'Happy Easter:)' by Spice ♥ Daddy and Baby Rheina

Happy Easter:), a photo by Spice ♥ Daddy and Baby Rheina on Flickr.

I hope you had a lovely day today and don't feel too full of chocolate. As well as eating eggs we've been busy working on our daughter's bedroom today. The walls are all pink now and it actually looks much nicer than I thought it would and I don't miss the yellow after all. I'm looking forward to finishing it off tomorrow. There's a little more painting to be done then it's a case of sorting out the furniture and fittings and generally making the room look pretty for her.

So to make up for the loss of yellow in my little girl's bedroom, here is a fantastic yellow photo of a very cute Easter bunny. Happy Easter!

'Paint' by DodogoeSLR

Paint, a photo by DodogoeSLR on Flickr.

So how's your long weekend going so far? We've been busy here. We made a spontaneous decision this morning to crack on with decorating our daughter's bedroom so today has been spent buying paint, curtains, lampshades and various other bits and bobs ready to start the big bedroom makeover tomorrow. Fingers crossed we can get the room all done in the next two days as I hate having unfinished jobs hanging over me.

I wanted a paint themed picture to go with my post tonight and when I saw this I loved it. It just screamed 'rebellion' at me! Everyone knows you're not meant to do this to paint brushes. And the red paint just adds to the drama!

'scarborough beach huts' by acpics66

scarborough beach huts, a photo by acpics66 on Flickr.

Yay, it's the weekend! Are you up to anything exciting this Easter? We don't have any big plans except I think we're going to end up eating a lot of chocolate!! I promise I'll eat nothing but vegetables to make up for it next week - maybe!

Anyway, here's a bright and colourful photo to kick start the long weekend. I think it's been a while since I've featured a beach hut picture so here is a brilliant one that made me smile. I wish those were my legs. One day I'll get my own beach hut.... One day....

Happy long weekend everyone!

'Mini eggs' by Me

Mini eggs, a photo by PhotoPuddle on Flickr.

I know everyone is doing it this time of year but it's hard not to love taking pictures of Mini Eggs - they're just so pretty. Plus you can buy a load for photographic purposes and eat them guilt free afterwards as it was in the name of "art"! Here is my Mini Egg photo for Easter. I thought they'd look good in this bowl as it's got a really cute yellow rim. And I was right it's made a really pretty picture that I'm very pleased with. Unfortunately I haven't been able to stuff my face with the eggs as I actually bought them to make Easter nests with my daughter tomorrow. It was very tempting though!

'toy box' by cavale

toy box, a photo by cavale on Flickr.

What I would really love in my house is a play room. Or at least a really big toy cupboard. Don't get me wrong I don't hate having toys in my living room in fact I think it makes the place look warm and inviting. I just wish there was more room to spread out and not worry about how to keep the toy corner of our living room in order. It's my son's birthday soon and he'll no doubt get lots of toys as presents so once again I'll have to do some more rearranging to accommodate them. I can see this happening for years!

And while we're on the subject of toy storage isn't this photo so damn cute? It reminds me of my little boy when he is leaning into the big box of Happyland we have. One of these days I know he'll lean too far and fall in head first. I am hoping my first instinct is to save him and not to to grab the camera and take a picture as it could be a rather funny sight. I am such a mean mummy!

'Being Followed' by stephen anderson (Artist)

Being Followed, a photo by stephen anderson (Artist) on Flickr.

Does the weather effect your mood, because it's really getting me down? I am feeling rather blue at the moment and I am pretty sure it's because of spring's refusal to show up. Last week we had pretty deep snow and this week has just been wet and grey. Then this morning it started to snow again. I'm seriously through with it all now. The most uplifted I felt this week was Wednesday morning. I was in the shower and the sun was streaming in through the window and I couldn't help smiling. Of course that sunshine didn't last long and it was grey again by lunchtime. I am also finding it quite hard to believe that this time last year we were in the middle of a mini heatwave. Seriously, I'd bought sun cream and a new sun hat and sandals for my daughter.

I am also refusing to use this weather as an excuse to show you a pretty snow photo. So here is a picture of pylons instead. Don't get me wrong it is still a stunning picture and I love finding beauty in the mundane but it also does kind of reflect my melancholic mood.

Hope you have a nice weekend whatever the weather.

'Bed' by Me

Bed, a photo by PhotoPuddle on Flickr.

