Children have a way of finding new ways to cause maximum havoc.  They tip over the Lego you just picked up, they break the jigsaw you just built, they tip the food you loving prepared on the floor and the list goes on and on.  All of this bad deeds list would get a telling off in my house and a possible trip to the naughty step.  But what happens when they are doing a good thing but its actually bad? 

Making a discipline judgement as a parent can be quite difficult.  How much to tell off, when to send them for timeout, when to give them a warning and a chance to right their wrongs.  Imagine my dilemma when faced with a good but bad situation with my youngest.  Let me explain:

Getting your children to brush their teeth is a vital step and something to positively encourage.  Now picture the scene.  Your child comes to you smelling of mint. There is white stuff all over his clothes and he looks very pleased with himself but there is a glint in his eye that tells me he has been doing something naughty!  He leads me to the bathroom.  After a few deep breaths to calm myself I see the extend of my sons activities.  He has been brushing his teeth.  What is wrong about that I hear you say?  He is two years old and the only way he can get to the toothpaste and taps is to climb onto something and then onto the bathroom cabinets.  Whilst sat on the cabinet he has his feet in the sink, I know this as he shows me what he did!  Whilst applying the toothpaste to his brush he has squeezed a little too hard and a mint explosion has taken place.  To his credit he has tried to clean it up a bit and using his hand has smeared the white gunk around a bit, making the surface area of mess much greater. 

So what do you do?  He has been naughty: climbing on furniture and creating a mint glaze all over the bathroom, but how can I tell him off, he has been good, he cleaned his teeth all by himself!  If I tell him off am I saying that cleaning your teeth is bad? 

I did tell him off for the climbing on things but how much of that my two year old took in is yet to be seen.  Life as a parent can throw many things at you and finding the right path is a daily challenge.  I am quite sure my sons will find many more good for bad situations to test me on and anyway at least they will have good teeth!

OK so its getting cold.  I have already discussed the motivation in the soup department (Soup of the Season), that is warming up my kitchen but what of the bedroom?  So I had to ask myself is winter a sexy season? 

I love a change of season in the wardrobe department.  Thin summer outfits move to the back of the wardrobe in favour of the jumpers, long boots and tights. 

Unfortunately I have concluded that winter is not the sexiest of the seasons.  I have come to this conclusion all because of tights, or more accurately, my hubby has come to the conclusion that tights are not sexy! 

Before you jump on me with protest for the tights, let me explain.  They look great as part of an outfit; legs look fabulous in a pair of tights.  They seem to lengthen and smooth out legs and, paired with heels or boots, they are a must in my winter wardrobe.  Only last weekend I sported not only purple tights but matching purple nail varnish and handbag!  It's the putting on of tights that is not sexy and how you look in them before you add the top layer of clothes. 

You can make the first bit of putting on tights look sexy.  With your leg raised up you apply the rolled-up tight leg to your foot and gentle bring them up- this can look good!  It's when you have both legs of your tights up and you have to do that little wiggle dance to get them adjusted on your crotch and then pull them high enough round your middle so that you don't get wrinkles on your knees.  Now look at yourself in the mirror and ask yourself, "Sexy?".  I have looked and no it's not sexy.  Tights don't make bank robbers look sexy when they apply them to their faces nor do they make big knickers and squashed up midriffs look sexy either! 

I could wear stockings but why would I want to for everyday use?  Tights are comfy and warm and I like them even if hubby thinks they were just designed to keep men out.  In winter it must be better to look good with your clothes on than without.  I will continue to wear tights, it's just better if I put them on alone, behind closed doors and as far as hubby is concerned, I only wear stockings, (said with a sparkle in my eye).

I know the snow is coming.  The temperature is dropping and the sparkle of the frosty surfaces in a morning are a gentle reminder of colder times to come.  As the fresh cool salads of summer fade from my appetite its big bowls of comforting soups I crave. 

I enjoy making soup and it fits with my mantra of throw nothing away, as a quick rummage into the bottom of the vegetable drawer can always find a few extra ingredients for a big bowl of bubbling soup.  I love how simple things combine to make magic in a pan.  A few onions, carrot, celery with a hint of ground cumin and you have the start of something good to eat. 

I have never understood soup in a can?  It always smells so unattractive when you first open the tin!  The picture on the can makes it look like a steaming bowl of goodness but it always lets you down a bit like fruit tea.  Fruit tea smells so good when you pour on the water, strong and exciting but you taste it and its just hot, mild flavoured water with not much fruit about it! 

Anyway back to soup.  What is your kitchen comfort? 

I love the chase just as much as the result.  I love delving into my cookery books and getting lost in a Culinary World of Adventure and then inspired I turn to the kitchen to create what my books guide me to try.  At the moment its soup.  So as the weather turns colder outside, inside my kitchen is definitely getting warmer!