My Favourite Things Part 3 - Gifts I have been given

And then there are those lovely and beautiful items which some wonderful person has thoughtfully chosen and given to me and my family which are not only treasures in their own right but are extra special because of the sentimental value they hold.

I love this bronze statue of two swans nuzzling each other
This was a gift from my parents for our Bronze wedding anniversary and is
significant because swans are said to keep the same mate for life.

A Wooden ornament from our former language student Amy

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A Tea Shop shaped Biscuit Barrell - Nat loves to choose a special biscuit from this jar

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A Bowl of Christmas pine cones sprayed red and gold by my nephew and niece (with help from their mum)
I keep this in my dining room as it matches the red colour scheme

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This pretty candleabra was an anniversary gift from my parents

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I love these wooden ornaments and have collected quite a few

David bought me this when I was pregnant with Nat



Another gift from David



A wedding gift from my mother in law

This was my wedding day gift from David

From David

A birthday present from my mother in law

David gave me this which to me represents my son Seb

A beautiful holiday gift from our good friends Jon and Shirley

A vase from my beautiful friend Vicky

A painted eggcup from one of my parent's trips abroad
I collected egg cups when I was younger and have a box of them in the loft

A special gift from my best friend George

A painting of the Chugginton Trains for Nat, painted by my Dad Philip

A trinket box from my cousin Dawne

A compact mirror and perfume atomiser from my cousins Christine and Richard
A shiny and sparkly 30th birthday gift!

A heart shaped trinket box from David x

A jeweled bangle from my cousins David and Keeley

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A framed flower given to us by my parents
This hangs in our conservatory

A trreasured wedding gift from my lovely friend and bridesmaid Lou

My Favourite Things Part 2 - Nik naks I love

So I guess there are also belongings and treasures around my house which I love to look at and which I would be sad to lose, but for which I could restrain from returning to a burning building to save.

I realised there is a bit of a theme to the little items and possessions that I adore.  For example,  I absolutely love hearts, in all shapes and sizes and a girl can never have too many heart shaped nik naks knocking around the house.

In addition if it is shiny, sparkles or glitters then I want it!!



Oh and you can't beat a bit of romance or cuteness to melt my heart.


Heart shaped decoration, a present from hubby David x

An old photo of Seb and my best friend's daughter Chloe when they were three years old.



Elysium is the name of our house and means "Place of Future Happiness or any delightful place"



Yes it it heart shaped and it shines and glitters



I wish I could say I had embroidered this Home Sweet Home Cushion myself but I bought it

My husband and I bought this in Disney Land Paris just before we got married

My kissing Goebels bunnies that I purchased from an antique fair in London in the 1990's

Even Nat's nursery had to have a heart in there somewhere

A Reindeer tea light holder that I treated myself to last Christmas

I have had these angel and cherub pictures since I was a teenager and cannot bear to part with them

A sparkly jewelery box. Nothing sparkly inside though - just a collection of old receipts!

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A star shaped bowl of pot pouri.  I love nice smells especially oil burners from Yankee Candle - lush!

yes they are gold and shiny.  Found these at a car boot sale and couldn't resist.

I love this heart

A carrier bag holder from Spain

Heart shaped hooks hung low for Nat's coats

I have two of these star shaped light shades in our hall and on our landing

surprise surpise - another heart!

A mirrored set of drawers, a fairy ornament and
several perfume bottles and essential oils  from my Aunty Shirley

This picture holder was a gift from former colleagues
The photos are of my engagement to David and me heavily pregant with my son Seb and our student Amy

Yet more hearts with photos of my three boys

Candle wax, Cobwebs and Cushion covers

Yesterday was Bank Holiday Monday so no work: Yipee!  But the weather was a wash out so there was no chance of going out and doing something fun.  I woke up yesterday morning on a mission . . . to clean those parts of my house that my usual cleaning routine does not reach!!

Why is it that some days you can wake up lazy and with no will power to do anything at all and yet other days like today (which are few and far between) you feel like you can tackle the impossible?

Not only did I decide to start spring cleaning, but also yesterday was the day I decided that I will finally try and stick to the diet that I have unsuccessfully started six times already this year.  I was somewhat motivated by the fact that I stepped on the scales that morning and had (without trying) managed to lose 3 pounds!

Three weeks ago a colleague in the office, and I decided that we would have a little competition to help motivate each other to stick to our respective diets. 'M' lost five and a half pounds in the first week and three in the second.  I, on the other hand, stayed exactly the same the first week and put on a pound the second week!!  So there was absolutely no way I was going to risk undoing the three pounds weight loss that might finally redeem me when I return to the office tomorrow and protect any semblance of pride I have left.

I tackled the conservatory first as with the weather being awful it was a great chance to do it.  With even a little bit of sunshine it is normally unbearably hot and I can't stand to clean with any real effort.  Well it showed!  I pulled all the furniture out and swept up all the dust and cobwebs that had gathered in every nook and crannie. 

Our conservatory

I even took a knife and finally scraped melted candle wax off the high windowsill which had been there untouched for months. I removed the cushion covers to wash them but realised they were dry clean only. Not wanting to ruin them I sponged the sticky finger marks off and they soon looked as good as new. I even persuaded a reluctant husband to leathercare the sofas for the first time since we bought them.

Slowly I made my way from room to room tackling the kitchen, dining room, lounge, hall, stairs, landing, Nat's room, our bedroom and the bathroom.  David vacuumed the lounge and Seb vacuumed his floor so I can't take credit for that but I was very pleased with my efforts at the end of a long and exhausting day.

The Dining Room

Our Lounge

Still no time to stop as I also supervised Seb's homework, then bathed Nat, cooked the dinner (chicken in a honey and mustard sauce with mashed potato, carrots, brocoli and sprouts).  Did an online grocery order in readiness for Wednesday and finally settled down to a mamoth pile of ironing.

. . . and still the ironing basket is not empty!

Maybe not the most glamorous or exciting bank holiday I have ever spent but I have a lovely clean home and can't help feeling very pleased with myself!