Things of beauty...

Hello blogworld. So here we are - a Friday again and this week I have been spending my time, errr, well...thinking!! I have never thought so much in my life (and that is saying something for me). The product of having more time on your hands? Time to think. In amongst that head time, I also did the most punishing circuit training session ever and now can barely walk unaided. But it's a good ache; the one that comes with well-used muscles. I have seen friends and been walking by the sea. I have lovingly attended school events that would have normally caused me a logistical headache. I have read a book. I have run up my phone bill as there have been a few dark moments where friendly intervention was needed. All in all I am hanging in there. Staying upbeat as afterall, it's all about having a positive mental attitude...

The weekend ahead will be good. Time with family, wishing the weather would pick up. What is with the rain? Come on sun...make an appearance!

from Atlantic Pacific

Oh Olivia P...

photograph by Brent Darby

via home from so cute things

How sweet is this? Pride...

Diane Kruger in Calvin Klein at Cannes

photograph by Elizabeth Messina

I think this boat looks just majestic...and I don't even like sailing. I wish I did...

via a ladys findings from country homes and interiors

via pretty stuff

by Selina Lake

via toast

Trying to smile every day...

Things of beauty...

Bonjour vendredi! This week has been one of extremes...I have to say my parenting skills have been put through their paces. An early-in-the-week trauma that required my daughter to be very brave set the scene, and since then we have been gently resetting ourselves back to normal.

I spent one afternoon on a Mummy day (as opposed to a work day) watching a rounders tournament in one of the most beautiful school settings I could imagine. I have to say, when it comes to private schools, there really is another breed of school mother. I am fascinated by the whole spectacle; not least because all the children's names are 'Minty', 'Buffy' and 'Jonty'! I can knock it, because I am in it; by virtue of geography, hard work and luck. Nevertheless I am secretly in awe...

We have best friends visiting this weekend, with the promise of a proper British beach hut experience, come rain or shine. It's a bank holiday too so time will be spent in the garden. Normally my realm only extends to the inside of the house; the outside is his domain. I can't get concerned over weeding flower beds and mowing the lawn. However last weekend we planted a mass of pretty roses and flowers and all week I have wanted to nurture them, water them, just enjoy their prettiness. Planting a garden is like having money in the bank. It can make you feel replete.

via dustjacket attic photograph by Olivia Graham

from marilyn tov

Be a brave girl Boo...

by lilcoletterpress on this etsy

photograph by Robin Stubbert

I really need to take heed of this:

by thetwitterpated toad from this etsy

Oh, summer sun...when will you arrive?

via 79 ideas from free people

Wild mint is growing free in our garden...the smell in the evenings is divine...

photograph by Robin Stubbert

via dustjacket attic photograph by by Pasquale Abbattista

Outdoor dining...under the blossoms...

via this is glamorous via country homes and interiors

I liked this, so I bought it.

from Jigsaw

A print called 'Suburbia'...was it designed for me?

'Suburbia' by caleb gray from this etsy

via tinywhitedaisies from Livs Lyst

This weekend, get outside...and breathe it in!

Things of beauty...

Can I just start by saying 'OMG' in the truest sense of the acronym?! What a week. Obviously the spate of long weekends has put me completely off kilter, as I could not get my head together in recent days. I drove my car into a wall for no apparent reason. I was a maniac at work, flitting from one meeting to the next in a daze. I spent my evenings trying to sort out Boo's epic science project (you know that scene in 'The Devil Wears Prada' where Anne Hathaway is painting a solar system planet; that was me, except I don't even work for a dragon lady!). Not a moment for anything sensible, I was home alone, falling into bed late to watch SATC reruns as my downtime. P.S. It's at the stage where Carrie is with Aidan but has an affair with Big - Big is at his divinest, naughtiest worst = YUM.

