A Very Glam Night

Last night was the annual award ceremony at work - another chance to get glammed up, enjoy some free wine and really good entertainment. Last night Vernon Kay was the host, Jason Manford did a comedy routine and Lulu was the singer. Not everyone at work gets invited to this event but last night most of my friends managed to get tickets so it was great to have a dance with the girls. I am feeling delicate this morning but am off to pick up my new car later - so another exciting day ahead.

Date for 1

I've been to watch Bond - Skyfall at the cinema this afternoon and I went ..... on my own. The showing was sold out so I had a seat between 2 families and once I sat down I was absolutely fine. I was so nervous before I went I was worried i'd look a bit of a weirdo going on my own but so what if I want to do things then I have to get out there and no worry about what others think. It was so very liberating and I will definately do it again. The film itself was brilliant, I think Daniel Craig is a brilliant Bond and there were a few twists that I didn't expect. Then I came home to find a surprise visitor up from London had called to see me which was lovely - its been a great Sunday. I am however completely unmotivated to sort the house out - but it'll get done this week and it's not bad - it just looks lived in!

Halloween is coming

It's been an odd week not seeing the monkeys all the time but I know they have has fun with Daddy so all ok. This afternoon their dad wanted to go to football - blue monkey didn't want to go - so they both came home for a few hours of fun. We carved a pumpkin for Halloween, blue monkey practised his letters - I can't believe he can now write his name - coloured in his spiderman canvas I'd got him and pink monkey played on the iPad - that girl is so funny she's really good at getting her way around it and watching all her videos. It was a great few hours - I'm enjoying a lazy Saturday night infront of some rubbish sat night tv.

Ice skating

After taking Blue monkey to Disney On Ice he decided he wanted to go ice skating - the monkeys have spent half term with their Dad, luckily as he lives just up the road I manage to see them both too, and today I had a day with blue monkey and off to the skating rink we headed. It certainly wasn't the gliding experience I imagined, we managed 3 laps round together with me basically holding him up - the first time he stepped on the ice he fell on his bum but after that he clung onto me and we managed to stay upright. After that we headed off to Frankie and Bennys for lunch then onto our friends for a play before Daddy picked him up and I can get ready for a girls night.

And yes blue monkey is wearing odd gloves -I couldn't find a pair so had to compromise ops!

Here we go again

So today we've accepted an offer on the house - 3rd time lucky hopefully! What a great way to start the weekend. Fingers and toes crossed please everyone.

Disney on Ice

Tonight was treat night for me and blue monkey we went to see Disney in Ice, pink monkey also got a treat by having a sleepover at her nanna's. I remember when I was little winning a colouring competition in the local paper for tickets for the same thing so I was really excited to be able to take blue monkey to something I remember loving. We headed into Manchester in time for a quick visit into my office then off for tea at Tampopo - blue monkey loves the chopsticks - not too keen on the food today, he said it was too spicy.
Our friends met us and off we went to find our seats. The show had all the Disney favourites, Mickey and Minnie, Little Mermaid, Peter Pan and a couple I hadn't heard of. I thought it was great - blue monkey enjoyed it but as it was way past his bedtime he really struggled to keep his eyes open towards the end. I love nights like this - he's growing up so fast and we are now able to do more exciting things together.

Overcoming the fear

I have an irrational fear of pigeons - I hate them I am the person in the street who ducks when one flies slightly too close, I can never see that phobia being solved.
However I am also a teeny tiny bit afraid of cats - which then makes my following statement a little bit strange. We are going to get a kitten - 1 maybe even 2 - I really want one so said phobia after getting scratched when little needs to be solved. A visit to my friends house today ended with not 1 but both her cats taking a liking to me and sitting on my lap - one even fell off and used its claws to grab my jeans - even then I didn't bother. So finally 30 years on me and cats are a good combo so I will not be hiding in corners waiting for my cat to disappear - I'm going to turn into a cat lady. Now I just need to find the perfect 1 - this could take some time.

What makes me happy...

Saturday night all curtains drawn, yummy meal from m&s no need to slave over the stove, new lounge wear and slippers, glass of wine, chocolate (low fat) pud in the fridge, Strictly on the telly with Take me Out to follow later and a lovely freshly made bed to climb into later.

All of the above ticked - I am one content girl.

Scrummy fabric

But what shall I make with it?

Look what I've made

2 friends asked me to make them pictures for presents for a birth and a christening and here are the finished items. My camera skills are rubbish - but I am really pleased with how they've turned out. One has already been given and my friend loved it so phew, the other is to be dropped off tomorrow - fingers crossed she likes it too.

Weekend exhaustion

Whoever says weekends are for relaxing and getting re-energised for the week ahead have never spent two days in my house - me and two hyper monkeys, I think they could still be going strong now if I hadn't put them to bed.

There has been a lot of food involved this weekend - I had the girls from school around for tea last night. I made steak sarnies and sides from Jamie's 30 minute meals - and although it took this slow coach longer than 30 minutes it definitely looked like the picture when I'd finished and tasted so good - its going onto my list of favourite meals. The starters and dessert were covered by the girls and I forgot to take a picture of the brilliant anti pasti that was made but I did take a photo of the biggest red velvet cupcake I have ever seen!

Today it was my gorgeous cousin's 40th birthday party - blue monkey requested that we make chocolate cakes to take with us - I was out voted on vanilla cupcakes - far too boring! The food as usual at my families parties was amazing and I ate far too much - I'm sure I keep mentioning the word diet but it doesn't seem to be starting.

Blue monkey wore his new Stone Roses jumper to the party - mummy is trying to ensure his musical tastes are mixed - we were all dancing round the kitchen earlier to Moves Like Jagger and Mumford and Sons!

Back to work tomorrow - I am looking forward to sitting at my desk and being able to enjoy a coffee without a little person pulling at my leg or arm every ten minutes. I love them to bits but phew this weekend has been tiring.

Naughty Mummy

If you don't want to rush home straight from work and school pick up, you know the monkeys will be a bit excitable and hungry and you don't mind being seen as a bad mummy then MacDonalds is the place to go. I have never done this before but thought why not lets go for a treat a even roped another "bad" mummy in with me. Monkeys all loved it and they were good as gold too. We became "good" mummies by buying them milk not fruit shoots though - even if someone only got the milk because she'd run out at home - excellent!!!!

So so upsetting

I have just read one of the most upsetting articles I've seen in a long time. A little girl probably between the ages of pink and blue monkey lies killed on a pavement in Syria - not only was she brutally murdered but because of the fear her body was left there I pray that the photographer took it in the seconds prior to someone running up to her but I fear not - the area seemed empty. We are so lucky to be living in a country of freedom I have no idea if there is anything we can do to help these children but I am going to find out.

Coffee, cake and charity

Today I organised a coffee morning in aid of MacMillan - as someone who benefitted from them when my Dad was ill I really try every year to give a little bit back.
Today was the first time I've done it at work - normally I do it at home but thought I'd get all my lovely colleagues involved and they certainly all stepped up to the challenge. Think everyone must be watching Great British Bake Off as there was so many cakes. I made blueberry loaf, banana loaf, guiness cake and chocolate fudge cake. My arteries feel blocked tonight but we raised over £100 and there are more cakes for tomorrow.
I do feel that maybe its time for me to start looking at my diet - my body is craving fruit and vegetables which is disgraceful.
Update - we raised £130 for MacMillan.