There is a custom at the boys' school for taking in a little treat of the cake variety to share with your classmates on your birthday. Johnny's usually falls during half term, but rather than miss out, I thought they could be a cheering treat for back to school.
It was only as I was getting them out of the oven that I realized that taking cakes in on the first day of Lent probably isn't my finest hour, timing-wise. Oops.
They weren't my finest batch of cakes either. I'm blaming it on the February blahs. But it's nearly March. Spring is just round the corner, so I am attempting to chanel my negativity into getting ready for it. I've cleared out the cupboard under the sink, the airing cupboard and purged one wardrobe.
And during the purging, I was thinking about only surrounding yourself with things that make your heart glad. Life is too short to be confronted on a daily basis by things which make us feel grey. The spaces that make my heart lift are the ones full of tiny touches - where nothing is so insignificant that it cannot be sprinkled with a little care and cheer.
And so some of our wire coathangers got the joy treatment by covering them with fabric. It's so simple - just a little bit of double sided sticky tape and a torn strip of scrap fabric wound round and round. Is it a transformative change? Not a big one. But they do make me feel the tiniest bit brighter.
Mr TH has just had a birthday so cake was a must...
I love your coat hanger idea- so simple & so thrifty too! Thank you for linking it to the Making Winter Blog Hop
Posted by: Thrifty Household | 22 February 2012 at 12:59
"Life is too short to be confronted on a daily basis by things which make us feel grey." Well said, I agree completely. And I think there's such a lot to be said for making the most of the little things we use everyday, whether that's hangers or nice mugs or cakes.
Posted by: LauraVW | 22 February 2012 at 13:01
I LOVE that coathanger idea. Love it.
Just started raining here, it really is a blurgh day.
Ax
Posted by: Magic Bean | 22 February 2012 at 13:13
I completely agree - we spend most of our time with everyday stuff not the things that only come out once in a blue moon so it makes perfect sense to make them things of beauty and that give joy rather than just functionality. Same is true of clothing.
And I wouldn't worry about the cakes either - Lent is meant to be a creative time of preparation for Easter not all doom and gloom and No Cake despite popular perception that it's about Giving Up anything remotely nice! I do hope you sent those cakes in to school regardless!
Posted by: Thomasina Tittlemouse | 22 February 2012 at 13:15
As always, you have a very thoughtful post -- I love your "Life is too short..." quote. Especially in the middle of this gray and boring winter. It's not even a white winter here this year. Those cute little hangers definitely brighten the spot!
Posted by: Thimbleanna | 22 February 2012 at 13:29
So important to do that kind of thing to cheer yourself up I think. It's just the kind of thing I love, and that mystifies my husband completely. Glad I am in like-minded company!
Posted by: Caroline | 22 February 2012 at 14:10
Too right.... wire coat hangers should be banned but failing that they might as well look pretty. I got Anthea'ed some years ago and got all wood ones in. It made me smile this week when I cleared out 3 bags of clothes and lined all my hangers up straight.
Posted by: Angel Jem | 22 February 2012 at 14:12
Yes.
So what this means is that I'm going to order the sofa bed in either teal or claret velvet, instead of the practical grey linen cotton, a decision I've been dithering about because my heart said one thing and my wallet said another.
Thanks. Though you did just cost me £200.
Posted by: Joanne | 22 February 2012 at 14:18
bleurgh to grey February is all I can say. oh and the howling wind can give over as well.......
Posted by: driftwood | 22 February 2012 at 14:33
Quite agree. It is the little things that often have the most impact.
Posted by: Gina | 22 February 2012 at 14:47
I quite agree! And sometimes it's so liberating to get rid of things you don't like that have been haunting you for ages - I hate the guilt associated with perfectly good clothes that just feel all wrong when you put them on, but seem too good to get rid of. I think you've just inspired me to tackle my wardrobe tomorrow!!
Posted by: Helen in Switzerland | 22 February 2012 at 15:25
Couldn't agree more I like to tackle a small hot spot,something messy or uninspiring and make it pretty and pleasing. I've done the tiny top landing and have just tackled my tottering magazine pile. Anything to make me feel lass 'grey' in this damp, miserable month.
Posted by: French Knots | 22 February 2012 at 15:40
Another genius idea! SO cute.
Posted by: Paola | 22 February 2012 at 17:22
you make me laugh... cakes on lent. That's totally the thing I would have done!
Love the coat hanger. And de-cluttering rocks.
Posted by: Monica | 22 February 2012 at 20:16
Most of my spaces are sprinkled with Stuff - bits of pens and Kinder egg toys and vital forms and dead batteries.
The more I remove them, the more they breed. They do not make my heart glad.
Posted by: The Coffee Lady | 22 February 2012 at 21:06
I need to purge the whole house! But I've been wrapping sticks with coloured yarn lately - they're a flower substitute when you have no flowers, yarn bombed twigs - and I'm thinking 'would that work for wire coat hangers' ... great post!
Posted by: Annie | 22 February 2012 at 23:14
I so agree with your sentiment about surrounding yourself with things that make you happy! That's what I'm trying to do at the moment to.
S x
Posted by: Sandra | 23 February 2012 at 07:59
An inspiring post, this month I have been wearing my best earrings every day instead of for best, as they just cheer me up when I catch the sparkle in reflections. I love the coat hanger idea, inspired.
Posted by: Lilac | 23 February 2012 at 08:13
That's an inspiring thought. I aim to have a house which contains only things I love (I'll shut the doors to the kids' clutter and pretend it doesn't exist!) rather than things bought cheap when I desperately needed something to make do. It's also one of the reasons I aim to knit a pair of socks a month this year. Happy Feet!
Posted by: Amanda | 23 February 2012 at 09:39
I love your cheery coathanger and your philosophy Ali. Am also rather impressed that you have started spring cleaning already!
Posted by: Julie | 23 February 2012 at 12:23
The coathangers - are those the ones you mentioned at Tracy's? They would certainly make a wardrobe more beautiful. Here's to a less flat weekend and Spring, for goodness sake.
Posted by: Emma | 24 February 2012 at 17:36
Oh too right. Things that don't make me happy, drain me. Purging is a good idea. Somebody once told me that if your heart wasn't in cake baking, then it would never work. Your hanger idea sounds lovely.
Posted by: Cheryl | 27 February 2012 at 11:19
Those cupcakes look fine to me!
We're not allowed to bring in home made food to school - I don't know if it is fear of evil parents trying to poison off classmates / allergy prevention / they have heard what my baking skills are like...
Posted by: UK lass in US | 11 March 2012 at 21:12