blog every day in may challenge day 30 - letting go

Letting Go.

Your past is what makes you the person you are today.
Don't look back, the future is right there in front of you.

Smile and laugh at the good memories.
You won't forget the sad times, but that's fine.

Learn from the mistakes.

Let go of the worries.
Love the person you have become.

Relax, Breathe, Let Go, Enjoy Your Life.

Happy Thursday.

blog every day in may challenge day 29 - five pieces of music

Five Pieces of Music I Like


Light My Fire

The Doors

We had this song playing as the Huzz and I walked into our wedding ceremony together.

You and Me Song

The Wannadies

My BFF and I have sung this song at the top of our voices many many times!

Good memories.

Maroon 5
Moves Like Jagger

Ruby and I love to sing this song and dance together.

Empire State of Mind

Jay Z / Alicia Keys

Driving in my car is the best time to listen to this great music - very loud!

Adele

Rolling in the Deep

Fabulous voice.  Say no more.

E N J O Y!

blog every day in may challenge day 28 - only photos

Only Photos Scenes from the Weekend.

Science time with pink goggles at OMSI.

A neighbour's house looking fabulous for Memorial Day.

Our new fish - a Purple Dottyback.

The latest bread book to add to our collection

from San Francisco baker Chat Robertson of Tartine Bakery.

Hope you had a fabulous weekend.

blog every day in may challenge - having a rant

Rant about something.

I'm not the kind of person who rants and shouts about things. I'm very much the 'live and let live' kind of person. However there is one thing that has recently really got at me...
On Facebook I see so many posts popping up that say:
'Like if you wish Cancer did not exist'.
Am I going mad?
I'm sure there cannot be one person who does not wish Cancer didn't exist.
Liking or Sharing this statement won't make the least bit of difference. It won't help anyone. It won't change a thing. What is the point?

I have lost too many of the people I loved most in this world to such a terrible disease.
If you want to help find a cure/prevention for cancer 

DO SOMETHING TO REALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Raise awareness Raise money Take care of your health  Get regular check-ups Know your familiy health history Reduce the use of household chemicals in your home Eat a healthy balanced diet

Don't share or post stupid statements on FB that are worthless.

Rant Over

blog every day in may challenge - a few of my favourite blog posts

If you have a moment, take a little look back at a few of my favourite blog posts from the past. All very much photographic.
Hope you enjoy!
Collecting Shells (two of my most favourite photographs of my two kiddos in Florida) Legless! (a super lucky photograph of a Starfish) Saturday Night at the Rodeo (not my usual Saturday evening out) Perfect Peonies (love these flowers)
Sweden 2009 (a vacation with wonderful friends in Sweden. some of my favourite photographs from then)

blog every day in may challenge - favourite blogs

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!

X X X

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.

X X X

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

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

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

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?

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!

X X X

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 !!!!

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

A moment in your day.

This has been my view for the past 2 hours!

I have spent a ridiculous amount of time today trying to book flights back to Europe this summer!

Trying to co-ordinate with the Huzz's need to be back here before myself and the kiddos;
to ensure we see as much of our family and friends as we possibly can;
and of course trying to get the best deal on fligthts.

I think I might almost be there!

Wish me luck!

blog every day in may challange - a piece of advice

May 8th

A piece of advice you have for others, anything at all.

Just because something is on sale,  doesn't mean you need to buy it!

X X X

blog every day in may challange - what I'm afraid of

May 7th
The things(s) that you are most afraid of.
I'm not fearless, but there is nothing I feel that frightens me, ie spiders, heights, snakes, earthquakes etc. There are things that make me shudder a little - at the moment it's all the little worms living under rocks in our aquarium that come squirming out at feeding time - yuck!  Why I need to feel any concern about them is a wonder, as they are inside a glass container! I don't like going on rollercoasters or huge water slides, much to the rest of my families' amusement. "Come on this slide mum, its not the biggest here" = pale faced, ill feeling mum looking wrecked at the end! But I wouldn't say I was afraid of them. However, as with everyone my biggest fear is  my husband dying. When we are by each other's side, everything feels right. The thought on being without him is unbearable. The exact same goes for my children.  If something terrible were to happen to them, where I could not help, make better, save them etc. Doesn't even bear thinking about.

blog every day in may challenge - what i do

If you couldn't answer with 'your job', how would you answer the question "what do you do'?
Daily I
Wake up around 7am.
Make fresh coffee and fruit and yogurt for myself and my Huzz.
Make pack lunches. Wake kids. Feed fish and dog (or nag Kiddo 1 to do these)
Check school schedules and school bags.

