Peles

Almofada: www.kissen.com.br

Poltrona: www.entreposto.com.br

Post Of The Month Club: March

Posted by Happy Homemaker UK

Come and follow me to the first Post Of The Month Club

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So exciting to have you here!

I saved a spot for you

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With a napping house and lemonade

Bloggers can link up their best post of the month
And see, you've already done the work

Share the love by visiting a few other blogs

Would you mind adding my button to your lovely sidebar so more can join the fun next month?

Yep, we'll do this the last day of each month

If you need help linking your post, just let me know
The linking will be open through the weekend

Happy April Blogging :)

Fab Confab: Birthday Suits

Posted by Happy Homemaker UK

Welcome to another week of Fab Confab - where we have a little chat about a topic on Wednesdays

Here is my burning topic for the day

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It is a well-known fact that Europe has topless beaches, nude public steam rooms, artwork without a stitch of clothing, and magazines at my kids eye level with 'everything' on display

My young children have never seen so much skin

I think in the US, there are two extremes - prim & proper and 'not'

In Europe, we have seen everyday bodies in their birthday suits yet more of the 'inappropriate' as well

What do you think about raising kids in either environment? I'd love to know your thoughts

{Rated G comments only, of course}

Mais Closets

Mais uma seleção de closets caprichados.

Bem desenhados e bem projetados, armários sob medida e personalizados deixam a decoração diferente,

moderna e ajudam a organizar melhor roupas e acessórios.

Por Marina Linhares

Pela designer Roberta Lamacie

Mr. Closet

Site: www.mrcloset.com

Olhem esse closet de criança que lindo!!!

Mary Had A Little Lamb

Posted by Happy Homemaker UK

The next few weeks in England are informally known as the 'lambing season'

Little lambs dot many of the hillsides

Aren't they adorable?!

Smile!

And who could resist a pig race?! 'Grease Lightning' won :)

Ooh, how cute am I?

My kids wish their names were Mary (for she had a little lamb, ya know)

- all photos taken by me -

 Come Back :) Thursday is 'Post Of The Month Club' Linky Party (details here)

My Stile

Uma decoração com estilo de arte contemporânea misturado com asiáticos foi o trabalho do arquiteto Richard Zingale, junto da designer de interiores, Sandra Chancey, em uma casa maravilhosa, que fica na baía de Tampa, na Flórida.

A arquitetura faz uma afirmação de design minimalista geométrica e todos os interiores oferecem simplicidade e facilidade com a sofisticação moderna.

Decoração em cores neutras e claras e muitas janelas é bem meu estilo!!!

'Post Of The Month Club' Linky Party

Posted by Happy Homemaker UK

Join me at the end of each and every month for 'Post of the Month Club'

Bloggers will be able to link up their favorite post of the month

It is a great way to meet other bloggers and showcase your best work :) 

Sound like fun?

I can't wait! 

You can add my button to your column too - just cut and paste the HTML code into your sidebar

This will help get the word out - because it is more fun when there are more at the party :)

Readers without blogs - I think you're in for a treat :)

Wishing you a wonderful week wherever you are!

Happy Dance

Posted by Happy Homemaker UK

Thank you for all the well-wishes and for following for what feels like a never ending tale of getting my UK Driver's License. What great troupers you are! 

For a quick recap, it is a three step process which takes at least 6 months to complete. International drivers have one year from arrival date to complete the steps successfully to be 'legal'. Only 44% of applicants pass each year (I've also heard 33%). Let's just call them the lottery winners. 

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Without a UK Driver's License after the year is up, they will impound your car in the rain at night leaving you and your kids in their pjs on the side of the road - possibly miles (or kilometers) away from home - if pulled over by the police. That visualization was all I needed to get the ball rolling. Big, heavy, spiky ball.

Yesterday I took the last step of driving with Mr Tester Man. Waiting to meet him, I did a big sigh of relief when I saw he looked like a kind, grandfatherly-type (who surely doesn't fail those who try really, really hard). Scratched record sound in the background, I was then horrified when he opened his mouth in the thickest Scottish accent ever. Ever. 

Even my accompanying driving instructor thought 'Uh oh' - he told me later. 

