Release your creative...

Creativity. What is it? Many say ‘I’m just not creative’. I don’t believe you. I believe that every single one of us are creatives…in some way or another. Some create fabulous food, some create beautiful homes and some create fabulous art. I spent a very long time resisting to let my creative side show, since I have, i’ve truly come alive. I believe that it is equal to exercise, however, it releases energy form your soul. I may be talking nonsense but this is sincerely my opinion. RELEASE YOUR CREATIVE YOU! You may just surprise yourself… :)

Hidden...

To feel that the inner you that you want to express is trapped inside you is a frustrating feeling. This post is a little me, me, but I guess as it's my blog that's allowed! And I figure if I feel this way then there must be others?! Others??

To feel trapped within a body that you are so disattached to is a sad thing. Yes I'm very aware that moving more and eating less = a slimmer body, which should = a happier me. But. 

Try having a body that no matter what you try barely changes your mind about yourself. I don't want sympathy. I don't want an 'ahhh'. I don't even expect a moment of anyone's precious time advising me on my alternative options. Quite frankly I'd just like to like me. I'm a curvy lady and although in my mind  I don't even mind being curvy but I do mind the hidden expression that I long to reveal. I'm a creative. I think, imagine, envisage and adore. Fashion scares me and I avoid high street and pretend what I own is me.

HOWEVER 

Fashion isn't just about the designers, the stores, the buyers. Fashion is a way of defining YOUR brand. Not as a business or a product. As you. As me. What the hell was I thinking ignoring this amazing gift given to us by the creatives of another mother! I need to wear my own brand on the outside. From the cup I choose to drink my tea to the covers on my bed these are choices that reflect me. Why don't I wear the clothes that reflect me?! I know the answer to this is because I'm a visualiser. I visualise the way I look and what says me. The reality is I can't ever fit that vision as a curvy girl. The only way I can move forward and stop hiding the inner me that is so desperate to get out, is to change my vision. Until perhaps I fit that vision! It's sad to hide and not express yourself isn't it?! 

That's my weekend sorted, shops here I come!! :) 

My meaningless mind on a Monday...just!

Questionable world issues... (in the world of my strange and very frustrated mind)

1. What do people actually mean when they say 'you'll know'. How? When? Someone tell me!

2. Self obsessed people. Get over yourselves.

3. Fat person advising fat person (me) on how to not be a fat person. Hmmmm

4. Wine. Damn you being so wonderful and easy drinking. Weekends only now holidays over but dam you lovely little shiraz I know you're waiting!

5. Meanies. Young or old. Why? Be nice - it's free. Don't be mean - it hurts.

6. Ready made pastry. Yes you're easy to use but I need about 10 of you to make one pie. Dammit, I need to learn how to bake...

7. Estate agents. Not all may I add. I want to move soon so can you pretty please stop over pricing everything now.

8. Hair. Bad hair everyday me. When I was young my favourite thing about me was my hair. I'd style it, treat it, curl it. Now i'm not sure what to think - It's definitely in my top 3 least interesting tasks of my day.

9. Insurance. You don't want insurance. You NEED it. Coming home to a leak in the ceiling feet away from my mac and camera kit nearly finished me off!

10. Hanger. This is something i've discovered since starting the 5:2 'life long eating plan' (not diet if any of my friends and anti diet family are reading!). I'm not sure which comes first the hunger or the anger? I'm guessing the anger comes from the hunger...but then again anger can make hunger...who knows! All I know is even I can go without food for 24, I just seem to spend a lot if it on my own!

Summer Holiday in Cotswolds and Wales!

Ok. I never thought i'd be so trilled to spend a week in the Welsh countryside. Myself JC and the 2 small people in my life packed up the car, including the dog and set of on a little adventure for a rare week off work together. Teenage son was happier to stay behind when the threat of miles of walking and no wifi was mentioned. This is a sad fact and I missed him lots but he really wouldn't have got the same enjoyment out of welly walks and bird bingo as the so smaller people in out life. Nannies it was. So. Off we went.

We set off 'upwards' it wasn't long until our first stop in the Cotswolds, we had a lovely lunch in Gloucester City, had a walk around the Cathedral listening to the sound of choir practise coming form an open window as we stopped to appreciate the grand building that stood before us.

We stayed overnight in a traditional Inn with exposed beams open fireplaces and the smiling faces of the local people each with a dog sat beside them. I loved how Peppa could come along with us wherever we went and it was 'normal', in fact it seemed more strange having the children then the dog!

