The Bottom of the Ironing Basket

It's That Time Again....Summer Reading List time

2013-06-13T17:22:00.000+01:00

Every year around this time, I write a summer reading list....

it's usually made up of books I've been meaning to read for some time, some new fiction & some recommendations from other bloggers.

I love to read on my summer holidays....

this year I'll be in the mountains of northern Italy rather than on the beach in the south of France

but I'm already compiling my list.

Every year readers of my blog share some great recommendations & I'd love to hear from you if you would like to recommend a book for my Summer Reading List post....

So, read anything good recently....tell me?!

I've read all of these in the last few weeks & really enjoyed them,

"Rules of Civility" by Amor Towles was my favourite, I absolutely loved it.

Happy Week-end!

2013-06-08T16:15:00.002+01:00

Gorgeous weather in London this week, another busy school week & this week-end I am preparing for our trip to Italy next Friday for a family wedding, I cannot wait.

Thanks for all the lovely comments this week, happy week-end!

Some lovely links....

a beautiful Spanish home

....have you heard of the Cronut yet?

New York tips & some fab photos

my 1000th blog-post, "Dear Reader...."

the most beautiful "strawberry" post ever

parenting skills + validation....

rice leftovers - coconut rice pudding

And finally, for my British readers, I am giving away a brand new Windows Nokia Lumia 920 phone, to enter click here

lots of items on sale at Boden right now, some up to 25% off

WIN.....A Windows Phone Nokia Lumia 920

2013-06-07T08:34:00.000+01:00

We love sharing the wacky and wonderful things kids come out with.

Share your hilarious ‘Things Kids Say’ moment and you will be in to win the Windows Phone Nokia Lumia 920!

To hear more about The Things Kids Say, please visit The Things Kids Say Facebook hub -https://www.facebook.com/windowsphoneuk/app_250268285110967

With Kid's Corner on Windows Phone you can be safe in the knowledge that those funny moments won’t turn into not so funny ones! Kids love to play on their parent’s phones, so Kid’s Corner on Windows Phone feature is like having a phone-within-a-phone. With Kid’s Corner, children can do their own thing: taking pictures, using educational apps, watching videos, and listening to their favourite tunes – but only if those features and apps have been selected for them by the parent. Hand over your Windows Phone without having to worry about your kid’s making prank calls, emailing your boss or racking up bills with in-app purchases!

You can enter the Facebook competition to win one of three Nokia Lumia 920 phones - enter here

I am ALSO giving away one of these fabulous phones on my blog to one lucky winner!!

To enter the competition :

1. Be a follower of my blog

2. Leave a comment with an amusing "child-related" story or comment!

3. Tweet or blog about the competition for an additional competition entry (make sure you let me know you have done this)

Winners will be announced on Tuesday 18 June....

UK entrants only (sorry!)

It's That Time of Year Again....Now Where Are My Sunglasses?

2013-06-06T14:34:00.000+01:00

It's that time of year again....summer has arrived & sunglasses are a must-have.

So many choices, I am always searching for the perfect pair, I've even been known to stop someone & ask them where they bought theirs....

usually their reply is a market stall in Morocco or they've had them for years!!

I have quite a few, none of them super-expensive....

I got out of that habit when I had very small children & my beloved sunglasses would inevitably get buried in sand on the beach or covered with sun-cream & oil.

I have a couple of moderately priced pairs & quite a few very inexpensive, Rayban style pairs....

if they get damaged, lost or borrowed, it matters not one bit.

Having said that, I am always on the look-out for the perfect shape & style, there is so much to choose from these days....

Do you have a go-to pair that you love & have had for ages & do you stick to just one style that you feel suits you perfectly?

Rayban Cathy Clubmaster, Rayban Wayfarer , Rayban Aviator

all via Red Hot Sunglasses

from top left to right : Oakley Plaintiff, Oakley Holbrook, Oakley Frogskins

all via Red Hot Sunglasses

Diane von Furstenberg....fabulous as ever

Dear Reader : A Letter From Me To You

2013-06-05T21:00:00.003+01:00

Last month I took part in a Blog Every Day in May blogging/writing challenge....

