times of change

its not just the season changing over here in Sweden. No, I am off to pastures new, thanks blogger for these past 10months. See you at our our new place ! =D

''my mum is....''

I bloody love it! This top, married with Lily's killer evil stare will ensure she rules the playground. Oh god, I have said it once, and I will say it again, that one has the potential to be the one that causes us trouble lol.

My sweet, darling last born and I, have a special day today. It is our last proper day off like this, just her and I with Maia at nursery. Tomorrow dear mother in law arrives for a week, and on the 10th we start schooling Lilypops in at nursery, ready for  me to go back to work on the 24th. The end of an era you could say. Sweet salvation for a mamma's brain springs to mind too. Disaster for a mothers aching heart and an ever growing guilty conscious for not being there is another thing. Comfort, in knowing that I have actually done a good job so far in raising confident, secure and happy little souls, that are full of love and cuddles, goes someway to mend the afore mentioned negatives. Or are they really negatives? Can you tell I am feeling philosophical today!? Sheeessssh!

Seeing as Lily is actually having another super early nap today I am going to make the most of it and put some washing on and tidy the mornings playtime away and try and catch some Z's too. Tonight will be a late one I think, doing decorations and a last spruce up and dusting, washing floors and hoovering ready for MIL tomorrow and the party on saturday. Laters!

snuggles on sofa before bed last night <3

keep calm and drink tea

The Mamma isn't all hopeless eh. No, not only did I manage to source frames & print the pictures, I actually hung them too. Woot-de-woot. And yes Husband, I used NAILS not screws, so there. It is a bit of a running joke that only the man in the house does the picture hanging and I have to nag nag nag to get it done when I want it done. Fool that I am, I rather enjoyed it for the first little while, but now being stuck as the incapable wife is annoying. OK, tad dramatic lol, but still, I think you get what I mean ;)

Life still feels a bit in limbo regarding work, which really isnt much fun. The prospect of the next 3-6months with little to no wage on my part feels extremely daunting, but in the long run its something that will be worth it. This time next year I hope to be wondering why I was so very anxious, when I just needed to be a little bit so. But its always easier to be efterklok, hindsight is a wonderful tool, but foresight is where the money is (pardon the unintentional pun). If you could bottle and sell that, boy would you be carefree!

 Enough ramblings, Lily is down for a snooze already so I best take advantage and tidy up the toys and do the morning dishes my dear husband forgot, and then have myself a cuppa and start preparing lunch. An average day all round it would seem <3

caught in the act...

One a nose picker, the other in training for the Olympics. Maia has the most fanatical need to jump on everything and everyone possible at the minute. Of course, her running full pelt at me to jump in my lap and give me such a squeeze and a kiss, isn't actually that bad. But, standing in the corner of the sofa like in the pic, jumping to land on her bum on the cushions and then slide with a bump to the floor, is that bad. Naughty naughty miss M! The boundary pushing and patience testing is high on this lady's agenda at the moment, the terrible 2's come late or 3's starting early?? I think 3's.

The Terrible 2's dont really exist here, the Terrible 3's is the dreaded phase that has tongues wagging from when baby is in the cradle. It causes mild panic, and special parenting classes and textbooks to take home. Active Parenting, so the movement is called haha. Some of it a load of tosh, other bits quite useful. Most of all, its just bloody common sense. You set boundaries, you keep your boundaries, and if toddler finds itself crossing those boundaries then action must be taken. Simples.

Anyways, Autumn is knocking at the door here in northern Sweden, and this Mamma is all excited for her favourite time of year. So much so, that its not even 8am and I am going to be getting kidlets dressed and down the park now that I have finished blogging. 'Til next time!

a new meaning to work wear

Mamma got herself a new bit of bling today, thanks be to my work buddies! Rather random, but I like it -  kinda brings a whole new meaning to work wear no? Maybe I'll see if I can get hubster a saw or hammer ear cuff for his birthday? Or maybe, we should replace his wedding ring that he lost whilst rafting first. Silly man. You should have heard the conversation, all the grovelling before hand, trying to explain the seriousness of it and how sorry he was, made me think he'd really hurt someone and was in alot of trouble haha. Perhaps that was his plan all along...soften the blow as it were, that he had ''only'' lost his ring.

