The Bottom of the Ironing Basket

Day 19 : Four Of My Favourite Blogs

2013-05-19T11:41:00.000+01:00

So, Day 19 of the Blog Every Day In May challenge is

"some of your favourite blogs & what you love about them"

I read lots of blogs although not as many as I used to....
I must confess to spending more time writing than reading.
The four blogs that I have chosen today stand out as favourites for lots of different reasons....
I hope you will love them too.
Enjoy....

Who : Natasha

Where : Sydney, Australia

What : Beautifully Suddenly

Why?

I've been reading Natasha's blog for ages....

she is the best photographer I have seen on any blog. Ever.
She is so talented & her photos are completely gorgeous.

She is also a very good writer, a sweet person, she's Australian and she has - hands-down - the best & most romantic story ever of how she met her husband.
There's a gentle & thoughtful quality about her blog that really appeals to me.

You can view many of her photos here in her portfolio, please go visit her blog though, you'll love it.

Who : Natalie

Where : New York City

What : Nat the Fat Rat

Why?

I only discovered her blog recently, but I fell in love with it instantly....

and not just because she is living my dream life of "happy family in NYC"!

Natalie documents her family's life in the city via the most fantastic photos & daily tales of her gorgeous little boy named Huck.

If you love New York City, you will adore her blog.

She has a great attitude to life & is the best kind of blog writer....

funny, interesting, honest, perceptive, open, warm & intelligent.

Who : Jenny Rosenstrach

Where : Westchester, NY

What : Dinner : A Love Story

Why:

Another recent discovery, this food blog is amazing.

Very entertaining, funny, stimulating and full of great ideas & photos,

I'm sure you'll like it even if you hate cooking!

This was the very first post of theirs that I read and it just made me smile :)

The blog led to a book which Jenny talks about below....

I love what she has to say.

Who : Sophie

Where : An Australian girl living in London

What : The Littlest Things

Why?

I've been reading Sophie's blog for sometime now, I just love it.

Sophie is (much) younger than me, but there is so much that I admire about her....

Sophie & George met in Sydney & she followed him back home to London.

They have moved around a bit & now live in London.

Sophie has a huge & infectious enthusiasm for London, for travel, for food & for life in general.

She writes a daily blog, documenting her travels, places she visits, food she's eaten.

Her blog features fabulous photos.....if she doesn't make you want to travel, nothing will!

She has a very good head on her young shoulders, she loves her family, she's fun,

full of happiness & positivity....she's a breath of fresh air.

I really just love that she is the perfect example of the fact that life is for living....

and she is absolutely going to do it all.

Happy Week-end.....

2013-05-18T15:19:00.000+01:00

Yesterday I had the most fabulous massage, it was blissful.

After a brief consultation, the therapist offered me a choice of aromatherapy oils, telling me to choose with my nose.

I'm not quite sure what to make of the fact that the oil I chose was best suited to "distressed minds"!!

I had a wonderfully relaxing afternoon & have vowed to spend more time in the pursuit of such relaxation, it was well worth it.

I was taken to Covent Garden's The Sanctuary spa as a guest of the lovely people at Kellogg's, more of which later on this week.

This week-end I have a million little jobs to get done, nothing too pressing, the only essential is completing challenge 3 of our Active Family Fitness month and baking a cake for a friend....

bring on the week-end!

Some lovely links....

stunning photos of the Jardins des Tuileries

blackberry crumble with honey whipped mascarpone yogurt

a must-read guide if you are visiting London

five ways with foccaccia

"french women know how to shape their brows"

"21 rules of entertaining"

croissant bread pudding

15 rustic & beautiful kitchens

caprese grilled cheese & arugula pesto

californian coast

Day 16 : "My Lot in Life"

2013-05-16T18:00:00.002+01:00

Day 16 of the Blog Every Day In May challenge
"Something difficult about your "lot in life" and how you're working to overcome it...."

My lot....

eldest child, eldest grand-child
2 brothers, no sisters
married for almost 15 years
two normal pregnancies
two healthy & beautiful children
i live in a comfortable home
i live in London, one of the best cities in the world
i have a passport
i have a bank account
i can vote
i have travelled - by air, by boat, by train, by car
i speak French & some Spanish & Italian
i have many really good friends
i am healthy & happy
i already have a lifetime of wonderful memories
i have books on my shelves and bread on my table

i love & am loved

I am a huge believer in appreciating whatever you have in life. of making the best of it and of always being aware that there is always someone much worse off than you.

