Sweet nothings

fab five on friday

Its about time I started doing this post again-

five fab things from the week just gone? Time to literally count our blessings, never a bad thing. 

1) I'm not feeling that well, but I have the sweetest girls in the world. My daughters all rallied round me last night and this morning to help with the most basic of chores that I was struggling to do with flu/cold heavy arms and legs. Daisy in particular - my little carer and mother hen- said all I have to do is show her 'how to turn those buttons' on the washing machine and she will do the laundry so I can sit down. And I am not to worry because she and Mollie can 'make toast for everyone for dinner'. Aw.... 

2) I've been busy workwise. And whilst yes, I would love to be busier in certain areas of my photography, any photography work is brilliant. I am learning new types of photography that maybe I wouldnt have chosen/attempted but find I am enjoying it. Be open, say yes to all new opportunities. thats what I'm working with. 

3) Laughing. Despite the weather/sickness/workload/etc, I have laughed so much this week. I truly love people who make me laugh. And am lucky enough to have work friends, close friends and online friends who make me laugh often. 

4) Fate I may believe in, luck - I dont. Luck is really what lazy people call the benefits that hard working people get, earn and come across. I am grateful for a very hard working husband, and two hard working big kids and for my own work starting to pay off. We think heart and soul are the minimum effort required. 

5) Driving home. Ahhhh; our lane, the surrounding lanes. The fact the school run is pretty much an idyllic view of sun rises, sunsets and rural vistas. Its not a bad way to spend 15 minutes twice a day. 

May your friday be fabulous xx

fab five on friday

whats fabulous this friday? well...

1) Leaves are falling. truly messy I know, but soooo very pretty. I keep stopping to take an iphone shot of leaves. Leaves in puddles, leaves on the trees, different coloured leaves, leaves in a pile, leaves stuck to the car window... okay you get the idea :) Its the little things, people, the little things..

2) Winter BOOTS are in all the stores. Makes my day to see them all. *sigh* tall boots, ankle boots, shoe boots, brown boots, black boots, shiny boots... Hello :) My name is Melanie and I am addicted to boots. I own quite a few. But there are sooooo many pretty ones still left to own!!

3) People. I'm a lucky soul, got some fab people in my life.

4) The girls have had a good week at school. Friends not causing any issues, school work being happily done, lessons and extra curriculum activities being enjoyed. Might not sound massively amazing but Oh! how much that knocks me when they aren't having a good week!

5) Planning some meet ups. Getting some time with friends I dont see much, love that! 

fab five on friday

Whats truly FAB in my little world, right now!

1) In the right place at the right time. Theres been a lot of that lately. wooo! People in the right place, kind words in the right place, sweet thoughts in the right place and a whole big lot of good...
Is it destiny or our own doing that causes this? I dont know. But I'm out for finding the right place and the right time.

2) Finding common ground. saying - oh my gosh! me too! is just the greatest feeling. Connection. Its fabulous. 

3) There's quite a bit in my life I could do without. Theres quite a bit I am tired of, have run out of steam with. Things, people occasionally, places, obligations.... you know. But there is quite a lot of silver linings, good bits and bright sides, Hurrah for those. 

4) Travel plans. Ooooo. Travel plans - happening really soon plans, not too far away plans and dreaming of it kind of plans. Travel rocks. :) 

5) My favourite time of year - here it comes. Autumn. I kinda of let Summer {ha! if we can call it that...} slip by me. Not so this season. This season, I am working it. Its going to be busy, mad, oversubscribed and a whole lot of fun :)

 

fab five on friday

came round fast!

fab five in photos from today I think...

{click on them to view them better/bigger/more clearly }

1) Mottisfont Abbey, from the back. siiiiigh, love big houses of this period. I come over all Jane Austen-y. :)

2) tree made for sitting on...

3) Rows and rows of lavender, and a big garden. Sounds like the solution to world peace to me...

4) Mottisfont, from the front. I know one thing, if this was my house, I would absolutely not share it with tourists and picnic eaters... 
I'm nice like that. ;) LOL

 5) Walled gardens that go on for ever. Heavenly :)

 

 

fab five on friday

phew... moments to spare before it isnt Friday anymore..

1) Forced time in. Having to wait in for workmen and suchlike is a bit of a pain to me. I like to go out and about. But I've had to spend a day and a half sat inside.... and have read a really good novel, made two glass bead bracelets, painted a 'party' sign, designed some funny posters, and baked some new goodies. Awesome :)

2) Talking to friends. this never gets old, it always makes me happy.

3) Bargain new bedding for the girls room. £17 for two duvet covers! They were so excited about them! Bless 'em!

4) Good banter and time with my not-a-teen-anymore son.

5) Photo taking plans :) Putting some important people back in the picture :)

 

 

fab five on friday

I am shattered. I have been walking, climbing, digging and walking some more ;) My aim is to move more than usual on days I dont go to the gym - let me tell you; I'm just going to the gym from now on!! much easier! So I think I'll make my fab five all photos, I have a fair few from the last few days :)

 

:)
1)


This was my view from my sunbathing spot today.  Ahhhhhh... peaceful. 

