The Mummy Tag

A little while ago the lovely Bel from Journeys are My Diary very kindly tagged me with The Mummy Tag.  Thank you Bel!  I'm afraid it's taken me a little while to get around to replying, but finally I've cracked it, so here goes.

1.  Are you a stay at home mum or a working mum?
I consider myself very lucky to only work two days a week, so I can spend the majority of my time with my children. From a financial perspective I could probably do with working a few days, but personally, I couldn't bear the thought of having children, but not being around to raise them myself.  I am very lucky that on the two days I work, my lovely Mum looks after my girls.  They have a wonderful relationship and we are all very close. It comforts me to know that those most precious to me aren't being cared for by strangers.

2. Would you have it any other way?
I definitely, categorically would not have it any other way!

3. Do you co-sleep?
I have never co-slept with either of my children.  I'm not terribly well informed on the subject, but it strikes me that everyone I've ever talked to that co-sleeps has problems with sleeping or bedtime routines later down the line.  We enforce a strict bedtime routine and I am very lucky that both my girls have slept through happily from 7 until 8 from a very young age.

4. What is your one must have item for your baby?
I wouldn't be without my Sleepy Nico baby carrier.  We like to be outdoors as much as possible, and you can't take a buggy across muddy fields or up whopping great hills.  It was something of an investment initially, but I'm still using mine now and it's paid for itself a thousand times over!  I wouldn't be without it.

5. How many kids do you plan on having?
I have always wanted just two children.  If money and age and time were no object I would love to have a much larger family.  I think you have to be realistic and think about what you can give your children, you can't carry on having babies for purely selfish reasons if you can't be sure you can give them everything they deserve.

6. Date night? How many nights per month?
Once again I'm lucky to live joined on to my parents house so baby sitters are easy to find.  We try not to take advantage of this too much (don't want to take the mick) but if we wanted to go somewhere on a whim, it would never be a problem.  I think we probably go out officially together just the two of us about once a month.

7. Your child's favourite show?
Biscuit is going through a phase of watching some of the programmes that we used to watch when we were little.  She's currently obsessed with Muppet Babies and I must admit I'd forgotten how much I love it!  I can even remember the entire theme song - still!

8. Name one thing you bought before having your baby that you've never used?
Is it really bad that I never once used the "top and tail bowl" that every single book or magazine said you would desperately need.  We bought one, but if one of the children was yucky, we'd bath them!  Not faff about wiping them down from a bowl!  For the first year of each girl's life they had a bath every day to establish their bedtime routine, in between then I'd just reach for a baby wipe!

9. Your child's favourite food?
Both my girls LOVE spaghetti!  It's the old Lady and the Tramp sucking thing I think, they whip it into their mouths at lightning speed!  It is a little on the messy side though...

10. How many cars does your family have?
Mr Husband has his own car, I am currently using one that my Dad has given (leant) to me.  My Dad has a battered old Land Rover that he uses at weekends and my Mum has her own car.  So as a household (including the East Wing) we have four, but officially, as a family, just one that's really ours.

11. Weight gain before, during and after pregnancy and now.
Before Biscuit was born I was the smallest I think I'd ever been as an adult at around 9 stone 7.  I was living in a shared  house at the time and didn't really have much time to eat!  I steadily gained weight after she was born and after Wiggles was born peaked at 12 stone 3.  I was completely disgusted with myself at being so heavy, but it seemed to have happened without me noticing.  I've recently lost just over 2 stone and am now happily around the 10 stone mark.  It's forever my ideal to get back down to that 9 stone 7 mark, but I'm not sure it'll ever happen and I'm not sure I'm really ever that fussed!

12. Dream holiday with your kids?
I would love to take the whole family to Austria.  Mr Husband and I both went (separately) as children and I LOVED it.  I just think it would fit in perfectly with the type of things that we like to do.  Walking through beautiful scenery, stunning architecture, horse riding, cycling, swimming.  Yes please!

13. Dream holiday without your kids?
Right now, I'm not sure I'd want to holiday without my kids.  I could quite enjoy a couple of nights away somewhere romantic (Budapest perhaps) with Mr Husband, but I wouldn't want to be parted from them for an entire holiday.  Just sounds mean!

14. How has your life change since having your baby?
In truth, I can barely remember my life before having kids.  Like most people I can't work out what I used to do with my days!  I think I spent most of the days reading, shopping or sleeping and my nights drinking and sat around with friends!  I am definitely the happiest I have ever been, I am so lucky to have what I have now.

