North School Bears Cross Country Win!

Caity has been training at school since she went back in September twice a week for cross country and today was race day against the other two local elementary schools.

Sprinting the final 100 meters to the finish line!
(she's the small one in the red tshirt)

She did absolutely fabulous, despite getting a cramp right at the start she "pushed through it" as she told me because she was determined to do her best, I'm so totally and utterly proud of her I could burst!

North School Bears Cross Country Team
(Lil Bear is 1st row, 2nd from left)

I find sports locally in the schools here sometimes too competetive and I have always tried to encourage her just to do the best she can and above all else have fun. This was one sport I felt she could be part of without so much of the pressure on winning, rather than taking part and doing your personal best although I'm very happy to report that the North School girls actually won the plaque for the overall best score for a girls team.

Celebrating Winning Overall Best Girls Team

Compared to most of the 5th graders she's a tiny lil bear with a heart as big as infinity and determination to match and today was one day I won't forget for a long time to come.

More From Our Visit To The UK

Sandcastle Building Competition at Paignton Childrens Week

So I promised I'd update with some more pictures from our trip back home to England at the end of the summer. One of our favorite parts of the trip was our week in Paignton where we visited with my step mom Denise and took part in childrens week. Caity took part in lots of the activities including the sandcastle building competition which was a lot of fun.


Caity with Nana Denise

The day we left the skies grew dark, I guess the weather picked up on my sadness to be leaving, but the view from the train window was breathtaking and photographed beautifully dark and mysterious.


The View Taken From The Train Across Torbay The Day We Left

And The Winner Is!

Thank you to everyone that entered the Back To School Super Giveaway!

The winner is:

Post #27 which is LoveCharlesVintage!!!

Congratulations

New Halloween Giveaway coming soon, so keep checking back for more chances to win

Back To School Super Giveaway!

It's that time of year when we're getting the kids back to school and back into our regular routines and what better way to celebrate than a brand new giveaway!!

This time around it's for a mystery box of lollipops and candy jewels valued at over $20!!

Entry is easy, just visit my Sweet Lollipop Shop Etsy shop then come back here and post telling me which flavor or sweet treat you like the best.

*Want more entries?*
-Post this giveaway on Twitter/Facebook.
-Follow me on TWITTER
-Become a fan on facebook Sweet Lollipop Facebook Page(you could win a second mystery box, see facebook page for details)
-Blog about this giveaway and leave a post that you did and where.(2 EXTRA ENTRIES!!)
-Add my button to your blog
-Subscribe to and/or follow my blog (Make sure you activate your subscription!)

Each of these can give you another entry! Please leave a separate comment for each one and what it is for!
Rules: In order to win, you must provide a valid email. I will be notifying the winner by email. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to me with their name and address. If this information is not received within 48 hours new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is opened to everyone, everywhere.

The winner will recieve a package containing over $20 worth of delicious handmade crystal barley hard candy lollipops and jewels.

Giveaway Ends: Wednesday 30th September 2009 @ 12pm EST

The Butterfly Jungle

So because I was unable to post updates & pictures from our trip whilst we were away, I have decided to post some highlights with pictures now that we're home.



We're starting with our first day in the UK, we headed down to London on the train and found this beautiful and magical place called "Butterfly Jungle". It's on the same grounds as the Natural History Museum and the cost is reasonable - 6 pounds for adults and 4 pounds for children which includes a donation to the museum(which is free to get in).



When you enter it's like going inside a tropical paradise along with the intense heat and humidity, walking through the butterfly trail, the butterflies are everywhere and you can literally get within inches of them with your camera to get photographs. Take a seat on the far side near the feeding station and if you're lucky they will actually land on you!



Need an escape from the heat, you can pop outside to the jungle play area, it's small but big enough to let the kids blow off some steam whilst you take a break for a few minutes.



Back inside you can look through the windows of the butterfly house and see butterflies actually emerging from their pupae before finishing along the end of the butterfly trail and heading back outside. Definitely worth a visit and one of our favorite places to visit during our trip.

We're Back From Summer Vacation!

Caity riding the carousel on Paignton Green

After almost a whole month in the United Kingdom visiting with family I am back in sunny New Hampshire and ready to begin making delicious lollipops and sweeties once more!!

