Some light photographic relief

We recently spent a weekend with my parents in the countryside. J and I went to relax for a while, which was long overdue, both to see my parents and to relax a little.

So we had some fun taking a few photos and playing with our camera. Hope you like them!

Still makes me long for a garden though... To grow tomatoes and gooseberries would be enough :)

Baby Picture This the results!

Above my beautiful Baby Picture This prints in their new frame from Cargo. Aren't they lovely! Soon to be gifted to a friend of mine as a very belated Christmas and birthday present. Although now I've got them on my wall it'll be hard to give them away!

Vote! Vote like a stoat!

Stoat from It's nature

So today is finally polling day for the UK. It feels a long time coming... But this means it's time to exercise our democratic right. So go, go all those who can and cast your vote. Because this could be it for another 5 years...

It will be very interesting to see what comes of the election tomorrow. I am off to an election reception in the evening and we'll see what happens on Friday!

Woppee! An award for me!

The lovely Make Do Style has very kindly passed on the above reward. Which I am very excited to have received. Blog awards are such lovely things to get. And so the rules are as follows, tell seven things about yourself and then pass the award on to seven other beautiful bloggers. Now I always like talking about myself and sharing the love so here goes:

1. I am now a School Governor for a school in Mayfair, longer story behind how that came about and no I don't have any secret children
2. I have two older sisters, they are both currently pregnant and people keep asking me if I am going to follow suit, I'm not... (yet)
3. I walk to and from work almost every day and think I would go crazy if I didn't
4. I absolutely love University Challenge and get so excited if I get a question right
5. I am an organised messy person, untidy but I normally know where in my untidiness things are
6. I still love looking at wedding photos. And wedding dresses. And choose ones I would wear now, normally the more crazy ones now my simple one has been worn
7. I am preparing to try and make quilts for the nieces/nephews on the way, eek!

And on to the sharing of the love, here goes:

The Imaginary Cafe
Anna and the Ring
Color Me Green
I go by Katie
Peacock Feathers & Diamond Rings
A girl's world
Puppies and Pancakes

Thanks again Kate! M x

Friday fun photo

From Cute Overload

Isn't this photo amazing? It took me a little while then I was sat there going wow! What a moment to have got.

Would you want one of these?

Again whilst in Mayfair I caught this rather 'delightful' toilet. It struck me as odd that while someone was on the toilet they might want some porcelain nipples poking in their back. Perhaps this is something about interior design I will never understand... Your thoughts?

MIA

Work, work, work. Eat, Sleep. Right now it kind of feels like this. Busy, busy, busy, my mind isn't on top of things. But it's good. It's challenging and rewarding at times so not all is to complain about. I also have my first pole dancing class tonight, more on that tomorrow I'm sure!

Until then, I've found a new Simon's cat short film. I love these films, they always make me smile. However due to my lack of skills I can't embed video on my blog. Maybe someone can tell me how? Instead I shall offer a link to The Official Simon's Cat website. Check it out if you have time :)

A few of my favourite things...

Here is hopefully the first of a series all about my favourite things. Items or activities which I just love and want to tell everyone about. So here goes...

I've been working longer than normal hours recently and not sleeping so well because I'm worrying about everything I have to do. So I've been very much in need of this item:

MAC Studio Finish SPF35 concealer

This bad boy covers even the darkest circles which loom under my eyes, perks them up, makes me look human and if I wear no other make up I wear this.

I've never tried Touche Eclat, I probably should (opinions on this would be welcomed) but for now this little pot does me just fine.

Monday Madness

If you're in need of something to make you smile this Monday check out this link... One of those lovely stories one can't help but smile about on the BBC news website.

In search of Brogues

I saw a girl yesterday in teal brogues, and I thought to myself, how lovely they are! And now I'm thinking that for winter they would be just wonderful. So I have decided to search for some brogues. Here are some I like...

