Pretty Shoes, Sunday Crafts and Flamingoland

 Whilst it’s currently raining cats and dogs, we have been lucky to enough to be blessed with a few days of sunshine. Having time off work, I’ve been able to take advantage of it too. 

Saturday, after having a wonderfully relaxing start to the day where me and little Miss even fit in some Yoga, we decided to head into town. Fed up of being imprisoned in boots for so many months, I dug out a pair of my bright and fun Irregular Choice shoes that to wear. No point them sitting in my shoe chest waiting for a special occasion, the fact it was dry enough to wear them is special enough.

Shoes - Irregular Choice, dress - Cath Kidston, belt - Fairfax and Favor , Jacket - Gap (customised by me), hat - Dorothy Perkins

I got a few compliments on them from people in town, so it was nice to know they were appreciated. 

Sunday morning, we started the day with some Easter crafts. It’s been a long time since I’ve painted eggs, but when I saw one of my friends on Facebook doing some egg painting it inspired me to do it too. 

Little Miss loved it: it’s very relaxing. After lunch, we popped out for some soil, and set about the annual task of fixing up Little Misses fairy garden, trimming back the honeysuckle and generally having a bit of a tidy up.

Now the yarden looks pretty again when I look out of my kitchen window. I just need a few more flowering plants for my tubs.

Monday, I had tickets booked for Flamingoland. An amusement park and zoo around 40 minutes away from home. The last time I went little Miss was tiny, and I don’t remember it being as good as it was this time.

We arrived at lunchtime, and actually I think this is a really good time of year to go because there were enough people around for it to have a ‘buzz’ but the queues were short, and it wasn’t crowded.

Thankfully the weather smiled on us as me and little Miss went on runaway trains, air balloons and the stomach churning Vortex.

Ironically, the Vortex was like the smaller version of thrilling Navigator, which I went on before this, yet I think it was more nauseating than the big one. 

After a wander around the zoo, admiring some of the huge animals they have there, we hopped on the little park train back into the main park.

It was growing cold and windy, and aside from the flask of soup and cheese batches we’d had for lunch, we hadn’t really stopped for food. Being early in the season, a lot of the food outlets weren’t open yet, but we did manage to get fish and chips and that did us just fine.

After all of that excitement it was time to head home. All of us were thoroughly exhausted but we had enjoyed a fabulous start to the Easter break, I’m just thankful I didn’t book tickets for today because everything would have been like a log flume.

It’s Sunny in Marrakesh

Earlier this week my Mum likened the sunshine to an LED bulb. It’s giving off light but it’s not heating up. I thought that was pretty accurate, but even the hint of Spring that the sunshine is bringing is making me feel a little more motivated.

On Wednesday I made my weekly trip to York to work from the office. I had a very productive day, and then after work the chap came to meet me. We had a little wander around town and went to see our friend S before her shop closed. We were heading for Tah Tien, a Thai restaurant that we’ve wanted to try out for months and never got to. Guess what? We didn’t get there this time either.

In my work clothes, and still layering

As we were walking to it, I spotted a fairly new (7 months open) restaurant I’d never seen before, Marrakesh. The name alone was enough to entice me. I love Moroccan food, but the carved door and general ambience was a winner for us. Next time Tah Tien.

Inside we were warmly welcomed and showed to our table. Commenting on the decor, the host explained how everything, right down to the carved wooden chairs and hand painted plates, had been imported from Morocco.

 

We started with some delicious halloumi and spinach parcels, which we shared. We agreed though, we’d have easily eaten a few more portions of those.

Even though it wasn’t open, I was able to check out the beautiful upstairs area while we waited for our mains. 

I’d ordered chicken tagine with saffron rice. The portions were huge, basically it was half a chicken, cooked beautifully and tasting amazing. I could probably have shared this too the portions were so large. It didn’t stop us from ordering Baklava to finish though.

Washed down with a Moroccan mint tea. I want one of these little tea sets for my loose leaf tea. It’s beautiful. 

We were stuffed, but we both agreed that not only was the food delicious but it was so welcoming too. We weren’t being hurried to get off the table like so many places do. Definitely one for a return visit.