So tonight is my last night home alone, and I'm spending it half wathcing Elizabeth - The Golden Age on tv and making Lily's party decorations. Mad to think that this time next week I will have a one year old and a two year old! Other things I ought to do tonight is work out what fika we are having, I dont actually want just sweet things like cakes, but something savoury too, verging in healthy. I know, I know, party food and healthy dont normally find themselves in the same sentence, unless the word not is thrown in the mix. But hey, there can always be a first ;)

super snooze

Someone only napped for ten minutes yesterday and fell into a deep sleep at 5.30pm. Which I thought was either going to mean a long nap for her and up half the night, or the luxury of an extra hour just me and big sister and an earlier wake up call in the morning, hoping that if best I would get her usual 11hours.

 I got neither.

In fact, the little darling stirred a few times which woke me up - must have been sleeping light expecting the worst - but nothing to require me getting out of bed to see to her. Maia joined me in bed at just after 4am, a lovely little habit I am in no hurry or worry to end. I know it frustrates Mark, so it didnt take long convince him we need to get a bigger bed (another thing to add to the list....) Maia decided morning was 6.15am - much better than 5-something which it usually is. As we tip toed to the bathroom Lilypops was just stirring awake - practically 13 lovely hours sleeping! Mamma feels refreshed and smushy, having had lot of extra wonderful cuddles with my lovelies this morning on the sofa.

Close friends of ours suffered the devastating loss of their baby daughter last week, and the shock and upset of such a tragedy has made this week stand still and I've spent a lot of time reflecting on life and giving the girls that extra little bit of love, Mark too. He's away in the UK now for the funeral and I am missing him something terrible. We were so many who longed for and were excited to meet little Ruby Rose - the funeral directors had to send an extra car to carry all the flowers for her. I fail to find the right words or things to say, but I suppose in this case, there just aren't any. They know we are here should they need us <3 God bless and rest in peace Ruby Rose xxx

aprons,work and rain

On our trip down to Gothenburg, I aquired several new aprons. This one, and a most fabulous red gingham one that ties at the waist are the genuine article from way back when it was cool the first time. Mum's friend Marie (also M's godmother) and husband inherited their summer house from his auntie who lived there all her life, and is filled with fabulous old furniture and trinkets to go nuts for. A dream come true for me to raid and get inspired. Shame I didnt get to do any raiding but I did get inspired. Is it sad that I think its rather fun to wear this apron when cooking and washing up? I mean, I can be REALLY clumsy, and I was making a tomato-based sauce and I didnt want to ruin my dress...I guess I cant help but think I have the adult version of a Lily ''cover-me-all-up-proper'' bib on haha. But gosh do I love it!

There is lot of prep work and exciting things going on for going back to work in 4weeks, but its scaring the crap out of me aswell. I am so used to my little bubble now, child rearing and homemaking seems to be all that I am at the moment, and I am a bit perplexed as to how I ever made it to work before with a job, house chores and being mamma. I suppose this is what happens when you've been off work for ages too, you kinda lose the will to go back to all the needs and musts? I worked my last day before maternity leave July 22 2011 - over a year ago!! Luxurious, tiring, fun & frustrating all at the same time. Raising children is NOT a walk on roses, but even after a day from hell (which I have had a few of recently, thanks terrible 3's for coming early) I wouldnt swap it. I'd miss the chaos, the smiles, tantrums, tears and all.

Anyhoo, off to bedski I go, listening to Lily coughin and the rain. I cant remember last I saw it rain? Well I did daaawn saaarf like, in Gothenburg, but not here....hmmm what an odd feeling having lived in Devon, aka the wettest place on earth!?

monday

Finally, that bulb went <ping> and I knew what I wanted to put up on that boring wall. Some blubblerblies! (M's word for butterflies) I thought it quite fitting really, what with having two woodland pictures already hanging. Plus I have a hankering for a much larger old school wall poster of various butterflies (and one of flowers) but until there are more pennies in my purse to spend on frivilous things (so says the husband) I will have to sort myself out. Which, really is the more fun thing to do -  I can be rather mean with money even if its something I really really want!

There are a couple of more things I need to print off and hang, until I feel ''done'' - but I need to find a printer first. I only managed to do the ones above as I got them onto a memory card and plugged that into the printer and used the touchscreen quick print. For some reason, my parents sh!t hot printer and our laptop dont go. Strange really. I need to print some A4 stuffs not just normal sized photos. Ho hum, I'll be asking around anyways, and maybe by the weekend I will have it all done I hope. I have a little under two weeks until mother in law arrives and it will all be done by then!

