When I spied this book in the charity shop I knew I had to have it.

Published in 1935, it showcases a series of photographs of ancient and modern wonders of the world.

Designed to educate the next generation it's a piece of classic literature, bursting with history.

It's too easy on days when the rain is beating down and you need the heating on at 11am to feel fed up and not appreciate what we all have that is wonderful in our lives.

The words in the introduction really impressed me. Written in 1935, but true today, in 2014.

"Surely, the age we live in must be the most interesting ever known to mankind.
...Men and women of to-day are so busy, so fully occupied that, so the publishers of this volume feel, some ways and means must be contrived
of bringing the wonders of the universe within easy reach of all..
Seeing is believing.
In these days of stress and strain, this type of publication should also prove a boon and a blessing for wet Sunday afternoons, when one wants to relax
and yet be interested without too much effort.
It also has the educational value for those
who have to look after the welfare of the youngest generation"

Yasmin lu is the closest thing I have to experiencing having a daughter of my own. I watched her being born and feel a love for her like the love I feel for my boys. I've seen the bond my sister has with Sammy and Ollie and have always wanted to experience that, when she had a baby of her own. 

I am also so lucky to have a big family with lots of nieces and a nephew on Rich's side of the family too.

Being an Auntie is a wonderful thing. The best bits of parental love with less responsibility. You can be the one they threaten to run away to, the one who can buy presents parents wouldn't, at Christmas and birthdays and I've whispered to her on more than one occasion, please let Auntie come with you when you choose a wedding dress!

This week we had our first mini date. Just an hour by ourselves, driving home to Mummy from Granny's and a stop at the park on the way. I felt like I was driving a newborn! It was so precious, chatting to her in the car, hearing her babble back. 

The world to her is full of wonder. Looking up at the sky to see the birdies is an adventure. Even though Ollie is just 2 and a half, he's lost that wide eyed wonder at a game of peek a boo. Not lost being in awe of new experiences but there is something heart melting about the reactions of a 10 month old. 

If only we could bottle it for grown up rainy days.

Our little YLB - a blessing to our family. As an Auntie I get to teach her so many things. I am sure we will have lots more mini dates. From one YLB to another "Learn from everyone and every situation. There are little gems of knowledge and experience around every corner." Yasmin Le Bon, May 2013.

On a wet Sunday afternoon one day I am going to show this book to the boys.

I hope this blog lives long enough for me to post 1001 of these articles. Sharing in no particular order, to appreciate all the wonderful things in life.

Yasmin lu and being an Auntie - 1/1001 Wonderful Things in my life.

Linking up with Love The Little Things, #MagicMoments and #MagpieMonday

I have an unhealthy obsession with ready made pastry. In any shape or form. It is brilliant. You can keep it in the freezer, and create really impressive meals and snacks in minutes.

I spied some ready made croissant dough in a tin in the chilled aisle of the supermarket and bingo! The idea for heart shaped croissants was born.

This blog is basically one big love fest over the next week. People, places and food, heart shaped food.

Give it a go, they are easy as a pastry pie.

Ingredients:

• ready to roll croissant dough - chilled and left at room temp for 10 minutes
• cream cheese
• fruit puree
• blueberries
• cherries

Pre heat your oven to 350F /Gas Mark 4/ 180 degrees.

Twist your tin to open and roll out your pastry.

The pastry I used was pre perforated into triangles but I used a heart shaped cookie cutter to make 2 hearts per triangle. Keep the remainder covered to avoid drying out.

Knead the leftovers and re roll to use up the excess.

I made a few in a more traditional shape, (roll the wider end of your triangle towards the pointed end) I prefer them longer personally but just shape them into a moon before placing in the oven for a picture perfect croissant.

Take one heart and add a teaspoon of cream cheese, a teaspoon of fruit puree (spread your puree and cheese over the base) and top with some chopped fruit. 

Place the second heart on top and press the edges together gently. Add a slice of cherry (they make good heart shapes) in the centre, press lightly into the pastry.

Bake in the oven for approximately 8 minutes, until golden brown.

We served them with a sprinkle of icing sugar, glasses of cold milk and orange slices. 

A big brunch hit in our house even if Ollie's face said otherwise ;)

Do you know any good croissant dough recipes? That's my next challenge! 

Linking up with #TastyTuesdays, Savouring the Season and #recipeoftheweek

The 2nd February marks an anniversary for a very precious family. 

Fellow wonderful bloggers are writing letters but I wanted to do something that the boys could get involved in and do something that Jennie is a fan of too. 

We love making lunch and tea times more fun through the principle of Bento. You can tell stories through food and in one meal, lose count of how many different food groups your children are eating.

All it takes is a little effort and creativity.

Instead of a Valentines lunch post bursting with shades of red, ours is full of pinks and purples, hearts and stars. A special tea, as a tribute to a special girl.

The boys know all about Matilda Mae. A little girl who is now a sleeping angel. 

We've played in the woods and blown bubbles to remember her and today we made a special tea. A chance for me to spell out how much I love my boys too. A tea for 2.

With their cousin so poorly at the moment, Sammy has been asking lots of questions about mortality and heaven. I don't hide anything from him, but manage my answers.

He announced the other day that when he grows up he wants to be a "Dada" and Katy Rose (his sweetheart since birth) will be the "Mama". I asked him why and he said " Because I have to look after Granny! Her Mummy and Daddy are in heaven, so who will look after her? Me and Katy Rose will look after her and we will have a baby called Peter!"

His sentiment touched my heart.

That we all need looking after. That even if you are a grown up, you need someone looking out for you. So this is my post for Matilda Mae, a letter in a lunch. To help spread awareness of SIDS, as my gesture of love for a family hurting. Not just today but always.

The 2nd of February is an anniversary for us too. This year marks 5 years since we lost our best friends Chris and James in a tragic accident. Their wives and their sons are best friends of ours and no matter how much time passes, we still miss them. 

After you've read this post, go and tell the people you care about that you love them. Let's spread a whole lot of love together xx

If you want to make this Bento box you will need:

• Heart and star cutters
• A kiwi, sliced
• Fruit puree frozen into a heart shaped ice cube tray
• Red currants
• Noughts and Crosses
• Strawberry macaron with star pink icing (I used a perspex roller to make the pattern)
• Sprinkle sandwich (Use a cookie cutter to cut out your shape and then a heart on the top piece of bread. Spread jam over the bottom slice and add sprinkles)
• Cupid's cocktail sausages
• Raspberry fromais frais topped with cereal bar, heart sprinkles and kiwi stars
• Fruit hearts
• Multigrain Heart puffs
• Babybel in a Fruit Winder nest
• Blueberries
• I covered the sprinkles in the sandwich over with a pop tart heart! So they were a surprise.

I've added links just in case you haven't come across these products before.

To make a cupid's cocktail sausage follow these instructions!

Lining up with Savouring the Season