Distractions and open toe fluffy mules....

When faced with something terrifying...focus on the trivial

This has been a method of mine and some of my female friends recently - whether climbing a mountain, treking to Asia or giving birth, distrations are the way to go.

So whilst most mothers are contemplating birth pools, vitamin K injections and their views on having a C section I am focusing on whether to take open toe slippers? Jersey nightie or button shirt? Candy lollys or melba toast? (what is melba toast?)

My approach to labour....

Let me add this is not because I am shallow but it is because the sheer level of what I am about to undertake can only be faced in small managable chunks punctuated with targets within my control. 
 

Summer may almost be over and the rain may be pouring but here are a list of the best ice cream parlours I have ever been to.....

http://www.lickety-split.co.uk/

http://www.fortnumandmason.com/the-parlour.aspx

http://www.visitbrighton.com/site/eating-and-drinking/scoop-crumb-p338831

http://www.edsdiner.co.za/

Taking the rough with the smooth...where Mrs B conquers quiche but not the common cold...

Coco Schmoo has a cold - now this is another aspect of pregnancy they don't warn you about. You get the perks of free prescriptions and as many dentist trips as you can swing a cat at but what they neglect to tell you till you read the small print is you are NOT ALLOWED ANY MEDICATION. Nada. Nothing. Zilch. Also no additional vitamin supplements, so, your on your own pregnant party queen!


So here are some tips that I have figured out through trial and error : 


1. Egg and bacon has medicinal benefits ( as a meal or in a quiche (recipe below) 


2. Frozen ice packs rock


3. Orange juice and cranberry juice with ice is a pretty decent tonic


4. Sleep is good but short bread is better


5. Paint your nails as it will distract from your red nose and puffy eyes


On the plus side I have found the perfect quiche Lorraine recipe that includes bacon and eggs :o) 


http://www.deliaonline.com/recipes/cuisine/european/french/classic-quiche-lorraine.html


A Sneezy Schmoo xxx

Never been good with change............

Mother Earth vs Working Girl 


People in hushed tones still say you can't have it all and you can't be both. So you must shield your eyes from the next LK Bennett sale and focus on Mothercare and Kiddicare bargins from the moment dear bubbaroo is born...


As I sit here 6 months pregnant with the bump bouncing around checking my work email I wonder if this is really the case? I don't like raisins, so why should my baby? I can't knit one pearl one do I have to start? And are all things organic really best.....


Could I maybe Do it my way like the great sinatra once said... 

Around the world in too many days to count.......lets catch up over cake.......

 Tea at the Sanderson - Mad Hatters Tea Party

Coco Schmoo plus one!??!

I probably should have broken that more gently but seeing as there is little hidding the ginormous bump currently resting on my desk I thought I best get it out in the open ;) 

So where have I been, well being the dutiful wife of course but actually - well mainly knuckling down with the first year of marriage. Which I have to tell you is a breeze if you learn from some of my mistakes : 

1. Pick your battles : I don't believe people who never argue - what are they not saying? but I do believe you can over argue. Sometimes you have to not fret the small stuff and stand your ground on the things that really matter. 

2. Being a wife has nothing to do with dolies. I remember going to a friends house who appeared to be the perfect wife - so perfect they should have run a finishing school what with all the bows, frills and lovely wifeyness that oozed from her every pore. Being a wife is about being the same person they proposed to, that funny,slightly crazy lady they fell in love with. (Pinny not necessary)

3. You may not love each others friends. This is a tough one, there may be people in your life that drive hubby mad and vice versa but you didn't marry their friends so smile be polite and you never know they may grow on you or not and in that case those nights in by yourself are an excellent opportunity to catch up on all that Sky+

4. Mother in Laws. Mother in laws have the best intentions and the truth is they just want their son/daughter to be happy.Sometimes they will drive you mad but as I have found - they just want to have a niche in your life and to share their family recipes! 

So there is my conclusion... now onto the next chapter Mummy in Training! 

Mrs Coco Schomoo BA in dying white washing pink 
 

A woman who doesn't wear lipstick feels undressed in public. Unless she works on a farm.” Unknown source

I LOVE lipstick as much as I love shoes, handbags, battered sausage and chips....

I love makeup generally, I don't know if its the fact that it involves brushes thus reminding me of paint or whether it's the fact it hides a multitude of late nights and you can change your look? I also love the cute,quirky packaging....


So to start I am going to give you a selection of my favourite sites and also where to get products for better value....


I dare you not to find something fabulous....


http://www.benefitcosmetics.co.uk/


http://www.feelunique.com/


http://www.asos.com/Beauty/


www.haircareheaven.co.uk/

The School of Life and a new pair of boots...is this Karma?

  

So in view of it being September and me being a little old for buying a new pencil case and going back to school I still thought I should try something 'new' and learn something (that wasn't baking, needle point etc...). So open to new ideas a friend and colleague suggested a seminar at the School of Life entitled ' Realise your Potential'  which I envisioned my include mung beans, bells and chanting but I was pleasantly surprised....

On arriving there was wine - good wine! GOOD food - breads, cheeses, pancetta and slabs of lemon cake I had found my Mecca! And then the session started with this lovely man who was tall, willow like with a posh accent who was wearing clothes he had made himself apparently? The session was in this amazing white room with walls covered in animations

 that were made to look like you were in your living room. 

The session made no religious references, it was calming, reassuring and made you think about things differently. Did you know nettles have longer threads than Egyptian cotton? Helped make army clothes in the 1st World War? Or has more iron than spinach? 

I'm not going to waffle anymore but this session was a real eye opener for the biggest skeptic and the lemon cake was magic :) 

http://www.theschooloflife.com/Classes/How-To-Realise-Your-Potential

On a shallow note I have found the most beautiful pair of boots that are patent, crocodile skin style and shall be on my feet when taking the next steps to realising my potential hee hee...

Tea for two, Two for Tea and cake ALWAYS CAKE

              Auntie Wurly's Enchanted Garden


I love going to see my Auntie Wurly particularly in the summer she lives in this amazing house that has this beautiful garden where every summer we have tea and cake and talk fashion and life. She gives me the odd words of wisdom and lets me moan as well as telling me when I am being a madam and need to pack it in.

It was on reading the book (well started to read Eat, Pray, Love) that I got to thinking about the important people in your life, you shouldn't need like the dramatic, slightly self involved woman in the book to trek to Asia to find yourself with a medicine man that looks like Yoda ( her words) your life and the people around you should know you well enough to give you a gentle nudge in the right direction. As she discovers self belief and a true sense of self comes from being true to yourself, valuing others and treasuring those close to you like Auntie Wurly.

Talking of treasures but now of the material kind try this website gorgeous unusual pieces

http://shop.loveheartsandcrosses.co.uk/