Organised Family Fun

Currently writing this with paint splattered in my hair while I get back to feeling anxious about visitors.

We must have started decorating again!

Seriously, if anyone ever tells you to paint that awkward (super-tall) bit of wall above your stairs, just get a man in. I know it's defeatist and lazy but that's where DIY painting gets really hard, even with a tall boyfriend tiptoeing on a too short ladder, I'll tell you though, for our landing, one-coat paint has been our SAVIOUR! - even if a lot of it is my hair right now.


So, I'll be taking you back to a slightly less stressful time a couple of weekends ago, when I felt happy to have guests and actually pretty dang house-proud for the first time since we moved here.

My family on both sides is pretty big, and, particularly on my Dad's side, we're a lot closer than most. I think having my Gran as such a strong matriarch really helps this. My cousins and I used to go on holidays together but as we've grown up this is an aspect that's fallen by the wayside a bit. As a bonding exercise, I thought a girly weekend would be fun, and a nice way to show them my new home.











We had a nice afternoon of fruit picking at Millets Farm, defiantly sat in the less than sunny garden to enjoy Pimm's and a tasty dinner of vegetarian chilli before putting on facemasks and watching 10 Things I Hate About You. We rounded up the evening with The Babadook (which in hindsight should really have been Bend It Like Beckham but there's always next time).



[Because it didn't go on Facebook... ;)]

It was so nice to host guests after such a long time and not have to think about decorating or cardboard, plus, have you seen my main guest bedroom? It's the coolest.

I hope this is the first of many weekends we have like this, family is so, so important and I think it's especially important to take advantage of those bonds if you've got them, there's always time for a catch up. I'm already looking forward to seeing the girls again for my family housewarming at the end of next month, better get down to more painting, right?

Weekend Cures.

After a heavy Saturday night out I think few things can cure what ails you than a bit of raspberry picking followed by a Sunday roast. Cobbs, I don't think you'll ever let me down ♥

:: Have you entered my giveaway to win tickets to the Royal Berkshire County Show on the 20th September? ::

End of Season.

Our 'Pick Your Own' at Cobbs Farm Shop has now run out of everything, but their autumn raspberries are thriving and we took full advantage of this last Sunday. It's a little ridiculous that it's August and Moon and I were bundled up like it was autumn but it's appropriate for autumn fruit, I guess.


I'm never really sure what to do with raspberries and usually just end up eating them as they are, very easy when they're this good. I'm determined that if we're able to go back before the season is out that I find at least a few fun raspberry recipes beforehand.

These were far more reasonably priced than I had been expecting, under £2 for more than we really needed, a much better deal than the pre-picked £3.50 packs they were selling in the farm shop and much more fun too!












I personally can't wait for blackberry-picking season to get into full-swing, it's so nice to be able to eat seasonally and ever so slightly more rewarding when it's free.

#1day12pics :: July

You know one of those weeks where the last thing you want to do is sit in front of a computer when you get home? Yeah, well it's sort of been one of those. I'm kind of sad about that really because blogging is something I really do enjoy and I like to share pictures and thoughts, I guess it's a bit of a shame that I haven't been able to find the motivation lately.

With all that being said, I took quite a few pictures last Saturday and reckon I've managed to get a few posts out of that, the first one being my third 1 Day 12 Pictures Photo Challenge with Michelle from MY Creative and Emma from Photography for Blogs.

We had grand plans for last weekend and had been talking about them before it even hit Wednesday but then the weather decided to be indecisive and it put us off so we ended up on a short and sweet jaunt to the beautiful town of Marlborough with a pit-stop at Cobbs for the Pick Your Own on the way home. It was actually a really nice day, rounded up with a sweet date night and salted caramel Haagen Dasz (what a dream ♥).


1: 9am // Slightly unnervingly sweet behaviour from our little predator first thing in the morning. RIP to the little vole she brought in on Friday night.


2: 10am // It wouldn't be a Saturday without any plans without a little Saturday Kitchen.


3: 11am // Optimistically bopping into Marlborough for Mr Moon's first proper drive since we came back from Portugal.


4: 12pm // A little rain never hurt anyone...


5: 1pm // Marlborough's church is quite wonderful, not only is it pretty beautiful inside, it also features a large local crafts shop and tea room.


6: 2pm // Cobbs really does have the best Pick Your Own, I'm looking forward to heading back there once the raspberry and tayberry crops are better later in the summer.


7: 3pm // I went a little wild at Marlborough's Saturday market, but you can't blame me, their selection is quite something, not pictured is 4 plaice fillets we got for just £5! Their fruit and veg stall puts Newbury's to shame too, I must have come away with three carrier bags full of stuff for around £6.


8: 4pm // An accidental afternoon nap - a 20 minute power nap for me turned into a 2 hour sleep for Mr Moon, something he rarely does but clearly needed.


9: 5pm // Cranky boyfriend waking up to sort out what our dinner plans would be, I haven't seen him faff about so much in ages - wish I got a better picture of it.


10: 6pm // Dressing up and putting my face on.


11: 7pm // We had a lovely meal at a little Donnington pub called The Three Horseshoes. Neither of us were really into the menu but everywhere else was fully booked and we actually felt a little guilty for underestimating it so much. The food was really tasty and the service was great, there's not really much else you want for a relaxing Saturday evening.


12: 8pm //I requested a quick swing by Sainsbury's on the way home to search for this beaut, might be my new favourite ice cream flavour.
So that was my third #1day12pics and the first without any pre-planned events going on in the background, not bad going though, even if I do say so myself.