We had a wonderful meal, home cooked and super tasty. The children discovered they loved pistachios so we ordered the pistachio cake with chocolate dipped cherries and vanilla ice cream....YUM!
We had a lovely hilly stroll around the surrounding lanes, absorbing views that went on for miles and admiring the beautiful stone cottages that have made me crave a country life very badly.

The next morning we set off to Wales, we headed straight through Herefordshire and eventually found ourselves a few hours later a the gorgeous barn conversion that would be our home for the next 5 days. It was perfect. From the endless views to the Laura Ashley style bedroom. I could definitely get used to this! No phone signal, no wifi, a tower of bored games and 7 acres of private fields with a lake to explore outside the door. Heaven.

We had days out, everyday to a different place. I quickly became passenger and gave up my overwhelming urge to be in the drivers seat. I'm not good with edges and North Wales seems to have some pretty horrendous spectacular ones. JC did well and about day 3 realised my fear was truly in need of support and quickly learned to take the corners slowly and say look away in advance of any sheer drops, which may I add always seemed to be on my side! I will post a few separate posts about the individual days out as they were all day long and i'd like to share some of the pictures i've taken of them.

On the last day we decided we didn't fancy coming home just yet so headed over to the West coast and drove down stopping at Aberystwyth. Such a pretty little town. We headed down to Pembrokeshire and had an overnight stay at Pembroke Dock followed by a day in Tenby which was beautiful! The sun shone, then it rained then the sun shone again! We then had to head home... :( Slight holiday blues but i'm looking forward to seeing my other boy and if we had stayed a day longer we' be in real trouble. Something had broken in the water tank in the roof and we were greeted with water poring through the ceiling in 2 of the bedrooms, thankfully the damage isn't too bad and hopefully will be easy enough to sort :/ A day longer and we'd be in real trouble!

Anyway, I have hundreds of pictures so i'll be sure to post some soon.

Bye for now :)

Farewell friend...

Dear Claudia,

So Sunday afternoon I gave away my best friend. I collected together her things and took her to her new home. She was sweet and gentle on the way even though the journey was scary and confusing. She trusted me that no matter where we were going I would still take care of her. When we arrived she walked away from me, interested in the newness of it all. Barely looking back to check I was still there as she just presumed I would be.

When she did look back I was gone. 

Not because I didn't love her anymore but because I want what is best for her. I walked away head held high thinking all the positive things I could to make myself feel better about the decision I had just made. I drove and drove and drove. Not knowing where or when I would stop. I did stop finally. I sat and I cried and felt sorry for myself, which felt so selfish as I was the one that made this decision. 

I know that she will be happy and have all the attention that she deserves. Right now I've had to make some time in my life so hopefully I can make my future brighter. One day you will be by my side again I promise. I really hope you can forgive me. 

Claudia, I wish you the best always. Please forgive me and have lots of fun. 

X

Bed bound...

So the last two days have found me bed bound. An extremely infected insect bite which the nurse assured me wasn't infected a few days ago has taken over my arm. When I say taken over I literally mean it...my right arm is double the size from wrist to shoulder and not looking good at all. I went against said nurses advice of just leave it, it may take a couple of weeks to get better when I thought the pressure from the costricted blood flow may have a negative affect on my health. Thankfully the doctor I saw gave me super strong antibiotics and advised holding it above my heart until it started to reduce the swelling was the first option failing thank hospital for intravenous. Thank you Dr. It is still super sore but is not getting bigger and the pressure has reduced.

Day 2 in bed. I'm not one for rest and I can 'never' nap in the day no matter how hard I try. However am shocked how much I have slept yesterday. All day. And night. I'm stocked up on sleep now and extremely restless today... Luckily I'm left handed and managed to make a cup of tea and some toast as Mr C has gone away on business. My parents are saints and are taking care of the little people for me. One bonus I guess is my pills have to be taken on an empty stomach so maybe I'll shift a few pounds! 

Sadly I had to cancel a newborn shoot today, I'd been really looking forward to meeting baby Poppie. Never mind we will reschedule as soon as my balloon arm goes down! 

I'm also in the middle of sending out wedding contracts - sorry to those waiting, I'll be back at my desk asap! 

Enough of the negatives, I'm going to use today as a thinking day, I have so much in my life to be thankful for and stopping for some time to appreciate that can't be a bad thing.