The rest of the week was mostly just more work. Friday lunchtime though I took Little Miss for an ice cream at the beach. It’s half term here. We walked along the beach, and the sun actually felt like it was warming up, and then enjoyed ice creams from Holy Cow.

Then half an hour in our favourite arcade, before walking back to the car so I could head home and finish my work afternoon before clocking off for a luxurious week off work. Bliss. 

April - No Spend Challenge

 The irony of posting a no spend challenge hot on the heels of a post about an extravagant Mother’s Day treat, is not lost on me. I’m happy to say, the two are not linked. March was an expensive month for me. Between a broken oven which I had to get fixed, a broken car which I had to get fixed and a multitude of school runs in taxis whilst the car was being fixed, my finances took a battering.

That’s not the sole reason that I’ve decided to challenge myself to a no spend April, even though a financial reset in its own right is valid enough. As anyone who knows me will agree, I love to buy things. Bags and dresses is a particular favourite, but stationary, craft supplies, random toys for little miss all feature highly on my ‘things I don’t need but I’m going to buy anyway’ list. So, I feel a mental reset is in order too. I want to try to get off the consumerism hamster wheel at least a little. 

So, for the month of April I’m doing a no buy challenge. It’s not as strict as some of the no buy challenges I see people doing. I’m still going to be buying takeaways/meals out, day trips and socialising, because I don’t believe in torturing myself. What I will be trying very hard not to buy this month is.

Clothes - All clothes. I don’t need anything, I will use my current wardrobe more thoughtfully and hopefully at some point will be able to bring my spring/summer clothes out of storage too, which is like having a whole new wardrobe.

My most recent hat purchase, when I wear it I’ve been likened to Che Guevara and Citizen Smith

shoes, bags, hats, jewellery, in fact any accessories, for the same reasons as above.

Dug this photo out of the archive, and still use that Aspinal bag sometimes 

Books. My TBR pile is already huge

Stationary- My stock of pens and notebooks is also huge

Toys for little miss (aside from her birthday presents in April)

All the toys and she’s still sooner play with a cardboard box

Makeup - I have plenty, plus backups

Toiletries, unless I have totally run out of something and absolutely have to replace it as there’s no alternative.

Craft supplies - I should actually use some of the stash I have.

Reusable cups/bottles - I have a problem with these. I do use them, but I really don’t need anymore… and I have been tempted recently.

I will be buying supplies to do some decorating, as well as some days out over the Easter holidays so by no means will it be a totally spend free month. There’s no point, however in me just adding to the copious amounts of things I’ve already got.

I’ll check in at the end of the month to see how I got along.

Stressful start, relaxing end

 Last week I alluded to the fact that I’d had some car trouble. It pretty much plagued me for most of the week, it seems every garage in Scarborough is full at the moment so I had days of doing school runs in taxis, or trying out the alternative of a 2 hr bus journey. One day I was saved by getting a lift from one of the other Mums, but honestly, it’s not easy having no wheels.

Having thought the issue was resolved Thursday, it seemed to come back Saturday evening so this week will be fun too.

Obligatory selfie in the office loo in London

Midweek, I had a trip down to London for some meetings. The weather was lovely, and it was actually quite nice to be in the big smoke for a change.

That said, I’m always happiest to get back ooop North, and always exhausted after it all.

It was a useful trip though and the rest of the week was very focused and productive off the back of it.

Today was Mother’s Day in the UK, typical the clocks went forward and robbed me of my Mother’s Day lie in. We still had a fairly relaxed start though. Little Miss had made me a lovely card at school, and I got some beautiful flowers from her (subsidised by the chap lol).

At lunchtime, along with my Mum, we caught a train down to York. We’d got a table booked at the Ivy for afternoon tea, but Mum wanted to peruse a couple of shops first. 

The Ivy was super busy, so we were really happy to be shown to a nice little tucked away table. Mum and I ordered afternoon tea (mine with champagne) whilst little Miss had a delicious and generously portioned burger from the children’s menu.

It was so relaxed and luxurious we had a fabulous time. Both me and Mum were presented with some lovely pink tulips too.

