Category Archives: throwback

Jane Austen Book Club: Sense & Sensibility

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My high school prom dress my mum made me a Jane Austen inspired gown.
This past month I have read Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility for the #JaneAustenBookClub with Erin of Quintessentially English.  While I have seen the film starring Emma Thompson and Kate Winslet a number of times I have never before read the book.  After a month I have been led to believe that all books should be read first before you see the film.  This is a fundamental rule I try to live by as an adult and pass on to my children as we make our way through the Harry Potter series together.  To be fair I have only read Pride and Prejudice (again and again) up until this book club and have lived vicariously through Jane Austen in film.  
After completing the book I have been left to feel like Sense and Sensibility may be one of my least favourite books by Jane Austen.  Basically it was hard enough to read without picturing the actors who had portrayed the characters in the ’95 film version.  It was disheartening to find that some of the characters did not come off the same way on paper as they did on film.  An exception to this though would be Mr. Palmer (portrayed in the film by Hugh Laurie) who was one of my favourites in the film and made me laugh in the book with his muttered comments. 
A Favourite Line
 F R O M   T H E   B O O K 
“Lady Middleton could no longer endure such a conversation, and therefore exerted herself to ask Mr. Palmer if there was any news in the paper. “No, none at all,” he replied, and read on.”
Sense and Sensibility Chapter 19
A Favourite Line
 F R O M   T H E   F I L M   
Charlotte Palmer: Oh, if only this rain would stop! 

Mr. Palmer: If only you would stop. 

I think the reason the book Sense and Sensibility did not resonate with me as well as the Ang Lee film version was due the acting of Alan Rickman.  Honestly the video clip below where he comes in to see Marianne playing the piano says it all.  It is as if the world has stopped and all he can see is her.  I remember seeing that scene for the first time as a teenager and wanting so much to be loved like that.  To have someone look at me the way Col. Brandon looked at Marianne with all those stolen glances. The way he was always there for her even when she did not realise his love for her.  
It gets down to the climatic scene near the end where a drenched Marianne  is being carried back to the house by Col. Brandon. To me it was the most romantic scene in the film.  Then I read the book and it came across less romanticized and more about practicality or duty.  Col. Brandon had been dealt not the best of hands of life and it only seemed a good fit that Marianne put aside her silly notion of sensibility and marry him because it was a good match for him.  In the book I did not really feel they fell in love as it seemed they did in the film and I think that is how the film ruined the book for me. 
“to see Marianne settled at the Mansion-house was equally the wish of Edward and Elinor. 
They each felt his sorrows and their own obligations, and Marianne, 
by general consent, was to be the reward of all.” – Jane Austen

Margaret: It’s going to rain.
Marianne: It is not going to rain.
Margaret: You always say that and then it always does.
In the end I liked reading the book but it seemed harder to get through than reading my favourite, Pride and Prejudice, which I am staring to read again this month for July. Feel free to join in on the Jane Austen Book Club. You can link up with Erin with your posts and join the conversation on Twitter with the hashtag #JaneAustenBookClub  

FUN FACT: Did you know actor Greg Wise, who portrayed Willoughby, 
married the actress who played Elinore, Emma Thompson?

If you have read the book or scene the film I would love to hear your thoughts!



*photos sourced and photograph of myself belongs to Bonnie Rose Photography © 2007-2013 All Rights Reserved

Concussions and first kisses.

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Day 10, Friday of  the Challenge: Most embarrassing moment (s). Spill. 
Feel free to join in and if you catch this anytime through out the month feel free to just jump right in.   

I like to live by the rule that if I make someone laugh or smile with me, even if its at my expense, its better to deal with embarrassment that way. I was trying to come up with the most embarrassing stories of my lifetime but they either got lost in my memories or I have honestly blocked them out. All but one.  

I met Ryan my freshman year in the traveling theatre group we both auditioned for at our University. We were friends with crushes that fall semester and started dating the week before Valentines Day that Spring semester.  Sometime between February when we started dating and May when we parted ways for the summer we had our first kiss.  Neither of us have remembered exactly when it was but that there was a lot of hype leading up to the first kiss. Which leads me to our embarrasing story we share together.