15. Finish the sentence.. 'It melts my heart to see..'
My children grow.  They're amazing, heart stopping, mind numbing, infuriating, wonderful, brilliant and completely crazy.

16. Where do you shop for your kids?
I like to get a few really bits for them from Boden or John Lewis, but then I tend to fill in the gaps with things from Sainsburys or H&M.  I really rate Sainsbury's for children's clothes, especially when they have 25% off!

17. Favourite make up and skincare products?
I couldn't be without Soap and Glory's Cheekmate as naturally I'm quite pale and this is the perfect shade for me.  Plus it's the only blush I've ever found that really does stay on all day.  I don't really go in for expensive creams, lotions and potions.  At the moment I am using Superdrug's Vitamin E Range.  I have their day cream, night cream and eye cream.  I also use a little radiance cream on the tops of my cheekbones and beneath my eyebrows, but I find it too glittery for all over use.  These products suit me just fine for the moment, but really, I try anything that's on offer!

18. Huggies or Pampers?
Pampers all the way.  We didn't really get on with Huggies, I'm not sure why.  Having said that, I thought they'd stopped selling Huggies nappies in the UK so it's kind of a moot point really!  At the moment Biscuit uses Sainsbury's own brand nappies, they perform just as well, but are a great price.

19. Have you always wanted kids?
Not always.  There was a time in my life, in a previous relationship, when having kids would have been a really bad idea, so at that time I'd quite convinced myself that they weren't for me.  As soon as I met Mr Husband though that changed!  I love having his babies and he's a top Dad.

20. Best part about being a mum? 
I think probably the places it has taken me, and the person it has made me.  Before children I was inevitably selfish, because I only had myself to look after.  Nothing makes me prouder or happier that my family and that is truly a gift.

I'm going to be really mean and not tag anyone else for this, as I left it so late to answer mine I feel like I've probably already missed the boat!  If you would like to join in though, please do, and please let me know so I can have a good read!

Love, love, 

The Week That Was - Sunsets, Selfishness and Baby Showers...

Last week, my week went a little something like this:

Monday - Biscuit to school, Wiggles and I came home. Impressive E and Beetle came over for a cuppa and to have a look at a nearby empty house that they were interested in. We had a good butchers through windows and over the fence. After they'd gone home Wiggles and I popped out to buy some lovely hot pink wool for my delightful blanket giveaway winner. I made Spanish Omelette fur lunch which Wiggles hoovered up with great enthusiasm. Whilst she point blank refused to nap I made a start on my blanket. After half an hour of refusing to sleep I got Wiggles back up and we watched Raa Raa The Noisy Lion until it was time to get Biscuit. We came home and Wiggles had fallen asleep in her buggy so Mum looked after her whilst I took Biscuit dancing. Pots, a very old friend of mine, was there and we had a lovely chat and a catch up.

As we walked home there was the most beautiful sunset: 

We came home and saw Daddy, then had tea together and put the little people to bed. I slept the evening with my trusty hook, blanket-ing away! 

Tuesday -  Biscuit to school as usual, the sub shone! Yay! Toddler group was cancelled, not sure why, so Impressive E, Beetle, Tilly, Em and I all went over to Lucky and Dinky's house for coffee instead. Lucky had made the most delicious cookies. I tried so hard to resist them, but ended up having three! I love those girls. I really love chatting and spending time with them. We came home and had lunch then Wiggles had a lovely long sleep. So long that I left her to sleep whilst Mum listened out for her and went to pick up Biscuit on my own. It feels bizarre to go anywhere without her. We were supposed to have an appointment at "the children's dentist" but the dentist had phone to reschedule. Biscuit was so disappointed she actually cried! Poor, funny girl! 

Wednesday - A dull and uninspiring day, nothing of any particular merit occurred.  LB and I had a guest sitting with us at work, which was nice and also a bit strange, I feel like we've very much got used to it just being the two of us.  Made a nice change though.  A quiet evening as well, crochet and television. Just the usual.

