'Paris' by Alejandro Tejada

Photo credit: Alejandro Tejada on Flickr

So did you have a good Easter? I can't believe the holidays are over and it was back to school today. We have had a great Easter. The best bit being our trip to Disneyland Paris which was just so magical. I am sure I will write a whole post about it soon but quite frankly I am not sure where to start with the whole fabulousness of our stay.

The first week of the Easter holidays when we were in France was rather cold and still wintery but on the second week spring arrived properly. This meant picnics, ice creams, a barbecue and Easter Egg hunting in the sunshine. Oh and there was also a small matter of my birthday. I turned 38 which makes me feel old but on the up-side I am still two years away from 40!!

I have decided to post a photo of Paris as I am craving a visit there right now. It might be called Disneyland Paris but we as you can imagine didn't actually see anything of the actual city. I have been there twice before and thought it was lovely but I want to go back with the sole purpose taking lots of photos. I love this photo as it shows just how big the Eiffel Tower is. It just looks so majestic standing there in the middle of all the buildings which seem tiny in comparison.

'Bling' by Me

Photo credit: PhotoPuddle on Flickr

So yesterday I ran my second half marathon and I have to say I loved it. I was so nervous beforehand as my training has been terrible but I was determined to give it my best shot. And it turned out to be an enjoyable race unlike the half marathon I did in September which nearly broke me! It was hard work obviously but I pootled along OK until about eleven miles when my legs just said "no more!". I decided to treat myself to a little walking break but my legs screamed at me even more and I could only manage to walk a few feet at a time before I had to run again. Anyway, I managed to conquer those last two miles and was so proud of myself as I crossed the finish line with a new PB that knocked 15 minutes of my last half marathon time. And the best bit is featured in the photo above. The best medal ever. It's right heafty old thing with the a bright pink quality ribbon. I wore it most of yesterday and even put it on again today just to check it still fitted! I hope you all had a fab weekend too.

'Red Nose Day' by Phil Crewe

Photo credit: Phil Crewe on Flickr

It's Red Nose Day today. Comic Relief has always been my favourite of all the charity days like this. I even remember the very first one back in the 1980s - I wrote a poem at school about it. I'm sure I still have it somwhere. Then there was the time a couple of friends and I ran around the town centre dressed in pyjamas and shaking a collection bucket at people. I have also enjoyed staying up until the early hours of the morning on Comic Relief night watching the show. I do love a bit of comedy and the sad bits about what the money is needed for always gets me donating. This year I think the majority of my donations have gone towards buying red noses. They have been so cunning and put nine different types of nose in sealed bags so you don't know what you are getting. Me and the kids (who love 'blind bags' anyway) have become a bit obessed with collecting the whole set. We now have all but Snotty Professor!

Here are a beautifully photographed Snout Dracula and Karate Konk. I love how dramatic the photographer has manage to make a couple of rubber noses look. I especially like the reflection.

Happy weekend and happy Red Nose Day everyone!

'Six66 Studio' by Tonya Hua

Photo credit: Tonya Hua on Flickr

I love decluttering and having a good clear out. It makes me feel refreshed, clensed and good about myself. However... I also like "stuff". I love shopping and I love having lots of things. So that's my problem. I like the idea of a minimalist and clutter free house but I don't seem to have another space to hide all my things.

This photo is great as it reminds me of how lovely a wardrobe is when it's not crammed with too many clothes. It would be nice to have a wardrobe with just a few well made items but in reality I want lots and lots of clothes to choose from when I get dressed in the morning. And it goes without saying that you can never have too many pairs of shoes.

This photo is also fascinating as I wonder where it was taken. I want to zoom out and see the rest of the room. At first I just presumed it was typical clothing rail but as I looked more I realised it appears to be some kind of pipe. Is it an actual pipe or just a funky looking clothes rail? I wonder.

'had an awesome birthday♥' by *tmk*

Photo credit: *tmk* on Flickr

I know it's not offically spring for another couple of weeks but I have decided that season needs to start now. The sky has been blue for most of the week, there are spring flowers popping up all over the place, my daughter walked home from school today without her coat on and my son asked if we could have a picnic. It's still rather chilly but I did take my gloves off today and yesterday because my hands were too hot. The weather looks set to be lovely for the weekend too which is great as we are going to be celebrating my husband's birthday. It's always nice to have a bit of birthday sunshine.

