Banana and cinnamon muffins for breakfast?...go on then

The wedding diet was supposed to start last week, it didn't. I have no excuse, it just didn't happen and now I'm seeing a bit of a worrying pattern...when I'm feeling a bit anxious I eat. However, I haven't given up all hope of shedding a couple of pounds before the big day, I'm hoping nervous energy will boost my metabolism and I'm going to try and be very sensible for the next 6 weeks. Before I made this decision I baked banana and cinnamon muffins, so I had to delay the start of the diet, no big deal, I'll start tomorrow..promise. During the week breakfast is a rushed affair, I tend to be applying mascara whilst shovelling cereal into my mouth whilst negotiating with LV that a two course breakfast will suffice. So, at the weekend, we try to make a bit more of an event out of breakfast and we all sit down at the table to eat together....Rob didn't make it this morning, he was struggling to keep more than one eye open so I gave him a lie in pass (so kind). Muffins will be off the menu for a few weeks, starting tomorrow!

xo.

Is it mad to get excited about a fridge?

I'm thinking that the answer to this question is definitely yes, but I just can't help it. I love looking at pictures of kitchens, I drift off into 'dream home' zone where I fantasize about how I could decorate my own. I have what I want in my minds eye, a cosy hub for all family activity, where we cook, relax, eat together....I'm collecting the contents and will hopefully make my vision a reality someday soon. Until then check out this amazing fridge!

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It's massive...love the colour too and then I found this...

an amazing pastel coloured cooker!

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Dreamy.

I just totally love them. A kitchen with items like these above would definitely inspire me to spend more time there thus forcing me to learn to cook something other than cake?! and if it didn't, I'd just sit in it, admiring it, all day long.
xo.

America...stop stealing my friends!

This weekend was bitter sweet, I had the pleasure of hanging with my my favourite gang of gal pals, but it was tinged with sadness as we were saying 'au revoir' to two  members, George and Jo. George is off to California and Jo New York, sounds rubbish I know. Both are transferring with work and both are about to embark on what I'm sure will be life changing adventures. I'm proud and excited for them. I'm also pretty psyched about heading out to the US of A myself to pay the girls a visit. So, the leaving do, what a hoot we had, there was marshmallows, pizza, cookies, chips and dip...balloons, stars and stripes themed tablecloths, paper plates and a PINATA!!amazing. There was music, dancing, cocktails, laughter and an incredibly painful headache the morning after to the extent where I had to support my head with my hands as I descended the stairs, but it was indeed a small price to pay for a fabulous party, with beautiful friends.

Another key highlight was Ally coming to bed (an hour after me) and announcing to me as I stirred that she was not LV, this I realised as LV is my daughter, 2.5 years old, whereas Al is 28 and I have no recollection of giving birth to her! After this misunderstanding she collapsed into bed and instructed I turn the light off.....'sure no probs Al', I've only been asleep for an hour and then woken in unusual circumstances with you claiming not to be my daughter!! A lowlight was receiving a text message at 7am (4 hours after getting into bed, 3 hours after the offspring mix up) that woke me, from a colleague stating he 'still had my fake Christmas tree at his and when would I like it back..' ummmm not now, how about at CHRISTMAS!! and not 7am on a Sunday morning.

Highlights:

Me and Jo, I am short, but not a borrower - Jo is standing on a ledge

This is lovely, apart from the double chin I'm sporting but I thought I'd kindly take one for the team as the others look splendid. Jo, George, Em, Me (with the double chin).

Sneaky, sneaky Emily!

Hahahahaha

Jo, Han, Al, George, Em, Me (trying to hide a cigarette - naughty)

Thank you for a fantastic night girls...(and for all the other fantastic days/nights over the last 13 years). xo.

Say what LV?

I love LV's interpretation of some of the classics, she's clearly a budding lyricist:
"Swinkle swinkle chocolate box, how a wonder what you are"
hmmmmmmm

This mornings greeting:
"My mummy...I not sad I just lonely"
Quoting her favourite bedtime book Lost and Found

Journey back from Wales
"Stop mummy, the cows are eating our lunch!"
I have not once fed LV grass for her lunch, not once!

Getting dressed
"I'll wear these leggings as a dress"
I'm not sure how you'll do that LV

Looking out the window
"Where's sun gone mummy?"
Me: "It's behind the clouds"
"Can it come to our house?"
Me: "Not for dinner, but when the clouds move you'll be able to see it"
"No thanks"
OK then....

xo.

Wedding menu. YUM.

Last night we went to our wedding venue for the menu tasting and it was AMAZING. I was super excited and Rob was really tired, not an ideal combination but I tried to tone it down in order for us both to survive (and enjoy!) the occasion. We started with canapes, they're in keeping with the venue being a pub and were delicious (apart from the anchovy pastry straw thing that looked great but tasted gross - it was Robs decision to keep them in...and he does have a point when he says ' you don't like fish, of course you won't like them, but lots of people do like fish', ho hum, I do think I'll need to signpost these though as I don't want anyone getting a nasty surprise when they think they're tucking into a cheese straw!):

Homemade sausages with homemade mustard

 Meatballs with stuffing

Goats cheese and tomato tartlet

Scary straws

 Welsh rarebit

We tried to be sensible and hold back, but we ate the lot.

I was so excited about the main:

Fillet steak with chips and salad garnish and homemade tomato sauce

It was the nicest steak I've ever eaten, truly delicious. I was full, so full and we debated whether we could even squeeze in a pudding and then it arrived and before my brain reminded me to take a picture of it, I ate it ALL. I do love a good Eton Mess! Another 'to do' ticked off the list. And here's a sneaky peak at our venue:

Only 7 weeks to go! xo.

Welsh weekend...

We headed to Wales Friday afternoon (after The Wedding), I was emotional and exhausted after a morning of 'ohhhing and ahhhing' over every aspect of The Royal Wedding I wonder whether I was also on a bit of a sugar crash having eaten three chocolate fondant muffins - before midday...I was anxious. We were greeted in Cowbridge with some lovely decorations:

Saturday we took a trip to Cosmeston Lakes, we chatted to the ducks, we played in the park:

It was tiring:

Sunday we ventured into Cardiff to visit lovely friends Sian and Jamie and then spent the evening in Barry Hospital as we'd forgotten to bring LV's inhaler! After a ropey nights sleep it was back to Nottingham for a snooze on the sofa followed by a trip to the park:

Only 4 weeks only the next bank holiday weekend, horay! xo.

Honeymoon wardrobe...

We haven't actually decided where we're going on our honeymoon yet and with only 2 months to go I'm starting to feel the panic rising...the problem is too much choice and not enough direction. Agreeing on a honeymoon location is definitely on this weeks 'to do' list. More importantly though, I am keen to firm up my holiday wardrobe, difficult when I don't know where we're going, but we'd like it to be hot, so I've based my honeymoon wardrobe browsing around this must have (heat). All of the below are from Topshop:

I also stumbled across this beauty from Whistles, obviously not for honeymoon, maybe for work?!:

Love.

xo.