Hello Stranger!

Hello there, long time no speak!

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Sorry I've not been blogging lately, it's my busiest time of year in the salon and I've just not had a chance to write any blogs. What with organising and running stalls at Christmas Fairs, helping my wonderful clients looking gorgeous for their Christmas parties, soothing winter harassed skin, easing aching muscles; not to mention organising our family Christmas and the demands of our little boys school Christmas events (special thanks to his school for making his classes monthly cake stall this week!!!) But eeek it is getting exciting here!!

So until next year I'm afraid all my time is taking up with all things Christmassy!!

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Until then I'd just like to say a big THANK YOU to all of my wonderful readers for all your support and encouragement this year. 

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Hope you have a magical Christmas and amazing New Year.

Sara x

It's A Special Someone's Birthday

7 years ago today I met the most amazing little boy for the very first time - our son! And I can tell you it was so worth the long, hard and very stressful labour! I was induced as the little tinker still wasn't budging 17 days after his due date.

Image via Faithfully Feminine

So this post is dedicated to the most wonderful thing that has ever happened to me and my husband...

To Our Gorgeous Boy...

As you love Harry Potter and adore cake, here is your very own Harry Potter Cake blog in honour of you; our special, handsome, bright, incredibly caring and well rounded boy on your special day. 

Image via The Cupcake Blog

Image via Hip Pop Cakes

Light up Gingerbread Hogwarts by Making of the Hogwarts Gingerbread Castle

Wow! By Lets Eat Cupcake

By Deb Kichline

By Cupcakes Take The Cake

Now two awesome cakes by your favourite cake maker Duff Goldman from the Ace Of Cakes TV show!

Image via The Short Line

Images via Shelf Talker

By Artcake in Russia

By Rose Bud Cakes

Image via Yelp

Hope you have a wonderful birthday little man - love you more than the last number in the world!!

Mum xxxxxxx

Beautiful Cupcake Gallery - Halloween

Happy Halloween everyone! I've been very busy lately and haven't had a chance to do some cupcake searching, but I couldn't let Halloween pass by without a exhibit in my Beautiful Cupcake Gallery...

Pretty girly gothic cupcakes by Mama Doreen's Cupcake in Yorkshire

Cute monsters from Yummy Cakes By Lynn

Cupcake Graveyard from It's My Treat By Janice

Haunting but stunning! Via Blush Paperie

Frankenweenie Cake Pops - so sweet! Via Flickr - Bakerella

I love these decorative Boo Frame Cupcakes by Petit Cali Cupcakes

Now for some Halloween recipes - great to do with the kids ...

Great idea - Pull Apart Graveyard Cupcakes via Food Network

Simple but very effective ghosts -jumbo and mini cupcakes, held together by marshmallows and cloaked with fondant, by Martha Stewart

Great twist - Broomstick Ghost cupcake via First For Women

From the Sunshines Kitchen.com - how cute are the picket fence cases?! If you can read Bulgarian you can even make them yourself!

Bubble bubble toil and trouble. Cute cauldron via Good To Know

Now this isn't made out of cakes or sugar paste, but it's so cute and so clever I had to include it!

Halloween Candy Scene by the very clever Mamas Minis

Have a great Halloween hope you get lots of treats xx

Autumn - it's here!

With a huge gust of wind and heavy rain!

Here are some lovely Autumnal images to remind us why Autumn is such a gorgeous season, I truly love it; even though we've had naf all summer!

So true. Image via The Inspired Room

One year I must experience Fall in New England. Image via Bon-voyage.co.uk

Until then we'll be spending lots of time exploring our many stunning National Trust locations. Especially Cragside...

 Image via This Is Northumberland

Cragside Estate, image via Wikipedia

I love to snuggle up with my little one and this perfect autumn read...

Such a wonderful story and has the most gorgeous illustrations...

Images via Amazon

Mmmm Mince and Dumplings - the ultimate comfort food in our family.
The Paupers Kitchen Mince and Dumplings - my lil sister's recipe - yummy yummy on my tummy! 

And of course there are plenty celebrations to be had with family and friends...

