I have been busy creating a new look for my blog.  I cannot take all of the credit for my new design.  Having found an amazing blog, full of amazing free things I have been spoilt for choice!  If you like what you see and fancy sneaking a few new ideas into your Blog check out Itkupilli's amazing designs. 

I listen to my children more than anything else.  Even with music in the background it's hard to hear anything other than their daily goings on in my house.  I think when you become a mother your body adjusts your settings to a new default:

THE DEFAULT MOTHER SETTINGS

• You don't sleep as well- any mother with a coughing child will hear every cough, all night! 
• You worry more- big things, little things, most things!
• You hear everything- Quiet children are plotting trouble so it's best to hear everything
• You see everything- My children call this super Mummy Vision and it is basically the ability to see through walls, you need this, trust me! 

Today me and Alfie have been cutting and sticking!  What better than shiney coins to add a bit of bling to the collage. 

I have never understood how people stick to diets where carbs are a no no!  I love pasta.  My family love pasta and I use this to my advantage.  A packet of 3 minute cook capellini can soon solve a dinner time dilema and there is something quite special about that feeling where your middle is full (not too full, thats just uncomfortable) and happy with a tummy full of pasta! 

Don't get me wrong, I love spending time with my children but I also love it when they are asleep!  They don't cause mess, noise and trouble when they are asleep.  The look angelic, peaceful and perfect- right up until 6am, when they wake up and stomp around the house demanding things! 

It's green under there- somewhere! 

I have been looking around for a stylus for my iPad.  I know they were designed for finger swooshing and tapping only but I like to draw cartoons and using just my finger for this task leads to wobbly lines and hit and miss prodding at the screen!  I searched the Internet for what would be best.  I asked around.  Today whilst shopping I saw something that I just couldn't resist.  It just looked chubby, cute and fun, so I bought it!  Meet my stylus:

Its an iCreate Crayon Stylus.  I am pretty sure its designed for kids, but that kind of only made it more special! 

Its still a working progress as stylus to iPad is very different from pencil to paper, but I love it! 

Organised chaos is how I describe my bathroom cabinet.  I don't wear makeup everyday.  Most days I simply reach for the pomade to ruffle the hair and tinted moisturiser to make me less English Rose and more Sun Kissed Goddess (who am I kidding!). 

The lesson of the day is don't leave your flip flops on the floor when you own a puppy! 

My work is my home.  I am a mother, a wife, and a home maker.  I enjoy my job.  I sometimes miss the conversation of adults during the day and I certainly miss being a Butcher, but I know I will do it again, one day.  I am just not willing to miss my kids growing up.  I am very lucky that we are in a position where I can be at home with my children. 

The photo is of my book case.  Every book you see here is a cookery book.  Obsessed, me, no way!  You should see how many my Mum has! 

I am just married in this photo, posing in the trees outside the Church.  I loved my hat, I loved that it was different and I suit hats.  It was an amazing day!

It's never the cooking for my family I find difficult, its the planning.  Its being inventive, different and not falling into a pattern of same meal, same day!  I write my weeks meals and base my weekly shop on my plan so I can hit the supermarket only once a week (in theory). 

This is the view as I peer out of my bed.  I don't hate much in my life but getting out of bed with my early risers (kids and puppy!), is up high on my unhappy list.  Oh for a lie in!  

It's been one of those days.  I accidentally left my ipad on, logged into Skype and my Mum Skyped me at 4am- 7 hour time difference is a killer at times!  Alfie has been up since 5am.  Harry has been up since 6am.  Alfie is tired and grumpy.  Mummy is tired and grumpy!  Mummy needs gin! 

In my World at 5pm on a Friday there is only one time worth note. 
Its Gin O Clock. 
It is a happy time. 

With guests from the UK comes gifts from the UK.  Meet my new best friends Milk & White Fusion, Chocolate Brownie, Choc Chip Cookie and Rocky Road.  They will now be hidden and consumed by me, alone and unshared!  Hotel Chocolat is one of the main food items I miss from the UK.  I love them and all they make so much.  Canadian chocolate just does not even come close!

If you want to know why I love Hotel Chocolat so much click here

This is my mobile phone. 

No wait sorry, it's not my phone, its Alfie's.  I always get them mixed up, silly me! 

Now from the picture it looks a little like a scene from a bloody horror film but I can assure you it's the artwork of the talented 2 year old Alfie.  Oh and I do think they are the best Valentines cards EVER, but then I am very biased! 

Alberta seems to produce the most amazing sky.  This morning the sky seemed to be fighting a battle.  The red cloudy chunk of sky was being pushed into submission by the bright blue.  I like my photo, but there is just something about photographing the sky: photos are never quite as impressive as the real life image! 

This is the most used section of my closet; jewellery and scarves.  I am an accessories kinda girl. 

Just so you know I took this photograph yesterday (Sunday) but I am placing it in my blog as Sunday's are not a day to blog.  Sunday is family day and as much as I enjoy my blog it has no place in my family day plans! 

I dont need to say too much.  This is my band of merry men!  They make me very happy. 

I cringed a little when I saw this one on the list.  I like to be behind the camera, not in its line of fire!  I decided that I would give you my blogger self portrait- the me you see from behind my computer, quite literally! 

I always wanted a red, wooden front door, with a huge knocker (I added that for my hubby, who will no doubt think the innuendo is amusing!).  My front door now is white and plastic and so I decided that the resident aliens in our house can have their moment on my blog.  Their front door is pink and swivels around (as demonstrated by Alfie in the photo). 

This is my second attempt at a shot for my photo of the day.  My first was of this mornings sunrise.

I adore how the morning sun trickles and falls over the fields, buildings and trees around our house.  I took my photo and reviewed the shot.  It so didn't do it any justice.  None of its magic appeared and I was rather disappointed. 

Later in the morning I glanced from the kitchen and saw Nutmeg laying on the rug in a shaft of sunlight.  I crept over and held my breath, hoping my approach didn't make her trot happily over to me.  She didn't, I caught the moment and happily I have my photo for sun!   

This is the giggle button.  Press it for instant giggles!  This one belongs to Alfie. 

I dont think I have looked at a belly button so closely before- they are funny little things! 

So many people have a different name for each of their meal times.  Dinner, lunch, supper, tea etc!  What is dinner time?  I would say dinner time was the meal you eat around about 12 noon.  I am sure many would disagree and say it was the evening meal- it can get confusing!  The photo is actually of my evening meal tonight.  The middle of the day meal was an on the run affair of a banana, granola bar and a smoothie so it didnt really merit a photo.  This meal was a tastier affair of homemade burger, salt and pepper wedges with sweet chilli sauce for dipping and some chunky coleslaw.  Very nice it was too! 

I took this photo at 10am on Sunday.  I am only posting it on Monday as the point of a Sunday is to relax with my family.  The photo shows the gentle flow of breakfast on a Sunday.  Alfie finishing toast, puppy toys on the floor and the sun streaming through the windows.  I like Sundays. 

The photo is of a stranger who I will never meet.  I may have read his books and watched his passion for food on the screen but I will never meet him. 

Daddy's hand, by the talented artist Alfie, with just a little help from me!  I love that it's the simple things that kids enjoy the most. 

I love Nigella's books.  This book caused a storm when released as some people felt the title was offensive.  I however, love it.  For me baking is the ultimate comfort and it brings joy to those who I share it with too, so I am proud to be an aspiring Domestic Goddess!  My place is in my kitchen and I am more than happy to be there- no need to burn your bra's just yet! 

My view today is potato printing with Alfie.  A special Valentines spud heart- what more could you wish for?