We all have our own journey & our own battles....
if I've learned anything, it's that no one's life is perfect.

I remain positive & determined and I always look forward.
We create our own luck & our own lives.

I had a moment in my life, years ago, when I realised I was totally my own person & only I get to define myself - no one else does.

I became aware that I am the way I am in spite of my family & other challenges, not because of them.

My lot in life is a good one & I have much to be thankful for, I cannot possibly complain.

Forest Holidays....A Cabin in the Woods

2013-05-16T07:00:00.000+01:00

A couple of weeks ago, my son & I travelled from London to Hampshire to visit the new luxury cabins at Forest Holidays' Blackwood Forest site.

Just an hour on the train from London Waterloo & only a very short drive from Micheldever train station....

the cabins are to be found nestled in a huge beech forest, the location is absolutely beautiful.

Forest Holidays has eight sites around Britain & Blackwood Forest opens this coming week-end.

We got to explore the site, see one of the cabins, have a delicious lunch (excellent home-made pizza) and go on a "survival walk" with one of the resident forest rangers.

Three different types of cabins are available : copper beech, silver birch and golden oak.

We viewed one of the silver birch cabins....

this sleeps 6, has a large deck, loads of space & has an outdoor hot tub.

Everything was finished to an extremely high standard and looked very comfortable.

The windows - and the views - are stunning, I completely fell in love with it all....

if I'd stayed much longer, I think I would have been asked to move along!

You can buy food at the site (they carry a range from Cook, an inspired idea as the food at Cook is excellent), order (the delicious) pizza or even book a chef to come in to your own kitchen & cook for you.

I really loved how flexible it all felt....so many different options

you could hole up here and not see anyone all week-end or you could get out, rent bikes & explore the forest or the surrounding area.

You can also have spa treatments in your cabin, have drinks at the bar or book a forest ranger to take you on one of the many trails through the forest.

It would be a great week-end with children or a fun escape with girlfriends.

After lunch, we went on one of these trails....

our ranger was fantastic, so knowledgeable and a lot of fun - my son loved it, as did I.

The sites are open all year round, treehouse cabins are also also available to rent.

To find out more, see the Forest Holidays website here....

all photos are my own

The Most Romantic Marriage Proposal Ever?

2013-05-15T19:33:00.002+01:00

This NYC groom-to-be arranged for his friends to set the rooftop scene,

one hundred and fifty polaroids on which he had written things that he loved about his girlfriend

were strung along rows of lights....

how romantic is that??!!

I smiled all the way through this....it's so beautiful, as is the lovely girl featured in it....

via Style Me Pretty....

From the bride-to-be…

My fiance Garrett Goodwin proposed to me on a rooftop in NYC. He plays in a band and it was difficult for him to set the “stage” so our good friends truly helped out. Garrett shipped a box full of lights and 150 polaroid pictures of him and I with 150 things written that he loves about me to a good friend who set it up while we were at dinner. We were going to visit a friend at their apartment and literally had to climb about five sets of fire escape stairs to get onto the roof. I was completely and utterly surprised as you can see in the video! It was a dream come true!

Summer of Colour

2013-05-15T07:07:00.000+01:00

Boden ankle grazers/Boden colourblock high-tops/Ice watches

My twelve year old daughter and I choose her wardrobe together....most of the time!

I, of course, pay for it and we make choices together....

I love to see her putting outfits together though, matching items that I might not have thought of, creating her own style.

A lot of the time, she is all about skinny jeans, Vans or Converse....

but I think colour adds so much to an outfit, it lifts the spirits (however old you are!)

.....and it's fun for summer.

I've put together some items here that I've already bought for her....

and some that I just think would be perfect.

The Johnnie B range from Boden has such a great selection....

and an ice watch is something she's been wanting for ages....

you can see them here at Collectables.

I just need her agreement

- she's already looked at this lot and nodded enthusiastically (hoorah!) -

....and her summer wardrobe is complete ;)

Boden colourblock breton/Superga classic plimsolls/Boden skinny jeans

TopShop jelly sandals/A+F Dessa tee/Kipling bag

Boden broderie shorts/summer kaftan/sunglasses

Jack Wills hooded top/Next textured pink stripe bikini/Converse

"Ten Things That Make You Really Happy...."

2013-05-14T13:30:00.002+01:00

kate winslet

Day 14 of the "Blog Every Day In May" challenge is "ten things that make you really happy"....

so many things make me happy, so it's a case of narrowing it down....