I hope everyone is having a good week. :) 

Love life.... :)

It's not until the last few months of my whole 33 years on this planet that I finally feel content and grounded about my life.
I'm not saying things are perfect, what is. But for me it's been a journey of ups and downs and a constant feeling of not having a purpose or prospect in terms of a career.

I've never been one to say  'this is what I want to be' in fact I rebelled against this. I'm not a conformist and in a world where people are judged on there professional status and academic achievments I was in fact failing miserably.

The funny thing is as soon as I stopped listening to society and what I 'should' do with my life my heart told me without even realising. I'm a creative. Love me or hate me this is in my blood. Sadly i'm a rebel too and even when I was creating the best art work at school and predicted A* if I took it further I choose to go the other route. Why? Who knows....perhaps to follow the path that makes me question things a little more than some, maybe to have struggled trying to find myself has enabled me to know when I finally did...

This may all be blah, blah, blah and probably is to most, but to me, in my weird and wonderful mind it all makes sense.

I have discovered photography and i'm still creating wedding flowers and bouquets for lovely people and i'm incredibly grateful for that opportunity but my camera. Well. I will never be without it again. It means I can share the visions in my mind and not recreate what is in yours.  I can see MY vision in black and white {or colour} and I fell so satisfied. I have begun to share some of my images and the feedback i've had has been overwhelming. :) Friends, colleagues, family and other photographers that are successful and I admire are openly encouraging me and my passion. I am so unbelievably great full.

I have resisted the urge to be good at something forever, I believe for me this is my defence mechanism as if I don't try I can't fail. I give up negativity towards me. I'm going for it!

Unfortunately there will always be some people that long for others to fail. This happens in all walks of life. This is sad and such a pity. Imagine how amazing this world would be if we all just supported each other a little more. Never mind, no time for negativity in my life, i'm surrounding myself with people that I admire and inspire me. :)

For the first time ever I feel i've found me - I am finding my style and i've a long way to go, but for now I'm in a little bubble, happy, content. Bookings are flooding in for both Floristry and Photography. It's happening so quickly I can't wait to see what the future holds! :)

In true Sam style I always want more so I have another little creative venture up my sleeve too so watch this space! ;)

"The path may be long, but don't give up it WILL be worth it"

Freelensed Friday...

Ignoring the rules of photography and having fun - Just how Fridays should be! :)

Serendipity Sam...

So here we are - May already, the spring is blossoming and the excitement of new beginnings is whispered in the wind.

For me it's probably the first year I've felt this. Really felt it deep down inside. Life happens and weeks, months even years go by in a flash. I've been feeling for the last few years at least that the sense of something will happen and I'll know what I'm meant to do with my life was not making an appearance. I was thinking maybe my fate was to work in admin and clean the bathroom. As thrilling as that is I had an overwelming desire to achieve more. I needed something creative apart from floristry (flowers are expensive and not really an affordable hobby!).  I'd been playing about with a vintage DSLR for a year or so. A college prospectus landed on my doorstep, photography was on the first page.  I wanted to recreate the images that I frequently capture in my mind! Frustrated and enthusiastic I booked on. Yes!

I had a problem, once I started to learn the camera settings and put into practise some of the techniques of photography I just couldn't stop... Still very much an amateur I realised that for the first time I understood. The frustration was turned into creativity and it was not dulling down, in fact I needed to know more!

10 months on and half way through my Level 3 Diploma it has become very apparent that this has been a massive hole in my life. I look back to being 15 sat in Southampton Library with my older and then wiser ;) sister. I'd never known what I wanted to 'be' when I grew up... We browsed national geographic and considered photography. Sadly circumstances and life meant this didn't take shape. It was archived in my mind. 

16 years later that conversation I had whilst sat there in that library, with every reason why I should consider photography was loud and clear! In fact crystal clear. I might not have done it for a reason but I was going to give it a go. I'm happy to say I don't think I'm crap which is a huge relief. I am however in the beginning of my journey and aware I have a lot to learn. I have no idea exactly which genre of photography suits my style best so I'm trying them all in the process. 

My grandfather was a professional photographer, I've recently been looking at a lot of his landscape work, although he was mainly a wedding photographer. His images inspire me and I feel so proud. 

Who knows where this will go, if I can make a career out of taking photos then I genuinely would never moan about work again! If I can't then I most definitely have no desire to put the camera down! I dream about composition and editing - it's basically a dream come true just being able to recreate something I've visualised after wishing I could for many years!

