A Day In The Life...

... of two busy girls on this windy Wednesday:

Nahla started a new creche/Montessori School, and took to it like a duck to water. My little love LOVED her new "school" and did not want to leave when I came to get her. AMAZING. We are happy that this will from now on be her school for 3 days every week. Mummy gets to work during normal daytime hours, and Nahla get to play and learn and have fun. It's a win-win.


The we wrecked the washing machine by doing a white-wash with an added metal tub of Hello Kitty lipgloss. As one does... Note to self: NEVER EVER forget to check the washing machine for funny things that don't belong there before putting on a wash!


Clever Mummy has downloaded some Nahla-friendly book onto her iPod. Which is proving a roaring success.


This fashion-loving mama got to rock her new green favorite skirt, picked up in Zara last week. And also treated herself to a little "I-have-been-wanting-it-forever-and-now-it-was-my-paycheck-gift-from-me-to-me" something from Shopbop. Hint: It is a bag by a certain Mr. Wang...


Post Pre-School Pick-Up Nahla and Mummy treated ourselves to some take-out latte (Mummy) and a pink frosted cupcake (Nahla) before we again headed home to get dinner on the table for Daddy/BF before he returns from work.

Sweet Mid-Week, guys!

Because TODAY I Deserve It

I am having ice cream right now. Full fat, stuffed-with-sugar-calorie-laden-proper-ice-cream. And not only because it is Saturday, but because today the following things happened:

1. We were surprised by a hail-storm when out shopping - and the only nearby Starbucks was so full we could not even get in the door to heat up on lattes. WTF.

2. Nahla - for the second day in a row - decided to skip her mid-day nap. Resulting in a very tantrum-filled afternoon indeed.

3. We got locked out of the house. For two very long cold hours.

4. I had to drive to no less than 4(!) ATM's before finding one that was not out of service and would give me money for the locksmith.

5. Mr. Locksmith cost 120 euros(!). Note to self: Never EVER get locked out again.

6. My planned-and-shopped-for homemade lasagne had to yield for a quick-and-not-so-nice order of Thai food. (And I LOVE Thai food, but this stuff was vile)

7. I have deadlines closing in and NOBODY I need to talk to will answer their e-mails.

8. I have paid no less than 7 different bills on my online banking and my balance is a sad state of affairs. Which again makes me think I seriously need to get these new articles in by their deadlines.

9. There is nothing on TV.

10. Even if there was, I couldn't watch it, and I really REALLY have to keep writing...


See?? You would have ice-cream too! Now; just one more scoop...

Art Factory

Nahla has discovered painting. Which, you know, in some ways are great. I love the fact that she dabbles in all things creative and artistic, bless her little socks. And as her mother I totally think it is the cutest thing ever when she sits in her high chair, bent over her latest creation, little tongue eagerly sticking out of her mouth.

But, you see, it ain't all cute, Especially after I discovered paint on her brand new Odd Molly dress. Paint on the rug. Paint on Igglepiggle. Paint in her hair. (Note: This would not be such a disaster had it not been for the fact that Nahla HATES washing her hair. I mean; HATE. It sounds like she is being murdered slowly whenever I try to as-carefully-as-possible rinse out the ultra-mega-mild shampoo. No more tears my backside!) I can go on: Paint on our vintage and oh-so-beautiful old dining table. Paint on the side of the washing machine (a mystery, I know!)

And so yeah; as a mother I clearly think my little artist is the most talented thing to ever have come out of preschool. Goes without saying. On the other hand, my slightly obsessive compulsive side, who NEEDS to have a home that looks like it is about to grace the pages of Elle Decoration, is a tad more apprehensive. As one would understand. It was the smear of bright red (why, oh why did I let her paint with such an unforgiving colour?!) paint on my new Filippa K boots that did tipped me over the edge, I think. From now on, any painting done in this household will happen prison-style under extreme supervision...

Bump!

Look at my poor little love! Her very first proper head bump! On Friday afternoon, my little princess and I were doing one of our favorite things we do upon arriving home in Naas, namely browse around in the Barker & Jones bookstore on the mainstreet. And in the midst of all this browsing and Look-At-The-Handy-Manny-tools-in-this-magazine and twirling (as toddlers often do!), Nahla took a giant tumble into one of the display tables and this was the result. Obviously this Mummy freaked out big time! It was like when somebody bumps their head in a cartoon - the bump just seemed to grow out of her head in no time! All blue and huge and scary! But my tough little cookie, after having wiped away the initial tears, took it all in her stride, well helped by the chocolate lollipop provided by the nice store manager!

And now, 4 days later, all that is left on my little love's perfect forehead, is a tiny little yellow bruise, not even visible to those who are not aware of the tumble adventure. And this Mummy feels like she can cross another thing of on her Things Parents Have To Cope With list!

This Made Me Laugh Out Loud...

... as Nahla has recently gotten into a phase of wanting to accompany me WHEREVER I go. Including the bathroom. It also reminded me about our many many flights over the past 20 months, and the amount of times I have attempted to pee in a tiny airplane toilet - while holding her at the same time. And if you thought peeing while hanging on to a baby is tricky, I can assure you that trying to zip up your jeans with one hand and holding your baby with the other is even slightly worse.

