Magic Christmas Memories

Can you believe its Monday again. I swear I have no idea where all the time goes lol. Maybe its just me getting older. When you are young the months and years seem to go on forever, then once you reach a certain age time seems to fly and you are racing to keep up. 

As we all know its been Christmas this past week. I have to say this time of year is my totally all time fave. I love cold weather, I love being at home all cosy and I love to give gifts. I really enjoy putting up the decorations and totally adore Christmas lights, they make me smile. Its also a time were those of us that have lost loved one or friends think of them. At my age sadly I have lost a few and everyone one is love and missed. I just recently lost a dear cyber sister who I had made such a strong bond with. It makes me smile about all the magic moments we had, and she totally loved Christmas.

We started off at home opening gifts with  my daughter. I was brought to tears when my husband gave me a voucher to say he had bought me a two day cake course which a cake super star! He also me a fab camera and some great  boots. Looks of really useful stuff from Natalie and money to get a card for my new fancy camera (when i can work it lol) which was lovely.

Elf Ian

My daughter Natalie's last Christmas
before becoming a mummy

This year my son Matthew and his wife Karen and our grandson Nathan were the hosts. I think there were 13 of us including my daughter Natalie ( who is pregnant with a our grand daughter due in feb) and her partner Ian. Plus the only great granddad Charlie who is my hubbies dad.

My son did all the cooking and lucky for us he takes after his dad . I can cook but I would rather do my cakes lol. 

Auntie Natalie and Nathan

Nathan and mummy Karen in his Christmas PJ's

Lets start eating!

Asleep in his cot but still joining us for dinner

Nathan and his first train

Aunt Natalie and Nathan

~ Sweet course made by my husband ~

How many presents!

It was also special as my daughter in laws mum had a cousin and his wife over from Australia which was really nice. Such a lovely couple Monika and Graham and I really felt we had known them for years .

 Monika Graham are big fans of My kitchen Rules and it is huge in Australia. So they were even more delighted to meet my husband Kevin and he was along side his friend the first UK winner of MKR last year. So this picture was just for them to take back to show everyone lol.

First UK my kitchen rules winner and Monika and Graham

 Lots of wonderful gifts were received and given and we all were so lucky to have the joy of spending a lovely day together. We had some wonderful gifts but my son and daughter in law got me a wonderful canvas picture of my grandson when he was born which was extra special.

Nanna and Nanny proudly showing their pictures

It was topped off my a visit in the evening from friends of my daughter in laws family, Barbara, Alan and Katie which is always so nice.

I have much to be grateful for this year and although health issues still cause's me pain, I keep sailing on. I hope you have had a wonderful Christmas too and that Santa was as kind to you as he was to me.

Silent Sunday:28/12/14

Magic Moments : Best Friends Forever

Sue and her husband laurence

Well its Monday again and time to link up with The Olivers Madhouse for magic moments.
This week I would like to tell you all about my best friend sue.When my daughter was five she had a party. All the guest were invited and it was only a small party, and the scene was set. Then a couple of days later she asked if she could invite someone called Lindsey, who I was told was in her class. I have to admit I was thinking " Oh no", not only another full of energy five year old but that she may live miles away and I would have to walk her home lol.
My daughter took me by the hand and walked me to the window. Pointed at the house across the room and told me that was where she lived.
Party was a great success and the next day we went to walk to school and my daughter pulled me along and wanted to walk with Lindsey.
That was the start of a 23 year friendship between the girls but more important between the mums. From that point on with all became firm friends and shared lots of fun, laughter and tears along the way. We moved about 16 years ago but still remain friends even if we don't see so much of each other.
We do say its not a just a friendship but more like sisters, in fact I feel like she is my sister which is great. I think we are lucky to have maybe one or two dear friends in life , and i can honestly say Sue is my dearest.
So because we don't say it enough, I would like to say thanks for being my friend and love you loads.
Go tell your friend how much you care today.... go on I dare you lol

Silent Sunday 21/12/14

Gu Hot Chocolate Review

Like most woman I enjoy chocolate. At this time of the year what with it being cold and the need to be cosy, you can't beat a cup of hot chocolate. I also love cold chocolate milk as it would something that was a huge favourite when I was little.
I was lucky enough get to try a new chocolate drink by the makers Gu , who also make the most yummy puddings.
I was also given a challenge to make a chocolate cup to drink it from. Well I thought after tasting it how delicious it was and far too nice not to make more from it. I am lucky my husband Kevin is part of the first UK My kitchen rules winners team, so he is a very good cook. I asked if it was possible to make a mousse from the GU chocolate and he set about doing just that.
He added whisked egg white and double cream and a little icing sugar into the GU chocolate milk and made a totally yummy dessert.
Then it was my part! If you read my blog you know I enjoy making cakes and more importantly I love to decorate cakes. So I had a hard task to make chocolate cups from modelling chocolate and also chocolate mice. I loved making it and we had fun coming up with a great way of making something with the GU drink.

I hope you enjoy it as much as we did. GU have lots of lovely yummy things and you can find loads of information at their web site.

http://www.gupuds.com/

please note I was not paid for this review only receiving a sample of the product

Silent Sunday:14.12.14

Ring out the bells its nearly Christmas

So I know it is not Christmas yet and not the end of the year yet either. However I thought I would sum up my 2014 before we all got so busy.
I have to say I think the year has flown past in a flash, in fact it only seems a second ago that I was planning Christmas 2013.
I think it has been a good year, one of new beginnings and one of going over old problems! I do think as you get older you tend to look back and wonder whatever happened to all that time you thought you had.
Christmas last year was wonderful as on Christmas day our darling son Matthew and his wonderful wife told us they were expecting. It was so great and one of those times you will never ever forget.
We were so excited to be grandparents for the first time, and we were counting the seconds till our grandson arrived.
On June 8th on the day of his baby shower Nathan Charles Cook arrived in the world. Mummy did a fab job and her and Nathan arrived home in time for the shower to surprise everyone.