We were parked outside of my freshman girls dormitory in his car after a date.  We both had to be in before curfew and we definitely waited until the last most possible moment to return back to our dorms on campus.  It is already a little awkward and embarrassing in the beginning of our dating period because he was my first (and only) boyfriend at University.  I had been anticipating the first kiss and getting more anxious about it every time one of my friends would ask me if it happened yet.  This was not a party school.  There was only one day a semester the opposite sex could visit the other dormitories and there were strict rules enforced.  Doors had to remain open, male guests could not use the restrooms in our dorm rooms, and ‘all feet must remain on the floor’.  The later rule I assume is to discourage make out sessions or heavier happening.  Anyways I explain all that to say that my friends held pizza parties after you had your first kiss with a guy.  Having not had any pizza parties yet and really wanting to kiss Ryan you can imagine my heart was racing inside his car.  He tried to be smooth and lean over to kiss me and I obviously did not get the mental memo and instead of having my lips meet his, our heads collided so hard it hurt.  So embarrassing. Needless to say that night was not our first kiss and no pizza party followed that evening.  I remember going inside and finding my RA upset that he would ‘never try to kiss me again’.  

Before we started dating we were put into this skit in our theatre group to perform at schools and churches called ‘Pick up lines’ which is where he would try to pick me up with really bad lines.  I had a catchy one liner at the end of it that tied it back to the faith and christianity.  That skit started the crushes began to have on each other.  Ironically it was a pick up line that he used out of humour in my expense right before our first actual kiss: 

“Lets try not to have a concussion this time.”

This my husband, Ryan, and I this year at the Roman Baths in Bath, England.  
We have been married for nine years (and change) and we have entered our 30’s.  
This is also Ryan and I, eleven years ago in University back in 2002. 
He was 20 and I was 19.  I find this photograph of us very embarrassing. 
To be fair  most of our photographs from my freshman and 
sophomore year of University are quite embarrassing.
Bad Hair: 
I thought it would be great to be blond. This is pre-beauty school and so I thought I could do it myself with box colour.  I ended up with a multifaceted orange-y mess. I also thought it would be liberating to cut my hair really short.  To add to the bad hair decision I sometimes wore my hair back in tiny ‘im a six year old’ pony tails. I honestly thing I should have realised my losses, shaved my head, gotten a wig, and started the growth process there. So see even your hairstylist can have bad hair decisions in their past. 😉
Bad Accessories: 

Its not that they were bad per se, but when added to everything else in this mix they did not really help the look. My accessories included not one but two WWJD bracelets worn together for sentimental reasons at the time.  We went to a private christian university so I was all about sporting my faith in my fashion choices back then.  The hemp jewelry Ryan made which as we were newly dating I found this so sweet and special.  
Bad Fashion: 
Not that I had a lot to choose from with living in a small town in the south in the US.  At my University students tended to wear jeans and a shirt normally and my school had very strict rules on wardrobe and modesty.  Which meant my previous adventurous European style became very stagnate and non existent. Really where is an H&M when you need one? 😉 
Freshman Fifteen:
It is easy to tell from the second photo above that Ryan and I both were carrying extra weight.  I think we both weighed more my freshman year and his sophomore year then we ever have in our entire lives.  I no longer had my mum’s good cooking or even a kitchen.  I relied on pizza delivery and food on campus. I didn’t actually realise how much weight we had carried until we began losing it the months that followed that photo being taken.  I spent an entire summer backpacking in Australia and he was working outside on the farm.  I was showing my suite mate a photo of my then fiance the school year to follow and did a double take on how heavy just Ryan had been the year before. I don’t know if it was bad that I had not realised he had lost so much weight or that I didn’t realise he was so chubby before.  Love is blind where eyes are concerned.  Anyways these photos always motivate us to eat well and keep and active, and to promote healthy lives for our children. 
So yes I find a lot of photographs from my first two years at 
Uni and during our engagement to be quite embarrassing.  
Q: Do you have photos that embarrass you from the past?

#BlogEveryDayInMay
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*photographs found here either belong to Bonnie Rose of Bonnie Rose Photography © 2013 All Rights Reserved | www.bonnie-rose.co.uk 

