Scrapping Tonight

During the Easter Holidays we had the great pleasure of entertaining the Deacons!
We decided that we would have afternoon tea.




Menu :

Open cheese and cucumber finger buns
Open cucumber and ham finger buns
Brownie and cheescake topped cupcakes baked by Holly Deacon
Scones with clotted cream and Jam
Oat and honey biscuits



As you can see a lot of fun was had!
Thank you to Sue, Holly and Em for coming to see us, we loved having you!! Why not invite your friends over for an impromptu afternoon tea.

Thanks for stopping by
Anna xx

The Bowkis family are huge, and I mean HUGE Roald Dahl fans. We have the books, we love the movies and we love all things Roald Dahl.
So this Easter  at long last we found the time to go and visit the Roald Dahl Museum in Great Missenden in Buckinghamshire.

After some time trying to find somewhere to park we eventually gor parked and made our way up the road to the museum. I was rather glued to all the gorgeous Interior Design shops and general gifty shops.
We queued and got our tickets as well as paying to attend a story telling workshop in the afternoon.

As you enter the Museum you are greeted to the Enormous Crocodile bench and a map of the museum.


I had to get a photo of the girls together and this was a perfect place to stop!


The museum goes through the ages of Roald Dahl's life, each room a chapter of his life.
I loved all the details throughout.


Peters favorite Roald Dahl book and movie is The Fantastic Mr Fox. So much that he has his own book and DVD copy!







Check this out! A replica Roald Dahls writing chair for kids and adults alike to try out. The real chair is behind glass.
Lilly had to try for size. How tiny does she look!



We had great plans to have lunch in Cafe Twit and try out some familiar dishes like oompaloompa sandwitches and bogtrotter cake, but it was packed, so we headed out into the village to find somewhere else to eat.



We found an amazing Tapas restaurant. Not so good for Peters pockets but we all thoroughly enjoyed the dishes. The chorizo in red wine was  a great hit and we had to order another!

We had a great day and bought a few bits from the gift shop. We all got a note book and a box of Roald Dahl magnetic words so we can all make up our own whizz bang stories on the fridge!

If you and your family are Roald Dahl fans do make the journey to visit Great Missenden and visit the area and museum. We didn't have time to visit areas of interest in the village as we had to get back for Suki.
I will leave the last word to Mr Dahl himself
“And above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don't believe in magic will never find it.”


Thanks for stopping by
Anna x

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The girls are on holiday and Peter has been off for the week. We have had such a lovely family week.
With Easter weekend just gone we spent quality time at home as a family enjoying our house and lots of home cooked food.

Easter Sunday morning we started with an Easter Egg hunt but with clues this time. I am not sure who enjoyed it more, the girls or Peter and I!
We hid eggs all over the house with a clue placed with each egg. Starting with a drop off form the Postman, ending with a BIG surprise in the Studio. the girls had great fun working our where the eggs were and its was lovely to see them working as a team.



After the Easter Egg hunt Lilly helped me make up the table favours; cute Easter boxes I found in M&S, that I filled with mini chocolate eggs.



To finish our Easter decorations I bought Tulips and Daffodils and Lilly added yellow shredded paper and chicks!



I hope you all had a lovely Easter holiday. I will be sharing out trip to The Roald Dahl museum later in the week, a must for all Roald Dahl fans!

Thanks for stopping by
Anna x

Mothering Sunday/Mothers Day was yesterday here in the UK. I was spoilt with a cooked breakfast in bed by the girls!!! Peter has officially announced that Mothers Day is the best, because he also got a cooked breakfast in bed!!

Izzy and Lilly made me the most beautiful cards and the poem Izzy wrote in hers bought a tear to my eye.

Dinner was cooked by me and burnt by Peter, although he will say that I didnt make it clear that it needed stirring so will blame me for dinner burning! But it was saved by Peter and his mash was the best!

