Pink Cupcakes

Bolly & Olives

It's been a busy week in the Roderick house. 

Half term my sister, our friend and her little boy joined my crew for a few days of sugar rushes, tantrums and too many glasses of white wine and as we wave them goodbye my folks pull into the drive and we start all over again.

Good times.

Actually, it was good times.  Having the grandparents stay meant Big Fella and me had a little time on our own.  We headed straight to our local.  I love this place because 1. it has the most amazing views 2. it sells Champagne by the glass.  Now, what I didn't expect was Big Fella to return with a glass of Bollinger.  House Champagne yes, but Bolly?

Anyway, delighted with his initiative we sat outside wrapped up to combat the icy chill and tucked into toasted foccia, hummus and olives, ignoring the temperatures as we chatted merrily and I briefly forgot I even had kids - we opted for a second round. Lethal.

I ended up indulging in a little retail therapy and bought Little Fella and JB clothes they didn't even need (from Joules of all places) and worse still the bubbles had seriously corroded my brain and I bought a dress and t-shirt for myself from an uber cute and cool independent boutique in my town - all wonderful of course until the euphoria of my weekend spending evaporates with Monday morning and I think oh dear.

 
 

So now it's back to Monday and back to finishing my second novel "Hope & Jump" (see details on the left hand icon) and since it's been over a week since I've sat properly at my pc I can't even remember what I was supposed to be writing about, I don't think it's just because of my weekend extravagances but more to do with being so damned tired.  I cannot describe to you the pain I feel at being sleep deprived thanks to a squidgy 2 year old in the next room and the frustrating thing is it's rapidly becoming the norm in our house. 

I used to think JB woke through the night when he was ill, but now he does it every night to "assert" himself (apparently) and so my Saturday afternoon of Bolly and Olives seems a long time ago as I write these words and know I need a gallon of coffee to get me to 2pm, but hey, at least I have a dented bank account to remind me of the good times.

Right, coffee it is and Page 177

K x

Dancing Days

Wow.

I said to Big Fella as we stood in the kitchen preparing food at the weekend, Paolo Nutini desperate to be heard over Mickey Mouse's (damned) Clubhouse, "I think my dancing days are over".  I was referring to my awkward movements to Paolo as well as increasingly feeling my age.

Big Fella chuckled but agreed, it seems since we hit our mid 30's things aren't what we had hoped and now I'm beginning to inspect my wrinkles too (I prefer laughter lines) - so yesterday I decided to rummage through eBay to cheer myself up after repeatedly asking myself "what happened to me?"

It's been at least 2 years since I've bothered about wearing heels - I've always been a 'flats' girl but occasionally I did allow myself to deviate with delight, but after eyeing the beauties above I realise I have not lost my desire for a beautiful pair of heels.  My dancing days may be over, but my love for a gorgeous pair of shoes is most definately not - so, Choo or Louboutin? No, Karen Millen.

OK, so the striking Karen Millen black satin heels (pictured top) aren't mine,  but the animal print ones are and I bought them after having my first boy - fed up of trudging around in flip flops for the best part of 9 months I wanted a bit of glamour, I wore them quite a bit before 2 kids meant less offers of a babysitter (!) but they remain in their metallic blue box in my wardrobe where I occasionally get them out and drool over them, but my desire didn't end at one pair.

This time desire came in the shape of a pair of pink satin slingbacks with a feather and diamante.  Totally impractical to wear but my goodness they are divine.

The more I browsed, the more I wanted.  Big Fella was more than a little twitchy and my appeals that I bought them from eBay were not a comfort.
 

Then I started getting silly, purchasing these gorgeous pink satin and velvet ribbon heels from Karen Millen knowing I'd probably never have the occassion (or the courage) to wear them. 

A trip to York resulted in these, but fantasies of indulgent dinner evenings were dashed as a week later I discovered I was pregnant with my second boy.  I plodded around in flip flops yet again, groaning through 12 weeks of sickness and emerged determined not to spend the remainder of the pregnancy as I had my first.  I remember teetering to our then local Mexican restaurant with Big Fella and a 6 month bump in skinny flared maternity jeans, a fitted polo neck and these silver heels and feeling quite proud I'd managed it - but God was I glad to get home!