Thoughts: I am my Father’s Daughter

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A beholder of a US passport and an American accent it was not easily understood by some why I would seek ‘home’ in a a seemingly far off land.  I had been called selfish for for wanting to move my family across the ocean when jobs, schools, and homes could be found closer to my husband’s family.  Without jobs or a place to live my husband and I took the leap across the pond.  It can be quite scary and we managed it through support of many kinds, the biggest coming from the big man upstairs. I also find comfort in knowing that my father, though no longer with us since 2008, was keeping us safe.  He is the one reason after all that I would need to move back home to Europe.  
My father left home to join the USAF Academy at the age of seventeen and served 30+ years as an US Air Force officer and a veteran of the Gulf War in the ’90s.  He did six tours in Europe: three in England, two in Italy, and one in Germany.  That is roughly seventeen years living abroad and he got to see much more of the world through his work and free travel.  They say a girl’s father is one of the most influential people in her life, and this is the man who shaped my life, my worldview and my love for travel. I am my father’s daughter.  Returning home to Europe and living in England has been bittersweet at times. Let me clarify that statement.  It has been completely sweet like Cadbury’s milk chocolate, life itself will always have challenges and stress points.  The bitter part has been that my father is now no longer here to experience this part of my life with us and his grandsons.  
It has been four years and half years since he was taken from  this life, and that loss is still felt.  When the photographs below were taken at his funeral at the USAF Academy I was crying daily.  I may not cry daily today but I find little things will trigger tears over my father not being here.  I was looking at photographs from a friend’s trip to Austria and Switzerland, places from which I have fond memories with my dad.  In one sentence I went from the excitement of hoping to go there on our next trip, to sadness that my dad could not meet us there.  I will forever have him in my heart and every trip I take will be that more meaningful for it.  I just wish I could do more for my dad’s  presence in my sons’ lives.  So I do the best I can here in England.  I have photographs of him up, trinkets from his life and we share stories about him.  Some of my favourite stories are the ones my husband shares about my dad.  They only knew each other for a few years through trips and rare holidays, but he became the son my dad never had.  They would talk on the phone longer than my conversations with my dad. I admit I became envious of their relationship but in retrospect I am so glad that they were able to get close. I would not have wanted it any other way.  To know my dad and my mum love and appreciate my husband for who he is means so much to me.  
I do not have a whole lot of photographs with my dad and the last ones taken at his funeral. We had a lot of friends of my dad write, call, and visit at his memorial in Tucson, Arizona.  But at his funeral we had long time friends from my dad’s time with the military in England.  It meant so much to have them there for my dad and for us.  Though we were all hurting inside over the sudden loss, it is nice to see the smiles in the photos because my dad was always smiling.  He could find the best in everything. He could make friends with people from all backgrounds.  It is that part of him I hope I can channel into my sons to carry on the ‘Nystrom’ way of life.  The life of accepting others, the life of loving to travel, and to live every moment to its fullest.  
Live Aloha. 
Remember Charles. 
*Photographs belong to Bonnie Rose Photography © 2013 All Rights Reserved
** For more information on photographic services contact bonnie[at]bonnie-rose[dot]co[uk]

Boys getting older and moving up.

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My boys left recently with my in-laws to go back to the USA for seven weeks this summer.  I will be joining them after I get back from my trip with my partner to mainland Europe. It will be 11 years since I have been back to my home in Napoli, Italia where I grew up twice for a total of 6 years.  As much as I cannot wait to go back home and that I hope it does not go by too fast, I am really looking forward to seeing my boys again in three weeks.  We have had to be apart in different countries or continents four times over the last seven years, and it does not get easier. Things can be quite loud at home when you are raising two boys, but after about 4 hours of silence it has been too quiet.  I miss them so much.  Going to look back over their last week here in England and highlight the best parts of our time together.

As you might remember we went bowling in May for my 5 year old’s birthday party.  We had a great time and the boys have been wanting to go back ever since.  They got that chance while Bob and Sue were here and the boys got to show off their bowling skills.  Ronan brought his a game and his competitiveness and really showed us up.   Its been crazy to see how much they have been growing up over this year so far.   Both boys have really pushed forward in their reading for one thing. Maddox went from not reading at all in August to now he can read from chapter books. After finishing our latest Harry Potter book, both boys were in need for summer reading.  We used their gift certificates from school to get them some great choice reading about dragons and samurai.  The boys are also moving on up in their groups at bible class over at our church.  This past sunday was their last day until they get in September. Maddox will be moving into Ronan’s class and Ronan will be moving up to the next class.  They are both excited about the move up.  I signed us up for a church retreat for when we get back and I hope they will have fun on the weekend trip.  We saw the baby ducklings on our walk home and the boys were telling me how big they think they will be when we get back.  It has been fun watching them get bigger since our first time finding the babies.  
The last day the boys were here we went to the store so I could get them proper hats for the hot summer awaiting them in the USA where temperatures have been in the 100’s (F).  They look really cute in them, but they look so much older when they wear them. It does not help that I gave them hair cuts before they left for the summer. Ronan maintained his style, but Maddox wanted a big change. He wanted batman shaved into the back of his head. We might try that this summer.  When I asked Maddox what he wanted he said he wanted hair ‘like Ronan’ and when I use my ‘hot thing that makes it straight’.  So we went shorter to help keep his curly hair maintained.  The boy has a lot of hair so I basically took it short on sides and back and on the top I did not really take off any length, just took out a lot of weight.  So hes got a lighter and more trendy look. Which makes him look older.
I let the boys sleep in our room on their last night and it was hard to sleep with listening to them sleep so sweetly next to me.  I even woke up before my alarm set for 0430.  It was hard to get up, but I wanted to make sure I made them a proper breakfast.  The boys were dressed in the outfits I laid out and finished with their breakfast before their Papa even woke up. I definitely take from my dad with getting ready in the morning.  With the extra time I took the boys outside to take some last photos before I see them again. They were so cute for it being so early in the morning.  I think Ronan took it hardest when they drove away, and I basically almost threw up outside for all my neighbours to see after they left.  I think the anxiety just really drove the nausea.  Luckily I ended up feeling better in a few hours. But my heart still hurts. I miss my boys so much.  With having them apart before, I really do not like nor want to have to be apart from them ever again.  3 weeks.  I can do this.  Ronan and Maddox, mummy loves you so way much! 
xx
B.

