It's a New Year

2015 is about to begin. It always seems like the past year has gone by incredibly fast when I look back every year. But 2014 has topped all of them by far. 

I never imagined that at 20 I would be engaged to the most wonderful man, about to finished University and begin life as an 'adult'. 

I've had Writer Baker Maker for a year now and can't quite believe it. I'm constantly thankful that I started blogging. 

I thought it best to kick off the New Year in the traditional way with some resolutions, I'm not going to go crazy and try to be reasonable with my list this year. We all know how hard it can be to stick to them so I'm going to make them realistic.

1. Write in a diary. I used to keep a diary and it was always so nice to look back at what had happened in my life, I'd like to have that again. I've also had a beautiful notebook for years and I think it's time to take the plunge and write in it. 

2. Cook and bake more! I love to bake and cook but it falls by the wayside a lot when I'm busy doing other things, or just being too lazy to put the effort in. So this year I'm going to experiment more, I'm going to bring out all the recipes I've sticky noted in my cookbooks and be a little more adventurous. 

3. Read more books. I love to read, it's always been my favourite passtime and after loosing my kindle a few months ago and only just discovering it again I realised how much I missed reading. 

4. Take more baths. I used to hate baths and never really liked Lush products but I've given both things a second chance this last year. So I want to take more time to relax and enjoy a bath now and again. 

5. Be more active. I'm not going to make a crazy resolution to loose lots of weight this year because I don't feel like I need to but I do want to be more active, there's a pool around the corner from our house and I want to start swimming more often. Get out my yoga mat and be more healthy this year. 

6. Drink more water. It's a new year so I've bought myself a new Bobble water bottle and I'm aiming to drink my recommended intake everyday. 

7. Keep organised! I have tons of notebooks and now a calendar and week planner so I have all the tools to be prepared and ahead of the game hopefully this year I'll be on top of everything. 

8. Start something new. I don't know entirely what yet but I want to try and start something new that I've never done before. 

9. Write more notes and letters. You all know I love to write and I love to write to people knowing how exciting it is to receive a hand written letter. So I hope to do more of that, to keep in touch with people I love in my favourite way. 

10. I want to remember everyday to be grateful for everything I have. I am so incredibly lucky and I hope I can be appreciative of that. 

I hope you all had a wonderful New Years Eve, whether you stayed home in your pyjamas or went out in your best dress. 

Here's to a new year. Bring it on 2015. 

Katy xx

Wedding Wednesday: My wedding notebook

I thought for this Wedding Wednesday I'd give you all a little peak at my wedding notebook!

I've been writing down my ideas and plans. All the things we've decided on and I've doodled next to them.

I just have a simple ring binder from WH Smiths.

So far my favourite magazines to flick through have been You&Your Wedding and Brides, they have plenty of content and lots of real weddings of all different themes.

I have lots of cuttings from magazines. That I throw in the back of my book to look at whenever I'm thinking of making a decision about something.

Lots of floaty, chiffon dress inspiration. I'm especially in love with the one in the middle from Ti Adora.

I split my book into sections and wrote down all our initial ideas for what we wanted.

We've pretty much decided on our wedding venue and just need to organise a time to go and see it officially. But from all the pictures and info we've seen we couldn't imagine anywhere more suited to us. 

Doodles for the entrance.

Wedding dress sketches.

Our aim is to do a lot of the decorations, invitations and food like desert table and drinks ourselves. Which will save us money and we'll enjoy doing at the same time.

I also started a list of music in the back of the book to write down songs I hear and love.

I keep smiling every time I look at G and remember that I get to marry that amazing man. And I know I've caught him smiling at me a few times too. 

We're beyond excited and can't wait to officially start planning, booking and making. 

Katy xx

Mother Day gift ideas:

So I thought you all might appreciate a few ideas for Mother's Day, I love to make my gifts because I think it's so much more personal. But I don't just restrict myself to the actual gifts, cards and wrapping can all be personalised too! I love to receive a gift that's so beautifully wrapped I can barely bring myself to open it, so I make sure that if I give a gift it's wrapped all pretty.

Here's some quick and easy ideas for presents and also for wrapping:

1. Cupcakes!

This must be one of the simplest ways to make your Mum something delicious and pretty. Try this recipe for Jammy Cupcakes and personalise with you Mum's favourite flavour of jam. 

2. A wall print.

Is there a quote your Mum loves or just want to tell her how much you love her? Try this wall print you can draw yourself for her. 

3. Hand embroidery.

My constellation embroidery can be personalised for you Mum too! Either choose her star sign or maybe her name and favourite colours, leave it in the embroidery hoop and she can easily hang it as a reminder of how much you love her. 

4. Hand painted plates.

Hand painted plates look wonderful and have that lovely handmade quality your Mum will love. Choose a pretty pattern, write her name or paint something she loves like a cupcake or a book. 

5. Personalised cards

Make your Mum a card, for these I dug out all my crafty bits and pieces and got creative. Hint: Washi tape is a lifesaver for jazzing something up! It'll go from simple to creative in just a few seconds!

6. Pin cushion. 

Is your Mum big into sewing try a home-made pin cushion, just grab 2 squares of fabric and sew along 3 of the edges, stuff full of wadding and sew the final side. Pretty, useful and simple! 

7. Pretty packaging. 

I'm posting my Mum's present home to her and wanted it to look pretty and inviting. So I grabbed a simple box and painted some polka dots on. 

8. Gift tags. 

Luggage tags can be a transformed into wonderful gift tags with a few simple ideas. 

Try grabbing some paint and roughly covering one side with a colourful lick of paint, once dry write on top of the paint for a cheerful tag. 

Or put to use that Washi tape collection covering tag with pretty patterns or edging with a floral flourish! 

Need more ideas? Well listen to your Mum, I'm sure she's mentioned things she'd love even if it's just a few nights off making dinner or time alone to relax with a book. 

What are you giving your Mum this year? 

Katy