The pointest shoes I think I've ever seen were a purchase from LK Bennet in Manchester about 4 years ago and I have to say I love them as much now as then, in fact, I still wear them - a much more "sensible" shoe I think as well as rather pleasing on the eye.

After my second boy was born I explored the wedge heel although it didn't quite feel the same anymore, no heel did, so was my love affair with the uber sexy 4 inch heel over? 

It's not so much I no longer love a heel, it's about when I can wear them and with what.  I no longer go out as frequent as before the boys, but even when I do it's rare Big Fella and I choose a fine dining restaurant, these days we prefer our local bohemian cafe bar with low lighting and a dish of olives; in our town there isn't room for Karen Millen heels or a LBD even if I wanted to, and not just because I tire of wellies and flip flops.

I needed a compromise.

And these animal print ballet pumps were it, alongside my faithfuls - the perpertual "flat's girl's" footwear.

But that does not mean I don't enjoy a good eyeful of a pair of beautiful black satin heels and making up an scenerio in my head so I can wear them - and I bet I could bloody well dance in them too.

K x

Snow Day

 

I distinctly remember this happening to me before when I went back to work after having Little Fella - it snowed!

Filled with dread, I made the call on Monday morning to tell the office I wouldn't be in because I was snowed in.  I grimaced as I put down the phone, wondering if I was going to be subjected to the usual "it's not that bad" or "any excuse" or "she's only been back 2 weeks", and since I live a  little way out from where I currently work, guess what, they didn't get the snow we did - things looked doubly worse.

 

Anyway, I had to put it aside, despite cringing everytime I thought about it, I'd be back Thursday and make up for lost time....except not.

I woke at 4am to see to JB who is currently on his, um, 4th cold of the month, and checked for snow - nothing.  Big Fella got up to JB again at 6am and said "I don't think you'll be going to work today."  AARRGGHH!

 

I made THE call, comparing it to slow torture, but cheered up once Little Fella went zooming aorund the house in excitement because he too didn't have to go to "work", because we physically couldn't get out of our road.

 

JB was also enjoying the moment, no nanny and grandad's today, he gets to stay at home with mummy, daddy and the best big brother in the world!

Naively we took the buggy out and ended up almost carrying it because the snow was so deep and untouched.  Little Fella played snowballs with his daddy and got soaked and cold and wanted to be carried.  We stopped en route to admire the Snowman efforts of the local kids then moved on.

 

It was beginning to get icy cold.  The bitter wind sent a chill right through me, and as much as I love snow, I wanted to be back inside.  Little Fella's hands were about to drop off and Big Fella wore sensible shoes (!) which were now soaking, JB fell asleep at the bottom of the road and I wanted a cup of tea.

 

The remainder of the afternoon was spent entertaining two kids under 3.5, and it was REALLY hard work, in fact, on several occasions I actually wished I was AT work, it seemed so much easier.  Neither Little Fella and JB seemed to want to have a nap, and with Big Fella trying to answer e-mails and work calls, the house went into overdrive.

Anyway, by 4pm the boys konked out and so did I.

An hour later I woke up and thought I'd better start getting things ready for work tomorrow - boys clothes, nursery bags, my clothes, packed lunches....and guess what....

AARRGGHH! MORE SNOW!

Have a very white weekend

Karen x

I Believe in Father Christmas...

 

OK, so you may think it's a little early to be saying Happy Christmas, but I am for 2 reasons, first, I'm not going to be around much over Christmas, and second, I have 2 little boys, especially one, who is absolutely beside himself at Father Christmas coming to visit.

 

With the exception of Grandpa Joe, the presents are dropped off and the parties are distant memories, but I know the best is yet to come.

For the past 3 days I've been wallowing in Nigella's Christmas Kitchen, and now can't wait for Jamie at Home Christmas Special tonight, where I can lay on the sofa, glass of wine knowing soon I can put my feet up for real.