So in season of new beginnings it's strange to say that I really feel like my life has only just kicked off. 

Here's to the future and living the life you are destined to... :) 

I don't have any pictures of me grinning and stupidly excited about how I feel, but I do have the next best thing and 'this' shows how I feel! :)

Bloggers block....

Ok I vowed to begin a blog, to continue writing it, regardless of how inspiring it would be. Then I stopped. 

Dammit.

It's a complete example of me, and how I can be so passionate about something one moment and really not bothered days, weeks or months later...I have been thinking about this and I've decided to try again. 

It's my nature to think I've failed before I've started so it's probably the main reason I give up prematurely on most things before really giving it my all. So today I don't promise to write daily or weekly or at any particular time. I don't promise to entertain or inspire you. However I do promise that I'm going to be 100% me. And 'me' is unpredictable, erratic and almost always unreliable. So why not start again as I mean to go on! 

Until later - possibly next week, next month, next year or in an hour. I'm taking this blogging thing one step at a time! Keep smiling!

I hate cake....

Today I have decided to start a new journey. Not the exact journey i'd really like to. It's not a long haul trip to a white sand destination or an exciting trip to a busy capital city with my flexible friend...no. 

 I'm going to become the fittest me I can be. This is a big deal and is very overdue! 

 I have been running regularly recently but it hasn't had the results I hoped for. I'm definitely much fitter and stronger, however this isn't reflected on the outside and quite frankly I'd like it to. 

So from now onwards I'm commiting this blog to this journey.  I will blog about me given myself a beasting. I mean business. And right now I wouldn't mess with me! ;) 

The starting pictures are not going to be pretty and I promise to save the flesh shorts till there's some progress! 

I'm not drunk or drugged and I can't promise the inner beyonce isn't going to make an appearance on a night out, but I have realised that the longer I'm not the person I want to be is a total waste of myself. Also right now I'd quite like to occupy my mind on getting sweaty and a fitness freak then deal with the grown up shite that apparently as grown up I have to. ;) 

The master plan is to continue running and start on the weights asap. Any advice or general comments greatly appreciated! 

To be honest it's not all about me, for me it's also about 3 beautiful little people I somehow created. I hope that I can inspire them to acheive anything they set their minds to. Even if it's the near impossible! (I'm very aware this is 99% impossible, 1% possible!) but I'll work my hardest to be the best 1% I can be!! 

And whilst I'm being honest I lied in the title....I'm wondering if that may be a contributing factor to the problem.😁☺️

Let the arse kicking begin!!

Tenacious Tuesday...

The blog continues...

I have to learn to play my guitar. When I bought it around 4 years ago. I was so sure the lessons I had aged 10 would have carried me through. Sadly not. However I have to play, lessons need to be booked.

My work life needs a kick up the butt. I'm doing something I don't love whilst putting something I love on hold. Life waits for no one and whilst I think it will happen at some point it's never going to if I don't kick start it. The ball is rolling...eeekkkkk!

Inspiration - I look constantly at others. Couples, beautiful women I wish I was. Successful business women, the thin girl out running that makes me push myself that final mile with just a hope of being like her. Everyone around - me, you, us, are inspirations. Each with our own unique talent or quality. Even if it's not apparent at first. It's easy to forget that others may occasionally look to you as you do them...be inspirational.

Sometimes it's easy to forget to listen. Hearing and listening are two very different things. I hope I'm a good listener but I usually get interrupted by the sound of my own voice...damn the chatty side of me.  Although I can be very insecure and shy a lot of the time. This is when I listen. I listen to everything, then worry a lot about that person. And think a lot about everything I could have said but didn't. Damn you shy side!

Step out. I tonight enjoyed my photography class. I've met some wicked people and I love how we all started completely exposed to something we love but know little about. It's so refreshing to meet like minded people with similar goals that aren't afraid of strangers! I surprise my shy self. A lot of the time. (I'm wondering if I'm shy after all!!?)

Friends. My beautiful group of besties from school are all getting together on a posh night out this weekend. I can't wait. This also means I have to dress up as a girl...just to clarify I'm 100% girl but I may wear something pretty and spend some time on my hair and makeup and not just sort it in the car in the way! I can't wait, it's going to fab. 😊

Happy Tuesday.😚

Ten on a Tuesday....

