Happy Birthday to my better half!!

Today is a very special day. My dearest husband is turning 37.

We have been really busy since October last year. But today we pause to celebrate you. Your birth. Your journey. Your life.

You are probably one of the best people I know. If not the best one. While you’re not the most punctual, organised or ambitious, you are overall one of the greatest humans on this planet. And I don’t think I’ve said that to you enough times.

Spiced Apple Bundt Cake

Dear Quique,

You are five.

It sounds like such a big boy age.  This year you´ve started school.  I don’t understand how time went by so quickly. It seems like yesterday when we found out that I was pregnant, and I cried, and dad cried, because we were so happy that you chosen us as your family.

Since that day, I love you in this almost painful, indescribable way. I love to kiss your soft cheeks and smell your head. I love the way you talk to me. I love your crazy games that can take for hours to finish. They are absolutely amazing and I would like to play them every single day of my life.

Mexican Layer Dip

My dear Javi,

next week you'll turning 7. I can't believe it's been seven years already since you arrived, dazed, tiny, and completely bold, so fresh in the world.

Everyone says not to blink because kids grow so fast. That statement is so true. I can still picture your tiny foot that I could hold in the palm of my hand the day you were born.

In your first year, you did all sorts of things: walked, talked, ate spaghetti, discovered Elmo, made me laugh, and we celebrated your birthday in our flat in Madrid with our family and friends. I remember how excited I was, how full of happiness and joy.

Pineapple Baked Puddings

Last Sunday was my birthday. 

That means I´m 35 years old now. Thirty-five! It does look like it was yesterday when I laughed about these really really really old 35 year old´s.... and now look at me, blowing a number 3 and 5 shaped candles!

I am in that age when people cannot really guess your age. When I´m asked, how old are you? I respond with the evil question, how old do you think I am?

Dark Chocolate, Almond & Cherry Cake

Yes, cake again. But this week I have a very good excuse. You must trust me.

Although viruses have been visiting us on and off for the last couple of weeks, we have had a lot to celebrate in between Calpol, handkerchiefs, blankets and thermometers.

This week my lovely husband has turned 36, and this year I wanted to treat him with a very special day. To be honest, it was more the boys idea than mine, but we all helped to put together a great party.

Here is where I have to make a confession. I have never watched Star Wars. Never. It was just the kind of film I was not interested in.

I really cannot stand all this Star Wars madness. Honestly, what is all the fuss about?

Second Anniversary!

Today more than ever I’m glad you are here.

Two years ago today I published my first post. A shy, short and not very good post that became the beginning of this adventure.

I remember how excited I was. Full of ideas, dreams and goals to achieve.

Two years ago, The Tiny Marmalade was born. A crazy project that started due to a variety of reasons. A project that has fulfilled most of my entrepreneurial dreams, where all my ideas had a place to be. But more important, a project that has proved myself that I’m able to create beautiful things when my self-esteem was really poor and my self-confidence really needed it.

This year a lot of amazing (and not so amazing) things have happened to me.

Biscuits & Chocolate Birthday Cake

Happy birthday to me! 

I'm turning 34 today. 34. Twentytfourteen. 

I always have mixed feelings when my birthday is approaching. I'm happy, but I also feel sad. I know I've been lucky enough to live for a whole year but that also means I'm a year older. This always ends up with me feeling a bit miserable the week before, pretending I'm feelingless the previous day, and overexcited as soon as the sun rises on the 12th. Don't blame me, I'm a Gemini. 

This morning I've woke up being 34th years old, and I say this without cringing. 34, wow. That is a lot of years!

Gardener Muffins with Garlic Mayo

Children are just unpredictable. My sons are at this amazing age when everything is possible. From flying to the moon on a kitchen stool to inventing a magic ball powerful enough to provide the whole city with unlimited energy.

We have been working really hard for The Big Cake Show and they are so excited all the time that it is literally impossible to relax them at bed time.

Yesterday, it was a bit too late. And they were both in my bed chatting non-stop. Sometimes, the things they are telling me are the kind of things that are so interesting and fantastic that rather than try and stop them, I encourage them to keep talking so I can hear more about whatever the story is about. But it was getting really late and we all needed a good rest, so I asked them to calm down and try to sleep while I went to brush my teeth.

First Anniversary!

One year.

That is 365 days. 8760 hours. 525600 minutes.

56 recipes. More than 11,000 visitors to our blog and website. Around 9,000 pots sold. Hours and hours of hard work, but also laughs and great times.

When I first started this blog I was so worried about putting my words out there for anyone to see. I probably spent over two hours on my very first post… which is hilarious because it isn’t even really a “post.”

Then, every week has been a new challenge. Something I was sure about is that I didn’t want to cook typical dishes, or recipes copied from somewhere else. I wanted to create, to innovate, to design and prepare my own recipes. But the more you seek inspiration, the more amazing recipes you find out there. Like the crinckle cookies recipe, which was truly a challenge that ended up as a success and one of the most popular recipes on this blog.