Meanwhile my lovely sister in law is at motherhood week twelve - it's meant to be a milestone where the baby sleeps just that little bit more predictably, but my sprightly nephew was not cooperating. Mutual tears ensued (his, hers and mine) with me trying to empathise, advise, just help her in whatever way I could. That's the thing is with motherhood; no one can do it for you!

A weekend of relaxing ahead, catching up and planning the new few months out in our little lives.

Photograph by Polly Eltes

photograph by Braedon Photography via Once Wed

Olivia Palermo for Tibi Spring 2011

Perfect garden symmetry...

photograph by Polly Eltes

Elie Saab

via solid frog photograph by fabio bartelt for Marie Claire

Country Living photograph by Charlie Colmer

via everything fabulous by miss vu

A simple stroll...

via inspiration pocket by Jak and Jil

Southern Living

I am loving this dress...have no idea where it is from though...hate when that happens!

Weekend relaxing...here I come!

Monday muse...

I have had a wonderful weekend spent at garden parties and barbeques with old friends and new. June at its best; although if I am being absolutely honest, it could have been a tad warmer!

In my little world today:

...waiting for the pink roses to start entwining around the trellis on my new white picket fence. I could be some time!

...clearing the mess that was accumulated after a concerted effort to spend the whole and entire weekend NOT tidying up.

...getting ready for the summer wedding we are going to on Saturday.

...baking after-school treats.

...catching up, catching up, catching up!
...trying to keep the weekend's 'happy feeling' as a Monday muse.

I am guest posting on The Bottom of the Ironing Basket today. When I first started blogging, Simone was one of my earliest followers, always there with insightful comments and words of support. Simone is a treasure... as is her gorgeous blog, so I was delighted/quite chuffed/slightly scared to step in and help when she found herself without computer access this week! Go and see...did I do OK?! ;-)

Cow parsley...

Sunny day spent in the garden...largely in the hammock where I slept (yep really; I know, this relaxing thing is great: get me) with the faint noise of the children jumping into the paddling pool in the background. Our garden is a constant battle to tame nature. It is bordered by acres of arable farmland, today there were tractors galore, ploughing and sowing and watering. They make a nice hum in the background too.

My husband tries to stop the English hedgerow from infiltrating his garden (interesting that the garden is 'his', the house is 'mine'), but I spotted this cow parsley lurking in the border. I didn't mention it; he has enough to contend with with the mole that keeps making mole hills in his lawn...

Speaking of cow parsley, I have always loved this fabric by my fave Vanessa Arbuthnott. I stayed once in a barn conversion near Vanessa's house, it was for my sister in law's hen weekend. And whilst we frolicked about with champagne and hen night antics, I also spied this lovely decor and always remembered that English hedgerow feel about it...

Things of beauty...

Hello Friday! Such a roller coaster week...and now a very busy weekend of parties ahead. I shall be looking forward to the obligatory and much-anticipated 'Friday night curry' for my little family tonight. Our local curry house could set their clocks by our Friday night business and have been known to call us if don't call them! Finally I think (just possible but quietly confident) that the teeth issues I have been going on about have come to an end. Fingers crossed. Life marches on...

I've had some lovely blogging comments this week and some new followers! Thank you... x

I love these Lapis earrings from Plumo...and how she looks like she is off for a fun evening...hurrah for parties!

My Liberty chairs have arrived and may I just say they look very cool in my kitchen!

We have birds nesting in this box outside in an apple tree in my garden. This time of year the garden just looks so pretty...

'Still Life with Apples on a Pink Tablecloth' By Matisse painted in 1924

Well done the owners of this formal house to go with a pink door...

Vanessa Arbuthnott fabric...this is called 'Wild Rose'...

Olivia P. What a great shot...and that dress! I am searching for a Maxi dress that is something like this...and hoping for balmy evenings in which to wear it.

Cascade ring by Georg Jensen...

I always like a quirky vase...

 The sweetest of backwards glances...and the prettiest of hair...

This is for Simone and Leanne, my blogging friends, who share my penchant for rumba pants! These are mine...blush... ;-)