blog every day in may challenge - favourite blogs

May 19th

Some of my favourite blogs.....


That's Not My Age

Fashion journalist and ex-magazine editor Alyson Walsh blogs with
fashion and style advice for the stylish 40+ woman, throwing in a good dose of
stylish 'celebrity' older women who know how to put a great outfit together.


The Bottom of the Ironing Basket

Life, living, family, travel, food and so much more
from the wonderful eye of Simone
(always accompanied by a fabulous collect of photographs).

Lily Lemontree

I love the 'Chic this Week' post every Friday.
This blog is full with style, entertaining and living well.

Lou Boos and Shoes

Reading about Lou's home / life / work dilemas and thoughts
and seeing the beautiful images she adds
to every post, make me look forward to reading this blog.

E N J O Y!

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blog every day in may challenge - photograph of me

May 17th

A favorite photograph of yourself and why.

I'm not big on having photographs taken of myself, much to the disappointment of the Huzz who loves photography..

However, there is this one photograph of me and my two kiddos that I love.  I love the way Luca is hugging us.  They look so young too.  The light just as sun is setting is beautiful.  Just seeing this photograph makes me smile.

Taken in Florida in May 2010.  This vacation spot is a favorite for our family.  We've rented a beach house here for 5 years during May.  It feels like a second home and as we are so familiar with the area, we step right into wonderful vacation relaxation.

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screen free for 5 days, and counting

No iPad

No TV

No computer

No Nintendo DS

No whatever else has a screen

That's what my kids have done without for 5 days now.

I expected tears and drama from our 10 year old son, who latest love in Minecraft.  But no!

From my daughter, aged 4, her afternoon movie watching has disappeared (this is also when she usually ends up having a 45 minute nap), so keeping her going on activities and being stimulated has taken some extra work.  She's spent more than a few minutes wandering around a little lost.  But she's getting there.

Screens weren't taken away as a punishment but to get them back to thinking about what they wanted to do, not taking the easty option. Playing, building, drawing, reading, writing (my son has started writing his own mini-books!), building a tent in the garden, playing board games. We threw in an extra playdate, an extra swim, and a park visit.

But both have overall done great, especially my son.

Bedtime routine has become easier.  They are more settled.  My son is less grumpy and actually responds when you say his name the first time (not the 10th!).  Even his best friend from down the street has joined him in the min-book writing activity and neither has asked to play a computer game, not even once.  The only time my son has mentioned its been hard for him without playing his favourite computer game, is when I've told him how well he's down getting on with things.

I haven't resorted to opening wine at a ridiculously early hour of the evening afternoon!

It's not going to be an ongoing thing.  We aren't going 'screenless'.  However, the Huzz and I are thinking of making one week a month, or maybe 3 days a week screenless time.  With the summer warm weather on its way, more outside time will definitely make the option easier.

Let's see how things are when screen time is given back this weekend!  Will the grumpy boy return, will I need to ask the same questions ten times over?  Let's see.

UPDATE - Screens have resumed!  Horrible!  Discussions on how long, when, where etc have all arisen again.  Last week felt such a 'lighter' more relaxed week in the house.  Less raised voices, grumpy faces and discussions.  We are without a doubt implementing a 3 days a week without screen policy here. 

blog every day in may challenge - a day in my life

May 15th

A Day in the Life of Me....

A few photographs from today.


About to start on my morning run
(6k this morning after a break for a couple of weeks)

A late lunch date with Ruby
(her favourite Sushi restaurant)

Playing around with 'Photobooth' app

Judo class for Luca

In between I

Blogged
Emailed
Called the the bank
Spoke to my husband
Did 2 wash loads
Walked Harvey for 30 mins
Tried to rescue another chewed up Havaiana flip-flop from the jaws of Harvey
(failed miserably and now need to order new ones!)
Filled the car with gas
Dropped off and collected Ruby from pre-school
Thought about what to make for dinner this evening and decided on
Ribs with coleslaw and homemade brushetta.
And lots of other stuff that filled those minutes of the day far to easily sometimes!

Hope you had a good day.

X X X

blog every day in may challenge - 10 things that make me happy

May 14th

10 Things That Make Me Really Happy

(To be seated at this table with loved ones
would make me happy in so many ways!)


