Family Nest

I went into the new charity shop in the village and was a little disappointed but am hoping they will get more stuff in soon. I wasn't thrilled with the layout or the staff if I am honest but I am hoping it is just early days and things will pick up.

While in there, I bought these salad servers for my sister Anna and her hubby Danny. They are zebra mad and weirdly both had an obsession for the black and white stripy horses before they met each other. A bargain from Age Concern £1.95!

"ere sweetheart, wanna fork?"

Oh get a room. Or a stable maybe.

And I was able to give them to Anna in person as I went home for the weekend! I went home a day earlier than planned as my Dad offered to give me a lift on the Friday rather than lug 5 bags, two crazy kids and a pushchair on the Saturday with two platform changes (gulp!).

He is such a star and always goes the extra mile for all of us kids and we appreciate it Dad (if you are reading).

I went home to see my parents but also to see my oldest friend in the whole wide world Becks. She was due to be induced and indeed gave birth on Sunday night to Amelia Elsie. Elsie is her Gran's name, who sadly died a few months ago. Becks has wanted this baby for a very long time. In the end, I was unable to see her due to the awkward and late hospital visiting times and her baby was much later than expected (they gave her a C section as she was 15 days over and the baby showed no signs of getting herself out).

I am so thrilled she had a girl. This is the first time ever I've predicted a baby's sex correctly. I know she will make a great mum and will hopefully see her in the next few weeks while Milly is still tiny.

Anyway, on the way home Dad and I spotted this. How dinky is that?!

How snug at night! 

Might get claustrophobic after a while though...

And we arrived home (I will ALWAYS call my parents' house home, even though they only moved into it four years ago) to my favourite things: seeing Mum, a pot of tea, cake, Prima magazines, the local newspaper, oooh I love it. I don't get to see much of my mum these days and I really miss her and Dad.

And what did we do at the weekend?

I captured a cheeky money

I gave my lovely mama that heart

We had Anna and Danny over for a huge Sunday lunch. Mum made two fruit pies and Anna brought a rice pudding so we were vaguely stuffed afterwards.

Full to the brim with a roast dinner and berry pie

I got the whole "Oh here we go, another photo for the Blog" comment.
Anna is going to buy Mum and I the necklace she is wearing. LOVE IT.

High 5 time with Uncle Danny

Very excitable little girlie with her Daddy who she hadn't seen for days

After a huge Sunday lunch (the husband drove down in the morning to join us, after working hard), Mum, Anna and I went for a bracing walk in the countryside near her home. The men and kids stayed at home and it was bliss not to take a pushchair or wait for a moaning, tired Princess to catch up with us.

The hills are alive.....
(whenever we do this walk, my mum ALWAYS says "this makes my heart sing")

Strike a pose

The English countryside is stunning on days like this

Then on Monday we went to a country show in the village. There were masses of stalls selling vintage items, a  few fair rides, ice creams, a cider tent (of  COURSE we made a bee line...), vintage vehicles, crockery smashing, and I bumped into two old friends who I met when the Princess was a newborn and we all got our babies weighed. I miss them loads and couldn't believe I'd bumped into them both individually at the show.

I stupidly left the camera at home though so no nice shots of me scoffing a cheeseburger and slurping cider in my wellies. Shame.....

Bristol Fashion

I have a real urge for chocolate this evening but can't be bothered to venture round to the shop to get some. So I guess my urge isn't that strong! But I am thinking a lot about Double Deckers tonight...

Had a lovely day today, a colleague of the husband's came for lunch with his wife and young son. The husband made a gorgeous couscous salad with haloumi, chickpeas, raisins, rocket and a harissa dressing. For someone who doesn't do much in the kitchen, we were impressed - it was gorgeous! I then made some pizzas to go with the salad and we had a good old scoff with lots of wine.

Shame about the weather though. It's been funny all day, I am desperate for the sun. Hurry up already, it's summer!

So I have forgotten about the flip flops for the time being and am back to boots; I get cold feet! The below are my bargain from the British Heart Foundation in Windsor for £4.99.

They are originally from Gap Kids and are a navy blue. I really love them, although they are slightly battered and frayed around the edges. So comfy and worth every penny.  It's a great charity shop and where I found the pair of Earl jeans a few months back. Ooh get me, the height of fashion!

Speaking of fashion, this morning my children got a postcard from Kat Walker. She is Bristol’s retail therapist who represents fashion and shopping in the city, don't you know.

In real life, she happens to be my sister Anna, who has a great job promoting Bristol and this is just a perfect for her.
For anyone living in and around Bristol, Anna's alter ego Kat will share with you all the best sales, offers and fashion advice from Bristol’s retailers, including House of Fraser, Harvey Nichols, Debenhams, Primark, Gap and many more high street names.

For those of you in the south west, click on http://visitbristol.co.uk/site/youve-got-a-friend-in-bristol/friends/kat-walker  to find out more. You can also befriend Kat Walker on facebook - www.facebook.com/katwalkerbristol and see all the deals in the city.

Here is my gorgeous sister as Kat Walker, soon to be seen on buses and billboards throughout Bristol. She is such a lovely girl, beautiful on the inside and out and I can't wait to see her next weekend as it's the Prince's second birthday so she and her hubby will come over to celebrate.

Kat Walker. Cat Walk. Geddit?

She is twinkly fairy godmother to the
Princess and Prince

This is Anna and I as kids. She was always cute.
Do you dig my turquoise outfit from Tammy Girl?!

This is her (on the right) with her best friend at the time Emma Pierson
 (Emma is now an actress, known for her role in Hotel Babylon)

And this was taken of us last year on my birthday.
Anna came up with mum and dad and we all scoffed a huge feast!

And lastly, I was awarded the Stylish Blogger Award recently from Cuckoo at http://www.talesfromcuckooland.blogspot.com/ and I would like to pass this award on to the following three blogs which I really enjoy:

http://www.atalefromtoadstoolhouse.blogspot.com/

http://www.tracynko-motile.blogspot.com/

http://www.oddsocksandprettyfrocks.blogspot.com/

Come and get your award girls!

x x