Butterfly Birthday Cake

Busy busy week again but I still had time to make my Mum a gorgeous cake -


Chocolate sponge, Galaxy Cookie buttercream, dark chocolate ganache and topped off with a white chocolate crunch butterfly.


Soo yummy :-D

We also picked up another male leopard gecko yesterday. Photos to follow.

V xx

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Hard Weekend

So this weekend is has been very tough. We had our hearts set on something and had started to get excited about a big change but the problem is that its all set on the choice that someone else makes. A choice that's not ours but can change the path of our life.

Trying not to be all gloomy I set to wrapping my mums birthday present ready for next week. Out came some old wrapping paper, a hot glue gun and my jar of ribbons. And the is the result -



To be honest I really surprised myself as this was the first crafty thing I've done for months!



Gorgeous and reusable! I really enjoyed making it, think I might make another as a tutorial :-D

Back to work tomorrow. How I live for the weekends. Real shame that this one doesn't have the bight finish I was hoping for.

V x

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Disappearing Act

This time I have to say I did a very long disappearing act!

Thinks have really taken off with me breeding Leopard Geckos. Take a look here - South West Geckos

I've had a 11 hatchlings this year, more than I dreamt I'd have. Last week my last two eggs hatched -





Plans are going strong for next year, super excited.

These guys have taken up most of my spare time so crafting has taken a back burner but art and photography are creeping back into my life! :-D

This morning was a really heavy frost, turned my garden into a thing of beauty -


All being well we're going to be moving house in the new year which will involve a huge clear out :-/ but clear home clear mind. To me the key is storage.

Stay tuned, I won't be long this time! Promise!

V xx

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad2

Gecko Mummy

Great news people. I'm a leopard gecko mummy! If you remember I breed two of my geckos this year and the first ever eggs Nyx laid everyone told me they wouldn't be fertile. I thought that there's no harm in incubating them just incase.

I thought that they've been getting bigger but didn't want to get my hopes up. I've been checking them every morning and night. When I got home from work I had a little surprise.

This time I have to say to all the 'experts' that you're wrong! Today both of those eggs hatched after 49 days in the incubator 82 oF. Check out these photos of my first gecko babies!

This one was waiting for me when I got home, she's so bright in real life -


Then this little one started breaking free -


This is just after she came right out -


Now running on these dates, I'm hoping that the next two eggs will hatch in about two weeks.

I'll keep you updated!

V xxx

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Memory Box

A memory box is something I believe everyone should have. Just for keep random little items gathered through life. I felt like I had out grown my little memory boxes and it was time to get a new big box to replace it.

Here's my old small tatty boxes -


And my nice new big box -


On my travel sorting through my memories I stumbled across a few thing that made me smile from ear to ear. Some of which I'm going to share with you.

My first ever 'pots' thrown on a potters wheel when I was 12 years old -


An aluminium case that my Dad made to put the water bottle for my degu in, an attempt to stop them chewing the bottle. As you can see it failed -


A seahorse that was A gift to me from my aunt about 15 years ago -


All the gig tickets and festival wrist bands that I've managed to keep-


A random photo of me helping out at lambing time on a farm, when i was 16. I was so in my element, so happy and content -


My Hubby when I he was 16 when we'd first met -


And me at the same age -


But my new box is already nearly full, in the top you can see my school leaving top and my bridesmaid dress from my Dads wedding-


That's all for now.

V xxx

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Olympics 2012 London

So after trying and trying to get tickets, we did it!

On Wednesday we saw two matches of handball, including GB playing Brazil! We lost but it wasn't the end of the world.

Here's some photos of the highlights -


You know it's going to be a good day when the second you get off the train promotors give you a strawberry split!





Amazing Coca-Cola building


What's known as the Pringle


Most amazing use of storage containers, BBC studio


Inside the Copper Box, the handball area











Most amazing floor ever! I want it!


Live music all day in the best looking stage ever


One lucky hubby


One unimpressed me for having my photo taken :-/

A very long but very fun day!

V xx





- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Ahhh Bliss

So with a whole week off work, what should I do with myself?

Watching lots of the Olympics - check
Getting annoyed with not being able to get tickets - check
Clothes washing - check
Random photos - check


Who could ever call such a striking flower a weed?!

Cleaning - check
Clearing out - check
Running - check
Buying yet more leopard geckos - check

I know I know, my collection now totals 9 leopard geckos! Best thing is they're all different morphs and all gorgeous! These two are adults, I'll blog tomorrow with photos and more info of them :-D maybe one day soon I'll share with you my plan!

Sleep well

V xxx

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Lizards ......

Not many people know that I recently rescued 2 bearded dragons that weren't being very well looked after. The both had MBD (metabolic bone disease), one was very bad and the other was mild.

I'm not experienced at looking after beardies but I knew more about them then their owner. They hadn't been fed insects for weeks, didn't have the right basking lamp, didn't have fresh fruit and vegetables on a daily basic and had never been given any calcium or vitamins. All that changed the second I got them home.

