Bramble Boutique

I'm back albeit briefly to mention my Facebook page to all of y'all! http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bramble-Boutique/254860354589104 Thanks for your support!

coming to a close

So I barely have time to update one blog let alone two - so for now I'm putting this to the back-burner once again and will be staying faithful to my other newer blog

http://talesfrombramblecottage.blogspot.com/

Please follow me there for more regular updates on the life of bramble!

warm day ahead ahh

So happy it's to be nearly 70f today :) Going out to garden and try make it look less like a wood out back and more like something resembling a garden.  All the children are better which is just wonderful. Nothing worse than the stress and worry of sick children, sleepless nights and endless laundry!

up all night

What started as my 1 yr old being sick yesterday has turned into a full on assault of sick from the 4 of the little darlings.  I slept with my 3 yr old, who finally stopped throwing up at 5am, only to be woken by the 1 yr old once again ill.. then the 7 yr old ran down the hall didn't make it to the bathroom, and the 6 yr old hasn't left the bathroom in over an hour.  It's going to be a long day!

My heart goes out to everyone affected by the devastating storms

Tornadoes are once again ripping apart this great country straight through the heart.  And my heart aches for those lost and for the families affected by this devastation.  The story of the baby girl found alive 10 miles from home next to the dead bodies of her family, just hurt so much I couldn't read the whole thing.  She died from her injuries over the weekend.  Terrible what Mother Nature can inflict on us.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2110119/Indiana-tornado-2012-Angel-Babcock-2-life-support-losing-entire-family-twister.html#ixzz1oG6r38ZV

One of my favorite bloggers wrote a book

I just wanted to really put a shout out there to everyone to turn you on to one of my fave blogs. Always leaves me feeling warm after reading which is a good thing on these cold days! She just had her book published, and it's a heart-wrenching but also lovingly wonderful tale of motherhood from her knowing eyes.  Her blog is a daily dose of beautiful photographs and sweet tales of what her clan have been up to.

http://www.kellehampton.com/

March is here!

Spring has sprung.. well not quite but who can resist cute bunnies in teacups to celebrate the oncoming season! I am so looking forward to the warmer months, and watching my new garden http://talesfrombramblecottage.blogspot.com/  evolve. Happy March to all!

Disney Leap Day Dreaming..

If I was down near Florida or over in Cali I would take advantage of this! 24 hours of Disney - I'm there!

"DisneyWorld is celebrating Leap Day today with a 24-hour opening-- 6 a.m. Feb. 29 through 6 a.m..

Called "One More Disney Day," Disney says it is the first time both Disneyland in California and the Magic Kingdom park in Florida will be open 24 hours straight."

A Heartwarming and wrenching story to start my comeback!

Everyone who knows me knows I love horses, and have done my entire life. So reading this brought the floodgates crashing down this morning.  Great job to the horse owner, how terrifying to have to go through that though.

"This was the terrifying moment a brave young mother battled to keep her beloved horse calm as sea water closed in on the animal after he became trapped in mud 'like quicksand'. Exhausted and mud-splattered, Nicole Graham clung to her trapped horse Astro for three hours keeping his head high in a race against the tide. The 78-stone show horse had sunk into quagmire-like mud and was facing the prospect of drowning as the water rose around them. Miss Graham had been out on an afternoon ride with her daughter along the coast near Geelong, south of Melbourne, when 18-year-old Astro suddenly sank into the mud. Before she could shout a warning, the smaller horse her daughter Paris was riding was also partially swallowed up by the mud. After dragging herself through the mire, Miss Graham helped her daughter and the other horse on to firmer ground. However, Astro was stuck fast and her efforts to pull him free only resulted in herself sinking deeper into the quagmire. As Paris ran to their car and phoned for help, Miss Graham stayed at her horse’s side. She courageously clung on to his neck, terrified that he would not be freed before the tide came in. After three 'terrifying' hours, rescuers managed to pull Astro and Miss Graham from the mud."

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2107521/Bravery-young-mother-stayed-horses-hours-getting-trapped-mud-like-quicksand.html#ixzz1ngiDrWGy

Sleepless in NYC

So here I am officially a Mother of 5, including 4 aged 5 and under! My lovely Oliver was born on the 15th of July. He being the final baby had to come in with a fuss - of course, he's male isn't he? The epidural went wrong, I couldn't move my left side for 4 hours after the birth.. my vitals dropped through the floor, then his, then he came out with the cord tightly wound round his neck not 1 but 4 times (!). On cutting the final piece blood splattered all over the Dr, assistants, my husband myself and the bed. Très dramatique! But he is here, safe and sound, and all is well in the end. I'm starting back at the market next week. Trying to clear out the rubbish and only take what will definitely sell. Tired of dragging round half the basement only to repack it at days end. Also in midst of deciding what I really want to do with my life. Final babies do that you know! I trained in Graphic Design, and worked thereafter in editorial, but left it behind years ago and never really looked back. Not sure what I really want or even like doing anymore. I know I want to pursue acting, but roles are few and far between, and without having family to watch the kids, (I don't want to pay the nanny to look after them for just auditions), it makes it nearly impossible to really have a go at this. Lots to think about. As usual no time to clear my head enough to do that. C'est la vie!

