job offers?!?!

Today I braved the local toddler group.  Is is only me who finds these 'gatherings' rather challenging?  Surely not.  I must admit we should have started going a while ago.  Little lady seems to be quite a sociable little thing (well compared to the other two) and seeing as she has no siblings close in age to play with during the day toddler groups and the alike really are a must.

But I really shy away from them.  It is quite scary to walk into a room full of women who know each other, who you dont know.  When eldest lady was a baby I remember clearly trying one such group and feeling like such an inept, socially backward individual I never returned after the second go.  When she eventually started pre-school she was ever so shy and timid I really felt bad that I hadn't tried harder.  But sitting on your own for a few hours when everyone around you is in a cosy clique really is soul destroying and confidence zapping.  Especially when you are new to an area so therefore don't really know anyone at all anyway.

I did throw myself into preschool life though, I joined the committee and that really was the turnaround for me.  I met quite a few friends that way, friendships that have grown over the years and friendships that have given me confidence again.  I slowly got my self esteem back.

Having number three with such a big gap in between though has made me feel like I am doing everything for the first time again.  Meeting new people, making small talk, hoping to find some mum similar to you so your child can begin to form a bond with their child (life is so much easier if you enjoy spending time with your playdates mum).  

Of course its also hard because so many children that go to toddlers are with their childminders.  And although lovely to talk to it's not the same.  They are not the ones who will be inviting your child to the birthday parties, inviting your child over for tea and wanting to arrange playdates.

And so its very rare to meet and make new friends when you are a mum.  

I tell myself I HAVE to go at least every other week for my childs sake.  Not for my sake.  Its not about me.

I already have super special friends.  And I hope that although all their kids are growing up very quick now, they will accomodate baba and me, have patience with us.

Children grow up far too quickly.

Only tonight I found myself epilating eldests legs after putting youngest down in cot.  A bizarre contrast.

However, at least I can now say 'I put baby to bed'.  Never used to be that easy.  And now we have an evening with the other two important children in our lives.  Tonight I taught them how to play clock patience. A very simple addictive card game.  They both managed to 'get it out' once! Achievement.  Makes it so much more enjoyable.

Of course the game was played with vintage cards.  What else?!

and finally, loving on Pinterest . . . . . . .

Happy Wednesday

xx

zip wires and mini waffles

The end of another holiday.  Another holiday where we really have been busy doing nothing and busy trying to Not Spend A Lot.

Not Spend A Lot is our motto at the moment.  Not Spend A Lot is a sign of the times.  Not Spend A Lot is the result of husband losing job at a time that really was rather unexpected.

I'm trying to stay positive.  Things happen for a reason don't they?  I mean in five weeks time when the last pay slip comes through the door husband may have another job lined up.  Life is rather on hold at the moment, waiting for things to happen, waiting, waiting, waiting for a new day to bring new hope.

Of course the most important thing is that we all love each other very much.  We will always be a family.

Cross your fingers for us.

In five weeks time we may need to move in with the in-laws.  Poor them.

On the crafty front I'm still on with the Marigold Sweater from Interweave Knits.  Back done, left front work in progress.  A very enjoyable knit so far.  Unfortunately the finishing off requires me to do the dreaded picking up of stitches for the border.  I always think its a very messy way to finish off, or is that just me?  Probably.  Definitely.  HeHe!

Today I wore a knit that I made a few years ago.  Have only worn it once previously.  It is one of the rare items that I will actually wear.  I always start off by knitting ' the next most wearable item' and finish with 'an item that sits in the wardrobe waiting to be worn'.  It's rather disappointing really but have come to accept it as a fact of my life.  Everything I knit for the kids seems to have the same problem attached too.  Made my two girls matching cardigans for youngests Baptism.  Needless to say they have only been worn the once.

And finally am loving on Pinterest

Little milk bottles of pink milk :))

A must to copy.

Happy Monday

xx

8 hours sleep

I know it's reeeeeeeally bad but I couldn't help but be a bit starstruck.  Last night the middle man met Gracie.

Gracie from Take me Out.

In the chip shop!

I cannot believe he didn't dare to ask her out!

Anyhow, see that lovely little ornament below?

My lovely big daughter made it for me.  We went to a pottery cafe last weekend, just me and her.  It was really really fantastic to be just the two of us.  Havn't done that for a very long time.  We each chose the item that we wanted and the other painted it.  So, I chose the unicorn and big D painted it for me.  She's only 10 so I think it's a very good effort, don't you?

And no, I'm not showing you mine cos it's really bad.  As much as I love all things crafty I must admit pottery painting is not one of my talents.

I have almost perfected my dutch braided headband though! Not easy doing it for yourself.

