On School Uniforms

Who was the brainiac that decided: yep, a white shirt is the way to go for 5 year olds for school uniform? Which parent doesn't want to wash and iron white shirts?

I'll show you a parent that does not wish to soak, then resoak, wash and iron white shirts for a 5 AND an 8 year old. 

It's me. 

I've got both hands waving madly in the air.

Who thought white shirts were a great idea? I would really love to meet them. And hit them in the face with a wet fish. 

These white shirts give me such grief. It's a never-ending cycle, wear the shirt, soak the shirt, wash the shirt, iron the shirt. Uniform people, I have better things to do - but the problem is, I never get to them because I am having a relationship with these shirts. A relationship I never wanted. 

My children, not particularly dirty little creatures, come home each afternoon with a coating of dirt around their cuffs. A splatter here and there of school-time detritus, and I score too long spent in the laundry trying to bring back the white school shirt.

Honestly. Why didn't they choose something practical?

The Wash Up

Do you have arguments in your home about who's doing the washing up?

It's an almost nightly ritual in our house.

We skirt around it, skirt around it, and then finally someone gives in and does it. We have no routine when it comes to the dishes. We hate the dishes. And I'm sure the dishes do not love us.

Or do they?

Finish very kindly sent me the ingredients and baking pan to make some brownies. Now this is two months ago. Maybe three. It was Easter. I was tired. I heard the call of chocolate and I went to work whipping up le brownies. Only thing was, I only had half a brain working. I whipped them up, put them into the oven, and mid-bake, I marvelled at the layer of butter on the top of the brownies. As though I was deep-frying the damn brownies. I walked away, thinking how curious this brownie batter was. Finally it dawned on me, while I was only working on half a brain, I'd inadvertently doubled the butter mixture, and as a result totally messed up the freaking recipe. What a waste of perfectly delectable chocolatey goodness. *cue forehead slap*

What an idiot! *cue another forehead slap!*

Cue Finish Powerball Tablets 5 in 1. I like these. They work. They mean I don't have to squabble so much with Matt about who's doing the dishes.

image via Emma Elizabeth Designs - I could just about die for this Emma Elizabeth rug (who doesn't love sparkle?) From Milan to my house. Rug-a-licious.

Hands Down

I've been thinking about this for a while now, and I'm not sure what to make of it. I bought some, but I've never used it. I'd much rather wash my hands than put that stuff on, and what ever happened to the immune system doing its thing? I have used hand sanitiser once or twice (in hospitals or at a nursing home) but I always feel like my hands are a bit dirty. A bit.. covered in chemicals. A bit unnatural.

But I'm throwing it open to the floor - what do you think of hand sanitisers? Do you use it?

Latex Is A Tricky Thing To Sew (the post also known as: Luckily Christmas Happiness Was Not Dependent On My Sewing Prowess)

Remember these? Remember how I was going to whip up some customised washing up gloves for my husband? I was to be the creator, Santa was to be the courier. Couture gloves. He would have been the fashionista up to his elbows in washing up bubbles. The Sartorialist may have snuck some photos of his hot dishpan hands.

Who needs instructions I say? I've got eight sewing lessons under my belt. Who needs to ask for help? No, not I said the little Red Hen.

Apparently latex is difficult to work with. I now know this.

Apparently this project wasn't as simple as I was thinking it might be. But Cath made it look so darn simple. Hmph and a belated bah humbug! I was going to whip these up for every kitchen-lovin' person I knew. They would have been the talk of the kitchen.

Apparently we've now got one heck of a messy glove with black and white gingham trim, and the other lies next to it, dormant.

And apparently I should have looked to see if there were instructions before I embarked on this festive (festy?) project. There are instructions, simple, effective instructions.

Thank goodness the weight of Christmas joy was not resting on my creative shoulders. Otherwise, there would have been a whole lotta tears. Enough to fill the sink.

A Marriage of Tastes

I've hit upon a brilliant idea for Christmas (ok I took some heavy inspiration from Cath). Some might say genius (maybe if they were delusional).

Cast your mind back to this weekend. Ah yes. The Mexican stand-off over the washing up. Can you believe this is still continuing? Well, my beloved is in for a real treat from Santa this year.

His very own personalised washing-up gloves. How special is that?

I can't wait to hide them in his stocking for the 25th! But firstly, I have to stitch 'em. Now that should make for some interesting viewing.

Happy Christmas SweetiePop - I can't wait for Santa's elves to transform you into some sort of washing up wizard!

By the way, does anyone know a great pair of pinking shears that aren't going to cost the earth?