Mothers Day

I loved my 1st Mothers Day. Happy Mothers Day to all Mothers and Happy Aunts Day to all Aunts (Hooray for Aunts!). I hope you had a fab day. I know it's become a commercial enterprise and I think it was invented by a greeting card manufacturer to increase sales but I don't care, I loved it. The baby gave me a beautifully wrapped gift and card. We all went to lunch. I wore these Chloe shoes:
with this frock that I bought yesterday from an el cheapo shop at a large suburban shopping centre. It borrowed from the School of Malene Birger and had a sort of Danish Sensibility.

It was covered in sparkly whatsies. This polish is OPI's Koala Berry (Warning! It is Fast to Chip!)

The rest of the Family embraced Neutrals too. Because that's how we roll round these here parts.

and I took this fancy high end designer bag from Jean Brown for a spin.

It was lovely to have my 1st Mothers Day with my Mum

She was wearing this necklace

It says Friends Forever. She asked me if I knew who she bought it in memory of. I wasn't sure. She said she got it when Robert died.

This is Robert. He's in the Big Dog Run in the Sky now. My Mother was Devoted to him and spoilt him rotten.

naturally the baby looked adorable in his velvet cardy and polka dot arrangement

Next week I'm going to action some Old School FF Posts. Just for the fun of it. We'll be getting back to basics (Thankyou notes, carbs, unchipped polish, bed making, time management, cushions, that sort of thing) and I'll be Workshopping the FF Essentials and dispensing advice left right and centre. It'll be sort of Manifesto-lite. Stay tuned.

xxxxx

Decluttering at Half Speed

You just cannot do a speed declutter with a newborn baby in tow. They slow you down. But at least I got a carboot full of stuff to the Salvation Army. My friend L was here as I was about to leave so she got a frock and some fur gilet thingamies and a bunch of magazines. So happy they're off to a good home. How organised and empty does the cupboard look? So Thrilling. In the photo declutter stakes I've come across the following snaps:
My parents Back in the Day, and me in my Youth

It's a good thing you can't see my polish as it is Well and Truly Chipped. But Don't Panic. I'll sort something tonight. In keeping with my Stay at Home Mother Status and because the weather has turned a bit chilly, I went to Target today and bought a tracksuit and some pink ugg boots. Look:

It really is non stop Glamour round here. Tomorrow Willow and Lotus are having a launch party for their new Collection at the Tribune. All the Big Names are going. The Baby appears to be learning how to smile. It's about time.

How's everyone's Royal Wedding dinner plans panning out? I'm thinking Coronation chicken, salad, a rice dish and Eton Mess. Maybe. Might set the table tomorrow to save time.

I Swaddle. Therefore I Am.

Mr FF's colleagues sent me these flowers. Aren't they nice? I love it how flowers these days arrive in vases. So much better than having to arrange them yourself.

They're from Phoebe. Of course. Apparently she used to action the flowers at Buckingham Palace.

Here's a soothing vignette from the Fuschiadome. Not to be confused with a vinaigrette that you'd douse a salad with.

Do you love Liberty fabric as much as I do? It's so pretty.

My Mum's whipping up a Liberty smock dress arrangement for Niece FF who arrives from yonder shortly. I wish I could sew things.

Last night a cast of thousands descended for dinner. Luckily I'd never ever knowingly undercater and had made enough retrolicious Bolognaise circa 1977 with tinned champignions to feed the 8th Regiment.

Up until recently I'd never turned my mind to Swaddling or Muslins. ( Not to be confused with Muslims.) These days you can hardly move without hitting a muslin wrap round these here parts and I can action a muslin swaddle arrangement like No One's Business. Even in the middle of the night. While Half Asleep. Doesn't my baby's nose look cute?

Meanwhile I'm still actioning polish when I can

But some things have been neglected. Like these cushions.

My sister and her family arrive from Honkers tomorrow so Nephew FF can meet his new cousin. You can imagine my Mother's excitement. And mine too- I can't wait!!

xxxxxx

Miscellania

Is everyone actioning tasty 1 Pan Cooking Solutions with cheap cuts of meat like I told you to? Baked chicken with lemon and potato requires Minimal Washing Up. A necessity in my life these days. Must think of more 1 Pan Wonders. I thought about lamb chops but then I remembered they are up there with BHP shares at about $40 a kilo dammit. It's a bit cold and rainy here so home made baked beans and Pseudo Italian meatballs were in order. And you can eat this with 1 paw. Handy. don't even bother eating this without liberal amounts of lemon juice. Don't ask me why-it's just Better. My friend J gave me these amazing native flowers. Aren't they beautiful? Not to mention long lasting.

And my uncle and cousins sent these really really long lasting "flowers" with baby accessories! Love this too.