And then the girls had yoghurt for pud, I conveniently forgot to mention the scrummy lemon tarte in the fridge!
Then this.....

just love this so much, even though it did end in tears for Izzy :( click on image to enlarge

I love my family! My crazy beloved mad family. There is nothing more a mum could ask for!

Hope you ahd a lovely Mothers Day and was spoilt rotten

Thanks for stopping by
Anna x

As you can see my blog is being neglected, but its that time of year when I am busy in the kitchen and wrapping pressies, which I am sure you all are too!
We have a full house this Christmas which will be lovely. I love hosting and love being busy in the kitchen.

It was my birthday last week and Sue bought me the new Lorraine Pascale book and I have already bookmarked a few recipes, including a twist on the traditional Rocky Road this time with maltesers and no marshmallow, perfect for me as I dont like marshmallow!

I love my cookery books and this week I have spent many an hour lost on the sofa pouring over my books for the holidays. My go to books this year have been, Nigella, Lorraine and Ree!


With 2011 coming to an end, and another year of ups and downs, I wonder what 2012 will bring the Bowkis family?
Whatever it is I know we will cope and as long as we are all still happy and healthy and all together in one place, I will be the happiest girl alive!

So today will be spent baking galore and filling the house with festive smells and Christmas spirit.

Have a wonderful Christmas with your loved ones, and may we never forget those that are no longer with us.

Merry Christmas, with love from my home to yours
Anna and family xx

Not sure how much I can say just yet, only because it has not been publicly announced yet, but tomorrow I am headed down to London as a consumer reporter to a party food launch for a major retail chain. i will be followed by a film crew, (darn why didnt I keep up the dieting!) and will be interviewing celebs and guests at the event.
My main job is to interview a very gorgeous and sexy celebrity chef, eeeekkkkk. And the next best part is I get to take photos as well. OMGG
In total shock to be honest. I will not be allowed to post photos due to celeb laws etc, but they may be added to my report on the retailers website/blog/FB page, not sure which yet.

(Random photo , sorry)

photo credit Ria Mishall Cooke

Really excited and very nervous. It is also the same day that my darling hubby is dancing for charity  for Richard House Children's Hospice. Its going to be a surreal and very long day, but one I cannot wait for!

I havn't been picked out of thin air to do this. I did enter a competition last Friday and have been emailed back and forth about questions I would ask etc, I got the phone call Monday to say I had been chosen.

Wish me luck, and hope to be back Friday with lots of gossip!!

Thanks for stopping by
Anna x

Yikes, been to long I know, hope to improve on this shortly but life and business has been manic!

Do want to share the Glee poster I did for all Izzy's friends who came to the party. Each poster was framed ready to hang on the wall!

Everyone loved their gift and Izzy's sits proudly in a birthday girl pink frame to go in her room.

Are you planning a birthday party soon? Do click on the tag "celebrations" below for previous parties I have done with my girls that may just spark of an idea!

Thanks for stopping by
Anna x

Izzy had her party on Friday, and she chose a Glee Themed party, and I had so much fun putting it all together. It wasnt without its stress and tantrums on my behalf, LOL, but I got there in the end.



It all started with the invite, and this Glee wallpaper I found. I just opened in photoshop and cut out the centre square and popped in a photo of Izzy which I had taken in the studio and manipulated a little in PS



I knew how important the slushies were, but couldn't get a soda stream or the stuff anywhere, so I made big quench cup bands which we filled with ice and pop! (this one is filled with sweets)


I bought red and yellow plates, napkins and found some french fries holders!

The pudding bar had a Glee "hand cake" , cupcakes, popcorn and oreos






We had a Glee trivia quiz and a Glee sing off using the Xbox Karaoke



Everyone had such fun, and the sign off was great! In fact they all ended up singing "Don't Stop Believing" and bought the roof down!

Next week I will add some more fun photo booth snaps and the Glee 2011 poster with all the guests on!

