Saturday Selections 18.09.15

Watching: Fear the Walking Dead - only watched one episode so far, it's good...but frustrating. I feel like it's happening in current times yet no one seems to know what a zombie is...EVERYONE knows what a zombie is!!!

Listening: Podcasts, a whole buncha different ones, but Grace Helbig is always a good idea!
  
Reading: Emails - clearing out my personal inbox has proved to be a total nightmare. Who needs an email from the GAP from 2012? Apparently I do.

Wishing: For a new phone, mine is donezo. Thought by taking all my pics off it would sort itself out, turns out it hates everything still! Do I get an iPhone? I dunno. I need something that works though.

Loving: My hubs! together for SEVEN YEARS. Which feels like basically forever.

Doing: Going to the Rugby today in Cardiff - GO CANADA!!!

Making: Labels and space we bought clear boxes and we have a mission to start getting the loft organised.

Eating: As many meals together as a fam as much as possible...it's not easy and not as relaxing as having adult dinners - but I valued this time with my family as a child and as I'm home earlier now we have the opportunity to do this which is really lucky!

a xxx

Photo Friday 18.09.15

Lunch on a train

Bad luck perhaps, but he was SO excited, we couldn't not!

Loose on the underground

Me...with lovely light and bored eyes.

Have a lovely weekend!

a xxx

Saturday Selections 12.09.15

Watching: The Americans - LOVE this show so much. Keri Russell is absolutely perfect in this role.

Listening: Finally have a radio on at work...I love having a soundtrack to the day!
  
Reading: Recipes, we've got about a bajillion apples to do something with.
So reading up on all the options beyond pie, crumble and sauce!

Wishing: For some new black ankle boot things..I need to do some research and a proper wishlist for these.

Loving: My car - but I wish I was a more confident driver here! I can do my commute without totally freaking out now (four days in a row!)

Doing: Learning how to drive on the wrong side of the road - I didn't properly realise how much it would mess with me! And roundabouts! WTF?!?!

Making: My Mom is sending me a recipe for apple butter - going to try to do that on Sunday!

Eating: Roast dinners - had our first one last Sunday and loads of leftovers all week. So there it is prematurely or not, roast season has started!

a xxx

Visits from family and other non internetty times

My sister was here for just over two weeks (which is just under a million weeks too short if you ask me). And means I've not done any blogging for quite some time. Basically I was having too much fun, and pouring myself in to bed each night totally utterly exhausted in the best possible way.

I LOVE having her here, and I wish more than anything that she still lived in the UK (why oh why can't commonwealth citizens move freely between countries!?!?)

Although the last few visits we've had from her have been a lot about her spending time with the tiny human - there has also been a lot of sistor time. Shopping, eating, drinking and chatting...just so much chatting. The time I get to spend with her is SO valuable and happens so rarely - it's amazing how quickly it goes every single time.

Park life

We went to a few of our fav' places to eat...drank a LOT of bubbles and gin and did ALL THE SHOPPING.

train trips to London

She's gone back to Canada now to do her last year at Uni (smarty pants!) and we all miss her so much. Tiny Human has been asking after her everyday, and was really confused when he saw her on Skype with my Mom just days after she was in our living room.

Shopping anxiety attack....too many cute things....

Thankfully we're seeing her at Christmas so not long to wait (but if you ask me she should just move in already).

axx

Saturday Selections 22.08.15

Watching: The Fall – Gillian Anderson OMG total babe. Plus it’s on the edge of your seat and brain engaging mystery stuff – loving it!!!

Listening: Would you judge me if I said the Magic Mike XXLSoundtrack? No? Good!
  
Reading: Martha Stewart Living!!! My perfect sistor brought a mag over for me and I am in HEAVEN.

Wishing: Grey skinnies, motorcycle boots and chunky knits – uhm hello? This weather has got me all AUTUMN IS HAPPENING!!! Even though it is totally still August and I’m not ready….I AM NOT READY.

Loving: I bought this ridiculous candle from Zara home and I’m in love.(*update it's not there anymore...this one is similar but mine is all gold and croc skin textured)

Doing: Hanging with my sis – we’re parking and shopping and day drinking and sun bathing and it’s all sorts of fabulous to have her here.

Making: Getting decorations ready for the baptism party on Sunday.  

Eating: Chia pudding – based off of Deliciously Ella’s version. Sprinkling flax seeds etc. on top and whatever berries are to hand. It’s YUM.

a xxx

Saturday Selections 15.08.15

Watching: GBBO is BACK! YAY! Love it big time. I think I’m going to be firmly rooting for the Fireman – he’s hilarious!