Thursday - Was World Book Day at Biscuit's school.  She insisted on dressing as Belle from Beauty and the Beast, even though it is by no means her favourite book.  I think she just wanted to wear a princess dress, but I can understand that!  Wiggles was so desperate to join in that she also spent the day dressed up.  I tried to interest her in a marvellous looking Peppa Pig outfit that we had lurking, but she by far preferred to dress as a little lilac fairy.  Fine by me!  They did both look very sweet:

Wiggles and I joined Biscuit at her church assembly, which was nice.  We got to see her singing her school songs and merrily joining in with all the actions.  I felt a little ashamed as Wiggles had pulled both her shoes and socks off without me realising before we left the house, so she looked like a little pauper.  Poor tot!  We didn't pick Biscuit up from school as she was going straight to ballet with her Gran, but Wiggles was so upset that she wasn't going anywhere when she saw Gran getting coats ready, that I promised her we would take Pearl the Pug for a walk instead.  It was lovely weather, low sun shining across the river and I was really glad we'd got out to enjoy it.  

Friday - Work again.  Uneventful again.  One exciting thing that happened was that Lynn had brought in her Eggheads pictures!  Here's a nice one of our whole team, including the gorgeous Mr Husband on the far left, sat with all our Eggheads and with Jeremy Vine:

I usually work until around 6.30 pm and was amused to discover that my boss had sneaked back into the building after going shopping to check that I was still there!  It was all done light heartedly and I laughed at her for it!  I left quite late actually, I was a surprisingly busy bee!

Saturday - Mr Husband was off to the football first thing. Initially I wasn't sure how we would fill a day without him, I really miss him when he's not with us at weekends, but I would never tell him that for fear that he'd feel bad about his beloved football. Wiggles was t feeling quite her usual self, so we watched The Sword in the Stone and had some cuddles on the sofa: 

To keep ourselves entertained (and fed) we decided to make some cookies together.; raisin and oat, which made the house smell yummy. And tasted pretty good too!! 

In the afternoon Biscuit put her pretty dress on and went out to a birthday party, driven there and back by Lucky. Wiggles and I went out for a walk to enjoy the sunshine. When Biscuit came home we all ate tea. Mr Husband was back home by half six and he helped me put the children to bed. In the evening we watched The Great Gatsby which I really enjoyed. 

Sunday - My day off!! Read all about it here. I had a delicious decadent lunch all on my own and I didn't have to coax anyone onto eating theirs up. What a novelty!!

Mr Husband took the girls to the zoo and I enjoyed some time alone, in the afternoon I went to Auntie Schubert's baby shower, which was lovely. I didn't really know many of the other girls but they were all very sweet. Auntie Schubert looked ready to pop, but I hope she had a good time: 

I got home to two children who had had a lovely time and the zoo, and also to a roast dinner cooked by Mr Husband. How fab!! In the evening we watched another film: Stoker. I wasn't all that impressed with this one. Would love to know if anyone else has seen it? And what you thought? 

Well that was mine, how was yours?

Love, love,

Do Not Disturb...

My delightful Husband, whom I love endlessly, went to the football yesterday.  In return he's given me the day off today and taken the Small people to the zoo, he's nice that!

I awoke, after a long and restful sleep to discover the house entirely empty.  No Mother, Father and Brother in the East Wing making scraps of noise.  A strange rarity indeed.  In fact, I don't think I've had the luxury of being entirely home alone since before Wiggles was born.  In celebration of this fact so far I've enjoyed eaten an extravagant breakfast without having to share, I concluded it by eating an entirely self indulgent biscuit for "breakfast pudding" (just invented it).

I've had an uninterrupted bath, in which I drank tea and listened to 6 Music, I've thoroughly and correctly moisturised.

After selecting some music of my choice from our extensive collection, I sat down and dried my hair without singing "the hairdryer song" once.  I would love to say I chose something deeply cool and impressive to listen to, but no, given all the choice in the world I went for The Divine Comedy and sang along loudly and badly to "The Gin Soaked Boy" and to my even deeper shame some Snow Patrol.  Gary Lightbody has never been remotely credible, excluding the time when he parked himself on the back of a horse and crooned a couple of lines of "The Bear and the Maiden Fair" in Game of Thrones.  Still, not a single person rolled their eyes and declared "Oh, Mummy!".

I am now I'm sitting down watching my choice of television programme which doesn't feature a single singing pink pony, advert for prohibitively expensive shoes or toys.

Shortly I will be attending the supermarket (dull, but necessary) and this outing will not contain any screaming, being stared at by strangers for having the noisiest child on the planet or the purchase of any 3 for £1 luminous sweeties to act as bribery to get her to shut the fluff up. If I spot any frazzled looking mothers with bellowing babies, I will dutifully give them that sympathetic look which usually only the childless and carefree are allowed to dish out.