1. reading a book that you simply can't put down, the kind that keeps you up til 1am

2. waking up to sunshine

3. walking on Hampstead Heath

4. planning a trip

5. going to the cinema

6. music, I have it playing 80% of the time & it instantly lifts my spirits

7. sunday night dinners, our longest meal of the week & the one time we are all together

8. time alone....I find this essential

9. a good milky latte

10. my bed, specifically that moment when you first get into bed & exhale....

and think "why didn't I do this an hour ago?!"

And this is my Monday....

2013-05-13T22:05:00.000+01:00

counting my blessings for good friends to have a monday morning coffee with, friends who get it, to share a pain au raisin with, to really laugh with, friends who nod in understanding & who let me tell the whole story from beginning to end.

mutual support, patience & genuine care.

we're all on the same road.

trying out some gorgeous new beauty products, amongst them this lovely day cream by REN

my skin feels tired, I need to spend more time on myself.

need more sleep.

must make smoothies & juices this week.

this friday I will be having a massage.

a m a s s a g e.

first one since I can't remember when.

my toothache has gone but the neckache it left me with lingers.

a massage. sheer bliss....

a friend is opening her stunning garden to the public this sunday.

i will be helping serve tea & need to bake a cake.

am thinking this or this....

the school half-term holiday is almost upon us,

never have i known a school term fly by so quickly.

i am the first to tell my children not to wish time away but, secretly, i will be relieved in many ways when the school term finishes.

lots of challenges this year.

my daughter's situation at school has eased & improved.

now we have to work on putting her back together.

it's not easy.

her self-esteem is ~~low~~ in tatters & she doesn't like what she sees in the mirror.

it's so sad to see.

being 12 is hard....life changes every day, it's hard to keep up.

be yourself. don't compare. you are beautiful.

four weeks until we travel to italy for a cousin's wedding.

every evening at the tea table, my children discuss what the menu might consist of....

they are expecting big things, many courses, an true italian feast....

the best pasta they've ever had - and they've had a lot ;)

my son has never been to a wedding.

he asked if he could pack his bag tonight, "because we're going to be pretty busy in june".

we planned our august drive to italy yesterday....

my daughter drew a huge map of our journey....

not confirmed as yet, but possibly via france, belgium, luxembourg or switzerland

it's going to be an adventure, that's for sure.

"What Do You miss?"

2013-05-12T12:18:00.002+01:00

Day 12 : What do you miss?

Blog Every Day In May Challenge

Most material things can be replaced so for me, it's people & places....

* my in-laws, such lovely & good people who met both my children but did not have enough time with them. I'd love them to see the people they are growing up to be.

I miss my mother in law's kindness, her pasta, her support, her care, her Christmas trifle, her amazing ironing skills, her support, her shyness.

When we returned from our honeymoon, my MIL had washed, ironed & made our bed so beautifully that I actually thought she'd bought us new bedding.

It's never been ironed as well as that before or since!!

The thought of that still makes me smile....

* my maternal grand-parents....

my grand-father was the nicest man in the whole world, always always smiling.

I spent many of my summer holidays with them in Wales, just me and them, they are my happiest childhood memories.

I would love to have had them in my life for much longer & for them to have met my children
I can always remember arriving after the long trip from London and they'd be waiting at the gatepost as we turned the corner into their street....and when we left, my grandma would wave & wave until we were out of sight.

As for places....Welsh beaches & countryside and NYC in the autumn & winter

and a few other, much less important things....

* the days when buying a Mars Bar & the Abba magazine on a Saturday morning felt like the most exciting thing ever

* the days when a Mars Bar cost only 13p

* the days when beauty treatments were scheduled like clockwork & on a regular basis into my working diary

* the days when my closest Uni friends all lived in & around London & we were able to see each other much more often

* the days when I had a lunch-break

* the days when Saturdays were for shopping, meeting friends, going to the gym and sleeping in

* the days of working in town

* the days of having a "work wardrobe"

* dare I say it because I use them & they are convenient in so many ways, but the days before texting, Twitter & Facebook

* the days before the media reported every single insignificant detail of a so-called celebrity's life

* the days of....Friends, early ER, NYPD Blue, early Frasier
* in a funny kind of way, the days of only 4 channels on TV - it meant everyone watched the same stuff, sometimes you felt as though the whole country had watched a particular programme
* community spirit - we need more of it!