1. Hope....I had this word permenantly inscripted on my arm so I'm thinking it's pretty high up in my thoughts. Without it what is there? People looking forward to nothing? HOPE is a magic word and it's exactly what everybody needs to keep going for what they believe in.

2. Love....again permanently inked on me. (You may see a theme!) love is something that you can't see, you can only feel. Personally I compare it to magic, but real magic. It's like a magnetic force between two people/things (or strangely even objects...if you've seen the programme you'll get me!). Its underrated and sadly rejected by some. It's one thing no one can take away from you. No matter what happens.

3.Faith....yep on the arm! Hands up I'm not religious and I think many people think this word only refers to some kind godly figure. For me it's simple. If you have faith in yourself you can do anything. If you transfer that faith into others the rewards are amazing. Try it! 

4.Dolphin....just kidding, that's just a stupid tattoo I had when I was a child. (Were there no age limits then!?)

5. Coffee....I love you. I have faith that my nespresso will produce the delicious coffee that I hope for. See what I did there ;) 

6.Strangers.....take them or leave them. Personally I think strangers are amazing. Obviously not the weird ones hanging around outside school gates. But the general strangers. The everyday people doing all the regular stuff you're doing. We all go around ignoring each other like we don't exist, we are the same! You don't turn a herd of horses out and they all look the other way, you don't walk the dog and they ignore every other canine they meet. Why is it that we are so ignorant of others? Maybe I'm crazy but I try and talk to strangers whenever the moments right (let's be clear I don't just rock up to a random clearly enjoying their costa and start chatting!) I just think we should talk more. What's the harm.

7.Perseverance..... Often in life you, me, them will be thrown a curve ball. Persever and take one day at a time and someday the pain will become less. The fog will begin to lift and the sun will shine again. It takes time.

8. Blogs....why??!

9.Photography....I'm new to it but I love it. I've started the next stage of my photography course and the ideas are literally bubbling out of my very small mind. I may need to shut them up. Probably with wine! ;)

10.Wine....I love you. I don't care what anyone says. Wine is the best medicine for life. I'm not talking about getting wrecked daily! But just a glass at the end of the day is sometimes the difference between sitting, chilling and persuading ones self it'll all be ok. Compared to no wine, and getting ones keys and walking, walking, walking. In a forest gump style - just slower!

 Cheers!!! :)

 

Simple Sam......

I complicate things, thats me. I always want more, not tomorrow not next week but today. Now. In a minute.

The chances are i will make whatever it is happen if it is even remotely possible, but just sometimes this is not a possibility....give it a day or two and i'll be moving onto the next want and have to have. And probably realise what a stupid idea I had a couple of days ago.

Shallow, yes. Selfish possibly, Determined - Definitely.

Just to clarify I'm not just talking about material possessions. I'm talking about moments. You know the free ones that may only last a brief moment but stay with you for a lifetime.

So.....here I am just waiting for life to begin, then I give myself the biggest kick up the arse I can and remind myself this is it. This is the real thing and whatever time I spend dwelling on what I would do, or could do, i'm missing these magic moments that are happening right now. Tonights is a gorgeous glass of red wine. ;-) this counts right?!

Deep, deep down somewhere i'm an explorer and I want to experience EVERYTHING that is physically possible unless it involves being on the edge of something very high. This means any opportunity to do something that puts a smile on mine or others faces then - i'm in.

Honestly I've had this conversation so many times, I am that person but talking about it proves nothing. It's time to make stuff happen....

I'm sure i'll still feel as enthusiastic tomorrow!


These are a few of my favourites pics from our last minute trip to the beach yesterday. We had chips with sand, swimming in clothes and absolutely no idea how I got there or how to get home. BUT, we had the best day. Stayed for dinner and sunset and then went home the long way. :-)

Gratitude Tuesday...or something like that! :)

Last night I thought I had an epiphany...it was the kind that says tomorrow is a bad day. 

