Whoops a daisy

Three Beautiful Things

2011-08-25T22:41:00.004+01:00

1. An origami cat - a birthday gift from Yoyo to the Eldest. He wasn't overly grateful so I intervened and now it sits on my kitchen windowsill. She put a lot of love into that kitty I tell you!

2. Yoyo herself. Because I am biased (and I'm told it is a parent's right to think their child is more beautiful than anyone else's)

3. This new song from James Morrison (Queen and Clean & I are huge fans). Will be released next week.

Sorry I am missing in action again. I have lots to show you and must do better with more regular posting.

Anna x

Note to my children....

2011-07-10T21:08:00.002+01:00

I was pondering today if you would remember this door on the under stairs cupboard when you are grown up.

The excitement of finding a pencil and a hard backed book to take that all important measure.

Each of you trying to be 'first' and jostling one another in the cramped space.

Your Dad usually acting as official 'measurer' and turning it into a ceremony of sorts.

The gasps and grins on your faces when we discover how much you've grown.

Because my lovelies, even on those most chaotic school run mornings when I have to run back into the house for your book bags and reach into this cupboard.....the site of your scrawled names there makes me smile.

I can feel your pride through those little pencil markings.

Three beautiful things

2011-07-04T21:54:00.000+01:00

1. Yoyo twirling in the garden to make her dress spin. She eventually collapses onto the grass giggling.

2. My long awaited flowers from my 'Princess Diana' (think that's what it was called) clematis finally appear.

3. First courgette of the year. I have been lazy this year with vegetables and am just growing these and Tuscan Kale. Not sure what to do with the Kale, think I was just growing it to be trendy, but assure you I will use every last courgette up.

New arrival

2011-06-20T00:29:00.000+01:00

A most generous hand me down from my Aunty, her piano, arrived here last week. It has found a permanent residence one side of the fireplace, right in the middle of our home.

I used to play, but am a bit of a one trick pony at the moment playing Fur Elise and not much else. Still to my non-piano playing family I think they are a little impressed (if not tired of hearing the same tune).

Everyone is interested though in this new arrival, from The Queen of Clean (trying to master Coldplay Clock's intro), to littlest one who likes to investigate the pedals. Yoyo is most often found there lurking around the sharps and flats with a little tune I taught her.

Oh and my Ercol chairs, we have still only sorted one of them out. Did you really expect anything more?

Little Red Shelf

2011-06-08T17:55:00.001+01:00

Another little Jumble treasure. This one not so well received by The Queen of Clean. I think it is cute and the sort of thing that Soulemama would have in her kids rooms (although she'd probably have a beautiful display of wooden kids toys/seasonal nature finds rather than my odd little assortment). I like the size, the colour, the pointy ends on the top and base, I even like the little dinosaur sticker that was stuck in the middle. The Queen of Clean on the other hand thinks it is simply awful. He has accused me of using the word 'vintage' to describe anything fit for the skip.

I was a bit naughty and whipped littlest one into a frenzied state by showing it to him and suggesting he could keep his blackboard chalk on it. Queen of Clean then had no option but to do the honours and get it on the wall. Mean aren't I? My littlest one asking you to do anything is too hard to resist. The glimpse of blackboard you can see there spans the whole wall and it's great to have somewhere to rest the chalk nearby. Yes that is the word 'fart' you can see scrawled on there. What can I say, I am a liberal parent and am willing to help sound out any word if it means a child is engaged in writing practice......

So here it is - my little red shelf for £1. Yes another bargain scored at Saturday's sale. I'm not even going to bother re-painting, I love the cheerful shade of red and it goes well in his room.

What do you do when your taste clashes with your other half - do you resort to underhand strategy like me? Or should I be more respectful that he's getting rather tired of the vintage vibe?

Jumble Treasure

2011-06-05T12:54:00.001+01:00

I recently got into Jumble sales. So much more fun than a car boot, as everything is much cheaper and tightly packed together. You never know what treasure you'll find.

I was late for yesterday's jumble and had forgotten it was on, I let my jumbling partner down and rocked up an hour late not expecting anything to still be there. It was my first time taking Yoyo and she was in awe of the currency being in pence rather than pounds.

And there I saw them. It took me a while to spot as they were hidden beneath picture frames and boxes and not placed as a group. We really do need new dining room chairs as we have some faux leather ones that our cats have ruined and are also very uncomfortable. New chairs weren't on the endless 'things we need for the house' list though - we just don't have the budget for it at the moment. So when I saw these my mind went into overdrive....I just needed to know the cost. £8 for all of them. Decision made. I couldn't believe it and they were packed safely into my car as swiftly as possible (before anyone changed their mind on the tiny price tag - is it just me that reacts like that?)

I kind of thought they looked familiar, and sure enough a little research when I returned home revealed they were Ercol! £179 each, so in a round about way I had saved £177 x 4 = £708. But mine are original 60's versions with little bit of history.

The Queen of Clean approved. He has nicknamed me Mrs Trebus in the past for my adventures in bringing home junk for him to transform, but on this occasion my efforts were praised. For those not in the know, Mr Trebus was an infamous hoarder that the BBC made a documentary about, would never throw anything away bless him.

So with sandpaper in hand we began immediately. Clearly he was feeling very enthusiastic - we were supposed to be getting ready for friends coming for dinner. So it became a multi task cooking/tidying/chair sanding fest!

He used an electric sander on the seat and legs, but all those spindles need to be done by hand and that became my task. We only had time to complete one, am sure it will be another few weeks to restore all four, but below you can see the difference between the one we have sanded and the one still clad in its stained varnish. We'll get to you soon enough my lovely.

We need to research the best way of sealing our sanded beauties - I don't want to varnish, am thinking a wax of some kind to keep the wood pale.

So our only challenge now is that we are a family of 5 with 4 chairs. Whoops. We could search ebay or indulge in the new version from John Lewis, but I've also seen this bench which I'm rather taken with. Excuse the tiny picture, but you get the gist I hope. A hefty £399 though so I will need to save up or go for the more eclectic mix and match chair approach I think.

So yesterday was a good jumble day. Wish they were always like that.

What I've learnt about myself over the last month....

2011-06-01T07:29:00.000+01:00

I much prefer making felt coasters to writing management reports.

I prefer dreaming up plans for these fabrics than conjuring up recommendations to improve employee engagement.

I tend to overuse words a lot - in the reports case it was 'impact'. My proof reader kindly pointed out I'd used it 5 times on one page.

I want to spend my time reading crafting books rather than 'Business Research Methods' - Bryman and Bell. Not a gripping read I assure you.

My husband knows when to step in in a crisis, one evening I was found rocking on the kitchen floor having 'lost' 2000 words when Yoyo closed my document. He found them for me and I owe him big time.

Altogether, although I love my job and I needed to get this done studying is not my bag.

Thanks to anyone still reading......I promise to be around a lot more from now on. With no mention of employee engagement either.

Normal service shall be resumed shortly......

2011-05-22T17:37:00.002+01:00

Apologies for my absence - I didn't get lost in Pembrokeshire.

I've been working on a management report to finally complete my CIPD qualification (that I started pre-children!). I'm missing in action at the moment, hauled up in the playroom with copious amounts of diet coke and a note on the door saying 'Do not disturb love Mum x'.

It's been like that for a while now - I have to find 9000 words and I am struggling with each and everyone of them. I much prefer this blogging outlet for my words - I feel a bit constrained with the academic style, it's not me at all.

Anyway - I will see you on the other side. I miss this place, and my house misses my enthusiasm at the moment, I am sure. In the meantime I'll leave you with this completely unrelated pic of my littlest two on the Royal Wedding day (so long ago now) having a three legged race in the garden.

Back soon x

Another room

2011-04-17T17:24:00.000+01:00

It is always a surprise when spring appears and we start using the garden again, how great that space actually is. Because in the depths of winter you kind of forget don't you? For me, I only venture out to the garden in the winter to tiptoe to the freezer in the garage, and usually in bare feet (how lazy not to bother finding my shoes), so even making it onto the wet grass is out of the question. The garden in the winter is just off my radar, barely acknowledged.

And as spring appears, and the weather warms up like last weekend it becomes another room in our house. The neglectful attitude fostered over the winter is cast aside, and we care again. There are keen discussions between The Queen of Clean and I on spring lawn care, compost bins and plans for our veg plot. Whilst we are doing our best impressions of 'knowing about gardening', the kids treat the garden as another room.

This weekend Yoyo invented the treadmill above - bless her, she did make me chuckle when I saw that. I would pretend hours of fun were had there but it was more like minutes.............

And then there was painting.....there was an ambitious plan for a chicken puppet copied from an Easter crafts book. I feel sad looking at this picture, because this little project was doomed as I gave the kids plastic coated plates to paint on. I've promised to have another crack at this soon with them (once I've got the right materials!)

And of course bike riding practice for Littlest One, complete with jumble sale doggy rucksack (40p and already a firm favourite!)

And so it truly is another room for our family. We are off tomorrow on holiday to Pembrokeshire for a week - so pardon my silence until then..........packing awaits!

Crochet - Show and Tell

2011-04-11T21:45:00.001+01:00

My crochet course finished last Tuesday evening. I enjoyed it more than I thought I would, and realised there is nothing like someone actually teaching you a skill in person.

Anyway I thought I'd show you the evidence.....above is a crochet flower, well three flowers really that I stitched together. These were tricky at first - and my first attempt (the white one in the middle) had 6 petals instead of 5. Not quite sure how that happened. Not sure what I'll do with this now, it's almost a bit big for a corsage. I might sew it onto a bag. Or stick it on a wall - would that be odd?

This is a granny square of sorts. I went for greys with a bit of jade and fuschia. I declared it 'edgy' - if crochet can be edgy? Well if it can be then this is most definitely at the frontier of all things 'edgy'.

This is more of a traditional Granny Square - and will eventually be a cushion cover. I ran out of expensive Debbie Bliss Aran wool for this (bought under duress when I thought it was a good idea to take 3 children into the wool shop - big mistake). What I've spent in wool though, I've saved in what will be the backing for this cushion. A cashmere jumper found at a Jumble sale on Saturday for 20p! I'm going to use this technique to assemble the cushion.

I promise I'll share my other jumble finds with you later this week when I'm organised enough to photograph. They still need to be spruced up. But this little crochet blanket you can see right away, although I now have the skills to make my own (albeit slowly) I had to bring this home with me for 50p.

What do you think of crochet? I'm wondering if it's mainstream moment has passed? My colleagues at work don't really get it I think. I was like a little girl each Wednesday bringing in my items to show and tell. So now I have 'shown and told' you, tell me the truth, do you get it?

Worth the wait

2011-04-08T23:03:00.000+01:00

I don't think I shared with you that the hard drive on our PC broke about 6 weeks ago. It was concerning how much we all missed it....nobody seemed to come into the playroom where the computer lives, except Littlest one on the hunt for lost bits of Lego. This little room lost its identity entirely.

The Queen of Clean had wanted a Mac for ages, and we had introduced a new scheme at work where I could purchase apple products through salary sacrifice. We kind of talked each other into it. I'll be honest, it was the lack of wires that excited me - minimalist chic and all that.

