OH Help Oh no, it's a gruffalo!!

Lucy will be turning 2 this week - dont even ask where the time went. My little baby .... stop, anyway today we had a little party for her.

She has a little passion for the Gruffalo so in true caz style we went all out on the gruffalo and had a little party!!

 Oh Help, Oh no, Its a Gruffalo..... Cake :)

 A gruffalo cave, just right for reading!

 A borrowed bouncy castle, just right for bouncing!

 Some Gruffalo playdoughing.

 Cutting and sticking.

And some wicked gruffalo paper Party bags!!

We had a great time and hopefully so did all of Lucy's friends. Simple party but effective.

Ladies day!

Oh where do i start! I had a fabulous day on Sunday. A much awaited day with my good old friends, school buddies, actually some of them i have known since i was 4!!

Let me start at the beginning. We all turned the big 30 last year and my good mate Soph had her 30th in july last year about 2 or 3 weeks after she gave birth to her second beautiful baby girl. We had all been clubbing together to buy each other something special from us and for Sophie we decided we would get her something to keep (an amber braclet that i hope she likes, i chose it so felt quite responsible for this bit) and a shopping experience when she was ready for it. We put it to her that she could have our undivided attention and support to spend some money we gave her on clothes etc. We would be her personal shoppers for the day! So after a lot of weight being lost by her (and some of us others!) and one beautiful girl growing older and more able to be left for the day, Sophie chose a day and it was this Sunday.

We all had a lovely day, especially us mums who were given the freedom we sometimes crave, to be US for the day. Oh my goodness I loved it!

We had champagne on the train!
Ha i am a poet and i didnt know it!!

This was shortly followed by ALOT of shopping and trying on! It was so lovely to go out and have the support of each other, honest opinions and all that. Oh we have not done this since we were teenagers! We even went on the escalator!!!!!!

Us ladies stopped for lunch in a lovely restaurant, good food and delicious cocktails!!!! Ha!!
Swiftly followed by more shopping. Then when we felt we could shop no more, we came back on the train to meet up with another friend who could not make it, for another drink!! yes I was a little squiffy! but oh my what a lovely day we all had. I love you guys!

Woodland walk

We took a walk through the wood today and had a little picnic!

Girls bedroom

A couple of weeks ago the girls had a new carpet fitted in their bedroom, really pretty natural colour from a local company. This was obviously a great opportunity to do a spot of decluttering, something i have been longing to do for a while now. I really wanted the room to be as simple as possible as well as natural and reflect the things that they love rather than put up with because they are there.
We are all really pleased with the results and i thought i would post a few pictures to show our efforts.

 This as you may be able to tell is a belly cast we made of me when i was about 8 and a half months pregnant with Lucy! I love it because it reminds me of those precious weeks when she was nestled safely in my womb, the feeling of her moving and kicking inside me. And my how my boobs have shrunk since then!!

 I love East of India stuff!

 My hand made, recycled duvet cover, lovingly sewn for Lucy's little bed! How cute!

 Emily has taken a shine to the kangeroo that is in pride of place on her bed at the moment. It is a very old little roo as it used to be mine when i was much smaller that she is now. I think this is why she likes it so much, yes it is missing fur but its obvious even to a 4 year old that it was well loved.

 We all love the fact that the books are so accessible. They are freely choosing books all day long now which brings a smile to my face

 Just look at the wood and the natural colours!!!!

 I made this too.

And finally my nan's old chair, from her bedroom, and our much loved wooden dolls house.


All in all we all love the room, it reflects how i would like to live in the rest of the house and finally one room is finished!

Hope. Dream.

Throw your heart

out in front of you

And run ahead to catch it.

(Arab Proverb)

(from a gift book I was given once by my penpal Lorna - Hope! Dream!)

Royal Wedding day

Royal wedding fever hit us today. Everything went to pot as i stopped moving for much of the morning to watch the wedding! Loved it! such an amazing show of all things regal and British! Congratulaions William and Kate!

Above are pictures of the union jack biscuits we decorated this morning! The bride and groom that my nanny made for me when i was about 8 (i think). They was so much attention given to them when she made them. The bride has a pair of bloomers, a petticoat and the dress as well as a veil and a peal neck lace!! The bottom photo is the tiara that Emily made at preschool yesterday. She then went on to make us all - including Ian, a tiara each this morning!

How did you send the day?

Making things day

 We turned our attention to the Royal Wedding today and started making Union Jack bunting. now hanging in our dining room. Emily loved all of this, also found out they are doing a wedding party tomorrow afternoon in her preschool so she cant wait! Wedding fever has been unleashed in our house!

Picked up this "vintage" fabric in a charity shop today!! £2.50! bargain. Think I may have to make a skirt for me with it!!! I just love the colour.

Hope you have had a good day today.