Bertie - Greenwich - £60

Laurel - Kurt Geiger - £100

Nonnie - Nicole Fahri - £250

What do you think? Your opinion on Brogues and any suggestions of where to find them would be warmly appreciated. Or anywhere I can find some coloured ones, which are preferably a little lower in the vamp if possible. Oh and not too expensive! Not asking much am I :)

Weekend Surprise

J came home on Friday night to see me and our friend A. I didn't know he was going to so when he walked into C's front room I was delighted, also being tired and a little run down I almost cried but you know how it is.

We spent a lovely Saturday together, had C&A over for a homemade pizza lunch and then had a little nap in the afternoon. I just love afternoon naps, they do feel so special!

Saturday evening we went to the fancy dress 'T' themed party, me as Tinkerbell (minus the wings, I had no time) and J as Top Gun (well Maverick really, but Top Gun to fit the theme). No photos yet, I forgot to take my camera but hopefully some photos somewhere of my homemade skirt.

Sunday was church, another good bye to J for a few more days and then a lovely dinner with middle sister and her other half. So all in all a good weekend, with the best surprise I could have hoped for in the form of my lovely lovely husband. What fun did you get up to this weekend?

Happy Friday

It finally feels like autumn is creeping in so above is a photo I took while back at my parents a weekend or so ago. This is in my back garden, where I grew up. I love that garden and all the memories it holds or playing as a child.

And of course, it's Friday! Another week passed, a few more ticks on the to-do list plus of course the other items added... I also just spoke to J, he's finished the walk with his dad and they're one their way back home. Well done him.

Off to see an old friend tonight and a costume party tomorrow night. Plus on Sunday a new friend and a sister. All in all a good weekend. And of course with each day a little closer to J coming home :)

Wishing you all the nicest autumnal weekend's, M x

Meme - Ten things about me

The lovely Being Brazen (go read her blog if you haven't already) recently awarded and tagged me. Which is very exciting! So I now have to tell you ten things about myself and of course display my very pretty award :)


Here goes on the 10 things...

1. I crave broccoli sometimes, especially when hungover or feeling like I have a cold
2. Apparently I have long narrow feet, or at least the last two people who have been serving me while I've been buying shoes have told me this
   
3. I am very easily distracted, especially when in a restaurant and there's an interesting conversation on the next table
   
4. One of my favourite things is sharing meals with people, and the good conversation which normally goes with them
   
5. I don't really like travelling on the tube. I avoid it where possible and mostly get the bus. Cheaper too!
   
6. I love false eyelashes, they are the best
7. Before I have children I want to drive the west coast of America
8. I currently can't drive... Nor can J :)
   
9. I shout at the TV and radio quite regularly, worryingly so perhaps...
   
10. I also cry regularly while watching TV, any wedding, engagement, death, sad moment and I'm off
    

And now topass on the award and the tag if you want as well, I would certainly enjoy reading your ten things! But also really a nice excuse to pass on the love and award to some of the blogs I have really been enjoying recently.

Everybody Says Don't
A Rose beyond the Thames
Color Me Green
Blog Goggles
Our Day by Design
Peacock Feathers & Diamond Rings
Westendmum
Holy Hanna... Wholly Krista!

M x

What I did this weekend

• Had a great night out on Friday with colleagues
• Got up too early on Saturday
• Went to Portobello Market for the first time!
  
• Spent Saturday with five of my closest friends
• Tried a mint julep, realised they are disgusting, never again, unless I'm desperate
• Talked, a lot
• Said goodbye to J for a week and a half
  
• Went to church for the first time in months
• Saw a friend who I haven't seen for ages and caught up properly with her
  

All in all, a great weekend. And my first in London for a long time, which I loved! What did you do, anything exciting? And any tips for sleeping while your other half is away? I struggled last night... Even with my monkeys keeping me company.

100th Post, Happy Friday and a Monkey!