Hope you enjoyed the "details" post.
Thanks for stopping by
Anna x

Just stopping by quickly, been a really busy week. Wednesday was Izzy's birthday and she turned 11, where has my baby girl gone....
Well today it's her party and I have been busy this past week gathering bits and pieces for tonights Glee party.

Saturday was the annual Bowkis get together and memorial for all those we have lost. As always I took loads of photo's but today I am going to share one of Peter and his brother lighting the Chinese sky lanterns, ten in total for each person we have lost but always remember.


A totally magical moment for us all. I went up Castle Hill with Peter and his brother and Sister to snap photo's whilst everyone else looked on from Nana's garden. We could here them cheering every time one went up.
I looked at purchasing these a few years back and they were not cheap, today Tesco sell them in packs of 10 for £10! a total bargain don't you think.
Hope to share some more photos by the end of the weekend with you all form the day.
Thanks for stopping by
Anna x

This morning I was invited to the school Honors Award Ceremony, Lilly was going to be presented with an Honors Award for sports, and she had no idea!

The assembly was an hour long, and Lilly received an award for her outstanding progress in swimming and also received her 100 house point award, bless her.

Had to take a photo of her proudly holding her certificates for Peter to see and of course to probably scrap, LOL.




Its day's like these that I am happy to be a mamarazzi!!!

Have a great weekend, I am off to photograph a year 6 prom tonight, should be lots of fun!
Thanks for stopping by
Anna x

Today I want to share the children's costumes. With 13 children, we had a nice mix of characters; a few Alice's, a couple of White Rabbit's, one White Queen, two Red Queens, a Cheshire cat and the Mad Hatter herself!

I am so glad I didnt go as the Red Queen in the end, as this little girl out shone us all!!

Red Queen






A White  Rabbit



Cheshire Cat





A Mad Hatter




Alice


I will be posting the photo booth fun over here tomorrow.

Thanks for all your lovely comments on the cake and decorations, I hope you enjoy seeing some of the guests today.
Anna x

Now you can understand why I have been so busy! Inspired by all the amazing inspiration out on the www, and SJ's Mad Hatters Tea party she held for her birthday last year, Lilly decided to have one too!!
The downside is when you are a working photographer, a baking expert wanna be, a "wish I could do kids birthday parties for a living" kinda mum, you end up giving yourself a ton more work than most people !
Thankfully the wonderful Miss SJ made the invites for Lilly using her Mad hatters download, and this was the start of things to come!
After realizing that china tea cups for a bunch of 7/8 year olds wasn't a perfect combo, I bought a few pieces for decoration and then found the most gorgeous paper plates, flags and cake stand that evoked old floral china; a much safer bet!

Three Alice's sat on a bench

Jelly babies spilling from floral tea cups

The Rainbow Layered Cake

 So with flowers in a Cath Kidston pink glass jug, china cups piled and toppling on the table overflowing with jelly beans and jelly babies, all adorned on a pretty floral tablecloth, it was time to pop some food on the table.
We had finger sandwiches, sausages, sausagerolls, cheese and pineapple, queen of hearts mini biscuits (jammy dodgers), cake pops, biscuit pops, Mad Hatter cupcakes that I slaved over, LOL, (and realize I am no sugar paste expert), and a selection of drinks.



The finale was the Rainbow Layer Cake, and boy did it impress me! I am not one for blowing my own trumpet, but this did look A.M.A.Z.I.N.G.

The kids were mighty impressed as well, so a big thumbs up!

Tomorrow I will share the costumes, everyone really did out do themselves!

Thanks for stopping by
Anna x

Eight years ago today, I gave birth to our second daughter, Lilly Keiko Bowkis, weighing in at 8lbs 7oz at around 7am in the morning.
Lilly was a completely different baby to Izzy, Lilly fed and slept. In fact I think baby books were written about Lilly, she was text book perfect.