Day 27 was entitled "A letter to your readers" and for this particular challenge I thought I would wait until this week, in order to put to together a thought or two.

So, here goes....

Dear Reader

I began my blog in May 2009, four years ago....AND this is my 1000th post.

I started so timidly with this little post, not really having a clue as to what I was going to create or write about....and so my journey began.

Blogging has been a complete joy for me....

four years on, I still have some of my first followers

(and I still follow them too, there's a lot to be said for loyalty!)....

and some 13,932 comments later, I've only had one vaguely negative comment.

It's been a journey of which every blog-post, image, event, opportunity, meeting, contact & exchange has been a complete pleasure - as well as a surprise, since when I started out as a blogger I had no clear plan of where it would take me, but I certainly didn't expect to be where I am today with it.

My blog began as somewhere for me to share things that I love & that inspire me....

and actually, it is still that.

What inspires me has changed, grown, evolved....through blogging, I have discovered new styles, amazing bloggers, great writers & photographers & just learned so much.

It's something of a cliche to say that I've been on a personal journey too, but it's true and so I have to say it.

It's made me more confident, it's made me challenge myself, I've discovered new things about myself....

it's made me ponder & consider all sorts of things....

before I never felt creative, now I feel my blog is my own little creation, something I love & am really proud of.

I love being a blogger....

although like many bloggers, it took me some time to even share with the world that I had a blog!

All bloggers have their own personal style and I am no exception, I have a very clear idea of what my blog is about & what I want to see on it....

the other thing that I always keep in my head is a sense of my own voice.

My favourite blogs all have their own voices & that is what keeps me coming back to them....

be authentic, be you, always write what YOU feel.

Blogging has been the most amazing experience, I completely believe that you get out of it what you put in & I've had nothing but kindness, support, wisdom & positivity.

I've always tried to be the kind of follower on other blogs that I'vé been fortunate to have here on my blog.

I would recommend blogging to anyone, it's a wonderful way to explore & learn so much about yourself & the world around you....

I can guarantee that you will surprise & discover things about yourself that you possibly never knew.

Blogging leads to so many exciting and wonderful things....go on, you should try it.

From the bottom of the ironing basket, thank you

Simone xoxo

Wedding : Veils

2013-06-04T20:13:00.000+01:00

When I was growing up I never had a vision of my wedding dress but I always knew I wanted a long long veil....

and in the end, that's what I had, my dress had a train & my veil was several metres long.

It was quite possibly my most favourite part of my wedding dress....

I had a very traditional wedding in an old London church & a veil was perfect.

Did you wear a veil....and if so, did you go long or short? Or did you wear something else instead?

me!!!!

Kate Moss & her beautiful French antique lace veil

Active Family Month Blogger Fitness Challenge : Week 4 "Splash About"

2013-06-02T22:08:00.003+01:00

Week 4 - the final week - of our Mark Warner Family Fitness Challenge was a very busy one all round.....and due to reasons beyond our control - colds, ear infections (yes, in May I know!!), we had to change our plans slightly.

The theme for Week 4 was "splash about" & we had planned to head for a super-duper swimming pool for some fun but in the end we decided to plan a walk along the River Thames, the challenge being to walk as far as & to cross as many bridges as we could.

We started at Tower Bridge, the plan being that each time we came to a bridge, two of us would cross the bridge - and to add a bit of healthy competition to it, we would time ourselves & see who could cross the bridger (there & back the quickest) :)

The bridges....

Tower Bridge

London Bridge

Southwark Bridge

Millennium Bridge

Blackfriars Bridge

Waterloo Bridge

Hungerford Bridge

Westminster Bridge

There are more bridges than you think!