And I chose this photo in honour of my hubby. I don't know if he will appreciate the pretty pastels and the delicate little candles but I think it is really lovely.

Happy weekend everyone!!

'Spring is here' by Me

Photo credit: PhotoPuddle on Flickr

Well hello March. After what felt like the longest January known to man I can't believe how quickly February flew by. Due to our recent home improvement work the month was mainly spent painting and decorating and assembling flat pack furniture. But the house is starting to look really fantastic. We all have new bedrooms now and it feels like a fresh start for our house. And I am hoping that spring isn't far away - spring is the season of fresh starts and positivity I reckon. The sun is shining right now so here's hoping it sticks around for a while, makes us smile and warms us up a little.

I bought these daffodils a few days ago and yesterday they were ready to be photographed. I love spring flowers. And I love how you can pick up a bunch of daffodils for £1 and instantly bring a little bit of sunshine into your home. I might have to brighten up the house with some tulips soon too.

Hope you are having a lovely weekend and I hope spring is starting to appear wherever you are. (Unless you are reading from the other side of the world of course. Then I hope you have been having a brilliant summer.)

'Pancakes' by Shirley77

Photo credit: Shirley77 on Flickr

It is Shrove Tuesday so today has been all about the pancakes. We always make a big deal of this day in our house as it's a food all four of us love equally. In general I do most of the cooking at home but when it comes to making pancakes it is definitely my husband's job as I am really bad at it. I am good at picking what to go on them though. That is why I chose this fab photograph tonight. It is pretty much what we had on ours, except we had chocolate spread as well as the fruit. And of course we had to be a bit traditional and have some with just sugar and lemon too.

So what about you? Any pancakes in your house today?

'Few things make me happier' by Vanessa Rae

Photo credit: Vanessa Rae on Flickr 

I can't believe we are nearly half way through February already. This month is flying by which is crazy after January felt like the longest month ever. I didn't blog for the first week of this month because I couldn't think of anything to say other than moan about how cold I was feeling and how I am so over this winter weather. But this week I think we have seen a few sneak peeks of spring and it has really lifted my mood. Monday for example was a gorgeous day. I wore a shirt instead of a jumper and I even had a window open in the house at one point. It's gone back to being cold again now but somehow it doesn't feel as bitter. And I loving that it is getting lighter in the evenings. It is still dark early but ever week when I pick my daughter up late from some after school club or other I notice it is not quite as dark as the week before.

So roll on spring. I am not even dreaming of summer just yet. Just an end to the freezing cold weather and being able to leave the house without having to wrap everyone up in many layers and hats, scarves and gloves.

This photo is so dreamy. It is like a flash back to a lazy spring or summer day. That sunlight is simply beautiful. And it goes to prove that backs of flowers can be just as interesting to look at as their faces!

'My world' by Me

Photo credit: PhotoPuddle on Flickr

Today my husband and I are celebrating being together for 18 years. That's as old as a whole grown up. Our relationship is now old enough to drink! The past 18 years have been amazing and I feel so lucky to have found my soulmate so early on in my life (I was 19 and he was 18). I don't really know what to say other than I love him so much and am really looking forward to going out on our own tonight to celebrate.

Here is a photo I took in the summer of the three best people in the whole wide world. Happy photo of happy days. And another one that makes me think 'roll on summer'!

'Snow Glow' by Jenny Karlsson

Photo credit: Jenny Karlsson on Flickr

So yesterday we finally had some snow. At about 5pm it fell for all of about 15 minutes but it was a proper mini blizzard and it even settled on the ground for while. As predicted my son was super excited and I couldn't drag him away from the window. He was annoyed I wouldn't let him go outside and also questioned whether snow meant Father Christmas was coming. But it's all gone now and no more is forecast. I am therefore hoping an early spring is round the corner but I have a feeling my hopes will be dashed.

This is a stunning snowy photo and it doesn't actually make me feel cold. That beautiful sunlight looks almost summery. In fact if the picture hadn't been called 'Snow Glow' I would have questioned whether that was actually a sandy beach.

Happy weekend everyone. Enjoy the snow... if you have it!

