waiting at the window...

While I was saying goodbye to Mr P, this morning. I turned around and saw Miss C waiting at the window, I just had to take this picture there and then. (And, .....I'm glad, I did.)

Mr P & his camping gear...!

Today have finally come for Mr P's second school trip away from home, for over the next few days. I still just can't get over at how he have become this handsome young man, in front of me.

Eleven years ago, never did I expected that my son will soon be wearing this giant rucksack of mine. (I misses him already, even though, he have only left about 3 hours ago. It doesn't matter how many practices I have, throughout his years. All this is just a preparation that one day, when he will soon be leaving this cosy family nest of ours.)

P.S. Ooops, we just never got round to getting his hair cut (or trim, in his case) before his camping survival trip!

(P.S.S. Please excuse the brightness of these photos.)

summer time, the memories just waitin' to happen

There is something special about summers and I love this next unknownst quote: "the tans will fade but the memories will last forever".

For me, at the ripe age of 16, summer reminisce freedom and a new-found independence. Learning who I have (or want to) become as a person (but I can't say the same for my dress sense though, and I say it with a wink!). I got to travel to Canada with a friend, whose mum had a "lake" house (it was actually by a wide river & not a lake), out there; and it was the first time I get to travel without my parents. How cool was that?!

That summer was everything I dream of and more; I actually came home with a real tan, would you believe it? Anybody with an Irish skin, would know what I'm talking about.

Here were some of the good times:

This same friend (thank-you) there have just retweeted this beautiful quote today, and funny enough this same quote was hand-written to me by an old teacher of mine at just 16, too (as I couldn't understand then, why some people have to be so spiteful):

"True friends are like diamonds, precious and rare. False friends are like leaves, found everywhere."

Summer is so much more, with dreams and wishes that are yet to be fulfilled. Such as these:

Source: lululemon.com via Katrina on Pinterest

I would love to learn how to paddle-boarding, as apparently it's good for the abs!

Source: i.imgur.com via Katrina on Pinterest

Doing these ideas with my kids or travel freely.....

Source: myfriendjules.blogspot.com via Katrina on Pinterest

Source: beingbrazen.com via Katrina on Pinterest

And to go somewhere new, to re-new our vows in the summer sun!

This is one of my many, but how about you my lovely (unknown) followers? x

Birth Storytelling...

Never have the photograph of giving birth captured me more than this beautiful, yet powerful picture (below today), taken by Lynsey Stone (although, I first saw it on Pinterest); its really does feel so wonderful to reminisce about mine.

Source: dfwbirthphotographer.com via Katrina on Pinterest

Now I'd love to share a short video of my youngest one's birth video. (Unfortunately, I didn't have a birth video from my first one.) It really was a magical time and it still makes me feel a little weepy watching it.

I haven't forgotten my life experiences above (except that I have forgotten how much hair she had when she was born), this video have instilled a small and yet an incredulous part of mine (and my special little family) large story, filling with so many memories.

P.S. My labour was just happened to be brought on, by my son's accident in B & Q. Boys being boys, he have decided to take a peek under a garden table, made of metal. Unfortunately, there were boxes of them nearby and they all suddenly collapsed; well, luckily, it just escaped him by the skin of his teeth.

x

Miss C's {Alice in Wonderland} birthday tea-party

As Miss C's didn't get to have a birthday party with friends last year; I have promised her one this year, that she will not forget in a hurry.

By hook or crook, she had a ball at her party with a twist of modern versus traditional. By starting off with some wicked dance moves from Funky Feet Dance party (taught by an excellent woman named Stephanie) along with Miss C's favourite music and then with Alice in Wonderland tea-party thrown in.

There was this famous quote by Alice saying: You're nothing but a pack of cards! With this, the grand entrance were made up of bunting made with playing cards at the party.

playing card: at any big supermarket

string: art craft shop

staples: at any big supermarket

Mad Hatter: Do you care for tea? or how about this one: Have a very merry unbirthday! Well, since it was Miss C's birthday, she can have a merry one, indeed.

gorgeous crockery: Sunshine Bakery!

"Eat me" Party Picks: Vintage Twee

Alice in Wonderland's Fortune Teller Favours: Vintage Twee

bottle: any empty bottle will do

red heart paper straws: Pipii

The March Hare: You're all late for tea! Thankfully, none of the tea-cups was thrown like he did in the movie.

Beautiful silver teapot: Sunshine Bakery

I first saw this idea from sweet designs's blog and I just knew I wanted to do something similar for my daughter's birthday party!

birdcage: Ebay

mini-cup cakes: M & S

It seemed befitting to have parents to join in the birthday wishes at the end of the party, with this delicious cake made by my utterly genius half. Since Miss C is not a cake person at all, but have her love for brownies & all things chocolate so came across this gorgeous idea from made in melissa's kitchen.

And as for the gift bag idea, again with a little bit of help from sweet design's blog; filled with a mini-version of playing cards, Alice in Wonderland's Fortune Teller Favours, sweets wrapped in tissue paper/newspaper cracker & fruit winder. It was just a perfect party with a perfect ending.

ribbons: art craft shop

candles: any supermarket

paper bags: pipii

candy necklace: candy shop

Alice behind Curtain from Alice in Wonderland wood mounted rubber stamp: etsy