And sit for 20 mins with the family for breakfast.

Then I .....

Hurry kiddo 1 off to the school bus.  Calling out - "be the best boy in class, listen well, love you!"
Drop kiddo 2 at Pre-school, hugging and saying "listen, be kind, have fun, love you."
Walk Harvey the Hound, saying "here boy, don't pull, sit, good boy!"


Then some of the following ...

I run between 5-9 k a couple of times a week (when the bloody trapped nerve in my leg isn't killing me!).
I volunteer at the school Library every Tuesday for 2 hours.
I shop, usually fogetting my shopping list and having to wing it on a few items! (Therefore I go do the grocery store far too often to pick up said forgotten items!).
I plan, do admin, arrange vacations, appointments.
I clean, cook, wash, shop, tidy (repeat, repeat, repeat!)
Meet friends for a coffee or lunch (not often enough though)
I nuture, hug, listen, help, encourage, care.
I lose patience, get cross, throw my hands up in exasperation!
I chauffeur kiddos to either ballet, swimming, judo, rugby, friends, playdates.
I help with homework and wash kit.
I try to look interest and informed about my son's obsession with Minecraft (I fail at this).
I blog, instagram, pin and facebook.
I call my sister back in the UK.
I love and get loved back in return.
There are many other things I do, but this about sums up my days.
It's a full fun life and I feel ever so lucky to be living it.

blog every day in may challenge - my best friend

Publically 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 family member.

I'm going to tell you about my real-life best friend.  We've known each other for around 17 years now.  We met at work. She asked me where I got my shoes from!  Obviously we were destined to become great friends after that!

We both split up from long-term boyfriends within the same year and became each other's side-kick on countless nights out and getting back into our 'dating' swing again.  We have had so much fun over our years as friends, and have stories that would make you roar with laughter (and blush a little I'm sure).  Stories we will talk about when we are old and drinking cups of tea and eating Digestive biscuits (such a British thing) in the living room or sitting on a park bench after a stroll around the park.

We've held each other up when we've felt at our lowest, and made our world's feel a better place.

We used to work together and therefore spent hours and days in each other's company and made a great team.  Always there to back each other up, a great combination of 'let's get it done' (me) and 'perfectionism' (her).

She makes an outstanding job of everything she does from advanced driving, to fitness training, from managing events, to creating beautiful gardens.  She has recently set up her own company providing a fabulous home service / management and "giving you back your time".  I wish I lived nearer!

We were the 'Best Women' on each other's wedding day and have speaches that we really should frame as they were (even if we do say so ourselves) fantastic!

Whilst I have moved between 3 countires duirng our friendship, and the multi-conversations per day now happen every few weeks, she is always on my mind.  Whenever we chat its like we were just down the street from each other.  I would love to be able to meet up for coffee and lunch every week and its one of the things I miss most about being halfway around the world.

We have both become runners over the past months (her a bit longer than me as she is super energetic and focussed and fit) and I think how great it would be to have her as my running buddy (I'd probably have got a lot further too!).

Miss you Elisha.

blog every day in may challenge - favourite quote

Favourite quote

(from a film, book etc and why you love it).

My mum kept this quote in a box of cuttings and little things she liked to hold onto.

I like to think this quote reminds her of the 14 years she was married to my dad

before he died at just 40 years old.  She was just 37 years old.

My wonderful mum lived for a further 31 years without remarrying or 

even meeting another man than could compare.

blog every day in may challenge - what i'm good at & something that makes me uncomfortable!

Educate us on something you know a lot about or are good at.
Saying "I Love You" I'm good at this! Never miss an opportunity to tell those you love that you love them. I lose count of how many times in a day I tell my kiddos that I love them. Even when they've pushed my patience to the edge!

May 3rd.
Something that makes you feel uncomfortabe.
People that dress up as those fake statues in the street and then make sudden moves to make you jump with fright.  They make me feel more than uncomfortable. Also, people wearing masks! H A P P Y   F R I D A Y. X X X

blog every day in may challenge - my life in 250 words

  Yesterday bought us 1st May (really? already?). And whilst reading one of my favourite blogs "The Bottom of the Ironing Basket" I was hooked on Simone's  'Blog Every Day in May' post.
Started by Jenni @ Story of My Life. I love to read a little more about the blogger behind the blog (don't you?).  So here goes for my 1st May (one day late, oops).