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Ironically during my driving lessons, I had mentioned every single potential catastrophe to my instructor that I could imagine. He had assured me I would be able to understand my Mr Tester Man (and a flock of pelicans were very unlikely to fly into my car during my test). His mantra was, 'Don't worry, Laura. Don't panic. You'll do fine'. But you know what he was really thinking.... (psycho)...

Flowers growing in the road
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Back to the test - with Mr (Scottish) Tester Man repeating everything twice and a quick game of charades for clarification, I did all my turns and maneuvers 'good enough' to pass. After successfully completing my 3 Point Turn, a little 'Yippee!' escaped my lips. He chuckled a Scottish chuckle. 

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Definitely not a walk in the park, I received multiple check marks for insufficient mirror use. But I haven't met a person yet who hasn't been checked for that one repeatedly. Like Nadia Comaneci, is it possible to get a 'Perfect 10' on the practical driving test? 

With marbles in his mouth, I had to ask Mr Tester Man to repeat what he said, because it sorta sounded like he said I passed. Or at least that's what I'm going with :) 

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So Nervous Nellie can now drive legally throughout Europe and The Commonwealth. (Except for India - they don't have reciprocity since their driving is of a 'different standard'.) 

The Commonwealth
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You know you have good friends when they greet you with wine and cake to either drown your sorrows or celebrate. They admitted that 'really, the day could have gone either way'.

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So happy to put my book, notes, and CD-ROMs in the closet for my husband to use. Now I need to take care of duties that have taken the back burner. 

Like calling the chimney sweep to clean our old Victorian chimney. I so love that. So English. 

If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands...

{clap, clap}

The Backstories: 

First Day Driving In The UK

Applying For Provisional License

Day Before Theory Test

Failing Theory Test

Day Before Practical Driving Test

Linking to For The Love Of Blogs

Adventures In A RoundAbout

Posted by Happy Homemaker UK

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Hello Mr. Driving Test Man,

I am very scared of you and your scary test. I know too many expats who have struggled to complete this rite of passage gracefully.

I took my second driving lesson last week, and it looks like I still have a lot to work on - although I have a clean record and have been driving for over 20 years. It doesn't help that the instructor recommends 4 lessons for me, when he suggested another expat only to take 2 (!).

I try so hard not to get confused in which lane and which indicator to use in a roundabout with more than 4 arms. Perhaps peeking through hand-covered eyes is blurring my vision. And frowned upon?

An honest attempt is made to obey the speed limit, although I see it posted no where. One must be English and/or Harry Potter to see those invisible signs. That lucky broom-flying chap. And that darn handbrake alludes me (on my left side, not right). And could you tell me again why I need to apply it every time I'm stopped at a stoplight?

I sure hope I don't draw a blank when I 'tell you/show you' the brake fluid, legal tyre tread depth (1.6mm), and how to check the power steering. Couldn't I just give you the name of a local garage instead?

But chances are, I am
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So I've come to grips that I have 'stressed induced asthma' just thinking about this test. Perhaps I could use an inhaler filled with wine during the exam - a little spritz would calm the nerves and clear the mind :) Our little secret?

And please forgive me if I pull over to throw-up during the exam. That's just my butterflies finding the nearest emergency exit.

I did pass the written exam on the second try, after all. They don't call me smarty-pants for nothing :) Or maybe they do. Call me that for nothing.

Ooh, let's go hunting for this sign. Like a scavenger hunt. Don't you know it is 'Fun Friday' on my blog? Wouldn't that be more fun? Testing with a twist. Maybe a friend will be holding it along my route. (Anyone, anyone?) Or maybe it will magically light up on my dashboard :) Magical, like those invisible ESP speed limit signs.

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See you Friday, Mr. Driving Test Man. I'll be the one wearing a florescent safety vest and a decorative airsick bag around my neck. I'll bring a set for you too. I'm thoughtful like that.

Here's to hoping the day will be unmemorable, Mr Mister. In a good way.

Kindest regards, Nervous Nellie

If you can bear to go back in time, read about my written driving test saga here. Buried deep in another post, I did pass it two weeks later.

Kids Room

Um quarto de criança deve estar sempre em renovação de acordo com a idade dela.

Se ela já estiver pronta, deixe-a participar nesse momento!!!