Tantrums, Winter styles and Hurrah For Gin – the book #littleloves

Last updated on May 5th, 2024 at 02:39 pm

If you have been following me long or just follow me on social media you will know my daughter is acting out all the sudden. Whether it’s for attention, she is under the weather, threenager stage, or just because, it’s been a tough week and half for me. Having never had any of this with my son, it’s safe to say it caught me by surprise from the quiet, shy child of mine. When her new personality showed it’s face to us, I was stumped and teary. Having a week or so under my belt and the amazing support of instagram and readers of this blog I have coped and survived. Thank you. Yes, I know, it’s only a phase. Yes, I know, just have patience. I will get there….just may take me as long as it takes her to move out of the phase. 

But I am decorating the house for Halloween with a few bits here and there and took the kids to get their Halloween costumes which was so exciting. I can’t wait to share them with you. We also took our first trip to St. Anne’s Lytham beach and pier for some family fun. We had envisioned riding the donkeys, jumping on the bouncing castle, playing arcade games, eating ice cream and family photos on the beach. None of the above happened. We got one carousel ride for a few seconds before MM decided World War 100 should start and ended up going home with a grumpy family. You can see her being cheeky as we tried to capture just one photo of the four of us together below. Laughing is the first sign she is about to throw a fit, weirdly. But we did get to put our toes in the sand and enjoy the sunshine for a minute. Positive thinking.

So really life is good here minus some major tantrums here and there.

THIS WEEK I AM LOVING…

Ok, so let’s put this out there, I have been told I have no sense of humor. Well, I am American and living in England it’s not always easy to catch the sarcasm and quick wit. Sue me! However, I bought my friend, Katie Kirby’s new book Hurrah For Gin (can I call you a friend Katie or I am just merely a stalker who had you in my hotel room once hahaha) and I couldn’t wait to read it. Having read every parenting book there is on this planet and being one of those parents that tried to follow every routine from feeding to napping to dream feeding and sleeping routine, I was curious how she would make this different. Boy howdy, did she make it hit them all out of the ball park. Excuse the Americanism, but so true.

I may not have a sense of humor but I catch Katie’s wit to every parenting stage and situation perfectly. I love the size of the book as it just fits nicely in my handbag and I have been popping it out every chance I get to read it. From snorting laughter in the coffee shop while MM has her Spanish lessons to reading it in the public toilet while waiting for B to finishing pooing. (true story). It was a page turner. Loved it and just may have to read it again for good measure.

I am so proud of you Katie and all you have accomplished. You have done amazing on this book and I can’t wait to read another.

Have you heard I am back to vlogging. After not being able to all summer at my parents due to lack of wifi, and equiptment in the mountains, I am home and settled into it again. Here is one I did this week on Our Autumn Kid’s Reading Corner. We love switching out the books each seasons for our kids to keep storytime interesting for us all. It includes October and November for Autumn so we have Halloween and Thanksgiving books as much as books about the changing leaves and animals preparing for winter. I would love to hear what other videos you want to see from me? I have a few room tours as I know a lot of you have asked that over the summer with all the house changes. Please any suggestions leave in the comments below.

We are finally in the middle of Season Two of Game of Thrones as we haven’t had a lot of time where both me and the hubster are home together to watch it. I can’t believe we didn’t catch the wind of this addictive series until now. Where have we been hiding? We are hooked and just want to watch endless hours of it. If it weren’t for the hubster I would watch endless hours of it but he likes to savor the entertainment with one here and there. It kills me but at the end I am always grateful for him making it stretch out. 

Normally I stick with a trend or style and use it in my wardrobe throughout the week but this week has been a funny one. I got caught in my gym gear one day, all day after the gym session I just didn’t have time to go home and change. Ooops. Two of the days, I was dressed once for meeting and another for a lunch date with an old friend. The rest have been lazy skinny jeans and big shirt days and possibly a blazer so I don’t have to wear a coat. I hate wearing coats. With that crazy random trend I also been curly and straight this week which almost never happens I am usually one or the other. There must be something in the water. I have pulled out a few outfits and items I haven’t worn in years which feels great and like I have a new wardrobe. I love recycling old clothes to the front of the wardrobe again. Don’t you?

I have been in the kitchen as promised but haven’t had a chance to get two of the recipes I want live yet…so stay too for delicious treats coming your way. In the meantime, I have been making changes again to the house or putting final touches in some rooms I should say. These gorgeous Scandinavian prints have really finished off our spare room as much as the larger nature ones we put in the back room. Click the photo to see what else we have been hanging up. What do you think of my gallery wall mixed with mini shelves? 

This week’s favorite features over on my instagram community have been full of wonderment. I love instagram and how much it brings people together from around the world. Come give these gorgeous feeds some much deserved love and say hello to the other snappers joining in while you are there. I would love you to join us just hashtag your photos with #lifecloseup. I share my favorites here every Friday and every Sunday on my own instagram feed. It’s a great way to get to know more instagrammers.

Linking up to Coffee Work Sleep Repeat for #littleloves