The countdown begins..

Yesterday Archie turned 11 months - although I am pretty sure I gave birth to him only last month? - He lost his baby look and now every time I look at him he's looking more and more like a toddler. This scares me, I'm ready for him to grow up, I'm really not. Infact up until now I have put off talking / thinking about his birthday. But with a month to go, it's about time I did.

Presents
Thankfully buying for Archie is going to be easy, I have been keeping a wish list of items since he was born of things that he would enjoy to play with. He's still at that age that the things I buy for him are guesses at things he'd like rather then him telling me, which is good because I've noticed children always like the most expensive things. I have noticed, going through my wish lists that most of the toys are wooden, I love wooden toys. First of all they last alot longer as they normally don't require batteries that die after 5 minutes and secondly they don't break as easily as plastic toys do - plus they are hard wearing meaning Archie can bash them about as much as he likes and they will be only minor bumps and bangs to them. 

 Both of these can be found on Notonthehighstreet.com. (here and here) 

 

Day trip
It has become a tradition that on our birthday's we go out for the day somewhere. We've been to zoo's, beaches, theme parks, shopping trips etc. With this being Archies birthday we've been looking at things suitable for his age but with plenty of things to keep Eva happy too, which is why we have settled on Noahs Ark Zoo Farm in Bristol. With play areas, zoo animals and a farm area, it just seemed perfect for us. Archies birthday actually falls on a Sunday, but they shall be closed, so we plan to go the day before meaning he will have a whole weekend birthday. 

Tea party
As it's his first birthday I am planning a little tea party on his birthday. I shall be making his cake - I had Eva's made her first, but I have made her 3rd, 4th and 5th myself - and I'm still not sure what I shall be making yet. But I have sorted out the theme.. Vintage. Seeing as he's having mainly wooden toys which to me are quite vintage I thought it would be perfect. 

Bean xo

10 questions Tag

1.What is your dream vacation?

One place I really want to visit is Thailand or New York/LA. Actually there's a whole list of places I'd love to go, if only I was some sort of millionaire (ha). One place I do really wanna go is Disneyland.. I made a promise to Eva about a year ago that I'd take her to see "Tangled" - as she calls her. So in the next 5 years that's going to happen.

2. Are you spontaneous or do you like to plan ahead? 

I think I'm a bit of both really. I like to wake up one morning check the weather and then just do what ever, but now that's Eva's in school, day's out have to planned around school and work. I work weekends and my only day off is Fridays, when Eva is at school. It's hard to be spontaneous these days.

3. Tell us one thing you want to do but don’t dare do it.

Walk around naked, just for the ease if it. No washing, or ironing.. it would be great. But I don't think it's something I should do if I'm honest. Another one I would love to do, is go back to college. I have no idea what I want to do so I guess that's the main thing keeping me from actually doing it, also I guess a bit of fear.

4. What’s your biggest phobia?

I probably have two of the most random phobias in the world being in a shop at closing time and lorries. When I tell people these I get looks like I'm crazy but I do have reasons why! When I was younger - about 4/5 - I was taking my time in a shop, it was annoying my mother so she said "Hurry up or we will be locked in", that night I had the worst dream ever. I remember it even now, I was locked in the Library, alone and I was terrified, yes it was only a dream but after that being locked in anywhere freaked me out. I had to leave the lock on bathroom doors open and would have panic attacks if the shop announced it was near closing time. My mum admitted to me not long ago that she was stay in the shops until they did that to help me "get over" my fear, it only made it worse. Even as an adult I get stressed when they accounce the store is closing, even though I know that I won't be locked in. The lorry one was because I watched on tv a police show that saw a overturned lorry on top of a car with a women still trapped in it. I now close my eyes when I am in a car next to a lorry. I also have phobias of lifts (again the whole locked in thing) and spiders.

5. If you were stranded on a desert island-what three things would you want with you? (Not including your laptop or family)

My camera, an endless supply of my favourite foods, and some books.

6. Name three things in your life that you are thankful for.

one - For having two healthy happy children who brighten my day.
two - for being able to work, to provide for my children.
three - that I have a supportive loving mother who has my back no matter what.

7. What was your nickname in High School?.

I don't think I had one at school. I was bullied alot and got called all sorts of things but my friends just called me carly.. actually I do remember one, "Hippy", because apparently I was always in a happy positive mood. Which I guess is a good thing. At home family would call me Carlsburg or Beany.

8. If you could meet the President of the United States, what would you say to him?

"S'up dude" - I have no idea. I don't think there anything I want to say to him, not because I hate him or what ever, it's just not something I have ever thought about..

