Car Booting

Usually car boot sales are held on a Sunday which is frustrating as I can't go to them! But last week I saw a poster that was advertising a car boot sale at a church near to Asda which was being held on a Saturday, and at 10am too (not some unearthly hour!). So I arranged to meet my mum and dad there at 10.00, have a walk round and then they would take the boys with them as usual. We I arrived at Asda just after 9.30 so I could get some cash from the ATM. I then walked over to the church and was planning on just hanging around until 10.00 until I saw people already buying and selling, so off we went! We managed to have a good walk around before meeting my parents, and bought a few bits and pieces. I then took them back to the car and had another look around. The boys were looking for toys but there weren't too many people selling boys toys. Lots of baby toys and paraphanelia (how do you spell that??) but not much for Nat and Zach's age. They did manage to get a few cars, new in the box. And also some sort of remote control car that was new also. They have taken them with them so I'll have to look the later! Once mum and dad took the boys I was able to look without distraction! I bought a few bits before they left and mum bought me a couple of cake stands. It was lovely weather so it was nice to be outside. I'll post picture below of my finds. I did also find a brand new fire extinguisher for £3 - the type you have for the car. It was weird actually as my friend Jannine had been asking me where she could buy one as they are travelling to europe soon and want one for the car. I already have one, so when I saw this brand new one I bought it for her! I didn't take a picture of it because, well, it's a fire extinguisher!

After the car boot I bought a bacon butty from Asda. Yum! I then headed home. I was considering going to the Wakefield Hospice Warehouse shop but thought I might go next week inside. However, as I was driving home I ended up in the wrong lane and so decided to head there for a quick look anyway. I knew there was going to be a shoe sale on but I just assumed they would be second hand shoes. How wrong! When I got there I saw tables and tables full of brand new kids designer shoes - Lelli Kelly, Oilily etc! Apparently one of the expensive childrens boutique stores had had a flood and they had given all their 'damaged' stock to the Hospice Warehouse. Now I could see nothing wrong with the shoes I was looking at! They had their original prices in which varied from £25 to about £70. The Hospice were selling them all for £5 a pair!!! They have loads of beautiful, gorgeous, to die for toddler size girls and boys shoes, but not so many older boys (for Nat and Zach). After a little while I called Jannine and she came down to look for boots for Millie. She then called Amy who has twin 1 year old boys to tell her. I also called my friend Andrea to see what size shoe her little girl wears. We got a pair of boots for her, if they fit! A bit later Amy came along with the twins and we helped her find some shoes and tried them on her boys. I did manage to find one pair each for Nat and Zach. I bought the next size up for them. Jannine bought a couple of pairs for Millie and one for Sammy, and Amy bought a total of 4 pairs. I think I should have been paid commission! Amy also bought 2 pairs for her nephews. I think I was there for about 2 hours!! The pair I bought for Zach should have been £67 and the ones for Nat were £65. So bargains for a fiver!! If I'd have had more cash I would have bought some of the cute Lelli Kelly and Oilily shoes and put them on ebay and made some £££.

So here are the pics of today's finds:



A cute brand new (tag attached) Harrod's cord bag with Scottie dog. White Scottie on one side and black scottie on other. 50p

These were also 50p each. An animal print shopper (new) and a dolcis brown leather bag.

Cute china cake stands £1.50 each.
Gorgeous set of sandwich platter and 6 plates. £1.50 the set. Picture doesn't do them justice really.
Set of 6 teacups, saucers and plates. Want to have a tea party (even though I don't drink tea! how about a herbal tea party!). £1.00 for the lot!


A set of 4 70's kitchen storage jars. £1 for the set. These remind me of the Hornea Pottery ones my parents had!
An old sewing box. £1.00. I will probably paint this or do something to it!!

