Alice's Christening present

We are off to London for the weekend as it's our friend's daughter's christening in Holborn on Sunday. Jamie is to be Alice's Godfather and we have been scratching our heads for an original christening gift. Then I rememberd the London cut-work print above, by Famille Summerbelle which I have just collected from the framers . The detail is very sweet and hopefully it will make a cheery addition to Alice's nursery.

The London map also comes in turquoise and they have Paris and New York maps too.

Banana cupcakes

Ingredients
225g plain flour
1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda
2 1/2 tsps baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
110g butter
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 bananas
55ml milk, or buttermilk
2 eggs
115g caster sugar

1. Prehead oven to 190 C or Gas mark 5.
2. Sift the salt, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda and flour into a bowl.
3. Cream the butter and vanilla together in a separate bowl.
4. Gradually add the the sugar to the butter mix until it's all combined and light and fluffy.
5. Add the eggs one at a time beating until fully mixed.
6. Mash the bananas together reserving 1/2 a banana for the topping.
7. Add a bit of milk, then the dry mixture, then some of the mashed banana - beat well after each addition until it's all combined in one bowl.
8. Fill cupcakes about 1/2 full and place a slice of banana on top of each one.
9. Bake for 20 mins.

Shoes, shoes, shoes...

I've never enjoyed shoe shopping. I've got size 9 feet (I know, I know) and my school years were spent trying and failing, to get shoes that were remotely fashionable. I've spent most of my adult life in Converse and Uggs and pretty much dreading any occasion that needed 'proper shoes'. So my love affair with children's shoes has been unexpected to say the least.

It's E's birthday next month and these lovelies by Danish brand Angulus are definitely on my (fantasy) wish list. Available by mail order (£46.00) from http://www.cs-box.co.uk/

Traditional Puppet Show

Last year we went to a birthday party where we were lucky enough to be treated to a puppet show by the Bristol-based Tallulah Swirls Puppet Theatre. Amy Lloyd-Jones creates and writes all the shows herself and it was amazing to watch all the children spell-bound gazing at the puppet show. It can be quite difficult to find entertaining traditional entertainment for children these days with so many gadgets competing for their attention so it's lovely to find a company providing this kind of entertainment.

Changing Bag Loveliness

Two children and heavy use proved too much for my Cath Kidston cowboyprint changing bag which broke irreparably a few months ago. I'm now searching for a replacement before Baby 3 arrives in June. It has to be something my partner is happy to be seen carrying (so nothing floral or too girly), large enough to fit 5 reusable nappies as E will still be in nappies and waterproof. The front runner at the moment is this one (£45.00) from Anorak which also comes in a rabbit and stag print.