I had just pulled into a parking space this morning when Fearne Cotton played this on Radio 1 this morning. Stopped me dead in my tracks. Perfect tune for a grimy Monday morning.
Clean Bandit cover Royals by Lorde.
HOUSE HUNTING :: PIN DREAMING
We are house hunting.
Although we are only just starting with viewings, we have been house hunting for quite a while via the powers of the three w's. Since before we left Switzerland, we've been trawling through estate agent websites, Zoopla, Prime Location et al. Rightmove and I? Oh yeah, best friends. The sort of 'best friend' that delights in reminding you how poor you are.
Anyways, we've been getting an idea of the market prices, schools, areas with a reasonable journey time for Alex to get to... and more importantly, home from work! We've pinholed a few areas and have been out at viewings. Let me tell you this... house viewing with three small children is a challenge. Let me tell you this... 'you don't even have a garden to worry about' is a very creative way to tell the buyer 'this house would be perfect if only it had a garden.' Let me tell you this... you cannot and will not convince me that a second reception room on the ground floor magically turns your three bed house a four bed house. Let me tell you this... photographing a teeny tiny room from atop a step ladder doesn't fool anybody. Let me tell you this... taking my shoes off and tiptoeing around some of these houses has made my socks beg for mercy. Two words... vacuum cleaner! A few more... mop and bucket.
In short... it hasn't taken long for the house hunting game to become totally and utterly and completely and wholly unfun*. Second guessing floor plans with not so clever photography tricks to get to the house and see the grim reality. I'm over it.
So what am I to do? I get pinning. If we can't find the house, I'll find the dreams until we get there. My pinterest page is rich with dreamy dreams. They may seem unrealistic for most of us but we can cleverly pick out ideas and apply them to the most modest of spaces. Here are a few kitcheny* images that I'm dreaming of applying to wherever we may find.
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| Two tone kitchen via Decor Pad |
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| Cream & Black Kitchen via Remodelista |
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| Pantry Door via Decor Pad to lead into something like... |
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| Walk In Pantry via Decor Pad Oh joy in my heart... I'm all over this pantry |
ps. we do have an abode that may come to nothing but I have mentally applied my pins and have the dream.
*unfun; kitcheny - Don't worry, I know.
MAKE YOU FEEL MY LOVE
Somewhere along my path I have lost a few things. One of them is my inner song. So, in a bid to find it and reinstate it to its rightful place, I've been listening to Adele. A lot. Been playing this one over and over. C'mon you little mind melodies... come on home!
Stunning.
Stunning.
FAMILY
Tidying up Lily & Mitch and visited my FAMILY section... wanted to savour it in a post before I update. Oh my, how things change. Obviously written before Darcy was born so we're talking at least seven months ago... Joseph is now far from 'chilled out' and Carys is far from a 'dream'! T3 is here in the form of our very gorgeous girl Darcy and I have since lost myself all over again and currently scramble to pull together the pieces of me. I will, I know that I will but good gracious, its a hard process.
I threw in a few pictures for good measure down there at the bottom... should you make it that far.
fam·i·ly {/' fam(ə)lē/}
To me, family is all that matters. It's where most of our days start and end and for me, the past three years my family have been the content of my days too. My nine to five and all the hours around. The baby and toddler years are passing me by so incredibly fast, I'm savouring every moment.
Alex :: Oh, that man! When Alex and I first got together and my friends were doing what girls do, asking me the standard 50 questions in one breath, it was then I realised that this one was different. I didn't have the answers. I didn't feel the need to big him up. He was Alex. For me, all I needed was for him to be Alex. He is still that Alex.
Joseph :: My boy. He has been an easy child since day one. Sure he has the odd 'moment' but on the whole, he is totally chilled out. A really happy and contented little boy. I know because he tells me. In the middle of a game, colouring, watching TV, whatever... he'll look at me with the declaration 'mummy, I'm a happy boy' and it gets me every time. Love it. So my baby {'I'm not a baby, I'm a big boy'} will be three in January. He gets funnier every day. He repeats everything we say. Not in that annoying way a seven year old does... but later, even days after we've said something I'll hear him playing with his HappyLand people and I can hear how he makes conversations between them. It will be exactly something Alex or I have said. And the voices. Oh, the voices! He calls to Carys 'c'mon sweetheart, keep up' exactly as I do when we're out walking. Precious.
