L-O-V-E, and Paris

I dedicate this to Bear; you are my love!

Today Bear didn't go to work as he is still feeling very ill. Believe it or not, but Bear is one of those who never get ill - e.g - he hasn't taken A SINGLE day off work since starting up his own business, nearly six years ago! If I'm allowed to be selfish, I quite like having him home as my patient, and looking after his every need.

Despite him lying in bed with a bad cold, he has now managed to arranged a romantic weekend in Paris for us, and booked a suite (yay!) at the very trendy and beautiful boutique hotel: The Pershing Hall.

Last time I went to Paris I went to their restaurant and really enjoyed the fusion of French and Japanese cuisine by their ex Nobu chef, but now it will be a step further to get to experience one of their 28 fab rooms, the weekend starting 18th December - so it'll be an early Christmas present- one that I really can't wait to "open"!! :-)

Christmas in Paris is magical

Sunday best

Baby Bear dressed in his Sunday best

The power mind of the mind...

Something to think about, right?

Perfect pin-up

May I introduce Sonny? - My imaginary boyfriend ;-)

Gratitude

Last night, for the first time in a long time, I went through each and every page of my year old blog. Reading and looking at the pictures.

Some of it I had completely forgotten about and some not, but it brought me to tears, and also had me laughing for ages - mainly as I got to the pregnancy and giving birth part. And, I just got this sense of gratitude..

......gratitude towards that day that made me take up blogging because never in a million years could I have pictured myself doing that; in fact I was in awe of people who blogged. I always thought that bloggers have some sort of super natural power that clearly I didn't have..

......gratitude towards (apart from my family and friends) the readers of the blog - the ones that due to some weird coincidence happened to stumble across my blog and decided to stick around, despite that I have from the beginning of this year deliberately stopped writing and leaving out too much personal information/views about me and my family, but became more generous with pics instead.

Well, I’m so grateful now that even if I stop blogging today, I have a whole year of my life documented, that being the most important one in my life so far with Baby Bear being born. Now I’m going to get my thick and warm woolly socks on as it’s getting really cold, and then have my brekkie.

Happy Saturday lovelies! XOXO

Faves

Following on from yesterday morning's post, here are some of my favourite bangles that you have probably seen me wearing in pics here on the blog

And so the eve has started

With panoramic views over London and the finest pink champagne. Oh yeah babay, the night is young!

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Erik's birthday

Happy 22nd birthday baby brother! See you at Rhodes 24 tonight! xxx

jingle jangle, oh I do love a bangle! :-)

Yesterday, like I said I would, in the last post, I popped in to Marc Jacobs in Mayfair after the sing a long with Sean. Did I buy something? Oh, yes, how could I resist?? Well unfortunately I can’t reveal it because all but one are presents.

However I did buy something for myself that I can share with you. It’s a fabulous golden cuff bracelet. You see, I am one of those girls who loves a bit of jingle jangle on her arm. Love hearing the tinkling sounds as metal bangles clink together and I love when the bracelets move up and down the arm with my movements. And, I am also happy wearing as many together as possible and cant get enough of buying them! Here is the latest addition to my collection:

Sing song session

Walking though Mayfair in glorious sunshine for a sing song session for babies under two, in South Audle street. Will pop in to nearby Marc Jacobs store on my way back.

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Good morning!

This song is on repeat here today whilst we're getting ready to start the day. Swedish group Supersci - here with their very unique sound - a soulful & jazzy hiphop song, mixed with a little bit of Northern melancholy. I think its fabulous. See for yourself!

Flowers and me

The bunch of lilies (not yet bloomed) that I bought today

I am a big fan of the Lily (Casablanca ones if I could choose) – not only the fragrance and the look but of course the durability too. There is something about them that make me happy, that make me feel feminine and that make me smile. I love everything about Lilies; I even forgive the orange pollen that leaves nasty and very difficult to get rid of-stains) and accept them as a necessary evil! LOL

A while back I saw a feature on the telly regarding flowers and depression. It said something about how some doctors (alternative, I assume) are increasingly prescribing flowers to their patients to cure the signs of depression.

I am not sure if it is the actual visual of gorge, lively flowers that “cures” the depression, or if it is the essential oils derived from the flowers (lavender, rose, jasmine, etc..) that help aid the process.

Can’t say I am convinced, but I do know that you can give me a bunch of flowers (not just Lilies) any day of the week and it will uplift my spirits tremendously and stir up positive emotions. (BF’s out there should take a mental note, as I’m sure most ladies out there agree with me!).

I know receiving flowers of any kind always makes me feel better, regardless who gives it to me, the occasion, or the intention.

On a corner close to my flat, that I always pass when going to Starbucks (i.e. almost every day), is a fresh flower stand, and whenever I pass it each my mood is instantly elevated. Not sure if it is the colours, scent, or just the overall beauty of flowers.

But who cares why? That’s just the way it is for me! Which is why today, when I needed my mood to be altered a little bit, I went and bought a bunch. Maybe you should too?!

