I love flowers

Like most women I love flowers both in the garden and in the house. However, I sadly don't have the budget to buy fresh flowers each week, so it was time to get creative.

The garden is full of colour this time of year so why not use what is there and bring some of the outside in. I am spoilt for choice on the variety of flowers I can choose at the moment and really enjoy my weekly ritual of taking my scissors and choosing my flowers to create a unique display.

Today I have chosen these beautiful purple flowers with some greenery and have arranged them in this gorgeous enamel cream bucket, with a simple pale green ribbon added for an extra touch.

As I had a few flowers left, I placed a couple into this vintage glass bottle that used to belong to my dear Grandma. A really simple idea, but it adds a splash of colour to the kitchen.

A really simple and cheap way to bring flowers into the home and also add continuity from the garden to inside.

Gangsta Granny

Miss H and I have always enjoyed reading together at bedtimes and as her love of books grows we treasure this time of day.

However, this cosy quiet time over the past few weeks have developed into a time of laughing out loud and desperate excitement of wanting to read more.

What is this book I here you cry? The hilarious and moving 'Gangsta Granny' by the comedian David Walliams. I don't know whether you have read this book with your children, but we would both recommend you do. For those who don't have children - please read it as you too will laugh and cry out loud, as the images of Granny will trigger memories of your own Grandmas.

We have never laughed so much when reading at bedtime and yes we did cry at the moving bits too as we watched the relationship with Ben and his Granny develop. (I won't tell you what happens as I don't want to spoil it for you - as there is nothing more annoying).

I would just advise you to have a read, take it on holiday, read it on the train - so what if it's aimed at children, David Walliams has written a great book and as an adult I would be proud to read it in public.

Jubilee memories

Like most people our family have really enjoyed celebrating the Jubilee over the past week and we have shared moments that we will always cherish for years to come.

Our talented Miss H created this wonderful Jubilee memory box at an art workshop, to keep safe her memories from the week's events. Inside she has included a union jack money box from her best friend, a bible given to her from school, pictures from a family wedding we went to at the weekend, a flag and a red London bus - to name but a few of the items. I thought it was a fantastic way to store all those precious keepsakes and I know she will cherish it for always.

Coffee and cake

As the school holidays are coming to an end, Miss H and I decided to pop into town on this wet and windy Friday to treat ourselves to a magazine and indulge in coffee and cake (well water for Miss H). We both had a scrummy lemon tart at Costa Coffee which I would recommend to you all.

It was lovely chatting together and being all cosy in the cafe whilst the rain poured outside and on the way back to the car we splashed in the puddles and laughed as our umbrellas blew around in the wind.

A lovely morning with my little Miss.

Sweet idea

I was just going through my photographs taken at a wedding on Saturday and thought you would like to see this image:

A gorgeous sweet shop had been set up for guests to enjoy. We all received a pink and white striped paper bag and then we could choose our favourite sweets. It was a big hit with all the guests big and small. I especially liked the marshmallow tree.

Yum yum.

A place to relax

Like most people these days, we are all busy dashing around and leading manic lives with work, children and homes to run. So for me my garden is a very important place to relax and unwind. There is something very therapeutic about being in the garden and listening to the birds signing and the sheep in fields nearby.

To lengthen my stay in the garden I have created a pretty sitting area where I can relax with a magazine and a coffee and recharge my batteries. I add cosy cushions to the seat, which can be moved at the end of the day.

Hope you like it.