Stunning Halloween garden. Image via Country Living

Oooo aahhh. Image via Cheshire Fire & Rescue Service

A perfect bonfire treat via My Life Write

None of these would be complete without Jamie Oliver's Epic Hot Chocolate recipe - OMG who could resist?!

OOOO absolute heaven - I can assure you I'll be doing plenty of this!

Image via Favim.com

I could go on and on, however I'm craving a hot chocolate, my slippers and Kindle! 

Look out for some great Autumn skincare tips coming soon...

Bye for now, have a fabulous Autumn xx

Mornings Will Never Be The Same

I'm not the best on a morning, I like my own space for an hour or so just to get my happy hormones flowing. But being a mum of a school child that's not always possible.

Image via I sell Dreams

So to get me going on a morning we listen to Chris Moyles Breakfast Show on BBC Radio 1 on the school run and boy does it make us laugh. Well no more...

Image via http://galleries.metro.co.uk

Today I watched and listened to the last ever show and I must say it was rather emotional.

The first time I ever heard of Chris was when he had the very early morning show on Radio 11 and my Grandfather's funeral featured as a question on his quiz - not I didn't hear it but a colleague did!

My Grandad Bill's funeral made the national news in 1997 when it stopped the traffic in Hartlepool and we played the theme tune to 'Match of The Day' when people came in and Monty Python's 'Always Look On The Bright Side of Life' when the coffin went behind the curtains. He was such a funny, popular man I'll never forget him, he was like a second dad and I so wish our son had met him.

Grandad was sports mad (watching rather than doing!) He was constantly flicking the TV over to check the scores and when Teletext was born he was in his element. You could be watching Neighbours and you could be sure Teletext would pop up just as Charlene and Scott were about to kiss! I tell you he would have watched pea shooting if it was on the TV!

His funeral flowers from the family consisted of his favourite team QPR at the top of the league on a Teletext screen and a tea pot with a tea bag hanging out of it - boy did that man love a cuppa with his sport!

So to round things up I'd just like to say Chris and the team will be sadly missed on my daily grumpy school run!

Best of luck to Chris and all of your fantastic team in your future projects. Thanks for cheering this lady up on a daily basis. Take care xx

Nick Grimshaw image via NME

And best of luck to Nick Grimshaw and his team - look forward to hearing your new breakfast show.

It's The Little Things...

Just had to share this lil story with you as it's so sweet!

I would never have thought our son's new little walk in 'pick n mix' cereal bar I created for him today would have got such a fantastic reaction from him. You'd have thought I had got him a Nimbus 2000!

Major hugs and gushing praise, he said 'I love it, it's the best thing ever, it's like a sweet shop!".

Who said kids nowadays only appreciate expensive toys like DS's and PS3's?! Super duper looks like Santa will be pimping his wardrobe for Xmas!

I've Done Another Guest Post!

Back in July I was asked to write a guest article for Sage One the online accountancy software company on "How to Juggle a Home Business in the School Holidays When the Kids Are at Home" and well it would be rude not to share it with you! (I use their product by the way!)

Image via http://ldsmilitarywives.blogspot.co.uk

Running a Business From Home During the Holidays

July 17th, 2012 by Sara Phillips

I run my business, Rituals Beauty, from home and I don’t think running a business from home during the holidays with kids around has to be painful – as long as it’s the right kind of job and you have a good work life balance – oh and your kids are relatively tame! Read more...

Children's Classic Where The Wild Things Are via Crazy Famous

Fussy Little Eaters?

Our son has always been a great eater and appreciative of food, he does love a meal in a good restaurant or cafe. We did have a period where he would only eat finger food and that was tough on the imagination to say the least.

Image via Pinterest

As you know I love my food, it hasn't always been the case, as I child I wasn't actually picky but just had better things to do with my time. I survived on very little and was so skinny my brother used to say I looked like a little matchstick with my red swimming cap on! Seriously though I don't know how my parents stayed sane to be honest.

So if your little angel isn't keen on food then maybe try one of these a lovely food-art ideas or why not get them to create a piece of food-art themselves?!