 

In the meantime I'll settle for an hour or so's respite from wrapping presents, packing suitcases, sorting the cats and chickens and making sure Little Fella gets to nursery on time.  See, I do love Christmas, but as it approaches, everything does kinda get put on hold, which can be a touch stressful, especially if you're also going away.

 

Yeah, I know it'll all be worth it; as as you know, I ADORE Christmas nearly as much as Nigella, but at times, it does get a little heated in our house as kids run riot and I'm trying desperately to keep my head above water.  As odd as it might seem, I like to take a bit of time out to admire my Christmas decorations, as Nigella once said, she does feel a little better when her fairy lights are on - ditto.

 

So, this is what keeps me going through the dark times of waiting...

My boy's faces when they see the mounds of presents under the tree, grinning at Big Fella when we wake up on Christmas Day, texting my folks "he's been", a log fire, hearing the sea, Christmas dinner, permission to drink Champagne at 8am, fresh bread, strong Cornish Cheddar and red pickled cabbage, hundreds of calories worth of chocolate and not giving a damn, Christmas movies and music, walking on the beach, candles, cosying up with Big Fella when the kids are asleep, opening another bottle of Champagne and throwing another log on the fire...the list goes on.

 

So, right now it's still a little while off but it doesn't stop me indulging in a little cheese on the TV, my current favourite Christmas songs on the music channels include:

John and Yoko "War is Over", Pogues and Kirsty McColl "Fairtytale of New York", and yes, Shakin Stevens "Merry Christmas Everyone", gosh, now I'm thinking about it, there's loads, The Pretenders, Paul McCartney and Mariah Carey!!!!

 

So, inbetween shouting my head off and bursting into tears because I'm having nightmares I'll never be ready for Christmas, I am actually totally inspired, Christmas is amazing for so many reasons, whatever your faith, but I always get a certain warmth and happiness when I think about that magical feeling of Christmas Eve and waking up on Christmas morning, and I hope I can pass that on to my kids, because I really do believe...

 

Have a magical Christmas everyone, and totally over indulge, there is SO much time to think about your waistline after, right, off to Grandpa Joe's pretty soon, well, after I've cleaned the chickens, done the ironing, made the beds....

Merry blooming Christmas

Karen XX

She Saw This and Thought of Me!

  Just a quick note, because I couldn't possibly finish this week without showing you my new t-shirt.

Yesterday, my sister text me to ask me what t-shirt size I am.  There was a cheekiness behind her text but I never questioned it. 10 minutes later, she's knocking at the door with a present for me.  She's laughing as I open it, hoping I haven't already got one.  I'm so delighted because I haven't, but if ever there was a t-shirt made for me, this is it, a total beauty, and do you know what, damned right I'd work for Cupcakes.

XXX 

One Night Only!

OK, so, the kids have been dropped off at my folks, and me and Big Fella can't get back to the house quick enough to open that bottle of whatever, you see, this is our first big night out in almost 10 months, and more than that, I can drink!!!

I selected the music, and Big Fella poured the wine, but I had to take it easy, I already had a bit of a head on after the first couple of sips, and the evening was turning out to be a pleasant one so we sat in the garden.  Our taxi wasn't due until 7.30pm, so we thought we'd dabble in a few of nibbles.

Then I thought I'd better get myself ready. Yes, I have had my outfit planned for ages, but wasn't sure if I'd fit into it, but by some miracle, I did (just).   Anyway, I've recently sorted my hair and make up out, and feel a little bit more like my old self.

So, since I had a bit of time to kill, and One Night Only were playing downstairs, (very appropriate once my folks have recovered from a night with little fella and JB), I set my essentials out on the bed like I used to as a girl in my teens and twenties and set about making myself look half decent.

In this time, me and Big Fella realise this is the first time we've actually dressed together for months since little fella absolutely cannot be left alone downstairs, it would be, can I say, total f***ing carnage, so we enjoy reliving a little of our Cardiff Barfly days.

We've got the mighty Strokes on NME TV upstairs (One Night Only still on downstairs), glass of wine and my new Ted Baker pink wedge heels, which incidentally I've never ever worn (wedge heels), me and my sis have always laughed at them for being very 70's, and hey, here I am!

