Friday Quick takes

Danny boy!

1. . Anna went to her very first concert this week- she went with her cousin (chaperoned by Loverboy) to see 'The Script', although of course, the only one who mattered was Danny O'Donoghue.

Morten xx

With their  homemade sign and their hair curled specially, the pair of them screamed themselves hoarse. Exactly as it should be.
 It brought me right back to my first concert (I'm so NOT counting Chris de Burgh/The Singing Eyebrow)-it was Aha in The Kings Hall in Belfast. We didn't even have tickets but we got right to the front anyway - I even saw the gorgeous Morten Harket combing his hair behind the curtain before it started! My teenage experience was complete when later on I swooned dramatically with the heat and the excitement of it all, and had to be lifted over the  barrier by a burly security guard. I instantly declared it the very best night of my entire life EVER.

2.  I hit a personal low this week when I encouraged our youngest son to pee in a Fruit Shoot bottle, in the ladies' changing rooms in Primark. But before you click that x button in the right hand corner of this screen, can I at least explain?
Time was of the essence- I'd two hours to do a load of messages, and by this stage, I 'd already spent one of those precious hours in various public toilets, fruitlessly beseeching nature to take its course.
 In the process,  I'd managed to piss off an old lady on crutches by tying up the disabled toilet for too long, and then to make matters worse, Luke refused to vacate the aforementioned loo, and threw such a hell raiser of a tantrum that I had to physically carry him out past her, bare bottomed, whips round his ankles, while she looked on stoney faced. Understandably enough I suppose, she proceeded to ignore my distracted apology, while I wanted to burst into tears as I  forced my devil child's rigid body into the buggy and strapped him in.
Off  I rushed then round the shops, and was on the third floor in Primark, with a basketful of stuff, when His Lordship informed me that he absolutely, definitely had to go this time. The wriggling around in his seat, indicated that this wasn't another false alarm, so I'd a choice to make- dump my basket, wait for the lift to take me down three floors, run 200 meters to the nearest loo, only to discover that he'd been caught short anyway or..... grab a top ( 3 sizes too small as it turned out), and calmly head for the ladies' changing rooms with my stashed blackcurrant Fruit Shoot bottle.Well,  I did the latter and it worked like a dream. (Still not a good dream obvs)  So now, I'm just ever so slightly concerned that because he was so thrilled with the entire experience, he may well decide to utilise future Fruit Shoot bottles in this novel way, in even less appropriate and even more public settings.Yikes!

3. Have you seen 'Breaking Bad' by any chance? I'd managed to wrestle the box set off  my sister last week before she sold it on Ebay.  I'd heard that it was completely unmissable so we watched a few episodes and, well, Loverboy loves it, while I ...appreciate it. I mean, I do see that it's really original and why it's won all the awards, but I'm just not feeling the love. It's too gritty for me and too much of a leap from my current period drama favs 'Call the Midwife' and 'Mr Selfridge'.
I'm just not sure that I want to see how to make crystal meth from scratch, or how to dissolve a dead body in acid. I'd much rather see romance blossom between Chummy and her policeman, or watch Mrs Selfridge's 'almost affair' with the artist unfold. Clearly, I'm missing something because I felt the very same way about the highly acclaimed 'The Wire' - I just didn't get what the whole fuss was about, and it didn't help that I couldn't understand Baltimore gangland speak-  Loverboy had to pause it constantly to translate it, so in the end I just gave up and watched 'Mad Men' instead.

4. Remember I told you that I'd keep you posted on the 5:2 programme  I've been doing? Well, yesterday was my first monthly weigh in and I've lost half a stone!!  To be honest,  if you see me you won't even notice, because I'm quite good at camouflaging my 'zones', and I'm certainly no stranger to Spanx, but I can definitely feel it round my middle so I'm delighted with myself. The very best part is that I'm finding it easy- something I NEVER thought I d say about losing weight. I'm really strict on my fast days- I actually enjoy the challenge- and then I eat what I want, without the guilt,  for the other 5 days. Mentally, it just seems to work for me, and I'm delighted that it seems to be chipping away at my muffin top as well.