So this is what we had before, a rather boring 10 year old Ikea desk, with an annoying drawer that was permanently getting stuck or coming off its sliders. About 5 years ago I stopped opening it as it seemed an impossible task to get it closed again.

The Queen of Clean had liberated (all completely legal and above board) a piece of beech left over from a project at work, and it had been stuck in our garage for 6 months or so. It was just too nice to be thrown into a skip (it's original fate)....and I knew he had serious plans for it.

He took the legs from the old desk and cut the beech block to fit. And we got rid of the drawer and made the frame a little smaller. The gap where the drawer was he replaced with a wooden strut.

Here is the painting stage. White legs naturally, after a little debate with The Queen of Clean. Ignore the patio...it's on the 'to do' list.

We thought perhaps we should use danish oil on the top, but only had some garden bench teak oil from a few years ago.....in the spirit of thriftiness we used that to coat the top. We (royal we as I didn't like the smell of this at all) put probably 6 coats on altogether spread out over several evenings.

Are you still with me. Thanks, I know this is a bit of a long old post.

Well we waited, and waited for the Mac to arrive........ patiently at times and then at other times went into the empty room and gave a dramatic sigh. Well I did anyway.

Until we really were quite bored of waiting.........

and then......it arrived on Monday.

I don't know how to use it, none of us do, we spent most of Monday night working out how to shut it down. But we've found a little photo booth application and taken about a zillion stupid pictures of us all.

That's enough for now.

Oh, and we've worked out how to shut it down.

Simple when you know how really.

Three Beautiful Things

2011-04-06T22:45:00.001+01:00

1. Seeds - can't recall if they are sunflowers or courgettes. Either way I'm happy. Windowsill space is at a premium as most of our windows are sash with no sill, so this little space in the kitchen will get a whole lot of sprouting action over the next few weeks.

2. Decorating for Easter, or indeed any event. Because it's so non-essential, if I find time to manage it I must be making headway. This years hawthorn twig has got an upgrade with white spray paint. Every visiting child thinks the eggs are made of chocolate, and I share their disappointment when I break the news they're not.

3. Littlest one learns to ride his bike. I can't avoid the fact he is growing up, am overwhelmingly proud but just a little bit sad at the same time.

Orla Kiely at Tescos

2011-03-25T17:58:00.001Z

Look what I just found at Tesco. Completely off my radar that these bags were on the horizon! My little budget doesn't usually stretch to Orla proportions, but for £4 I snapped it up in an instant (and even treated my Orla obsessed best friend to one).

Dare I say they are nicer than the Cath K ones from a couple of years ago, as they are Jute rather than that plasticy feeling fabric. I tried to press the assistant for more info, but she was clearly not an Orla fan and oblivious to the treasure at her fingertips. I imagine like the Cath Kidston bags they will be released over a period of several months....making my nearly daily trips to Tesco just a little more exciting.

Just a little bit of crafting...

2011-03-13T22:36:00.001Z

It's good for the soul a little bit of crafting. I don't really see myself as a crafty type, but when I do get round to making something, well, it makes me rather happy. I have bored my colleagues at work showing them this crochet purse (that I keep my security pass in!), so I thought I'd ~~now bore~~ share with you.

There is treble crochet in that purse there! I am 2 weeks into a crochet evening course and this was last weeks 'homework'. A lot of love went into that purse I can tell you....and look even a buttonhole too. I can't believe I made it - last year I spent a week lost in You Tube videos trying to teach myself without success. So this feels rather miraculous to have made something. I did felt it afterwards in the washing machine to hide my rather large and unruly stitches.

I made this little wall hanging in January after getting this book for Christmas. I can remember making this vividly as my poor eldest and The Queen of Clean were trying to watch the film, Inception in the same room. I was over at the dining table with the sewing machine trying to master this stitching technique and saying lots of bad words. I think I kind of ruined it for them.

I was inspired by a family tree thing I saw in a Soulemama book - that trunk is a swatch from our leather sofa.

Anyway the technique described in that book was a little too high brow for me, so I decided to go my own way. And adapt it to make it a little easier......

.....this is the result, a little butterfly that I appliqued onto a table mat. The wings are made from two different blouses of mine. Eventually I want to do a table mat for everyone in the family with a butterfly made from their own clothes. May take forever to get round to, but that's the plan. At the moment this one is all alone, and lives under the fruit bowl on the white barley twist table.

And finally, not my creation, but Yoyo's. Her real name begins with an 'S'. She was itching to do something whilst I was making her Katie Morag costume. Bless her.

We're not sure what this will become yet, maybe we'll stitch it onto her PE bag, or applique it onto a cushion. For her the fun is most definitely in the making....I think as I type she has probably forgotten she has made this!

What are you making (or thinking of making) at the moment?

Update on the Taupe room

2011-03-13T21:03:00.000Z

Our Taupe room is finished! Sorry it's taken an age to get these photos, but I had this brief moment when things seemed remotely tidy so took some snaps. Above is the dining end of the room which I don't think I have shown you before. You can see my salvaged white barley twist table there in the foreground.

And here is the view from the other end of the table. We updated our old lampshades with the ones shown above from Ikea, it was a strangely satisfying process building those. A bargain also at £13 each including the light fitting itself.

This is the view from my leather chair with the Love cushion on it...where I can often be found! Do excuse the sheet hanging over the door - that's how I dry my sheets, not very Martha Stewart eh? Just pretend it's not there. Some of the doors in this house are on a diagonal angle including that one above if you are struggling with the perspective.

And here is the shelf in the alcove that The Queen of Clean built, loving how the white frames and light seem to pop out at you now.

So all in all we're pleased, it was good to be a little daring with this. However curtains are in an issue, the current ones seem to be jarring a little. I am either going to go for a plain cream or something like this Sanderson pattern below which I love, but seems to be everywhere at the mo....your input is most welcome!

World Book Day (or how to cause unnecessary angst for working mothers day)

2011-02-27T16:57:00.001Z

Firstly, a disclaimer - I am sure World Book Day causes as much angst for non-working mothers as myself. I sit in neither camp, as a mother I have both been at home, worked from home, worked part-time and now am full-time. All these scenarios are fine and dandy with me and I wouldn't want my angst at getting costumes sorted to offend you and your working arrangements in any way.

But seriously, I have little no free time it seems. So when good old World Book day rolls around I get a bit stressed. I spied it on the calendar when I flipped it over prematurely this weekend. For those of you who have been spared this ~~fiasco~~ heart-warming event, children are asked to dress up as their favourite book character for school. The flaw in this request is that most of my kids dressing up box relates to disney or tv characters. Yes I know I could probably get away with it, but the parents at my little ones school tend to go the extra mile. Or the extra 10 miles.

I have sent Yoyo as Lola (from Charlie & Lola) for the past three years (mainly because Lola has a huge inspiration on my choices for her wardrobe) and she is now deep in protest at having to endure another year of peter pan collars and ditsy prints. Oh my, my little girl is growing up.

Are you still with me? This seems to be taking ages to describe my feelings on the matter. A reflection of my stress levels around this subject perhaps?

Well we had a good plan, Yoyo and I. She is very fond of the Katie Morag stories, lovely gentle tales about a little girl who lives on an island in the outer hebrides. Worth a look at if you need 7 year old girl reading inspiration. Katie wears a kilt and a jumper with a blue zig zag stitch around the top. After putting the word out for a kilt by text to my friends (secured within 5 minutes - don't you love modern technology), we set about the plan for the top. Blue bias binding sewn onto a plain white t-shirt. I have sewn it on by hand so I could drag it around with me this weekend (and show off my Cath Kidston needlecase to the fellow spectators at the swimming pool - they didn't seem that impressed).

Here it is below still in progress with the final row of bias to be sewn on along the bottom.

And whilst the ensemble probably won't win any prizes, I feel rather smug.

Because at least I've tried, and as long as you've tried that's all that counts. Yoyo's little brother however will be going as Luke Skywalker, with a plastic lightsabre (which will more than likely be confiscated upon arrival at the classroom door).

Because two handmade carefully thought out costumes may show the other mothers up!

Found

2011-02-20T20:23:00.003Z

I made a lovely discovery today. I haven't worn my engagement ring for years and years (three kids later it no longer fits) and it had been sitting abandoned on the key rack for several months. I decided a few months ago that I'd really like to get it resized, and after suggesting it as a Christmas pressie idea to The Queen of Clean (for me of course, not him!), I went to retrieve it from the key rack and take it to our local jeweller for a quote.

Well could I find it? It had been right in front of me for months every time I went to grab my keys, taunting me that I couldn't wear it anymore. But it had vanished. My first thought (and I am embarrassed to admit this now) was that it had been stolen - we'd had plumbers and window fitters in the house this summer and I couldn't recall seeing it since then. Somehow though it just didn't seem possible that those guys would take it, surely I would have noticed? Also months had passed, what could I do?

So, I tried to forget about it, and push it to the back of my mind. After all it wasn't an expensive ring (we were busy saving for a cot when we got engaged!), and not worth claiming on the home insurance for, but it was so sad to lose something that means so much to me, particularly when I'd just resolved to get it resized.

And yes, I know the key rack wasn't a great storage place for something so precious.

Well you know how this story ends. Clue in the title and all that. I was following 365 Less Things (great blog, check it out for decluttering inspiration) 'mini missions' where each day you are given a small decluttering task. The day's task was to sort out your jewellery box. Well mine was awful - old buttons for clothes I no longer own, corsages from bridesmaid dresses, tangled necklaces and.................tucked in a corner and truly hidden my engagement ring! I had looked in there on my original search, but obviously didn’t see past the nonsense that had taken residence in there. I don't know how it got there, or when, or who put it safely back where it belongs. I guess it was me on some late night unconscious tidying session. So it is back now on the key rack, just until I can get it to the jewellers on Friday.

So a simple act of decluttering bought so much more than I expected. Wonder what I’ll uncover on my next mission?

Chocolate Roses

2011-02-14T06:00:00.000Z

So much more fun than the real thing (especially when you are a seven year old girl).

Happy Valentines Day xxx

Transition

2011-02-08T23:03:00.000Z

We are in a state of transition round here - still uncommitted to our new colour choice for the living/dining room and tackling it wall by wall. It is a slow process, but it's gradual nature is somehow easier....as I look at that colour in different lights, whilst we're getting on with the important business of living in that room, well, I'm getting used to it.

The curtains aren't really working any more, which is a shame. Think I will need to get some new ones (which wasn't in the budget at all).

Goodness knows when we will eventually finish it. Things take a while round here (as you have probably already realised). Our rooms tend to evolve rather than have any set plan.

But thought I'd give you some progress shots.

What do you think?

Natural Taupe 1

2011-01-30T23:01:00.000Z

On a whim this afternoon I bought a tester paint pot of Natural Taupe 1 (Dulux of course). I intended to just 'test' it on the chimmney breast, but we got carried away and couldn't stop painting. The littlest ones were also involved....so we thought we may as well paint the whole thing. Well, at least until the tester pot ran dry. Of course I wasn't organised enough to take a before picture, but I found this one from a past post.

Anyway we are loving this new colour. The whole room before was an insipid magnolia shade and we love the warmth this taupe brings to the room. We're just not sure how far to take it. The Queen of Clean wants to paint the entire room (which I disagreed with at first, but now I'm undecided). I'm worried it may be too dark, although this room does windows either end (it is our living/dining room) and is usually really light. The alternative would be to paint a paler shade or cream everywhere else. Was thinking the walls on other side of the room could get the taupe treatment also, but perhaps that's a bit of a dated look now.