Luv n all the rest,

XOXO

Today's right now

Mood: versatile

Have done: changed, fed and dressed Sean. Showered & had brekkie and am yet to put make up on

Thinking: it's my brother Erik's birthday on Thursday

listening: radio, Smooth FM

Watching: a painter dressed in only a t-shit(!) on scaffolding across the street

Reading: The girl who played with fire - Stieg Larsson

Drinking: Chai tea with milk

Eating: Alpen no added sugar muesli with unsweetened soya milk

Best: glorious sunshine outside

Worst: still not fully recovered from the cold

Weather: beautiful

Wearing: white shirt, long black cardigan, dark jeans and black patent boots

Plans this morning: Jellybeans playgroup @10am (yup, I'm running late!) then to Selfridges for various things

Lily Allen for Chanel

Morning! Just popping in for a quick visit as I’m still rather unwell. Thought to share these fabulous pics of Lily Allen a la Breakfast at Tiffany’s style.

So, the cool songstress is the new face of Chanel - or, rather, the face of Chanel’s brand new handbag collection, the “Chanel Coco Cocoon”, that I’ve been drooling at in the last few weeks in Chanel’s window display in Selfridges.

The bags are reversible, so you can turn them inside out to get two styles in one; the quilted nylon or a plain lambskin. Karl Lagerfeld actually took these pics himself. I think Lily looks great as Audrey Hepburn here, and the adverts are so very tempting to splurge on the what I think are sleeping bag look-a-likes! :-)

Instinctive random thoughts

I have to mop the kitchen floor. I wish I wasn’t ill now, just as weekend is coming up, but am trying to persuade myself that it’s a good thing, cos at least Bear will be home to look after me. I need a hair cut. It's Sean's birthday in a month and I need to start organising. Love really makes everything really beautiful. My love for Sean is immeasurable. I need to drag myself to the nearest chemist to stock up in preparation for my very sore throat. I can’t wait for Christmas, if I could, I would start the decorations already! Soon I will turn 34. Its inevitable. Can't help it. Don't mind actually! ;-) We have to buy the Range Rover jeep asap. I am really looking forward to watch new romcom with Scottish hunk Gerard Butler "The Ugly Truth" which is on my laptop waiting to be seen. I love my blackberry and don’t know I could live without it before. I desperately need a manicure. I wish my Mum was here to bring me warm soup in bed. I’m glad the latest issue of InStyle came in the post yesterday, just before the strike started today. Would love to go to IKEA soon, have to persuade Bear. I should hit the bed. Im really feeling unwell now....

Maybe...

The love of my life, still very ill, but adorable as always (here wearing my old cardigan that unbelievably my Mum kept all these years)

Maybe... it is true that we don't know what we have until we lose it..

But another thing that is also true is that we don't know what we have been missing until it arrives...

May I present....

...Olivia, 2 weeks old and the gorgeous daughter of my very near and dear friend, Alina. Awwww, I love babies!! I think I want another one! Now! Please??!! ;-) LOL

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Popped out for a coffee for me and Bear (who's working from home today). Dressed Sean in his new sweater and a warm hat today despite the nice weather, as his very stubborn and nasty cold does not seem to be going anywhere soon.. Will therefore have to leave him at home later, when I'm going to see Alina and her nearly two week old baby.

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Stripey Ralph Lauren & 5am rise

Morning! Here in our household we've been up since 5am, when it was completely quiet and dark outside. It's only now, an hour and a half later, that it's getting brighter and you start hearing traffic. I love that time of the day, it's so serene and peaceful.

Last night Bear came home with a pressie for Sean to celebrate him turning 11 months old! A beautiful Ralph Lauren blue stripey sweater with buttons on the shoulder, nautical style. He likes to keep our baba up with the latest fashion! :-)

Stella McCartney For Gap Kids

Hello, good morning from a pretty miserable London (as opposed to yesterday’s sunny 18 degrees).

Today I got my first look at Stella McCartney's GAP Kids ads. How adorable are these children?? Supposedly she found them on Facebook..

Well I think the line-up (all vegan by the way) that features military jackets, hooded parkas and other just cool casuals are great, and I will definitely go and check it out when it hits select the stores on November 2nd!

Now I'm going to give my little one some TLC, as he woke up with a bad cold and a fever. Awww, poor baba.

Gorgeous kiddy stuff by Stella - this blazer and jeans would be perfect for Sean on New Years, in combination with a pair of white Converse All Star and a white shirt

The weekend (with Dad visiting) in pics

Dressed to impress (NOT lol)

Seany and I, both wearing a track suit and our new jackets. Him in his leather biker one and I'm wearing my new cosy Juicy puffa jacket, going to this week's last play group.

Early x-mas present

Here are pics of the fab black long hooded figure hugging puffa jacket that I treated myself to (early x-mas gift) from Juicy Couture yesterday:

Purchase to be revealed 2moro

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Parent & children 'Open House' at the Swedish church

Earlier today I took Sean to the weekly play group held at the Swedish Church in central London. Normally we have other arrangements on Tuesday afternoons, but as my friends Viki and Sara were going (with their babies similar age to Sean), I thought it would be nice to see them, and also for Sean to participate in the sing song towards the end, in the Swedish language for once.

Have now decided to go there more regularly as Sean is becoming more and more alert and picking up words etc. It is very important for me to make him fluent in what's my mother tongue.

Mother and son quality time

Good morning! Sean and I, both dressed in grey knitted jumpers (Im wearing Bear's!), having play-time, that turned in to sleepy-time! lol