5. Finally, I heard last night that I'm a finalist for the MAD Blog Awards 2013 and I just can't believe that I've been so lucky again, especially when there are lots of better blogs who didn't get through.  There are days when I  ask why  I'm writing about my little life and  wonder who in under God would want to read about it anyway, and I've seriously considered pulling the plug on the whole thing. Then something like this happens and I feel a teeny bit special and very much loved...and it's completely down to you, taking the time to vote even when you've a million better things to do with your time. So I just want to say thank you very very very  much. You. Are. The. Best.

6. If you've made it to the end of these (most definitely not ) Quick Takes, I'll just finish with my Car Seat Boogie. This week it's Debbie Harry's 'I Want That Man'  from 1989. I mean who among us hasn't stood in a pre- formal disco, alcopop aloft, shouting along to 'I wanna be kissed from head to toe, by that man in the very back row'!?  No? Oh. That'd be just me then. Happy Friday my lovelies.xx

Show and Tell

You know how I love a bit of jewellry bling?  I know, I know, probably more than I should... probably more than most...and definitely more than might possibly be considered tasteful. Welllllll, its taken me time, but I've gradually learned to accept, and even embrace it, because when you look at it, it's really a lifelong affliction of sorts, most likely incurable and getting progressively worse with age. 

So it should be no surprise to you, that when I was let loose to shop on Oxford Street last Monday morning, I went a wee bit mad on the old jewellry front. Not,(blessedly), in Harrods or even Harvey Nicks, but in lowly, Irish born and bred, Primark (code name Prada), H&M and Uniqlo. Be still my beating heart, because when my eye fell upon these little beauties, I found myself actually shaking with excitement...shaking, I tell you!  

IRL,  I'm utterly rubbish at playing it cool. If someone says, 'Oooooh, I love your bag! Where'd you get it?'
 Instead of calmly purring 'Oh this old thing? London, darling!', I gush excitedly and tell the truth. 'Marksie's sale, £80 down to (silent drumroll in my head) £20!' 

Given that tendency to overshare, I just HAD to show you my newest little trinkets.... and I won't even make you guess the prices!  And even though I can't see your face right now,  I sincerely hope it's wearing a suitably impressed expression. If its not....I'll just pretend it is! Brace yourself for a blingtastic Thursday....

H&M- £9.99

Prada £8 (necklace) £3.50 (ring)

Prada-£8

Orla Kiely for Uniqlo scarf -£9.99

Proving you can't win 'em all...my £1.50 purple knuckle duster bit the dust on it's first outing...ah well!

All that glitters....

Yummy Mummy Meme

Okaaayyyyy- yesterday I got tagged in this Yummy Mummy meme by Cakes, Babies and Other Ramblings. Of course, being relatively new to the whole blogging world, I had to then frantically google 'meme' to find out what it actually was, and on the off chance that you're interested, here it is!

 First off, apparently it's meant to rhyme with 'theme', but as I've been happily rhyming it with 'gem' in my head instead, it's only gone and stuck like that. At times like this, I'm very grateful for potentially less embarassing virtual conversations.

 In science, a meme is a self-propagating unit of thought, that is spread from one host to another. Richard Dawkins invented the term as a kind of idea-gene. Like genes, as Memes spread they mutate or die. Only the fittest Memes survive.

 In the blogging world, Memes have become synonymous with internet quizzes, surveys, and novelties that people link to and pass around on their blogs, and popular ones are often interesting and give you an insight into different peoples thoughts and behaviours. And perhaps a little more cynically, they're also about links to other blogs and potentially getting new readers for your blog too! Of course, in my case that could totally backfire..... but here goes nothing!

The Rules
 When answering the questions, give as much detail as possible. It's all about the finer details people! Leave a comment Here  (BusyBee blog where the meme was created).
Tag three or more people and link to them on your blog.
Tweet # yummy mummy when you share on Twitter.