These are the guys just after I'd fed them -


This guy was a good size and had mild MBD.


This guy was half the size with bad MBD.

Today I said good bye to them after finding them their forever home with someone that takes in rescues and unwanted reptiles.

But also today I said hello to two new Leopard Geckos.

First is a male Mack Snow Enigma weighing 13g -


Second up is a Hypo Mack Snow female weighing 10g -


And their new homes -





Happy day all round!

V xxx

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Happy Sunday

So glad it's Sunday, after a hard week at work and very long gig last night. Now I can finally relax for a few hours.

My relaxation started with making my very own 100% natural lip balm. A mix of natural beeswax, sweet almond oil, coconut oil, Shea butter and some essential oils to flavour. I'm one happy bunny with how this turned out - not bad for a first batch!



I was a bit messy at pouring into the tubs so I have a messy jar for using up myself. It's smells lovely, silky on the lips and not greasy to use.

No to give my leopard geckos some TLC.

V xxx


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad2

Amazing Random Evening

Last night I went out for a walk with the wonderful Harry. Up to Alfred's Tower for a muddy stroll. Which ended up with us in fits of laughter as I lost my trainer in the mud. Which by the way led to me finding out just how lush it feels to walk with the mud squishing through your toes!

It was then followed by drinks in the gorgeous The Chapel of Bruton. I had the most fabulous pot of fresh mint tea which was so nice I followed it up with a pot of Fresh Chamomile tea. Check out this -


It was so warming, refreshing and uplifting. We talked, dreamed and discussed. It was so nice to let my hair down and have some fun.

Thank you so much dude!

V xxx


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Amazing Curry

So it's no secret I'm on a diet. On Monday a wonderful friend came over for tea and I struggled to think of something healthy but supper yummy. I came up with a curry. Two chicken breasts cut into small chunks, fresh peppers, onion and heaps of frozen vegetables covers in a yummy but health tikka masala sauce. With carefully weighed rice and weight watchers nan bread, a huge plate full was under 600kcal. Amazing what you can make for tea with only 600kcal.

Here it is in progress -


So yummy I could eat it all again! Stay tuned for more healthy ideas for dinner!

V xxx

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Amazing Song and Random Thoughts

Just randomly heard this song and fell in love. It's by Alexi Murdoch, All My Days.

Listening to this songs lyrics really hit me hard. I've been think a lot lately about my hopes, dreams and aspirations. Really starting to wonder if I've left it too late to achieve all the things I dreamt of. I'm only 26 but feel like I'm hitting a brick wall of age. I feel stupid even writing such a thing but I feel so torn, follow my dreams or really settle down and think of having a family - which is also a hope for my future. It's a strange feeling of being trapped, not by my husband which most people would assume but trapped by myself and my thoughts and fears. Yep that's right Vix the fearless and fun loving is currently a little scared.

You get so wrapped up in your everyday routine of life. Get up, get dressed, feed the cat, sort lunch, go to work, come home, cook tea, feed and hold geckos, watch tv, shower, bed.
I don't mind routine at all, I think it's a good thing. It becomes so easy to feel like your losing yourself forgetting your personality and individuality which makes you the person you are. The thought of losing touch of my inner self is terrifying.

I even feel like I'm losing grip with the love of music I've had since I can remember.

I think a much needed day on my own in a good coffee shop is much in need. Just me and my thoughts. And maybe a coffee and slice of cake, for it's the simple pleasures and the little details that I notice the most. If theres a deer in field and were driving past at 70 mph I'll still be the first one to spot it, that I guarantee! I even noticed a heron fly over the fields opposite my work. Random or what.

Below is a classic example of my love of simple things, coffee and cereal bars!


After my cafe day, it's time for a new tattoo. Complete contrast i know! I love my tattoos so much, they both mean so much to me. The feeling after having it done is a feeling like no other, like you can take on the world and the world is yours for the taking.

I'm also hoping that the weight I'm currently losing will help me find the confidence to do the things I used to love. Surfing, running, dancing, rock climbing, horse ridding, painting, meeting me people..... the list goes on.

I'm ready to embrace some changes and start living my life day by day rather than wishing the days away!

Thanks for putting up with my rambling.

V. xx


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Amazing Vintage Wedding

So last week, two wonderful friends tied the knot in style. The ceremony was at Stalbridge Church followed by reception at Yarlington house.

The ceremony was wonderfully classic.


Check out this wonderful vintage trunk used for gifts and cards. Such a great idea.


Place settings and favours. Cupcakes in tea cups, cute and yummy! Check out the flower centrepiece - a teapot!


There was fabric bunting swags everywhere, all made by family of the bride and groom!


Also little fabric and felt stuffed hearts that hung all around the marquee, again made by the family.


I took this in the grounds of Yarlington House, stunning.


Cutting of the cake, so cute they even used our wedding cake knife!


Such a wonderful day, thank you both for letting us be a part of it.

V xxx

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad