Monday, August 31, 2009

Friend Makin Monday


1. Do you cook every night?
Nope! I try to cook most nights, and try to cook food that Ollie can join us in having, but sometimes it is easier to eat some easily made junk (or takeout). I do love to cook though!

2. What kind of laundry detergent do you use & why?
Bold 2in1 Gel Infusions: Ruby and Jasmine... smells delicious and makes everything so soft!

3. Do you do laundry every day or loads at a time?
I TRY to do a load of laundry everyday, but I never succeed! I always end up doing 4 loads or something on a Saturday!

4. How often do you eat out per week?
Not as much as we used to because we just bought a house... :) Maybe once a fortnight.

5. Where do you usually eat out?
Tony Roma's, KFC, Bishops, Made in Belfast

6. What is your favorite retail store?
H and M

7. What's your favorite thing to drink?
Coke!

8. Do you take vitamins? What kind?
I try to remember! Folic acid and vitamin c!

9. What percentage of the household chores to you do?
70%

10. Do your children do chores? {Or will they, did they, etc}
Nope as Oliver is only 15 months old... but he definitely will do his share when he is old enough! I try to teach him to put his toys away, which is fun for a minute, but he just empties everything out again!

11. Do you go to church?
No.

12. Do you have a housework schedule?
No, but I definitely need one! It is on my 101 in 1001 list so I should get started on making one.

13. Do you keep a working budget?
Trying very very hard :)

14. What do you do at night as a family?
We play with Oliver's wooden blocks, read stories and snuggle! Then when Ollie goes to bed hubby and I snuggle some more!

15. How do you prepare yourself for a new week?
I do the BIG tidy at the weekend so that I'm not spending me whole week doing chores. I normally write down my plans for the week in my filofax!

16. What do your mornings look like?
Ollie wakes anytime between 6.30 and 7.30 in the morning, we change his nappy, have breakfast, watch the morning cartoons, play with toys and then at 9.30 Ollie goes for a nap and I do the tidying up (or a spot of ironing).

17. What time do you get up in the mornings?
Between 6.30 and 7.30.

18. What time do you go to bed at night?
Normally by about 10.30, but sometimes as late as 12! O0o0oh rebel... look at me!

19. How do you manage all of the paperwork that floods into your household? {bills, school work, magazines, ads, etc}
We need to organise ours! Having only moved in in May, it is all in a massive pile in the study... I bought some organisers at the weekend, so that is my big job this week :)

20. How do you keep your household organized? {calendars, charts, etc}
My filofax.... I LOVE IT... it's this one. I have the blue and pink one!

If you want to join in Friend Makin Monday go to .{aefilkins}.

Saturday, August 29, 2009

Photohunt: Surprise




I didn't spend to long thinking about what to post for this week's photohunt because this photo sprang to mind almost instantly. I remember when Ollie was about 8 months old, we were all out for lunch and he kept reaching for the lime in James' drink so we let him taste it. He was VERY surprised but kept wanting to suck the lime again and again!!

Friday, August 28, 2009

I have recovered!

Were back in the blogosphere after a sicky, busy, stressful week!

I spent most of last weekend lying on the sofa under a blanket, surfing and watching tv. Ollie stayed at my mum's house on Saturday and I tried my hardest to feel better!

On Sunday we went to my mum's (to pick Ollie up and...) for Sunday dinner. It is kind of a tradition that we go to one of our folks houses every weekend for dinner (or they come to ours). My mum made sausages and mashed potato with onion gravy (a firm favourite of mine), but I was only able to eat the potatoes and gravy as the thought of eating sausage made me feel ill.

I went into town with my friend Bex on Monday, to pick up a couple of gifts for her fiancé's brithday. It turned out to be one of those days where you just wished you had stayed at home... you know what I mean!! Ollie spent the whole morning before we left grumping at me and screaming at goodnessknowswhat and I thought getting out of the house would help. Wrong. I was able to keep him occupied long enough to eat lunch but that was about it, after lunch he just kept getting upset. I don't think he likes being strapped into his pram anymore, he just wants to run about (even though he is not fully walking yet!). Something that annoyed me to the core though happened when we were on the bus home. Some old lady was sitting behind us and started to play peekaboo with Ollie... he LAUGHED!!! He LAUGHED at this stranger when he had not even TRIED to even smile at me the whole day. Grrrrrrrrrr.

Tuesday was my little brother's (well little, I mean younger than me, but he is about a foot and a half taller) birthday and we all went out for dinner. We went to a place called 'Made in Belfast'. It was lovely, but having only recently got over my bad nausea, I was a little too ambitious when I ordered and by the end of my starter I was pretty much full. I had goats cheese, beetroot and walnut salad (if there is EVER goast cheese on a menu, I get it) and I had the special which was roast monkfish. So good, but I only got to have about 5 mouthfuls before I felt sick. My mum brought a cake for my brother, which had been given to the staff before he arrived and after our main course it was brought out in front of everyone. He was MORTIFIED!

By Wednesday I was feeling pretty much like my old self... I have lost tons of weight though... which is of course a good thing. I haven't weighed myself yet, but I'm pretty sure I have. I feel skinnier. My friend Clare (and Ruby) came and picked me and Ollie up and we all went to the park at Stormont. It's a lovely park and I can't wait to take Ollie back when he is walking confidently enough to be on reins. I had to carry him to the slide and swings because it was too mucky to crawl, but he had fun anyway. Afterwards, we went to a very baby friendly place called the Jellybean Cafe.... they have a FAB kids menu, which includes babycinos (frothed milk with chocolate on top) and shot sized smoothies! (I had a brownie and peppermint tea).

James mum came to stay over night on Thursday, we went for lunch today at the Lockkeepers Inn (stuffed peppers), walked home through the forest and got caught in a mega heavy rain shower. After Flo left, my friend Charlene turned up with her little boy Josh. I love that Ollie has so many friends to play with. It's good for him.

This is probably a really boring post....................

Saturday, August 22, 2009

Ollie's new love/ I am ill

Ollie is just being so adorable at the minute (in between the bouts of hard teething) and this morning he has been kissing his toys! First was in the bath, he kissed his frog and second was downstairs he kissed his new favourite toy... a little fireman!

His attraction to the little fireman is so cute. It is only about 3 inches tall and has bendable arms and legs... he sits it on the coffee table and then crouches over to look at the fireman's face and then grins. It is delightful. He carries it around everywhere and can now say man (comes out as ma though).

He is staying at my mum's house tonight and were going over there tomorrow for dinner so will pick him up then. Today is one of those days I really appreciate being able to be lazy (as much as i miss my gorgeous boy!) and not having to run around after him. I'm sick you see.... very sick :( It came on a couple of nights ago, quite shaky, cold, aching all over with the most incredible headache... and feeling nauseaous... the pains have gone now but I am still feeling queasy all day long, so I'm just rested here on the couch with some lemonade.

I'm so so so hungry, but can't stomach the thought of anything.

Photohunt: Ripples



I tried hard to stay away from water etc.... so I found this... the clouds look like they are rippled... this was the view from our first class seats of the airplane on our way to Cuba for our honeymoon. It was divine!

Friday, August 21, 2009

Cuddles with Ivy!


After Ollie being quite the ladies man the other day, here he is being a big flirt again! This is his friend Ivy who turned 1 month at the weekend (how cuuuuute is she and look at her beautiful little tiny outfit!)! My friend Bex's fiance George was going on his first day back at work so the two girls came over to my house for lunch and a movie. We lay the two of them on the rug and they were in their element. I was so surprised at how gentle Ollie was... I thought for sure he would end up hurting her but he didn't... he was really gentle. How cute is the picture!? The rug is a baby gift from Ollie's great granny and grandad... I am going to lend it Bex now though... Look at how small Ollie used to be on it!

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

First Kiss!

