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A Gripping New Read, Preparing for Summer and Some Exciting Post #LittleLoves

spring blossom blue sky

[dropcap]A[/dropcap]pril, you’ve been an interesting month – weeks of torrential rain, then a sneaky bit of sunshine to trick us into thinking summer has come early. I can’t begin to explain how this has messed with my wardrobe planning!

Anyway, enough of that; I think I start every Little Loves post with banal chatter about the weather. Have you come across the social media account ‘Very British Problems’? I think it was made for me!

Although the easter break was rather uneventful, April has been as busy as ever in this household – never-ending art coursework (I won’t be sorry to see the back of the brushes and oil paints that have been littering my office space for months), sporting tournaments, a trip to Disneyland for my son and illness. Why do they always get ill in the holidays?

As for me, I’ve been away on a long weekend to Hillsong’s Colour conference which was incredible but very tiring (I’m still recovering almost a week later!) and the weekend before that we had the MIL to stay. As I said, it’s been busy but I’m managing to keep my head above water. Just!

I’ve also made some decisions this month but more about that in another post. Onto my Little Loves for April…

Read

Ooh I’ve started a great book this month that has really had me gripped – ‘Then She Was Gone’ by Lisa Jewell.

Then She Was Gone

I’ve read some of her books in the past (Ralph’s Party springs to mind) but they were very different to this one. I was looking for a thriller that would absorb me from the first page and this is it. It’s kept me up reading instead of sleeping, but hey!

I’m also still digesting ‘How to Break Up with Your Phone’ which I shared with you last month.  I’ll be honest, I’ve got a bit stuck halfway through but will persevere because I want to start actually putting it into practice rather than just making noises about my intentions (I wrote a post about my tendency to create unachievable intentions this month!).

I’m relying on you lot to hold me accountable to making those changes. Have you read it? I would love to hear your thoughts.

Heard

I mentioned the Hillsong Conference earlier in my post and I’ve been obsessively listening to their latest album since returning. I think my favourite song is ‘So Will I’ with ‘Who You Say I Am’ coming a close second. Here’s the former in case you’d like a little taster…

Just to mix things up, I’ve also been enjoying a bit of Zara Larsson this week. Below is a song she recorded 4 years ago but I’ve only recently discovered. Enjoy.

Watched

I think I told you last month that I was taking my girls to see Philippa Hannah (a Christian singer/song writer) during the Easter holidays.

The day arrived and we woke to beautiful spring sunshine. As the concert venue was in Shepherds Bush, we decided to head to Westfield shopping centre to make a full day of it.

The concert itself was in a rather rough part of Shepherds Bush (bear with me, we are from leafy Berkshire). I couldn’t help but giggle when my middle child expressed her desire to ‘just go home‘ as we strolled through the streets of Shepherds Bush to reach the concert venue!

Philippa didn’t disappoint though and I’m so glad that I pushed myself out of my comfort zone to make the trip. We were all singing the songs for days afterwards.

Onto TV and we’ve finally started watching Marcella. I know, I know, late to the party and all that but it’s not easy to encourage the husband (who is not an evening person) to delve into a new series. I think this is going to be a winner though.

I’ve also got really into You Tube of late, watching it in the morning as I do my make up. Emma Hill is my latest addiction – I am thoroughly enjoying being inspired by her style and home interiors. Obviously she’s a decade younger than me but age is only a number, right? Would love some new recommendations if you’ve got any.

Made

You know what I’ve realised this week? Creativity can come in many guises. I’ve always assumed that this section is about physically crafting something (not my forte) and as a result, wind up feeling a bit of a failure.

Thinking outside the box a little and I’ve made my house a home this month by updating our living room with a new rug from Next. I’m really pleased with it.

grey geometric rug

I’ve also added some pictures to the vast expanse of white wall in our garden room. I bought these three hand-framed prints from King & Mcgaw who are offering 15% off all orders if you use the code Insta-SUZANNE.

King & Mcgaw

Warning: you will lose hours trying to narrow down your choice, the site is vast!

Wore

I think I’ve worn everything in my wardrobe this month! For a few days I managed to show off my freshly painted toe nails by wearing flip flops but that joy was pretty short-lived.

The gold shoes have also come out to play a lot this month and despite causing a small blister on my heel (top tip: vaseline works wonders) they’ve been a welcome addition to my wardrobe.

ripped jeans on the over 40s

And Lastly…

We will be celebrating (and car hunting) this weekend because my eldest daughter’s provisional driving licence finally arrived this week! She’s almost 18 but due to medication, was unable to apply sooner.

We are so thrilled for her – another step in the right direction. Now to book some lessons; I really don’t think I’m game enough to take her out until she can at least start and stop!

Have a fabulous weekend all. A little birdie tells me it’s going to rain; a good job rain never stopped play, hey?

Little Loves Coffee Work Sleep Repeat

Inside, Outside & Beyond

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10 COMMENTS

  • Hooray! Great news about your daughter and the driving lessons. Only a couple of months until my son starts…
    I’ve just finished Then She Was Gone and really loved it (although I did guess quite a lot of it).
    Love your gold shoes!
    I used to live in Shepherd’s Bush and can totally understand your daughter’s feelings about the place.

    • Suzanne

      I’ve lived in some pretty dodgy places too tbh but our kids are so sheltered aren’t they? I’ll have another child starting to learn to drive by the end of the year – where does the time go? x

  • Gail

    That’s fab about your daughter getting her provisional licence – exciting times ahead on that score. As you know, I LOVED Then She Was Gone, it’s such a page turner, I can understand why it kept you up at night. I watched the first series of Marcella but I haven’t actually caught up with series 2 yet. Hope you and the family have a wonderful weekend xx

    • Suzanne

      I’m still working my way through Marcella as it’s pretty brutal! So gripping though. xx

  • Mum Reinvented

    Congrats to your eldest on getting her provisional. Your daughter sounds just like me when I went to Shepherds Bush about 20 years ago! Haven’t been back since either. Loving the clothes snaps – shame the weather has turned. I’m missing that sunshine already. I’m off to check out those prints x

    • Suzanne

      I must admit to feeling a bit uncomfortable myself but you can’t show that to anxious kids can you? Of course it was all fine but not what we are used to! xx

  • Kate

    I was at Colour too and So Will I was wonderful! I’ve also got that Lisa Jewell in my “to read” pile, I’ve just finished The Girls by her.

    • Suzanne

      Colour was fab wasn’t it? I was going to say how funny that you were there but as there were 11.5k women attending, I’m not actually that suprised lol! x

  • Tracey Williams

    Ah lovely news about your daughter and car shopping. I really want to read that Lisa Jewell book as I read her previous one (the title escapes me, but it was SO good and gripping). I know what you mean about the ‘made’ section. I never class myself as creative, nor I am a brilliant cook, but I am creative in my own way x

    • Suzanne

      I’ve finished the book already! A very good read. I think we are all creative in our own ways, for sure 🙂 x

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