Carys :: Carys is a dream. I thought Joseph was easy but this little girl trumped him in the easy baby competition. From the day she was born, she made sense of everything. Life got easier. I don't know how that is possible and I can't explain it but that's how it was. I hadn't realised that I had lost myself in motherhood until she was born. I found myself again without even knowing I had been gone. Saying all that, she's a force to be reckoned with. Carys is similar to Joseph in a lot of ways, calm, content, happy to go with the flow but there is a spark in her that will, without warning, cause utter chaos.
T3 :: Oh, who are you in there? This little mover certainly doesn't let me forget they're in there. I can't wait to have him or her in my arms. We've agreed on names and I'm so excited to know which one will be added to our family.
And now...
I threw in a few pictures for good measure down there at the bottom... should you make it that far.
fam·i·ly {/' fam(ə)lē/}
Noun :: A group consisting of parents and children living together in a household.
Synonyms :: noun. kin - house - household - stock - clan - race - tribe :: adjective. domestic - homely - home -familiar
To me, family is all that matters. It's where most of our days start and end and for me, the past three years my family have been the content of my days too. My nine to five and all the hours around. The baby and toddler years are passing me by so incredibly fast, I'm savouring every moment.
Alex :: Oh, that man! When Alex and I first got together and my friends were doing what girls do, asking me the standard 50 questions in one breath, it was then I realised that this one was different. I didn't have the answers. I didn't feel the need to big him up. He was Alex. For me, all I needed was for him to be Alex. He is still that Alex.
Joseph :: My boy. He has been an easy child since day one. Sure he has the odd 'moment' but on the whole, he is totally chilled out. A really happy and contented little boy. I know because he tells me. In the middle of a game, colouring, watching TV, whatever... he'll look at me with the declaration 'mummy, I'm a happy boy' and it gets me every time. Love it. So my baby {'I'm not a baby, I'm a big boy'} will be three in January. He gets funnier every day. He repeats everything we say. Not in that annoying way a seven year old does... but later, even days after we've said something I'll hear him playing with his HappyLand people and I can hear how he makes conversations between them. It will be exactly something Alex or I have said. And the voices. Oh, the voices! He calls to Carys 'c'mon sweetheart, keep up' exactly as I do when we're out walking. Precious.
Carys :: Carys is a dream. I thought Joseph was easy but this little girl trumped him in the easy baby competition. From the day she was born, she made sense of everything. Life got easier. I don't know how that is possible and I can't explain it but that's how it was. I hadn't realised that I had lost myself in motherhood until she was born. I found myself again without even knowing I had been gone. Saying all that, she's a force to be reckoned with. Carys is similar to Joseph in a lot of ways, calm, content, happy to go with the flow but there is a spark in her that will, without warning, cause utter chaos.
T3 :: Oh, who are you in there? This little mover certainly doesn't let me forget they're in there. I can't wait to have him or her in my arms. We've agreed on names and I'm so excited to know which one will be added to our family.
And now...
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| A fairly standard morning scene |
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| Darcy and Sophie la Giraffe |
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| Wearing hangers... as one does. |
THE BLETCHLEY CIRCLE
Anybody watching The Bletchley Circle? Another wonderful, wonderful ITV drama and oh those girls... these girls, in fact. I'm no critic so I shan't pretend to be but, if you love a good TV drama, check it out on ITV Player.
Series One had just three episodes so we aren't looking at a big commitment to get on board with the girls! In a very {weak} nutshell... Bletchley Park WWII codebreakers reunite several years after the war when a series of murders show a pattern that the police have not recognised. Susan, now quite the bored housewife, took interest an in the case, saving newspaper clippings and putting the data together. Ignored by the police after presenting her findings, she gathered the girls and they got to work .
The first of four episodes of Series Two started last Monday and will play out over the month of January 2014. This time, Jean is the driving force rallying the #ladynerds together when a former Bletchley colleague is awaiting trial for murder.
Lucy, Susan, Jean and Millie portrayed by Sophie Rundle, Anna Maxwell Martin, Julie Graham and Rachael Stirling respectively.
Do yourself a favour and catch up here!
Series One had just three episodes so we aren't looking at a big commitment to get on board with the girls! In a very {weak} nutshell... Bletchley Park WWII codebreakers reunite several years after the war when a series of murders show a pattern that the police have not recognised. Susan, now quite the bored housewife, took interest an in the case, saving newspaper clippings and putting the data together. Ignored by the police after presenting her findings, she gathered the girls and they got to work .
The first of four episodes of Series Two started last Monday and will play out over the month of January 2014. This time, Jean is the driving force rallying the #ladynerds together when a former Bletchley colleague is awaiting trial for murder.