Arrgh....decisions, decisions.

I think we'll live with our tester pot chimmney breast for a couple of weeks before we commit either way.

Three beautiful things

2011-01-23T18:07:00.001Z

1. This heart that Yoyo gave me for christmas. No further explanation required.

2. The kids wanted some pirate treasure maps which turned into a fierce competition between me and The Queen of Clean with cold tea, burnt edges, crumpling effects etc. Why beautiful? Because it was one of those times when the urgency of what we had been doing was put to one side and our focus was them. Because that is important, and doesn't always happen. Who won? Me for my burnt edges. Sorry no pics....they were last seen being taken outside to locate treasure.

3. My littlest one makes friend with a Ladybird who he wants to keep as a pet and find a cage for. (I also think he may be permanently cross eyed from inspecting this new pet). Managed to convince him a cage probably not the most sensible option for his new friend, we decided to park him in amongst a basket of socks instead.

Garden in January (warning...it's not pretty!)

2011-01-16T20:04:00.002Z

I've deliberately made my pictures for this post black and white, as it conveys my mood about the garden at the moment. I do enjoy gardening, but only really venture out there when the weather is okay.

So at the moment every time I glimpse out on these scenes I'm about to show you, I just can't imagine that in a few months time it will look alright again.

These are my bay trees, that usually live either side of the front door. When I was poorly and not going out of the house during the heavy snow I forgot to protect them and they have suffered. When I finally got to them, one had been directly under a gutter and a huge block of ice had formed in amongst the leaves. I bought them in to the kitchen for a bit of TLC and a defrost with the hairdryer for a couple of days, then moved them to the back of the house against a warm wall.

Despite this lavish care I think it may be bad news. Some of the leaves are starting to develop black spots and it doesn't bode well.

These are the raised beds. Looking a bit sorry for themselves. Do your remember them here?

They just have some tuscan kale in at the moment - am not sure whyat made me decide to grow that, think Alys Fowler inspired me to grow it, but I've never actually eaten the stuff. Anyhow....it seems to be growing at least. I'm also using the raised beds to overwinter some hostas and other things that were too cramped in last years flower beds. I thought if I took them out and cared for them in there I'd remember to reposition them come April time.

So this is the view from my raised beds to the other end of the garden. We had 3 trees removed at our neighbours request this summer and didn't realise how bare it would make everything look come this time of year. We are planning what evergreen shrubs/trees we can plant this year to balance it back out. I am officially sick of looking at that fence.

And finally, this little corner with it's cracked and empty pots kind of sums the whole garden up - in limbo.

Playing a waiting game, not sure of it's purpose.

In the meantime, I just need to take a deep breath every time I catch a glimpse and keep reminding myself it will look lovely again.

And please....keep your fingers crossed for my bay trees!

Disclaimer - this post contains a sponsored link.

Playroom

2011-01-11T22:40:00.002Z

Ahhh, that's better. Our playroom all picked up at night. Calm at the end of the day. We've decided to hang on to our festive fairy lights all year round in an attempt to disguise the central heating pipes.

Looked like this within 5 mins of kids awaking the next morning though! I love my cow print cushion on the red chair, but their morning ritual is to throw it off. Why? Who knows? I think I replace that cushion approx 5 times a day.

Excuse the black shadow in the corner, I thought I had damaged the Queen of Clean's Nikon lens (yikes - very £££), but in fact I just hadn't got the lens hood on properly. Which he had great joy in pointing out to me. Evidence, though that I am getting better acquainted with the camera.

The other side of this room with our world map mural you can see in this post here.

Because I'm no good with shopping lists

2011-01-06T08:18:00.001Z

This is my new system, inspired by one of Harry's christmas presents to me (you know, the one with the Orla Kiely bag). She gave me three little blackboard hearts with a peg and magnet on the back. I have hung this one in the kitchen, on the knife rack and pegged some sheets of scrap paper underneath.

I have a tendency to arrive at the supermarket and then berate myself for not having taken a list. I then usually phone home to see what we need. Yes, I know this is not domestic goddess behaviour.

So this is where my 'Out of...' heart comes in. Throughout the week when I realise we're close to running out of something I'll put it on the list, and then when it is time to hit the shops I'll just grab the list. I know this will only capture the essentials we're out of, but those items give me most headache when I come back and realise I've forgotten. Obviously this system is in its infancy........I'll report back!

Any ideas for the other two hearts?

New Year, fresh start and all that.........

2011-01-02T14:39:00.000Z

Wishing everyone who stops by here a Happy New Year, and thank you for still visiting this little space that I am guilty of neglecting.

I had a nasty case of flu in the run up to Christmas and am only just myself again. I seem to have spent most of the festive period eating clementines on the sofa and watching Star Wars films with the children. And so of course I have missed the usual festive blog posts etc, but am sure nobody is interested in my snowflake biscuits or Yoyo's angel that looks like the Peter Kay character in Phoenix nights. You are? Okay I'll show you just the angel.

Uncanny isn't it? Perhaps it's just me....but it did bring a smile to my face whilst stuck on the sofa watching Star Wars. But I shall move on.....time to focus on the year ahead.

So what is in store this year Chez Whoops-a-daisy? I won't go as far as calling them resolutions....just plans. They feel more achievable that way.

1. By this time next year I really will have cracked how to use the Queen of Clean's camera. Before I take a picture I can often be heard calling (he would call it shrieking) for the poor man to come and check the settings and get advice....and am sure he is a little bored of explaining the same thing again and again. So I will take part in the 365 project this year and take a picture every day. Not sure yet if I'll post them here, still deciding.

2. We will sort out the bathroom and cloakroom this year. This was on our list for last year, but the boiler and some double glazing took priority. These rooms are really are grim though and we need to work out a way of doing these on a budget.

3. I won't neglect this space and will keep much more up to date with it. Promise :)

4. A personal one, but if I declare it here publically it may work. I will stay off the diet coke. It has been about 3 weeks now since I gave up. And apart from a minor incident at a New Year's Eve party I haven't touched a drop. Sounds ridiculous but am really addicted to this stuff.....and feel quite relieved it is out of my life.

What are your plans for 2011?

Enough

2010-12-20T14:14:00.000Z

Things are sometimes a bit black and white for me. I’m trying to get a bit more grey into my life. To know that being somewhere between all or nothing is okay. Let me give you an example, I remember reading years ago that you should put 10% of your take home pay into savings. Although achievable this has always felt quite a sizeable sum, and with my growing brood and our mortgage commitments it really hasn’t been possible every month. So instead of putting away what I could afford I have abandoned it. Which is really rather short-sighted.

The same principle applies to lots of things for me (diets......I won’t bore with you the tedious details), finding time to read books that I want to (I know I’ll get interrupted so don’t start for fear of not being able to finish the book), starting craft projects (again thinking they won’t be perfect or good enough so why start?). The list goes on and on.

But on this journey to a more simple, considered way of approaching things I’m embracing enough. It is okay for something to be good enough. The money I can save, the time I can spend on something, the quality of an explanation I’m giving in a work email, the help I can give with my eldest’s homework, the decluttering I can achieve on the playroom shelves (evidence in the picture above!)

It doesn’t have to be perfect to be meaningful. Doing something is better than nothing at all.

Grey, welcome aboard.

Disclaimer - please note this post contains a sponsored link.

Vintage Bricks

2010-12-11T09:15:00.001Z

Firstly, apologies posting is rather sporadic to say the least at the mo. I'm trying to slow down and simplify and sadly this little space in cyberworld is the first thing I have to drop when things get a bit hectic.

But I had to pop on and show you this little gem I uncovered at the school Christmas Bazaar last weekend. In amongst the mountain of plastic toys and dog-eared books at the toy stall I found this.

And my heart skipped a beat.

Little building bricks (I think from the late 40's as the lid says 'Made in the U.S Zone of Germany'. Anyone know the significance of this?), all printed with designs and packed into this little wooden box.

At first I thought it would just be me who was smitten, but Yoyo has been found playing with them a couple of times this week. That's my girl. (Although to be fair she was spied shortly afterwards coveting JLS dolls on the internet - I won't lie to you!)

Just look at that lid - with the little 'stanley' dog. Looks like something Cath Kidston would reproduce and charge £20 for. But I paid 50p. And it was the best 50p I spent last week.

Three beautiful things

2010-11-28T20:18:00.000Z

1. Building this today with Yoyo. It is supposed to be an Advent Calendar........perhaps we were supposed to make one house a day. But we are both impulsive and did the whole lot at once. We like to break the rules around here. There was much discussion over our favourite house - mine is the cake shop shown above.

2. I have finally painted the Barley Twist table I got free from the local tip. Two undercoats of satinwood - still needs a top coat, but I'm too impatient to wait. In situ next to the fireplace it goes. A mental tick off the endless to do list.

3. The surprise DIY The Queen of Clean did whilst I was out yesterday in this coat/shoe cupboard. I cannot wait to show you (but vanity wants me to give it all a lick of paint in there first). It made me literally squeal with excitement when I saw it.

I love being married to an engineer - they have this inbuilt need to fix things and problem solve.

Purse Strings - they need tightening

2010-11-17T16:36:00.001Z

I’ve always been intrigued by how others organise their money. I think it’s because I’m not that great at organising my own. I can think of nothing more interesting than having a nose through someone else’s bank statements, wondering how they decided upon each transaction and understanding their approach to getting through the month.

I remember in magazines when I was younger I would get so excited if there was one of those spending diary articles; you know the sort where different women had to keep track of their expenditure each week day by day. There would always be one diarist either end of the spectrum (spendthrift and tightwad), and I never knew where I would be if I had to feature in something like that. You see I would love to be the sort of woman who knows when her car insurance is up for renewal and puts enough cash aside throughout the year, who pays her mortgage off early and saves a ton of interest, who has a monthly clothing budget and sticks to it. I have the best of intentions and I cannot tell you the amount of excel spreadsheets I’ve started by typing in ‘Income’ in cell A1.

But then the Boden sale catalogue will arrive or I’ll get a desperate need to buy some allium bulbs and all that sensible planning evaporates.

Momentarily.

Momentarily enough for me to purchase the must have item.

And later in the week when examining my dwindling bank balance I’ll think - Why. Did. I. Do. That?

I then imagine I’m one of the women in those magazine articles I remember, and realise in a moment of terror that I would be typecast the spendthrift! The woman with all of her purchases laid out for readers to study the details of incredulously. And that’s not who I want to be.

So if you’ve been here and come through to the other side let me know how you did it. What changed your relationship with money? How did you become the spender you wanted to be?

Disclaimer - this post contains a sponsored link.

Temptation (and an exercise in virtual shopping)

2010-11-08T22:06:00.000Z

I found a lovely new website over the weekend whilst starting my christmas shopping. In my new found state of minamilism I shall not be buying any of the following items, but in case you're reluctant to join me on my 'not buying it' journey.........have a look at these lovelies below.

All from Mit Hus (UK site but looks like they ship internationally).

Simple wire tree decorations - love anything like this...in fact dare I suggest you could probably recreate these yourself.