Listening: The wheels on the bus. Honestly – we sing this song ALL THE TIME. So I’m balancing it with some James Bay as this weather is making me melancholy.  

Reading: All the light we cannot see – literally started it today, so no opinion yet…will update accordingly!  

Wishing: For a suitable dress to wear to a baptism. I cannot find a bloomin thing that fits the bill. White jeans, flats and flowy tops abound but not a single approp dress for a baptism. Lame.

Loving: My new mascara – Bourjois volume glamour push up – it’s been on for seven hours and not a crumb or an itchy eye. Plus it kind of smells like roses…and its totes cheap.

Doing: Prepping for a VIP guest – getting the house sorted for my gorgeous sister who arrives on Thursday! Also trying to make space for our new (to us) tumble dryer. Never in my life did I think this was going to be something I thought was a treat. But HALLELUJAH!

Making: Total GBBO inspo – doing some baking this weekend. Haven’t decided what, but something, feels ages since I baked,

Eating: Not greatly I must admit. With so much going on it’s been a week of ‘what’s in the freezer, what can we make with what’s still in date in the fridge’ and ‘how many take-aways is too many’ NAUGHTY. Must do better.  

a xxx

Photo Friday 14.08.15

Sandpit dreams are made of these

Birthday treats for the Hubs

Besties feeding the ducks

checking out ALL the local pools

We got a tumble dryer!!!

a xxx

See you soons vs. good-byes

You know when you have those people enter your life…in a weird way or unexpectedly and circumstances align just so – and then all of a sudden you can’t remember what life was like before they were around?

I have a few of those. But notably, and for the case of this mini essay one fam jam in particular.

I met T in a breastfeeding support group (yes they exist, no I didn’t EVER think I would go to one). I was 10 days in to being a Momma and we were terrible at breastfeeding. Like the worst. And I was determined (by guilt mostly) to not give up so soon…so off we went to this room in a community centre where there was a circle of Mommas with their boobs out, most crying, all sleep deprived and all desperate to feed their baby.

It was a few weeks before we got to know each other but once the hang outs started happening outside of that room the friendship was quickly cemented on our North American roots, love of day drinking and new mom status.

It helped that our littles got on so well and are so close in age – so as long baby naps at the pub turned in to running after them at the park we were always in just about the same phase, which made our time together SO easy.

I went back to work, but days off were spent having play dates and bitching about things (literally anything), shopping, drinking coffee and wine and letting the two littles entertain each other.

Two and a half years later and we’re doing the same. Adding in weekends away, nights out without the littles, sleepovers, lots of wine and gin and about a trillion WhatsApp messages from evenings and bad days…and she’s leaving me, they’re leaving us.

The three of them are off on their next adventure, returning to their homeland (although not the home state!) and while I’m excited for them – my heart is breaking just a little (ok a LOT).

The tiny human said goodbye to one of his best buddies on Sunday, and he had no idea what kind of goodbye it was. They didn’t get down our street before I was sobbing. And while we know we’ll see each other in less than a year, and there is SKYPE and FaceTime and good old fashion snail mail it won’t be the same. Not to mention every time he’s talked about her this week I’ve had to hold my emosh mess together…this will get worse as time goes on. Time zones and international moves don’t mean much to a two year old!

In my heart I know that they’ll always be a part of our lives, and we’ll have more adventures and sleep overs, the littles will chase each other around, share meals and bath times together – I also can’t help but mourn the loss of the proximity of the friendship. How easy it’s been, and how lucky we are to have these incredibly generous, loving and hilarious people 20 minutes away.

So I wish them nothing but luck and love on their next chapter – the three of them deserve all the happiness in the world.

…and thank everything for technology or I think I might actually be stopping the plane on Saturday.

a xxx

Saturday Selections

Watching: Wall-e – HOW, HOW have I not seen this?? Defo not hangover friendly but such a sweet movie with all the feels…

Listening: New Mumford and Sons – different to old Mumford and Sons and I like it!

Reading: Contracts and work stuff – so boring.

Wishing: For summer to come back. Where has it gone? This new weather is craptastic.

Loving: My Ban.do planner – never been as excited for a random day (27 July Holla!) in my life.

Doing: Birthday celebrations kick off for the hubs on Saturday, mixed with leaving do’s and other life stuff…all of the tiny humans activities are done for the summer now though, so we’ve regained a TON of weekend time. YAY! 

Making: Space, clearing up and trying to get organised. IT’S SO HARD.
 
Eating: Made a killer chili with spicy peppers from Sous Chef – delicious.

a xxx