The quickest crossing was in fact Tower Bridge - not sure if that was because it was the first one or because someone thought it might open up as they were crossing it & so went very fast indeed ;)

London Beach....these shoes were made for walking ;)

We stopped at Borough Market (where else?!) for some lunch supplies and headed in a westerly direction.

It's a great walk, I'd recommend it to those who live in London or, on the other hand, those who have never been simply because it gives you such a great sense of London as a city, from Tower Bridge to Westminster you have some fabulous views of London and also I think a great sense of history as you follow the Thames along, there is so much to look at.

The path is wide enough that you can go at your own pace, children could even use their scooters or bikes....you pass The Shard and get a wonderful view of the City of London, St Paul's Cathedral, the Tate Modern, the London Eye and the Houses of Parliament.

When the tide is out, as it was when we walked along, you can actually go down on the "beach" and wander along & see if you can find any "treasure"....my children loved this part!

There are cafes & various food stops along the way and numerous seats where you just sit & take in the view.

Just before you come to the London Eye, you reach the South Bank....always lots to see here.

Skateboarders & cyclists show off their acrobatic skills & there are some fantastic food stalls.

We finished our walk at Westminster Bridge....we took a couple of hours to do this, although we took our time, you could walk or run it faster though if you chose to do so.

I always love walking along the river, every time you see something new & I love that it gives my children such a fascinating insight & sense of the city that they live in.

We have loved taking part in the Mark Warner Active Family Fitness Month....

it has encouraged us to get out & about, try some new activities & it's just been a huge amount of fun.

It is definitely something we will continue, it's given us some new goals for the summer.

Day 31 : "A Vivid Memory"

2013-05-31T22:15:00.000+01:00

I still have one more day of the Blog Every Day in May challenge to go back to but today's

post (Day 31, yippee!) is

"A Vivid Memory"

my earliest memories....

my brother being born when I was 2 years/2months old

the ivy covered tree in our second house in Wales

a large yellow toy plastic saucepan which had a long handle for a nose, we loved that pan!

the dress my mother's friend made me for the party I had when we left Wales for London

travel memories....

my first trip to Paris....and the flowers at the Georges V hotel

St Peter's Square, Rome at night

Venice in November

first sight of the Manhattan skyline driving in from JFK airport

the August heat in Miami

white washed cottages arriving from Athens on the ferry at the island of Poros

the sight of Balmoral Castle and the countryside, lochs & mountains around it....stunning

the beaches of the Gower Peninsula, Wales

the Coliseum, Rome

Michelangelo's David, Florence

Eleuthera beach, Bahamas

food memories

pretzels, bagels, cheesecake, Vong, The River Cafe, Carnegie Deli in NYC

any pasta & all ice cream in Italy

La Coupole in Paris

paella in Spain

fresh bread & pastries, lavender ice cream & seafood in the south of France

my husband's Zia Lina's pumpkin stuffed ravioli

my mother in law's mushroom pasta & trifle

happy, wonderful memories

the proposal....Central Park

finding out both times that I was expecting a baby

my children being born

our first home together

Beauty : Viridian Nutrition

2013-05-31T20:40:00.002+01:00

When I was asked recently by the lovely people at Viridian Nutrition if I would like to try out some of their fabulous beauty supplements, I said yes immediately.

I haven't been taking as much care of myself or exercising this year as I should do & I'm definitely feeling it.

Viridian products are ethical, healthful, pure and contain 100% active ingredients....

they suggested that I should start with two products.....

* Ultimate Beauty Oil

* Ultimate Beauty Complex

I've been taking both of these now for a month and can most definitely see improvement....my skin feels less dry (always a sign that I am under par), my hair feels softer & my nails have grown like crazy!!

I will be continuing to take the supplements....whilst I aim to eat heathily each day, sometimes life (and cake) gets in the way and I don't always succeed.

I do feel reassured that by taking these supplements, my body & my skin are being cared for and getting at least some of the nutrients they need.

