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

Today I waved goodbye to Izzy as she embarks on a weeks holiday with school at West Runton in Norfolk. Two years ago Izzy last went on a weeks school trip and was so tearful it was a horrid experience to let her go. Infact all the mums and children were teareyed and it was a really emotional affair!
This year 40 odd year 6 kids , all smiles and enthusiasm got on the coach to spend a week away for the last time as a group of classmates and friends. Parents were emotional but the children were excited and looking forward to the adventures that await them! The weather is going to be stunning all week, and today they start their holiday off with a pool party!!
Yes you heard me right, a pool party! Izzy has gone complete with kaftan top and lip gloss to complete her look.

So here she is, my independant 11 year old, all packed and ready for her school trip.

love this quote, so apt for me right now

If I am still blogging in 5 years time, I am sure there will be a similar post about her off to Uni or something!

I know she will have a wonderful time and I cannot wiat to pick her up on Friday and hear all about her week.

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

Its been a well overdue visited, but today I made it to the hairdressers! I did go yesterday but my appointment was today. Izzy helped my colour my hair last weekend and today I got a restyle!

I had my fringe (or bangs to my friends across the pond) cut in again.


So what do you think?
Thanks to Izzy for taking this photo for me. My iPhone attempts were hideous!

Anna x

Its half term here, and I have one poorly girl in the house, so most of our plans have been cancelled this week. Instead we are choosing the warmth of home and the sofa and lots of cuddles!

photography challenge I did yesterday to capture love and heartache

This blog is getting seriously neglected as of late. I am going to try my best and sort some kind of routine out for it. Start sharing some of my favorite finds on the web, as well as the usual home life posts!

If you are looking for photography related posts from me, then do pop on over to my new photography blog here, would love to see you drop by!

Thanks for stopping by
Anna x

Yikes where has 2012 gone already! Sorry for the lack of posting. Like most working mums the past few months are hectic with school activities, the kids, getting orders out for Christmas and Christmas itself!

Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and New Year. We had a full house and between sickness bouts, a lovely Christmas was had by all. We all got spoilt rotten and I must have been extra good as I was presented with a new lens I had been hankering for (the 85mm) and an SB900 flash amongst other things.

Mustache on a stick!

New Year we had a black tie do complete with a casino and a photo booth. Due to illness we only had a few people on the night but still alot of fun was had, and drink consumed!

mmmmm

thats more like it!

me and hubs!

the gorgeous Moons

The beginning of the year has been good to me and I have shot a styled shoot for a magazine and a fashion shoot with a pro model. I have lots to look forward to this year with a Burlesque workshop to attend next month in Brighton and I have been asked to be a mentor/team leader for a workshop in the middle of the year!

I cannot wait to really get stuck into 2012, hope your year has started off well. Don't forget to pop on over to my photography blog as well...
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

I am at last beginning to feel some Christmas cheer. I am no scrooge but I am so busy at the moment I havnt had time to even think about Christmas. This week though Peter and I did some Christmas shopping on Monday and today I had a good sort out of what I had got the girls, and as usual I have spent more than planned and had gifts hiding I had forgotten I had bought! Anyone else like that?

The other week I did our Christmas card shoot and today they arrived from moo.com. I now have Micheal Buble's Christmas album and the tree and decorations are going up on Saturday!


Cake is baked and being fed, so all in all Christmas is finding its way into our home.
This year we have a full house Christmas Day and I cannot wait. I have to be organized this year as I am shooting a renewel of vowels on Christmas Eve! How romantic is that, just quietly wishing for a winters scene as my backdrop.

How are you getting on with the Christmas plans? Are you all wrapped and packed ready for the big day, or totally disorganized and have nothing bought!?

Would love to hear
Thanks for stopping by
Anna x

I have had a lovely day with the girls and Peter, Nana, brother and partner! I cooked lunch, and I really dont mind as I enjoy cooking. We had Roast Beef with all the trimmings and I made 2 puds!
Nigellas Lemon Meriunge Cake and Hestons cherry and chocolate pudding.




The day started with Izzy presenting me with a home baked cake that she made in the morning (she got up at 6.30am to bake it!) for breakfast!!!! Hey its never the wrong time of day for cake LOL. The girls bought me a gorgeous Momiji doll and a cute cuddly rabbit.



Izzy prepared the table for lunch and also picked flowers from the garden to add to the table. Lilly sang to us after lunch and the girls then put on a puppet show, with us all in the show. I must share pictures as Izzy and Lilly had built a stage and made puppets of us all including Suki!!



I actually made the time and effort to have a photo taken with Izzy today. I read a really interesting article, "Is there a perfect time?" to have a family photo shoot. I wont delve into it here, but please take the time to go and read it, it will make you be in front of the camera just a bit more often!



Finally tonight Pencil Lines sketch 232 goes live with our new design team, so exciting!! and our guest is pretty awesome too as is this months RAK!

