The little things to brighten a day...

I've got to say, it's not been the best of times lately. It's not that bad, but it's not great either. With one thing and another I feel like there are too many important matters that are being neglected in my little world. Try as I might (and I really do) I seem to never get on top of things. Sometimes this passes me by and I figure 'I can not do it all'. Other times it weighs heavy on my wellbeing, making it harder to see the light side. Along the way though, when working out what on earth should take the priority, some of these little things help me find my perspective.

Like Jake Gyllenhaal...one word: eyes...

Bowls of the freshest fruits, packed with vitamins that might just stave off the down-time lethargy.

via cannelle et vanille

A well thought out email from a dear friend whose empathy and advice made my worries about my currently tearful daughter seem less...worrying...

via sailboats and seersucker from luxe paperie

 The prospect of hot summer sun and nothing to do all day but be...

Going to bed when it's still just about light outside...all sleep is good sleep...

via toast

Beautiful flowers...I am almost considering retraining as a florist...!

via once wed

Things of beauty...

Hello, hello. A much better week this week, I have got my head together finally! Have you sensed there has been too much rattling round in there for a while?! It's exhausting trying to be 'at one' with oneself. Well at least it is for me...

Meanwhile, for months I have been trying so hard to help my son learn to read. I set myself a little goal that we would read every night, no excuses and the fact that I pledged to myself and to the Internet somehow worked and I have not missed one night. The net result: he's doing so much better at school. Accolades all round, so I am delighted. All you ever want for your kids is that they can do stuff; they don't have to be the best by any means, but you just don't want them to struggle with life.

 Still tweeting...it's a revelation! Still loving my blog. Still generally quite happy with life :-)

via crush cul de sac

Taking the world of pretty-picture-lovers by storm...bridal website BHLDN. As I am not getting married I swooned over the underwear...

We go skiing in a week but there is no snow in the Alps - well not no snow, but not much...please can there be a large snowfall??

via are so happy

It's the minutiae of life that reminds us what matters...

I realised that not one member of my family had read even one book of the 'Harry Potter' series...so I have ordered the box set...

...the beautiful Emma Watson...

I spied the first daffodils making efforts to remind us Spring is coming...

I could sleep for a week; every night I put my head on the pillow only to wake what feels like half an hour later, when of course a whole night has passed...

Boo is reading 'Anne of Green Gables' at the moment, out loud to me as I cook in the evenings. So utterly sentimental, it makes me cry just thinking about when Matthew Cuthbert gives her the dress with the puffed sleeves. It's always been about dresses for me! Love the series - have ordered the box set!

...Emily Blunt...

I have very little planned this weekend, time to regroup!

Have a lovely one...

Guest-Post: From Me To Lou....

....the gorgeous Kate Bosworth....

....the beautiful Natalia Vodianova....

....home is where her heart is....

....she loves the beach....

....classic, classy, beautiful, intelligent and very British....Louise, that is ;)

....she loves her shoes!

....I think it might have actually been these rumba pants that cemented our friendship....they sure made us smile!

....feminine and lovely....

....the lovely Kate Hudson....

....and I know she loves her bed!

....and we both love our girls....

"Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another, 'What! You too? I thought I was the only one." ~ C.S. Lewis

I was thrilled to be asked by Louise to write a guest-post for her while she is away on holiday....we met each other through our blogs...although we have since become firm friends, sharing a love of many of the same things and an awful lot of similarities in our lives too!

I thought my guest-post ought to include a selection of the things that I know Louise loves...altho as always the line between her favourite things and my favourite things became a little blurry...I'm sure she won't mind!

I also believe that when you admire and appreciate someone you should take any opportunity to tell them.

I know that Louise has a large and loyal following over here....and quite rightly so.

She is an inspirational girl....wise, generous, loving, funny, intelligent and a great friend, I am very fond of her.

I would be flattering myself if I said that we are two peas in a pod....but I am grateful to her for her ability to listen, for her writing skills which always seem to hit the nail on the head about the really important stuff....and for her friendship.

Have a wonderful day everyone whatever you are doing.... 

Simone

The Bottom of The Ironing Basket

Carrie, my bed and the beach...

This week has been the longest...even though it started with a bank holiday (is it election fatigue? Is it my work? Is it a mid-year slump?). I am somehow heavy-hearted, really trying to concentrate on my happy place, which is mentally somewhere between being in bed and walking at the beach. I have simply not spent enough time in my bed this week! I blame the re-runs of SATC that are showing until late into the night, even my husband is watching them with me now. After all this time, and all that's been said, and the shows vs the film(s), I still love Carrie. I so do, who doesn't?

The worries of the week have weighed a little heavy and I am one step forward, two steps back (even I am bored of teeth so I won't regale you with more details). Boo is full of woe, in trepidation for her school trip on Sunday. I need to get some PMA (my sister in law's favourite term: Positive Mental Attitude). But I must admit what I really want to do is crawl into bed for a few days...

Sleeping under beams...

 Layers of fresh white linen... 

This sentiment exactly...

 Pretty blue and cream...

Gazing out the window...

 Might still need bed socks even though it's May...
 

Yes, it really is...especially on Sunday mornings with my little family, when the come in like tousled bear cubs, smelling of sweet children sleep...

 A close second, the beach...oh, to be where there is so little to complicate matters...

I think I am a little out to sea...