Izzy fell totally head over heels with her new baby sister, and our family of 3 became 4 and we were complete.
Eight years later, and I have a beautiful blue eyed blonde, who has a huge heart of gold.

with her new monkey to add to her large monkey collection

• Lilly lights up a room with her smile and her personality. Lilly can captivate an audience with her wit and charm, sings like an angel, and lives in Lilly land!
•  She loves the world we live in, and is a huge animal lover, has a great interest in everything to do with the planet. Lilly has a green thumb, whatever she touches in the garden blossoms, literally!
• Lilly is an orange belt in Qi Kwan Do, can memorize lyrics and words with amazing ease, and we are often sat down to listen to Lilly recite the whole school play, word for word, all parts!

 

modeling her new headband from the Deacons

Lilly will continue to grow, continue to make people happy, and I will continue to be charmed by her wit and humour. I will wake up tomorrow morning to her beautiful voice, her familiar smell and that smile.

Thanks for stopping by
Anna x

"There is a place. Like no place on Earth. A land full of wonder, mystery, and danger! Some say to survive it: You need to be as mad as a hatter" - White Rabbit

My baby girl is 8 on Friday, where have those last 8 years gone?? They grow up so fast and birthday parties are a bigger challenge each year!
Last year we did Tinkerbell, thankfully still being in Florida I came home with a suitcase full of Tinkerbell party gear for  next to nothing. This year we are doing a Mad Hatters Tea Party next weekend, and Lilly is the Mad Hatter! I have ordered a top hat, and then will decorate.




I am so enjoying gather bits and pieces for the event. SJ at Little Musings has designed the invites and Lilly is beside herself that a celebrity has done them, bless.
We have an inflatable flamingo for the garden, pretty china and gorgeous vintage china inspired paper plates, bunting, paper chains and lanterns and so much more.




Food will be a typical tea party with a twist. Biscuit lollipops shaped as tea cups and card suits. Of course we will have plenty of "eat me", "drink me" cards/toppers on the table as well. I will be baking a rainbow layered cake like this one. Isnt it just amazing! Lilly is so excited. Now to make it!!!



I have planned a game of croquet, pin the smile on the cheshire cat and we will be making top hats and fascinator hats from cardboard decorated with playing cards, feathers and bling for the girls.

It should be a blast and a mummy photographers dream *wink wink*. My studio should be here next week and I will be taking some fun photos with props as well. These will be mounted onto board and presented as a thank you card to each of the guests!
Check out Laura Winstow's blog for a Alice in Wonderland inspired party here
I have so many ideas flying around in my head just hope I have the time to pull it all off!
If you have any great ideas or links to a Mad Hatters Tea Party do share.

Thanks for stopping by
Anna x

Love me some Bokeh, looks so magical and so easy to achieve! Its really just an out of focus picture of lights or any blurred background! LOL

santa bokeh

love the colours!

Wikipidia has this to say about Bokeh :

n photography, bokeh (pronounced /bɒkɛ/^[1]) is the blur, or the aesthetic quality of the blur,^[3][4][5] in out-of-focus areas of an image, or "the way the lens renders out-of-focus points of light."^[6] Differences in lens aberrations and aperture shape cause some lens designs to blur the image in a way that is pleasing to the eye, while others produce blurring that is unpleasant or distracting—"good" and "bad" bokeh, respectively.^[2] Bokeh occurs for parts of the scene that lie outside the depth of field. Photographers sometimes deliberately use a shallow focus technique to create images with prominent out-of-focus regions.

lilly in focus with tree bokeh in the background

some suki loving

focus is not tack sharp as my ISO was high!!! to get a low apperture f1.8

You can also have fun playing with filters to get effects like this! So easy and fun. This website is great for showing you how to achieve Bokeh and using filters.

using a star filter

Go grab your camera and have some fun with your Christmas lights before you take the tree down  tonight!
Have a great evening what ever you are doing. We are having a quiet night in, never been known but looking forward to it.
Wishing you all a Happy New Year from mine to yours.
Anna xx