OK, so we're ready, Big Fellas wearing his new white Converse daps and me in wedge heels and we're ready to go.

Right, so I forgot to take the camera to the actual night out (Big sis's birthday, bit of a Karaoke bonanza! We wanted to sing Kids in America, but the bloody disc wouldn't play, so we ended up doing a rather giggly rendition of Duran Duran's Notorious.  I so badly wanted to do I bet that you look good on the dancefloor by Arctic Monkeys, but chickened out of doing it alone!). 

All in all, it was a pretty great night out.  I didn't get too drunk, didn't allow myself too, afterall, One Night Only remember, and once the sun rises, our kids are waiting on the horizon and my folks have turned into Zombies due to sleep deprivation (for which I am currently living the dream).

Anyway, we managed to resist burger and chips, so we indulged at home instead, me minus my heels and Big Fella cooking up veggie bacon sandwiches, fried eggs (from Polly, bless) and spicy bean burgers (yum!), washed down with another glass of vino for the road.

Anyway, we crashed out at about 1.30am and for once, enjoyed a full nights kip, ready for the rest of the bank holiday weekend, which of course, in true Roderick stylie included, yes, a BBQ, where I invited Jamie Oliver, an extra from Green Day and a plate of vine tomatoes!

Enjoy your day,

Love K xxx

One Flew over the Cuckoos Nest

I'm currently driving Big fella to despair, and the reason...well, embarrassingly, I'm "nesting".

Now, when I was at this stage of pregnancy with little fella (currently 33 weeks - and counting!), I vaguely remember wanting to change things around ie: furniture, but I certainly did not remember wanting to bake cakes and change our house completely.

As you can see, I'm churning cupcakes out for the fun of it, and have developed a nasty craving for one very high calorie sweet - the jellybean.

I'm currently going through two large packets of the little buggers a week, and it's totally doing my head in, but I should be grateful as it's been the only so called craving I've had - I guess it could have been alot worse.

Anyway, the other thing I have to confess is I've joined the elite team of "Momzillas" and converted our (disused) dining room into a playroom.  Yes, I know, sort of middle classy, and something I've resisted for two and a half years, but seriously, I had such a nightmare day with little fella last week, I wonder how the hell I'm going to cope with two - answer, shove them both in the playroom with Yo Gabba Gabba!

OK, so I'm not quite a Momzilla yet (I hope), and kept part of the new playroom as an adult area, and it's actually worked out quite well, thanks to a bit of imagination and of course, IKEA.

All we need now is for Big Fella to sort out the TV and we're good to go.  Me and little fella (and the kittens) are currently ricocheting between the living room and playroom because of Peppa Pig and Lazy Town.

Anyway, the other thing about nesting is getting ready for when I'm not pregnant anymore, because yes, I know it's totally worth it in the end and wouldn't change it for anything, but whoa, 9 months is a long time in pregnantville, so, I'm taking comfort in sorting out my wardrobe and admiring all the lovely clothes I'll have to wait months to wear - but it's just nice to admire anyway.

And of course, there's my new Orla Kiely purse Big Fella bought for me when in the Peak District.  It hasn't had an airing yet, but just you wait!

So, let's get to the real reason I'm doing these weird and "got to be done now" things, and that's little JB.  Let's not forget here, amongst moaning about weight, being 24/7 sober, breathless on getting to the top of the stairs, feeling like the Michelin man, wearing big knickers and crying at the drop of a hat, something really lovely is going to happen very soon, and he hasn't escaped mommas nest either.

JB's room is coming on just fine.  In fact, despite the lack of urgency compared to when Little Fella was brewing in the pouch, it's turning out to be a cool little room.

I'm trying to visualise having a newborn again, because stupidly I seem to have forgotten what to do, anyway, I think JB will be pretty pleased with his room when he arrives, so much so, he'll sleep through the night in no time!