So you know how Ollie learnt to kiss the other day? Well yesterday he had his very first, non family, girl kiss!! He was so chuffed, grinning from ear to ear. It happened yesterday lunchtime with his good friend Ruby (who is almost 2) in his tunnel (of love hehe). It seriously melted my heart. They have been friends for about a year now and because Ruby is older than him, they haven't really socialised THAT much. Now that he is crawling, taking steps and babbling, they are getting on so so well. He follows her wherever she goes and she looks after him!

Here they both are sitting watching tv. Please excuse the grumpy look on Ollie's face... he is just concentrating on the show... not actually being grumpy!

Sunday, August 16, 2009

Number 54 on the list complete

"Find a way to earn money"



So I didn't want to count my blog design business as a way to earn money unless I knew it was something that was going to take off. Well I think now I have done a reasonable number of designs and still have a few customers in a queue, I can now count it as a way of earning money!

I'm by no means 'rolling it in', but the little bits I am earning are making a difference!! I feel happy that I can be a SAHM and still contribute a little to the finances...

Don't even get me started on my other money making ideas that I have planned for down the line!! I have some great business ideas for when Ollie starts primary school! Teehee!

Saturday, August 15, 2009

Photohunt: Artificial




The theme for today's photohunt is 'artificial' and to begin with I was really stuck as to what photo I could use!! Then it hit me really fast, I had artificial flowers at my wedding! Most people have real flowers at their wedding, but we were travelling and there was noway of getting flowers at our destination. My mum bought the flowers for us. I LOVED them. I don't think they looked obviously artificial... mine were pink with diamondy bits and my bridesmaids were white with a few pink in there too.


Best of all, I have kept my bouquet, I didn't throw it. I will always have my wedding flowers and I love that!

Join in Photohunt over at tnchick

Friday, August 14, 2009

Yet another PMM...

The PMMs are endless these days huh? Today Ollie has learnt to kiss. It is the cutest thing I have ever seen. He used to respond to a kiss by just making the kiss noise but not 'kissing' as such. Well today I was on the computer this morning and I felt something soft on my foot and a kiss noise... Ollie had just kissed my foot... and just now he has been kissing me and James loads unprompted!! He does the sweetest little kissy face :)

Thursday, August 13, 2009

Number 26 on the list complete!

"Make a list of 101 things that make me happy."
  1. Oliver
  2. Hubby
  3. Surprises
  4. Hot bubble baths
  5. Cuddles
  6. Birthdays
  7. Flowers
  8. Ollie's smiles
  9. Summer
  10. Taking photos
  11. My mum's cooking
  12. Painting my nails
  13. Pay day
  14. Indian Food
  15. Emails
  16. Blog comments
  17. Prawns
  18. Pesto
  19. New clothes
  20. Coca Cola
  21. Good music
  22. Playing rock band
  23. My cosy bed
  24. Holidays
  25. Family days out
  26. Laughing
  27. Being a SAHM
  28. Kisses
  29. Baking
  30. Dogs
  31. New books
  32. Baking
  33. My house
  34. Yankee candles
  35. Crispy bacon
  36. Relaxing
  37. King size beds
  38. Good manners
  39. Nice dreams
  40. Compliments
  41. Cocktails
  42. Candy floss
  43. Taking photos
  44. Kool Aid
  45. Sleeping late
  46. Sugar
  47. Travelling
  48. Fresh laundry
  49. Listening to Ollie babble
  50. Having a flat tummy
  51. Date nights
  52. Discussing the future
  53. Making friends
  54. Achieving a goal
  55. Winning
  56. Dancing
  57. Singing
  58. Crossing things off my 101 list
  59. Fried onions
  60. Sex
  61. Blogging
  62. Making lists
  63. Wearing pyjamas
  64. Cupcake sprinkles
  65. Christmas dinner
  66. Starting a new book
  67. Finishing a book
  68. Daydreaming
  69. Lip gloss
  70. Turquoise
  71. Pink
  72. Flirting
  73. Pillows
  74. BBQs
  75. Pastel gel pens
  76. Musicals
  77. Sweetcorn soup
  78. Salt
  79. Tattoos
  80. Fires
  81. Wooden floors
  82. Toast with butter
  83. Make-up
  84. Snow
  85. Avocado
  86. Movies
  87. New music
  88. Online shopping
  89. Long weekends
  90. Watching James as a daddy
  91. Being organised
  92. Solving problems
  93. Win win situations
  94. Music festivals
  95. Ikea
  96. My pandora bracelet
  97. Weddings
  98. Happy tears
  99. Jim Halpert from The Office
  100. Sweet and salty together
  101. Fridays