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| Lucy :: Susan :: Jean :: Millie |
Do yourself a favour and catch up here!
TUTU
I have a tutu weakness. Since there is very litttle chance I shall own one for myself {I said little chance, not no chance... !!} I have taken it upon myself to keep my girls tutu'd up in style for the forseeable future. Carys was given a hand-me-down tutu with inbuilt leggings from her cousin. They were perfect, particularly for the size they were... 9-12months. No issues with her ending up with a big tulle scarf around her neck! I made it last as long as I could but the day came when I had to admit she had outgrown it. Since then, I have been looking and looking and looking some more for the perfect replacement.
There are a lot of tutu's out there. There is also a whole lot of tulle tat out there! Here I have listed my favourites.
Boden aren't tutu shy this year... here's their Wow Tutu that starts at a rather pricey £36.00. Choose grey or pink.
I pinned this little beauty a long time ago. Precious, right? Just the whole ensemble. The hoodie. The boots. The GEESE! Love it. This was a Stella McCartney for Gap back in 2009. This is the one I have been looking for... to me this ticks all the boxes. Great length, sweet bow, perfect layering.
Another one I found via pinterest led me to one of my favourite online stomping grounds, notonthehighstreet.com. I think the advertising on this one tickled me most. The Pettiskirt Tutu by Candy Bows is another winner. In an array of pretty colours and some {not-my-cup-of-tea} patterns, there are lots of options to choose from and starting at £22... well, not bad at all.
There are a lot of tutu's out there. There is also a whole lot of tulle tat out there! Here I have listed my favourites.
First up Boden's Party Tutu {also available in navy}. Beautiful bow detail on this great little party skirt. Starts at £26.00.
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| Boden Party Tutu |
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| Boden Wow Tutu |
Another one I found via pinterest led me to one of my favourite online stomping grounds, notonthehighstreet.com. I think the advertising on this one tickled me most. The Pettiskirt Tutu by Candy Bows is another winner. In an array of pretty colours and some {not-my-cup-of-tea} patterns, there are lots of options to choose from and starting at £22... well, not bad at all.
If you're not all tutu'd out by now... here, my friends, is your reward. I have died and gone to tutu heaven with thanks to an old faithful... good old Next have come up trumps on my tutu mission. My tutu search is over. A beautiful bow, soft eleastic waistband, perfect length, just the right amount of layering and available in so many wonderful colours, it's hard to pick out a favourite. Dusky pink, berry, bright pink, navy, soft pink, black and red. Starting at just £14... well, it would be rude not to!
And the winner is... Next!
You. Are Welcome. N'night.
ELEPHANT
You know when you sit down to do something online and get lost in world wide web wonder... yeah, that. You know.
So today I am having little waves of mild panic for tomorrow is husbands birthday. I'm all a tap-tap-tap online knowing full well that nothing I order will arrive on time. As I wander around t'interweb, I'm planning my mission. A way to save the day. Operation great escape the second he walks in the door. I will of course hollar 'PIZZA'S IN THE OVEN' as I grab my keys and leg it out the door. Still deciding what direction to take once I get there but give me time... it's a plan in the making.
Elephants. What does this have to do with elephants?
This. This is where my clicking led me and stopped me dead in my taps. I just can't get beyond this image. I love it. I'm sort of surprised at my own self. I like animals in a very average way but I'm certainly not at all a gushy animal lover sort. But this, well this just grabbed a little bit of my heart.
I have promised myself that one fine and happy day, when we get ourselves all moved to our new house... yes that house, the one we have yet to find and yet to purchase, I am going to buy this picture and this one and maybe this one probably this one too! I will quite likely struggle not to buy this one too.
... back to The Great Escape mission planning I go. Happy weekend!
So today I am having little waves of mild panic for tomorrow is husbands birthday. I'm all a tap-tap-tap online knowing full well that nothing I order will arrive on time. As I wander around t'interweb, I'm planning my mission. A way to save the day. Operation great escape the second he walks in the door. I will of course hollar 'PIZZA'S IN THE OVEN' as I grab my keys and leg it out the door. Still deciding what direction to take once I get there but give me time... it's a plan in the making.
Elephants. What does this have to do with elephants?
This. This is where my clicking led me and stopped me dead in my taps. I just can't get beyond this image. I love it. I'm sort of surprised at my own self. I like animals in a very average way but I'm certainly not at all a gushy animal lover sort. But this, well this just grabbed a little bit of my heart.
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| Baby Elephant :: The Animal Print Shop by Sharon Montrose |
... back to The Great Escape mission planning I go. Happy weekend!
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