"Viridian’s 100% Organic Ultimate Beauty Oil offers an exclusive combination of the most promising nutritional oils to help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, boosting suppleness and hydration. These oils also help improve and maintain the appearance of hair and nails. This 100% organic beauty oil is a blend of super-food seed oils gently extracted from Flax, Hemp, Pumpkin, Avocado and Evening Primrose, supplying the necessary essential fatty acids to support the underlying structures of healthy skin, hair and nails."

"The synergistic combination of vitamins, minerals and plant-based phytonutrients within this (Ultimate) beauty complex support the underlying structures of healthy skin, hair and nails. Take daily alongside Viridian's 100% Organic Ultimate Beauty Oil for the ultimate in hair, skin and nails.Taking a good quality daily multivitamin designed for hair, skin and nails can make a real difference to the speed at which your skin ages. Nutrients offer daily protection to fight against ageing by free radical-induced oxidative stress and can help recycle the vitamins your skin needs."

Day 17 : Share A Favourite Photo of Yourself

2013-05-31T15:50:00.002+01:00

For Day 17 of the Blog Every Day in May challenge, we had to share a favourite photo....

I wanted to wait to collect these from my mother, she'd found them again a few weeks ago....

this is me aged 18 months having photos taken at a local department store by a professional photographer, they are from a proof sheet of 12 photos.

I have no recollection of them being taken....although they're not as old as they look!

The photos are sepia/black & white.

I absolutely love these, it's fascinating to see my range of expressions....

and interestingly, I look incredibly like one of my grandmothers in these photos, the resemblance is very strong, although I've never really noticed it so much before.

I no longer have the curls but those chubby cheeks never seem to have left me :)

Why Women Prefer A Handyman....

2013-05-31T15:43:00.001+01:00

We all want our men to master everything around the house, from DIY and cooking to looking after the kids, but apparently, we also want them to be good lovers too. At least, that’s what I thought until I did a little online search and found a magazine article in Marie Claire. It was on a survey about what women preferred from their partner, and the results were surprising.

According to the article, the survey revealed that having a man who’s pretty handy with all things DIY is a bonus. The survey also found that four out of five women said they would be disappointed if their partner didn’t even know the basics like being able to paint a wall or put of a small shelf!

'Many people believe a strong connection in the bedroom is the key to a long and successful relationship, but for some women this doesn't seem to be the case,' says a representative for LocalTraders.com, the service that carried out the survey.

Some of the other stats I had a look at seemed a little more eccentric. 12% of women said they would rather have a man who was good at DIY than one who was just a good lover. I thought the number of people coming out with that answer would be slightly higher as I know a lot of women like men that can handle power tools and the likes, while my friends thought it would be close to 0%!

Something else I spotted was that there’s a fine line between being good at home improvement and it being a full-blown obsession. One in five women worried about their partner spending more time on maintaining the house than the relationship, which seems about right!

Review : Sebamed Skincare

2013-05-31T12:00:00.000+01:00

I've recently been trying out the Sebamed Anti-Dry range of products....

Daily Shampoo, Derma Soft Wash Emulsion, Hydrating Body Lotion, Day Defence Cream & Night Intensive Cream.

I liked the hair & shower products, I really liked the day & night creams.

Sebamed is a leading medicinal brand of skincare & all products are made with high quality ingredients designed to counteract dehydration and to cleanse and nourish the skin without destroying its natural balance.

I don't have sensitive skin but with the water in London being rather hard, I am prone to dry skin and am constantly moisturising....the Anti-Dry range is designed for both sensitive & dry skin.

The Hydrating Body Lotion takes some time to absorb but it made my skin noticeably soft, the day cream absorbed very quickly & was great under make-up & the night cream was lovely to use, it was probably my favourite product.

