room in the house.

Welcome to the bathroom.

The little fella's batchelor pad.

The kitchen.

Stay tuned for Part 2 - coming right up.

Just to set the record straight

After re-reading my last few blogs, I'm aware it sounds as though all I do is guzzle champagne and eat cupcakes when actually the champagne and cupcakes are a rare luxury, see I tend to enjoy the fantasy more (I worry about the calories of a cupcake and the cost of champagne!) and I want to encourage you to do the same, to immerse yourself in the finer things in life - and why the hell not, we work hard don't we?

Talking of working hard, I'm putting in some big shifts at the moment to get this final draft finished, and although it's damned difficult fitting it in around everything else in my house, I'm loving it; seven 0 clock comes, the little man's in bed, the big fella at the gym and me sitting happily in my High Place, only problem is, if I work too late, I suffer - big time (little man calling at 6am and work for 9.30), anyway, just to prove I really am doing what I say I do, I've supplied a couple of not very flattering photos, because I know you'll understand we all have bad days.

Yeah, OK, I know what you're thinking, I've staged it, but honest, I didn't (well, not all of it).

Anyway, I'm very excited at the moment, because yesterday I was over at our local coffee shop, finishing my first piece of full on promotion for the book - what this means is, I've got a display and postcards set about the place, and the manager is very kindly directing customers to this typepad, so if you're one of them, it's good to have you aboard, and many thanks.

Right, it's time I started on the book again, like I said, Jefferson and Lily are getting very impatient, they think their story should have been made public ages ago, but before I go, I just want to introduce you to the other people who live in my manic household along with myself and the big and little fella, and then you might understand why this last draft is taking so damned long. Have a good evening. K.

Muldoon

Millie

Polly and Livvy