In the meantime..... here's my 10

Sunshine

Beaches
(dreaming of living by the coast one day)

Time to myself
(sometimes just 30 mins 'me time' is enough)

Fresh cut flowers in the kitchen
(a real perk when we lived in the Netherlands - flower
markets are abundant and fabulous and inexpensive)

Spending time with good friends
(doesn't everyone love good food and drinks shared with good friends)

Dinner outdoors on warm evenings
(on that beach above, ideally!)


Tanned feet and pretty painted toes
(favourite colour for summer is an orangey/watermelony colour)

Laughter and hugs from my children
(their laughter always makes me smile)

Having things checked off my To Do List
(the weight does literally feel lifted from my shoulders)

My husband and I just pottering around the house
doing our own things but just
home together
(everything feels right when he's around)

X X X

two for tuesday - dido

The fabulous voice of British singer Dido.

(full name Florian Cloud de Bounevialle O'Malley Armstrong - yes really!)

Her first album released in 1999 "No Angel" sold more than 21 million copies internationally.

These two songs are from Dido's 2nd album 'Life for Rent".

They are timeless and I have them on my running playlist. 

Dido has recently released her 4th album "Girl Who Got Away"
which I bought yesterday and know I'm gonna love just as much as her older songs.

E N J O Y

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blog every day in may challenge - an apology

May 13th

An Apology.

To My Kiddos

I'm very sorry, but NO you may not have any more of the wonderful chocolates you bought ME for Mothers' Day!

You've had two each and personally I think that's quite enough.

Now I'm off to find a good hiding place for MY chocolates because I know you two can sniff out anything sweet from a mile away!

Sorry!

blog every day in may challenge - what do I miss?

May 12th

What do you miss?  A person, thing, place, time etc.

I'm an exap Brit living in the US.
And before the US, I lived in Netherlands.
Missing things from back 'home' is something I know well.

My Mum.
A lady that loved to dance and had a song for every occasion.
A fighter to the very end.

My Dad.
He would have made such a fabulous grandfather to 3 grandsons and a granddaughter
and wasn't in this world half as long as he should have been.

My Sister and my Bestie.
Looking forward to seeing them this summer.

All our families and our oldest friends.
People that know us from old times and shared experiences.
That we don't need to start from stratch with.

Marks & Spencer
(Brits will understand this!)

Hema
(Dutchies will understand this!)

Thorntons Dairy Butter Tablet 
(probably good to miss this and not be overindulging on a regular basis!)

Riding my bike in NL.
Such a sense of freedom and ease being able to cycle anywhere
and everywhere.

Maltesers
(US malt balls do not compare!)

My kiddos going to be on time and
not up and down the stairs like a yo-yo!
Give me back my evenings please!

Running
A trapped nerve has prevented me running for the past 2 weeks.
So I can't believe its me saying this, but "I miss running."


Late nights out on the town
 (I can barely make it past 11pm these days)

Wearing very high heels more than once in a blue moon.
I have so many shoes that are a little 'inappropriate' for
the daily running around I do.  Converse rule these days!

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blog every day in may challenge - me in 10 words

May 11th
Describe yourself in 10 words, or less.

Gin & Tonic drinker Beach-lover Easy-going Confident Organiser Friendly British Stylish Mama Wife X

Ta Da !!!!

happy weekending!

TGIF.  Love the weekends.

It's been a good week of blogging and joining in the Blog Every Day in May Challenge set by Jenni @ Story of My Life.  I missed todays  'Embarrassing Moment' confession, but I'm still thinking about it so watch this space.

Our house exterior has been freshly painted and looks fabulous.  You never really know what its going to look like when the colour scheme complete changes.  We went from a yucky mushroom colour, to fresh modern grey and white, with a black front door.  Love it.

And so now we turn to weekend relaxing family time.  Friday late afternoon means wine is chilling in the fridge, kids are playing with friends, windows are flung open enjoying the gorgeous hot day (it's supposed to drop by about 20 degrees on Sunday!).

This weekend will include a rugby tournament, birthday party, dinner with friends (we're planning a little Greek meal - yummy), a little house DIY and as it's Mother's Day here in the US, I have a suspicion I may get a cup of tea in bed (at least!).

I leave you with some lovely images via Pinterest (of course!).

(our house is now almost the same as this grey / white colour scheme)

Hope you have a fabulous weekend.

X X X