Meanwhile, remember Ole Mr FF and I used to match outfits? Well we aren't so much these days but he has been wearing a lot of Blue For Boys Accessory-wise.

Look at what Mr FF's twin is wearing:

Tie Twins!

My sister gave me this cute outfit. Our little boy looks exactly like Mr FF. As my Mum says, put a pair of spectacles on him and they'd be difficult to tell apart!

I am finding it challenging to complete all the paperwork necessary for a new baby without an Office, a Photocopier a Fax machine and most importantly H Super Secretary (Hi H!!).There should be a checklist that they give you BEFORE you have a baby about all the copies of documents you will need. All those books about pregnancy and not a whisper about the proof of ID you'll need to access your baby's birth certificate and the cost of same. Why I wonder?

xxxxx

Fingers and Toes

It's a cliche but one I couldn't resist!
In hospital the baby gets swaddled so I haven't really had much chance to look at his adorable feet.
I feel sad that Liz Taylor died. If you've been reading this blog for a while you know I was a big fan. I've got Elizabeth Taylor, The E True Hollywood Story on in the background. She was so so beautiful and such a survivor-an amazing combination. Not to mention super glamorous. I think her daughter was only 2 months old when Mike Todd was killed in that plane crash. Can you imagine? One of my favourite quotes is by her-"Now is the time for Guts". It can be applied to any situation. I 'spose I'll be drawing on those words in the next few months if this baby decides he's going to trip the light fantastic all night long and refuse to sleep....
Thank you for all of your lovely messages on my last post. Some of them made me downright teary they were so kind. My family and friends are always 11/10 but they have been amazing during this special time- so kind, so generous and so supportive and so loving. Tomorrow the Baby gets to meet his Number One Fan in the flesh, My Mum. She is a Superior Grandma in all respects and has loved getting daily photos and updates. I for one cannot wait.
xxxxx

Things I Think About

This is me with my mum is the mid 1970s. I think she sewed both dresses that we are wearing. I know that my Grandfather who is now in his 90s took the photo. She's coming up on the weekend. I can't wait to show her the nursery, all the Baby Clobber and last but not least the 100 plus baby outfits that people have given me.

Apart from wondering non stop what my baby will look like, and what sort of life they will have, I spend a lot of time these days thinking about parenting and wondering what sort of Mother I'll be. I already know that my Mother will be a Superior Grandma. She has a special connection with my Niece and Nephew and I can't wait to see her with my baby.

Which brings me to my favourite photo of Grandma that I have posted lots of times on this blog.

This photo hangs in a large frame in my living room and I never get bored of looking at it. My Dad was super cute. You already know this photo was taken on the day he won the Baby Competition.

Grandma died over 8 months ago. Not a day passes that I don't think about her. I miss her so much. She was very loving and kind and she absolutely loved babies, and they loved her.

I miss hearing her voice say my name.

I wear her perfume and look at the things I have of hers and I wish so much that she was still here.

Life Snippet

Nasturtiums are always so cheery aren't they? I love them massed together. Did you attend a Pink Ribbon Fundraiser today to raise money for Breast cancer? I bought a pink sparkly bracelet thing and wore it to the Coalface.
Yesterday afternoon my Mum was up from the country, so I baked her some chocolate chip biscuits and made her a gin and a tonic and she helped me with some domestic activities. Then we leafed through my Malene Birger book together. I wish she lived here all the time.
I had this Atlantic salmon/asparagus /red grapefruit segment/red onion/cucumber salad arrangement with abasil yoghurt and mustard dressing for dinner. I know. Healthy.
then I had some of these:
after this of course

This is Our ZZ ("Hungarian to the Stars"). We did brunch yesterday. She's heading back to Budapest next month for a holiday. I'll miss her. She knows all my secrets and I treat her house as an extension of mine. I can get there in under 3 minutes which is quite convenient. She found it funny that a bunch of people who read this blog are now saying that they Luff stuff.

The FF Garden is Covering itself in what can only be described as GLORY. Late October early November is its time to Shine really.

I thought this was a hippeastrum but a clever reader said it was a bella donna lily (I think). Orange and coral coloured flowers are the Bomb.

and my little white agapanthus flowers are about to burst forth

and so are my purple aggies.

Today I met my whippersnapper friend K for lunch. She got back from a trip to Honkers last night so we had a lot to catch up on

I'll be seeing the Perfection that is Niece FF in just over a week. know. I can't wait either! So I've bought her some tasteful accessories for her Barbie. I know she'll love the pink clutch and bag and the pink shoes. They are all very Her. I've got her some pink OPI polish too. It's handy having so much in common with her because it makes present buying super easy.

Monday went so fast. x