* the days of a good night's sleep

5 Great Ways To Save

2013-05-12T11:41:00.001+01:00

Let's face it, we are all looking to cut costs. Even with the recent surge in jobs available in the United States, the recession is all too present in our minds. No matter what side of the economic fence you are on, it is important to understand that at any time your situation could change. Job loss, illness or a number of other things could cause your family to face some serious financial struggles. Being prepared will ease the stress should that moment arise.

I often wonder why so many people travel aimlessly through life without a steady plan for the future. It doesn't make sense, you wouldn't plan a trip across the country without first gathering information on airports in the area, so why would you walk down the road of life without information on how to do so successfully?

I have compiled a list of 5 simple ways to save money to plan for a better tomorrow.

Establish a Saving Habit

If you have taken the time to seek out professional help I am sure you have heard the 5-10 percent rule. Most experts tell us to save a minimum of 5 percent of our income. If you are at a point where you are already maxed financially, that number could be a little overwhelming.

If you have found yourself unable to stick to the 5 percent rule, start smaller. Have a goal of half that - at least then you will still be saving. Whatever your number is, make sure it is something you can stick to.

Stop Depending on Your Debit Card

Building good habits comes with self-discipline. It is a common misconception that having cash means you will spend more money. I have found that not having cash has made it easier for me to not acknowledge the amount of money I am spending. I take out cash every week as my allowance. Every time I make a purchase I am able to see how much I have left in my budget, thus making me more financially aware. If at the end of the week you have some money left over, add that to your savings account.

Get Rid of Interest Quickly

This is a simple rule of thumb to follow, unfortunately not enough people do. Paying the minimum amount on your credit card bills or even your mortgage will keep you in debt, not get you out of it. It doesn’t matter if you pay $5 extra a month or $50, just make it a point to pay extra!

Coupons and more Coupons

With extreme couponing so popular I am sure you are familiar with this piece of advice, but you don’t have to go crazy with it. The truth is most of us don’t have that kind of time. But seek out coupons before doing any kind of shopping. If you happen to stumble on the perfect gift for your sister at Pottery Barn, don't buy it on an impulse. Instead go home and get online and search for the appropriate Pottery Barn coupon, take the few dollars you saved and add that to your mortgage this month.

Be Accountable

My last piece of advice is to simply be accountable for your financial situation. Life may throw you curve balls, but I am sure that there are a million things you could have done differently. Don't wait for the “could of, would of, and should of's.” Instead take a step toward financial freedom by learning from your past mistakes. Don't put off for tomorrow what you could start today. Take at your debt to income ratio and figure out a way to make it all work. If you have recently found more stability, don't take that for granted. You never know when that stability will leave. The only way to secure your future is by managing the present.

"Sell Yourself In 10 Words Or Less...."

2013-05-11T12:38:00.000+01:00

I took a raincheck on Day 11 of the Blog Every Day In May challenge....

it was "share your most embarrassing moments".

Whilst these days I have - thankfully - very few of those,

I've certainly had enough in my time & have carefully locked them away in my memory....

so deeply that I can, almost, pretend they didn't actually happen ;)

For Day 12, we have to "sell ourselves in 10 words or less...."

definitely a challenge for me, since I never use one word where twenty will do.

Anyway, here goes....

"kind positive happy tea-lover....walker, talker, dancer, Londoner, smiler "

aka

"a girl needing much more sleep than she actually gets" ;)

aka

"you have chocolate? then i think we can be friends" ;)

Does that sound like me....hope so!

Happy Week-end.....

2013-05-10T19:04:00.001+01:00

My week in a nutshell....

lots of blogging

(thanks to the May blogging challenge),

finished "Gone Girl"

(and feeling as though I really need to talk about it with someone!)

fabulous pampering at the gorgeous Aveda LifeStyle & Spa

(definitely need to do that more often)

decided that our summer holiday will be in Italy & we're going to drive there

(time to start planning this adventure now!)

This week-end I'm going to be dress shopping for my daughter and myself for our Italian wedding next month & starting to plan our European summer adventure....

should we take the route under or over the Alps? Go via Belgium or Switzerland? Exciting :)

We will also be continuing our Mark Warner Active Family Blogger Fitness Challenge....

last week-end we rented bikes and cycled around London's Hyde Park,

this week-end we will be "going green"....

Happy Week-end!

Some lovely links....