2)

Ladies that picnic ;)

3)


 Balance ;)

4)

 
Dew drops on a teeny tiny cobweb...

5) 


Ms Ida Chicken :) 

fab five on friday

1) Bright spots amongst not so fab moments.. I have really been noticing them today. Today has not been great. I'll be honest, its had its really bloody rubbish moments, but every now and then I've seen a 'silver lining' and I remind myself... it could be worse...

2)  Dress sales. Currently all over town. and online. Ah, its a girlie thing. And in a favourite but usually too expensive store I scored a 60% reduction on a dress. One can never have too many dresses right? ;)

3) Surprise sunshine. I tell you this morning it rained, it was grey, it was blurgh generally out of my window. An hour after getting dressed, it was lovely and sunshiny. It made my natural light photo shoot today a whole lot easier!!

4) Pizza out last night with some of my friends. Not much cant be solved by chitchat, wine and pudding...

5) Actioning it. It is easy to talk and make 'one day' plans. It is easy to put things off. It is easy to say you'll sort this out soon/next time. But I love it when I - or someone else with me - actually put things into motion. Says right NOW. Lets stop talking and starting doing something.  
Pure awesomeness. 

 

Fab five on Friday -vacation edition!

Welcome to fab five  on Friday, whilst away on my little holiday trip. So no picture of the fab logo... I left that at home. I might need to point out, while travelling is awesome...the actual journey - with small people and lets be honest the husband too ;) - rubs me up the wrong  way. Okay okay, it makes me bitter...lol 1) a very fab thing today is I am not actually travelling in a car with bored people and a sat nav having a meltdown... Not anymore anyway. That was a VERY long seven hours. 2) thank you apple, for iPhones and this here iPad. For allowing me to keep sane on the trip. For letting me blog, map read and google random Dutch words... I don't even recall what I did without you. Never ever go away okay?! 3) blue sky, sunshine, wow. It's been awhile, this is def FAB! Hello sandals-instead-of-boots, how nice to see you again. 4) villas bigger than you expected. Does that sound shallow? Ah, heck, three hours in a car yesterday, one distinctly rubbish hotel with no sleep last night, and those hours in a car today can make you pretty shallow ;) this cottage/villa is much nicer than I expected. Tis lovely. 5)Spas, sunbeds and bikinis, instead of raincoats and school runs. 'nuff said people, nuff said Sent from my iPad.

really late. no change there then.

fab five on friday

I mentally wrote these yesterday. LOL But I truly did not sit at my computer til almost bedtime..and frankly, mentally writing is good enough, just gotta figure out an app that types thoughts into here for me...!!!

1)Driving my car. Ah, love my little car. Love driving off somewhere with favourite music very loud and singing along. Its been rocketing me about all over the place last few weeks :) Here it is, sat in the rain...

 

2) Its the little things - like mascara that works. For those of us with deep set eyes who cant wear mascara because it ends up all over our face, even when they promise it wont. Found one that so far is working like a charm...

3) Daisy won a competition for designing a card. I do feel for my kids, because I draw/paint/create/make a mess people assume I did whatever my kids draw and hand in. That's not the case....at all. I go the other way to be honest, and try not to 'help' at all. They can draw astoundingly well by themselves, they draw all the time every day....I love their individual styles too. Layout of recent their drawings is in the pipeline..

4) Friday 13th? my lucky day. It was awesome.  Just generally awesome and going in the right direction...  :) :) 

5) A cinema trip on thursday, with some girlie friends :) a lot of chocolate, some really hot spilt coffee, and erm... quite a bit of eye candy too ;) good film!!!

 

 

fab five on friday but on saturday

Well there you go Friday was THAT fabulous, its now the weekend ;)

{ Or I forgot... one or the other...}

1)  two lovely people in my life are finally getting smart phones/iPhones and therefore getting into 'my world' of instagram, whatsapp group messages and fitness pal etc etc... Yey! I love this :) I really 'extra' connect with those I share my photos and tweets with during the day :)

2) A little wine, pizza, and girlie gossip :) Makes the world a brighter place dont you think :) And even tho I was on cranberry juice as the driver for the evening, I had a lovely time with my girlie friends last night :)

3) Both fabulous and slightly irritating... Daisy counting down to our little holiday. EVERY.single.morning. without fail she tells me exactly how many days to go. And then lists {again} what order she would like to try everything at the Centre parcs... And asks me something I do not know yet, like what is the closing time for the pool on a Wednesday -or something equally random. That's the annoying bit, but it IS fabulous to see her so excited about going. LOL May it live up to her expectations please!!!!

4) PHOTO SHOOT tomorrow - going to be super funky I just know it! and a fun very crowded photoshoot with props that's coming up fast too. OH my goodness its very exciting. I love how excited my clients are about it....

5) I have cleared out my wardrobe and altho I now only own a handful of clothes, they all fit, are ironed/stain free/fab condition, and are hanging by colour and type... ooooo. {However the shoes in piles of boxes are not so sorted out.. today's job then!!}

My big sister also does fab five on friday on her blog :)