throw back thursday 2

Hi all. I loved my throw back Thursday last week so I thought I would whip out some unearthed pics from the camera again today.

Seriously, I don't know what is up with the chef and I always pulling silly faces when we take photographs, but there is very rarely a photo reel without the two of us grimacing. I suppose we keep ourselves amused if nothing else.

These photos are from my cousin Kate's birthday party last year. I completely forgot about them ... and that night all together by the looks of things. The only pictures I have are the of the chef and I ass-ing about so... enjoy...

ah... aren't we sweet?

NOT... well actually the chef is pulling this off. I on the other hand... eek... 

         At least one of us always seems to try...                                                                   Or not....

If you want to link me up to your throw back thursday efforts, let me know in the comments. Alternatively if you want to get involved on the old instagram machine you find me @skylarking_... link me up yo.

Big love,

Elle xo

holy mess...

Yesterday I promised you pics from the big baptism bash. After the kiddos had been safely packed off with my mama we threw a small house soiree which I am told lasted until the very wee hours. I am getting old and was in bed by 1am.

I love seeing my brother have fun. It is one of my favourtie things ever. He is the life and soul of any party. He is so proud of his little family - of his children and every time I see him with them I just about burst with love.

Me and my big bro. There are only 13 months between us! Our mum is a hero!

Some people say we look alike. (I feel like such a bad sister for this. Look at him all smiling nicely)

I was SO happy that Precious could come and join in the festivities!! 

And we had a really nice time. This is my brother as "Andy" ... it's weird I know. 

                        Mama & Papa of the babe                                                        Precious being all kinds of awesome! 

Seriously, the kids glasses were a H I T. This is my baby cousin and his LOVELY girl. I love her even more after she told me she reads here. Oh hai Katie!

Me and the sis-in-law. 

The Chef is always a hit with the ladies. Did I forget to tell you how tall he is? And my so dashing in a suit :) 

It was all the fun of the fair and I am so lucky to have such lovelies in my life. Even if they are all slightly off balance and completely nuts!

Love Elle xo

Oh and in case you thought you were going to get away without seeing a silly photo of the Chef and I...

You were WRONG... Seriously, we are SUPERSTARS! My boy... I am a lucky duck. xo

a surprise godmother & a great day for a baptism.

I have glossed over my stand on religion here before; however, if my little nephew has to be dressed in silk and have a cup of water thrown over his head followed by a piss up I can definitely hold my tongue for the half hour of sin washing and denouncing of Satan in church. Well maybe I didn't hold my tongue nearly as much as I should, but to be fair the priest had been brought out of retirement to perform the ceremony and it was like a Monty Python sketch. Hilarious AND awkward. Everyone laughed. All except my Nana, who as the keeper of the faith in our family, she was mortified.

About 30 seconds before the service began my brother was hustling me on as I was running a little late. "You better hurry up, the godmother can't be late." The who can't be what now? I had been asked before if I would stand for the little one. I would do almost anything to make my brother happy, except paint the sign of the cross in oil on my sweet baby nephews head and promise to raise him catholic. Of course I would stand there and hold the babe and take responsibility for his spiritual education. That stuff I was eager to do, so at the last minute, due to a crossed wire, I randomly found myself sitting in front of a doddery old man refusing to say anything about Satan.

Sweet Charley was impeccably behaved and only threw his shoes once and refused to wear his hat (which I didn't really blame him for) After the 'ceremony' we all piled into the church hall and in good old religo fashion had a good old knees up!

Olivia and Charley were the belles of the ball and my what a fun time they had. That little girl danced and danced and danced. At one point I took it upon myself to gather a group of 5 year olds together to teach them the running man! Queen of the kids... hear me roar!

                                                                                                     My brother is a handsome chap, no?

After all is said and done, the church bit I could have foregone but the party was worth the biting of the tongue and keeping the peace because everyone had a fantastic time. I got to see friends I haven't seen in a while, I got to see my big brother in a suit... which is my favourite and I got to see all my family enjoying this little baby boy who is fast becoming the happiest little 10 month old I have ever seen. And did you see? HE WALKS... yes... full on walking... at 10 months! He is super advanced... he has my genes..

Don't believe me? Check this out....

                               Baby me                                                                                                      Baby Charley 

Hope you all had a fantastic weekend. I will share some of the 'after-party' pictures this week. Love to you and yours from me and mine, Elle xo

throw back thursday

Our camera has been hidden in a box for longer than I care to admit. Since we got our iPhones we have become so lazy about getting out the camera. Today I started looking back at the pictures on the memory card and I couldn't believe how many there are that I haven't even put onto my laptop. Lazy pup!

