Things I'm loving right now

Guys, I'm not getting enough sleep because I totally lost my good habits from last week (prepare lunch bag while assembling supper and set out clothes). A couple of nights now I realise at 11 pm that I haven't done that so there's a mad scramble and that messes up my reading time and so it's been less than 7 hours.

That's got to stop!

However, let me tell you what I'm loving right now:

my castanets (oh, they are a dream to play) - I'm still not telling you what they cost because it feels very wasteful for something I use once a week for 5 - 10 minutes.

this girl's silliness (they're figuring out jokes!), her tight hugs, her "you're the best mummy in the world" when I say "I love you, Baby, you're the best little girl in the whole world" and also how she ADORES summer (she wants to wear dresses all the time and I have to tell her she has to wear shorts underneath because I don't want people looking - do your girls wear shorts under dresses?).

This child dresses S L O W L Y. I age waiting for her (honestly) but the other day when I asked her if she wanted to wear flipflops, she ran into the house, changed into flip flops and was back outside in probably 15 seconds flat! Nanny S and I both laughed so hard.



Granny Smith apples - to be fair, I've never stopped loving them - but really, biting into a tart, juicy apple is a joy unto itself.



My new water bottle. It's an 800 ml blue bottle I bought at Clicks for R35 and it's perfect. It fits in the car exactly right - no movement when I squeeze it into the door slot. I tote this thing around everywhere (they even commented on it in the final interview a few weeks ago).

Speaking of blue, this bowl. And its friend, the green one. They are so un-Marcia - I generally don't like dishes with grooves where food can get stuck. Mr P Home in case you want a couple :)



This boy! He is in the sweet spot (should I be writing that on a blog?!) of 5 perfection. He is loving and kind and becoming a good listener. And best? He loves spending time with me. In the mornings we race to see who can get dressed first (he wins most mornings except Saturdays when I'm a MACHINE - I only brush my teeth and put on lipstick - no faffing whatsoever til after class) and you should hear his laughter when he wins :)

He loves writing - loves, loves, loves it. Aunty Funso sent him a pen and you'd think it was a camera he loved it so because now he has more pens like Mummy!



These hooks! I have a new system - when we receive invites, I attach it to one of these clips and they don't get lost. Leaving the invites on the lovely blue cupboard somehow inspired the kids to craft with them. I ended up phoning about 3 mothers to apologise and ask for the details. On the bright side, thank God for my memory - at least I remembered who's party it was and the mother's name.

Now in other news, the Nester's 31 days of ..... is coming up and I'm trying to decide if I should participate.

I participated for 3 years. I didn't join up last year because life was crazy enough without anything extra.

It's a lot of work but I like a nice challenge, especially because once I get into anything daily, I love the habitual nature of it.

Anyway, I've written on organising for the 3 years (the first year I joined - 2011 - I only wrote 25 posts due to the Great Gallbladder Fiasco) so if I'm to do it, it's got to be something else this year.

I do like to write at least 31 ideas for posts beforehand and try to get some pre-written in case there are "horrible days" and I can't get to the computer.

Any ideas? What kinds of topics am I passionate about that would make you click?

(bonus points for a catchy title)

(honestly the only series I remember over the years is the one on courage that Annie Downs did)

(Mandy could do 31 days of DIY home projects)