Happy weekend

xx

Bakery Story Addiction

My button ball.  A totally useless but fabulous use for the button stash.  Now I can admire them everyday.

Thank you Pinterest for yet another lovely source of inspiration.

Take 1 polystyrene ball

1 length of grosgrain ribbon

Many many glass headed pins

and many many buttons

oh and a bit of Copydex just to make sure they stay put.

If you adore buttons you'll be making one of these very soon.

On another entirely different note, OMG.

How aaaamaaazing are these legs?

I know I'm mad but I cant help admiring such beauty.  Youth, what a lovely thing it is.  Bet she doesnt really appreciate them.

talk again veeeeeeerrrrrryyyy soooooon

x

I'm a big monkey

No flowers, no chocolates, no card, no diamonds. Just a wonderful lunch out with my wonderful family. I don't really 'do' valentines day. We love each other 365 days a year. With much love and hugs to my precious husband and trio. Happy Valentines Day xxxxoo

Getting depressed with the stats

February half term. Probably the worst most useless of all the holidays. Can't go to the caravan for a cheap holiday. Can't spend much post Christmas. Can't enjoy the park, it's all wet and slippy. Can't meet friends cos they are all away. Can't visit family cos they are away too. Hope you are getting the gist of it. We are all pretty fed up, shutting ourselves up at home. Watching tv, playing Cluedo, reading, knitting and bickering. How are your holidays going? Xx

getting excited about the stats

It's official.

 I am FED UP with winter.

 As much as I love a decent bit of snow (and sledging) and crisp cold sunny days I have been dreaming today about a change of season.

Dreaming about Spring, lighter nights, daffodils, the Easter bunny, the promise of all things new.

Dreaming about Summer, fruit and veg picking, hot days, beaches, tea on the patio, barbecues and sun on my skin.

Golly I'm vitamin D deprived.

 I have even inadvertently started Spring Cleaning, well I say Spring Cleaning but actually its just cleaning and clearing. Of the usual kind. Which is rather unusual for me, haven't done much of it for a while!

I cleared kitchen cupboards, I threw away a lot of out of date baking ingredients, I was rather ruthless. Again, rather unusual for me! The unusual amount of sleep and the new supplement I'm taking must be to blame.

Of course the cheeky chicken tries to thwart my every move, leaving a trail of destruction behind her wherever she goes.

Hoping your weekend was happy.

xx

ps. the supplement I'm taking is called Green Magic by Proto-Col.  And it's good!

library cards and custard creams

(this is a post a wrote a long time ago, have just found it saved. Think I was going to add photos)

It would be hard to remember when and where I found my love for all things vintage.

For as long as I can remember I have always preferred old over new. Which is very odd to the majority of people.


Ten years ago it was considered shabby ( in the old sense of the word not the new one related to shabby chic) to set foot inside a charity shop but now you see all walks of life stepping inside.


It is very interesting to take a look at these people if you can take a minute out to observe. It is quite easy to spot the 'on the look out for ebay sellers', the 'just browsing for myself buyers' and then of course the people who in these recession times are simply there because they have to be.


Charity shops are quite busy these days!


Anyway, back to my own love.


I think it has gradually blossomed, gradually been formed.


From visiting other friends parents homes as a teenager (I particulary used to love staying at one friends house who had her own top floor but no heating, it seemed so exciting to have to huddle round the fan heater to get dressed for school in the morning - I know, I'm odd), to buying our first home.


Our first home.


Golly, it seems so long ago but I will never forget getting the keys, sleeping on the floor the first night because we were so excited. That house was in Bishops Stortford, a two up, two down but it was so full of character. 200 years old and all ours (well, ok, with the commitment of a mortgage)!


Since our first home we have moved around the country and lived in seven houses!


Our home previous to our current was the house of my dreams. All I have ever wanted. Victorian, big windows, open fireplaces, big rooms, sweeping staircase, cellars, playroom, I could go on. When we moved in with the children it was lovely, we had a Christmas tree in the hall, a seven foot Christmas tree in the living room, a ten foot in the bedroom (no, I was joking on that one!), I thought that was it.


Well, obviously not!


The location turned out to not be what we imagined, the neighbours seriously put me off (even made a pass at me) and the bills were extortionate. It seemed to be one thing after another and we decided to sell.


I will always miss that house. But a house is a house. I still have dreams. Just practical ones that won't be easily misled this time.


Next time I will choose my house wisely, I will be able to afford it, it will tick every box and look like the vintage fairy has vomited everywhere!


Until then I will be content with what I have. I am lucky. I will continue to charity shop, to add to treasures inherited from my Gran. I will share with you snippets of what I am proud of and I will thank my lucky stars that we didn't go bankrupt!