To see more about the Sebamed range, see here....

products c/o Sebamed, all words/opinions my own

Day 30 : Letting Go

2013-05-30T18:14:00.000+01:00

Day 30 of the Blog Every Day in May challenge

"React to this term : Letting Go"

What does this mean to me....?

it means living your own life, not someone else's idea of what your life should be

it means letting go of those things (and those people) that you cannot control

it means being true to yourself

it means taking stock from time to time, working out what you really want & what really makes you happy

it means not weighing yourself down with negative thoughts & negative people

it means getting rid of the mental, physical & emotional clutter in your life....often

it means moving on....

"don't look back, you're not going that way"

Review : Lenovo IdeaTab A2107A

2013-05-30T18:00:00.000+01:00

I was recently asked if I would like to try out & review the Lenovo Ideapad A2107A and as one tablet never seems to be enough these days, I said yes :)

And I'm very happy I did....

although the tablet arrived & it was literally days before I could get my hands on it since both my children & my husband appeared to be using it whenever I wanted to do so!

It got very positive feedback from them all.

We already have an iPad (which I absolutely love) and so I was really interested to see how it would compare.

It is certainly compact, the screen size is 7 inches but it's very portable, you can literally tuck it in your pocket and it's much easier to hold in one hand than the iPad....perfect for children.

It has two cameras, both of which are excellent quality.

It has many pre-loaded apps, the wifi works very well and the sound & picture quality are good.

As a family we all gave it a thumbs up and it proved to be very practical to have in addition to our other tablets/phones/laptops.

The price is also very competitive....£149.99 (£129.97 on Amazon today)

Some of the technical stuff :

* 3G lets you stayed connected anytime, anywhere

* the interior rollcage design protects against drops

* a matt cover makes it easy to grip & hold

* the HD screen is exceptionally bright helping to counteract glare

* the 7" screen is the same size as a novel, perfect for reading ebooks

* it is equipped with the highly intuitive Google Android 4.0 "Ice Cream Sandwich" operating system which is specifically optimised for tablets

* it has both a built-in 1.3MP camera & a 5.0MP rear facing camera

* it has multiple wireless options

* it has a MicroSD Card slot, meaning you can expand your storage

* it has a built-in FM radio

Five Favourite Pieces of Music....

2013-05-29T14:35:00.000+01:00

Listening to Stevie Wonder makes me happy.....this is him closing Glastonbury in 2010, an absolutely amazing performance.

He actually sings two songs here "Superstition" and "Free"

So hard to choose five favourites for Day 29 of the Blog Every Day in May Challenge, I could have written this post many times over....

I've chosen some songs that I love to listen to anytime......enjoy!

Simon & Garfunkel by The Boxer on Grooveshark
I love Simon & Garfunkel so it was hard to choose one song, this is one of my favourites

There Is a Light That Never Goes Out by The Smiths on Grooveshark
The Smiths always remind me of Uni and my lovely friend Ali in particular

this is just a gorgeous spine-tingling piece of music

obla-di o bla-da by Beth Hart on Grooveshark
my husband loves The Beatles so we often have them playing in the car, my son loves this song

Spectrum by Florence and the Machine on Grooveshark
I really like Florence & the Machine & this is a song for Friday-night-kitchen-dancing

Cruise Dreams....

2013-05-28T17:02:00.000+01:00

Our summer holiday location, Villefranche Sur Mer, is a regular stop for cruise ships....

new ships are there most days, as we throw open the shutters each morning my son likes to check how many have arrived each day, anchored out in the Med, marvelling at their size & the number of people on board.

My children are fascinated by these travellers who pour off the ship, some taking the train to Monaco, some to Nice & some to the beach....

and in the evening, they head off into the sunset & a new destination.

My children would love to go on a cruise and, I must admit having been on one myself, I would most definitely do it again.

I went on a three week cruise of the Caribbean some years ago with my Dad....

having got over my initial reservations of seeing it as a holiday for the over-80s, I had the most fabulous time...and of course, people of all ages were on board.

The ships seem to get bigger & better every year and there is something very exciting about waking up in a new & exciting location every morning.

I love the idea of cruising the fjords, sitting on deck wrapped up in a blanket, glamorously staring out to sea....or sunning myself as we hop from one Mediterranean port to another.

