Summer lovin'

This weekend was a perfect little taster of how summer will be might be if we get one this year.  We spent the majority of the weekend sorting out our garden - the lawn was in a mess when we moved in and we've only just got around to taking it up and re-turfing it.  I seriously underestimated how much hard work it would be but I'm really happy now it's done and I have an overwhelming sense of pride knowing that we did it ourselves!

We did manage to spend yesterday afternoon and evening at Danny's parents' having a barbecue and Tyler cuddles.  I can't believe Tyler's nearly four months old already - it seems like only the other day that he was born!  I can't wait to have more barbecues over the summer - nothing beats chilling out in the garden on a warm summer's evening with a glass of wine and good company :)

Baby love

I'd like to introduce you all to my baby nephew, Tyler.  He was born on Thursday 7th February 2013 weighing 6 pounds and 11 ounces and screaming his little lungs out! I'm completely besotted and cannot get enough of this little man! Max, on the other hand, isn't particularly pleased about being overshadowed.....

As you can imagine with them living only ten minutes from us, we've spent quite a lot of time this week visiting - so far I've managed to avoid nappy changes in favour of cuddles, although I've been told they'll be coming shortly!  I don't mind though - I'm such a proud auntie that I'll do any of it at the moment! ♥

Weekly round up

Another week of eating, eating and more eating! Aside from that we went bowling on Saturday night for my friend's birthday - I was abysmal! I somehow got the knack of curling the ball down the lane and used this to my complete disadvantage by curling it straight into the gutter as it approached the pins. Danny, on the other hand, had been keeping his bowling abilities a secret from me - he was amazing! Strike after strike after strike - at least one of us did us proud! I forgot how much bowling makes you ache but I was definitely reminded when I woke up on Sunday morning and had to do more decorating!

For Father's Day, I took my parents and Rob to the local for lunch. Three delicious courses this time - that place never fails to disappoint! Danny decided not to come with us since he was going out for dinner with his family in the evening so he stayed at home and I returned to a tidy kitchen! I think I'll leave him at home more often :)

After everyone had left, I decided to tackle the lawn in the garden. We hadn't cut it since we moved in and Danny suffers from the worst case of hayfever I've ever seen. He suffers a bit every summer but this summer (if we can call it summer!) seems to be particularly bad - red eyes, tears, sneezing... and that's all after taking antihistamines. Mind you, letting the lawn get quite so long probably didn't help - whoops! It looks much better now though, and the vegetables that Danny has planted are starting to grow quite well - I'll make sure I take photos this week!

.

Project 365: #146 Nephew number 2!

I had an unexpected message from Danny this morning.  Naomi, his sister in law, had gone into labour - a little bit of a surprise since she was only 28 weeks!  After a couple of hours of watching the phone, we got news that she'd had a gorgeous baby boy, Harry, weighing 3lb 1oz.  It's hard to imagine a baby that small!  As he's so early, he's in an incubator and on a ventilator to support his tiny lungs but all the tests that the doctors have done so far have been positive and he's apparently doing as well as anyone could hope :)

Since he's in intensive care until he gets a bit bigger (precautionary for newborns that small), we can't go and visit just yet but welcome to the world little man!  Can't wait to meet you!

Project 365: #135 Christmas Day

I spent Christmas Day at home with my parents and Rob, grandparents and auntie.  We always have Christmas together as a family and this year was no exception.  Christmas morning is spent opening presents  and our stockings before the others arrive, then a big family lunch followed by chilling the afternoon away.  Bliss!  And as you can see, what with all the presents above and my present from Danny yesterday, I was very spoilt :)

2011 in photos

Top row (left to right): January - first dinner I cooked for Danny, February - pancakes at Giraffe, March - England v Ghana

Second row (left to right): April - mime fancy dress, May - Championship play-off final, June - cocktails at The Clarence Hotel, Dublin (owned by U2!)

Third row (left to right): July - 30 day shred, August - turtles in Mexico, September - back to work blues and lots and lots of rain!

Bottom row (left to right): October - a nice photo of me and Danny for a change!, November - fireworks, December - Max on Christmas morning

Well, there it is - my 2011 in twelve photos.  I'm sure that years go by faster and faster as you get older and this year has definitely been no exception to that!  I can't believe it's going to be 2012 tomorrow!

As 2011 was the year I started my blog, I'd like to take this opportunity to thank you all for reading, commenting and following - it really means a lot!  And finally - happy new year!  I hope you all have a great evening welcoming in 2012!

Source

Project 365: #116 Get well soon Mum!