'Untitled' by Gabriella Totyik

Photo credit: Gabriella Totyik on Flickr

Tomorrow is a big day. I am getting my very first pair of glasses. Last week I admitted to myself that my eyes are not as young as they used to be and decided to have an eye test. Turns out I have very healthy eyes and excellent long distance vision but I could do with some reading glasses. Instead of feeling all down about getting older and my body not being what it used to be I am actually quite excited. I'm still not sure if glasses actually suit me but I don't need to wear them all the time so it doesn't really matter. I am hoping they might make me feel a little bit sophisticated. Intellectual even. I might chew one of the arms when I need to consider something deeply. I will let you know how I get on!

I plan to take a photo of my new eye wear but in the mean time here is a spectacle based photograph which is really lovely. I love the colour and tones and it is a really calm photo. What interests me the most though is the fact that the glasses are facing the window and the tulips are leaning that way too. It's almost like they are looking at something particularly fascinating outside. I wonder if the objects were purposely positioned like that or it was a happy accident. Either way it is a really great photo.

'Weekend Tulip' by ecki

Photo credit: ecki on Flickr

My weekend was rather lovely. Hubby was back after a week away with work so we had a great big snuggly family lie-in yesterday. We also got some things achieved around the house and I managed to make it out for a run. I did 6km which wasn't bad. I want to be back going further but this will have to do for now. But the best bit was spending time on both Saturday and Sunday just hanging out with good friends. I really needed a bit of that. I even managed to find myself relaxing a little bit. Oh how I wish I could be a chilled out person!

This photo makes me wish even harder than I already am for spring. I love tulips and I love bright blue skies. These bold colours are so fantastic and mood-lifting. I want to be taking photos like this myself. I want to stop feeling cold all the time. I want sunshine. I want to stop feeling like the weight of the world is on my shoulders because it really isn't.

I hope you all had a great weekend!

'A cold and frosty morning' by Me

Photo credit: PhotoPuddle on Flickr

I took this photo of the car this morning. It's a shame it's not perfectly in focus but I really wanted to capture those beautiful snowflake shapes of ice. It's been so cold this week but it's not snowed here. Not a single flake. I think it might actually be, as the saying goes, too cold to snow. I'm not that bothered by the lack of snow as after the initial excitement has warn off it's just a right pain in the bum. But I would love to see what my two year old makes of it. It has snowed in his lifetime but he would have been too tiny to remember it now. I think he would love it!

Wishing you a warm and happy weekend.

'High Tops' by Carmine Sirianni

Photo credit: Carmine Sirianni on Flickr

Life is a bit "Stop the world I want to get off" at the moment. Time seems to be flying by and so much seems to be going on. But in another way time is going so slowly. I hate the cold and it feels like spring is still months away. And whilst there are lots of things going on they're things that are making me stressed. There doesn't seem to be time for fun things. It just seems to be one thing after another to worry about. Some of it real stuff and some of it things that I'm just making up in my head to worry about. I wish I could remember what being happy and carefree felt like!

So what picture should I post here? I think I will go with this one of some Converse as I love these shoes and I love this picture. Such a simple shot really but I think what makes it specially is the colour tones and I also love the messed up laces. I have actually lost count of all the Convserse shoes I have. I think it might be nine pairs. I had better get them all out soon for a little Converse photoshoot of my own! 

'L and G fairy wings' by cate bruce-low

Photo credit: cate bruce-low on Flickr

Tonight we are expecting a visitor. The Tooth Fairy should be on her way to our house right now. I hope she doesn't get lost as she's never been before. The whole first wobbly tooth affair has been rather bittersweet - well for me anyway. She is joining her friends on the gappy-mouthed stage of their childhood. She is growing up. This is exciting. I can't wait to see what kind of big girl my little little girls turns into. But at the same time I'm sad. My baby is definitely a baby no more. Also there is a shallow part of me worrying that her new teeth won't be as perfect as her old baby ones.

So, inspired by the day's events I went searching for fairy photos. I was rather taken by this one. These children look so engrossed in playing together. I wonder what the game was that required dressing up in fairy costumes. I think it is interesting that the room is relatively plain but to them it could be a magical fairy kingdom. Or perhaps the game didn't involve fairies, they just happened to be in fairy dresses. I also wonder whether something interesting was happening outside or whether they were just playing on the window sill. I love it when a photo makes me ask so many questions.