He is such a little dear and has brought much joy to us and his other grandparents and aunts and uncles. Everyday he seems to grow a bit bigger and I for one can't wait till he is old enough to play or make cakes.

Then just one week after he was born our youngest daughter Natalie told us that she was having a baby also lol. I was so happy for her as life has been tough, she had found the most darling partner in Ian and we are so happy. She has know Ian since they were teenagers but only as friends but then love arrived and we could not be happier for them.
They are expecting a daughter in Febuary 2015 and I hope a playmate for Nathan as they get bigger.

On a personal level my health and weight has continued to challenge me everyday, but like my blog name I try to be "Jolly" when I can. I can tell you I am not going down without a fight lol.


As for the blog I push on with my learning curve which at times is steep. I think I write some things that people like to read, and I am so happy people do. In January I think its around 4 years since the blog was born, and I still love to write on it. I know there is so much more I can do if I can learn and grow.

 In past years I have seen  BritmumsLive and wished I could go. I did not think it was for me as I am just a plain old housewife and I would be so far out of my comfort zone. So this year I thought that I needed to pull on my big girl pants and plan on going. I also hoped that someone out there would sponsor me as I really wanted to represent a brand.
You can imagine how so excited I was to be sponsored by a really lovely company called
Lifestory bank. I wonderful place to record all your memories for your loved ones, which I thought was a totally fab idea. I am so honoured to be working with them and hope I can do a great job. Please take the time to check out their fab web site as it really is great.

So going into 2015 I have much to look forward too. A granddaughter and grandson to enjoy and a trip to Britmums live to learn more about the wonderful world of blogging. I also look forward reading everyone's blog posts around the world and in the UK.
So Jollyjillys would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and thank you so much for all your support over 2014. Please keep coming back xx

Festive Food Saviours from Birds Eye

As Christmas fast comes up on us , we are as busy people looking for ways to make food interesting and not give into all the mince pies and so on. Birds Eye have so many tasty treats that the list is endless. Below are just a few but if you head over to the Birds Eye web site you can find so many more. I love the steam vegetable as they are so quick to cook, and so yummy. Plus as I am always looking to lose weight , they are good for you too. So stock up today when you are out buying your Christmas goodies.

www.Bird eye .com

Please note I was not paid for this review, only recieving a voucher to try a product.

Magic Moments : cats and love!

So it is very early on Monday and time once again to join in with Magic moments. This week I was thinking about some very special wee people that are and have been in my life. Anyone who knows me can tell you I love my pets. I am now going to make a full confession! I am a crazy cat lady lol
I adore cats and I have been lucky to have a few in my life. My last three have all been special in lots of ways.  I still one of the three with me and her name is Daisy! She is a very old lady about 16 yrs old but still going strong. She is no bother really apart from obsessive compulsive about any form of food. No matter how much food she has, soon as I go anywhere near the kitchen she is there lol. She like to sit on my lap for a cuddle but only on her terms and only me.

My other cat was Cfer . From the very second she came into my love she was special. We had a bond that was so strong . She was such a loving little thing and would come and sit on my lap for a cuddle anytime. My most favourite Magic moment was at night when she would lie full length to my body until I feel asleep. My constant companion for over 16 years. When she passed away for me it was just like losing a human and even today some three years on I still miss her.

I like to think back about all the great times I shared with her and how much love she gave us all . If a friend loses a pet please be kind and remember to that person this pet was a family member. My cat was full to the brim of magic moments, ones I will think of forever.

Silent Sunday:07/12/12

Gro Light Review

As I have become a grandmother this year to a grandson and a granddaughter in Feb 2015 , I was delighted to try this neat product.
The Gro light allows you to change the light in your baby or child's room to fit with your or their needs. The Gro-light fits easily to your normal overhead light or beside lamp and fills your baby's room with a soft flow when you flick the light switch once. Use it as a nightlight, or simply to check on your baby without waking them. Flick the switch twice and you've got you usual full light back.
It was very simple and easy to fit and easy to use. Really Handy if you have to get up and feed baby as you can have the light at a level to fit your needs. I think it is a great idea and one that you can use for years so great value for money.

Go over to Gro light  for lots more great products and information.

Please not I was not paid for this review, only receiving a sample of the product

Happy birthday (cake)!

It's very early on Monday morning! I went to bed and couldn't sleep so I thought I would get up and join my fave link up  "magic moments"!
This weekend has been a busy one as it was my son Matthews 33rd birthday. I swear the last 33 years have flown past, one second he was tiny and now he's a grown man. This birthday was also special for him as it was his first as a dad, his little boy Nathan was born in June.

He is just a good a dad as he is a son and we are so proud of the man he has become. You always worry that you have been the best parent you can be for your kids, and I hope we have done that for our two. So if you read this blog often you will know that I enjoy making and decorating cakes. Now last year I made Matthew his cake and he joked about this years cake. He said he wanted a 3D Iron Man with light up eyes. I told he him was out of his mind as it was far out of my skill level. Before I knew it his birthday was here again and the cake idea was high on my list of " can I ?"

I left it pretty late because I was sure it was not going to happen at all. So long story short here is the finished cake. I think I surprised Matthew and he was happy with it. I was delighted and proud of myself for doing it. He has already started thinking of next years challenge lol

Happy Birthday Matthew love you more than I can ever say xxxxx