It's lunchtime: let's dance....

amaretto poppy seed ice cream

a beautiful Georgian rectory

a beautiful kitchen makeover

tea shortbread

discover your love language

pandas perching precariously....

Hampton Court Palace

salt caramel melting chocolate puds

Dior

grilled goats cheese bruschetta

hush, Riverford Organic, The Linen Works - The Perfect Lunch Competition

2013-05-10T08:02:00.001+01:00

hush, one of my all-year-round favourite brands, has this week - along with with Riverford Organic & The Linen Works - launched their

"My Perfect Lunch" Competition....

as spring is now firmly upon us (we'll pretend the rain yesterday never happened), what better than to create a delicious lunch in a perfect location with your favourite friends.

send in a photograph or create a Pinterest board around the theme

"My Perfect Lunch"

and you could win some fabulous prizes....

* £100 of gift vouchers from luxury loungewear brand hush
* £100 of gift vouchers from homewares brand The Linen Works
* A seasonal veg box from Riverford Organic, a bottle of Prosecco and a copy of their award-winning cook book

To enter, please email your photograph or the URL of your Pinterest board tocompetition@hush-uk.com

closing date June 9

Dream Homes : Mykonos

2013-05-09T20:00:00.000+01:00

This property is actually two villas names Orpheus & Eurydice.

British owned and South African architect designed, they are also available for rental during the summer.

With five bedrooms, simple but stylish furnishings....they look the epitome of tranquility.

Their brief to the architect was that nothing in the house should distract from the dramatic views of the Aegean and that it should be as comfortable as possible.

The owners were married in the chapel above the pool, overlooking the sea....how lovely!

To follow me on Facebook, click here

(all images via MarieClaireMaison.com)

Day 9 : A Moment of My Day....

2013-05-09T19:50:00.000+01:00

a beautiful orchid from the lovely people at Liz Earle

denim & stripes

praise at school for my littlest one

gorgeous new iPad cover and tea

Today's Blog Every Day in May is "a moment in your day...."

Blog Every Day In May : Day 8 "My Advice on Friends & Being Yourself"

2013-05-08T16:39:00.000+01:00

As part of the Blog Every Day in May challenge, today's brief is

Day 8, Wednesday: A piece of advice you have for others. Anything at all.

My daughter is just twelve years old & last September she started her new secondary school.

It hasn't been the easiest of rides.

I have written about it on my blog recently, suffice to say that I spend most of my time these days wondering how to make things better, thinking of words of wisdom, advice that will stand her in good stead and help her cope....

It's been my hardest parenting challenge to date, by far....

a lot of the time, I have no idea myself how to handle certain situations....

sometimes I've had to tell her this.

On the one hand I want her to be reassured that whatever else happens, I will handle it....

but on the other hand, I've also had to admit that at times I too am stumped/upset/angry/disappointed....

but, whatever happens, we will handle it together, side by side.

I don't recall being given specifically wonderful words of advice although I've had plenty of support in my life.

But I love a good quote or saying and plenty of those flow through my mind on a daily basis.

As well as some issues at school, my daughter has taken one step nearer to the big wide world and for that I need to prepare her & she needs to prepare herself.

Some days I feel as though everything I say should be words of wisdom, things she will remember all her life, sentences that will spring to the forefront of her mind at the exact time she requires them....

as she struggles with self-esteem, peer pressure, bullying, adolescence, puberty and simply finding out who she really is, the main message that I keep coming back to, as we talk together is....

be yourself.

Even during the nine months that they have been at their new school, friendships have apparently changed every week, sometimes even more frequently.

They are all trying to fit in, find their own place, stay part of the group yet still be their own person.

She's been surprised by people - in both good & bad ways.

It's such a challenging time.

I have seen her trying to be cool, trying to impress, trying to fit in, trying to be kind, being rejected, being made fun of, making good friends, making bad friends, changing her outfits to look better/slimmer/cooler/taller/shorter/cleverer, you name it.

It takes years, sometimes forever, to work out that the best - and only - thing to do is be yourself, and this has been the piece of advice that I come back most frequently during my conversations with her.

It is virtually impossible to keep up the facade of being something you are not, plus it is exhausting to keep re-inventing yourself continually.

If they like you, they will like you whatever....