And oh look it's Friday - so let me just wish you all a happy weekend!

'Winter treats' by Me

Photo credit: PhotoPuddle on Flickr

As well as not blogging recently I've not been taking many photos. Well nothing specifically arty anyway, I do of course have a few zillion of my kids etc sitting on my phone and camera. I have therefore been going through what I have taken to try and find something suitably blog worthy. I like this one. I think I took it about a week before Christmas in a garden centre cafe. I think garden centres are such a brilliant place to visit at Christmas time. They are so festive and usually there is a Santa's Grotto or a few Christmas activities for the kids. This picture could have been set out better but it's not bad for a quick snapshot. And this carrot cake was delicious but huge! I'm not sure if I was even able to finish it which for me is saying something. I shall get taking new photos soon!

'Buen lugar para estar de paso' by Ignorant Walking

Photo credit: Ignorant Walking on Flickr

I've been feeling really down this week as I've been too injured to run. It's amazing how much it means to me now. I missed my weekly Parkrun yesterday which made me sad but I did take myself out for a very short and slow run this morning which perked me up a little bit. Hopefully by next weekend I will be able to run further and for longer. Keep your fingers crossed for me. In the mean time I thought it would be a good idea to document here what I have achieved during my blogging break. Between September and December I was doing an organised run pretty much every weekend whether it be a race or just a Saturday morning Parkrun. I did an 8k race and a 10k race but what I was most proud of was the half marathon I completed. And it was a tough one. It was a unseasonably hot and sunny day and the the hills. Oh the hills. Still it didn't put me off, I am doing another half marathon in March. Just need to be running properly again soon so I can start training!

I shouldn't really have posted this gorgeous photo as it is just making me jealous! What a beautiful place and time of day for a run. I love all the silhouettes. And what keeps making me chuckle is that at first glance I always think that trees on the left of the photo are that person's big and crazy hair.

Hope you all had a lovely weekend!

'Timmy's is 50..." by Lú_

Photo credit: Lú_ on Flickr

So did you make any New Year's resolutions? Unlike the past couple of years I haven't really. I am trying to eat more healthily though but that was something I planned on doing anyway, I just knew it wasn't going to happen over the Christmas period. This got me thinking. I think many new year's resolutions are actually just post Christmas resolutions. For example healthy eating because you have pigged out all through December, doing more exercise as you've just been sitting on the sofa hibernating from the cold weather, being better with money because you've been spending too much on presents and giving up alcohol because you fear for your liver after all those Christmas parties. I wonder if New Year was at a different time of year it would make any difference to what people plan on achieving.

To accompany this post I wanted a photo of something scrummy but naughty. I think this hits the spot. Just look at the shine on that doughnut! Plus it's from Canadian coffee and doughnut shop Tim Hortons which brings back lots of happy memories of my time there.

A belated Happy New Year to you all x x x

'Little Boy at Nymans' by Me

Photo credit: PhotoPuddle on Flickr

Hello again! Did you miss me? I think it is fair to say that 2014 wasn't a great year for blogging. Or photography for that matter. There are a few reasons for this. I have been incredibly stressed out by building work on our house and haven't felt like writing happy posts and looking for pretty pictures. I lost my way with photography after I realised I was never going to be a professional photographer. And also I found a new hobby - running - and all my energy got caught up in that.

So what's changed? Well I have realised I miss my little blog. I miss this space which is pretty much a happy and smiley place. I miss photography too. Just because I am not going to do it for a living ever doesn't mean I can't try to take nice pictures for my own, and hopefully your, pleasure. And finally I hurt myself this week. A stupid injury in a soft play centre. I am just bruised and I think I am healing fairly quickly but it means I won't be able to run for a little bit. This is so annoying as I love it so much. I just want to put my trainers on and get out there. I guess I should be grateful that if I have to miss a week or so of running it's a week when the weather is horrendous! Anyway, it has made me realise that I shouldn't put all my eggs in one basket. I can have more than one hobby. It's not like blogging is cheating on running! Plus it gives me another place to try and not be too much of a running bore.

Here's a photo from summer which I never got around to sharing here. It's of my son at Nymans in West Sussex. I haven't actually got much to say about it other than I really like it and I like that it reminds me of warmer and sunnier times! I hope spring isn't too far away.