 What is the first thing you do when you wake up?
Much as I'd love to say that I begin my meditation, the truth is I usually cop a feel of a sleeping Loverboy and then stagger to the bathroom to do something about my dog breath. ( TMI?)

  Do you shower daily?Are you an early morning shower or an evening bath type?
Jeez, is that a trick question? Surely the only answer to that is 'yes', otherwise you'll be calling me a right minger. I have to say though that I like to mix it up a bit - when I go for my early morning walk, I shower straight afterwards, although this is generally a speedy affair because our two year old insists on opening and closing the cold shower door on me the whole time. Otherwise, I love a long lazy bath after the kids go to bed- peace, magazines and a glass of wine and I've died and gone to heaven.

 Do you wear make up daily? 
 Mostly yes....except sometimes when I'm sure that only my nearest and dearest will set eyes on my pale and freckly bake. But then that's never the case is it? Sod's law means that as soon as I decide to do a Waynetta, perfectly coiffed and manicured friends pop in unannounced.

 What's in your make up bag?
Right now, I'm mad into BB creams that, to be honest, seem very similar to tinted moisturizers, only Grazia says they're more moisturizing(?) and have better sun protection, and that's good enough for me.  Either way, I look better with them on. That and a slick of mascara and lip gloss for day time.
If I'm going out though, it's time for the big guns. I LOVE my Naked 2 pallet from Urban Decay, all things Benefit and my Lancôme Doublewear lip duos. (I don't mind telling you I was GUTTED last year when they stopped doing my favourite 'coffee' one-I mean why they couldn't have retired the manky coral one instead, I do not know.)

 When you're having a slummy mummy day what do you normally wear?
 Waaaaaayyy too easy!  Jogging bottoms, a sweatshirt and my fleecy pink leopard print crocs. (Yes, you read that right.) Can I just say in my defense, that on these days I DO NOT LEAVE THE HOUSE UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES. Although people do tend to call.(see above) 

Nails - how often do you get them done?

Like this, except with diamonds as well...

Almost never. Funny you should ask though, right now, I really fancy leopard print toenails with carefully positioned diamonds on. I'm currently sourcing a nail technician...because, quite surprisingly,  it turns out that not everywhere does it. But school's almost out for the summer, and I feel the need to fortify myself with fabulous toes- more is more, I say. (And no, before you ask, I'm not getting vajazzled as well.)

 Your top tips for tired eyes?
 Bloody hell- sleep of course! If that's not possible, and it's usually not round here, Benefit Ooh la Lift eye brightening boost is almost as good.

 Are you a Starbucks or Costa Coffee kind of girl?
 Both and all the others as well! I adore coffee shops and would happily set up home there. Free wifi, endless coffee and lots of cake- what's not to love? Now that we live in the country, I don't get my skinny latte (extra hot, extra shot), as often as I'd like, but I suppose that only makes me appreciate it more when I do!

 How many children do you have/want?
 I have five- four boys and one girl and yes, they are all mine and we do have a TV.  But I think that'll do us, thank you very much! 

 Where is your favourite place to shop for babies/children's clothes?
 Mostly online. I LOVE Boden, especially in the sale, but my daughter's getting to old for all the big printed dresses now- booo! Obviously M&S, and Gap too, and Primark's fab for jammies, socks and vests. Having four boys means there's a lot of passing down the line, so I find that the good stuff tends to last longer. Buy cheap, buy twice and all that...

 Flats or heels - everyday shoes are?
Heels, heels, heels! I do love the look of flats on other people, especially the ones adorned with jewels or Converse, but when I put them on,  I feel and look like a farmer. The only flats I wear are the aforementioned crocs, flip flops and running shoes. Otherwise, it has to be a least a wedge. Does that make me a bad person?



 As you can see, I was obviously tagged by mistake, as I'm clearly NOT a yummy mummy but too late! Now, in the spirit of the meme, I have to tag three fabulous ladies and hope they don't give me the cold shoulder...
 Sarah @ http://www.apartyofseven.com/
Another Sarah @ http://www.thevoiceofsarahmiles.com/
Dara @ http://mumofalltrades.blogspot.co.uk/