True friends will....

make you feel that you can say anything you want out loud to them, you can share

not judge you on the shape & quality of your eyebrows
care what happened

not snigger at the best-shoes-in-the-world-that-you-got-for-your-birthday-yesterday

not take credit for something that actually you did

be happy for your success, not resentful of it

not engineer situations that will make you look stupid

not talk or laugh about you behind your back

always be happy to see you

appreciate you

not yell you that your legs look fat in those jeans

not want to see you hurt
not want to change parts of you, they will accept you for what you are
want to walk to class with you, not pretend they don't know you
laugh with you, not at you
link arms regardless of who is watching
will have your back
will not listen to or support unkind comments about you
love you for what you already are
reciprocate
listen
share
care

A friend won't want you to compromise any aspects of yourself, they will allow & encourage you to be exactly what you already are.
They will help & support your growth, not be jealous of it.

Be yourself....that will always be good enough.
And if someone doesn't like what you are, then find yourself someone who does.
There is someone out there for everyone, you might not find them immediately but you will.
No one who loves you will ever ask you to compromise yourself.
Don't bend yourself to fit someone else's idea of what is right/best/cool/acceptable.
If you continually make yourself like others, or what you think you should be, you will continually. be chasing the impossible & chances are they won't notice anyway.

Met Gala : PUNK : Chaos to Couture, Part 2

2013-05-08T12:49:00.000+01:00

Anne Hathaway

Giovanna Battaglia

Minka Kelly

Hilary Rhoda

Julianne Hough

Stacy Keibler

Uma Thurman

Taylor Swift

Jessica Alba

Nicole Richie

Lily Cole

Jennifer Lopez

Christina Ricci

Ashley Greene

Ivanka Trump

Jessica Biel

Paloma Faith

(all photos via London Daily Mail)

Met Gala : PUNK : Chaos to Couture

2013-05-08T12:33:00.000+01:00

The theme of the 2013 New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art's Monday night Gala was

PUNK : Chaos to Couture, held to highlight its spring exhibition.

Some of those attending clearly embraced their idea of punk completely, some simply went dressed for a gala....and some added a "punk" accessory or two.

If you're going to do it, you might as well go all the way....

Opinions of the outfits/costumes/gowns worn varied widely, as to be expected with a theme this interesting....but for me it was Madonna and Sarah Jessica Parker who stole the show.

You have to have attitude in spades & a lot of confidence to wear those clothes & I loved it. British fashion so often takes risks & SJP often carries that off perfectly.

I loved too that SJP wore British from head to foot, London is so strongly associated with punk rock....

and only Madonna could possibly get away with that outfit....she rocked it, as they say.

Active Family Month Blogger Fitness Challenge : Four Go Cycling in Hyde Park, London

2013-05-07T21:00:00.000+01:00

Sunday afternoon found us in London's Hyde Park as part of our May "

"Active Family Month" Blogger Fitness" challenge.

The theme for this week is wheels....so cycling was our unanimous choice.

I've never cycled in central London (but always wanted to) & as Hyde Park is full of cycle lanes, it seemed perfect.

We took my son's bike with us in the back of the car but my husband, daughter & I rented "Barclays Bikes".

This has always seemed such a fun idea & something recommended by friends.

The bikes are available all over London (check their excellent website for all details) & Hyde Park itself has 12 pick-up points for the bikes.

It was a brilliant idea & we can't wait to do it again.

Before we left home, I went online & booked an access code for 3 bikes.

When we got to the park, I entered the debit card that I'd booked with into the card machine at the bike pick-up point & my ticket (with release code) was printed out immediately.

All we had to do then was unlock our bikes - such a simple & quick process

Hyde Park is London's biggest park and on Sundays it's full of people but we had no problem at all cycling around the many cycle paths & were able to go as fast or slow as we wanted.

We cycled round the Park Lane side of the park to Speakers Corner and then back around, ending up in Kensington Park Gardens.

It was a sunny day & the park was full of skaters, cyclists and runners.

We saw baseball, rounders, football & rugby matches going on....

my children absolutely loved it, they now want to go there every Sunday!

I have grown up in London and love the energy of the city - cycling around the green heart of the city filled me with happiness & pride - and I loved the fact that my children were able to cycle along the wide paths confidently whilst getting a sense of the city at the same time.

There is something about cycling which connects you with your childhood....

it's such a freeing and happy activity....

going out yesterday definitely made me feel I want to do more.

I can't remember the last time we cycled together as a family & the children loved us all being out together....they can't wait to go again.

Nor can I, I had forgotten how exhilarating cycling is!