Bowling with my boys.
#bowling
http://instagr.am/p/NEZMwRIkyU/
Bowling Bros 
#bowling 
My boys just finished reading The Prisoner of Azkaban. Their reward?
Getting to see the film for the first time and Ive promised butterbeer.
#butterbeer #harrypotter #book #read
http://instagr.am/p/M_ZCVLokyd/
My partner and I at dinner tonight.
http://instagr.am/p/NCRzbsokzW/

My boys with their chapter books for Summer reading.
#book #read #summer #dragon #samuraihttp://instagr.am/p/NGpmxmIk1U/
Fresh flowers decorate the arch of the church this morning.
#church #lindfield #door #flowers #arch #allsaints http://instagr.am/p/NGZuLhok_V
Secret! Today I noticed a filled in stairway in church.
#history #church #lindfield #allsaints #stairs #hidden #secret #arch #old http://instagr.am/p/NGkixsokzA/
Peach rose bush in Lindfield 
#rose #peach #roses #lindfield #cloud 
Watching the ducklings after church
#ducks #church #allsaints #lindfield http://instagr.am/p/NHvMTcIk3e/
My OCD has paid off. In the process of organizing one giant box of legos
into several easy to categories, we located the missing Sonic Screwdriver.
#sonicscrewdriver #doctorwho #tardis #lego #OCDhttp://instagr.am/p/NIyod_ok4l/
Classy. My sons drinking milk from the ‘fancy’ glasses.http://instagr.am/p/NI-Misok7k/
Taught my boys how to wear their new hats from River Island.
#riverisland #hiphop #hat #summer #boyshttp://instagr.am/p/NJQjBsokx-/
Ronan. Your smile melts my heart.
#ronan #hat #hiphop #batman #smilehttp://instagr.am/p/NJgMJook5I/
Maddox. He looks older with that chocolate mustache.
#hat #maddox #max #hiphop #mustache #costa #son http://instagr.am/p/NJgZmfok5P/
Maddox and I painted our nails. He chose rockstar grey
and I chose a matte orange-y pink.
#nails #colour #pink #orange #grey #hands http://instagr.am/p/NJ0Q2Bok0L/
Loop plaits
#hair #hairstyle #plaits #braidhttp://instagr.am/p/NEsrUqIkwM/
My son twirls his hair when he reads.
#socute #hair #read #book #boy #twirl http://instagr.am/p/NJ-_ohIk61/
Last night with my boys at the pub before their flight back to the USA.
#raisingboys #pub #food #dinner #family @ryana_official http://instagr.am/p/NMTuJuokwW
My son making sure no one eats his mushrooms. 
Dont worry, Papa doesnt like them. 
#food #mushrooms #pub #son 
Desserts are stressed spelled backwards.
#pub #dessert #food #etonmess http://instagr.am/p/NMcgJ0ok12/
Gave Maddox a haircut at midnight. Now we are whispering
stories before we fall asleep. Early flight tomorrow.
#hairstyle #haircut #maddox #max #shorthttp://instagr.am/p/NM2XdLIk2C/
The boys found one of my necklaces, and since its a rarity
that I wear gold I let Max have it.He looks so grown up.
 #chain #gold #maddox #max #hat #hiphop #boy #sonhttp://instagr.am/p/NNxPo_Ik2K/
Amazing how awake my boys were at 0500 for a photo op.
Took these right before they left for the airport.
#raisingboys #son #hat #hiphop #shaka #hilife #peace #smile #boy http://instagr.am/p/NN0M1QIk2w/
I have never seen so much of my dad (RIP) in Maddox than today.
I wish had photos of him at Maddox age to compare.
#dad #son #grandson #expression #photobooth #genes #maddox #max http://instagr.am/p/NOCtTjIk5z/