Mark decided to build a massive tower yesterday out of M&L's newest toy. Very hard trying to keep them both from succumbing to their urge of kicking the crap out of the tower and cause mass destruction, but we managed it ;) You should have seen the pure joy on Lily's face when she delivered the devastating tap that sent the tower toppling and then the proudest grin ever that followed. Funny little thing =)

Speaking of Lily, I can hear here in her cot which means nap time is over...t'was lovely to get the chance to sit and watch trueblood in peace and drink a cup of tea all alone. Now for some playing and doing the dishes and collecting Maia in an hour....toodles!

Maia - the photographer?

The many faces of Lily

Well I'll be damned if it isnt the weekend again...it was only tuesday a minute ago?! I cant blame being a super mamma with lots of fun packed in this week, far from it. .

Miss Maia went back to nursery on wednesday after having 11 (!!) weeks off, and it was like she'd never been away the staff told me when I picked her up. Incidentally, when I was there picking her up, I put Lily down on the floor to help Maia put some toys away and before I knew it Lily had gone into the other room, found some friends with toys and started playing. Dont think I really need to do the schooling-in, I recon I could just drop her off with big sis and it would all be fine. But I wont, ofcourse not! Wouldnt look terribly well now would it hah ;) Actually, I really like the ladies on M&L's avdelning (section??There are 5 groups/sections at the nursery, I think) so am looking forward to the schooling-in and dont see it as a chore. Yes, what a good mamma I am.

I let Maia play with the camera yesterday. I had in my mind I would set up the tripod and the remote and snap away some 'oh-so-casual-eating-our-lunch-on-a-glorious-summers-day' shots to show how life really is at the Wilsons, but no (and no, we arent that glam haha). I gave up before I even started.  You see, Maia had to be in control. She really is turning into a little miss bossy boots that one! So I left her to it and got some lovely shots in the wrong direction and out of focus lol. However, much praise for her creative eye, one cant be stifling their creativity now can we =)

camera turned the way it was ment to...and then

..it wasnt. Better luck next time dear daughter ;)

Even removal of camera could not curb M's enthusiasm 

uninspiring tuesday

Lack of inspiration, good tv, and a husband to talk to means I am giving up and going in that bike. I dont want to today. No, I would much rather be doing something with that  frame making a mess on my sofa, and hang all the other photos I want up. I need that flash bulb to pop and let me see where it is all going to go...I dont want to make holes in walls just for the sake of doing it. Very frustrating.

So a home makeover show and endorphins it is. Yippie!*

*sarcasm (obviously)

and she's off!

the mamma's look of disbelief

Bejezaz, I am NOT ready for this. Well, I am, but I am not. Today can most definately be said to be the day that Lily started walking. Not just between me and Mark/mormor/grandad/Alex, but fully turning herself away from the support she has and toddling off in t'other direction...gaaaah!! I have not a little baby no more!

It all started just before lunch at Camilla's where Lily turned from me sitting in the sofa and took 4 steps away before plonking herself down. This afternoon I was sat at the desk and she crawls up to me, puts her head in my lap and makes that little ''aaw-im-so-cosy-giving-cuddles-noise'' turns around and walks back to the sofa. Since then, any chance to toddle away and she's been off. I have a bit of a habit of setting her down by the dining table when I am going to the cooker/sink, to occupy her and keep her happy moving about, and it was all walk walk walk today. Bless her.

Oh, and she ALSO today mastered the art of climbing up on the sofa. Fanflippintastic!

an average day

After a very lazy morning, which is rapidly becoming the norm here, it was good for us all to take a walk down to the local football pitch for the build up to the local derby. Tell you what, that sodding walk is enough exercise for today. The double must weigh atleast 20kgs, Maia somewhere between 17-18kgs and Lily,  10kgs maybe? That is like pushing almost 2/3 of my own weight up hill for a good chunk of the way, and if you add humidity and no wind I think that entitles me to a rest evening after two in a row on the bike! Yes-that is my excuse and I am sticking to it.

Undoubtedly the best bit for Maia was the FREE bouncy castle, which surprisingly seeing as it was free, was not overrun by kids. Ideal.  Instead of following the pack and jumping/trying to run from side to side, Maia actually realised she had ALOT more fun jumping really high in one spot and then launching herself on the steps up to the castle. She's been watching too much Olympics that one.

