Summer Flowers

Jam jars, cider bottles, filling with flowers from around the garden. Simple pleasures in quiet moments when Little Bird is at preschool. A rest from making food all day long - the boy can eat! Hollow legs my dad would say.

The board book is Summer by Gerda Muller. Beautiful pictures to inspire you for the season. We have the full set now for all the year. I recommend them.

Weymouth Beach Memories

Back to the beautiful sands of last year. Weymouth were then gearing up for the Olympic sailing. How we loved this sandy bay.
Bunting galore.
No holiday for us this year but still lots to do at home.
I've felt very British these last few years with all the celebrations and of course one this year too...

I predict a girl. I'm a bit excited! Are you?

Happy Smiley Communication

• A lovely sunny week and some little trips out locally.
• Little Bird's first time to eat ice cream here - not had a sweet tooth until recently so a first. How pleased was I, my little boy finally enjoying an ice cream.
• Celebrating LB's speed of picking up PECS to communicate with. Flying with it faster than we can print and laminate new cards. Symbols for different toys, foods, going out in the car, into the garden, for dancing with us and for his beloved iPad. It's made him so happy to be able to communicate without whinging. Changed our lives. 
• I was on a course for three days earlier this week, all about the TEACCH approach - to help LB start to learn, to do activities. A structure to build upon. Daddy Bird was looking after him and they had a lot of fun. As I left one morning, LB grabbed the car picture and ran to DB. He found his way to communicate - 'Take me to Mummy!'

What’s for Dinner Tonight?

BritMums were offering a chance to try out the new Schwartz 2in1 seasoning range. Each pack is split into two sachets - one to flavour the main dish and the other half to season a complementary side dish or a topping. There are five different varieties to try and I thought I'd try the Mediterranean Chicken Pasta with a Cheesy Crumb Topping.

It was very easy to prepare. I diced some chicken, fried in a little oil and then added some red peppers. Meanwhile I boiled a pan of pasta, drained and added a tin of chopped tomatoes, simmered and then added the flavour sachet with some water. The herby, spicy mix really thickened up the sauce and smelt wonderful. The chicken and peppers were mixed in and all was added to an oven dish.

The second half of the sachet was added to the top with grated cheese. A gorgeous garlic and herb crumb topping. Yum. The dish then went under the grill for a ten minutes until golden and our scrumptious tea was complete.

It's a really quick and easy fix to jazz a meal up and the recipe plus ideas are on the back of the packet. Sometimes we get so bored in our house of the same old food, so the Schwartz 2in1 seasoning range makes a nice change. 

This post is an entry for BritMums ‘What’s for Dinner Tonight?’ sponsored by Schwartz. Find out more about the new 2in1 mixes here

What's in your handbag?

MoneySupermarket are running a competition to win a Mulberry Bayswater shoulder handbag, purse and phone case and 6 runners up will receive a £25 ASOS voucher by blogging about the contents of your handbag and it's total value.

My latest bag is my daffodil yellow Zatchels satchel that I love. This is my no kids bag, so no nappies, no wipes, no crisp crumbs, juice or random toys.

Here is my bag and its contents:
Zatchel - £89
iPhone - £100
bareMinerals Marvellous Moxie lipstick - £13
Christian Dior - DiorGlam Face & Eyes Highlighting Powder -£30
Zandra Rhodes Button Flower Perfume - £34
Ruby & Millie Blusher Brush - £5
Nail Files - £1
Tissues
Max Factor lash extension effect mascara - £4

Bronzer - £3

Santoro Pixie Strawberry Lip Balm - £5

Hirbrush - £5

Hair bobble

Notebook & Pen - £5

Purse and money £25

Magazine - £2.50

Son's toy tiger - now how did that sneak in? - £priceless

A total of £321.50 which I wouldn't have realised when I throw a few bits of makeup in for the school run and a trip to the shops.