(Photo Credit from here)

Mummy Lessoned Learned Today:

Don't forget to PUT THE PENS AWAY. ALWAYS.

Oh, How I Regret...

... not buying this AWSOME dress when I tried it on in Zara a couple of months ago! I mean; I had it on. It looked amazing. It only cost 79 euros. And I WALKED AWAY! Talk about bad fashion judgement!! And I freakin' regret it even more having seen these pictures of the always-on-trend Olivia Palermo walking into a show during Paris Fashion Week wearing THIS EXACT DRESS! Now, I wonder has it popped up on eBay yet....??

(Photo Credit from here)

How Clean Is Your House?

Less so post clean, I fear...

Sometime This Happens..

You head out for the day thinking you are just going to the local farmer's market to get a week's worth of fruit and vegs - then you accidently fall into a shop on the way there, and end up finding the most fabulous shoes you have set foot in. (Well, in the last few months anyway!) Uh-oh!

Or Maybe An Artists Studio...

... would be better for my little creative tot - who has just shared her creativity all over the wooden floors...

After A Giant Tumble...

... across her pink plastic shopping cart, across the floor and into the doorframe - resulting in a pretty big bump on the head - nothing is quite as comforting as warm milk!

This Is What...

.... oreo milkshake + baby looks like... Just in case you were wondering!

Mummy's Only Red Lipstick...

... is now history. Not that I wore it much, but still. Note to self: Move EVERYTHING in the bathroom cabinets up higher. A lot higher...

When Mummy Brings Home Cupcakes...

... from a variety of press events, the joy is complete. Note: the mess is so bad that cupcakes are best eaten in full rain gear. The hat is just for show - it's not THAT bad!

We Have Arrived!

And apart from a very tired snotty nosed princess today, a minor vomiting incident en route yesterday and the fact that Mummy forgot to bring her Chanel moisturizer, we are all good! And so now, breakfast down and we are ready for a little walk and some fresh air; bring on my new Tory Burch flats, it is spring!

Oh, and Nahla gets to wear her new favorite hat - which is so popular she even sleeps in it!

Just One Of Those Days

Today we leave for Ireland. In a few hours to be exact. My suitcase is still not packed properly. I don't know where Nahla's left Converse is. My hair needs washing. Nahla is still runninng a slight fever and coughs a lot, my poor little monkey. I have four looming deadlines in work. The apartment is a mess. It is SNOWING out. I have lost the Safari APP on my iPhone - like, it has just vanished, bananas weird, I know. We won't be in Ireland till way past Nahla's bedtime. I can't find any Calpol to take her fever down. She is in great form, I am a mess after two nights with no sleep. Are we in need of a little holiday? Yeah, I think so!

Despite Being Up All Night With A Stomach Bug...

... Nahla was in flying form again today. Mummy, who was naturally also up with her sick princess, not so much flying form and more dead than alive. The joys!

Misplaced

When you are dealing with a toddler in your house, you better just get used to stuff going missing. Stuff ending up where it is not meant to go. Stuff getting broken. A lot. Stuff getting machine washed by mistake because "somebody" left it inside the washing machine and then stressed out mummy forgot to empty the machine of Igglepiggles and teaspoons and wooden toy cupcakes before she put a wash on. Stuff getting covered with sticky stuff. Stuff getting hidden and only to reappear after you have given up looking and bought a replacement necklace/phone charger/toothbrush. You get the picture! Welcome to my life!


EXHIBIT A: Blackberry stuffed into the bath-toy holder. Is it any wonder it died?!


EXHIBIT B: Wind-up Dinosaur that on several attempts have nearly killed me as I keep tripping over the **%! thing in an attempt to not step on on and cut my foot - which has also happened on a few occasions.


EXHIBIT C: Photo framed that eventually broke after having been ripped down from its "I-thought-it-was-safe" position on the bookshelf FIVE THOUSAND TIMES.


EXHIBIT D: Lotions and potions scattered across the bathroom floor - four hundred times a day. No point in even attempting to tidy up until after 8 PM.


EXHIBIT E: Mummy's new little purse - found in N's potty after a frantic search operation...


EXHIBIT F: "Hm... I wonder, DID I leave something in here lately...?" Uh, yes, Nahla, only Mummy's Tom Ford sunglasses!!!

And so motherhood goes....!

Lipgloss And Love...

... for Nahla, who is enjoying that Bestefar (Granddad) is here to visit and was keen to show him her lipgloss tricks this morning!

She's Mine, All Right...

... sure just look at the way she can handle a little lipgloss, my little mini make-up pro! (Note: while this started as a very cute little incident of Nahla finding an old sample lipgloss in my handbag and showed some very clever skills in knowing exactly what to do with it - to Mummy's surprise and amusement - it didn't end quite this cute. Nahla, having decided she had enough lipgloss on her little lips, then went on to decorate her ADORABLE little dress with lipgloss too. Then the wall behind her. Then the strap of Mummy's beloved LV Never Full handbag. Ouch...) Just goes to show; you escape to the bathroom to pee for four little seconds and in that time disaster can strike - several times over. Mummy lessons learned: 2017- ish.