Somehow I've managed to post 100 posts. Which is very exciting for me. I'm still not sure I quite understand the direction of this blog and my apologies for its sometimes rambling nature. It would be lovely to hear from you though, what you enjoy, if there's something you'd like to hear more of or see more of or any other thoughts!

Otherwise, it's Friday! Woo hoo! This one has been a long time coming. J is super busy at work and my work has picked up too. So I'm looking forward to my first weekend in London since May... I shall be catching up with old friends and saying good bye to J for a week and a half.

Because it's Friday I shall share with you this Gibbon, courtesy of Cute Overload.
Also, and this bit is important, much love to my followers and readers. It means a huge amount to me that you comment and read what I write. Thank-you! Thank-you! Thank-you! M xx

On Changing Habits...

Following my realisation recently that I was steadily gaining weight I have been thinking about ways of changing my habits. Habits of eating crap and drinking too much, and habits of not doing enough exercise.

So when I was at home this weekend I got talking to my mama. She was talking about the way we think about food, and how we can change this. Describing to me a large colleague who whenever she saw cake would think mmmmm cake, versus a slim friend who would see cake and think urgh cake got me thinking about how I react to cake and whether changing this could help. I currently think of cake as... Big grin, mmm cake, how much can I have?, quick get in there, urgh too sweet, mouth tastes gross, drink loads of water, feel fat.

So my mama got me thinking, maybe part of my problem is my habit of eating sweet things too often, rather than occasionally as a nice treat. Perhaps I need to change the way I think. I know that a sugary rush will make me feel sluggish after. I don't actually like chocolate that much after the first bite. I find it tends to coat my mouth with an odd taste. But I eat it because everyone else does. And I don't want to be seen not to. Odd huh? And foolish.

My sister and I have often talked about this too, about really thinking about what you are eating and what it will do for you. So I am going to try and change, little by little my approach to these things. I'll let you know how it goes, if it goes at all...

On real women...

I recently read one of the best blog posts I've read in a while on Liberty London Girl's blog, all about women's bodies and the ideal of beauty. Go read it if you haven't already...

Anyhow, it got me thinking about the obsession we all have about our bodies and seeking perfection, never being able to believe someone finds us attractive. I still can't quite believe my husband thinks I am attractive and have a nice figure, especially on 'fat' days when I feel bloated and disgusting.

So when I saw the below picture, I rejoiced. Which is apparently what a lot of other women also did. This image was featured in the latest issue of American Glamour magazine, hidden away on one of the pages, surrounded by the traditional images of skinny, elfin, boyish figures, this picture cause a huge response. Women flooded Glamour with thanks for showing that someone with a tiny belly can be beautiful. The Daily Mail go into more detail about it in this article.

So I wanted to share it and commend Glamour for putting this in their magazine. She is truly beautiful, and it's refreshing to see this image being used in a magazine. As much as I love fashion magazines and looking at catwalk shows I know that so many of the clothes designed are never going to suit a figure with some curves. Maybe, just maybe, the fashion world will begin to listen to everyday people and start designing clothes for women, not girls with boyish figures who can pull off high fashion.

Long Weekend ahead...

It's a long weekend here in the UK something which I am hugely looking forward to. J and I are off to Oxford to go on a narrow boat for a few days with two other couples. I'm sure I shall come back with photos and tales but until then I shall leave you with a couple more photos from the wedding. They are a stunning couple and these were two of my favourites which I captured.


Hope you all have fabulous weekends! x

Pun intended?

My husband just sent me this screen grab on the BBC website. Do you think the pun was intended or not? If yes, very bad taste don't you think...

Happy Birthday to me!

Thanks to those of you who answered the poll, the results were as follows:

23 - 2
25 - 2
27 - 2
29 - 1
31 - 2

And I am... 25! A full quarter of a century old.

Had a lovely party last night, a close group of friends, new and old. Perhaps had too little sleep last night, 3am on a work night is not good.

So a half day at work and then off to Nice for the weekend. For some thundery showers, well hopefully not but that's the current forecast. Have nice Fridays!