I know this was kind of true because it was my first day back at work after a wonderful 2 weeks off! Don't get me wrong I'm grateful for time off with the kids but you need a small loan just before! The time off has been fabulous but unfortunately short. Too short. :( If you're the 'stay up to avoid work type' then you'll know exactly how I'm feeling. I'm not saying I'm not looking forward to seeing some of my lovely colleagues. I've obviously not seen them for 2 weeks but, I'd probably happily not see them for another day, maybe week or if even a month. However I can happily say now the night is coming to an end (the wine is gone), and i'm reflecting on the days and weeks gone by. I've had some fantastic days. Including some lovely pony rides and unforgetable times with my best fiends and beautiful children, I'll be honest and say that I had written this post out previously but it was lost in a stupid battery issue. I thought I could rewrite it but the other post was far more tonque in cheek and sarcastic. This I think is maybe now a slightly more serious and grown up post which is unlike me but I'll just go with it! In conclusion to my annual leave; it's been fab, not amazing, not life changing and not very inspiring but I have treasured memories of my small people to hold on to for a life time. I'm also very aware that, for some this evening it may be a final goodbye, a welcome without hope, a day of remembrance or a day of regret. Thinking about the untold stories of strangers that you pass on the street, smile at in the supermarket or thank for waiting as you pass them on a narrow lane. They capture me. And I hope that they are half as happy as I am. So I'm aware that for me I'm so unbelievably lucky that there is little sorrow behind my eyes, no hidden despair. I'm grateful for the fantastic life I have and embrace what is to come. 

I guess some would consider a boring day at work an exciting prospect. I never go to bed early and try to put off the next day for just a bit more. That's just me, so tonight I'm very aware that whilst wishing I didn't have a boring day at work tomorrow - with not much to report when I get home, many are wishing for exactly that. 

Step outside

I'm sat here looking at this and that, thinking when I'm slimmer I'd wear that, when my hair's longer i'd  style it like that, when my face is more radiant I'd wear more makeup...

It dawned on me that I've been using those phrases for about 10 years! So it made me question why I'm not just wearing what I like and styling myself the way I feel I want to?

I think the answer may be that, as long as I don't stand out I assume no one will notice that I'm wearing boring old clothes that do nothing for me. And not giving myself the time to put on a bit of lippy. Well this is ok but if one of my boring just popping out occasions turns into a last minute properly going out occasion! I then feel terrible, not myself and basically withdraw my whole personality.

I need to step out of this pathetic hiding and be ME! I am slightly alternative inside, I like to rebel against the current fashion and quirky is one of my favourite styles. Where have I gone??

I've been in hiding, hoping the world and life will wait for me to get a grip on who I am. This is nonsense and time waits for no one. TODAY I go through my wardrode and get rid of all this crap that makes me feel like a nobody and start dressing like a somebody...ME! :)

Now bear with me this process may be slightly slower than I'd like it to be. I'm meant to be in fifteen places today and similar tomorrow and so on. But I will start the ball rolling. And today I will wear nice shoes (I have hundreds) and lipstick. This is not a vanity session but a stepping outside of my current comfortable hiding zone and saying hello world, hello strangers, friends, colleagues. This is me at my 'current' best and I'm unique. 

Maybe give it a go...be noticed - you're beautiful!

Looming bands!

Wine down Wednesday! :)

I learnt this phrase a while again from a friend. It never fitted with me as basically most days of the week involve a glass of wine at the end. Maybe two bottles on a bad day. However, given the day i'm happy to go with it!

Anyway - personally it has recently dawned on me that the hour before i sleep holds the most passion for life of all of my day. It's left me wondering, is this because i'm so reluctant to actually go to bed and sleep? Is this because i'm rebellious and i have to stay up late, regardless of how tired i actually know i am. Or is this sheerly because my internal clock is reminding me tomorrow is another day and  the things i want to achieve that i'm no closer to aren't any closer if i don't get the ball rolling. I'm thinking this is probably the case. The problem with this is depending on how many of these wine wind down glasses i consume depends on the result of this last moment ditch at changing my life before i close my eyes for the next day of general life.....

I am aware this could be an issue and on occasion can be slightly dangerous.  

I get excited. I start to think 'sod it', 'you only live once'. Which i'm completely supporting and would push anyone to follow this mantra but.  Sometimes agreeing to half marathons, mini breaks to ibiza and committing to breaking the world record of the longest loom band ever can have a significant effect.

To be honest I'm not overly worried about having to spend 3 days in the Ibiza sun, testing cocktails and dancing until sunrise. I can probably handle that. Also this half marathon thing shouldn't be a huge issue...I'm running around the block happily most days and whats another 12 miles?! Eek.

