Words on a Wednesday...

Thank you so much for all of your empathy, kindness and advice following my last post. Wonderful to know that there are those out there who understand! Somehow it has lessened the burden knowing that. Honestly - thank you.

Photograph by Elizabeth Messina via happiness is

So what else is new?

I have never been one to hold back on the shopping front and this habit is reaching new proportions as I revel in dressing my daughter! Girl's clothes can be the stuff of dreams and I would go as far as to say most mothers who have boys will mention that they would love to be able to dress little girls. The pinkdom of it all...

via ilovegorgeous

With my daughter, suddenly she has tipped over from a little girl to a 10 year old; not a young woman by any stretch, but on her way. I am loving choosing clothes for her now. The absolute flawlessness of her (in my eyes) means that I do, I admit, get great pleasure from seeing her look comfortable in her own skin. And rightly or wrongly in our house that has something to do with nice clothes. Have I ruined her already?! I realise this is wildly superficial and children shouldn't be bothered by what they wear, but the point I am making is that she is on the verge of growing up and she is finding her style. I find this fascinating! She makes these cool little outfits which are appropriate but also fun. I think it's just lovely. If ever I wanted a mini me; I got one.

via dreamy whites

I have thought a bit recently about why people choose to have lots and lots of children. You know those families where there are three or four siblings all bustling along together at the school drop off like baby ducks following their mother? I find myself wondering what that would be like, although I know for sure I don't want more children. I have huge admiration for any family where the children outnumber the parents. And there must be something incredible about having lots of brothers and sisters; of that feeling of solidarity and unity. I am one of two and I have two children. It's all even for me. I am also fascinated by those mother ducks who have a gaggle of beautiful, tousled blonde children and look amazing and have tidy houses. Oops there I go again comparing myself...female angst at it's best.

via a lady's findings from dream spun kids

I have been running this morning. I find that I want to run the most when I think of it, usually late at night, with a little fission of excitement at the prospect of running the next morning. Then the morning arrives and I am less keen..but the schedule dictates. During the event, hmmm there are definitely moments when I wish I was not there. But after - when those endorphins kick in and my muscles feel tightened, then it's all good.

I went to a parent's talk yesterday at my kid's school, on Internet safety. It was given by the Police and seriously it was an eye-opener. Given that social media sites are kinda my thing, there wasn't anything technically that I didn't know. But what shocked me was the way in which young children, when online (facebook accounts at 10 - eh? no thanks) are so vulnerable. The point most laboured was this: do not share personal information. Of course the fact that I have a blog sent a shiver of worry through me. Am I putting my family in danger by sharing? Ugh...does not bear thinking about. Why is it that something I love could become something so ugly when looked at through different eyes?

'you can't wrap them in cotton wool...' via here from Southern Weddings Magazine

I am being everything to everyone this week, with far too many social engagements and events and work things happening....when does that down time I said I needed start?!

Things of beauty...

So I am getting into the swing of things now...I always have to build in mental adjustment time to any life change. My husband has six weeks of no work; he is in-between jobs. Still contractually bound to one place before he starts at the next. So they call it 'gardening leave'. I have to say our garden is not looking an awful lot different and it's now week three, but we have frequented lots of local eateries for impromptu lunches, the golf club and he are becoming reacquainted and our kids have had more Daddy time since when he was on paternity leave.

You know how mothers carry around an enormous encyclopedic of knowledge and information about their kids; at the drop of hat, shoe sizes, after-school clubs, kit requirements, reading books, best friends, likes/dislikes and everything on the way? For the record size 2 and 10, football, gymnastics and choir, swim kit on Fridays, hockey socks and gum shield recently added, 'Pippy Longstocking' and 'The Tiger Who Came to Tea', I could go on. I find that I carry this with me all the time, writing myself notes, remembering the conflicting drop off times, the netball matches, the play dates. Now though, this burden is shared with their Daddy.  Hey, this is what it's like to co parent 50/50!

Meanwhile as we tripped around our town like tourists the other day, whilst the kids were at school, it felt just lovely. That loveliness topped off I am afraid to say, by boot shopping...yes I think I found this year's perfect pair from Russell and Bromley! Hurrah.