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Mega PMM

Mega Proud Mummy Moment! About 40 minutes ago Ollie took his very first 2 steps :) He was so excited about it and it was so so cute. Were going to do loads of practice tomorrow!! It looks like I might be just about right on my original estimate that I gave when he learnt to stand at the end of July... I gave it 2 weeks until he was walking!! Let's see how he does the next couple of days!

Little lovesome loves his veggies (and an award!)

This is Ollie eating corn on the cob at his nanny's. He is not a fussy eater I'm pleased to say. He loves most vegetables, but corn on the cob is his new thing...

Yesterday I got an award from Jamie over at this is me; consequently. Thank You so so much Jamie for thinking of me!


I am allowed to give this award to up to 15 people (I'm only giving it to 4) so here goes:

DiPaola Momma at Chicken Nuggest of Wisdom
Jia at Color Me Untypical
Lisa at Smell The Coffee Lisa
Bex at Ivy - Born to Bloom

Number 76 on the list complete!

"Get measured for bras."

I have not been measured for bras properly since just before Ollie was born.... and since then they have gone up 2 cup sizes and shrunk right back down to apparently a 34B. How very very exciting indeed (not). More exciting though is the fact that since not a single bra I own is a 34B, I had the oppurtunity to buy a bunch of bras in my correct size! Look at what I picked up for just £38 (matching panties with some of them even!). Woop!


Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Number 11 on the list complete!

"Sew something and use it"

I found an online tutorial to make bean bags over at Lil Blue Boo and thought they were adorable. so I borrowed my mum's sewing machine, bought some fabric and got started. Mine are slightly different in that I have sewn felt letters on the top rather than using fabric paint. I am also using the same fabric for all 5 (to spell out OLLIE). I found a fabric that I thought looked quite crocodile-y since Ollie's room has a zoo theme and there are crocs on his border. I have not yet finished the other 4, but I can cross this off since Ollie is having fun playing with the first one (therefore being in use). He has never had a bean bag before and seems really intrigued by it.



I can't wait to finish the others!

Number 56 on the list complete!

"Organise and de-clutter cupboard under the stairs"

I actually made a point about doing this last week but then forgot to strike it off my list and post about it! The cupboard, since we moved in, has been the place we have put anything miscellaneous. It was a MESS! I have a green bin in which I put everything that needs to be ironed, but this was overflowing. I wish I had taken a before picture because it really was crazy.



Monday, August 10, 2009

"Tickle Tickle"

Ollie just learnt to say this in the past week and it is the cutest thing ever. He comes over and tickles (scratches!) you and says "ticka ticka ticka"... I could just eat him up! Yesterday he said, for the first time, dog and no!

That brings his word count to about 9:

Hello
Hiya
Ticka Ticka
Baw (ball)
Mama
Dada
Harry (my step dad)
Dog
No

Belfast Taste and Music Festival


I had no idea this was even on! James told Ollie and I on Friday that he was taking us for a surprise on Saturday and he would not tell us where we were going until we reached our destination! It was so exciting. James and I rarely have surprises!! We always know what dates were going on, what our christmas presents will be etc so this is the first surprise in a long time.

He took Ollie and I to the Belfast Taste and Music Festival. Yum! It was fantastic! There were about 25 stalls serving food that was being cooked by professional 5 star chefs and there was a big stage where music was being played... While we were there Juliet Turner played and it was lovely to sit on the grass and eat VERY good food listening to relaxing music!

Ollie had a crab cake (his first taste of crab ever) and seemed undecided on whether or not he liked he. He managed to eat the whole thing though... but would not dare to touch the coleslaw.