 My best bit of day was when we had finished eating our packed mellis, and mormor turns up from her wander around the stalls with some gooey chocolate muffins. Maia has two super quick mouthfulls, turns to me and says...

Maia- 'Ank jooo* Mamma! <gives me gooey chocolate kiss on the cheek.leaves nice smear>
Me- aaw thanks! no probs gumman
Maia- Maia gå oppa nuuuu!/ Maia go jumping noooooow!

*Thank you

The day ended rather cosy on the sofa, but of course it wasnt plain sailing to get there. Exercise bikes crashing down ontop of children, children whinging for dummies, mamma whinging for food, daddy moaning at mamma for whinging...but we still feel the love. Tomorrow we have a 1st birthday party to get to, and Mark is having to do some extra work- meaning that ironing I STILL havent done NEEDS to be done tonight. Silly me doing what seemed good deals at the time means I alone MUST do it all this time..rubbish.

friday chillout

Ta da!! the finished frame =) I thought I would like the black in there to add a bit of depth, but infact I think it looks rather naff so I am going to paint those tomorrow haha. Win some, lose some right?! I am loving this mood I am in of doing stuff and getting creative. Feels like another piece of the me puzzle has slipped into place. Bursting with ideas but with too little time and not enough resources. Shame my birthday wasnt that long ago and christmas feels too far away...

Anyhoo, today has been a good day. Chilled out start and ending with a frantic scramble to get dinner on the table and kids into bed as we have been too busy having fun. Paddling in the pool, crawling through tunnels, driving cars and crashing into one another and running like looneys are just a few of the things the kids have been up to. Spending time with the SA's is so easy - the fact our kids are so close in age is just perfect. Makes for easy socialising! Oh, and the fact that they are fun to be with too ;)

Tonight is chilled, Im jumping on the exercise bike in a min and leaving the ironing 'til the morrow. Something I have done for several days now...why cant more house related tasks be fun?? Oh, and I hads me hair done yesterday ( incase you were wondering) and I went dark & I LOVE it. 

                                          

mucho excited!

Oh excercise bike, you ARE my new best friend! A while ago (feb!?) I made a promise to myself to get fit. Stop eating the crap, and exercise. It only took me until july to start! Well, now we are five weeks in, 2 weeks off from the bike due to holidays away from home, and I thought it would be a good time to measure myself again and compare to back in Feb. 

In February I measured :                       Today I measure:

Thigh 66cm                                                Thigh 62cm

Hips 102cm                                                Hips 101cm

Tummy 97cm                                             Tummy 94

Weight 74.5kg                                           Weight 72kg

I is rather pleased, as you can imagine. Because actually, I feel that I haven't gone in as whole heartedly as I could have done. Gosh, I hope that doesnt make me sound like a smug cow, I really just am surprised!!  I mean, all I have really done with regards to eating better, is cut out bread - because it makes me horribly bloated and uncomfortable and instead I will have a ryvita. I'm drinking lactose free milk, for a similar reason really. I cant drink a normal bog standard cup of tea with normal milk without bloating, but other than that I hadnt noticed a difference or thought further about it until I tried lactose free milk and realised I wasn't ''aware of my belly'' if that makes sense. Strange really - I remember when I was in my teens getting tested at the docs for any intolerances but nothing showed up. 

Well that's more of an incentive than needed, as I have been feeling a difference in my clothes which is what I was wanting rather than to focus on what the scales say. Im off to jump on that bike now, and tomorrow I am getting my hair done! Very excited, its been faaaaaaaaaaaaaaar too long since - shame on me!

current projects

There are a few things on the go at the Wilsons at the minute. Now that the dining chairs have been painted, along with the smaller mirror in our bedroom, and cushion covers done, I am finding time for some smaller, quicker things to do. Instant gratification me like! Back in the spring I found a black square framed japanese character picture at a loppis, and have now begun transforming it. The paint is still drying on the frame, but I think you may get the jist of what is going in it. Thrifty me using the left overs from the fabric for my cushion. Pictures to come with the end result =)

Next we have a fix me upper jobby- The silly drop down thing (cant think of the swedish or english word?!) broke a few weeks ago and landed right on top of Maia, so I have sewn a pretty blind (?) to cover the horrid messy hole. Eugh. I dont like seeing chaos that is normally hidden haha. Unfortuantely I was a bit of dope all day and haven't yet taken a picture of it finished so I will get a pic up of that tomorrow too when the frame is all done. Yet again, I have used left over material, But it just goes so well with how the chest of drawers is already painted ;) Note the glimt of a newly painted mirror too. Much more pleasing to the eye that how it was before, which was similar to the basket you can see.

