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OK, apologies if you’ve been waiting around for the next instalment of my reno journey. Turns out that IRL, it’s not quite as quick as ‘tap to transforms’ on all of these house instagram accounts. Who’d have thunk it.

So I last left you HERE. The night before it all kicked off. We’re now three months in (which is technically the halfway point – let’s hope) and while lots has happened, there hasn’t actually been that much to show you. It’s been dirty, it’s been dusty but it’s only now we’re starting to see some sort of outline of the rooms and if you squint, you can kind of, almost, visualise the space. I grew up on building sites, with my dad taking me to work with him, so I can read floorplans, visualise the space and kind of envisage what we’d end up with, but Nick is completely floorplan illiterate, so now we’re in a space that we can both imagine, it’s getting to the good part.

But let’s talk first about the reality of living in a building site. If you’ve read my previous post, you’ll know all about the sleeping plan, and I have to say, it’s working for us. Is it ideal? No. But we’re in the swing of things. The builders are actually a delight to have around, which is important as we are spending so much time together. We spoke to six different companies, and after quotes we went with CG Contractors, and honestly, I don’t have a single bad word to say. They are beyond neat and tidy, people have actually commented on how organised my driveway looks, and they see me out of my driveway at 8am every morning. They also explain everything so that I understand it – and they hid an Elf on the Shelf in my roof (can you see him below?) sending me pictures of him moving around, so I didn’t have to do it. Just hurry up guys and get me a roof, yeah?!

Speaking of: I think we have had every kind of bad weather going in the last three months. Gale force winds that shook the scaffold so much we were awake all night? Tick. Torrential storms that came through the roof? Tick. Arctic temperatures making it so cold that we can see our breath inside? Tick. It’s fair to say that it’s not been the best weather to have no roof or back wall. We had one night where it was 2 degrees during which I almost lost my sh*t. But thanks to multiple heaters, friends who invite us to keep warm at their house on Friday nights and weekend afternoons, and they discovery of heated blankets, we are coping surprisingly fine. The kids barely notice a thing. In my mind I think of what we can in the build, because we’re not blowing money on rent, and how happy we’ll be in the summer, with the windows open, enjoying the house because the works all done, and I’m so fine with living through it.

So where are we now? Well, verging on decision fatigue. We have our master bathroom on order, which I am beyond excited about. Think hotel vibes. We’ve done radiators, flooring is 80% there and we kind of know the paint colours, almost. If anyone can confidently push me in one way or the other between Little Greene Slaked Lime and Slaked Lime Mid, I’d be grateful. I’ve spent the majority of this weekend emailing carpenters and bannister experts because the initial quotes for carpentry nearly knocked me sideways (hit me up if you have a great recco) so there’s still a lot up in the air, and lot of unknowns and lot of decisions to make BUT we are teetering on the edge of the rollercoaster down now, and I think it’s going to be fun.

I’ll show you more next month….fingers crossed.

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This is Mothership
FASHION | BEAUTY | LIFE
This is a real (reel) PSA: *sound on* 📡 Send this to a friend who likes nice coats and needs reminding to do their pelvic floors 👌🏻#psa #pelvicfloor 

*PSA means Public Service Annoucement incase you’re wondering - we discovered in a meeting yesterday that some people find these acronyms we use a bit confusing 😂 IYKYK

____________________________________________________
Gemma
Jumpsuit @mango
Coat @aligne*
Boots @hush*
Bag @demellierlondon
Heart tennis necklace @rosiefortescuejewellery*

Sam:
Coat @marksandspencer
Bag @demellierlondon*
Hat @celine
Boots @allsaints*

*Pr products
[All linked or similars on @ltk.europe - link in bio]

Excellent audio by @femalephysioco ❤️
Ughh part 1 chopped off the end, so here is part 2!
TIM TESTS: Shall we make this a thing?! I forgot 2 important things, it's £40 and from @riverisland (I'll link it on Stories.) I struggle with fast fashion and try SO hard not to buy it or wear it, but sometimes bits creep in and I find it hard to resist. I know I'll wear it loads 🙏🏻 Let me know what you think ❤️

[#timtests #cardigan #tryon #stylist]
My baby 💙 is seven. My Alpha. My human paradox; tiny action man, duracell bunny, social butterfly, grey hair giver yet also the king of snuggles, great with old people and his happy place is sat gently cuddling babies. 

We’ve been sharing a bedroom for the last three months, and without fail at 4am every morning he gets into my (single) mattress (on the floor) and cuddles me. Cute. A bit squished, a bit cute. Forever my baby but he’s not really anymore is he….?

Lots of you have been here since before he was born.  I obviously spent last night looking at pictures of birthdays gone by. This feels like the middle mothering sweet spot? Out of the early, exhausting & all encompassing stage where they rely on us for every tiny thing while not at the teen angsty drama stage yet. Where we can fully enjoy it. I’m making a mental note to embrace it 🤍

#happybirthday #birthdayboy #mother #notesfromamother #motherhood
Happy Sunday team 🐆🖤🤍

Gemma
• Skirt- my mum's vintage @moschino
from the 80's
• Jumper @anyahindmarch
x @uniqloeurope
• Boots @dune_london

Sam 
• Jumper @marksandspencer
• Leather trousers @boden
• Boots @mintvelvet

All linked (and/or similar) on our @ltk.europe
- link in bio

[Press products #leopardmini #knitwear #stylingduo #beautyduo #duo]
Just checking we we all Team @spencerpratt over here??! 

A whirlwind of a week, our 2010 selves would've never thought that we'd want to award husband of the year to Speidi in 2025.

Happy Friday team ✨

[#speidi #teamspencer #london #dayinthelife]
ad | Want to know the best anti aging trick? Here it is 👆🏻🫧

It doesn’t matter how expensive your serum is, or how viral it went on the internet; if you aren’t properly cleansing then anything you apply can’t do your job properly.

We’ve both been trialling @beautypie Happy Face De-stress Jelly Cleanser for the last six weeks. Actually. Pet-peeve: when people say they have been but have only used it once. Check our stories to see when we first got it. It works for both of us - and our different skin types.  And it’s £12 for members!!!!

#Beautytip #beautyhack #cleansingroutine #skincareroutine #beautypie #newbeauty
Let's just preface this with:

These work for me, I've done some research over the months and they all sound like they could only have a positive impact on life, but as with everything it's always worth doing your own research ✨

My youngest has been diagnosed with a chronic condition, and I don't have control over a lot of what may happen in our future but I can do the best I can with what I am in control of which is where no 2 and no 3 come into play.

Ok let's go! 

1. Splashing my face with water 30 times: So far I can only get up to 12 times without feeling like my fingers will freeze off but it clears my head, can support your nervous system, is an instant mood booster, I saw @michaellabolder do it and she knows her stuff so it must be good! 

2. Ditching the plastic tupperware: There is lots out of research out there about how chemicals from the plastic can leach into food, especially when it heated, and the chemicals can damage our health. I've also ditched plastic chopping boards & kitchen utensils for wood or metal.

3. Plant based cleaning products: Better for the environment, reduces indoor pollution that we breathe in, safer around kids and doesn't irritate skin. At the moment I'm using @marksandspencer laundry liquid, @miniml washing up liquid (I buy in bulk & decant) and @methoduk antibac surface cleaner. 
minimling you'd add to this list?

[#plantbased #icebath #plasticfree #cleaningproducts]