The Easter bank holiday weekend started with a bang for us with a visit to Monkey World in Dorset to celebrate our sweet niece's 1st Birthday!

I can still vividly remember seeing her come into the world and that's a precious moment I will never forget!

Yasmin lu - you are a delight and the closest thing I have to a daughter of my own.

I love you. Lots and lots.

Roll on the flamingo party next week!

Have a wonderful Easter everyone. I am having a little break with friends at our flat in Southbourne and will have a monster photo post coming next week! 

An Easter tree, an Easter tree?!!! Yes, yes, this may sound like a silly concept but I LOVE it! It's actually a Swedish tradition called a Paskris. 

But I am all for any excuse for seasonal decor and when you can buy teeny tiny wooden egg decorations why not?!

But the thought of getting out the Christmas twigs just didn't seem right so I created a living tree from foraging in the back garden!

I cut off a couple of branches from a large shrub and used an old plant pot that has lovely grape hyacinth coming into bloom. Leave enough "stem" on your branch pieces for them to poke far enough into the plant pot.

Then get decorating! The kids will love it and it brightens up your home.

I made a couple of ideas too. Seriously easy and you can get them out every Easter.

Moss Bunnies

Super sweet! All you need is some florist's fake moss and some cardboard decorations. I bought these bunny shapes in The Range. You could use real moss but then they wouldn't keep year on year!

Using a sharp pen knife cut through the edges of the cardboard and peel back the top layer. Remove the cardboard insert and stuff with moss. Pack it tightly so it doesn't spring back out. I safely cut the cardboard but let the boys help with the stuffing!

Watercolour Feathers

I bought a basic watercolour set the other week as I want to make some DIY photography backdrops. Plus I've always loved the way watercolours blend into each other and would love to learn how to use them properly. But for now, in a busy week, a simple and quick idea is to paint feathers! 

You get a subtle ombre effect by adding more paint to the base of the feather then using a touch of water and dragging your brush towards the tip.

And with the little wooden decorations I spied in Waitrose the other day (seriously it's dangerous for me to even get a pint of milk in there - far too many lovely things) we have  pretty and colourful Spring decor in the living room.

I popped the boys' paper eggs under the tree and they are so excited for Easter day to see what's inside.

Fancy making your own Easter tree?! Or am I just loopy?!

Have a peek at some other ideas you may have missed from last year too.

Easter Living Display • Chocolate Spoon Gifts • Paint Chart Egg Hunt • Savoury Nests • Smores

Helloooo lovelies! A week that started with disaster has turned out quite nicely.

Let's have a catch up.

SHOW NOTES:

• I could live here – My Daily Randomness
• How to cut your child's hair from A Cup Of Jo
• Queenie DIY – camera bags

More balance means more boys, happy boys. Put your hands up if you love the holidays?!

A few behind the scenes...

Turns out you can do both, more work and more play! Just have to be really really organised!

As I type this I am raising a cup of tea to a wonderful Easter break for everyone, let's hope for more of this sunny weather the UK has been basking in for the last few days, it almost feels like Summer is on its way. Cheers!

Oh and I didn't mention the house hunt this week as it's currently hopeless – although we've decided to offer a £500 finder's fee for anyone who can broker a private sale for us! What do you think? Good idea?

Linking up with #theordinarymoments, #whatsthestory, #magicmoments