And so for Friday prettiness...and sincerest congratulations to my long distance friend Rhiannon who is getting married to her beau today :-)

via Dustjacket Attic

A Mulberry moment...

Danish simplicity from Georg Jensen...

via Sarah Klassen Haute Design

Isn't this the most beautiful shot?

via it's mary ruffle

By Meg Perotti

Tory Burch flats...want, want, want...but bank balance won't allow...

A stunning retrospective of New York Fashion Week found here...

via from me to you

I have booked tickets to take Boo to the ballet at Christmas...as is tradition!

Sienna Miller...best in her jeans...

I am running alot at the moment, and loving it. Honestly that post-running feeling of happiness is wonderful...

This is for my friend D...living in The Netherlands. She has the capacity to calm me in almost any situation...and sent me a 'keep calm and carry on' package in the post! Her and I should always consider that:

via it's mary ruffle

Bikini bottom...

Last week's glimpse of proper, hot summer sun had a profound effect and I promptly got online and ordered a bikini. As our annual summer holiday basically consists of living in a bikini, I do own a few. I have tried numerous types but always go back to a classic version. Comfort is key. The best I have had is from Jack Wills; unexpected I know, as this brand is mainly geared for 18 year old well-to-do British students in high brow University cities, with money to burn. Anyway, they do great swimwear that lasts and lasts. So, order I did. In a bright floral sprig, just ready for tanned skin and summer loveliness.

Said bikini arrived, I whisked it on and noted that the bottom seemed slightly...how can I say? Skimpy. Has my bottom grown? I already have a bikini of this size and style and it fits like a dream; where have I gone wrong? My friend P is eminently sensible and very good at judging the 'mutton dressed as lamb' phenomenon that can afflict women of our age. We discuss the bikini bottom coverage, she maintains that support is needed in the bottom area, much like a bra. I am not so sure. Do I want to spend three weeks of my holiday with my bottom trussed up? I think not. Plan B is to run ALOT between now and then in an attempt to achieve the coveted bikini-bottom bottom. My ridiculously (and charmingly) motivated sister in law has been doing thrice-weekly spinning classes to reach this goal.

There is only one thing for it...where are my trainers? The countdown to summer sun is on. Mwah!

Things of beauty...

Hello! What a lovely day! I am in good spirits. I wanted to say 'hello' to some of my new blogging friends. Firstly to my new friend Julie from jam*n*jilly who gave me a sunshine award! This picture of a sunshine-y lunch is for you. And to Thatgirl39 from Forty not Out, we have worked out we live fairly close to each other so we might just meet up for coffee and cupcakes!

Sea glass rings...I just love the idea of these being washed around for eons before they make their way to be jewellery...

I really wouldn't mind if my little family would like to get me a breakfast like this at the weekend...isn't it just perfect?

Keira Knightley...up close...

I love everything about this wistful image...wonder what's outside the window?

'Olympia' by Edouard Manet painted in 1863.

I want to be where this is, oh summer - the new Toast catalogue...

Simple cleanliness! Marseilles soap...

Pretty, pretty eye make-up...

A green door...my favourite...this one is in Iran.

My ongoing love affair with Arne Jacobsen egg chairs...they look awesome from every angle. Love.

Boston Back Bay. I've been thinking about Boston this week for some reason. My husband worked in in Upstate New York back in the early 90's, when we were first together. He would always fly back through Boston so one time I flew over to meet him for Valentines weekend. This was my first transatlantic flight on my own...going to meet my beau. It was in the days before mobile phones worked all over the world so I couldn't get in contact with him, I just knew he would meet me off my flight. I can still picture his face when I walked out of the departure hall... :-)

Love Boston...great, great city and have spent some amazing times there.

I have been for a run this morning! After a month-long hiatus it was just wonderful to get back into it. Sunny, spring morning along Chichester Marina, just me and the road...wait, isn't that a line from the film 'What Women Want'?! Well its spot on; with a playlist of 'Brown eyed girl' followed by 'You got the love' and then 'My Sharona'! I do love my Nike+, especially when she says 'half way point'!

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!