Heart Garland - this may be more of a stretching DIY challenge, but only £5 so perhaps easier to just buy!

Not Christmasy, but Autumnal and a bit different. I really liked this. Hold on, is there a theme here? - again with patience (and without 3 kids and a full time job) this could be a DIY.

These just make me happy. Because although they are china, they look like they're in love. Perhaps her more than him, but never the less in love. In fact I could really easily buy these......but I shan't.

Finally, I have looked for one of these for ages. Just ages. But now I've found it I'm not sure what I needed it for. I think the joy is in the thrill of the chase rather than actually owning. So I'll leave it there.

Blimey - I'm enjoying this virtual shopping malarkey. Apologies if I've encouraged anyone to click....I'm deliberately not creating URLs to the items as a token minamilist gesture. So if you really want the items you're going to have to search!

Less

2010-11-07T17:53:00.000Z

I've been reading lots over the past few months about minimalism, simple living etc. I think I started my investigation with decluttering my home in mind, but that really is only the tip of the iceberg.

The simplicity movement (if you can call it a movement) is not just about less 'stuff'. Of course that does feature in there somewhere in terms of streamlining your possessions and being more organised. Less possessions = less things to get lost/find, less maintenance/cleaning, less debt.

But deeper than that is the other things you can focus on once you've stepped back from the 'stuff'. Less commitments, less pressure, less need to work, less pursuit of some ideal life we are under pressure to achieve, less stress. More time with your family doing things that matter, more fun, more focus on people and experiences rather than possessions.

Anyway I've rounded up some good resources on this subject in the links below in case you want to explore further.

Websites
365 Less Things
Unclutterer
Miss Minamilist
Rowdy Kittens
Simple Mom
Small Notebook

Books
The Joy of Less, A Minimalist Living Guide: How to Declutter, Organize, and Simplify Your Life
Throw Out Fifty Things: Clear the Clutter, Find Your Life

I'll finish by confessing I'm just on the start of this journey......you see I love 'stuff'. I spent £2 on some shaped elastic bands yesterday for Yoyo for heavens sake (they really were cute, and she was poorly). But I think I'm beginning to realise there could be a different way.............in fact I'm starting a new category label of 'Keeping it Simple'. Watch this space.

Three beautiful things

2010-11-03T20:26:00.000Z

1. The joy and enthusiasm over a 60p packet of chalk from this little fellow.

2. This little nook at the front of our living room by the window. I have moved the trunk there and it has become an impromptu reading corner. Not that a whole lot of reading goes on here amongst the daily bedlam - but when it does, this is often where it happens.

3. This picture that my Mum painted me. She thinks because I move it around and it has no permanent home I don't cherish it.....but I really do.

Chalkboard......following the crowd

2010-10-24T22:23:00.000+01:00

We jumped on the chalkboard bandwagon this weekend, I'd seen this lovely image on Soulemama's blog and it set me off. And as the Queen of Clean will tell you, when I have an idea in my head that we could do a quick fix like this...........well it usually has to happen.

So we painted an entire wall in littlest one's room (shown above), and the chimmney breast on Yoyo's room with blackboard paint. Eldest one is undecided if he wants to follow suit........he's never been one to follow the crowd.

Littlest one does have his trousers on back to front in the picture above....I did try to convince him throughout the day that he may be more comfortable if he put them on again right way round, but he was having none of it. He is obviously not as susceptible to my influencing skills as my poor husband.

Top tips if you are thinking of painting a chalkboard wall:-

You do only need one coat of this stuff, it is like thick treacle. So time wise it is fairly quick to do.
Use an old brush. I didn't and the brushes were a pain to clean. Even now all of our white skirting board is coming out with flecks of grey.
Cover your carpets/floors. Sounds obvious, but usually a speck of paint isn't too much of an issue....in this case it is a nightmare, and 100 x worse if you try to rub in the splodge.
I can't find the brand we used online, I picked it up from our local hardware shop. A quick online search shows most brands are around £7-8 per pot which is really reasonable.

From Yoyo to her Daddy

2010-10-08T17:32:00.001+01:00

It has been a long week. The Queen of Clean has been away with work since Monday, and we have all been feeling his absence (not only in the housework department).

Yoyo made and decorated this cake for him and we are all waiting impatiently for his return. A mixture of excitement and frustration that he is not home yet.

I feel it too Yoyo, I feel it too.

Red & Blue

2010-10-05T20:21:00.000+01:00

I realised where my colour inspiration for these shelves came from. It was under my nose along. Gently making its way into my subconscious since it's arrival a year or so ago.

This mug.

(Which incidentally my plumber has used all week and left tea stains in - I'll let him off due to his most excellent delivery of hot water).

Varde love

2010-10-04T21:22:00.000+01:00

I'm impatient - I couldn't wait to take this picture even though there wasn't quite enough light. So here it is, my Ikea Varde shelf.

And hand on heart I didn't buy one new thing to put on it. I am lusting after a vintage red enamel coffee pot on ebay though.

Needs a bit of a rejig......put the old 'less is more' mantra into practice.

But for the moment, it's good enough.

Do you like? More pics of kitchen will follow once finished.

Those pesky crab apples

2010-10-02T20:16:00.001+01:00

Oh my. It is all very stressful inside at the moment, what with the lack of heating and all. So I've decided to turn my attention outside to autumn lawn care, and continue fighting what I consider an annual battle with my crab apples. Whilst anything to do with grass The Queen of Clean usually takes care of, the crab apple sweeping seems to have become my job.

They always seem to defeat me. The carnage starts late August/beginning of September and becomes a slight obsession of mine. The aim is to keep the lawn clear. I have two trees in the front garden that have grown from manageable ornamental trees to crab apple breeding monsters. I can be found at all hours, and in all weathers out there with my pink bucket and plastic rake. In fact I think the neighbours think I have lost the plot (although a particularly house proud one is quite relieved that I bother and sometimes comes out to help me). The irony is that I'm usually quite laid back about these things but those crab apples awaken some 'Hyacinth Bucket' tendencies in me.

Aside from everyone treading in the mush (I don't have a clear path to the front door so it is inevitable they get trodden on) they can't be good for the grass can they?

One positive is that this time has come to mark a change in season, a time that I anticipate at the height of summer I will feel sad about, but when it actually happens, and it's time to feel cosy and snug inside....I always enjoy more than I think I will.

And the trees...the trees will stay. Despite the abuse I've given them above they are actually quite pretty at every other time of year.

(Disclaimer - please note this post contains a sponsored link)

Slowly but surely

2010-09-26T21:48:00.000+01:00

Progress on our home, most of the time, moves at a snail's pace. A reluctant snail who is embarrassed to ask for directions. But now and again, some event will spur us into action.

This weekend we got news that our plumber can squeeze us in this week for our boiler to be replaced. This is something we've been discussing for a while, and debating whether the new boiler can fit in the existing purpose built cupboard. Well our plumber confirmed that this cupboard doesn't meet the right conditions for clearance, access etc and we had to remove it this weekend - along with three wall cupboards. I'm trying to keep positive about the loss of cupboards and adopt a minimalist mindset. After all 'Less is More'.

The Queen of Clean, sensing my distress, decided to come to the rescue with his paintbrush. This duck egg blue (very Cath K) is now on my kitchen walls. It makes up for the fact I am to have no hot water for 3 days this week.

And to replace the 3 cupboards we have lost, my lovely sister picked one of these up for me today.

Just £25! Very shoestring I think. I have been getting styling ideas from the following on flickr, see below:-

Photo by Marie's Shots

Photo by Joyful Lova

Photo by Marianne@Songbird

I cannot wait to dress mine.....although this is a long way off as need to get boiler in, painting finished and finally shelves up. I'm not one for a colour theme usually, but I'm thinking cream and blue items on the shelves with splashes of red. Just need to keep my minimalist head on and not go and buy stuff just to put on the shelves! I wouldn't put it past me........

Family Tree

2010-09-19T21:38:00.000+01:00

There was much excitement here yesterday. We managed to impulse buy a tree! This was something The Queen of Clean had been muttering about for a year, but we had other more pressing things in the house and garden to attend to.

Well yesterday whilst wandering around our local garden centre we saw this, and how could we resist that lovely orangey/pink foliage? It is a Chinese Paperbark Maple, and slow growing so we could plant quite near to the house.

We had a little team of volunteers to help plant it (Yoyo's 3 friends who live in our road), and now littlest one has taken on the task of watering it every day. A task he is most proud of.

Any tree planting I've witnessed has always been done to mark an occasion or in memory of someone. So The Queen of Clean and I racked our brains for something or someone the tree could be planted for. We were at a loss for someone the children could relate to - even Michael Jackson was suggested at one point.

Needless to say we didn't go ahead with that suggestion.

But then it came to me, this tree is our Family Tree. We plan to be here for a long long time and this tree will mark the time our family called this house and garden our home.

Fingers crossed it makes it - the planting hole was a bit suspect, but now I've attached such significance to it being okay I'm getting a little anxious!

They've been keeping me busy

2010-08-27T19:48:00.001+01:00

I realise I've been a bit neglectful of this space recently. For those of you who still check in here thank you!

I'm going to blame it on these three above. Shameless I know.

We've been busy on trips to London, the Zoo and just generally hanging out on 'Club Penguin'. Totally obsessed, all three of them.

Next week is a big step for the two boys, both start new schools and I am feeling so nervous for them. Yoyo takes things like this in her stride, but for my boys this is an enormous deal. I am trying to distract myself by labelling uniform and sourcing the perfect packed lunch box.

Will be back to regular posting soon, promise!

Twisted Goodness

2010-08-11T17:36:00.000+01:00

I think The Queen of Clean dreads me going to a local dump as I am known to bring back these little projects for him to transform.

How could I resist those barley twist table legs though? And just imagine the books stacking opportunities on the little shelf below.

And all for the princely sum of £0

It shall (eventually) be painted cream and take pride of place next to my fireplace. Perhaps by Christmas.

3 Beautiful Things

2010-08-07T08:03:00.000+01:00

1. The excitement brewing here today around making these cakes.

2. Littlest one's new strategy to beat the ever closing pages of the colouring book. Do you remember that?.......so frustrating. He just steps right on the spine.

3. Yoyo feeds her teddy ice cream on a trip out. I remember this is the sort of thing I would have done and I am taken back to being 6 again.

More order amongst chaos

2010-08-04T15:55:00.000+01:00

Meal planning - well I've just never 'got it'. Until I found the free printable pdf above available here.

Of course, this is my first week so still in the honeymoon period. And loving the clipboard my husband has made me (even spray painted the bulldog clip white). Do note this is my real life menu plan so no pretending on there - that is the full horror of our diet this week, pizza, burgers, spag bol et al. Should probably have done a blog version to impress, but I just wanted to show off the clipboard.

Can you tell we're on annual leave and have too much time on our hands?!??

Just off to polish the cat..........

Baskets (and an attempt at being organised)

2010-07-29T20:36:00.000+01:00

I am not a tidy person, my husband is (as you may have guessed by his Queen of Clean nickname), but me well.....it's just not where my strengths lie.