BONNIE ROSE TWEETS
  • Just awoken from a dream about Dad. He had sent me a care package and it had just arrived in the post. I wish there was mail services between here and Heaven.
  • Second time seeing this film. First time I bawled like a baby in the theatre because De Niro’s character reminds me … http://t.co/6k0fIXm7
  • After beating ME3, going back through the games starting with the first one. http://t.co/Mm0mU3nC @GetGlue #MassEffect
  • Living vicariously through @SethGreen this week while his Instagram feed shows photos from @Comic_Con #SDCC #SDCC2012
  • Finally watched the big episode about Sam Ax’s fate. Michael & Fiona are my favourite tv couple.
  • Boys and I read this last year and found the movie on lovefilm today. We are discussing how cool it would be to live in a tree house. The film makes us miss island life on Hawaii.
  • I love that the Hill’s Whitney Port is a judge this season.
  • Wearing my Deanna Troi shirt to dinner with Magners and @ryanA_official #nextgeneration #startrek #nerd #cidre http://t.co/pAhm88rJ
  • Gearing up for London 2012 by introducing my boys to a film from my childhood. Belly laughs galore!
  • Jessica Biel to play Viper in yhe next Wolverine film…awesome! #wolverine #comics
  • “That’s right, Kenny. The babysitter is dead.” Im pretty sure my sister, Zoë, and I could quote the whole film.
  • Woah it is the Doctor in Lego form at #SDCC #doctorwho #SDCC2012 #cosplay http://t.co/ZKfMiG2n
  • Madonna may be 53, but she does not look a day over 35 @MadonnaWorld #Madonna #MDNAParis #MDNATourhttp://t.co/bHF2KdJZ http://t.co/umJP3QA3
  • ‎4 Reasons I wish I could have gone to ComicCon: @Bourdain @GroovyBruce @sethgreen @mattsmith_dw TY to those who posted pics #SDCC #SDCC2012
  • I have some down time and wanted to shoot. But out of apples and oranges and the store closed 30min ago. :( #selfportraitchallenge2012
  • TKMaxx has a lot of surf wear…a lot of Billabong. Makes me forget Im living in the UK and its raining. #beach #surf #tkmaxx #billabong
  • Found a pink Hello Kitty espresso maker. #hellokitty #espresso #coffee #pink #purple #tkmaxxhttp://t.co/LKtJcoZD
  • It’s not who I am underneath, but what I do that defines me.
  • Photo: Preview of my latest self portrait entitled ‘Orange Crate’. #selfportrait #self #orange #oranges…http://t.co/o2n2hH0J
  • The back of my FIL’s shirt. I miss Haleiwa. #hawaii #haleiwa #shirt #turtle #honu #alohahttp://t.co/pNU3urrn
  • Their suitcase packed, their outfit laid out, & carryon ready. Let my boys sleep in my room. Want to stay up & listen to them sleep. Peace.
  • Just said goodbye to my boys. :( They left with inlaws for 7 wks in the USA. Safe drive & safe flight. Mummy misses u.http://t.co/nAUl6AmJ

The InLaws Visit

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My boys have been counting down the days for weeks until their Papa and Mimi come over to England.  The day finally arrived last week and there have been smiles all around.  The first full day the boys got to show them around their school as we went in for the award ceremony.  The boys met me at work on Friday and we went out for smoothies afterwards.  We spent the afternoon painting and played games together.  On Saturday we took the boys to Crawley to see the new Spiderman film and it really exceeded my expectations.  We had our first mexican meal in over a year at a nearby restaurant in the town.  What was really interesting inside were the chandaliers. A few were made from old spoons and one from old bottles.  I posted photos from the below. Sunday the boys and I walked into Lindfield for church.  We got to see the little ducklings and they are just as cute as ever.  Unfortunately the English summer rain caught us in the downpour.  Monday we decided to go see Bodiam castle and there we were greeted by hoards of ducks.  They were quite cute and we had fun feeding them.  Another creature I found was a fuzzy little bat sleeping on the castle wall inside.  It was quite cute.  On the way back we decided to take a detour to the beach in Hastings.  The weather was so cold and it made me miss the warm Hawaiian sun.   We caught up with the rain again on Tuesday, this time in London.  We went to the British museum for most of the day and I think the highlight for me was the Picasso exhibit.  The boys really enjoyed seeing the mummies.  While on the subway we were right next to the actress from Doctor Who (and ER), Alex Kingston, who plays River Song.  No photo unfortunately to share but it was another highlight of the day.  The boys enjoyed playing on the pirate ship at Hyde park while it was not raining.  It has been a good first week.  Just one more week left with the boys before they head over to the US.  I am sure it will go by way too fast. :(

The inlaws surprise the boys at school.
Ronan reads his story to his Papa and Mimi at school.
My boys receiving their awards at the end of the year award ceremony at their school.
2 for 1 smoothies today at 
#gerzoocoffee
Painting with watercolours with my sons. 
#painting #watercolour #watercolor #drawing #art


Afternoon art 
#art #artwork #painting #watercolor #watercolour #girl 
Lost a game of Monopoly to my father-in-law. I traded Mayfair to complete the pink properties…and then landed on both blue properties! 
#monopoly #pink #Mayfair #gamenight 
Strawberry love. 

