I made the easiest but really effective, tie backs for big boy's nautical room. I bought 2 metres of rough rope with frayed edges (I thought it added to the character of them). Cut it into two lengths then twisted each metre length back on itself, leaving a loop at the top and the two ends loose. I glued the two ends together at the point that they crossed over and glued nautical buttons, at approximate intervals along each length. I turned the twisted rope over until all the buttons were used. (20 for each tie back.)

I bought the metal anchor buttons at a charity shop for 99p, so it is always worth having a rummage through their haberdashery boxes.

I simply slipped the loose ends though the looped end around the curtain.

Hey presto! Cheap and definitely cheerful for my little sailor.

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Last weekend I played daughters! Our best friends were away for the weekend and I jumped at the chance to have big boy's sweetheart to stay!

She was an angel and when it was time to go home, she told me that I needed to put matching letters to the boy's, on her bedroom door! (She slept on the new chaise longue sofa bed, but didn't need it pulled out!)

My husband and I reflected on Sunday, that it was one of the few times we have literally dedicated almost every second to entertaining children and actually we had had, a rather brilliant time.

The Carters Steam Fair is on the Beach Lawns at the sea front and between 11am and 1pm, all rides are half price. Half the money but double the fun for our 'twins'.

We had a civilised lunch of fish and chips, sat outside in Winston's restaurant. Lunch in a restaurant with 3 children and no stress - incredible!

We had a muddy play on the beach and a lolly on the way back to the car. There was a Street Games event along from the Fair and the kids had a few turns on the trumpet as we trundled along barefoot.

The next day we used our membership and had a couple of hours at Puxton Park (it's free for under 4s). The sheep racing, even in the drizzle was a hit!

Whilst it hasn't convinced my husband that 3 children are in our destiny, I adored the noise and pandemonium. We even recorded them having a bedtime chat, snuggled in big boy's cot bed. Adorable.

If my friend happens to read this, it was a pleasure having your girly to stay and turning the house pink!

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I have been slowly finishing off a post I have called 'How to wear plaits after you are 5'! I have always had long hair (apart from 4 months where I foolishly though a bob was a good idea at school - it wasn't, I looked like a boy).

In this hot humid weather I still wash and blow dry my hair everyday, only for it to feel heavy and even hotter!

Plaits are a great way to keep your hair off your back and shoulders but after a certain age, I know I just can't pull off the Heidi look.

The reason the post is taking so long, is that I am trying to take photographs to upload tutorials, but need an assistant a.k.a my husband to take them! Let's just say his enthusiasm for hair photographs is limited, so has to be done in short sessions!

I will get there, but I will be the tortoise and not the hare!