Cost : bike rental £2 per bike for 24hr access (during which time you can use the bikes as many times as you wish)

+ £6 per bike for the 2 hours that we used them

(as we were only spending time in the park, 2 hours was perfect - it was both a good work-out & fun).

You can pick up & drop off the bikes wherever you like around the city & if you are only using the bikes for 30 mins or less, it's free.

It's a great way of seeing the city, we will definitely be doing it again & I would recommend it to anyone.

(The bike seats are adjustable & are very sturdy & comfortable.

Bikes can be rented on a casual basis or for as long as you like ie, a week or more, it's totally flexible).

This month my family & are taking part in the

Mark Warner "Active Family Month" Blogger Challenge....

we have pledged to participate in one activity per week as a family.

The Mark Warner campaign is focusing on families to get fit together whilst participating in fun activities.

(all photos my own)

Blog Every Day in May : Day 7 "My Fears"

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Day 7, Tuesday: The thing(s) you're most afraid of

(The Blogging Every Day in May challenge)

Aside from the obvious answers of losing my children, my husband, my family & my friends.....

I'm not really afraid of much.

When I thought about it, I came up with : Lifts, Spiders & Hills

I'm not mad on confined spaces....I can handle a lift/elevator if there are just a couple of people in there but when it's packed, my pulse does quicken slightly and the thought of what would happen if it stopped between floors starts playing on my mind.

I get the same thought when I'm on the London Underground, the carriage is packed solid, I'm squished up against someone....and the train stops in the tunnel.

That has happened to me many times over the years but I still get a moment of anxiety each time it occurs.

Snakes or large spiders....I can deal with medium sized spiders in my home if I have to, but the large ones (the name of which I cannot even type!), I could not even contemplate being in close proximity too.

My son went to an "animal" party last year & I had to arrange for someone else to collect him because I knew one of these particularly large spiders would be there....eeek!!

My strangest fear is hills, specifically driving up them!!
Muswell Hill, where I live, is surrounded by hills so it's pretty difficult not to have to drive up them really....I have only driven up the steepest of them once when I absolutely had to since I had a friend in the car and I was too embarrassed to admit that I was afraid of the hill....
it's completely ridiculous I know!!

I think my fear is stopping on the hill with some kind of brake failure or rolling backwards down the hill....
both highly unlikely to happen but there you go....

Blog Every Day In May : Day 6 "What Do You Do?"

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Day 6, Monday: If you couldn't answer with your job, how would you answer the question, 'what do you do'?

I care, I nurture, I worry, I feed, I clean, I support, I do homework
I drink lattes, I drink Earl Grey, I eat too many cookies, I walk
I talk, I laugh, I think....a lot
I love, I cry
I read every day....newspapers, blogs, magazines, books
I encourage, I praise, I coax, I sometime bribe
I listen....a lot
I'm quiet
I dance, I sing
I write, I blog, I email, I facebook, I text, I communicate
I plan...movie night, holidays, travel, NYC, menus, days in the city, meetings with friends
I dream....of moving house, of travel (again), of time slowing down/moving too fast, of being xlbs lighter, a walk-in wardrobe, a place by the sea
I cleanse, I tone, I moisturise
And I talk....with friends, other mothers, my husband, my mother, my children.
I connect, I care, I consider.

This is what I do....each day. And repeat.

Blog Every Day in May : Day 5 - Profess Your Love

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Gill was just 15 when I was born and, quite simply, she has always been a constant in my life.

She is a rock & a touchstone for me, she has my back.

If she wasn't around, she would leave a gap which would be the emptiest - and saddest - in my life.

There is something about her that makes me more aware of that when I think of her than anyone else I know.
My life would be completely different without her in it.

I almost can't even express it in words....

but I am consciously so grateful for her, I feel lucky to have her.

Gill is my aunt....and, the older I get, the more thankful I am for that every single day.

She makes a difference to my life. She makes all the difference.

As I go through my day, she's often the voice in my head....

we don't talk every day but she'll often phone just as I'm thinking of her....

she always has time.

She knows from my first word how I'm feeling - and vice versa.

As in all the best friendships, we have a shorthand....

there is so much that I don't even need to explain to her, she knows it already.

We moved away from Wales (where she lived) when I was 6, but she visited frequently.

My parents separated not long after and although, thankfully, those days are misty memories,
I always knew she was there.

I know now that, when my parents weren't always doing the right thing, she would often step up on behalf of my brothers and I.