9. If you could be any literary character, who would you be?

I am completely stuck on this question. I have read millions of books over the years and there's not one character that reminds me of myself or even sticks in my mind. Wow, just wow.

10. What is your favourite quote?

"Day by day nothing changes, but when you look back, everything's different"

I tag anyone who wants to take part in this tag, I look forward to reading your answers

Bean xo

Broadway park

Wreck This Journal.

I am one those OCD book crazy people who loves keeping her books in perfect condition. When I buy it new, I take great care not to ruin the spine - I could possibly hyperventilate at the thought of a crease in the spine (wow I have problems) that new book smell, as awesome as that new car smell and one of the things I love about new books. When I get a new book, I take my time in opening it, looking at it, taking it all in before I open the cover to the first page. (Please tell me I am not the only crazy person who does this?)

So I am asking myself why did I buy this book? The whole point of the Wreck This Journal book is to, well wreck it in as many creative ways as possibly. Each page has a instruction to follow and you do what ever you want, let your mind wander.

The first page I flipped it open to is this.. and my first thought? But the book will get wet, how will I get it dry! can you see my problem? Actually until getting this book I hadn't even realised I had a problem, I'm pretty sure I do sound like some crazy women who needs to get out more, (ha) but yes. 

Actually I am quite looking forward to it. Maybe as the book says "I may begin to live more recklessly" or maybe I'll end up some looney sitting in the corner rocking back and forth, I guess only time will tell.

To get your copy of Wreck This Journal buy here.

- Please note I have not been asked to promote this book in anyway, I brought this book off my back and wanted to write a post on it -

 

Broadway ; a day of rain.

(Lets just take a second to appreciate this photo shall we? #babyselfie. Now on with business..)

Today we decided it was the perfect day to go down to Broadway, - a little village out in the Cotwolds near to where we live - I say "perfect" with a slight smile on my face, for the fact it rained on and off the whole day. Infact even on our way there there was a shower and of course me being me, very stubbornly refused to change my plans. (Yes I was in one of those moods) Anyway just as we arrived and parked up, the rain started up again. Thank goodness there are plenty of shops there to hide in. We used this as an excuse to browse the sweet store and ended up buying too many pretty sweet things.

Once the rain calmed down we walked around looking in all the stores. There was a lovely little toy shop called Rikki Tikki which sold alot of wooden toys. With Archies birthday coming up (*sob*) I couldn't help but make a mental list of everything I loved. I am slightly obesed with wooden toys at the moment, they look so cute, plus they last so much longer!

After we headed to a book store which sold every book you could possibly want. From Charlottes web, to The Twits & of course all of Julia Donaldson's books. All the books were set together with all the charactors from them which I loved even more! I shall be going back here for christmas when "santa" has to fill up his sack. 

For lunch we had a choice of a Fish and chip place or a little Italian one along the main high street. Of course the fish place won. I was happily surprised by this place. It was beautiful the staff warm and inviting and the food was to die for! The toilets made me giggle, they were in the "poop deck", small things like that really appeal to my inner child. Anyway, I had grilled salmon with a salad and chips, Eva had the children's mini fish and chips with a side of mushy peas, she wasn't a fan of these but Archie was happy to eat it all up and had a try of my fish too. He's finally begining to enjoy textures and different tastes so yay!

As soon as lunch was over the heaven's opened once more. The whole reason we went here was to go to the park and that's the one thing we didn't do. Eva wasn't too upset, she was soggy and just wanted to eat her lolly pop. So we headed home, over all though we did have a lovely day. And if the weather is sunnier tomorrow I have pinky promised Eva that I shall take her to the park over there again.

Bean xo

A day at the park

I believe this was something I wanted to do this summer, in actual fact we've been to the park every week this summer. Eva loves them, Archie is still a bit unsure - he loves crawling around on the grass rather then actually playing on anything but he is only little still. (actually reading through my summer wish list, it seems I have done all of them)

Yesterday we decided it was the perfect day for the park. I took so many super cute photos that I struggled to find just one photo today, so I shall share a few more too..

APAD : Housework.

The last few days I have done nothing but clean. We have a house inspection on Friday (the joys of private renting) and although my house is tidy - as tidy as it can be with two young children - something about an inspection turns into some crazy women running around with a duster in one hand and the hoover in the other. 

Eva's room was a nightmare, a bomb had gone off in there, at least that's the only thing I can think of that could cause so much mess in one day! She was very happy when it was tidy as she could actually find her toys. 

So yeah, nothing exciting to report, no family fun days, just cleaning, cooking and crazy children moments.

Bean xo