There are some lovely options to be found on the MSC Cruise page and some great deals on Cruise Kings.

Cruising has certainly become more affordable & is an option that has become increasingly popular with holidaymakers of all ages but to me it's a exciting & adventurous way to travel.

Bon voyage!

all images via Pinterest

Day 28 : Only Pictures....

2013-05-28T13:24:00.000+01:00

It's raining buckets in London town, this is my day....

Only pictures today & no writing.....

time to do some admin and to sort out my internet issues before insanity takes over me completely....

how can it be so difficult to get a good provider/good service/good customer service - and one that's competitively priced - in the middle of a city of 10 million people??!!

Although I'm sure I heard someone stating on the radio the other day that you are more likely to get good service in the countryside than in the city....

I can't remember why although it made sense when they explained it!!

I need a new internet provider and BT Vision comes pretty highly recommended, I just wish it wasn't so daunting - and time consuming - contacting these companies.

BT Vision allows, I believe, you to combine TV, broadband & your phone for a really competitive price....I'm sure my husband will be thrilled about the option of access to more sport, since they appear to offer access to special sports channels.

They also have some fantastic movie channels and as I have been thinking of signing up to a service like LoveFilm or Netflix, a really good movie channel/s might be just as good - my children will be very happy with this!

Our local Blockbuster finally closed last month and even though I am a regular cinema-goer, not all films appear to reach our local cinema - plus, there is presumably an option to catch up on box-sets of series such as the first series of "Homeland" which I still haven't seen.

Right, off to call them right now, wish me luck....please let it be straightforward!

In Ten : Highgate Village

2013-05-27T17:45:00.000+01:00

Location : Highgate Village

Tube : Northern line - Highgate or Archway,

Buses : 210, 271, 263

Highgate Village is walking distance from my home & it's probably my most favourite place in North London....it's where I'd buy a house if I won the lottery.

It's a great place for just wandering around....plenty of coffee shops, some decent restaurants, some great pubs (The Flask does good food & its garden is packed most week-ends).

Or you can just sit peacefully in Pond Square in the centre of the village enjoying the views....

there is plenty of history, lots of trees and it definitely has a village atmosphere.

Waterlow Park, located at the top of Highgate Hill, is a gorgeous space, very popular with locals & on a sunny day.

My husband used to play here when he was small, we spent numerous afternoons here with a picnic and a pile of Sunday newspapers pre-children & now we take our own children here.

It also has a very good cafe, lots of hidden secluded spaces, a pond with ducks and a play area.

You can find some of the most beautiful and elegant houses in London in Highgate....

lots of character, beautiful old stone, brightly painted front doors & gardens to die for.

Highgate Cemetery is very popular with tourists and is an interesting place to explore....

and you are walking distance from Hampstead Village and the Heath.

It's a perfect afternoon destination for the week-end.

In Ten is my Instagram photo series of London

Happy Week-end!

2013-05-25T20:16:00.000+01:00

It's been a fun week on the blog, lots of writing as part of the Blog Every Day in May challenge, I have enjoyed it very much.

My children now have a week's holiday and my plan is to be outdoors walking and exploring as much as we can, weather permitting of course.

I went to see "The Great Gatsby" last week and really enjoyed it.

It is impossible not to compare & think of Robert Redford & Mia Farrow but I thought the casting in this version was excellent, Tobey Maguire was particularly good....and visually it was stunning.

We've been out & about exploring Highgate today and the sun shone. it was beautiful.

We walked a lot....tonight I plan a long hot bath & I'm going to go to bed early with a large mug of tea and read for a couple of hours....

not very rock n roll I know, but sometimes it's just all you want to do isn't it?!

I just bought the fabulous Dan Lepard "Short and Sweet" baking book so plan to get baking this next week too.