Having said that I do love the idea of being organised and can waste much time reading books on the subject or gazing through flickr photo pools devoted to organisation. Yes, really - they do exist. My best friend Harry even has this cupboard that I stand and gaze at whenever I am there...trying to capture every little ordered, organised detail. Harry if you are reading - I have to photograph that cupboard.

So anyhow, on this little journey of mine toward being organised I have sorted out this chest of baskets in my dining room. These baskets used to store toys and stuff when the kids were babies and it just wasn't being used anymore. I also had all the craft stuff on shelves in the playroom, which has no table.....so any crafting requests by the kids involved much eye rolling and moving supplies from one room to the other. In a kind of grumpy and unenthusiastic manner.

Armed with some Ikea bathroom plastic containers (super cheap and used as dividers), and a somewhat frantic 'Martha Stewart' attitude I got sorting. If multiple photos of contents of wicker baskets bore you, I make no apologies...just hit the back button on your browser ;-)

Sewing stuff - bias tape, thread, webbing, scissors, needles etc.

Fabric scraps

Craft punches, rubber stamps, luggage labels (great as gift tags)

More stamps, bull dog clips, foam shapes, raffia, embellishments (don't you just love that word - not that much embellishing goes on around here)

Glue, spreaders, stencils, hole punch, pipecleaners, paperchains, felt bunnies!

Table runner and placemats

Colouring and sticker books

Wrapping paper

The more observant amongst you (who have made it to the end of these pictures, please someone?) may have noticed that there are only 8 pictures, whilst there are 9 baskets. This is because I read somewhere you should always have an empty shelf/drawer/basket....room to expand. Worth a try I reckon.

Ramblings about a chair

2010-07-28T18:57:00.000+01:00

I have finally put my dreams of vintage bentwood chairs for the playroom to rest. And settled for something more budget friendly and readily available. This bright red kitchen chair from Ikea has made it's way into our home as the chair for the computer desk - I like how it contrasts with the world map mural.

It feels kind of 'flung together'...........although you and I know a whole heap of thought (admittedly too much) went into it.

Just don't tell anyone. They'll think I'm contrived.

Cleaning up...

2010-07-21T20:55:00.001+01:00

....at the awards ceremony.

I don't often speak about my eldest on here. A combination of reasons I think - you may be aware he has special needs and I feel uncomfortable talking about those in this space. Perhaps surprising as I am prepared to share every other tiny detail (!), but this has always seemed, well, sort of separate. He is also a good reader and I would hate him to read something on here without my knowing that he may misunderstand.

Until this evening. Because to be honest I am feeling rather proud.

So proud I could burst.

You see he won 4 awards last night at his schools annual celebration evening. I won't bore you with what they were for - but they weren't the token litter picking or handwriting awards.

When you have a child who is different you begin a journey, perhaps one you never imagined you would find yourself on. And on that journey along with a whole heap of worry, some remarkable things can happen, and emotions you may not experience in the normal parenting realm are there. And tonight I am experiencing one of those....imagine feeling your average parenting pride but ten fold.

It feels amazing.

And he is amazing. He still has lots to teach me I think.

In my garden this weekend...

2010-07-11T21:50:00.001+01:00

.....I wish I had spent more time lying on this blanket. Instead it lay there mocking me whilst I ran around applying suntan cream to little bodies, making food and hanging washing.

I spent lots of time inspecting my little patch - we have eaten two cucumbers (am sure my excitement levels around this are abnormal), dug all our potatoes, harvested some carrots and courgettes.

Again - I would have liked to have spent more time sitting under this parasol, but maternal duties called.

I made the Queen of Clean look at these sweet peas on more than one occasion exclaiming like a proud child 'Do you know I grew these myself?'. He wasn't overly impressed.

Hopefully one of you will 'get' it.

The Godsister

2010-07-05T22:57:00.000+01:00

The Queen of Clean and I became Godparents yesterday to my friends little Lottie.

Yoyo, having badgered us for a sister for a couple of years (and to no avail), announced that she would be Godsister.

Of all the pictures taken yesterday, the above is my favourite, taken by my eldest and only discovered when uploaded onto the PC. Our God daughters biggest brother (and one of Yoyo's best friends) looking the wrong way during the sermon. Just brilliant. May I just add we are not regular churchgoers - so along with his usual challenges our eldest had no idea that clicking pictures throughout the service wasn't really the done thing!

And here is Yoyo and her Godsister. Who will more than make up for her overstock of brothers.

And as godmother (or fairy godmother as I have been nicknamed) what gift did I bestow upon this little girl?

Look away now if you are easily tempted/love crochet/know any little girls/have a fairytale fetish and don't want to part with your money.

Don't say I didn't warn you. A princess and the pea playset. I won't share where or how much for your own financial safety.

This morning

2010-06-30T21:12:00.000+01:00

Everything feels like it's been cranked up a level recently. We all seem to be rushing from one thing to another...a combination of new schools, associated meetings, end of term activities, orthodondist appointments, school fetes, you get the picture. It can all get a bit...well 'too much'.

I'm not the most organised of individuals so all this dashing around adds an element of stress to the Whoops-a-daisy household. And this morning was no exception. It went something like this:-

Eldest could not find only pair of school trousers that fit him. Cue me looking everywhere (even in the garden)
No hot water for shower due to our rubbish boiler
Find trousers in tumble dryer (completely random as I didn't put them in there)
Go to make pack lunches - no ham left, have to subsitute with marmite
Search desperately for £5 (and form, and envelope) for Eldests school disco
Realise I need to let neighbours chickens out
Eldest now complains he has no socks
Littlest one still asleep....yikes (!)........ need to get him out the house in half an hour
Lost Yoyo's book bag - find it under sofa
Eldest's taxi arrives (chaperone checks where he is to be dropped off - it is completely different address tonight and I would have sent him to an empty house if she hadn't have checked). Guilty mother feelings kick in.
Littlest one still asleep.
My hair looks rubbish and no time to sort out due to time and no hot water.
Still haven't fed chickens. Guilty chicken sitter feelings kick in.
Littlest one still asleep.....and he can be very grumpy if you wake him.
Yoyo inspects packed lunch and rejects marmite sandwich. I get cross.
Littlest one wakes and refuses to wear shorts I give him. I get stressed. Guilty mother feelings kick in.
Phone call from work just as we leave house. A visitor has arrived 1 hour early and is expecting to be let in.......wish I had some of his time management abilities. Resolve over phone.
Yoyo has written me a note saying 'Dear Anna, I hope you feel better soon'. Think she is refering to my stress.
Chickens sorted
Run back in house as forgotten book bag.
Run back in house again as forgotten Yoyo's water bottle.
Drive to school and realise haven't applied suncream to kids. Guilty mother feelings kick in.

So this is fairly typical nowadays and I need to get some strategies in place to make the whole thing run smoother. Typing all that out makes me realise why I find it stressful.

But tonight when all is calm, and my Yoyo came downstairs to get a drink and give me that gappy smile, I could suddenly look back on this mornings events and find them amusing. Because as you can see from the picture even if I am stressed.............I don't think its rubbed off on her.

Littlest one and the digging

2010-06-12T10:00:00.000+01:00

It all started calmly with a purple plastic spade and a flowerbed. I was laid back Mum, enjoying my spot in the sunshine after hanging out the umpteenth load of post holiday washing.

Then I noticed the mound of soil on the grass getting bigger...... Now, I'm not precious about mud on the lawn I promise, but I was thinking if this enthusiasm for digging continues in its current vein.........well I'll have a mountain of the stuff to deal with I don't nip this in the bud.

And so I. told. him. off. Yes, a shock to those who know me in real life, I actually told one of my children off (I'm not good at the whole discipline thing). I asked him if he could keep the mud with the other mud. His reaction? Well he sat there huddled in a ball and it could have gone badly......

.......but Rose (my other kitten) saved the day with her remarkable skills of distraction, i.e. she walked past. Phew.

Love in a mist

2010-06-11T19:56:00.002+01:00

We have just returned from a weeks holiday in Centerparcs, Elveden Forest. I truly wish I had some photos to show you (after all the Queen of Clean was with me and he can take a decent shot), but despite taking the camera, due to a technical difficulty (I won't bore you with details) the camera battery went flat. So no pictures of the little goslings and moorhen chicks that stalked our patio, or the squirrels that systematically raided our bike trailer every night for leftover snacks.

So we return, having had much fun as a fivesome, but not well rested. Probably overdid it with the activites.....and my online banking confirms this for me when I checked tmy balance this afternoon. Could have been a mistake to keep littlest one up for 'night swimming' until 9pm at night for the last two evenings - he is exhausted and a little irritable.

And yes I know I am naughty taking the kids out of school during term time (I should add here that I did have permission from both schools.........not sure why I'm feeling the need to justify, but there you have it).

So on to the picture above. Obviously I missed the garden hugely during my time away and some kind neighbours looked after things whilst we were gone. These love in a mist flowers are my favourite thing at the moment and the more you cut them, the more they flower. So I shall keep a jam jar of these little beauties on my kitchen windowsill for as long as possible.

They come from this patch in the garden here.............(which incidentally appeared from nowhere, I didn't plant them so they have self sown from a neighbouring garden).

Unfortunately this also seems to be Martha the kittens' favourite playing spot and she loves diving in to this feathery mass and breaking the stems. Not sure how much more kitty abuse they will stand.

New Shoes

2010-05-28T16:40:00.000+01:00

Hurrah for new shoes! Much more comfortable than my last green pair, and just as smile inducing.

Boo Hiss to the clover, dandelions and other weeds that make up 80% of my lawn. Don't mind the daisies - they can stay.

And on a final and completely unrelated point, my littlest one is making me smile this afternoon by mispronouncing vanilla.............it is manilla apparently.

A garden bore?

2010-05-25T17:06:00.000+01:00

I am at risk of becoming a garden bore.

The symptoms are as follows:-

Clutching a copy of Alys Fowler's 'Edible Garden' wherever I go around the house.

Skiving off maternal duties to grab 5 mins to read above book..........like it's some sort of guilty pleasure.

Stolen moments thinking of my garden and my next move - be it hoeing, planting, watering........ throughout the day.

Luring the children to the garden centre after school with the promise of Pick n' Mix (even that no longer seems to be working - they are bored)

In short, I can think of little else. Progress on the house has come to an abrupt halt. In fact seeds and compost are literally spilt over all my windowsills. Even the Queen of Clean has admitted defeat and joined in......and turned a blind eye to the housework to keep me company.

So here we are....I feel the need to share. As you can see it is nothing magnificient, but it is my little corner of the universe.

My garden in May...........

2010-05-09T21:13:00.000+01:00

I'm rather obsessed with the garden at the moment, and thought I'd use this space to capture each month in my little patch. This little montage of photos has no rhyme or reason - simply things that caught my eye today whilst mooching around the garden..........

.........this Bleeding Heart in white, didn't realise this colourway even existed. Just adore these perfect little white hearts, and I'm told they don't mind being planted in the shade (fingers crossed!)

.......some more shade loving hostas and ferns. No slug damage yet, but note my over zealous application of the blue slug pellets.

.......apple blossom that seems to be disappearing as quickly as it has arrived.

......this mystery plant that I certainly didn't plan for or have last year. I recognise it from Sarah Raven's Cutting Garden book, think it is a Cerinthe? Obviously travelled here by seed, and it is of course most welcome. Love the almost silver/purple foliage.

