Sunday 31 July 2016

LOVING LATELY // BEAUTY


When people say what is the one item of makeup you would take with you to a desert island my mind starts panicking.  Mascara or foundation?  Mascara or foundation?  Can't I have two?  But I think I would have to say foundation because of this little bottle of genius that seems to make my skins look flawless.

Wednesday 27 July 2016

SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST // SURVIVING CHICKEN POX


The thing that keeps me up at night, apart from my child refusing to sleep, is illnesses or more specifically my children getting ill.

Not because of them but because I know by the time the illness has passed the likelihood of my sanity being intact is  very very small.

Of course I am jesting slightly but poorly children take motherhood and the need for patience to a whole other level.  So indulge me and my sense of humour in this tongue in cheek post about how to survive the dreaded chicken pox.

Monday 25 July 2016

HAPPY LIST #2


This weekend made me realise I have so much to be thankful for and I am so happy with where I am. It has taken me a while to get here and a lot of adjustments, but I am excited about the future.  So I thought it was time for  happy list.


Sunday 24 July 2016

FEELING PLUMPED


Skincare is still something that totally mystifies me and I think when I have a proper skincare routine down, well that will be when I feel I have this adulting thing down.


Friday 22 July 2016

FRIDAY DRINKS // MARCO PIERRE WHITE


That Friday feeling is once of the best feelings in the world, when the weekend is stretched before you.  And what better way to celebrate it than heading out for a drink on any a Friday evening.


Thursday 21 July 2016

THE SECRETS OF HAPPINESS // LUCY DIAMOND


The plot focuses around the relationship between two stepsisters Becca and Rachel. How their preconceptions of each other are questioned along with the plans laid out for their own lives. 

Wednesday 20 July 2016

COCKTAIL O' CLOCK // ME TIME


Since having Ava until relatively recently I have spent nearly every day looking after her and putting her needs before my own.  And then when Esme joined the party I did the same for her.  Whatever my girls needed I tried my best to provide it for them.  That is unconditional love for you.

Tuesday 19 July 2016

NEW PERFUME :: NEW ME?




Perfume is something that makes so many memories flood back, and really can epitomise a time of my life.  Gucci Rush takes me right back to my GCSE summer, wearing my FCUK t-shirt and hoodie, remember that trend.

Sunday 17 July 2016

STRIPES & SIMPLICITY


Sundays for me are all about ease, well apart from the early wake up call for the gym.  But with that out the way then it is about comfort all the way.

Friday 15 July 2016

A DAY AT THE FARM


A rather long while ago we went to Sandwell Park Farm for a birthday party. I had never been there before but it was perfect for the girls, i.e. big enough but not so big that they could run in opposite directions and I could lose them. 

Thursday 14 July 2016

Wednesday 13 July 2016

STARTING THE #GYMLIFE


I find that in difficult times it is always a good idea to start a new hobby, and that is how the #gymlife found me.

  I wanted something to focus on, something I was really rubbish at so all my attention would have to be focussed on that rather than overthinking about a whole host of hypothetical situations.

Tuesday 12 July 2016

A MUM WEARING MOM JEANS

Oh the irony a Mum wearing Mom jeans.  

And yes I am quite smug with my little caption and am giving myself a big pat on the back.  Well done Lottie!  Well done!  Maybe I will even give myself a slow clap.  

Monday 11 July 2016

FALLING // STEPPING AWAY



I care a lot about a lot of things.  I am loyal to the point of self destruction, and try and see the good in everyone, attempting to bring it out sometimes at my own expense.

It is just who I am.

Sunday 10 July 2016

A WEEKEND IN LONDON

The girls and I went to stay with some friends last week.  And don't you love having friends where it is just easy.  Not hard work you, just click back and it feels like no time has passed?  Well I had that and it was amazing!

Saturday 9 July 2016

STATIONERY LOVE

The best part of the summer coming to an end when I was younger, was the prospect of a new pencil case and pens to start the new academic year with.  This stationery obsession love has never left me even though it has been many many years since my life has been dictated by terms starting.

Friday 8 July 2016

MOVING FORWARD // NEW TRADITIONS

A new place meant the opportunity for lots of crying on the sofa about how unfair life was and how I never wanted this to happen for starting new traditions and routines.  

Ok so I wasn't that positive straight off the bat but new routines are scary, especially as I had my routines down back down south full of activities, play dates, friends, but then there were a lot of bad things that I got to leave there too which I tended to forget about in those early days.

Thursday 7 July 2016

CALM // MICHAEL ACTON SMITH

I really need some calm in my life, with my kids and just everything else this book seemed the answer to my prayers.

Tuesday 5 July 2016

EXPECTATIONS

Does anyone else think that expectations are cruel?  I do.  I think expectations have made my heartbreaks so much worse and made agony that little bit greater due to the dashed hopes and resounding disappointment.

Monday 4 July 2016

A HAPPY LIST

Lately I have been thinking a lot about the little things that brighten up my days.  The really small things that put a smile on my face with minimum effort or expenditure.

I used to try a do lists like this in an attempt to appreciate the small things and keep life in perspective.  Recently the actions of some have made me realise how important it is to do this, so here we go, Ten things that made me happy this last week:

(1) Ava saying "I love you" to me.  Every time it makes me smile and brightens my day.  I just love that little girl so much.

(2) Esme giving me a big hug and patting me on the back.  She did this to me last week when I was not feeling my best and it just made my heart into a puddle on the floor.

(3)  Receiving surprise mail.  I love post and receiving a really thoughtful letter just makes me smile.  Thanks Loretta!

(4) Catching up with old friends over a lovely brunch.

(5)  A weekend away: seeing my little ones play with their friends and having winding conversations over glasses of wine.

(6) My new sunglasses: it is love.

(7) Taking the time to switch off and getting lost in a book.

(8) Writing posts for this blog and taking the photos.  I love doing it so much and had forgotten how much I enjoy blogging and capturing moments.

(9) Pottering.  a lazy moment just pottering around, taking my time makes me smile.

(10) My fake tan turning out brilliantly.  It made me into a cheshire cat I have you know.

And that is that.

What has made you smile this recently?

Sunday 3 July 2016

TAKING A BREATH

Have you ever had that feeling of treading water but knowing that you can't keep it up and at some point you are just going to stop and go under the water?  That was me for the past year of my life.

Written down that seems so dramatic, but I promise you for the last year that is exactly how I have felt.  And then it all fell apart. 

Saturday 2 July 2016

THE MARBLE COLLECTOR // CECELIA AHERN

I seem top go in phases with reading.  There are times when I cannot stop reading, cramming it into every spare moment, and then there are times when I cannot concentrate for the life of me on anything I am reading, meaning I have to re-read the first chapter a million times.

I was in the latter scenario but really wanted to break this funk, luckily for me my Mum passed me The Marble Collector by Cecelia Ahern.


This is a story about a father and a daughter and how a marble collection causes the revelation of a lifelong secret. 

It is really easy to read and jumps between the perspectives of the father and the daughter. It highlights how memories can bring things together and how assumptions can be so wrong. 

This book was just what I needed to read as it wasn't hard going but quite light and harmless, leaving me a resonating thought that over time things change and are not always what they seem: there is always time to make changes.

Friday 1 July 2016

A DRIVE ON THE WILD SIDE

I love taking the girls to places that I went to as a child.  It some how makes it seem more special that they will have the same memories as I did.  Although lets be honest they will probably remember none of this so I am really doing it for me.