Bottle chandelier 
#chandelier #light #bottle #decor

I love hugs from my little man.

Spoon chandelier 
#spoon #chandelier #decor


Waiting for the rain to stop and the pub to open for lunch. 
#selfportrait #rain #England
The baby ducklings in Lindfield are getting bigger and are still so very cute. 
#ducks #lindfield #pond


For ‘blood sucking’ creatures of the night they are quite fuzzy and cute. 
#bat #castle
I caught this duck drinking from the dog bowl. 
#duck
I had him eating out of my hand. 

#duck


He is a silly knight named Maxalot.
 #knight #sillyface
At the seaside in Hastings 
#beach
Fish faces with my son Maddox 
#sillyface

Checking out the mummies at the British Museum 
#museum #london #skull

With my sons at the British museum 
#museum #london

Princess Diana Memorial Playground in 
#london #memorial #princess #Diana

BONNIE ROSE TWEETS
  • ‎9 and half hours till their arrival. #inlawshttp://t.co/q2e4eVef
  • Best part of my morning? Finding a 2 pence coin in the hose of my hoover. No wonder it lost suction. Glad its not broken. #firstworldproblem
  • My american father in law is playing chicken with on coming traffic when deciding what lane to drive in here in the UK. :/
  • Clean house and just finished the dishes from supper. Whats a girl to do but kick up her feet with a cup of tea.http://t.co/ZYj1Wcw2
  • Photo: Painting with watercolours with my sons. #painting #watercolour #watercolor #drawing #art (Taken with…http://t.co/uj3g70Xl
  • Photo: Lost a game of Monopoly to my father-in-law. I traded Mayfair to complete the pink properties…and…http://t.co/tsEFelGF
  • Watching Karl in Mexico with the hubs and my father-in-law. Yay for hearty belly laughs.
  • “What Naples is, is a damn beautiful.” – Anthony Bourdain So excited about going back home to bella Napoli this summer!
  • Have focused on pushups lately. Sleeping with my hands behind my head, cant tell if its painful in my chest muscles or feels great #exercise
  • Hoping it is better than the last three, than again Im not a fan of Tobey as Spidey. http://t.co/NfG09PFT @GetGlue #AmazingSpiderMan
  • IDK whats more exciting, the next Bond film, another Batman film with Christian Bale or the newest film in the Bourne Series.
  • I ♥ High tops for guys. Can you suggest brands that make affordable ones in boys sizes? My kids outgrow shoes fast. pic.twitter.com/ZDZhIkIV
  • Going back through the series starting with season I of NCIS
  • Slept on my neck wrong and today my neck progressively keeps getting worse. Hurts to hold my head up. :( #painful
  • My 5 yo went from not reading at all in Aug to tonight where he read from Harry Potter to me. So proud. I ♥ reading HP with my sons. #read
  • What do you call a Frenchman wearing sandals? >>>>>>>>>>Philippe Phillop. #joke
  • Bachelor is Spencer Mathews from Made in Chelsea. Game on.
  • Making faces on the train commute to Londonhttp://t.co/3NDT2lAb
  • Photo: Self portrait in castle by candlelight #selfportrait #castle @thebonnierose http://t.co/U776ROvx…http://t.co/BX8V1Mrx
  • Just rode on the subway two seats away from Alex Kingston aka River Song #doctorwho
  • Today I sat next to Alex Kingston on the subway, saw a Japanese artifact that looked like a dalek, and spotted this doctor who bank note at the #BritishMuseum #doctorwho #dalek #tardis
  • Woke up from an extended afternoon nap just in time for dinner and a thunderstorm. The rain and thunder sound so beautiful. #rain
  • Just shy of 0430 and watching the sun come up.