.......the veg patch coming along slowly but surely. Including these little radishes below...........

And in this recent garden obsession I have discovered lots of lovely new blogs - my absolute favourite which I must share with you is Carrots & Kids. I spent a blissful afternoon reading through these archives, if you are into gardening do check it out.

Things that have happened since I last posted..........

2010-05-05T21:48:00.000+01:00

I have turned 33.

I have driven on my own for the first time ever on a motorway. (M1, then M6). I am beyond proud.

These hosta in my garden have made an appearance. Every year I think I've lost them, and every year at the last minute they appear. Like reliable friends. I think my excitement at their appearance is probably considered excessive by the rest of my household........am even dragging unsuspecting visitors out to inspect these new arrivals.

Raised beds (.........or giant litter trays?)

2010-04-25T20:59:00.001+01:00

Sorry I haven't been around here much. I had nasty food poisoning last week and then I kind of lost my flow.....

But we are very proud of what we created this weekend. And it really is a shoestring project (unlike some of my recent posts). I'll even cost it out for you.

I mentioned here that we were going to build some raised beds, and eventually this weekend our plan came together. The Queen of Clean had some free wood from work (packaging for electrical cabinets all the way from Minnesota) so there was no excuse. We decided two rectangles would work best in our little plot (essentially as I couldn't commit to anything more elaborate) and went ahead and built them - one Friday evening and one Saturday morning.

I don't have any pictures of the building and painting as it all got a bit heated - I was accused of poor project management skills by my husband when I announced Saturday lunchtime that they had to be painted cream (same colour as our playhouse), but I couldn't source any cream paint and was just popping out to get my haircut. Poor project management skills, I ask you?! Needless to say it all came good in the end - I found cream paint in the fourth shop I visited (and now have nice hair).

We built the little path in between the beds from roof tiles that we found in a corner of our garden when we moved here. This means we'll be able to access the beds even if the grass is wet.

And this afternoon we planted:

Mange Tout
Radish
Carrot
Dwarf sweetcorn
Onion
Broccoli

.........and tried to persuade our kitties that we had not just built them two giant litter trays! Eugh - eventually resorted to green netting across the top, just until they get the message.

Here is a picture of the before (taken end of Feb I think).........it really was an eyesore this patch of the garden. A huge heap of rubbish and a neglected apple tree.

And here is the now (complete with netting to discourage kitties). The other side of the beds we have put grass seed down as funds won't stretch to the shed I had planned for.

As promised the cost for this project:-

Wood = Free
Soil - 9 x huge bags = £36 (could have sourced cheaper than the garden centre I'm sure but blame my poor project management skills!)
Cream paint = 2.5 litre can was £19.98 (but also got enough to repaint my playhouse so am costing this at £10)
Labour = Free (although I did have to make several cups of tea to keep Queen of Clean digging)
Roof tiles for path = Free
Fancy wooden plant labels = 10 for £1.98
Netting = £4.00

Total = £51.96

I must also admit I was extremely stupid and let the kids paint these beds without changing their clothes first, and lost some decent jeans and t-shirts in the process. But will not include these in the cost tally above!

The finished result

2010-04-14T18:02:00.001+01:00

I wanted to elaborate on the picture in the post below. We had a real adventure on Saturday. Yoyo and I, along with my parents went to see the Cinderella ballet at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden.

I'm not sure if Yoyo was more excited about going to London on the train and the thought of a taxi ride, or the ballet itself. She had spent most of Friday morning making a necklace for the occassion (that's what she's concentrating on my last post). And here is the finished result.............

And, the ballet, well the ballet was magical. Stuff of 6 year old girls (and 32 year old girls dreams).

{this moment}

2010-04-09T13:36:00.000+01:00

{this moment}

A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment.

Green (or perhaps Pink) Fingers

2010-04-08T00:08:00.004+01:00

We planted these Ranunculus bulbs today - I soaked them in water overnight beforehand and they swelled up like this. Yoyo refused to handle unless she wore gloves....nobody else would touch them. The boys thought they looked like Dalek Sec's head (if you're not a Dr Who fan sorry if the reference confuses, but have a google, the boys are actually spot on).

So in theory at some point this summer these horrible little things will turn into these beauties.......

source

I shall wait with bated breath.

On another garden note - I saw a great new programme tonight, The Edible Garden. Well worth catching on BBC iplayer if you didn't see it. There is a book accompanying the series that looks interesting too The Edible Garden: How to Have Your Garden and Eat It (note heavy hint to any of my family who read this and are stuck for birthday ideas ;-)!)

The programme is also giving away five free packets of seeds for anyone signing up via this link (mixed salad, courgette, basil, french beans, carrot).

Ready, Set, Go!

2010-04-06T09:33:00.000+01:00

An action shot from Saturday afternoon - Yoyo on the Easter Egg Hunt.

I was impressed with the kids resourcefulness - once all of the eggs had been gathered they began 're-hiding' them......and then 're-finding' them.

A never ending Easter Egg hunt of sorts....although those eggs were pretty unrecognisable by the end of the afternoon.

Encouraging the stories

2010-04-03T10:08:00.000+01:00

There is something very emotional about seeing your children's writing, especially something they've created for themselves. It kind of gets me every time, and I don't expect it. Sometimes I can be going about my day and find a scrap of paper with a made up shopping list and it nearly brings a tear to my eye. I think it's probably pride.

Yoyo is the biggest creator in this family - she is endlessly making up stories on random bits of paper, and sadly they often end up trodden on, torn to make another story or even worse in the recycling bin. So in an attempt to keep these magnificent creations we made some books for her yesterday (inspired by a post on Angry Chicken's blog last year).

We used some old scrapbook paper for the covers and plain white paper for the inside and simply sewed through the middle with the sewing machine. I didn't want her to feel overwhelmed with filling these so they are literally 2 pieces of folded paper inside (so a total of 8 pages).

She had huge fun choosing the papers for these - and I bit my tongue and let her choose from everything. No hiding the 'good' stuff! She was even imagining the story titles before we'd sewn the books up.

So now we have a place for those wonderful gems such as 'Tinkabell the Magic Dog'

Tinkabell was a dog she was helfy and has good be havy (behaviour)
She is a magic dog when she goes to the mond (mound)

I won't reveal the rest of the plot - it's still at the editing stage - but Tinkabell does grow wings and visit people in Heaven at night (should I be worried?)

This little activity has been a success (littlest one has also now joined in), wish I'd done this earlier as it was so quick to do - toughest part was finding the lead for the sewing machine.

Give it a go.................!

Easter

2010-04-03T08:23:00.000+01:00

Happy Easter, however you will celebrate.....

We are off to Grandparents today for a meal and an Easter Egg Hunt. There is much excitement here today both about the egg hunt and of course the new Dr Who series starting tonight.

The pics above are of my little Easter Egg tree - just a twig from the garden (admittedly a bit short for the vase!) with some crackle glazed wooden eggs on. The twig was so small I needed to find another home for some surplus eggs so the sash window lock seemed like a good place.

The Easter flowers were a perk from work - last one to leave the office got the reception floral display on Thursday. Isn't the little wooden duck cute?

And, well rain seems to have stopped play on our raised bed plans I shared below, so we will turn our attention inside and start the mammoth task of painting these shelves.

Three Beautiful Things

2010-03-30T21:41:00.001+01:00

1. Yoyo brings home this little weaving from school. It takes pride of place on the mantlepiece, and anyone who admires it I exclaim 'Don't you think it shows an eye for colour?' - just like one of those Mums who think their children are gifted. At least I can laugh at myself.

2. My eldest places an order with his Granny for the Easter cake sale (20 fairy cakes, 10 white, 10 pink, 5 with jelly tots on top, 5 with smarties) he is appealing to the wider market through diversification. Thanks Mum.

3. The Queen of Clean's reaction when I ask him if he wants to colour co-ordinate the book shelves.

Big plans

2010-03-30T07:36:00.000+01:00

There are big plans underfoot for this little corner of my garden.

I am sure my wonky picture above confirms my intentions. We are going to build raised beds this weekend for vegetables (everything to make Shepherds Pie with except the cow, according to the Queen of Clean). So carrots, potatoes, onions. And of course non-shepherd pie ingredients of lettuce, broccoli, radish......and am sure there will be many others.

We are a bit worried about this area getting enough light, but thought 'what the heck.....let's have a go'. If nothing else it will have been fun trying.

Eventually we will also have a shed here - at the moment we are storing kids bikes etc in the playhouse, making it very unhomely......which makes me very sad.

I'm getting lots of inspiration from this fantastic blog, My Tiny Plot. Do have a look if you are into growing your own.

Exploring

2010-03-28T21:09:00.001+01:00

We went exploring today. Back to the birdwatching place that it was just too cold for back in February.

Didn't get any birdwatching done, but lots of exploring. This nature reserve is literally just around the corner from us, and we had yet to discover it.

We responded to this invitation.........

and found these...........(littlest one very excited and declared this was just like Indiana Jones)

............and these feathers and pinecones (kids were less impressed, but I thought it was all very Soulemama). Perhaps my kids just don't get pinecones?

And the little window of the cabin was painted like this..........

And this was the view outside.....

And the most exciting discovery (yes even more exciting than the above) was this.........

I tried to convince the Queen of Clean to knock one of these up in the garden for us.

I think he may have said a bad word in response.

So no birds seen at all in this birdwatching reserve (forget to borrow binoculars for this visit), but still had much fun. I am sure we will be back soon (if only for Queen of Clean to get a proper look at the construction of that willow hut).

And sorry....I am still 'tweaking'. It's been a busy weekend, and I haven't had the chance to focus on it properly. Still work in progress..........

Making a few tweaks

2010-03-27T09:27:00.000Z

Please bear with me whilst I make a few adjustments using the fab new blogger template designer.

It's work in progress, and as I don't have more than 30 seconds uninterrupted at any time it is likely to take most of the weekend to get it all 'just so'.

The Force

2010-03-24T23:09:00.002Z

Star Wars has become an overnight obsession with the children in this house. They caught a glimpse of the original 1977 film recently and since then well, they are hooked. Particularly my littlest one.

This morning he played his usual casting director role. He of course is Luke, Yoyo is Princess Leia, My eldest is Han Solo, The Queen of Clean C3-PO (he does a fab impression), and I am.....Chewbacca. It could have been worse.....apparently Jabba the Hut was on the cards at one point.

But despite my disappointment over his casting choices....Littlest One has made me smile this evening as I am surrounded by all this paraphenalia.

He has drawn the pictures below and proudly stuck them on the living room wall (usually things get put in his bedroom, but obviously he wants these little sketches more visible). I'll turn a blind eye to the blu-tac.

His favourite thing is this makeshift light sabre (in a previous life it was a giant bubble wand that I nearly threw out last month), that he takes everywhere with him.

Even to bed.

And on those nights when he strays into our bed in the early hours.....the light sabre comes with him.

I love.....

2010-03-23T16:05:00.000Z

......these boots.

But more importantly I adore the little toes that belong inside them.

Here we go again........

2010-03-20T09:52:00.003Z

Am starting the Apartment Therapy Cure this week....again. I did this in Autumn with some good results, although I had to admit defeat by week 7. This time I will last the course.