The first food I had was 2 massive jumbo shrimps in some weird tempura style batter with sweet potato puree and beetroot puree... it was divine! The batter tasted so so good.



and then I had a kangaroo burger! It was very nice and meaty... kind of like a beef burger but a much richy flavour. I didn't pig out... these portions were all tiny sized so that you could have a few different things!!


Ollie showed off some of his newly found standing skills... he likes an audience, and there were A LOT of people there.

I decided to spend the last of my money on a savoury item rather than a sweet item. I would normally choose a starter over a desert... I can't get enough of lovely, salty, savoury food :) These ribs were fantastic. I could eat ribs forever.


James spent the last bit of his money on a pastry selection... very fancy and a bit girly... it had a WARM, fresh baked scone with jam and clotted cream, a pastry and cream swan and a fruit and custard tart!


... and then it started tipping with rain so we left feeling relaxed, with Ollie asleep in his pram, and our tummies full!

Saturday, August 8, 2009

A trip to Indianaland!

Indianaland is a soft play area close to our house. It is fab. Ollie gets in free at the minute because he still can not walk which is a bonus! My friend Charlene (and little Josh) took Ollie and I on Wednesday. It was so so much fun. The last time we had been was when Ollie was about 6 or 7 months and he had not yet learned to crawl, so there was not a lot he could do and I had to lift him from one section to another.

Now that he is crawling and has a bit of freedom, he had an absoultely awesome time. He chased other babies, went through an obstacle course on his own, played in the ball pool and played with puzzles on the wall!






Ollie stands unaided (and a fascination with mummy's necklace)

Ollie finally learnt to stand all by himself! We were playing with his Tonka Truck in the living room during the week and I took my eyes off him for a second only to turn around and see him standing, not holding on to anything. The look of concentration on his face was priceless. I had my camera beside me and was desperate to capture the first time standing so that James could see when he came home, but I was terrified that if I moved I would either miss it or it would put him off and he would fall! It was so surreal to see but so exciting. He then took a step a couple of nights ago. He landed on his hands but I reckon it won't be long until I have a walker!!

Since the first time of standing unaided, he has been doing it a lot. He can not yet stand himself up from sitting, but he is working on it.

Here are some photos of him the other day when he emerged from my bedroom with a bead necklace of mine. When he discovered that I saw him with them he made a dash for it!




How alike are Ollie and his 2 week older cousin?

Two very handsome boys!

Introduction of the naughty step!

Ollie is currently going through a 'testing the boundaries' phase at the minute and it is driving me INSANE. We have Virgin Media which has catch up tv... anytime I am watching a catch up show he comes and presses the button to turn off the Virgin box!! This means I have to turn it on again, go into catch up, select the show and then fast forward to the part I was at. Either that, or he presses the button on the side of the tv which turns it on to HDMI, AV1 or the component bit (wii, xbox 360 etc)........... gah!

He used to respond so well if I said "no" in a firm voice... now he just smiles and ignores me. So we have introduced the naughty step (which is at the bottom of the stairs). To begin with he just smiled and waved at me from his naughty step, but it seems to be having a bit more of an effect now and the amount of tv button pressing has started to slowly reduce.


"You have got to be kidding me!"


"Oh right, you weren't joking!"

"Sorry mammy!"

"I'm going to play with Daddy now."

Saturday, August 1, 2009

Photohunt: Entertainment



The above photo is of Ollie watching his favourite show "In the Night Garden". It's a funny picture because it looks like the tombliboos are walking towards him!! I think it is perfectly fitting of the theme entertainment.

If you would like to participate in photohunt go to tnchick.

The list is finished at last...

My list is in the sidebar. I'm so excited. Today is going to be my start date and the end date will be 27th April 2012. I will cross off as I go, and later today I will also group them into home, family, health etc.

Some of the items where it says everyday I have put in brackets my counter but only up to 90 days. This is because I am hoping that if I do something for 3 months it should come to me second nature/ like a habit.

my 101 list...

I am currently still working on my list... I will be setting my start date as soon as the list is finished.l I am on number 69 and really struggling to think of the others!