I must give a mention to some fabulous chocolates that I received as a gift this week....

from Hotel Chocolat The Sleekster Caramel Selection is a truly incredible assortment of possibly the some of most delicious chocolates ever....

caramel cheesecake, trillionaires shortbread, shortbread cookie caramel, burnt caramel....

Beautifully presented (and available to order online), this would make a great gift for a chocolate loving friend.

(To see more of their chocolates, see here....)

I hope you have a very good week-end & the sun shines for you too.

Some lovely links....

a you've-got-maily-type afternoon

some of my favourite blog posts

Paris from above

a fabulous 40th birthday cake

chicken & rice for beginners

"Things I've Learned That School Didn't Teach Me"

a Spanish barn house

light & lemony custard cakes

a day off in Brooklyn

My "lot" in life

Me & My Worst Traits....

2013-05-24T15:22:00.000+01:00

Day 24 of The Challenge :

"Your Top 3 Worst Traits"

What does it say about me that I cannot think of anything bad about myself??!!

I think it says that

a) I am a mother and therefore spend more time thinking about others than thinking about myself

b) I feel that acceptance of yourself is paramount

c) I grew up in a "challenging" family, I regard myself (as do others) as the "normal" one, I'm all good !!!

d) I've had a long time to justify any odd or terrible traits to myself, if I have them I don't even notice!

in the interests of the challenge, here are a few things about me though ;)

* I'm very organised & tidy but I'm not the world's best cleaner....

you wouldn't be able to tell but I clean as quickly as is humanly possible & firmly believe that a little dirt is not going to kill you. Life is too short....

* I can be a little bossy, within my family that is - growing up with 2 younger brothers who don't allow you any say in anything whatsoever will do that to you.

On the other hand, outside my family I'm possibly not assertive enough, I'm very easy-going.

* It is impossible for me to eat just one biscuit/cookie/piece of toast.

But I see that as a good thing....see, justifying myself as usual ;)

* There is quite a lot of "stuff" that I just don't know how to do - mainly "techie" stuff which I admit that I am completely useless at.

* I don't know that I necessarily believe in star signs but everything that I've ever read about Taureans is pretty true....I can be stubborn, am not always fond of change, I like comfort & I like in security in everything.

* TV.....I can watch home improvement/extreme makeover shows all day long.

I don't but I could.

* I probably could handle criticism better

* Every single day #withoutfail, I intend to go to bed early - I never do.

I need to carry through with my good intentions.

* I love adventures & new things but am also a real creature of habit....

there is a lot to be said for knowing what you like.

* I am a good friend, who is fiercely loyal & would do anything for those I love....

but cross me at your peril, some things can never be undone.

House & Home : Bunkbeds for Boys

2013-05-24T08:31:00.001+01:00

My 7 year son has been set on getting bunk beds for his room for some time now....

to be honest, his room is not really big enough for bunks - or for the bunk-on-top-desk-underneath-system that he wants - so I am having to do some creative thinking.

I love all of the styles & designs above,

I need something that ideally incorporates storage too....

and because the bed will be such a big feature in the room, I want to keep the other furnishings simple....

I am thinking brightly coloured shelves & a colourful fun rug or two.

Those "swinging" bunkbeds above look fabulous, I can see my son seeing those as some sort of assault course though ;)

rug via here

Food : Kellogg's All Bran Challenge

2013-05-24T08:29:00.001+01:00

Kellogg's have launched their All Bran 5 Day Challenge this week in order to encourage us all to think about (and increase) our daily fibre intake....since most of us just aren't getting enough.

* just 10g of wheat bran fibre every day helps reduce digestive transit time

* a single serving of All-Bran contains 3.6g wheat bran fibre

Sign up for the 5 Day Challenge, get tips & facts tailored to your lifestyle by email each day, track your progress and see what a difference increasing your fibre intake by a small but significant amount can make to your diet & how you feel each.

I met up with the lovely people from Kellogg's last week to hear more about the challenge, as always it was fascinating to hear what their nutritionists had to say and I came away with, pardon the pun, plenty of food for thought....namely, I eat nowhere near enough fibre in my diet.