Pop on over and be inspired!
Hope you all had a lovely Mothers Day UK mums, and as always, thanks for stopping by
Anna x

Life; we take each day as it comes, with the good and the bad, the ups and the downs. This last week has been a mix of them all. I have been signed off work again with back problems and am now working with a physio and acupuncturist with Bupa to make me fit and able again! It seems that work and me are not very compatable which makes me a bit miserable at the end of the day. I am utilizing the time off for a big rethink and an appointment with the Dr's tomorrow will hopefully give me the answers I am looking for.
The medication I am on totally zonks me but I am not sure actually deals with the pain! I end up taking the meds to take away the rough hungover feeling to then be zonked again and am in a vicious circle of feeling rough, zonked, rough, zonked! Not a good place to be.
 I havnt been able to scrap much as I can't sit at my desk for long, the same with the computer. Boohoo!!


Anyways, it was my darling husbands birthday yesterday and we had lunch at Nana's with the family.
I cannot believe how much Izzy is growing some days. She just settled herself in the kitchen with Nana and Auntie Linda busying herself prepping lunch with them!



She also made us breakfast in bed; pancakes of course ;), and had wrapped Peters presents for me, she really can pull out all the stops just when i need her the most!

Hoping this week to start turning a corner, back at the physio on Wednesday, want to get back to editing some photos! My photography website should be live any day, am just waiting for my server to turn the switch on!

Hope you all had a lovely weekend
Thanks for stopping by, hope to have some pretties to share here this week
Anna xx

Today the girls had a theme day. They had to take an item from 1950 - 2000 and dress as that decade. The school has literally given as a few days notice, so I was slightly panicky. I wasnt keen on the girls taking to school anything of too much value, and last night we eventually came up with a theme for the girls ; music! As a music loving family of all types of music, this just seemed natural. Peter took to the loft and dug out the vinyls, remember those days?!
A picture heavy post!

Izzy went as an eighties pop princess, very Madonna ish! Not that hard these days as Izzy's wardrobe has leggings, backwing tops and mini "ish" skirts.
Kids makeup is garish in colour and Claires accessories is full of neon stuff which Izzy already had!





Boy did I have fun playing with the finishing touches! Big yellow hair tie, black pumps, purple eyeshadow and a back combed fringe!!!
Izzy loved being the girly girl, and I reckon she would have been a perfect 80's follower!

purple eyeshadow!

the classic fabric hair accessorie

Lilly went armed with an early Adam and the Ants vinyl (Dirk wears White Sox, pre pop 1979) and was dressed as a Punk Rocker!

tattooed knuckle

I took some plain black leggings, dropped and smeared bleach on them and then cut slits.
Back combed her hair, dark grey eyeshadow and liner, black lips and "punk" and "rock" tattooed on her knuckles for the finishing touches. Lilly does the punk attitidue so well, LOL

the details

just had to smile for me

Too much fun was had by me to be honest!

I felt totally under dressed with my straight hair and paired down makeup today!

Has my post bought back memories from your childhood? I was a huge Adam and the Ants Fan, and was always sporting pedal pushers, military jacket and a white stripe across my face,LOL, at the weekend. Where you a new romantic or a little more edgy!?

Thanks for stopping by,
Anna x

My new va va voom for scrapping came in handy at just the right time as it was crop day today.

I had a few magazine commissions to do and played with some new Niiki Sivils, Bo Bunny and Basic Grey!

new Nikki Sivils :)

After dropping Sue back at the train station, I came home to Izzy cooking a 3 course meal!
Garlic Bread for starters ( i had to decline), Spaghetti Bolognaise, although I had the sauce only with some scrumptious green beans, and pud was something naughty but awfully nice looking. For me a yoghurt! It was the best dinner I ahve tasted in a long time, and thats because Izzy cooked it!

she also set the table

Izzy has been watching Michele Roux's Service with us and was serving wine and food just like them, was so hard not to giggle a little!

Hope you all had a lovely weekend. Don't forget to pop by Pencil Lines later tonight for a  new sketch and guest designer.
Thanks for stopping by,
Anna x

Today I am sharing a couple of photos of Izzy.
Izzy loves hats! And if I am allowed to say so, thinks she loOks pretty stunning in any hat she pops on her head.

Here she is sporting a hat of her dads!



this is a knitted beret



and here we have a santa hat



I am currently working on some cute button projects for Such Sweet Tierney at the moment. Hope to share real soon. Also working on some Nikki Sivils projects and a little birdie tellms me that Nikki's 2011 releases are A.M.A.Z.I.N.G!!!! seriously out of this wrold, I so cannot wait to get my mitts on them.
Hope you are all well
Thanks for stopping by
Anna x

and i am totally addicted! The fact that this palm sized piece of technology allows me to play games, make phone calls, browse the net, listen to music and so much more. Sad I know, but I have had a bog standard phone for so long now this is such a novelty for me.

my new toy

So thats where I have been all weekend, glued to the sofa tinkering with my iphone!

And then we got one of these;



We traded in our Wii for a Kinect, and more fun and games entailed, LOL. The dancing game is awesome!!!

Hope you had a fun weekend
Thanks for stopping by
Anna x