                                                                                                                                                                                            
 A bunch of wrapping paper makes for the next project. Indeedy. Things that have a multi purpose
always go down well haha. As a certain miss L is turning 1 in just 25 days, these delicious wrapping papers will serve as useful for making decoarations and wrapping presents. Pastels have been rather big all spring and summer, and I'm very much stuck on them for the autumn too - least when it comes to childrens party decorations. The light-heartedness and frivolity of pastels seem rather fitting to childrens parties I think.

Can anyone take a guess on what I may be making ? 

the girls

Voila! the not so extraordinary covers, but by golly do I love'em

Good morning world! Waking up to another fine sunny view out of the living room, and a dark foreboding mass of dark clouds out the kitchen window. Yes, another typical day it is. Thunder and lightning has been predicted several times now, but nothing. Yesterday started out the same and the day turned out fab. Todays agenda is unclear -  We may be seeing the SA's later, I may get my hair done and I may start sanding Maia's bookcase to get that painted too. A rather unplanned and open day, by all accounts. 

Speaking of Maia, check out this ensemble. Daddy's crocs, Lily's sunhat and a baby in a carrier. All grownded up! Cant believe her 3rd birthday is drawing near. Mad stuffs. Also mad, is her philosopy on life that is starting to emerge. Planes do not fly to other countries, but to the moon. She is not a little girl, she is a mumin. Or a blubblerbly (butterfly). Daddy is a monster, Grandad a baby and mamma is either a mumin or butterfly too. Spankin' eh!  Someone could have told me I was getting pale and lump like... ;)

On wednesday we have an eye check up, which is part of the routine with her arthritis, and thankfully, she is still symptom free. The physio we've been doing at home has helped her knee to straighten out - she just still has the habit of putting her weight over on the other leg, but that will take longer to get out of bless her. Here's hoping things keep going as they are and we aren't in for another bumpy ride this autumn/winter. Fingers crossed people, fingers crossed!

And what about this monkey? You leave her for five mintutes and she unscrews mammas nice new body butter and smears it over her face. Nice one my love, nice one haha ;) Lily is quicker than the speed of light, sleeps with one eye open, ready to pounce and not miss a thing. Ok, she doesn't actually sleep with one eye open, but she is quick to wake and come round ready for action so she may as well be IMO.

She has finally cut teeth, two is up and three just hovering- that makes a tooth a week so far, not bad eh? She takes several steps by herself now, and we tend to walk just holding hands the normal way when going anywhere here at home. The master of face pulling and expression is our Lilypops. Lily most certainly is more forward in showing how she feels. Maia is an independent strong willed girl, not backward in coming forwards but in comparison she is a little more reserved and takes things in and assesses them, where Lily just steams through. Zoom Zoom is Lily's motto

Times like these, I wish I had started blogging sooner to be able to read back and compare how the girls are at the same ages - least I will have these nuggets of gold to look back on =) Anyhoo...time to get on with my day! Here's to feeling those happy monday vibes =)

wish list

I have a little wish list of things I would like for the house. Who'd have thought it!?

First off, I would like some morrocan style lamps for the hallways, the one when you first enter la maison a la Wilson and the mini one between the girls bedrooms and the bathrooms. Bit of fun with lighting is always good. Speaking of the mini hall, that's where those wiggly mirrors from Ikea come in. I actually want three, but they come in packs of two, so Ima have to chew that one over for a while as to how many I will actually get. Mirrors + funky lighting = fun little hall for the girls. Also mulling over whether or not to get some wall stickers, like owls and trees, or if I should paint them myself. But I will decide that in due course - cant have too many balls in the air...

Extra seating is always handy, especially around a dining table. Hence the longing for a kitchen sofa. This item may seem a bit odd to you non Swedes out there, but here back in the day, the maid of the house would actually sleep in the sofa. The seat as it were, was really just a lid that flipped up and she could cosy down late at night and not disturb the household, and likewise, get up at sunrise without traipsing up and down stairs making noise. Nifty. Back in the 21st century though (and the latter of the 20th) they are far more streamlined - you may be able to plonk a toddler or two in there for sleepy time if needs must, but otherwise it is just extra storage. Another thing always to come in handy!