Afterwards, we took a wander through York. Even though the shops had shut it was still busy and bright. We walked up to the Minster, before heading back towards the train station.

It was a wonderful day, and a perfect tonic to the week.

Coastal Adventures

 Wednesday already. How time flies, I thought I’d share last week’s adventures while I sit waiting for my train to London (business not leisure), before we run headlong into another week. I read an article somewhere that as you get older the days and weeks do indeed feel like they pass faster and it’s due to the ‘sameness’ of our weeks. Nothing new to learn or new to see. That’s why children always think everything is ages away, because they are going to have so many more new to them experiences in the timescale. I digress.

Early in the week, the chap surprised me with another lunchtime visit and another beautiful bunch of flowers. We popped out for a spot of lunch and it was a lovely, if fleeting visit.

Wednesday I booked the afternoon off work to go and collect my new glasses, and also because little miss was bringing a friend home from school. I’m absolutely in love with my new glasses. They are Gucci, my prescription has changed meaning that I need to wear them even more often, so I wanted something statement and stylish for my face furniture. These definitely fit the bill. 

The rest of the week was much of a muchness, as usual, until the weekend arrived. Saturday morning, little miss had a friend’s party to attend. She got to play with her friends, I got to drink coffee and catch up with some of my mummy friends. I had also brought my knitting to do while chatting. 

After the party, we headed up to Whitby. After borrowing ‘The Artists Way’ from the library a couple of weeks back I’ve been following the tasks and activities designed to help me rediscover my creativity. It’s encouraged me to rediscover my love of knitting, baking and aromatherapy. So, I needed to go to Totally Natural Skincare in Whitby to stock up on essential oils and herbal teas. 

The weather wasn’t great when we got there, as so often is the case in Whitby. We headed straight for a tea room for crumpets and a pot of Yorkshire Tea, before taking on the shops.

Despite the weather, we had a lovely day perusing the jet shops and gift shops. Aside from my massive stash of oils and herbs, and a new silver ring for little misses forthcoming birthday, I didn’t buy anything.

We finished up with fish and chips, obviously, and a little wander on the massive sailing ship in the harbour before heading home. 

Back at home, I couldn’t wait to start blending up some of my oils. So far I’ve made a relaxing roller ball blend and some nail oil. 

Sunday, I was due to be heading up to Saltburn on Sea with the chap. Alas, my car had thrown a warning message on my way home from Whitby the night before about engine overheating, so we changed our plans and the chap came across to Scarborough for a day of beach walks and arcades.

He arrived mid-morning, and we decided to take Thelma for her second day out of the weekend. It was cold at the seafront, and I immediately regretted not having brought my big wrap scarf. Hardcore would be surfers were having their Sunday morning lessons, and  the beach was strewn with branches, driftwood and debris, indicating rough seas from the night before.

It was a refreshing wander, I’ve said before, these out of season and slightly cooler days are my favourite time to live in Scarborough. 

We walked out to the lighthouse, which is having some maintenance work done. Wandering along the harbour, we picked out the boats we’d like to own. I love the idea of having a little boat to escape to now and again. I’m not even sure I’d take it out on the wild North Sea, I think I’d just sit on it, drink wine and watch the world go by. 

After some restorative homemade (and delicious) soup at the Sunrise cafe, we wandered along the front, stopping to look in some of the shops along the way.

We’d already decided we would spend some time (and money) in the arcades. We’re children at heart, so the 2p push machines, and the giant space invaders are the things that capture us. We won loads of tickets, and some cheap plastic junk too, which really is the thrill of the 2p push machines.

We were surprised when we went to trade or tickets in at how big the shop had got. It used to be just a booth, but it’s much nicer and had much better prizes. Little miss wasn’t with us, but of course we traded our tickets for toys for her.

Then we went to the top floor, which has recently been done up. I had a cheeky Long Island Ice Tea, and we played darts. Despite my surprising fluke bullseye, the chap still won all of the games. 

We wandered off to get our Sunday dinner, which was a rather delicious roast chicken with all the trimmings, before heading home. It had been a perfect day out, despite our last minute change of plans.