I'm not really focusing on one room, it's going to be a general organisation of the whole house. Things don't run smoothly here when we're cluttered, which I suppose is much the case for everyone.

To find out more about the cure see here.

The picture above is the otherside of the playroom, the one with the map mural etc. Posts about this room are here and here. And these shelves, well they're just not working for us. Endless rows of books the kids don't read (their faves are in their bedrooms), muddled up playmobil, photography equipment, craft supplies (that we can't reach), boardgames, puzzles (yes with missing pieces...why do I hang on to them?), toys outgrown or broken, paperwork that I forget to action.

So if nothing else...these shelves will be fabulous by the end of the cure. To start with we'll be painting them white, and then I'll be seeking inspiration from all my favourite organising blogs to make this area function properly.

Any tips or ideas please go ahead and share!

Sofa

2010-03-14T17:53:00.000Z

Shallow I know...but there is much joy in a new sofa.

After much deliberation following the collapse of our sofa on Christmas Eve, we decided to go ahead and buy a new one. And it arrived yesterday...along with a whole set of rules about not jumping on it, eating on it, drinking on it. Sitting is permitted!

Do you think my little cushions and throw look at home there? It seems to me they were almost bought for it, even though I've had them years. Okay well I confess, the linen and felt daisy one may have caught me eye yesterday whilst out shopping in John Lewis. But I stopped at just the one.

There has been more than enough spending now. Back to reality and making do.

Stuffed tigers and polar bears

2010-03-10T16:26:00.001Z

We have this museum in my town, an offshoot of the Natural History Museum and it is literally like stepping back in time. I used to go there lots as a child myself, and now take my kids there frequently (I will admit they have probably been over-exposed because it's a free!).

There are endless victorian glass and wooden cabinets with rows and rows and rows of stuffed animals, fish, reptiles.

We all took a walk there on Sunday and I got these pictures. They are such familiar sights to me, the stuffed tiger and polar bear, the endless cabinets of butterflies and spiders...but as I was walking around I realised just how surreal it all is.

I'll let you into a secret...I know someone who works here and he admitted that they often have to put the tiger in the deep freeze to kill off the bugs! Yikes. What a job!

Above all I love that my family are enjoying exactly the same attraction that I did as a child, completely unchanged. And I am sure it will stay exactly the same for years to come..........

What do you think - fascinating or freaky?

Biscuits and Waves

2010-03-09T08:13:00.000Z

We ordered some prints on Saturday....it's rare we both agree on what we like artwise. So when we do agree it's good to take decisive action and purchase!

The one above is for me. Because I agree with the sentiment, and it makes me smile.

And this one. Well it's a long standing joke that The Queen of Clean won't engage in any meaningful conversation with me in public. Careless talk costs lives and all that. Something I've come to find amusing. So this one is perfect for us.

Both of these are from Keep Calm Gallery. A fantastic website...just adore almost everything on there.

Risky

2010-03-08T19:09:00.000Z

Okay, okay.....I know the right thing to do would be to tell Jasper off, but it just makes me smile so I let him carry on. And then run and grab the camera so I can share with you.

He will watch for hours and hours and hours.

Eleven

2010-03-07T20:48:00.002Z

The Queen of Clean and I celebrated our eleventh wedding anniversary yesterday - the children were packed off to Grandparents for a sleepover and we had an entire day and evening to ourselves.

After getting over the guilt and getting used to the freedom, we went for a lovely lunch in St Albans and purchased chocolate supplies from Hotel Chocolat. Raspberry and white chocolate fusion.....Bliss.

I was surprised with some flowers.....

.......no really, I was surprised. We are not the sort of couple who are good at presents or surprises. Not in our remit. So this gesture threw me.

However, in a moment of inspiration/desperation to reciprocate, I stumbled across the wonderful Wordle website. And created this....an image with the lyrics of our favourite James Morrison song, 'You make it real for me'. I am going to print and frame it when time allows.

Gosh, all seems a bit twee and loved up doesn't it? Please be assured that by this evening we will be bickering over whose turn it is to unload the dishwasher............but for the moment, I'll enjoy that 'loved-up' feeling.

This moment - Yoyo's bed

2010-03-05T16:42:00.001Z

{this moment}

Photo project by Soulemama - A single photo, no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment, a moment that makes you want to pause, savour and remember.

Harry and the Orla Kiely bag

2010-03-04T21:33:00.000Z

My friend Harry comes round most Wednesdays. It's a historical arrangement - to make sure we get to see each other and also it's the night The Queen of Clean goes out biking.

You know the friend you can literally snort with laughter with? That's Harry. Last night we nearly choked on our dinner for various ridiculous plans that would be lost in translation in this post. Harry if you are reading this I can hear your sigh of relief!

She's not really called Harry but my kids think that's her name.....it was a non correctable point of confusion somewhere along their development.

So we all call her Harry now.

And so on to my point of this post and the picture above. Harry covets labels and things. She won't mind me saying that. And above, sits her pride and joy. The Orla Kiely handbag.

There is ongoing banter between Harry and The Queen of Clean about the handbag....he is incredulous about how much it cost (secretly feeling smug that his wife would not ever consider owning such a thing....little does he know!). Last night whilst Harry was reading Yoyo her story upstairs, downstairs The Queen of Clean made this little addition to the bag - a homemade Orla Kelly Dymo label. And he attached it to the bag (brave man - I wouldn't have dared).

Proud of his handiwork he tipped me off and we both waited with bated breath for the reaction..........

'Have you been buying knock off hand bags again Harry?' he asked her...

.........and then there was more laughter.

To dos

2010-03-01T20:38:00.000Z

In my attempt to get more organised I must confess I had a small, but necessary stationery splurge.

I bought the notebook above for work (It's A4 so a decent size) and before the end of each day I write my To do's for the next day. Well that's the idea. Sometimes it all merges into one endless, never-ending stream of 'To dos'.

Somehow though those cheerful plump Russian Dolls make all of those troublesome To dos more achievable. Even though they do look rather alarmed.

Also in my splurge was some Lotta Jansdotter stationery. You know stationery so nice you can't use it? Well this stuff falls into that category.

Just can't bear to use these post it notes - occasionally just get them out of my drawer at work to stroke....and try and impress my work colleagues.

And a lovely journal book like the one above - just look at the inside..........

So will these things help me in my quest for organisation? Probably not....but it will have been fun trying.

Everything here available on Amazon.

This moment - My Trio

2010-02-26T16:40:00.003Z

{this moment}

A photo project by Soulemama (if you haven't ever read this blog - my goodness, well you are missing a huge delight!). A single photo, no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment, a moment that makes you want to pause, savour and remember.

So here is mine - I went searching upstairs with my camera, and here they were. My trio. Playing together.

Compromise

2010-02-24T20:54:00.000Z

After my snowdrops post my Mum sent me this victorian teacup (along with a Shepherd's Pie she had cooked).

And I thought long and hard about digging those snowdrops up, with a little moss to cover the dirt on top.

But I resisted......and came up with this compromise.

Thanks Mum, those snowdrops and cup have truly made me smile when I most needed it today :o)

Trying hard

2010-02-22T20:49:00.000Z

I am trying very hard at the moment to keep up with everything.

Hence the contents of my bag above...my latest find that I desperately want to read but just don't find the time. Oh the irony.

So I am still here, but just not managing to post as frequently for a little while.

Just until I've read this book..........then it will all be hunky dory.

Half term desperation

2010-02-19T10:04:00.001Z

I have officially run out of half term activity ideas.....am now resorting to using plaque disclosing tablets as entertainment.

Yoyo and my eldest think they look like blue monsters, I am appalled by how badly they are currently brushing their teeth. Perhaps Shortcut Susie orginally instructed them.....I can't recall.

No pictures, you really wouldn't want to see them! Although I did debate showing you this image with my bathroom. What can I say...it's on the 'To do' list.

Snowdrops

2010-02-17T08:20:00.000Z

Amongst the bedlam of my garden, I found these yesterday, nestled in amongst the Ivy that has taken over my flowerbeds.

I have been fighting an internal battle since then to dig them up and bring them inside. Perhaps in a pretty vintage teacup? Except I don't have a pretty vintage teacup..........

Must. Not. Do. It.

Cheat

2010-02-16T14:50:00.001Z

Pretty poor show isn't it? Not very 'shoestring' or 'earth mother'.

I think it's fairly obvious to regular readers that I'm neither of these!

But do you know what? Ready made Pancake Batter is what is working for me today. I have my children here at home, eager for a day of fun with their Mum (well at least I hope they are, perhaps 'looking foward to' is a better description) and quite frankly I'd rather be playing a board game or snuggling them whilst watching a DVD, than fretting over my batter's consistency.

There is so much pressure nowadays (admittedly most of it we put on ourselves), of what we ought to or should be doing. And sometimes its easy to forget that you need to make life work for you and your family, you don't need to be held accountable for decisions that won't impact anyone outside of this.

So, I'm off to do some more of this..........

Impulse buy

2010-02-15T20:36:00.000Z

This little orchid is a new addition to the household. I picked it up yesterday at Ikea........how I love that shop.

We stopped en route to a family lunch and picked up the usual suspects; wine glasses, light bulbs, freezer bags (not sure why, but there is always something you didn't mean to get in Ikea isn't there?). We also got a cute little light for Yoyo's room like this one.

And I couldn't resist this orchid. So sweet and perfect, and I knew it would fit just so in this white square pot I have. I had to process all of these thoughts in about 10 seconds as we were running late and causing a wave of chaos through Ikea's marketplace.

But I made the right decision, this impulse buy was worth it. Just have to keep it alive now.....

Favourite tin

2010-02-11T18:49:00.000Z

Isn't it lovely? From M&S at Christmas (probably still available now if you love it as much as I do!), just £5, complete with biscuits for cheese.

I have a thing about tins, but sadly no imagination of what to put inside them.

So they kind of get left waiting quietly in the cupboard......just anticipating their contents.

Cowboys, monsters and bunting

2010-02-10T15:55:00.002Z

It's been a while, but here are my three beautiful things, inspired by one of my regular blog reads here, do check out the link if you haven't seen it before....it's about finding the beauty in all of the everyday moments.

1. Losing myself for a moment in the arrangement of these cowboys and indians on the fireplace - given to me along with many others by a friend. For the children of course, but I can't help having a play......

2. My eldest announces my handbag looks like a monster's face....I see it immediately (do you?) and we giggle.

3. I spend my spare moments dreaming how this playhouse in our garden will look this summer....it is rather neglected. My head is full of bunting, window boxes and the like.....I think the planning will be more exciting than the doing. Am sure the Queen of Clean will be happy to play a big part in the renovations!

Hope you manage to find some beauty today..........

Lego moments

2010-02-09T17:10:00.001Z

Littlest one is still impressed with his Lego haul he had for his birthday. He plays with it to the exclusion of everything else.

I love watching these moments and hearing the imaginary dialogue. I am allowed to be a spectator only if I agree to rebuild new models as soon as he tires of them.......thank heavens for Lego publishing all their instructions online in PDF format.

Clever folks.

Alright

2010-02-07T20:48:00.001Z

This image is by one of my Flickr contacts, who has a lovely blog here. It is also available as a print in her etsy shop here.