Let's celebrate vintage and make sure its not just a passing fancy. Support your local charity shops, save the treaures inside, blog about your finds, don't let this 'trend' end I've only just come into my own!

incessant chatter

 Having completed lots of itty bitty quick and super satisfying projects recently I had the urge earlier in the week to start something a bit more challenging. Well challenging for me, the intermediate knitter.

 The silver spider recently made a beautiful 40's inspired cardigan from Interweave Knits. I couldnt help but copy.

And of course, in these economic times I am 'knitting from stash'.  Cannot justify buying the yarn needed for this cardigan.  Although I REALLY REALLY want to knit it in orange or yellow.

Turqouise it is.  Yarn bought in a charity shop not so long ago.  £3.50 for 8 balls. Bargain.  Except I have no idea what it is.  The ball band is blank.  No washing instructions, no yarn content, not even any idea whether its DK, 4 ply or aran (although I'm not that silly, think its DK).

It is such a lovely knit.  An easy pattern to follow, just over 4 rows, but varied enough to keep you interested.

On the controlled crying front we are persevering.  Had two fantastic nights (Tuesday and Wednesday) followed by two trying nights (Thursday and Friday).  I only wonder what tonight will bring.  The big two are sleeping out tonight to make sure that they at least get a decent night. I am left here with a coughing husband and crying baby.

I smile to myself, I am, trials aside, a happy mummy.












ps. loving Kirstys new bedlinen.  Serious case of the wanties.

Happy Weekend xxxxx

I didn't hear the milkman at 5am.

 I didn't hear the paperboy at 6am, trundling past with his shopping trolley full of today's news.

 For the past year I have heard these early morning sounds every morning, without fail. They are lovely sounds, heralding the start of a new day much like the bird chorus, but I must say I have recently found myself wishing I was still in the land of nod.

 And so it was bliss to be woken this morning at 6.30am after a full near 6 hours sleep.

 There is much to be said for controlled crying. It is the VERY last resort. Just a quick google and you can see how contentious the matter is. But after trying everything else (The No Cry Sleep Solution etc etc) I, sorry, we, decided to give it a go. It breaks my heart but my health is suffering now and we really just can't carry on with such little/no sleep. It is a form of torture after all.


I really hope that we have made a slight breakthrough.  I felt like a new woman this morning and full of hope that things may now change.  I can begin my life again without feeling like I am living in a dream world all the time.  Feeling guilty that none of my children are receiving 'enough of me' because I am so dog tired.

Hope it wasn't a 'one - off'!!

ps.  thank you for my two lovely comments about my valentines cushion.  and the winner is . . . . . . .  . . . .







madness and mayhem!  will contact you via your blog to arrange delivery. xxx

not enough to sledge

Love is in the air.

As the 14th Feb creeps up on us I have decided to share the love with my readers.

See that lovely little cushion sitting on my windowsill?

I made that today, its so lovely.  If you send me a comment for this post I will put your name into the hat and you might win the lovely little valentine cushion.

Let the cushion see the comments! (oh dear, Damion, you may be good looking but you really bombed tonight!)

xx

cranial osteopathy

As I sit down to write my post I am am struck by one thing.  I can hear the clock ticking.  Phew.  I cant remember the last time I heard that.  And I am under no false impressions that it will last long.

Heres hoping that I will be in bed by midnight tonight.

As I sit down to write my post I am also texting my middle man.  Who sends me texts while hes watching big sis swim to say he loves me.  Note to self; its all worth it.

Heres hoping for no swimming accidents tonight.

As I sit down to write my post I am trying not to think about the millions of other things I should be doing.

Heres hoping you are doing what you want to do too, and not the millions of other things.

xx

23.51

Life is very very hard at the moment. I hate to admit it, it being 2012, my year! But, not only are we facing our main, only wage earner being out of a job end of march, we have a very very unhappy baby at night. And I am at the very end of my tether. I just don't know what to do. Is there some underlying problem as to why she won't sleep or is it that I am just a really bad mummy? Babies can't tell you what's wrong, and no matter what books/people say Im not tuned into what she's trying to tell me. It is utterly soul destroying and I can feel myself getting more and more down. Believe me it takes quite a lot nowadays to bring me down, fighting cancer last year I'm surprised how mere lack of sleep is affecting me.

another hat for a friend

Oooh. Its big enough to snuggle under whilst it grows.  Lovely in this freezing weather!

The middle man was asking if he could wrap it around himself tonight.  'Its so cosy Mum'.

Bless.  I told him he can have it if he wants.  Baba knows no different, I can make her something else.

Little boys are so kind to their mummies sometimes.