Thankful for lovely people

Isn't it funny how some days are destined to be bad days (ie waking up at 8.30am when I have to do the school run at 8.30am and then forget packed lunches and miss the train that I needed, it's pouring with rain when I didn't remember the raincoats etc etc.)

But then in return, some days are destined to be good days and I think today is the day of fine things!

Firstly, the postman brought me great joy, even if he is not so full of joy himself. A beautifully wrapped package from Pink Milk, which was the prize giveaway I won this week.

I am a person who is naturally easily pleased at the smallest things, so imagine my excitement when I opened this little beauty. I nearly spontaneously combusted.

I love the gorgeous packaging

Getting tres excited

Never has there been a truer phrase

I have always been mad for the colour pink. Always!

"Oooooooooh!"



The nicest thing to have arrived in the post for ages!



The piece de resistence

Utterly stunning (note to self: use handcream more often)

Heather added a couple of extras including this gorgeous ring

So that was a beautiful start to today. I then opened a letter containing a cheque for some freelance work I wrote in April and hadn't been paid for.  It finally arrived after weeks of chasing.

And THEN my sister called to tell me that we are hitting a spa together on Tuesday as a little treat! I have Tuesday to myself all day after the Bon Jovi gig the night before. The husband has the kids and I have time, I love the sound of that word, to myself. We are then going shopping and then having dinner at our parents' house and my lush Dad then said he would drive me all the way home. He is brilliant, always willing to go the extra mile (literally this time!).

I am feeling a little jaded today though. My beautiful friend Missy came to stay last night from Somerset with her little boy. Our children were born on the same day and although she was in the year above me at school, we only met properly through our children.

We get on very well and don't stop laughing from start to finish. The children all stayed up until 9pm and then Missy and I drank a leedle bit too much wine, scoffed waaaay too much bad stuff and had a generally silly time.

The Princess and her birthday twin

On a school night too, tut tut. (Her son has inset day today though)

Very sober. Very very sober.

Getting our second wind

Missy: "Let's smile nicely for the camera, Gem"

Very silly. It looked so much funnier last night...

My dear girl

Still quite sober, I am a terrible lightweight.

A rather messy end for somebody. Who drank far more than me!

And finally, onto my favourite topic. Cherry tree shops. I have picked up this Laura Ashley cardie for the Princess. £3 from Helen & Douglas House Hospice. It is so cosy and she loves it.

This weekend I shall mainly be watching Glastonbury on TV, although secretly part of me is wishing I still lived so close to the festival site that we all got cheap tickets. The weather is going to be scorching, mind you I don't fancy all that mud.

The reason Missy came to stay last night is because her son's school has an inset day today due to the festival. So many are going, it's not worth opening the school apparently!!! How hippy is that?!

I've just heard it's over knee deep in parts. Yuk. Been there, done that, think the comfort of my sofa is more preferable this year!

Return of the Mac

Just back from an indoor picnic in the Princess's classroom. It was meant to be on the field but the weather is horrendous just for a change.

I hate the rain for one good reason. Cagouls. Even the word makes me wince. I had the most unflattering cagoul - or "waterproof jacket" as I prefer to call it but realised last month that I resembled a very large blancmange. To be fair, I'd bought it from the garden centre when heavily pregnant with the Prince but have worn it ever since until recently when I caught sight of myself in the mirror.

F.R.U.M.P.

Rest assured, I never get wolf whistles from builders when wearing it. Ever.

So a couple of weeks ago I bought a new one from Primark for £6. A total bargain. It's a poor man's Cath Kidston design and it's much better than my fat pink one. But still not terribly flattering. Why can't someone design one with a little tailoring.

It's pretty and I do get compliments. Cagoul compliments. Now there's a first.

Anyway we had a lovely indoor picnic of fresh pineapple, olives, blueberries, muffins, sushi (for me, I am in love with the vegetarian one in Waitrose), jam sandwiches, cheese and rice cakes. Then the Prince and I came home for he could nap while I blog and then we have to go back to school to fetch the Princess in about an hour.

The kids are being very sweet at the moment, I haven't had to raise my voice in a while (shock, horror!) so I shall enjoy it while it lasts.

I found them in bed together one Morning this week. So cute. Both with their cuddly toys, the Princess has Mao (she named him) and the Prince has Noo Noo AKA Mr Snuggles. Both cannot sleep without their comforters.

Fake sleeping from the Princess here. Oscar winning, mind.

I do wish we could bottle them up so they never have to grow old. Would be magical. The Prince is joined to my hip but he is also a complete Daddy's boy. Every morning he yells "Hi Dad" and they have a special bond.

Onto cherry tree shop matters, I was thrilled to pick up the following. They are currently in my kitchen but am thinking of putting them on the wall in the Princess's room.

Then I thought perhaps I could try sewing simple things like this and turn them into cards...one day. When I get time. If I get time. Like crochet. Ahem...

They were £1 each from Oxfam.

Have a good weekend one and all. We have two 40th birthday parties to go to tomorrow, one in the afternoon and one in the evening. We are all getting old - I remember when it was all 21st bashes. Yikes.