Confessions...spring wardrobe

Let the shopping madness stop! I have been on a roll in recent weeks buying spring clothes like a maniac, hence my requirement for the weather to pick up! Today is sunny and the temperature is in double figures...yey!

You would think I was Olivia P herself with my recent shopping habits, so its got to stop now...

Had a little parcel from Bobbi Brown...


Oh and this dress from Cabbages and Roses...

And the aforementioned Toast boots...come on postman...I'm waiting...

And some new Converse...we love 'em in our house...

Oh and this shirt dress from Jigsaw...

Umm and this floaty summer dress, also from Jigsaw...

Oh and while I was at it, this divine Chanel handbag....

Just kidding...no Chanel handbag for me...I just like the picture :-)

Hiding one's light under a bushel...

I have a good friend at work. We are great friends but have always been in very different places in life. We are like Aesop's fable 'The Town Mouse and Country Mouse'. She is the town mouse and I am the country mouse.

She lives in London, was up until this year single, living the life, whooping it up, out all the time. I am the suburban married, living in the country, 2 kids, part time hours, out maybe once a month if I'm lucky.

Recently though, she has become my boss. Well actually she is now my boss's boss...

When she took the new role, she said that she wanted me to stop hiding my light under a bushel as she was now in a position to influence my 'career'. What a fantastic turn of phrase...I had to look it up; it means to conceal one's talents. You see there was once a time when I was a higher flier than I am now. This doesn't mean I was ever, ever going to be CEO or anything crazy like that, but I was pretty good at what I did, back in the day. Once I had the children, my priorities completely changed.

The point is: I suspect deep down I am happy that my light is under a bushel; that's right where I want it! Sometimes its easier to conceal talents than to have them on show, attracting attention. The more attention, the more demanding the job...so I am laying low, doing my thing but doing it quietly. Because frankly hanging out with these two instead is much more fun...

Tick tock...

Its finally dawned on me that at the end of this week my children break up for 4 weeks Easter holidays. That's a long old time to entertain children in what is basically still winter (for all we think a few brave buds represent Spring; its still cold outside). So this week requires super organisation so that we are ship-shape, ready for the long stretch of no school. Saved from the tyranny of the school run, yes, but replaced with a whole new agenda of juggling my work and play-dates, clubs and the normal running of life. :-)

I am in a spring clean kind of mood - thinking of Country Living french ticking linen...

And more tidy shelves...there is a distinct possibility I am obsessed...


And pretty, striped table cloths...more from Selina Lake...

And abit of Danish design - we are off to Copenhagen in April for one night only for a big family party...

Vintage clothes pegs...

And layers of fresh linen...

I love ticking bed linen...this is from Toast Home...


Speaking of home, we have this Bold and Noble print in our kitchen. Its my attempt to get the children to learn where we live (at the very bottom, above the island blob of the Isle of Wight...!)


This Cassia scarf is from Toast too...I likey...

I am a big fan of American Vintage scarves like this one...I have about four, I found this very cool picture on Chictopia.com. How great does she look? Love the glasses...


How pretty is this Jessie Wilcox Smith painting? For all that time is ticking by, I am looking forward to some time with the Boos...

Why I run...

I am one of those people who has never, until recent years, exercised. I drifted along, lucky for me, with a physique where it didn't make much difference, I stayed slim and felt fairly well. All good.

Then a couple of years ago, we started going skiing as a family. Boo learned to ski, took to it very well and before I knew it, was zipping down the mountain ahead of me, aged 5. I could not keep up! I was breathless and sluggish. This was an epiphany for me; I realised I had to get fit in order to keep up with my kids.

So, despite the fact that everyone who knew me, knew I was not an exerciser, and there were a number of doubters, I took up running. I figured its free, its easy, its quick, anyone can do it. No gym membership needed, no special equipment. The first time I ran I felt like my lungs and my heart were competing for which organ was going to explode first.

But then, after a few times, it got easier. I found that ipod playlists and getting the right trainers helped, choosing some routes I liked. Now I run around the roads where I grew up and I re-trace the journeys I used to take on my bike when I was little.

I am a convert. There is a direct correlation between running and being happy. I have had some darker times in my life and I wish I had known how running would help. There is just something about it - it makes you feel....replete, contented, just good...

I have alot of friends (mainly school mums who are built to compete - why is that?) who think I should start running races, compete in my running. This just does not appeal to me. I don't run to compete, I run for me. For the feeling it gives me. Oh and by the way, it makes my body stronger, fitter and leaner. I think everyone should do it!

Boo's new shoes...

Today I bought my daughter these cherry red Converse All Stars...how cute are they? I got my son some too but his are way less pretty (think 'sk8r boi', black with flames running down the side; yes I am one those mothers who agrees to things, against my better judgment, for an easy life. Try telling a 4 year old boy how to develop style...)

So back to Boo's shoes - She has the same shoe love as her Mummy, likes nothing better than shoe shopping. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree I can tell you.

Having a daughter...I do so want her to grow up and develop her own style. It is big bonus of having a little girl, one can shop vicariously through her. When she was a toddler, it was all pink frothiness. Now she is nearly 9, its finding that fine line between little girl and growing up girl. Why is it that some girl's clothes just say jail bait? Having 'boy toy' written across her chest does not appeal. Trust me, there are clothes like that for children. Why would anyone buy those? I am a stickler for corduroy and cream tights and Mary-Janes.

Forgive me, but may she stay a little girl instead of a growing up girl for a while longer? I am in denial about teenagehood! ;-)

Green day...

Saturday morning...day of re-grouping, shopping, cleaning, 'relaxing'...

Trying to make my house look as effortlessly pretty as this...

Getting some healthy food in...


We're staying in tonight, need to watch something easy and whimsical like Elizabethtown ...'Now, I'm going to be obnoxious about this...'

And some cuddles of the sofa - probably in slightly less glamorous attire... ;-)

Things of beauty...

Happy Friday! I have a weekend planned full of nothing much which is just the way I like it. It feels like every morning as I open my eyes I am thinking 'is it a work day?', 'school day?', 'what's happening with the Boos?', 'have I sent that email?'. Every thought is 'I must sort x, y, z out...'.

So some soothing images to make me happy today in readiness for a soothing weekend of chilling out.

I am loving Orla Kiely's home collection...


A Georg Jensen 'Carnival' ring...


I was reminded this week how terribly important it is we all support Breast Cancer awareness...I had a scare last year and it stays with me always as a reminder to be grateful for every day...good health is everything.

If only this were my boudoir...I said I was enjoying Selina Lake styling...she did this...

Adirondack chairs...always a favourite...


I adore this 1950's vintage hat...

And these petal Louboutins...

A ruffle dress - I think this will appeal to some...I think its divine.

We have booked our lovely, long summer holiday to Portugal - hurrah - an Algarvian door...

Uma Thurman...up close...

For my best friend D...who starts her new life in the Netherlands this week...these are for you :-)