After concluding the shopping I may be found parked on my 'arris in Costa Coffee reading a newspaper like an actual human being.

Do not Disturb!

10/52

A portrait of my children, once a week, every week in 2014.

World Book Day saw my two little imps dressing up in their "pretties". Wiggles is such a pickle, she purposefully looks a misery in every picture I take of her. Biscuit however, looks proud as punch. Love them! 

Happily joining in with Jodi at Practising Simplicity and this year's 52 Project.

The Week That Was - Lights, Camera, Action!

Last week, my week went a little something like this:

Monday - The first day back at school after half term. Biscuit was very keen to get back and see her friends. We walked Pearl the Pug on the school run and for a brief spell around the field afterwards. Wiggles and I came home and spent the morning doing very little. I made some pea soup for our lunch and Wiggles hoovered it up with great gusto. 

After lunch Wiggles had a lovely long nap before getting up in time to collect Biscuit from school. Biscuit had her dancing "lesson" and Wiggles tried her level best to join in. We came home, had tea and then we all went out on a walk in the dark with Daddy. It was great fun! We found the perfect spot to hide a cache before coming home and putting the monkeys to bed. 

Tuesday -  We went to Toddler Group with Impressive E and Baby Beetle, it was their first trip. I think they had fun. In a weird turn of fate it was Clock's last trip before returning to work. I shall miss her. We had celebratory carrot cake which was sooooo good. We came home and Wiggles napped then we collected Biscuit from school and went to meet Tallulah. We had a good chat and then strolled around the shops together. We came home, ate haggis for tea and Mr Husband went out to meet his chums for a catch up. I had a lovely early night. Mmmmm

Wednesday - Work for me, yawn. I spent my lunch break buying mini toiletries to get around luggage restrictions. I came home and packed my suitcase ready to fly to Glasgow.  There was nothing else of interest that occurred to be honest! 

Thursday - We woke up and it was throwing it down, I walked Biscuit into school and Mr Husband stayed in the warm and dry. I popped back out again to get my eyebrows waxed (so important) and left, pleased and no longer looking like Su-Bo! We collected all our bits together and Mum took Wiggles and Biscuit off to ballet and Mr Husband and I  set off to my manager Shoe's house to meet Bob before setting off together to the airport. We met Lynn and Jade in the car park and headed off on the us towards the airport. Everything went very smoothly and we boarded the flight on time. It was surprisingly busy! The flight was fine, Mr Husband and I sat with Bob and on the other side of the aisle opposite sat Jade, Lynn and Shoe. We arrived at Glasgow airport in the dark and were heralded into a taxi for six by a super helpful chap before heading off towards our hotel. We arrived and went to check in, only to find out we'd been given the wrong hotel details and we were in the wrong place! Cue a minor panic from Lynn and a flurry of phone calls before we were back in a taxi and heading towards the correct hotel. The new hotel was BEAUTIFUL! And it came as a wonderful surprise that the thoughtful production team had booked a room for Mr Husband and I to share and single rooms for the single people, yay!!! No more sleeping with my Manager! I like you Shoe, but I'm just not sure I'll ever be ready!! Our room was completely gorgeous: 

After a small faff with the key card we dumped our bags and headed back out to get some food. We found the most fantastic bar and grill right next door which was scandalously handy!! We had some much needed food and a drink and listened to a great live band. Check out Bob's giant burger!

I fought every instinct and we went back to the hotel at a reasonable hour rather than staying up and having fun! Out hotel room was rather lovely though, so it wasn't too much of a hardship! 

Friday - We woke up early and had showers and a cup of tea. I sorted our my hair and make up and we got dressed, packed up our bags and met the others (bar Shoe) in the foyer. We headed out to a little cafe and bought a bacon roll each before heading back to the hotel to wait for our taxi. Shoe finally joined us and we nervously made small talk whilst we waited. Continuing in the theme of nothing quite running smoothly the taxi was late and we had to call the BBC to chase it up! Eventually it turned up and we whizzed to the BBC Scotland building. 

I couldn't help but think how much it reminded me of The Ministry of Magic inside as it was so big and impressive. 

We were met in the front of the building by two members of the Eggheads team who were looking after us that day. They were so lovely! Really keen to put us at ease. They took us straight up to the Green Room where we had tea and coffee and there was food if we wanted it. We were asked to lay out our outfits (we each had to bring four) before the wardrobe ladies came in and chose which they thought would look best together on screen. Then we were taken down to make up to make us look pretty! I was a little concerned that my make up lady seemed to spend twice as long on mine compared to the other girls! I was pleased that she said my hair didn't need to be touched, I'm not keen on other people doing my hair, they always seem to make me look like Minnie Mouse!! 

