How Do We Say “I Love You”?

We are one of those families who don’t show love by giving gifts but by doing things for each other, little things to make each other smile, laugh, to lighten the load or simply show each other that we value and appreciate each and every member of our family.

When it comes to gift-giving we do this in order to treat each other, again to make each other smile. A box of chocolates does not say I love you for example, but someone taking the time to look for a person’s favourite kind, just because, does. You see, we say we love you through our actions, rather than what we buy for someone.

That said, if treats and sweets make someone smile, well that’s just lovely!

Gifts that say “You are Special”

Apt seeing as Mother’s Day is around the corner but valid for any day of the year, my lot know me very well and know what puts a smile on my face. 

Tea

I’m very easily pleased! I love alternative teas and it is usually my youngest sister Lauren who will pitch up with a box of something new to treat me, just because. The last box she brought was of Buttermint Tea via Twinings and I’m hooked!

A Gift For Another

For several years now Roy and the boys have gifted me an alternative gift for Mother’s Day, a gift from Unicef, such as a bundle of measles vaccinations that means another mother benefits too.

Books

I’m a voracious reader and always have a wishlist of titles I’m wanting to read which makes great fodder for gift-giving if Roy or the boys like the idea of treating me.

 

Flowers

There’s something magical about cut flowers. I love discovering new favourites and always smile when I walk into a room and find a vase of something colourful. Whether they are daffodils or my favourite Sweet Williams, flowers such as these from Flying Flowers are a lovely “I appreciate you” gift, especially when they are randomly given without warning. I love surprises.

A Lie In

Ok, this isn’t a bought gift as such but as someone who rarely lies in it’s a fabulous treat. Roy disappears downstairs with the boys, comes back with breakfast and a brew and I get hours of lazy peace and quiet. Priceless!

What sorts of gifts or treats make you smile?

 

Interior Design Disagreements Solved

Roy and I are pretty much on the same page about pretty much everything. After nearly fourteen years of marriage, we tend to share many of the same likes and dislikes. Right now, we are planning a new dining room and living room and there have been a few things we’ve disagreed on.

When I say a new living room and dining room I mean our two (good sized) rooms run together and while they are separate they share a carpet etc. We are having our utility room rebuilt at the end of April and after that is done and the mess is finished with we plan to re-carpet through the lounge/dining room, install vertical blinds in the bay window (for privacy and to manage sunlight) and buy a new (or new to us) suite. We are agreed on a three seater and a one seat/armchair.

What we disagreed on is how to revamp the room. I prefer to keep our neutral walls and insert colour and style by searching for pieces that work via example, a one stop shop for every room such as LionsHome. Roy wanted to think about a feature wall. Now, the problem was that we are looking at using grey, dark grey and light. I think grey on the walls or even just a feature wall will be too dark. Don’t you?

My idea, which Roy did come around to once we had a good browse online was to stay neutral, ditch any ideas of painting and papering and perhaps add a grey-striped carpet, grey curtains and then jazz the room up with some colourful cushions.

I’m thinking of something like this, maybe.  Photo credit

The last time we undertook a living room makeover it was significantly smaller (a different house) and we had a baby and a small boy. Now the small boy is heading for secondary school shortly and the baby is six (and a half) and so we feel we can be a bit more grown up with our choices. How their rooms look under the pile of toys and clothes is up to them.

The corner of my living room. As you can see I have high ceilings and a large room. The neutral wall colour has to stay.

While I’m not exactly fickle about my interior design choices, I do like to be able to switch things around and inject a new colour or theme without breaking the bank or having to repaint (I hate painting with a passion). For example, at the moment I have a gold, silver, wood and blue thing going on (warmer than you’d think) but like the idea of a mixture of greys, neutrals and a pop of colour. In eight or nine months I might be ready to ditch the grey altogether and so will be looking for home decorations in a new colour or set of colours.

So, while we originally disagreed on how to address the paint/don’t paint dilemma/disagreement I think being able to browse so many looks and home accessories online made it easier to visualise what we both wanted and how it would work.

Now, where to buy a two-room carpet without needing to sell a (Roy’s) kidney. I just need to convince him that striped over plain is the way to go…….