The visit back home was wonderful, I took my lil Caity bear with me to meet all my family for the very first time as I haven't been home in over 12 years and everyone fell in love with her right away - but then I never expected anything different!

We had 2 full sight seeing days in London which was hectic but fun, then spent some time at my mothers in the Lake District, followed by some time in Manchester visiting my sisters and their children, then a week in Devon visiting with my brother, dad and step mom and then finally a few days back in Manchester to see my sister and grandad and back home to NH.


This is Caity with her great grandad Ron.

My mothers husband Bernie was a gem, teaching Caity how to ride a bike without stabilizers - this makes two new firsts for her this summer as she also learnt to swim the month before thanks to some fabulous lessons at the local sports center! I was so proud of her, she practised until she could get it right, refusing to put the bike down despite having blisters on her hands from gripping the handlebars AND 19 bruises and scrapes on her legs!!

Been back a few days, still adjusting to the 5 hour time difference and getting back on track with orders - lots of new flavors and shapes coming this fall so keep watching, and of course lots of new giveaways!!

And The Winner Is!

Thank you to everyone that entered the Celebrate Summer Vacation giveaway!

The winner is:

Post #61 which is Ladytink_534!!!

Congratulations

New flavor correct answer was
Blueberry Vanilla!

New Giveaway coming soon, so keep checking back for more chances to win

Celebrate Summer Vacation Giveaway

It's time for a brand new giveaway to celebrate the start of summer vacation!!

This time around it's for a mystery selection of jewels crystal barley hard candy valued at over $10.

Entry is easy, just visit my Sweet Lollipop Shop Etsy shop via the link below and then come back here and post telling me which flavor or sweet treat you like the best.

To Enter: You must visit Sweet Lollipop Shop and come back here to tell me your favorite item!

*Want more entries?*
-Post this giveaway on Twitter/Facebook.
-Follow me on TWITTER
-Blog about this giveaway and leave a post that you did and where.(2 EXTRA ENTRIES!!)
-Add my button to your blog
-Subscribe to and/or follow my blog (Make sure you activate your subscription!)

Each of these can give you another entry! Please leave a separate comment for each one and what it is for!
Rules: In order to win, you must provide a valid email. I will be notifying the winner by email. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to me with their name and address. If this information is not received within 48 hours new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is opened to everyone, everywhere.

The winner will recieve a package containing over $10 worth of crystal jewels candies

Want to win more?

Then guess the new flavor being introduced into the store this week and win that flavor of jewel crystal candies also!
Giveaway Ends: Friday 3rd July 2009 @ 12pm EST

TASTY TUESDAY!

Starting this week I'll be featuring a new weekly foodie post, featuring a delicious recipe idea or other great food recommedation. This week I decided to share my quick and easy leftovers recipe for "chicken curry".

Being British I absolutely LOVE curry and rice, unfortunately here in New England you just can't find a good take-out curry so I learned quickly it was much easier to make my own. I have various recipes, this is my fast and easy version using leftover cooked chicken breast and any style rice you have available. It's a favorite of my kids and doesn't last long in our house!

Ingredients:

Leftover cooked chicken breast (diced or roughly chopped)
Third of a jar of Pataks Mild Curry Paste(available in grocery stores & online)
Reg Size Can Tomato Sauce (approx 16oz)
White Rice
Corn Starch (optional)

Directions:

Spray a little pam in a deep non stick saute pan and add chicken breast warming slowly. Add curry paste and stir to coat chicken and continue warming on low/medium heat. Add can tomato sauce and continue to heat, using empty tomato sauce can fill to about half way with cold water and add to pan, continuing to stir and heat. Bring to boil and simmer for 20 minutes on a low heat setting stirring occasionally.

You can add more water for a thinner curry sauce. If you need to thicken your sauce, mix a little corn starch in some cold water and then add to hot curry sauce stirring in immediately.

Whilst sauce is cooking, make up your rice according to package instructions and serve sauce over cooked rice.

Serve and enjoy!

Makes about 4-6 portions.

And The Winner Is ...

Thank you to everyone that entered the Ready For Summer giveaway!

The winner is:

Post #51 which is Donna!!!

Congratulations

New Giveaway coming soon, so keep checking back for more chances to win!