That big old standing clock and Karlskrona lounger from Ikea are the more indulgent wishes. Not really needed, but good for my soul. To be perfectly honest, the lounger has to be saved for either a summer house or a house house, when & where there will be space. Likewise the clock, though I have actually got a wall space marked out for it already by  the desk in this apartment. Let's put it this way, should the opportunity arise, I will not be one to walk away.

Now its time to get the sewing machine out and finish the cushion covers. This time, I actually have a NEW machine to work on! Thanks mum. Pictures to come once all is done ;)

Gothenburg

Aaaah, home sweet home! It came as a surprise, my longing for home on our little jaunt down to the westcoast of Sweden and Göteborg. Why, you ask? Well, the reasons are many, but mainly as this place epitomises what is summer, relaxation and what is good in life to me, and it is somewhere that has always been a constant in my nomadic uprbinging (that is a positive thing FYI). How exciting that I finally got to show it off to Mark, and we went on our first family holiday!

We did the obligatories, such as going to Liseberg Theme Park, even managing to steal a little time to ourselves and going on the hunt for some fun rides of our own. Dont get me wrong, it was fun and exciting riding around with Maia and Lily on the rides we went on, they just aren't as thrilling as grown up ones hehe. Poor Mark, most of the rides that he wanted to go on, like the  ''shoot you up stupidly high and drop u just as quick'' towers all had max height limit of 195cm. A whole 9cm shorter than what dear husband is. Shame. So, with the mammoth queues that abounded during the warm lovely day in the middle of the holiday period, we managed to find ourselves ONE ride, with only 35mins queue time and with no height restrictions. We ended up on the classic Lisebergsbanan, a rollercoaster, and we grabbed the very front seats - yay for us!

Next on the hit list we had Slottskogen. A massive, beautiful park with petting zoo's and animals to go and see, as well as massive playgrounds and lush grassy expanses dotted with pretty flowers, also in the middle of the city. We saw a couple of Bambi's, that now are no longer in enclosures in the park, but allowed to run free, and this very much excited Maiabus. Not once did she whine and moan about not wanting to walk, and Lilypops was chilled and happy in the pram, varying between exciting squeals and giggles. Bless.

I think Marks favourite bit was driving an hour and half up the coast line to Sannäs, and being able to swim in the sea and soak up the atmosphere of a sleepy, summery idyll right by the sea.

And then, before we knew it, it was time to drive home. This time, we didnt run ourselves ragged seeing all the wonderful friends we have here, and it is with a guilty conscience that I admit that it was very nice to just be by ourselves, enjoying our family. As great as it is seeing long standing friends, some of whom have even been like family over the years, things start to feel a little stressed when we have a list of things to do hanging over us. So my lovelies, you all know where Umeå is, so get thee going to the north!...just not today, its raining so not much fun ;)


All in all, much needed, much enjoyed and certainly to be done again. But for longer. The trip has even made us consider buying a cottage by the sea and not a house, as our apartment is everything that we need, both space and location wise, and we have the bonus our own garden. One cant have it all, even if that would be nice.

tuesday

I am rather excited, yes I am. Im a little stressed too, and have a hundred things to remember even though I have a list the size of an A4 piece of paper haha. God bless lists! .....Sometimes I have even made lists of lists - first time was when we flew to Sweden before moving here with Maia. Yes, I know, you dont need to say it ;)

For now, I've packed what I can. The plan is to have the car loaded and ready this evening, and leave sometime in the morning, we cant quite decide - between 4am and 8am is a reasonable time slot haha.You may have guessed we are going on a road trip. We've got ourselves a DVD player, conveniently with two screens, thanks to Maia's friend A lending us his. Bless him, he was very cute and even let Maia borrow one of his favourite films, the Lion King.  To say that Maia in in awe of having a tv in the car is an understatement.  Here's hoping it will go someway to making the lengthy trip somewhat easier!!

