"Find the extraordinary in the ordinary"

Sometimes my mind wanders, restlessly searching for that creative happy place. I get bored so very easily. It's a blessing, and a curse. I get frustrated when the mundane tasks of every day life leave no room for self expression and creative pursuits. Curse. But it also guides me to gain perspective, to look for and see the joy and beauty in ordinary things. Blessing. Sometimes you have to find the extraordinary in the ordinary. When the accomplishment of your very own 'Van Gogh masterpiece' is out of reach, perhaps you need only to adjust your perspective to realise that you are surrounded by the everyday masterpieces...a handful of daisies clutched in tiny hands and presented with an exuberant 'I love you mummy'...or a bunch of cow parsley picked from the side of the road...

Perhaps a humble cupcake on a pretty plate...or a few quiet moments immersed in the pages of a good book. And sometimes beauty comes to you when you close your eyes, and listen to the soothing crackling of Vera Lynn singing 'We'll meet again'...

So, with the long weekend upon us here in Old Blighty, I will consciously appreciate the simpler things. I hope you too can find joy in the ordinary...

Blessings

Another birthday...

And so it happened. Again. Another year older. Sometimes I wish life had a pause button, just so that I could make the good times last a little longer. My children are growing taller, and getting older, and I feel that time is slipping through my fingers. I blinked, and the boy is eleven...

We celebrated with a special family dinner. I cooked his favourite...South African chicken, broccoli and spinach, baked in creamy mayo and mushroom yumminess, topped with a mountain of cheese, and cheese and onion crisps (chips!) for extra crunch! This boy left his heart in South Africa the last time we visited, so we thought a little African celebration would cheer him up on his birthday. We decked the table out with touches from our homeland....Safari place mats sewn by my mum-in-law, bright, bold sunflowers, pineapple fruit punch, and a choccy cake for a centre piece.

Now, the cake was inspired by one of my favourite bloggers, the lovely Alicia Paulson of 'Posy gets cozy'. She made THIS gorgeous cake, and it has undoubtedly become a popular pin in the world of Pinterest! I opted for a chocolate version, topped with a few animals from the play box, all dressed up with cheerful party hats. I added sprinkles to the side of the cake, with the idea that it would resemble African beads...the jury is still out on that one! But my boy loved it!

And so he is another year older. I am very proud of the caring, loving, thoughtful young man he is growing up to be, and yes, I wish I could squeeze his chubby little legs just one more time, and have those 'monkey cuddles' for a few moments once again, but I also embrace the newness of this lanky eleven year old with the gentle nature. For now, he is still my baby...Happy birthday Nath!

Blessings 

Simple things...

Hello my lovelies! Well, we've enjoyed a long weekend here in the UK, and it has been a lovely, lazy one for us! Life has become so hectic, and I have to remind myself sometimes that I am not a hamster on a treadmill! It is important to stop. Yes, stop. Climb off. And  take the time to smell the flowers...

So this weekend, we did just that. We made time to enjoy the simple things...

Leisurely cuppas...

Reading...slowly...without having to look at a gadget screen...

Relaxing to some good tunes...

We had cosy lie-ins, walks in the sunshine, BBQ's, family movie time by candle light...

And a little car boot thrifting! The whole family like a bit of car booty hunting, from the youngest to the oldest. I do try to teach the kids to have an attitude of re-purposing, re-using, and that 'new' doesn't have to mean 'never been used'! In this life so much is disposable, and people's attitudes are rather wasteful! I do think that we need to learn from our elders who believed that it was important to 'make do and mend'. And if you have a keen eye, you can find some really useful, beautiful treasures when thrifting. I did find a few this weekend!

This very pretty Cath Kidston teapot and creamer...I cannot believe it was no longer needed...

This cheery retro salt and pepper shakers...A 50p bargain for both! I kid you not...

A blast from the past! These quirky tumblers featuring the Asterix and Obelix cartoons. I grew up reading the cartoons, and watched it on the tele too, so this was most definitely a nostalgic purchase! They are originally from Germany, and were Nutella containers! I thought the kids would enjoy drinking from these! Best part...I had set out on the morning with 'tumblers' on my wish list, as we very much needed to replace some following breakages!

Three days have proved this...If you stop, and take time to enjoy the simple things, it restores a little sanity where chaos and the word 'busy' can cloud your mind...I hope that you too can find the time to enjoy the simple things...

Blessings