We returned to the Green Room to get changed. I was pretty chuffed that the wardrobe ladies like the dress I'd arrived in so much they suggested I keep it on! Even though we weren't supposed to wear any blue, at all, of any description! Ha! It is a lovely dress...here I am just after being given my name badge:

After that we were lead into the studio and sat in our places. We were given microphones by the sound team and allowed to take a few pictures. Here's Mr Husband and I behind Jeremy Vine's desk: 

The lights were so bright we look a little luminous! Mr Husband was then take off to watch proceedings from another room whilst filming started. He was our "spare" team member in case anyone was unable to film for any reason. It was so nice to have him there with me. The Eggheads filed in and sat down at their desk and said hi. We had Chris, Kevin, Judith, Barry and Tremendous Knowledge Dave. Jeremy Vine then arrived and we made small talk whilst waiting for things to kick off. I tried winking at Judith across the room to see of she 'd wink back at me, but she just stared at me like I was a lunatic. I did notice she was wearing sparkly converse which I thought were pretty impressive. This was my team sat waiting to go:

We kicked off the filming and I was a lot less nervous than I'd imagined I would be (initially anyway, I got pretty flipping terrified later). I'm obviously not going to share exactly what happened with you, I'm sworn to secrecy I'm afraid.  But you will be able to watch for yourselves in around, erm, a year....

Anyway, the filming went fine, and after we'd finished we were reunited with Mr Husband and got to have our photographs taken with the Eggheads and Jeremy.  Unfortunately I don't have access to these pictures at the moment, as they're all on Lynn's camera.  We were then whisked away from the BBC once again in our very own taxi to the airport.  We arrived a little early so decided to kill some time in the bar.  Adventurous drinks choices huh?

The plane was on time and the flight was busy, but smooth. We landed, found Bob's car and drive back to Shoe's house to collect our car. Mr Husband and I then drove home via the supermarket so we could pick up a couple of little presents for the girls. We'd missed them! My Mum and Dad made us all tea and we had an early night, we were shattered!!

Saturday - Mr Husband had a lay in (aren't I nice?) and I got up with the girls. After lunch Mr Husband too Biscuit to see a The Lego Movie, Wiggles and I stayed at home and played Hide and Seek. When they came home we had tea. After the children were in bed we watched two episodes from Season Three of Game of Thrones (we need to refresh our memories ready for Season Four in April) before I went to bed early feeling yucky with a cold. 

Sunday - My turn for a lay in, yay! Followed by a lovely peaceful bath, bliss! Afterwards we all popped to the Supermarket to buy nappies before having some lunch. After lunch I made granola (I'm obsessed, recipe to follow once perfected). It worked out really well. Then we headed out for a lovely bracing walk on which we picked up some Geocaches (obvs). Still wearing my Sleepy Nico, see:

We came home, had tea, bathed the small people and watched cosy telly; Jonathan Creek. Perfect! 

Well that was mine, how was yours?

Love, love,

9/52

A portrait of my children, once a week, every week in 2014.

9/52

9/52

A sunset swing.  Shortly after this, my baby went down the big slide.  Biscuit refused to go down the big slide until she was five.  Just shows how different to one another they are.  Wiggles will throw herself into things headlong and enjoy the danger, Biscuit takes a more cautious and considered approach.  

This week she decided to peek out from behind a tree for me, she thought she was pretty well hidden I think.  I love the cheeky look on her face.  She was a little on the cautious side with all the mud that was around too.  Ahhh, good old British mud!  

Happily joining in with Jodi at Practising Simplicity and this year's 52 Project.

And the winner is....

Hello lovelies!

Things here have been more than a little manic for the last couple of days, so forgive the brief update post.  I just wanted to say that my Celebratory Blog Giveaway has now closed and I randomly generated a winner this morning....

Drumroll....
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And the winner is.....
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More drumroll....

Julia from Tea Cake and My Boy!  Congratulations Julia! A worthy and completely lovely winner, I am looking forward to making you something pretty!  I shall be in touch to talk colours....

Thank you so much to everyone that entered and for all your kind comments. Thank you!  Now have fabulous weekends, the lot of you!

Love, love,