This is my bed. My bed is my safe space, my happy place. When I am feeling sad or stressed I need my bed. In fact I crave it and I count down the hours until I can be in it. When I am ill or injured I need my bed. It's got a lovely a snuggly duvet and far too many cushions and pillows which makes it such a comfy place to rest. And let's not forget my pregnancies. I felt awful during both of them and so most evenings were spent resting in bed as I knew it would look after me well. Do you have a safe space or a happy space?

'11.18.2012' by tontygammy

11.18.2012, a photo by tontygammy on Flickr.

I was immediately drawn to the picture as I do rather love the colour purple. The beauty of this picture is the simplicity. I wonder if it was set up or whether the photographer just saw the paint sitting there and took a quick snap knowing it would be a great shot.

This picture also reminds me we need to paint my daughter's room fairly soon. It's currently yellow but she wants it pink. That's fine by me as I don't mind a nice pink girly bedroom however I do love her bedroom yellow. It's so bright and sunny and works really well with all the pink stuff she has in it anyway. Have to think about how we do it so it's pink but not too pink. I think I'll take myself off to Pinterest for some bedroom inspiration.

'caution' by joe_engle

caution, a photo by joe_engle on Flickr.

I am so bored of writing blog posts about the weather but I can't help it. I need a place to scream and shout about how cold I am - and today I have been freezing. I got soaked by the rain and hail this morning and I've still not quite recovered. Even now after a hot shower and wearing snuggly pyjamas and a great big hoody I still feel cold. Even this beautiful summery beach photo isn't warming me up. It is lovely though and makes me wish for spring even more. Perhaps it's time to give in and cuddle up in bed under my big duvet and hope that tomorrow I manage to stay warm and dry. It could happen, you never know!

'Support Comic Relief 2013 - Donate Today! :)' by Tim Caldbeck

Support Comic Relief 2013 - Donate Today! :), a photo by Tim Caldbeck on Flickr.

To all of you in the UK will you be watching Comic Relief tonight? I know I will. I always watch it but I it's always an emotional roller coaster. Laughing one minute and then it all goes serious and I find myself crying. The last Red Nose Day two years ago had me sobbing all evening as it made me feel really guilty. I had been stressing loads about our forthcoming holiday to Barcelona. Lots of my daughter's friends had come down with chicken pox and with the incubation period it looked like she might get it whilst we were away. This would mean we'd not be able to fly home and it was really worrying me. But then I watched Comic Relief and saw people dying from Mosquito bites and having to walk for hours every day just to get clean water and it put my troubles in to perspective. I was worried because we might have to stay in a fancy hotel in the lovely warm and sunny city of Barcelona for an extra week. Oh how terrible. I'm not saying my worries weren't justified because as a mother of course you must get concerned by the threat of your child getting sick but it did make me go straight on to the Internet and donate. If you want to donate then you can visit the Comic Relief website here.

Oh and in case you were wondering my daughter didn't get chicken pox, in fact two years on and she still hasn't had it. And the holiday as you probably remember was actually ruined by my stupid head splitting open incident!

And I picked this photo of one of the red noses to use today as it's fabulous but also rather terrifying! Love the use of the smoke!

'Mother's Day tulips' by Me

Mother's Day tulips, a photo by PhotoPuddle on Flickr.

The weather has been so rubbish this week and I really haven't been feeling the love for the snow - especially Monday's blizzard conditions. Thank goodness it's all pretty much melted now. I have been lucky though to have my Mother's Day flowers to keep me smiling and reminding me that spring is on it's way. I love this photo I took of them and if you look carefully enough you can seven see the snow through the window behind them.

'Safe' by Bozowizard

Safe, a photo by Bozowizard on Flickr.

Videos are brilliant and there are so many perfectly made short films out there but for me it's all about the photos. I find it amazing that a single image can be so powerful and beautiful and in some cases totally breathtaking. And the type of photos I love the most are ones that do take my breath away and the ones that I can't describe why I love them, I just do. This is one of those photos. I can't explain exactly why I keep coming back to this for a second and third and fourth look. Perhaps it's the lighting, the colours or those cute little baby feet. Perhaps it's because it's been called safe and that totally makes sense to me. I hope you like this picture as much as I do.

'Snow in Preston Park Brighton' by grahambrown1965

Snow in Preston Park Brighton, a photo by grahambrown1965 on Flickr.

Last week I was blogging about how beautiful the weather was and how spring must definitely be almost here. Well today all that went horribly wrong. When I opened the curtains this morning I was greated with snow! It was so unexpected I almost swore which would have been bad as it was my daughter's curtains I was opening. Anyway, it snowed all day today. I'm not kidding, it didn't stop. And it wasn't that amazing, magical snow it was practically a blizzard. The wind was so icy and the snow was literally falling horizonally. And to top it off I had to be out and about all day today so I'm only just thawing out..