A tiny sugar bowl and cream/milk jug in a pleasant design! 20p each.
And for the boys - a power rangers weapon each. £1.00 each
And these are the brand new shoes for Nathaniel £5
And the new ones for Zach £5.00

Quote

A happy family is but an earlier heaven. John Bowring


As seen on another blog

Baby Shower

Tonight I hosted a baby shower for my sister in law, Caitlin. We held it at church so that there was enough room. It was a fun evening and we managed to keep it a surprise! Caitlin seemed to have a lovely evening, I hope she did!! We played some fun games first. Then we have gift opening. Cait received some really cute gifts and had lots of gift bags and boxes to take home. We then had refreshments and just chatted before clearing up and heading home. I was conscious of not keeping Cait out too late as I didn't want her to get too tired to the point where you just don't enjoy it. But I think she was fine! I'm so excited for her to have her first baby! She'll be an awesome mum!! And I'm so excited to get a new nephew. Just think of those newborn cuddles! I didn't take any pictures tonight as I was too busy worrying whether it would go well. Our friend took some, thankfully, so I'll have to get copies from her. And I'll tell you about the refreshments another time. I'm too tired right now :)

Shopping!

Today I went shopping with my friend Jannine (and her gorgeous year old daughter) and my sister in law, Caitlin (Hi Cait if you're reading this!). We dropped the boys off at school and then headed over to Ikea for breakfast and a trek around the store. I wasn't planning on buying anything as Ikea in the UK are celebrating their 21st birthday this weekend and are having a sale tomorrow - 21% off everything. I was planning on heading over there tomorrow and getting mattresses for the boys' new bunk beds they are getting. However, I managed to get them today as they had one mattress in the bargain corner at a reduced price so I got them both for the same price as I would tomorrow. Which means I don't have to battle with the crazy people in store tomorrow!! They are actually opening from 6am until midnight tomorrow to deal with the crowds. Crazy huh!!! I also bought 3 single duvet covers from the bargain corner which were reduced to £1 each. Not sure whether to use them as covers for the boys (the red one and black one) or to use the fabric for other projects. So Cait - if you are reading - these pictures are for you :) I provide a good source of amusement for my family and friends :)

After our trip to Ikea we visited a lighting factory shop. Then we headed to Costco with slight diversions around Leeds since we weren't quite sure of the directions (Jannine was driving, bless her!). Leeds is a beast of a city to navigate around, especially due to the one way system. We were quite good in Costco, didn't spend too much (probably because we couldn't find the brownie mix!). Poor Cait managed really well since we were on our feet from 9.30am until 3pm and she is 8 months pregnant! If my nephew comes tonight - don't blame me :) I'm sure she'll sleep well tonight! We were quite giddy at having a full day out shopping. I think we are going to have a weekly shopping day from now on. It was such a fun day!! I'm so blessed to have such a great friend and great sister in law!

Flowers

I know I should have taken a picture of the flowers David gave me last week. This is a quick picture of the tulips I received. They are a week old but still look cute! These are just a few of them. My one big vase is holding my roses so I had to split my tulips into various small vases. These are just some of them. I love how they are just doing their own thing!!

So Long....

Wow, so I knew it was a while since I last updated my blog, but I didn't think it was this long.........

It was mine and David's 11th wedding anniversary on Saturday. How times flies!! My mum came over and babysat Saturday evening so we could go out. My dad is in Houston on business so my mum was glad to come over so she wasn't bored, home alone. And of course Nathaniel and Zachary were excited to spend more time with Nanna (they'd already spent most of the day with her!!).

David and I went to Nando's for dinner and then went to the movies to see Son of Rambow which was a fun, cute film. Very enjoyable. Worth a watch. And on Friday, David surprised me with flowers. He bought me and dozen red roses (aw!) and also a big bunch of tulips as I had tulips in my wedding bouquet. See, he CAN be romantic when he wants!! :)

Women

Today the words of a Hymn from my church have been going around and around in my head:

The errand of angels is given to women;
And this is a gift that, as sisters, we claim:
To do whatsoever is gentle and human,
To cheer and to bless in humanity's name. (Hymns, 309)

I believe this is so true as I have witnessed the way that the women in my ward (congregation) have reached out and served those in need, in whatever way they can. I think the world needs more 'gentle' women who bless and serve others. Women who serve in their homes and communities. Women don't need to be 'tough' and 'rough' like men. We are meant to be different. I know this goes against the grain for a lot of women. But I believe there is strength and power in a women who is gentle and charitable. What do you think?