So in instagram fashion I have decided to put together a little "throw back thursday" post with a couple of photos the Chef and I took on a wee bike ride.

These were taken last July sometime, back again in my Liverpool home.  We had taken our bikes to one of the beautiful parks in the city and had cycled around in the early evening spying on ducks and squirrels and making general merriment in the trees. I love our cycle dates. To be honest, I love any date we have and I appreciate each one so wholeheartedly. It's funny, you would think that because we spend so much time together it would be easy for us to take our little trips out and about together for granted but boy do I make sure I take 5 minutes every day to be so very grateful for this one and every snippet of time we spend together. He is such a great great egg.

If anyone would like to follow along with my instagram you can find me at @skylarking_
Comment below with your account name, I would love to have a peak :)

Happy Thursday folks!!!

Love Elle xo

What would make you un-follow?

I used to look down on myself for my procrastinating ways. Sitting at the computer all day, only stopping for food and water seemed like such a waste. However just recently I have begun to really appreciate those days and I realised something. During my idle internet surfing and blog reading is when I have my BIG thoughts. The internet is a place that both educates and challenges me on a daily basis. It is where I collate information on becoming a mother (my most precious project) and where my morals are constantly questioned.

One of the biggest questions that got into my head on a recent time-wasting marathon was do another's morals and standpoints make them a good or bad person? And if I don't agree with their morals then is it hypocritical of me to enjoy their online presence and in some cases to be friends with them in real life.

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I quite literally drive my Facebook friends up the wall. I am always stating my moral standpoint on current affairs and I like to question and challenge those who think differently. I find myself getting into all kinds of scraps with people over the things I truly believe in. It can be so stressful sometimes but most of the time; especially if I think the dilemma in question is violent/evil/damaging to the world I quite simply can't hold my tongue. I feel like I have to stand up for what is right regardless if my view is in vogue or not.

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After being VERY vocal about my beliefs and moral standpoint about the recent happenings in the UK it got me thinking about my blog world. This world where I refrain from posting my views on religion, war, government, violence, gun ownership etc as I, for rather selfish reasons, want this space to be positive and I don't fancy offending people here or getting into "debates" in my comment section. It bothers me sometimes because it makes me feel weak. That I don't really believe in what I rant about if I won't put it here.

Looking through my reader I noticed I read lots of blogs where the authors believe the exact polar opposite to me on some of my biggest "deal breakers". I read women talking about their relationship with Jesus, about the hunting trips they go on with their husbands, their boyfriends who are in the army, people who think an eye for an eye is acceptable punishment and the gun they have locked up in their bedside table. I read blogs where the children are stuffed full of fast food, forums ripping bloggers to bits over the state of their hair or the pictures they share of their naked children. I read so many things in this blog world that I quite vehemently don't believe in and what do I do... nothing. I don't get all up in their comment sections slamming them for their choices. I don't post paragraphs of statistics proving how their view point is wrong and I certainly don't 'un-follow' them if they surprise me with an "I love Jesus" post.

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So I have to ask myself, what is different about here? This blogging community? Am I too scared to go against the grain for fear of being cast out? Or is it simply that I respect everyone's right to believe what they want to regardless if I agree with them or not. Spouting my views all over someone's comment section is like knocking on their doorstep and asking if I can interest them in converting to the Jehovah's Witnesses, which is a pain in everyone's ass right? I not only believe that everyone has a right to their beliefs but I also think everyone has a right to be wrong and to be free to admit when they are. Maybe putting things on here makes it harder to change my standpoint, to gain a different perspective and to openly admit when I am wrong?

I honestly do not have the answer. Do you have any "deal breakers" in life that you let slide in the blog world? Or are you true to your morals and speak up if you take a different moral standpoint? Is it hypocritical of me to shame people for behaviour on Facebook and in my real life but keep mum when it is one of my favourite bloggers?

If only I had the answer... if only I had ALL the answers... my heart and Facebook wouldn't be forever in turmoil that's for sure.

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For now I will still stand by my choice to not really "get into it" here. That doesn't mean I won't post about things concerning religion, social issues, government etc but I will keep my positive hat on as I do and keep my moral lectures and rants for those who challenge me to my face.

Happy (apparently) serious Wednesday... Love Elle xo