Masochism...

See that pink bit, that's the bit I'm talking about.  Gimp masks, whips and nipple clamps don't really do it for me at all I'm afraid.

I have a confession to make.  In my BK (Before Kids) youth I was a..

nailpainted,fashionconcious,hairstyled,highheelwearing,multibagowning,heavypartying,lowcarbing,makeupwearing,officeworking,housesharing,miniskirtwearing,heavydrinking
kind of girl.  

These days I am an animal owning Mum.  My beauty routine consits of a 10 minute shower and slap a bit of face cream on *blushes*.  Fashion, - well whatever is clean, ironed (ish) and to hand.  And these are my current footwear of choice

But just recently, I have acquired a beauty blog habit.  I am addicted to Pixiwoo tutorials on you tube and have been following a number of beauty blogs Cheeky Beauty, Super Beauty and my absolute favourite Modesty Brown.  I just love how Ms Brown even goes into the science of some of these products. 

It really inspires me to go out and spend some money.  I know that I bought a mascara in July (duty free), but I honestly can't remember the last time I bought anything else.  I wonder if I can get one of them to take me on as a project Hmmm!!

Irresponsible...

Well, that's me to a tee!  

I am not responsible enough to write my blog on a regular basis, I regularly have to have a panic hunt through fridge and freezer to find something that will 'do' for lunch or tea and due to my most recent bout of irresponsibility...

Aren't they just cute.

There are four of them, 3 girlies and a boy - the big brindled one is the boy.  They were born at about 09.00 on 10 November, and Girlie#2 and I saw them all being born *insert big cheesey grin* - there are of course birth photos, but I'll not be publishing them, unless of course demand dictates.   In the photo above they are about 9 days old and at exactly two weeks they opened their eyes.  

They have no names yet as they are not staying, but mummy's big boy might just answer to Tiger.

As you can see Girlie#1 has already started posing with them, this is actually a self portrait - with my camera!!!  Must put a stop to that or have a word with Santa.


Anyway, little LillieLoo has made a most excellent mother and there will be be no need to call the Social Services.  She is far more responsible than me!!!

Introducing...

Luna. 

We went to see Luna about a month ago, but the man that was selling her wanted silly money.  So it was not to be.  She will be three in March of next year.  She is very quiet and calm in the stable, you can touch her all over without any problem.  But...

She has been kept stabled for probably the last 15 months of her life.  I walked her home - about 3 km - very nicely.  She was a little surprised at the first few cars that passed us and had a bit of a wobbler at a plastic bag.  Dogs didn't faze her one bit, but when we crossed the motorway bridge, she was a little alarmed and had to positively leap over the narrow gully where the pieces of tarmac join!!!
 

On the whole I was very pleased with her performance.  As I'm not sure that she's left her stable to much before hand.  There is a possibility that she is in foal *rolls eyes* - for me under three is too young.  I think that we have quite probably saved her from being quite a brood mare, churning out one foal after another.  At least here she will be loose in the paddock and be able to exercise a bit.
 

She and Estrella have got on really well.  There was a bit of mutual wither nibbling and now they are just BFFs.  They have even been eating from the same manger, which surprised me as Estrella is a complete greedy guts and I didn't think that she would take too kindly to sharing.

So that's the newest member of my family - Luna as it had to go with Estrella and all the planet names seemed a little macho to me.

I also hope to get caught up with some of my missed summer posts this week although they will probably be a bit higgledy piggledy in their recounting!!!

The Rules

There has been a little bit of a heated debate regarding children's birthday parties on a forum that I use, it fair made me chuckle to be honest.  I have to say that due to the young ages of my girlies when we moved here, I never actually had to host a party in the UK.  

Also, as I am an old mummy and of the era when a good party was a house full of kids, long polyester/nylon party dresses, last seasons sandals spray painted silver and a few good games of pass the parcel and musical bumps, the parties that have to be organised today would completely fry my brains.  Really the most complicated it got was a request to take your piece of cake home - and I honestly can't ever remember any other mummies staying unless it was my mum's BF to giver her moral support and glasses of wine.  Goodie bags had not been invented and you may have been lucky enough to take a balloon on a string home or a "prize" that had been won.

So, here are the rules for holding a Spanish children's birthday party, from about ages 4 to 11

• All children in the class are to be invited - this is not negotiable Sundry other friends and cousins etc are also to be included.
• Do not expect an RSVP - ever
• Any siblings whose names were not on the invitation may or may not also turn up
• Parents may or may not stay - if they stay food and drink is to be provided after the children have eaten
• No entertainment (paid) is to be provided - nor party games organised
• Food must consist of olives, crisps, assorted nuts, filled rolls, pizza and litres of fizzy pop and water
• The duration of the party must not be any less than 2 hours
• A goodie bag is to be provided to each and every child - including those that have only turned up to collect their sibling/cousin/nextdoor neighbour etc
• The times - start and finish - that are written on the invitation are only a rough guide - allow half an hour either way for the start and up to two hours at the finish for collection or vacation of the premises
• Parties must be held at home - unless you are lucky enough to live in a large town or city - when you can get stung by a soft play centre - bearing in mind that all other rules are still to be followed

• Cake is generally a home made concoction of biscuits sandwiched together with chocolate mousse/goo or a bought sponge cake that has had a sugary syrup poured over it and is decorated with very sweet uncooked meringue 

  

• It is unneccessaryto have a contact number for any parent
• A piñata is optional but preferred

So, there you have it ladies - just think yourselves lucky

Whoops I've done it again..

a complete month has passed since updating this blog :blushes:

Well, it has been the summer, we've had visitors, days out and fiestas.  I have probably 1000's of photos to sort and process, so keep tuned, as I will be doing a proper update soon.  Well, one with pics anyway.

So, girlie #2 is back to school, only half days until 1 October - hurrah.  Girlie #2 is in tomorrow for 2 hours presentation, where she will find out what subjects she will be doing this first year, and more importantly for her who her class mates are going to be.  Tomorrow she will start at 10:00 and after that 08:00, which means catching the bus at 07:15 - this is going to be a shock to all our systems, and I just know that I'll be dropping her off in my PJs more than once!

So, that's it, the summer is over.  Although I'm quite sad about this, it will be quite nice to get back into a routine again, and hopefully to start a bit more English Language coaching to get me ready for Christmas.  Sending your kids to school is a costly business here in Spain.  All text books have to be bought, alongside pens, pencils, paper, notebooks and all other sundry stationery items - to say nothing of the new clothes that will be required as they don't have school uniforms either.

A Change is a Good as a Rest

So yesterday girlie # 2 went to play with one of her friends and girlie # 1 had one of her friends over to play and sleep the night.  What a peaceful day I had.  

These two although they are often 11 going on 16 decided to be proper 11 year olds and made themselves a camp/den under one of the olive trees

The guitar and laptop were both being used for the writing of a song, whether it will be of top 1 material or no, we just don't know!

As well as the set up underneath the tree, they also decorated it

Ribbons and spinners

Treefrog!!

Strings of beads and sparkly leaves

and windmills.

I just love it when they play like this, using their imaginations and not relying on the television or electrical games.

So that was the end of my peaceful day.  Girlie # 2 is back now and she is prohibited from entering - ho hum!

Looking for my Mojo

So, my photography mojo is completely lost at the moment - I rather suspect it has found a shady nook and won't come back again untill the temperatures have dropped a little!!

So yesterday I  forced myself to out and take pics of the girls in the pool - not quite what I was after but hey ho.  At least I'm taking some pics again

I might just try them again on a square crop and see what happens.  What do you think?

Loads better don't you think?