Interesting fact.....the total length of your small intestine is 30 feet long, that's a very long distance for any food to travel, I think it needs all the assistance you can give it!

There are lots of great flavours, not just the original All Bran....
All Bran Golden Crunch is delicious as is All Bran Red Berries.

Why not sign up online & give it a try? I'm going to!

Shopping : My lovely iPad cover from The Snugg

2013-05-24T08:00:00.000+01:00

When the people at The Snugg contacted me to ask if I'd like to review one of their leather Snugg iPad3 cases, I said yes immediately since it was something I have been meaning to buy for ages but I'd never seen one I really liked.

Prior to my cover arriving, I'd had no permanent day-to-day cover for it at all....not a good idea when your children frequently borrow it.

I love the cover & haven't taken it off once since it arrived.

It is available in a wide range of colours, I love the orange that I chose & the quality is excellent.

It sits easily in several positions & also has a hand strap which is handy if you are sitting reading it but have no surface available on which to place the iPad.

It looks stylish, it makes the iPad so portable & protects the iPad completely....I love it.

I received my iPad case free from The Snugg for the purposes of this review....all words, opinions & photos are my own.

Things I've Learned That School Didn't Teach Me....

2013-05-23T14:00:00.001+01:00

Day 23 of The Challenge :

"Things You've Learned That School Won't Teach You"

if you're not happy it just isn't worth it....in love or in life

don't be afraid to say no. Equally....don't be afraid to say yes

at 18 you might not know what you want to be.....

by 30 or even 40, you still might not know....that's okay.

You will have go along many paths, you will learn something from them all (even if it might not feel like it at the time) and eventually you will find your thing

some people are not meant to be your friends forever....

people do change, you will change

sometimes it's okay to move on. it happens.

the people that are meant to move on with you, do

just because you were a sad or unhappy child does not mean you will be a sad or unhappy grown up. life does get better

if you get the chance to travel or to have an adventure, always always say yes. always.

good grades & university degrees are wonderful things

so are kindness, thoughtfulness and respect

things don't stay the same, change is good, it's healthy

there is a special place for mean people

they might seem to get away with the bad behaviour now but you wait & see.

it's called karma

do not spend your time focusing on pleasing others....

it's a waste of time & chances are they won't notice anyway.

it is YOU that needs to be happy with your decisions or your work

life is short, make the most of it....

everyone tells you that, it's so true

if you love them, tell them....

friends, parents, children, boyfriends, husbands

do not wait until the time is perfect, you have all your ducks in a row, the right amount of money in the bank or are the perfect weight....

that time will never come.

if you are already thinking about it, then now is the time you should be doing it.

if you feel it's wrong or it's not for you, then it most probably is....

our instinct is rarely wrong, trust it

it might seem that everyone else in the world has it all mapped out, but believe me, they really don't. if you went back and talked to those girls at school who seemed to know everything, you'd probably find that they were just as scared and unsure as you, they thought & worried about the same as you.

it will be exactly the same throughout life....most people have the same hopes, dreams & fears.

it is NOT just you....

Cannes Film Festival 2013

2013-05-23T07:44:00.000+01:00

Marion Cotillard

Lots and lots of writing on my blog at the moment, partly due to the writing challenge I am participating in this month....

I thought I'd share some of my favourite looks from the 2013 Cannes Film Festival....

Carey Mulligan & Jennifer Lawrence have looked fabulous at every event.

Doutzen Kroes

Jennifer Lawrence looked fabulous at Cannes this year, her stylist always does such a great job on the Red Carpet....

Marion Cotillard

Scarlett Johansson

Jessica Chastain

Zoe Saldana

Erin Heatheron

Georgia May Jagger

Freida Pinto

Carey Mulligan wore the most amazing outfits in Cannes,

I so wish she didn't always look so uncomfortable, she looks beautiful....

Emma Watson