Friday's letters

Linking up with Ashley

Dear home hair colour, thank you for giving me my lovely brown locks back. The Florida sun took it's toll and turned my hair three different shades and you surprisingly turned out well. Plus you saved me around £70 - bonus!!

Dear Friday, thank goodness you are here! It seems like such a long week and I am so so tired! So far has been great, a little lie in before the school run and a long hot soak in the bath whilst watching a history documentary on Queen Victoria (yes I am a geek, I LOVE Queen Vic!). I admit I have not done much housework today, but it has been such a long time since I have had a Friday off with Megan in school and even longer since I've had time to myself to prepare for a night out! Bliss :)

Dear window cleaners, UNLUCKY!! You thought there was nobody at home when you came to clean the windows this morning.  Unbeknown to you, I was actually lying in said bath with the window open listening to your little conversation!! Therefore, no it is not okay NOT to clean my windows because nobody is home but still charge me! That will not be happening - I look forward to you coming back to collect the money you did not earn!

Dear Sister, thank you so much for having your niece tonight so that I can go out.  It is much needed.  As much as I love her it is time for a night apart. Being a single mum is hard work and I need some time out.  I will pick her up tomorrow, I.....ummm.....promise! ;)

Dear Daddy, Happy 60th Birthday for this weekend.  I love you and can't wait to celebrate with you on Sunday :)

I hope you all have a lovely weekend...what are your plans?

xx

This 'n' That Thursday

Linking up with Katie and Jena today.
This recipe for Southern style baby rack ribs from the beautiful Helen's blog, Ah, that's love has become a new favourite with all of us. I would have taken some photos, however they were not on the plate long enough! One thing I have learnt from my travels in America, you sure do ribs better than in Britain!
That someone who has played a big part in my life for a long time is being deployed to Afghanistan in a few days.  For twelve months there will be no crazy random texts at silly times of the night (he's in North Carolina, I'm five hours ahead in Britain) and no daily check ins, just because. A bit emotional about it all right now to be honest, a simple text from him saying "Don't be worried, everything will be ok" set me off. Not much else to say on this apart from please, if you pray, keep both him and his unit in your prayers to keep them safe and give them the courage to deal with whatever is ahead.  I must be positive but it is going to be a long and worrisome twelve months.

on a happier note...

This post (here) that I wrote on Tuesday, has made me more positive about my house. I'm excited to get on with the little jobs that I can right now so that it is a 'work in progress' rather than an 'if only I could afford...' :)
That I am feeling much better and the sun came out this week (before the rain started and the impending snow) and reminded me what a beautiful city I live in.  After not being out for a while due to illness I appreciated it all the more and Cardiff certainly looks beautiful in the sun.  May be a future blog post showing you around Cardiff is in order?

Cardiff Bay

Cardiff Castle

I hope that you have had a good week and have a lovely weekend.  I can't wait as I actually have fun plans out of the house! A grown up night out tomorrow and my father's 60th birthday Sunday :)

xx

Dream Home

In a couple of weeks I will have been in my home for a year.  In that time I have not really done an awful lot to it apart from putting up curtains and photos / canvases.  With funds a bit more limited at the moment I had become really fed up with not being able to do anything to it and haven't really found much inspiration of what I could do even if I did have the money with it being a rental.

One of my resolutions for 2013 is to make sure that I make the house my own this year and whilst browsing Pinterest yesterday I found this quote....

This really sums up how I have been thinking recently.  I have been so fed up that my furniture is mismatched and that I haven't been able to buy new that I have missed what I do have and what I can do.  Don't get me wrong I'd love some new pieces and there are things that I do need to go and buy new but, I have some lovely pieces that have been handed to me that I could make my own.  I have been preoccupied that some furniture has been given to me by other people instead of thinking of ways to personalise them, make them fit in and treasuring them.  

I'm not sure that I would want a house furnished with completely new and contemporary furniture anyway!!  I like contemporary pieces but I'm a historian and love vintage so a house full of new just wouldn't be in my character! I realised that I need to stop comparing my house and style with that of  my friends and make it work for myself and my family.

With this in mind I have scoured Pinterest for ideas that I could use to make my old furniture like new and fit in with my personality.  

What do you think?  I already have an idea for a chest of drawers I have in my bedroom, my late grandmother's rocking chair (on which she fed my father and subsequently my mother fed me) and also a few other smaller pieces.  All of which should keep me occupied whilst I'm saving for the new pieces! On that note, today I will be collecting some 'nearly' new sofas from a friend and raiding the garage for some sand paper!!!

Happy Tuesday :) xx

Monday Madness

Ok...so I wrote this first thing today and didn't get around to actually posting....

So it's the first Monday of 2013. I'd like to say that I'm starting my first working week of the year full of life and positivity, but quite frankly I'd just like to crawl back into my bed!

This weekend was short. Dave, Megan and I only had Saturday together as I had to work at the museum for a few hours Sunday. We managed a trip to Starbucks and a shop or two before I was tired and had to head back but it was nice to be out of the house.

Sunday, Megan went ice skating at Winter wonderland and Dave went to his parents for the remainder of the weekend. It was my first day back in work since my illness and as I've not fully recovered it completely wore me out.

This morning started early! Harley (our cat) decided he wanted to have breakfast at 5am and I couldn't get back to sleep knowing my alarm would be going off an hour and a half later. Typically though, I cuddled up to Megan (who had climbed into my bed) and started to drift back to sleep as the alarm sounded. Bummer!!

On a plus though my Mum took Megan to school this morning so that I could get to work early which meant that I didn't have to put up with Megan's first day back whinging! (I know, I sound like a terrible mum!).  It is also kind of nice to have done my hair and make up considering I've spent the days over Christmas and New Year in my pjs! 

I also have plans for this weekend that include a grown up night out - go me!! Not often that happens! It's also my father's 60th birthday this weekend so I'm busy ordering gifts and planning food for the family gathering on Sunday....that's if I make it through the week as it's quite hectic with sofas being delivered, Megan's play dates after school and a load of university work to get through.  I'm not going to stress about it though, as per my resolutions (here) I am going to worry less and prioritise.

Therefore you may just find me slumped at my desk sleeping, but don't tell anyone!!!

I also found this via Pinterest and although I've made my resolutions this year I thought it would be fun to include these!

I hope you have a good Monday :)

Xx