• cold cooking with kids
    days out - mindfulness - Monday Happy List

    Monday Happy List – week 98

    August 8, 2016 - By 

    The summer holidays are going so quickly and I think we’re all enjoying the slower pace of life. Although I’ve been ferrying them around I’m happy there are no after school clubs or evening activities to go to. With my free time I’ve been de-cluttering, eBaying, charity shopping and doing some of those niggling jobs I’ve been meaning to do for months. Who knew August would be a much-needed month of tidying and sorting. Kids had a great time at the summer holiday workshop they went to every morning. After 2 weeks of early starts I’m looking forward to a…

  • Orla Kiely bike range for Halfords
    Aquabeaders - Cath Kidston - mindfulness - Monday Happy List - Orla Kiely

    Monday Happy List – Week 97

    August 1, 2016 - By 

    Last week was the first full week my husband spent out of hospital and it was good to have him home. To give him a chance to recuperate the kids spent the week at Super Camp. I was a little apprehensive how they would get on but they loved it. They did a multi-activity week and came home happy but tired every day. Because the children were busy we were able to enjoy a little date during the day. We went to the cinema to see Jason Bourne, I love Matt Damon and this was a great fast-paced action film.…

  • last day of nursery picture
    mindfulness - Monday Happy List - parenting

    Monday Happy List – Week 96

    July 25, 2016 - By 

    Hello everyone. Another extraordinary week in my household. We started the week with my husband being discharged from hospital but unfortunately he was back in within 24 hours. I’ve had another busy week juggling hospital visits and childcare but I’m pleased to say my husband is back home again. I’m not sure how so much was achieved with so much going on in the last 7 days. My 6 year old had his final Beavers session of the term. He received 4 new badges for his jumper from all the activities they have been taking part in – these are…

  • gingerbread men at Paperchase
    mindfulness - parenting

    Monday Happy List – Week 95

    July 18, 2016 - By 

    I’m so excited that my children have their last few days of school. We are all so ready for a more relaxed routine and to de-school. The end of term has brought it’s usual flurry of activities: Both my children had excellent School reports so I’ve been the proudest mum imaginable. I’m so glad they enjoy school and do well at everything they try. One of my 6 year olds’ after school clubs is football and I was surprised when he was named Footballer of the Year. I think this is for making so much progress over the year. I…

  • The Lyric Theatre
    baking - Cath Kidston - days out - London - mindfulness

    Monday Happy List – Week 94

    July 11, 2016 - By 

    Another busy week for us and now we really are counting down until the school holidays. This week both children had their Sports Days and Class Swap Days. They are really tired and in need of the holiday. I am so proud of them for getting good reports but this term has felt long so the holidays can’t come quickly enough now. This weekend was pretty special as we enjoyed a family trip to the theatre to see the Gruffalo Live. My children can pretty much recite any Julia Donaldson story word for word so we were excited to see…

  • Orla Kiely bin
    mindfulness - Orla Kiely

    Tuesday Happy List – week 93

    July 5, 2016 - By 

    As I lay in bed last night I realised that for the first time in over a year I hadn’t written or published my weekly Happy List post. It’s not that I didn’t have anything to share, life is full and busy, but I was actually living life rather than blogging about it. So, slightly later than usual – it’s time for my weekly Monday Tuesday Happy List, a chance for me to record some of my favourite things from the previous week. Enjoyed probably isn’t the word but I thought the commemorations for the anniversary of the Battle of…

  • view from Ventura
    days out - mindfulness

    Monday Happy List – Week 92

    June 27, 2016 - By 

    I’m sure you’re tired of my saying it, but what a busy week! I hadn’t caught my breath from a weekend of Blogtacular and The Secret Life of Pets before we were off again, this time on a mini break on the cruise ship Ventura. We had a great time but I am in serious need of some sleep. We spent Friday in Bruges which is one of my favourite places. We did every touristy thing you can imagine and went back to the ship with a bag full of Belgian chocs and beer. Whilst the children enjoyed the onboard…

  • Blogtacular photo walk in Notting Hill
    days out - mindfulness

    Monday Happy List – Week 91

    June 20, 2016 - By 

    Happy Monday everyone, hope you all had a lovely weekend. Mine was hugely busy which has knocked me for six a little. It’s lovely to have exciting things to look forward to but oh-so-nice to come home to family after an adventure. This weekend I had my very own hall pass for 24 hours to attend Blogtacular. This was my second Blogtacular (read last years’ post here) and I had a great time; meeting lots of new bloggers, going on a Photowalk around Notting Hill, a paper party at West Elm and the conference itself. I’m going to try and…

  • Handmade gifts - mindfulness

    Receiving happy mail and random acts of kindness

    June 13, 2016 - By 

    Everyone loves to receive nice mail. My obsession with the mail started when I was much younger with penpals. I had tons of penpals and loved to swap postcards and stamps and find out more about people around the world. Over time this love of receiving mail has continued and I’ve taken part in a few sewing swaps, sending and receiving little handmade packages. I think that’s part of the reason I enjoy subscription boxes so much, happy mail makes a lovely change from those dreaded brown envelopes! Since my children have come along I don’t seem to have so much…