Log fire lounging..

..on our last night in the French Alps:

random holiday snaps

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Wobbly walking video

Sean has made great progress with his walking on this trip - from needing Mummy's helping hand ..


(and a short coffee - and juice break)


...to self supporting (but wobbly) walk around the hotel, as seen in this short video clip below:

Coming back from breakfast and our bedroom view

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Colourful Courchevel

La Soucoupe - our favourite lunch restaurant up in the mountains, (near the top of the Chenus gondola), which has got atmospheric terrace with amazing views

Having a well deserved break at La Croisette, the centre of 1850

For those who are tired of skiing, there are other alternatives LOL

Soaking up the mountain sunshine from the mini gondola

Courchevel airport in the background - A large area for private flights to bring the royalty and celebs in

Lovely landscape

Travelling in style

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The three s's: Snow, Sunshine and Skiing

Today Bear is already up skiing, but I am only getting a half day lift pass, i.e from 12.30pm. Will try and take some pitures whilst up on the slopes, as the weather conditions today are amazing. Bye for now, and Happy st. Patricks!

Sean helping me to try out ski boots

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Royalty in Courchevel!

Who's who? See if you can spot Prince William and Kate. They were sitting right next to us on the mountain top restaurant. Kate was really tactile with William and they were messing around in a childish loving way with each other. It was so cute to watch!

Mum enjoying the alpine sunshine & scenery

Sean's Grandma, i.e - my Mum, Agneta

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We have arrived!

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Happy Mother's Day! :-)

I got this personalised gorgeous scented candle from Sean with his own message to me, and as well as the three small canvases (with one word on each;HOPE, LOVE, JOY) I also got a surprise parcel from MYLA from Bear with something black and lacy

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Happy Friday!

TODAY I am feeling supa dupa happy. It’s Friday, it's Spring in the air, I had a good night’s sleep, I am having a great hair day LOL and we're going on HOLIDAY in a couple of days!!

LAST NIGHT me and Bear snuggled up early in bed at 9pm already (love it when we do that!) for a cosy time chatting bout our upcoming holidays etc

THIS WEEKEND I plan finish packing, have lunch out in a nice gastro pub on Saturday afternoon followed by Erik and D (brother and his boyfriend) coming over with a cake to celebrate my birthday, me and mah boyz getting a haircut when our hair dresser is coming around Sat evening, and to be treated to a breakfast in bed on Mother’s Day early Sunday morning before we head for Heathrow.

ok, time for a list.... Here goes:

1. Thought(s) for the day: Is taking four pairs of shoes and two pairs of sunglasses on a skiing holiday ridiculous and why is there no dutyfree Louis Vuitton at Heathrow airport?

2. Plan for the day: BT engineer is coming to look at the broad band and telephone problems we have, my friend Lena who’s over from Sweden is coming here for lunch, and at 3pm Sean and I are taking a cab to Bear’s office in the city to say hello to his staff and have a coffee, then we’re going to the lawyer’s office to prepare my will.

3. Song of the moment that I can’t get out of my head: The wheels on the bus go round and round.. (kiddies nursery rhyme)

4. Currently I spend too much time: obsessing about packing – forgetting stuff and packing too much

5. Currently reading: Stieg Larson’s that I’m planning to take and finish whilst on hols.

6. Lesson learned lately: do regular back ups on laptop in order to avoid losing photos, docs etc!

7. Right now I am craving... Swedish breakfast buns with poppy seeds (“frallor”) with butter and cheese

Trendy tie

Baby Bear looking very trendy trying out the new skinny fashion tie and cardigan I bought him yesterday

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Jellybeans

After the free play and craft, it's snack time at the Jellybeans mother baby group

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Revealed

Here's the early birthday pressie I treated myself to yesterday. It's according to me a very chic and stylish Louis Vuitton thick monogram bracelet.

This bangle is embellished with tiny golden brass charms and the LV monogram logos and there are sparkling translucent Swarovski crystals sprinkled throughout the piece- timeless and gorgeous me think :-)

Happy (early) Birthday to me!

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Caffeine Corner

I am giving the Starbuck Via Ready Brew the thumbs up


Starbucks has created its own version of instant coffee and just released it in it's shops across London, so I had to try it out. I’m guessing like with the rest of the world, I too was skeptical about this new launch with finely powdered instant, that is designed for home use, but also very curious.

I added the packet (Colombia flavour in Medium) to a cup and filled it with boiled water. It mixed easily but unlike Nescafe, it didnt have that welcoming foam on the top. I added some milk to it like I would if brewing my own coffee, and tasted my very first Starbucks Via Ready Brew.

All in all I enjoyed it and think it tastes better than normal instant coffee, and yes it tasted just like normal brewed coffee from a coffee maker. But at nearly £5.00 for twelve sachets, its costly, but worth it at the same time.