You may remember me mentioning that my mum has been off sick from work for the last three months (hence all the baking here, here, here and here!) with sciatica.  It hasn't been getting any better at all and has sometimes been even worse recently, so she had a lumbar epidural today (to you and me, that's an injection into her spine, between the vertebrae - ouch!)  She gave me a ring after she got out of the hospital to let me know how it was, and said it was the most painful thing she'd ever experienced (this coming from a woman who's had two children and a root canal)  To try and make her feel a bit better, I ordered some flowers from Interflora - it turns out that they do next day delivery!  She was very surprised and happy - job done :)

Project 365: #115 Bonfire Night

WARNING - VERY PHOTO HEAVY POST :)

As you may have guessed, Bonfire Night is one of my favourite nights of the year.  I absolutely love it!  I guess I'm just amazed by fireworks and love getting all wrapped up to go outside and watch them - I wish it wasn't just an annual occasion!  I very nearly missed out on fireworks night this year though - Danny's not a big fan and couldn't be persuaded even when I offered to pay for him! Thankfully, in stepped my brother, who also wanted to go to the display at Newbury Racecourse so we had a sibling evening instead. Unsurprisingly, I absolutely loved it :)

Project 365: #108 Hangover munchies

Nom nom nom :)  After Rob's birthday celebrations the night before, we all headed down to the pub to chill out on the sofas, watch football and eat away our hangovers.  Me and Danny weren't feeling too hungry so decided to order a combo platter to share, thinking that it would be less than a baguette and chips.  Oh how wrong we were - look at the size of it!!!!  Everyone picked at the leftovers a bit though, except Rob, who went for a super high carb meal of a tuna melt panini, chips and garlic bread!  It did get rid of his hangover though!

Project 365: #107 Rob's birthday

My little brother turned 24 this weekend so a big group of us went over to Reading for a night out to celebrate. We started off in a pub and then went to Sakura - a Japanese themed bar and club.  Danny decided to get Rob on the sake shots (you know how they do flavoured vodka shots?  Well Sakura does flavoured sake - yuk!) and they both got a bit addicted to the bakewell tart shooter (advocaat and chambord)  I decided to stay clear of the shots and stuck to cherry blossom martinis - raspberry vodka, cherry blossom sake, cherry liqueur and apple juice with lime, raspberries and maraschino cherries.  I thoroughly recommend it!  I'm definitely getting too old for all this though - we stayed out till 4am and I was almost asleep on my feet!

Project 365: #086 30th anniversary

As I mentioned here, my parents have been married for 30 years this week!  I think that's a pretty big achievement - you hear about so many people getting divorced nowadays and I guess I take for granted how lucky I am for my parents to still be together.  They went out for a nice romantic dinner to celebrate, so I dropped them off and picked them up again (oh how things change from when you're a teenager!)  Congratulations Mum and Dad! ♥

Project 365: #085 Mmmm.....roast dinner!

To celebrate Mum and Dad's 30th anniversary, we took them out for a pub roast lunch today in a village a couple of miles away.  You really can't beat a good roast dinner on a Sunday - my family are quite traditional in that sense and we tend to have one most weekends in the winter.  This one didn't let us down - it was absolutely delicious!  I really do love those Yorkshire puddings!

Weekly top 5

Sorry my weekly top 5 post is quite so delayed this week - I've been really busy, as you will see...

It's been ages since me and Bee, my bestie, had a girls night out.  This weekend, her friend from uni came to visit so the three of us had a girls night - starting with Strictly, X Factor, pizza, cocktails and wine, and then hitting the town.  We had a great night but I was so tired on Sunday!  I also lost my voice as a result of all the talking in loud bars - whoops!

Yesterday was my mum and dad's 30th wedding anniversary!  We took them out for lunch on Sunday to celebrate and I acted as chauffeur last night when they went out for a nice romantic dinner.  In a time when so many people get divorced, I think 30 years is a really big deal - congratulations Mum and Dad :)

I get on really well with my hairdresser, so spending a long Saturday morning getting my hair done is a real treat.  I get foil highlights followed by a cut and blowdry so I'm usually in there for a good couple of hours and really enjoy the perfect excuse for relaxing the morning away!  I had a really bad tension headache on Friday so I especially enjoyed the head massage that came with having the hair dye washed out!  I was nicely relaxed when I came out and my hair was all ready for my girls night out!  Bonus!

We don't actually get much chance to spend a day together as a family anymore, so going out for lunch together and then all chilling the afternoon away at home made a pleasant change!  I think we should probably do it more often, rather than only on special occasions!

All photos from weheartit.com

After lots of looking, Danny and I have finally settled on somewhere to stay down in Cornwall at the beginning of October.  It'll be really nice to get away for a week - have a break from work and some time to ourselves!  I can't wait :)

Five to follow:

Charli...

Emily Charlotte

milkteef

Sunshine Sam

rockstar diaries

Hope you're all having good weeks so far!