And Little Fella hasn't escaped the cuckoo nest either.  Check out his new "big boy's bed".  Yes, nice hey, but would be even better if we could get him to stay in the damned thing, instead of shaking his wardrobe at 5.30am and the "forbidden" creams etc fall off the top and he indulges his senses in smearing green Factor 40 over his carpet (aarrrhhh!!!)

Right, so I'll leave you with a gorgeous parting shot of myself, and now consider yourselves bloody lucky!

Yo Gabba for now,

Cuckoo K xxx

HAPPY CHRISTMAS FOLKS!!

Just a quick note on this cosy Christmas Eve, to wish you all a very Merry Christmas, and so far it's been a bit of a chaotic one, and the Day itself isn't even here, and so, for a bit of fun, here's a few things that have been going on over the last few days.

An Elf (I believe to be lost from the North Pole), found his way into our living room!

Me and Big Fella "celebrated" 5 years of marriage - all of them pure bliss (of course).

We entertained the family with a splendid feast of homemade chocolate cupcakes and jam tarts - and I even set one alight!

Anyway, I'm sure there's loads to come, because tomorrow, me, Big and Little fella are all off to the beautiful green (and possibly) snowy mountains of Wales to stay with the in-laws, and before that, me and Big Fella will have fun helping Father Christmas deliver presents to little fella because of course, he's been good all year!

SO MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

Ho Ho Ho

Karen xxx

*CLICK ON blog INTRODUCING A LOVE THAT MAKES LIFE DRUNK to download Chapters 1-3* XXX

Glutton for Punishment

I said I'd never do it again.  I said if we were going to get another cat, I wanted an older one, definitely NOT a kitten, and guess what - not only did I get one I got bloody TWO!

So, let me to introduce you to Macbeth (ginger) and Atticus (grey), two of the sweetest things you set eyes on... that is until you discover the various deposits of poo and wee around your favourite Family Room, pooing just as you're tucking into your breakfast, and arriving home from work to discover your lovely home smells like a farm - it just ain't happening.

It would be unfair to say they haven't improved slightly over the last 3 weeks, but they are still driving me insane, call it hormones, call it what you want, they drive me bonkers!

OK, let me tell you the real problem here - me.  See, I had completely forgotten how mischievous, naughty, manic, curious, hungry, poo-ey, wee-ey, kittens can be, and having two of them at once is completely doing me in, but I am getting used to it, which is more than I can say for Millie, bless her, who can't even stand the sight of them.  We currently live in a segregated house for fear of War breaking out, and I won't even tell you Little Fellas reaction, because I'm sure you can guess, anyway, I only have myself (and Big Fella!) to blame, roll on adulthood!

xxxx

Click onto blog INTRODUCING A LOVE THAT MAKES LIFE DRUNK to download Chapers 1-3 x

My Favourite Time of Year

I do love the summer, but I have to be honest, autumn is definitely my favourite time of year.  OK, there is the down side of dark nights, but the beautiful changing leaves and cosy nights make up for this, not to mention all the yummy food you get to eat because you no longer have to worry about bearing flesh (except for that little black dress of course!)

For me, it's also an indication that Christmas is getting closer, officially the loveliest time of year.  I'm not one of those people who moans about it only being 8 weeks to Christmas, and not because I've done all my shopping, because I honestly haven't started yet, but because I love the decorations, the thought of snow, log fires and cheesy Christmas music - OK, enough you say; maybe I should take the American approach and not mention Christmas until at least the Halloween festivities have subsided, for which little fella will be grateful.

And speaking of the man himself, such a Cutie hey - hum.  Anyway, the other thing I love about autumn is Halloween, and this was little fellas first year at nursery during Halloween season, last year he started a little too late, so, me being a Halloween obsessive, agreed for me, little and big (yes I know!) fella to go to the nursery Halloween party, and do you know what, we had a fab time.  Little fella trashed the red jelly slime table, and big fella thought it was worth the chore because he got to stuff his face with veggie hot dogs and tomato soup!

Anyway, the last laugh was on me, because being the Halloween enthusiast that I am, I was the only parent to turn up in costume, but hey, I can take it - just.

Cheers folks, K x