Eurocup 2012

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Before I touch on football, a big Congratulations to my Lil’ Roro for winning first place in the art competition for Purple Pinky. We are so proud of your accomplishment and seeing that sweet smile when you found out you won just melted my heart. I love you, my little man. xx

 

http://www.purplepinkie.com/ ♥ £1 saves the lives of 2 children ♥

Sometimes this is how I feel.
Maddox showed up with a bowtie for dinner. He requested I call him ‘the Doctor’. Should I have checked to see if he had a Sonic Screwdriver on him? 
#doctorwho #bowtie #kid #dressup 
‘Fun': Palaeontology fun with my son 
#day4 #photoadayjuly #fun #bones #dinosaur 

http://instagr.am/p/Mqi9g9Ik_q/ 
‘Something Soft': My son’s hair 
#day29 #photoadayjune #soft #bw 
Happy 4th of July! 
@welovemarilyn @alwaysmarilynmonroe @bonnierose 
My son won first place for the Purple Pinky Children’s Art Competition 
#charity #art #school #rotaryinternational #purplepinky 
Dip dyed, cut off, and distressed my jeans for new summer shorts. 
#shorts #jeans #dipdye #summer #diy
Mirror crashed and broke into way too many pieces than I have patience for today. http://instagr.am/p/MpvvaZIk-J/
‘Favourite part of your day': Receiving messages from friends & family all over the world. 
#day3 #photoadayjuly #phone #text #message 
My dinner before the game. 
#pizza #eurocup2012 #italia
A new book for my summer reading. 
#summer #read #book #ontheroad #kerovac
Its Game Day. 
#eurocup2012 #italy #italia
Attending the Summer Concert at my boys’ school. 
#school #concert #music #singing #songs


BONNIE ROSE TWEETS
  • The sun has been up since 0400 and its now 0920 and it is currently 22°C. Is it too early for frozen yoghurt?
  • My current dream car is the 1909 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost. She is beautiful. #car #vintage #rollsroyce #silverhttp://t.co/UwYd9qPR
  • You know what night is…its Italy vs Germany. Forza Italia! xx
  • First goal goes to Italy! #eurocup2012 #italy
  • SUPER MARIO!!!!!!! And a yellow card for taking off his shirt! HA #eurocup2012 #italy
  • Photo: Italy vs Germany! #eurocup #italy #shadesofblue #maggio #christian #parody #football #forzaazzurri…http://t.co/bBkgVlMU
  • Buffon ti amo! #eurocup2012
  • Going to not comment in recent game events and instead point out that keeper Buffon looks a lot like actor John Turturro. #eurocup2012
  • I love Di Natale! xx #eurocup2012
  • Italia did it! They go on to play Spain in the finals! #EUROCUP2012
  • Up to episode five of season two. I think Richard, the war vet missing half his face, might be one of my favourite characters because I think the actor does such a great job bringing him to life.
  • Last day of work at salon until September. Just one last unsold appt for cut&style available xx
  • Last appt sold. See you in September. xx
  • Seeing Michael’s heart break as tears rushed to his eyes when he saw Fiona in jail made my own heart ache. When Fiona started crying, I did too. Do I really have to wait two weeks till the next episode?
  • Hulk vs Loki was hilarous.
  • From my boys’room I hear Optimus Prime singing Lady Gaga’s Bad Romance. >>
  • You know you’re a TCK from multi cultural background when your brain instantly blurts out appropriately…http://t.co/7IR52Caz
  • ‎25 super-easy everyday hairstyles for long hairhttp://t.co/NYxIb07h
  • Wising I was at the beach and not cleaning, so my tunes this morning are @jackjohnson & @jasjason_mraz
  • To my Canadian friends, Happy (country I tell English people I’m from) Day.
  • Watching the Eurocup 2012 Finals Italy vs Spain #eurocup2012 #Italy http://t.co/6DOJo9gZ
  • Wish I could watch the game at the pub with @ryanA_official & his friends bc not only am I watching alone but just missed 5min bc of my net.
  • Great. Apparently I missed the goal. Italy catch up! #notamused #eurocup2012
  • Italy it was not our year. :( #eurocup2012
  • “Success has many fathers, failure is an orphan.” Gillian Darmody – Season II, Episode VIII
  • Photo: My son won first place for the Purple Pinky Children’s Art Competition #charity #art #school…http://t.co/R42pxjo0
  • Photo: Third Culture Kids. Artwork by my own little TCK, Ronan (age 7) http://t.co/McS6Uokk
  • My hair seems to be more wavy & less curly the longer it gets. I love the natural waves with a centre part as of late.http://t.co/bkwtb0fy
  • Polio has been the theme today. So blessed to have two healthy kids after watching that heartache.
  • Sometimes Im terrified of my heart; of its constant hunger for whatever it is it wants. The way it stops and starts. #edgarallanpoe #quote
  • Emily and Jef are still my favourite couple.
  • Photo: Self Portrait Challenge 2012 #selfportrait #hairflip #birds #movement #longhair #feathers (Taken with…http://t.co/zCFVWkq3
  • I am eating one bite of my kids’ cookies for every 15 min that they havent finished cleaning their room. It just got real. #parenting #ftw
  • Rocking out to Bon Jovi for my non holiday here in England.
  • Can Nucky Thompson be my Uncle? 😉