お久しぶりですね

Alas Facebook and the need to post my thoughts in my status has led to the great neglect of my blog. Le sigh! In brief I am a few weeks away from delivering my 5th and final baby. (Cant work out if I find the belly pic disturbing or cute) Looking forward to getting back in fighting form, and hitting auditions hard and fast. Really want to pursue this acting bug that has chased me in spurts throughout my colorful life. 私は戻ってきます

Happy Holidays

The Holiday season has officially begun and I am happy to say I'm ready for it for once! Bought all the children's presents - even started wrapping them. Got most of the decorations up from the basement, and the children have been playing with a Christmas toy set all morning. 4 weeks til the big day! Heading into Manhattan to brave the Sales rush...

Weird

to think that being alone on Thanksgiving Eve should mean anything to me, but here I am all lonely and upset. Silly really. What with me being British this isn't a Holiday for me. I think with this being my 6th Thanksgiving here in the States - I'm finally starting to accept it as being a big deal. A time to be with family and loved ones. It is important. So what with my husband still at work now at 9.15pm it gives me a sad feeling inside. I grew up watching Thanksgivings on sitcoms and in movies - it always seemed like such a joyous time full of love and laughter. Maybe my time to enjoy Thanksgiving will come when my children are grown and they're coming home for the Holidays. I look forward to those days. Maybe I'll go watch some cheesy American television - try get my mojo back. Happy Thanksgiving all.

Halloween - Robert Burns

Upon that night, when fairies light
On Cassilis Downans dance,
Or owre the lays, in splendid blaze,
On sprightly coursers prance;
Or for Colean the route is ta'en,
Beneath the moon's pale beams;
There, up the cove, to stray and rove,
Among the rocks and streams
To sport that night.

.....

Wi' merry sangs, and friendly cracks,
I wat they didna weary;
And unco tales, and funny jokes,
Their sports were cheap and cheery;
Till butter'd so'ns, wi' fragrant lunt,
Set a' their gabs a-steerin';
Syne, wi' a social glass o' strunt,
They parted aff careerin'
Fu' blythe that night.

there's no business

So I am totally into doing movies right now.. Loving it. Mainly seeing the behind the scenes - but being in on Samuel L Jacksons jokes doesn't hurt you know? I have been background acting on 2 feature films now, The Adjustment Bureau and The Other Guys. I have a main scene on TAB - at the bar standing next to Matt Damon for a whole scene - yay. And 2 scenes in TOG - one running towards a burning bus the other at the front of a press conference near the New York Stock Exchange. For some reason I'm getting put front and center camera, which is great! Really hoping I get some camera time and not cutting room floor time :) Will keep you up to date - but who knows where this will take me...

R I P - Tree

They just cut down an old tree 2 houses from mine. I watched them saw through the branches and as they crashed to the ground all the Autumnal leaves that were clinging on until it was their time to Fall - floated down slowly - softly. It was really heart-wrenching to watch, but the sound without the image was worse. There's something wrong with progress when it leans in that direction. You see - someone is advertising on the side of the apartment building and that tree was "in the way"... "an obstruction". It must be almost 100 years old, the size of it. I can't begin to imagine what change has gone on around it as it grew taller. It stood in it's spot as this whole neighborhood was built and as houses were knocked down to make way for apartment buildings and the road grew wider, it stood silent, giving shade and showing beauty in its seasonal coats. So I feel a little sadder today - my street is a little sadder today.

homesick

It dawned on me tonight how much I miss being around people who know who I am. I of course don't mean that in a celebretard way. I mean know me inside and out. Know my dark brown hair is my natural color but I started out as a blond baby, as did my brothers kind of way. Know things about what I was like as a child, what I was like, what my family was like, what my village was like. Maybe it's a "coming of age" type thing, but there's a certain comfort in knowing people accept you for who you are even though they have known you since you were knee high to a something or other... My best friend of 28 years (yeah I was teeny when we met - noooo I'm not THAT old!) anyway my best friend of forever is having her first baby, and I miss her. I wish I was a part of that. I spoke to my Grandma the other day and she was talking about the bus situation or lack of and it must be the hundredth time she's told me but I still want all the details - every last one, because I miss it. I miss home. I miss everything about home. Sometimes you want to go - where everybody knows your name - has never been truer.

there's something about a baby in little tiny knits

As my baby starts school, I found these photographs by Tracy Raver comforting. They grow so fast.

ahh home again...

much to do much ado

I'm crazy busy right now, no excuse for abandoning my blog though! My eldest daughter is staying with me just now, she came over from England 2 weeks ago, and my eldest brother was over so pretty much been sightseeing and keeping her occupied... We're off on a road trip on Saturday - down to Florida, returning to Disney World - the children will LOVE it as usual - I may need a beer at the German part of Epcot to keep the happy happiness going (or 6 ;) ) I have streamlined my store down to my line of Swarovski Jewelry, Hair flowers and bands, and what I have left of my pin-up collection. Launching September 5th with my range of baby and toddler hats - cupcakes and kittens.. new site will be up soon www.babybramble.com Pretty much havent been working out as much as I should have been so really need to step up to the plate - not literally though! Lots of salads in my future argh.. I'm still doing the Brooklyn Flea at Fort Greene on Saturdays through to Thanksgiving, then hopefully the holiday market after that. Had quite a few sales on the www.brambleboutique.com site which has been great, fingers crossed for a prosperous holiday period. As of Saturday 22nd I will be stocking a Scottish artisan jewelers line both online and at the flea - I hope she does well (as it's my cousin!) Really need to invest in a theme and stick to it for my booth though as I feel very higgilty piggilty. Much to think about - much to do.