Now I'm off the the nurse at my GP surgery to check my blood pressure in order to get a repeat prescription for my contraceptive pills. Ciao!

Little miracles everywhere

I am taking Sean to a mother baby group at 10am today

Monday morning and the count down has started for our skiing holiday on Sunday! :-) I have already opened two suitcases where I pack things as and when I remember, throughout the week.

Apart from the packing this week, I have an appointment at our family lawyer in the city, to prepare my will, an old friend from Sweden is visiting, I have a shopping date at 9am on Wednesday with Vivian and on Saturday our hair dresser is coming around to cut everyone's hair, incl Sean's.

Other than that, I have some good news to report; Sean took his first steps on Friday. Only three or four at a time, and they are very wobbly steps, but they are unsupported steps, weehee! Now it's just a matter of time before he'll be an expert walker and I will have to buy a harness to keep him in.

Now over to something completely different, in my little book with daily affirmations, Time for Joy, that I read every morning. Today's message is one I really like and would like to share:

"When we really love and accept and approve of ourselves exactly as we are, then everything in life works. It's as if little miracles are everywhere"

"Today I will fell good about myself and accept myself jus the way I am. I am open and ready to discover all the miracles of this day"

1 week to go :-)

I do think that preparing for skiing/ski holiday is quite a big job, especially when you have children. To plan and arrange the holiday requires a degree in organisation, which is why I am starting with the packing today already.

When you’re packing your bags you need to really prepare for every single weather condition from really warm sunny days to blizzards, and carrying the luggage means you need some big muscles (or charm you partner to help with yours) and extra cash for the kilos in overweight.

Then of course we must hire the ski equipment and fit the ski boots, arrange for our ski passes and reserve lunch in a trendy busy restaurant. That is one thing I do love about skiing holidays; to after hours on the slopes treat yourself to a long boozy lunch in the sun.

As for the skiing outfit, I have only just purchased a new one. Last year I skied in black, and this year I’ll be sliding on the snow in head to toe white gear with pink (ceris pink to be precise) lining.

Trenchcoat time

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Spring is in the air

...as we r walking over to Vivien and Oscar this morning. Happy Friday, all! :-)

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Mother baby group, St Mary's Church

Sean is always excited when going to the playgroup

I only recently got up, but they boys have already been up a couple of hours. My friend Alina and her nearly 5 month old baby girl is coming around soon because I will take her to a mother and baby group for the first time today.

I put her up on the waiting list just before Olivia was born, and they have only now been "accepted".



Its such a popular group with lots of local mummies and their under-two's, and this in particular is a vibrant and lively drop in session every Thursday morning.



It follows a structured routine of free-play, crafts and messy play followed by a sit down with snacks and then interactive song/nursery rhymes time. And they do a fab cappuccino there too!

Wordless Wednesday

It's the "little" things..

Engaging with my son who these days spoils his Mum with love and affection

10 reasons to be cheerful:

1. My son is so clingy with me, spoiling me with kisses and cuddles and I love it!

2. This Spring I get to see my Mum twice and going on three wonderful holidays

3. I will be celebrating my birthday in the French Alps surrounded by family

4. Lately I’ve felt that I’m getting closer and closer, not taking many steps backwards, to a peaceful mind and worrying a lot less

5. The cold weather is finally changing and the sun is shining which bring smiles on peoples faces

6. I’m learning more and more to say no (or rather to not say Yes when I don’t want to)

7. Mother’s day is coming up and since becoming a parent, it’s a very special day for me somehow (can’t wait for Sean to be older when he will give me a hand picked flower or a drawing he has done himself)

8. I bought a new skiing suit – I’ve changed from all black last year to an all white suit with cerise lining (I also got my Mum the exact same jacket which should be fun wearing simultaneously)

9. Apart from Courcheval, Chicago and Lake Como, we are already planning our next holiday this year and it looks like we’ll be going Sardinia or Corsica in the Summer

10. I am having a professional blow dry by my dear hair dresser friend Anna this afternoon


These three beautiful small canvases are on my wish list for Mother's day

Play date with Alina's baby, Olivia

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When an opportunity arise

In Selfridges Department store with a sleeping baba (exhausted from the play date) noticing that Yo Sushi is near enough empty with plenty pram space, a mummy has to make the most of this fantastic opportunity that has presented itself.

Now indulging a mouthwatering Wagyu beef with a peaceful baby next to me and bright sunshine outside.

This is as near 2 heaven a mum can experience on an unplanned Monday afternoon :-)

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The exciting month of March

Good morning new week, and new month! We really have an exciting month ahead of us! In two weeks there is Mother's day coming up, my 34th birthday and the start of our 10 day skiing trip where I will also get to be with my Mum! (whom I've havent seen since 26 Dec last year)

Now we are preparing to go to our Monday morning playgroup, Jellybeans. And with the weather looking absolutely gorgeous - if you are in London and are just waking up; open the curtains now!

XOXO