Rock the Shot photo competition- Sun Flare

I haven't written a post in absolutely AGES! So what better way to start up again than entering a fantastic competition run by the amazingly awesome www.rocktheshotforum.com. The theme for this month is 'sun flare' which is a technique I am loving at the moment (well when the sun occasionally comes out!) I took this photo when I was doing my 365 silhouette month but love the way my son looks like he is catching the sun like a ball. The second one is from the same series of photos and is one of my favs.

                                                                  

This is my photo submission for the competition

The second one is from the same series of photos and is one of my favs.

I have been absent from my camera for a few weeks now- too long as I am getting withdrawal symptoms! So I am getting back into my photo groove and am planning some exciting new ventures for the future. I am reassessing life at the moment and am looking forward to travelling new paths! New camera, new lens(?) exciting stuff!

x

My baby boy is 6!

It hardly seems like yesterday that I was waddling round grumbling about how nice it would be to see my feet again, and was this heat ever going to go away as I was too fat and not enjoying being sweaty and puffy! I guess my baby boy was listening and being kind to his Mumma because he decided enough was enough made his appearence 5 weeks early!

That was 6 years ago today, oh how time has flown. I look at him now and can't believe he is the same teeny tiny little bubba boy that was in such a hurry to arrive.

He has really grown-up into a proper boy now, still mad haired and still Mummy's little guy, but a proper grown-up boy, into all the strange things little boys find so fascinating.

1 year old eating his greens.

Skateboarding is his new craze, it's what he really wanted for his birthday, so when I picked him up from school yesterday I surprised him with a new "deck". Wow who knew a skateboard could have made him so popular. All the way out of school and along the road we were greated with envious remarks of 'oh wow you have a skateboard...COOL!' He was mobbed at the park so held court and showed off his boarding prowess (and sustained his first boarding injury too). It's off to the skate-park tonight to practice some tricks, I am sure it won't be too long before he'll be telling me about his latest ollie, being a goofy, his primo stack, fakies and k-grinds speaking in a language I'll never hope to understand and there'll be no more kisses for his Mummy in public!

He'll still always be my Boo, Moudgie,Puss or Bushie though no matter how big he gets.

Happy Birthday my baby boy!

1st Birthday

2nd birthday



3rd birthday



3 years old- First day at school!

4th Birthday- The Elvis tshirt seems to be
a popular party outfit!





5th birthday- opening presents



I hope your Wednesday is a good one, I kind of wish I was at home with my birthday boy rather than at work but never mind we'll celebrate tonight!

Are you or any of your family having a birthday today?

xx P xx

One for you Oskar!

June photos so far...

I'm still loving the photo a day challenge and have managed to take almost all of the pics this month, all bar 2 that I didn't get to do...I just couldn't get inspired on those days, which I hate!
Have you started the photo a day challenge yet? I really encourage all those I talk to to get inspired and get on board. It is so easy, you really only need a mobile phone that can take photos and you're away! It has become one of the first things I check each day...what is the photo challenge I need to do today? Is that a bit sad??

June 1st -Morning...a night in London away from my babies...a girl could get used to the lie ins!

June 2nd- Home made cider...very dangerous stuff!

June 4th- Close up..playing with one of my phone apps here, trying to make early morning/no make-up eyes look ok!

June 5th- Sign...Diamond Jubilee celebrations in London with my gorgeous family!

June 6th- Hat...amazing how a quick snap can be transformed into something quite cool with the help of a few phone apps! This photo was literally taken at the last second with me bunging a hat on my head, holding the phone up, clicking and hoping for the best!

June 8th- Drink...best coffee I have had in a long time from The Squeeze in Leigh on Sea!

June 9th- My view today. It was a sunny, beautiful day and I had accomplished quite a lot! I was in a glass half full mood!

June 10th- Best bit of your weekend...discovering a wee slice of home in Southend, it was just like sitting in a Wellington cafe!

June 11th- Door. I always smile whenever I see this door...home! I am also very proud of the beautiful clematis, that my mum got me last summer, that is growing so well!

June 12th- From a low angle...peace descends on my classroom, it is break time and the kids have all gone out!

June 13th- Art...from one of my all time favourite artists...my baby boy! He's included us all...Mummy, Daddy,himself,  his 2 sisters and the dog!

June 14th- Time...a shot of the clock I made for Oly's kitchen (still needs some hands though!)

June 14th- Time...another time picture I created using a new phone app I downloaded...I think I am a tad obsessed with photo apps!

Well that is June so far for me. I really hope my photos perhaps inspire someone to have a go and get snapping, it is absolutely addictive and a great way to catalogue your day to day life.
I hope everyone's Thursday is treating them well and thanks for stopping by.

xx P xx

Country show fun-Norfolk country show time.

On a weekend break at the Norfolk show with the family There is something about country shows I really love. The colourful collection of people you get going to them makes for excellent people watching- one of my favourite past-times The weather this year was not nearly as good as last year and did make dragging the sproglets round a bit of a trial but was a fun day out. I got myself a few nice treats, saw some interesting displays, got the kids a few "quality" show items and gorged myself on hog roast rolls... it's all good! It was not a long day thanks to the weather- no sitting in the All Bar One tent sipping on a Pimms in the sun- oh how life changes when you have kiddlets but was an enjoyble day non the less and we will definitely be back again next year! Now at home sitting in front of the crackling fire sampling the local cider from the show. Kids should be tired out in a couple of hours after playing with their show toys so will be a night of grown up chat and relaxing tonight! Gotta love weekends away!

Merry-go-round fun

Osk happy with his camo lollipop purchase

Machine gun alley!

One happy Osk, one tired out Oly

Handbag into camera bag

April 8th photo- In my wallet.

Todays brief was in my wallet; but I made, and am quite proud of, this very handy camera insert thingie for my handbag the other day and was keen to show it off, and it is sort of the same thing as in my wallet.

I got the idea from make it and love it which is an amazing site full of fantastic ideas. I hated having to carry both my massive padded camera bag and my generous handbag round where ever I went and as I didn't like leaving my camera at home I knew I had to come up with something that would sort out my problem. I then came across this awesome idea...which meant I could keep my beloved handbag and carry my prized possession wherever I went safely. An old yoga mat, some scraps of material and about an hour of toiling later and presto a padded insert for my bag to house all my treasures in comfort! It does make for quite a heavy handbag but is so much better than lugging two bags around.

I also added a little pocket to the inside to hold my memory cards.

I am very pleased with my efforts on this project and on my trip to London a few days ago it worked a treat. It was easy to get out my camera at a moments notice and all my usual handbag paraphernalia was kept together and much easier to locate. It also comes out so I can have my plain old handbag back if I need it, easy peasy! 

I hope everyone has had as fantastic an Easter Sunday as I have had. Much love and easter hoppiness. 

Happy easter from us!

xx P xx

Good friday lunch fun

April 6th photo- Lunch.

Photo challenge for today was lunch. Well as today was such a glorious day here in the UK we had our lunch in the garden. Fantastic food (linguini with a North Atlantic king prawns, fresh herbs and garlic infused olive oil), family around me...who needs to go away for the Easter break?? Afterwards there was lawn rugby for the boys, garden foraging for O2 and sunning for me, life is good!

O1 preparing himself an ice-cream with Chocolate philly

Lawn rugby and garden foraging

I hope everyone else has had a fantastic Good Friday! Happy Easter.

xx P xx