Anyway, in the interests of finding beauty in everything here is a very beautiful snowy photograph. It was actually taken in Brighton which is fitting as I believe it is extremely snow there as well tonight.

So to everyone who has snow right now - stay warm. And to the rest of you - count yourselves lucky, this is rubbish weather!

'Breakfast Time' by thedot_ru

Breakfast Time, a photo by thedot_ru on Flickr.

I know the day is nearly over but I just wanted to take this opportunity to wish all you mothers out there a very happy Mother's Day. I hope you've been spoiled rotten. I woke up to my daughter's face right up close to mine wishing me Happy Mother's Day. She does get so excited about special days like birthdays, Mother's Day, Valentine's Day etc. Anyway, she then went to fetch a bag of pressies that her and Daddy had hidden in her wardrobe. I then got the obligatory Mother's Day lie-in and breakfast in bed. The breakfast was shared with my daughter who's eyes lit up when she was I had pain-au-chocolate. The rest of the day was a pretty relaxed one at home. We were meant to be going to see friends for lunch but they had to cancel due to illness at the last minute and it didn't seem worth the effort and disappointment trying to get a table to eat out somewhere. But that was fine. We stayed home in the warm. My children played - dressed as Superman and Snow White. My son practiced his walking - we're up to two steps now! My daughter wished me Happy Mother's Day at every opportunity. I am a very lucky lady. My children are wonderful and I feel so proud to be their mother.

I wanted to accompany this post with a breakfast in bed picture and whilst this isn't quite what I had in mind I love it. It's the best shot of Cheerios I can imagine. And this particular make of cereal has a special place in my heart at the moment as they are my son's favourite snack. Seriously a tray full of these will keep him happy for ages. And they sell them in very handy little snack bags which means I can always have an emergency pack with me at all times. Gosh I sound like I'm writing a Cheerios advert - I'm not honestly, I just like this picture!

Hope you've had a lovely weekend.

'Beautiful eyes' by Me

Beautiful eyes, a photo by PhotoPuddle on Flickr.

As you know I don't put pictures of my children's faces on on this blog but I have found it totally impossible to resist sharing a photo of my baby boy's beautiful eyes. He gets complimented on them all the time. And even with me being completely biased I can see why. They're gorgeous dark brown and has the most amazing long eye lashes. I am so jealous of them. Now don't get me wrong, my daughter has gorgeous eyes and long lashes as well but I guess it's just more striking on a boy so his get noticed more.

Anyway, happy weekend everyone. Hope you all have a lovely time whatever you're up to.

'Sunset Seafront, Brighton February 18' by BoblyP

Sunset Seafront, Brighton February 18, a photo by BoblyP on Flickr.

Today we went to Brighton. I didn't take any photos - shock horror - so here is a wonderful one by someone else. It's a perfect picture of a sunset. Sigh, I miss Brighton by sunset. These days when we have a day in Brighton we have to be home by bedtime so there's no sunset strolls on the seafront for us any more! That said, I'm not really complaining. Days out in Brighton are just as much fun with the kids as without. My daughter was just disappointed that today wasn't really a playing on the beach kind of a day. Such a shame as the rest of the week has been so sunny and lovely. Fingers crossed for more sunshine soon!

'Spring blossom' by Me

Spring blossom, a photo by PhotoPuddle on Flickr.

It feels like spring is here even if it is only for a few days. Today was simply beautiful. In fact it was so warm I found myself taking my jacket off - which was a bit annoying at it's a new one and I was really enjoying wearing it!

I guess I shouldn't be so surprised about the nice weather. Whilst looking back through last year's photos I noticed lots of pictures I took at the end of March last year when we appeared to be having a mini heatwave! I guess the British weather just likes to keep us on our toes.

Sadly there aren't any spring blossoms about at the moment to take photos of so here is one from deep in the archive. This was taken in my garden back in April 2010.

I hope you're having some lovely weather too.

'Summertime' by Nic Ransley

Summertime, a photo by Nic Ransley on Flickr.

When I saw this picture for the first time I actually let out a little sigh. It's it is quite possibly the most perfect summer photo ever. There's not much in it and you can't actually see the sky or where it was taken. However, I just know that wherever it was it was beautiful. I am now seriously dreaming of summer. I thought I only wanted it to be spring but this photo has made me look forward to lazy summer days in the sunshine. It also makes me wonder where I put my straw hat. I bet it's squished under something in the wardrobe.