You know when a picture really resonates with you? It rarely happens with me that I am really moved by something, but I just adore this image. I have been pondering why, and I realise that the word 'alright' is what's drawing me to this. Undoubtedly the polka dots are playing their part too....

'Alright' is used a lot in our family. My Mum has a stock comforting phrase that she used on me as a child, and now with her grandchildren of 'It's all alright'. I've highlighted the second 'al' so you can hear the emphasis she uses!

I've inherited this from her and often use it as my 'one size fits all...can't think what to say, but need to keep calm myself and appear to be in control......comforting statement'.

We've all got one right?

I have fond memories (well fond now that 10 years have past!) of the Queen of Clean trying to comfort me whilst in labour by repeating 'It's alright' to me over and over again. I replied firmly at the time that no, it wasn't alright. But I can smile about that now........

Do you like this image? What would your word be?

Slowly easing back to normal

2010-02-07T16:18:00.000Z

Phew...what a relief. Things are slowly (touch wood) back to normal. I can tell you a sickness bug and a family of five.......well it's a case of letting it work its way round.

Now thankfully everyone has 'had their turn' I must give my thanks to:-

Fantastic employers who let me work from home
The Queen of Clean who took a day off so I could go into work
My parents who also stepped in on Friday on a 'just in case basis'
Stephanie Meyer for writing 'Twilight', turning me into a lovestruck teenager and taking my mind off things during the entire sickness epsiode.
My best friend Harry, for introducing me to Twilight.
And most importantly my 'patients' for being so brave.

I have missed this space and have only had a moment now and again to keep up with all the other lovely blogs I read. Here's to a fresh start next week.............

The aftermath

2010-02-02T16:29:00.000Z

Last night Yoyo was sick.

So through the night and during this morning I came to know my washing machine intimately. And it's not a relationship I'm keen on developing (my top secret that you may already know from here is that my Mother-in-Law currently does most of my washing).

Every door is now covered in her numerous rugs, sheets, quilts recovering from their ordeal.

And I can't help thinking one child down....two to go. So things may be quiet around here for a few days.......

Birdwatching

2010-01-31T20:16:00.002Z

We really did go birdwatching today....well we tried. Went armed with borrowed binoculars and bird spotters reference book to a local reservoir. It was freezing, and so we were tempted into the barn there, to make our own toad houses and get stuck in with some various other crafting stuff on offer.

We have promised ourselves to give it another shot when the weather warms up.

So when we got back home, I remembered these birds made from wood/vintage wall paper that I bought last year from Ladies & Gentlemen. I thought they might look good on my twig (you may have already seen this as a Jingle Bell tree at Christmas, and a glass heart tree....wait till Easter comes around!).

They are all now perched happily on the playroom shelf. Not quite as exciting as the real thing....but dare I say it a little prettier?

Cake sale woes

2010-01-29T21:41:00.003Z

We were late for the cake sale at school today....every last one had gone by our arrival.

Even the much despised shop bought Mr Kipling ones....it's a big no no at our school to bring a shop bought cake to a cake sale. Although I do engage in such practices myself.....I trot out the working mum excuse, or even worse engage my parents in the cake making and then pass the results off as my own. There, I said it.

Well I digress. Yoyo immediately burst into tears about the lack of cakes......this is very unlike her, so in a moment of desperation I announced we would make some cakes together when we got home.

So without further ado this is my recipe for cooking with children. Photos very kindly provided by The Queen of Clean.

Take equal measures of tolerance and patience....

Turn one (or if preferred two), blind eyes depending on potential for spillage.....

Add in one stock phrase, to be repeated throughout process.

My current favourite is 'Hang on a minute!'

Finally, and this is the crucial ingredient......mix in endless amounts of enthusiasm.

Have a fantastic weekend :)

Toad

2010-01-27T17:20:00.000Z

There are many reasons I love my husband.........but his Toad in the Hole is high up on the list.

It's his signature dish.

Would you just take a look....!? Fabulous. We call it just 'Toad' here, in an attempt to have a little inside joke.

This carefully edited version of my life.....

2010-01-26T20:49:00.003Z

I had dinner last week with some good friends who also read my blog. We were laughing as they shared they thought I presented a 'carefully edited version of my life'.

Anyone who knows me will recognise the above scene......goldfish bowl could do with a clean out, crumbs on the counter, cartons of apple juice struggling to find their way back to the fridge.

So this post is in the interest of 'keeping it real'. Because we can't all be living the Chez Larsson dream can we? And I'm sure I'm not the only blogger who will sweep the toys and mess away before they take a photograph.

So for one time only....here it is, the reality. Taken just minutes ago and waiting for me to sort out.

Weekend photos

2010-01-24T18:49:00.001Z

Just a few random pictures from around the house today. I'm not doing the 365 photo project, but trying to make time to just capture everyday moments.

The bunny in the last photo Yoyo and I made yesterday. I wasn't feeling well so sitting in my chair and quietly stitching this was about all I could manage.

Croissants this morning - a little indulgent but marked the weekend.....a change from the usual endless rounds of frantically made peanut butter on toast we're used to.

The tulips - don't you love this stage where they come to the end of their life and start to go bendy? Had to capture it.

And the robot picture at the top.......just made me smile. It was one of the few non-lego gifts that littlest one got on his birthday on Monday.

Hope you all had a good weekend, most of yesterday was written off here with me feeling poorly and having to go to bed. For some insane reason I thought it would be an ideal chance for me to learn to crochet....so was drifting in and out of sleep watching endless crochet tutorials on youtube. Didn't achieve much quite frankly - although I am now an expert on starting the first round of a granny square. Just can't seem to make it any further.

Any must have crochet resources...do let me know. I'm feeling a little lost!

Another trunk

2010-01-22T14:06:00.001Z

Littlest one's birthday turned into a bit of a Legofest. You know when you mention to a couple of people that Lego may be a good idea.......and then you jump on the Lego bandwagon yourself? You get the picture. Oodles of the stuff.

I wanted to show you the treasure chest where we store the Lego. This trunk came from a photography studio in London where the Queen of Clean used to work a long time ago. He rescued this trunk from being put in the skip....can you believe anyone would consider throwing such a lovely thing away? I quizzed him on what this trunk was used for and he replied 'anything and everything', but when pushed admitted lights and cables for location shoots. It all sounds terribly glam....but I don't think it really was. I remember him working long, long hours and never having a chance to eat.

But back onto the point in hand. This trunk has been with us for years and has been used as a side table downstairs. Since we put wood flooring downstairs, this trunk has been banished upstairs to littlest one's room as we didn't want the metal underneath to scratch the floor. Actually I'm not worried about scratches at all......but I guess you know who is!

So this box stores lego...mainly The Queen of Clean's old childhood lego. And the odd stray Barbie leg, a ha .....so that's where they got to! But now, since littlest one's birthday we have lots more to add to the collection. I'm pondering on being super organised and keeping new/old lego separate....but I think that may cause stress. Which is always best avoided Chez Whoops-a-daisy.

That is Rose sat on the trunk in the top picture, she is growing just too fast.

And please be assured... this is the last trunk post. I have no more such containers with long and slightly romantic stories attached to them.

This trunk

2010-01-20T16:44:00.000Z

I was going to post something profound about the three little bottoms perched on this trunk.

But as I thought about it, I started thinking about the trunk itself. Not that in any way the trunk is more important than the people sat on it, I assure you.

This trunk was in an antique shop that was a couple of doors down from a house I shared whilst I was at University. I walked past it every day for months and thought, when I have my own home, I want a trunk like that. I thought a lot about that trunk on my long walk up a hill to lectures, and the home it would eventually fill. I then saw the price tag. It wasn't pretty or achievable on a student budget. So my Mum agreed to buy it for my 21st birthday.

So one afternoon The Queen of Clean and I went in to buy the trunk and carry it to my student room. I think my housemates thought I'd lost the plot. It wasn't every 21 year old girls dream really now was it, some old trunk from the shop over the road? It was so heavy and we had to lug it up the stairs on these little decorative handles that dug into my hands. So there it sat for the remainder of the year, in pride of place underneath a 'Titanic' poster. It was the 90's......Kate & Leo where the height of fashion back then. I promise. Or perhaps it was just me.......

So later that year when we bought our first home, this trunk became our TV stand. And I had no idea that just a couple of years later it would be a toy chest for my firstborn. Or fast forward now 12 years later it would have those three adorable bottoms perched on it playing Wii.

So this trunk is very important to me.....because when I reflect at how things have turned out, perhaps not as originally planned, I want to go back to that 21 year old me contemplating the trunk and let her know that the trunk is definitely a good purchase and that her home and life will be all that she wishes it could be.

Style resolutions 2010

2010-01-18T23:05:00.001Z

A blog I read regularly, Tea for Joy has challenged readers to post their style resolutions for 2010. So after some consideration - here we are:-

I want to appreciate the opportunity for every corner of my home. Like my kitchen windowsill above. I want every corner to reflect who I am, and things I love. A tall order perhaps...but there are so many corners that you overlook or just accept as being unchangeable. I want to challenge that this year.

I will finally learn the art of displaying a group of pictures on the wall. I have seen so many beautiful examples of this on flickr photo groups and other blogs, magazines. I think perhaps I am building this up into something more than it is......and I just need to be brave and do it.

I want to devote more time (please someone tell me where to find time....it just slips away from me) to crafting. I desperately want to learn to crochet to create some of the beautiful granny square cushions I have seen and adore like this one below from Emma Lamb.

Our main project for 2010 will be the bathroom we started to dismantle 18 months ago when we moved here, and ran out of budget for. I will find the funds to tackle this and create a functional, but beautiful bathroom. On a shoestring.

So there you have it. My style resolutions for 2010.

The cake

2010-01-18T10:25:00.000Z

There is much excitement here this morning.

It is littlest one's birthday and Ga (Grandpa) has just delivered the much talked about cake. Littlest one had spotted this cake on the internet about 6 months ago and has mentioned it at least weekly since then.

And here it is...in all it's dessicated coconut glory.

Littlest one was so overwhelmed he hid when it was delivered! Did I mention before my skillful delegation of all children's birthday cakes to my parents? The fabulous Garlie and Ga (aka Granny and Grandpa). I highly recommend this strategy to all parents.

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For now this cake is safely hidden under the laundry basket, from our inquisitive kittens, until its unveiling this afternoon at a very small tea party.

Littlest one and I have a day to ourselves....so for now we are off to have some fun!

Sprigs, hats and kitten paws

2010-01-12T21:48:00.000Z

Realised I hadn't posted three beautiful things for a while, and after an eventful and rather stressful afternoon I thought it might induce some much needed calm!

So without further delay, they are:-

1. This little sprig of fir tree in the jam jar on the left was gathered on a family walk on Saturday morning. Poor Yoyo was really struggling to make it back home and it had started to snow again - we kept her spirits up by asking her to look for the 'Christmas tree' so Mummy could put it in a jam jar.

The plot worked, she kept walking (and stopped whining) and she is very proud of her little sprig.

2. The constant and ever changing display of hats and gloves drying on the radiator.

3. Rose the kitten plays with my toes this morning as they hang over the edge of the bed. She doesn't use her claws, just her soft paw pads. I take this as a sign of feline affection, although I am doubtful that is her intention.

Aaahhh, that's better....feeling calm.