The Story of My Life in 250 (ish) words!

I'm originally from North London.

Moved to East London.

Moved to South East London.

Moved to the Netherlands.

Moved to the USA.

Moved back to the Netherlands.

And now back in the USA.

Phew!!!!

Of course all of that was over my whole life, and we're now talking 46 years
(ouch, that hurt putting it in writing)!

I was a Brownie and a Girl Scout.  I remember being slightly (actually, a lot) embarrassed about this!  But looking back, those years were some of the best of my life.

Camping, canoeing, rockclimbing, shows, cooking, biking.

Great experience and loads of fun.

Some of my oldest friends are from those Scouting days.

I have one sister, 3 years younger than me. 

Our wonderful parents are both deceased and missed every day.

In my previous life (before becoming a SAHM)

I worked in corporate hospitality and event management

for an international law firm in central London.

I could survive all week on late nights, canapés and champagne and

I'd recover at weekends with lazy days and early nights ready for the next week of "work".

Those were the days!

These past 6 months I’ve become a bit of a runner.

Prior to that, the last time I ran was in high school.

I ran a 8k race in March and next weekend I’ll be doing 10k.

Patting myself on the back here!

My Huzz and I met in Worthing in the UK.

He changed my life and it has been one BIG ADVENTURE every since.

He is my world.

We have two fabulous kiddos and Harvey the Hound.

They all keep me on my toes, every minute of the day!

Whenever we return home from a vacation,
we ALWAYS make
tea and toast with Marmite.  

After years of living in the land of cheese, bikes, windmills and clogs,

we are now living the American life and “I’m Loving It.”

Thanks for reading.

X X X

Here are all the May Challenges if you'd like to join in.

Day 1, Wednesday: The story of your life in 250 words or less (or one paragraph... no one will be counting your words... probably)
Day 2, Thursday: Educate us on something you know alot about or are good at. Take any approach you'd like (serious and educational or funny and sarcastic)
Day 3, Friday: Things that make you uncomfortable
Day 4, Saturday: Favorite quote (from a person, from a book, etc) and why you love it
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
Day 6, Monday: If you couldn't answer with your job, how would you answer the question, 'what do you do'?
Day 7, Tuesday: The thing(s) you're most afraid of
Day 8, Wednesday: A piece of advice you have for others. Anything at all.
Day 9, Thursday: A moment in your day (this can be just a photo or both a photo and words)
Day 10, Friday: Most embarrassing moment (s). Spill. 
Day 11, Saturday: Sell yourself in 10 words or less
Day 12, Sunday: What do you miss? (a person, a thing, a place, a time of your life...)
Day 13, Monday: Issue a public apology. This can be as funny or as serious or as creative as you want it to be.
Day 14, Tuesday: Ten things that make you really happy
Day 15, Wednesday: A Day in the life (include photos from throughout your typical day - this could be "a photo an hour" if you'd like)
Day 16, Thursday: Something difficult about your "lot in life" and how you're working to overcome it
Day 17, Friday: A favorite photo of yourself and why
Day 18, Saturday: Tell a story from your childhood. Dig deep and try to be descriptive about what you remember and how you felt.
Day 19, Sunday: Five of your favorite blogs and what you love about them
Day 20, Monday: Get real. Share something you're struggling with right now.
Day 21, Tuesday: A list of links to your favorite posts in your archives
Day 22, Wednesday: Rant about something. Get up on your soapbox and tell us how you really feel. (a pet peeve, a current event, a controversial topic, something your husband or roommate or neighbor or boss does that really ticks you off)
Day 23, Thursday: Things you've learned that school won't teach you
Day 24, Friday: Your top 3 worst traits
Day 25, Saturday: Something someone told you about yourself that you'll never forget (good or bad)
Day 26, Sunday: Something you read online. Leave a link and discuss, if you'd like.
Day 27, Monday: A letter to your readers
Day 28, Tuesday: Only pictures
Day 29, Wednesday: Five songs or pieces of music that speak to you or bring back memories. Use Grooveshark or YouTube to include them in the post
Day 30, Thursday: React to this term: Letting Go
Day 31, Friday: A vivid memory