Ready For Summer Giveaway

Yes folks! It's that time again, time for a brand new giveaway, and this time it's going to be a sweet treat indeed! Entry is easy, just visit my Sweet Lollipop Shop Etsy shop via the link below and then come back here and post telling me which sweet treat you like the best.

To Enter: You must visit Sweet Lollipop Shop store and come back here to tell me your favorite item!

*Want more entries?*
-Post this giveaway on Twitter/Facebook.
-Follow me on TWITTER
-Blog about this giveaway and leave a post that you did and where.(2 EXTRA ENTRIES!!)
-Add my button to your blog
-Subscribe to and/or follow my blog (Make sure you activate your subscription!)

Each of these can give you another entry! Please leave a separate comment for each one and what it is for!

Rules: In order to win, you must provide a valid email. I will be notifying the winner by email. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to me with their name and address. If this information is not received within 48 hours new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is opened to everyone, everywhere.

The winner will recieve a fabulous mystery box of crystal barley hard candy lollipops and jewels candy valued at over $15!

Giveaway Ends: Sunday May 31st 2009 @ 12pm EST

Ready For Summer ?

The sun is shining, the leaves are back on the trees, could it be that Springtime has finally arrived? We've had some odd weather here recently, one day there's a frost warning "brrrrr" the next its 90 degrees and I'm stuck inside thankful for the air conditioning.

So much has happened recently, I can barely keep up! Work wise things are especially busy, lots and lots of lobsters this month for weddings. I'm grateful for the extra help from Caity Bear, she's one amazing kid and just created and presented a fabulous project for the Key Program at school named "All About Candy".

On the home front it's spring cleaning time once again, last weekend Ed and Caity tackled the mess of wood and junk cluttering the basement, I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the garage will get a similar makeover this weekend. I'm being very careful to pace myself, I have been learning it is easier to break physical tasks up to make them more manageable and I'm hoping to get on top of things that way.

On the family front my oldest Lauren may be coming home to visit in a few weeks(oh gosh I hope so!), we're very much looking forward to seeing her, in the meantime Caity and I are crossing our fingers that our passports arrive so we can begin to plan a visit to see our family in the UK. Adam just had his 18th birthday and is growing up way too fast, hopefully we'll still get to see him in August when he goes on leave from the Air Force.

Now if only the spiders and bugs would go away, life could be perfect!

NEW YORK NEW YORK

After a great visit with my brother, he planted the notion of visiting New York City which wasn't feasible when he was here with such short notice but with last weeks Spring Break I just couldn't resist taking Caity on a whim as she's asked to do this so many times! I've been so busy with work, she totally deserved some special one on one time with her mummy and to get away for a few days with her was simply amazing - no work, no worries, just us enjoying each other and some fun together.

We purchased a New York pass which got us into a lot of attractions for one price, the advantage is you save a little money, the disadvantage is you're rushing around more to make sure you get as many places in before it runs out! As you can see, Caity enjoyed posing with the president and writing down some ideas for him to consider during his administration. (picture taken at Madame Tussauds)

Her favorite stop was the Statue of Liberty, she got the biggest thrill from being able to run across the grass to the base of the statue and touch it, unfortunately we couldn't go up in the statue as you needed to book that a week in advance but that didn't matter at all and the permanent smiles on her face were such a thrill for me.

Family Time

I know I know !! But I do have a very good excuse for not posting in 19 days, honestly!! As many folks know I am originally from the UK, well it's been 12 years since I was home and this month my brother Christian is visiting and I've been doing my best to make his stay as fun as possible. The picture of Christian, Amy and Caity was taken during our chilly trip to Hampton Beach last Friday!

It's hard to believe that this towering 22 year old man is the same 10 year old little kid that I said goodbye to all those years ago, he's absolutely remarkable and a credit to my dad. He's fabulous with Caity Bear, has been helping her with her homework, teaching her funny songs and games to drive me crazy and taking her outside daily to play soccer.

He goes back to the UK on Saturday and I'm going to miss him, having him here has reminded me just how much I do miss my family, especially my dad so I've made the decision to do my best to get passports for myself and Bear so that we can go and visit.

And The Winner Is ...

Thank you to everyone that entered the Easter Ducky soap and candy surprise giveaway!

The winner is:

Lily Bean Designs!!!

Congratulations

New Giveaway coming in a few weeks, so keep checking back for more chances to win!