My major issue is the commitment I've made to a small girl aged 7. My daughter Miss B. She is not about to forget this promise and the reality is i've opened my iPad out on a page that she's already googling the stats and competition we have. She means business.  I understand this is no half hearted attempt to impress her friends. This is serious. I mean this evening she made me buy my own necklace and charged me to brush HER hair due to the 'LOOM BAND' savings fund.  I also happened to check out my amazon account earlier this evening. If you don't use Amazon then basically you can add what you want to a cyber basket and then when convenient add card details etc and confirm your order. This evening when i logged on my basket was full. Full. I think i calculated 45,000 loom bands in the basket. I had no choice. I had to end this fiasco...................

I pushed confirm.

God I love her!!! (and of course her beautiful brothers that have already been confirmed as associates!)

Summer fever...

Hello!

I have to say this month has been manic, and I've loved every minute of it. :)

The weather has been glorious which apparently means bedtime is non existent and as long as the sun  is up then the kids think it's play time! I want to be cross and my internal wine clock at 8pm is yelling at me to get a glass and sit down, but all of a sudden this humongous boost of vitamin D we've been longing for is here in abundance (and apparently this means my 7 years old need less sleep than I do).

However I must say I'm getting increasingly irritated by the huge amount of people that are using the old British saying of 'it's far too hot for me'. 

Basically they have two choices. Speak to me be my friend, relative or acquaintance and say things like 'wow, we're so lucky with this weather' or 'I know it's a bit muggy but this beats raining, cold June anyway!'. Either of these conversations are fine. What is not fine is.... 'This is too hot', 'I can't cope with this heat', or 'I just wish it wasn't so muggy'.  

 NO! This kind of conversation is NOT ok. All winter everyone has been moaning about the cold, desperate for some sun. Then the heat wave appears and it's completely slandered. No wonder it sods off so quickly..... 

What's the latest thing? Ask the universe and you'll receive. Yes, this is true. You guys moaning about this amazing freak weather are the ones that are ending it! 

Be grateful. This is all. Although I'm really not that cross.. :) I have a tan and I'm more BBQ'd out than I  care to mention! Sod the rest, I'm loving it! ;) 

Football Fever

Football??!

So.....the world cup kicks off, this in my mind is a pretty exciting prospect and i'm a pretty good 'non' footy fan in the sense of having lots of booze in the fridge and open to friends, family or any good human that wants to share this experience with us. I have distant memories of chanting 'Vindaloo, Vindaloo' and grins larger then life....that was 1998 and in my memory and I sure we got pretty close.....however, the reality is that we aren't actually that great and most men I know don't acknowledge this until the last minute. This is generally when they say 'we're crap, we were never going to win anyway. I think this must be a last moment attempt to hold off the tears and reach out to reality. Unfortunately over the whole 2 games i've been on the receiving end of football related moods. Beer wife is now on strike...if anyone cares!
This aside I feel relatively happy as i'm aware it's only football open to at least half of the teams playing to take the cup. Don't get me wrong I understand that England should be my favourite but after a work sweepstake giving me a couple of the underdogs and a personal bet with a friend, i'm more than happy to back Croatia England until the time comes to back someone else on my winners list Croatia. ;)


Moving on from the very important Football I today watched Baby B at school sports day. She is a very good runner and although i've always known this (she can beat baby A and C), it wasn't until today that she actually realised this for herself. I'm so incredibly proud and a little jealous given my stumpy legs and a rubbish running history... :)

Weddings and Berries!

Hello Wednesday 11th june! :)

Today I am knee deep in beautiful flowers due to a wedding i'm doing flowers for tomorrow. :) This is my happy place and I really, really did I mention really? I don't want to come out of it.....

I should mention i'm a florist and although it's my passion and I love it it can be a little sporadic. Wedding season is fabulous but winter is not so.... therefore I also have a 'real' job. Booooo to being a grown up! I just wish I could spend everyday creating beautiful designs but sadly flowers are an expensive hobby.  I'll share a few pics of todays wedding on another post.

Anyway... whilst pottering outside, from seeds, we have fruit in our garden. REAL fruit. Ok it's not ripe and quite possibly will be enjoyed by a wandering slug (I don't suppose slugs wonder do they) slithering slug, a opportunist snail or even an incredibly lucky naughty bunny that 'never' escapes his cage. BUT it's actually grown. :) I have never had green fingers in the garden - hence the interest in 'cut' flowers but this is a proud moment! ;) What has really impressed me is the red currants on the bush that I had no idea was actually a bush and not a weed, let alone producing berries. I may just look and not taste those as knowing my luck they'll be the kind from the movie The Blue Lagoon..... If you haven't seen it it's worth a watch.

On a happier note here is the evidence! Super chuffed :)