July 2010: Warning, this thread contains offensive language; 1 wedding, --d--jogging and some Creme Eggs (although we don't know why). Oh and some babies who are nearly 1 year old.

[CakeandRoses]

See? Panicking works!

Oh oh oh the other baptism I went to recently, the food was even simpler but was well-received:

A big basket of artisan bread of interesting varities (beetroot, spinach plus more normal ones), a couple of big bowls of salad, olives, humous, chutney, cheeses, and a platter of hammy/fruity stuff which I didn't understand :)

tsc to speed things up to make it easier for you could you do just a few plates of sandwiches but then just have slices od buttered bread and the sliced meat seperate for peole to construct themselves, I prefer this as so many people sort of open sandwich to see whats in it then leave it.
cakes for L's party I said to SIL I was having humous, cheeses and olives and she looked at me stupid and said you are only supposed to cater for kids, I said I am. L loves all that stuff but as her kids wont even eat pasta if its so much as had salt added to water L is clearly the odd ones!!

been looking through my cake book that I got for my birthday I think the next ones I try are choc brownie muffins and an impossible pudding which looks easy!

albrecht I have a boy, Dylan born on 9/7.

cake that spread sounds yummy! Something like that would be nice for D's birthday.

A tip with cooking brownies is to stick the pan of mixture in the fridge for 20-30 mins before cooking, then you get the crisp top and soggy middled [slightly obsessed emoticon]

'middle' even
and mlic I read that as you 'shot the dogs'

No mlic she has recently taken to refusing to go to sleep till despite not sleeping more than half an hour a day for her nap. We have been going through the same routine since she was born and I always take her in at 8 but now she just tries to crawl about. Its a nightmare. There is no baby free time in this house.

tsc I know what your saying about the uncles and dads that won't eat pasta and things. We just made sure there was nice chicken, bread, salmon and we used roast beef so they had things they liked. But others liked pastas, savoury rices, coleslaws and salads. We had french loaves cut up in baskets and butter at the side.

Hi Albrecht and Dilli I have pnd too (and yes I know I need to book a gp appointment cake before you ask me) so feel free to vent

I iron too - don't forget me (ok so not as often as it needs it so I usually have a mountain, but I do iron)

Both L and E have Specialized helmets (1 pink and 1 red - can't remember what the pictures are)

tsc we used the iceland big packs of frozen buffet things (desserts, indian, chinese, and chicken skewers - think they're about £5 for 75 pieces) plus the usual sausages and sausage rolls. We also bought some sandwich platters from sainsburys (don't advertise it but if you buy 4 the 5th is free). To be honest we would probably have had enough with just the sandwich platters and a few picky bits. Nearly every family offered to bring something too, so I got people to mainly bring desserts (and I still have by buffet desserts pack in the freezer which I'll use for both dc's birthdays next month) and salady type things. I am sure people will be happy to chip in with the food. I do have a list somewhere of exactly what I bought (and I even think I made a not of what was actually used as loads of people ended up taking food away with them, and my freezer was full!)

I have a daughter, Evelyn who is 4 nxt month (8/7) and a son Lucas who is 1 on 19/7. Oh and we live in Winchester

stac L has been getting later and later everynight and last night we hadenough and he went into the cot and after only a few mins of tears he dropped off, im sure tonight as dh is out and I want a soak in the bath it will be a nightmare!!!

Ive bought best man gift and card, fathers day gift and card (for DP from D) and Dylan's 1st birthday card today :)

I thought Id let you know as we count down to the big day the little things Im doing because no one else cares

Oh and a travel first aid kit.

Tsc I think there is a picture of L's baptism cake on my fb page. Twas white, 2 tier with a teddy and blocks with his name on, and some feet on the side. Sil did it and I was very pleased with it :-)

Hello! Just wondering if I can join you all again. :)

I used to be quite active on the July thread until my beautiful little Iris was born in June last year; I have been lurking for the past 11 months. Iris has been a bit of a nightmare sleeper/napper so I haven't had much time/energy to post anything but it's been great popping in and out to see what you're all up to. This is my last week of maternity leave so I'm looking forward to having a bit more free time on my hands, despite returning to work full time!!! Poor Iris is going into nursery 5 days a week. I'm a bit heartbroken about that!!

Anyway, hope it's okay to rejoin. Oh, and I'm Christine on Facebook...I think I'm friends with a few of you on there too :)

violet welcome back! I remember that newborn pic of your little Iris, so cute. She was one of the first to be born.

dh sooo exciting! You just reminded me that we never got a best man gift...oops! We celebrate 4 years on the 16th so a bit late to get him one now I reckon.

I've booked us a night away [gulp] the only night mum could do is Monday night so we'll go to the parents' on Sunday afternoon, S will have til bedtime Monday to get used to them and then I'll ditch him aaaaalllllll night long. I'm really not sure what state I'll find him in when we get back half of me wants to cancel but the other half really wants a night off! Still anniversaries call for desperate measures.

hello violet and welcome back

shizzle
violet!!!!!! welcome back!!!!!
chulita enjoy your night and dont cancel!!!

well L was shattered and I was expecting a fight from him but as he only had a short nap he just fell asleep on my lap after a bath!!! so ive had a bath and dh is out!!
I bought L a sugar crafted pirate figure for his cake and the fucking dog has some how got it and ate it!!!

TSC, if you sort the night before you can have it pretty much sorted. These are my least faffy buffet suggestions.

Cook a massive thing of pasta, stir in most of a jar of basil pesto and a packet of pine nuts. Then get one of those huge bags of cocktail sausages and cook them. Make a dressing with two table spoons of honey to one of wholegrain mustard and half a tsp of worcester sauce, and toss the sausages in it (you might need to make a double amount for a lot of sausages)

Buy a sheet of puff pastry, spread with a mixture of 2tbsp ketchup and 2tbsp English mustard. Sprinkle with grated cheese and cut the pastry into two long strips. Roll each strip lengthways and cut slices off so you have lots of little spirals. Bake and serve warm.

For coleslaw mix 2tbsp sour cream, 2tbsp mayo, 2tap lemon juice and some black pepper. Stir in 1 large onion, 2lg carrots and half a white cabbage, all shredded.

Those are a few fail safes, I can give you more if you need them too.

needle you are a very handy person to have on this thread