Summer Fayre

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The biggest thing this week was the Summer Fayre (UK spelling) at my boys school.  It has been something we have been looking forward to for weeks.  The boys got to engage in many crafts and activities.  One I did not post a photo from was where they three small balls to knock of coconuts from their stand. If you hit it, you got to keep the coconut. Too bad my Hawaiian boys did not bring home any coconuts. 😉 However they had a lot of fun with the Jousting competition.  Ronan and Maddox went up against each other first and Maddox did a really good job keeping up with his older brother. Ronan, the champion, got to then play a game against his classmate.  I think both of them would have played this all afternoon if they were allowed.  There were cute animals, lots of yummy cakes, and of course tea.  Luckily the rain held out enough so that we had sunny weather.  I really love all the saturday activities they have at the boys’s school. I wish I had not missed out on so many with work, but appreciate all the time we have had together.  Memories to last a lifetime.

‘On your mind': My 9th anniversary is just 39 days away. 
#photoadayjune #day24 #selfportrait #wedding #bridal #anniversary 
A must read for all girls 
#girl #book #heels #read
#quote #OscarWilde #Wilde #advice

http://instagr.am/p/MOVy5cok17/ 
Summer Fayre at my boys’ school today.
‘Something cute': 
#day25 This London Swan #photoadayjune #swan #cute
Norwegian School Band performing today at my boys’ school. 
#school #band #music #norway
Sleeping continued…
Acquired the first half of the UK versions for £1 
#books #read #potter 
Friday Night 
‘From a high angle': Dinosaur Exhibit 
#photoadayjune @NHM_London 
‘Movement': My sons Jousting 
#day23 #photoadayjune #movement 
‘Where you Slept’ 
#photoadayjune #bed #damask #England

BONNIE ROSE TWEETS

  • I ♥ Boardwalk Empire and @therealbuscemi Check out the opening credits they are exquisite: http://t.co/pi95wpv5via @HBO #boardwalkempire
  • Don’t give a woman advice; one should never give give a woman anything she can’t wear in the evening.’ – Oscar Wilde #quote #wilde #advice
  • Photo: ‘On your mind’: My 9th anniversary is just 39 days away. #photoadayjune #day24 #selfportrait #wedding…http://t.co/MmCIlTXj
  • Photo: Listening to Villa Lobos, Bachianas Brasileiras while curled up and lost in my book. http://t.co/tAKldF4E
  • Its Italy vs. England…having a bit of an identity crisis here. Sorry England, but Forza Azzurri! #euro2012 #italia #football
  • Photo: Supporting Italia tonight against England in Eurocup 2012 #Italy #eurocup (Taken with Instagram)http://t.co/0rG0CMKi
  • Italy playing well controlling the game vs England. But more luck on our final touch in the second half. 0-0 #euro2012 #italiainghilterra
  • I wish Napoli’s Di Natale had been put in sooner. Still goaless in extra time. #diNatale #euro2012 #Italy #napoli #italia
  • Goal???? No offsides. Pout. #Italia #euro2012
  • Penalty shoot out time between Italy and England. I cannot look! Eeep! Forza Italia! #euro2012 #Italy #Italia
  • Italy going to semi finals against Germany! #euro2012 #Italia
  • ‎Oh Mondays. Was awoken at 0400 by the bright english morning sun, or was it the need to throw up, either way Im lying here with an emptied stomach, a residual burning in my throat, and the piercing light through my bedroom cutrains.
  • ‎”Just finished doing hair extensions. A perfect way to as length, fullness and/or colour. Email for…”http://t.co/thJwesBn
  • Listening to La Traviata by Giuseppe Verdihttp://t.co/KoQjxR9I @GetGlue #GiuseppeVerdi
  • Photo: ‘Something cute’: #day25 This London Swan #photoadayjune #swan #cute (Taken with Instagram)http://t.co/QFqKz0St
  • Finished emails and two cups of tea, time for a little lunch and then its #selfportrait time for the 2012 challenge:http://t.co/qbbT78TN
  • Know Thy Enemy: Intelligence in COIN Operations essay by @ryanA_official featured at: http://t.co/HFxAcd7d
  • Attempting to defeat gravity for a self portrait…but my head cold is making it difficult. :/
  • Spem in Alium by Thomas Tallis is so beautiful. Its one for tuning out the world.
  • I really like Jeff the skateboarder. http://t.co/P150wTAK@GetGlue @BacheloretteABC
  • Happy Birthday to my beautiful friend @melissahurley_ , an amazing Makeup artist.
  • There is 50 Shades of Grey fanfiction. For clarification that makes it fanfiction based on a book, based on fanfiction based on a book. #smh