If I had to name someone who knows me better than I know myself.....

without hesitation, it would be her.

And actually, it's a very comforting feeling....

I think she knows why I make certain choices & why I'm like I am.

She just gets me.

She has - quite literally - known me forever.

I have two brothers, she has four....one of whom is my father.

But we're not just connected by blood, we are really good friends, although our shared experiences as only girls in our families definitely binds us together

I used to spend my summers with my grandparents in Wales & I would be put in her room squeezed on a tiny camp-bed next to hers.

I used to talk in my sleep, something we still laugh about :)

When I think of her, in my mind she looks as she used to then....as a 20-something....

I never ever think of her getting older or even being older than me.

I'd love to see her more often, I wish we lived on the same street quite honestly....

she is my biggest comforter....

my cheerleader, the person who always makes me laugh & the one who I would never, and wouldn't even want to, lie to.

I can tell her absolutely anything.

She tells me the truth, says what needs to be said & has a way of making me like I'm the most capable person in the world....

as though I can do anything.

If I'm honest, she does the things for me that I think my parents should be doing & should have done.

She doesn't have children herself but she is the best aunt in the world....

I've known her the longest out of all the cousins because I am the eldest....

she always makes me feel as though I'm the most special....

although I would bet she makes the others feel like that too!!

Everyone needs that one person who they know through thick & thin will be there and will be rooting for them - she's my person.

Day 5, Sunday: Publicly profess your love and devotion for one of your blogger friends. What makes them great? Why do you love them? If you don't have blogger friends, talk about a real-life friend or even a family member

(Note...I DO have blogger friends (honest!)....but really felt like writing this today)

Happy Week-end....

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magnolias in Central Park NYC

lemon ricotta thyme pancakes with blueberry sauce

San Francisco

a creative garden in a small space

I've had a lot of fun this week taking part in Jenni's Blog Every Day in May challenge....

Lori, Victoria, Mary & Cathi have also joined me in writing their blogs each day according to Jenni's prompts....

Glorious weather in London right now for this 3 day week-end.

I spent today deep in a Hampshire forest exploring gorgeous new holiday cabins - more of that to come - and tomorrow we are heading out on bikes as part of our fitness challenge.

Happy Week-end!

Some lovely links....

French Toast with Maple Syrup

Rainbow Carrot Summer Rolls

A Few Links

Garlic parmesan knots

Gorgeous London instagrams

Five blogging things you shouldn't be doing

A stunning London home

This video is absolutely lovely...."Good People"

Blog Every Day in May :Day 4 - Quote for the Day

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I love a good quote - as my Pinterest boards show - and Day 4 of the Blog Every Day In May challenge is to choose your favourite quote....

I am always really interested in hearing the wisdom & thoughts of others....

we may have different lives, but at the end of the day we all have similar worries, similar hopes & dreams....

if all that life offered you was health & happiness, you'd take it in a heartbeat wouldn't you?

I couldn't pick one quote....although the Nora Ephron quote I used here is one of my absolute favourites since I think it says so much about life and about how we often miss the moments & just don't realise how great they, or we, were.

I could have filled this post with Nora Ephron quotes actually :)

So I picked a dozen of my favourites....

those that represent what I feel about life, work & friendship....

Surround yourself with good people & good friends

Be with people who you can totally be yourself with

Do it now, life is short

Listen to your heart & mind, not someone else's

Be happy

Work hard

Mini Boden Days....

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jersey smocked top

boatneck dress (for your inner French mademoiselle)

glitter & leather sandals

silver clogs from the Boden teen range Johnnie B - these go up to size 42 (Eur)

On sale right now in silver & coral for £27.20 (reduced price)

playsuit & print dress

cord pinafore....how gorgeous is this?

(Currently reduced to £13.20)

printed holiday dress

Their catalogue still plops through my letterbox on a regular basis....

although the days that I know think of wistfully (and somewhat longingly) as the "Mini Boden days" have passed.

My daughter was a Mini Boden girl summer and winter....

bright fun colours, gorgeous cottons, a small duffle coat, the cutest shoes & boots.

And those super-cute summer dresses.....year after year I would buy them.

We now choose her clothes together but I can tell you that there isn't much colour or pattern going on, it's mostly darks & denim - and there's not a pretty summer dress in sight. Sob ;)

It doesn't stop me looking though - and I do have the boys stuff to buy still - and actually the Johnnie B range is lovely too.

I think I might even buy the silver clogs for myself :)