Well good folks, I am gonna enjoy the cuddles with Maia on the sofa whilst Lily sleeps and Mark sorts the car out. He's all bandaged up from a cut to his finger this morning doing the dishes and subsequently having to wake me up to take him to the doctors. But that, is another story. A tad dramatic though, just to get out of doing the flippin dishes - jeeezaz!

one man's rubbish is another's treasure

A sneaky peeky at some of my favourite pre loved items in our house. Of course, the desk and the chest are very highly placed on this prestigious list,  but they have had their own posts and revelled in the glory here and here haha. Cant be favouritising the favourites - talk about opening a can of worms  ;) The most expensive gem is the kitchen light above the table, a whole 300kr, or £27.66 to be precise. Sweet! The rest range from mere 5kr for the mix-matched white flower pots ( 7p maybe??)  to 200kr and come from Returbutiken or random loppis around where live. Things like the big white mirror were free, as was the glass cake stand and the cooker and sink in Maia's room. I rescued those from the end of the drive of a house on the way to my parents as the kids there had out grown playing kitchen. I, or rather mother who was walking with me and had her purse, donated 100kr as it felt wrong to just grab and run.

I am off now to have a cuppa and chill before we head over to the parentals and celebrate daddy dearest's birthday and eat lots of scrummy cake. After two days of rest and cake I am going to have to work that bike hard tonight =D Hope you're all having a good a weekend as we are!

busybodies

Saturday =  weekend = chill out day? No, not at the Wilson's. Ha! Today was a day of  getting some things done.

First up, painting the black chairs white. Normally, they have lovely cream covers on them, but realistically, and practically, they are a sodding nightmare with babies and toddlers and therefore they had to go. By ''go'' I mean neatly folded away in a cupboard ready to be flashed when the mamma and the daddy decide to throw a dinner party. Here's to being posh haha.

 Also, we refurbed  a chest I bought for the girls about 3months ago for 200kr (under £20). The bottom was a bit blah and the wallpaper inside, though lovely, was tatty and old. Good thing Mr. Wilson is handy in a way that would shame Manny! Quick replace of the bottom, padding out the inside and then putting cool new material on the inside. Viola! A true Creation a la Wilson. There's a little teeny thing we need to purchase before this beauty will be allowed in the vicinity of children and be considered safe - such as a safety catch. Guess a trip to town in on the agenda for tomorrow then eh.

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decisions, decisions....

I'm starting to get a bit bored of my ''look''...am thinking that I need sorting out before I go back to work. Only problem is, I've done all the colours, and as always, I am very indecisive when it comes to my own hair. I wish someone would just plonk me down in my chair and sort it out. But Im also too chicken for that haha. Hmmm it will take some pondering but I am leaning to the darker and getting some hair extensions too, I want my long hair back like when it was copper/red!

Please excuse the mess...tryin to give the blog a face lift but not having much luck, thanks blogger (not)

something new

A spontaneous trip to Expo, resulted in some pre-planned shopping in the form of new window plants, and  as befits a spontaneous trip, a spontaneous purchase of cushions for le boudoir. Lovely. Now if I didnt have a broken chest of drawers (it has one of those fold down bits on the front that fell off its hinges and hit Maia's ankle, typical!) then the bedroom would be looking rather spiffing I say. If you then look past the ironing that is waiting for me until the evening and the exercise bike. Plus a sewing machine - all temporaries. 

Sometimes I wish I had a fourth bedroom to make into a hobby room/junk room. Where it doesnt matter what it really looks like. Where the exercise bike and sewing machine can gossip idly under layers of fabric, lace and randoms not honored with a proper place, without the organised chaos infringing on the rest of the house. A proper laundry room too, where I have space for washing and drying and keeping clean washing until it is ironed is also on the wish list. Preferably, as we are now speaking in wishes, the room would be divided up. On one side, the laundry bit, and the others a dressing bit, filled with everyone's wardrobes. So that bedrooms stay clothes-clutter free and there isn't too much effort to put the fresh ironed stuff away. Keep on dreaming eh! Well perhaps this is something to keep an eye out for when looking for a house in a few years, or start designing our own dream abode...

I have actually been spending a rather large amount of time day dreaming about having our own house. Something that seems like the ideal in the throes of summer, when patio doors can be left open and the fresh air consume the house. I have an itch to bring in more natural materials here at home, a more rustic charm than the shabby chic that is becoming somewhat tiring and too flouncy. It would be so much more fun and rewarding designing and decorating our own space, being able to bring in what we want and have our own little oasis in the hectic-ness of life as a young family