Wednesday started like any other day. It was hectic, I was struggling to get everyone ready to leave the house and then it turned into an amazing day, just like that.
It was one of those days when everything just seems to come together like a dream. No tantrums, no snappy mummy in sight, no little accidents, no moaning on the way to school. The sun was shining, I enjoyed every minute spent with my children and the little ones had a great day. We were all in a merry mood.
It all began with a text message from my friend Loraine inviting Crevette and Beanie to a two-night sleepover at the week-end. I could hardly believe it. I had been given the gift of time! It is the best present anyone could give me right now, with five weeks to go before Wriggly is due. I could feel the weight of my unpreparedness start to lift away.
When I dropped Crevette at school, my friend Aimee offered to keep Beanie with her so she could play with her little man. That meant I only had to take Jumpy with me to get my whooping cough injection. I would not have to get Beanie to run through town to get there on time. I enjoyed the walk and Jumpy was giggling at people on the way. I felt refreshed and relaxed.
When Jumpy and I got home after our long walk, I had received email messages confirming that Beanie’s pre-school offers had worked out just the way we wanted; with one full day in her current pre-school close to work, and three afternoon sessions at our local school, which Crevette attends. I did not think the pieces of the puzzle would fit together, but they did!
I even had a few minutes to play with Jumpy before Aimee and the children came home. All three played beautifully in the bedroom whilst Aimee and I managed to catch up and chat for an hour or so, before having lunch all together.
After Aimee had taken Beanie and her little man to pre-school, Jumpy had a nap and I turned on my laptop. I had lots of Twitter notifications from blogger friends about the Brilliance in Blogging awards. I was delighted so many of the blogs I read regularly had been shortlisted and I congratulated them. Victoria told me I was on the list too, in the food category! I could not believe my eyes, and thought it was a mistake.
I checked the shortlist on BritMums’ website and when I clicked on the link to ‘Le Coin de Mel’, it really took me to my blog! I was astounded to say the least! I am a keen cook and I am honoured to be in the same category as so many amazing food bloggers. Posting my favourite family recipes is a lot of fun and devising recipes that cater for my toddler’s multiple allergies has been incredibly therapeutic. Thank you so much to everyone who took the time to nominate my little blog in the first place.
I recognised most blog names on that shortlist; they are amazing and I admire them all! Some of them are an inspiration to new bloggers like me, others write the best recipes around. A few of them are food styling icons. I even consider some of them my friends, through our regular commenting on each other’s blogs, little messages on Twitter and trying each other’s recipes.
That day kept getting better and better. I even managed to empty the dryer and fold clothes before I picked up Crevette and Beanie, and had a lovely chat on the phone with my friend Cé!
The children played nicely after school, ate every last bite of their dinner. Hubby was there, too as he had managed to come home from work in time for us to eat all together. The children ended their day with their much-loved bubble machine in the bath, all three of them squealing with delight for ages; hubby and I watching them, smiling.
Not all days work out that well, but that was such a perfect day…
Oh Mel what a great day all round. I’m so thrilled for you for making the BIBs shortlist hon, so exciting! how fab to be given the gift of time, you deserve some me time xx #MagicMoments
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It was a much needed good day I have to say. Having time to relax and put things in perspective has been fab this week-end. x
Wow Mel, that really was the perfect day! I can see how having more than two young children must involve a massive juggling act every day and to get some time alone with any one of them makes life easier. Good friends. And once again congratulations on the BiBs! X #magicmoments
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Amazing friends indeed. They are in Kew gardens as I type and the children have had the best week-end! Hubby and I have really spent quality time with our little Jumpy, who was our ‘only child’ for a whole two days. Feeling rested.
That does sound like a perfect day!!! I was so happy to see your name on that list, well deserved 🙂 x
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Thanks Jocelyn, I really could not believe it as I had not asked any friends or family (not even hubby) to nominate me because of the tedious process (it took me over an hour and a half to fill in the form when I did). I am glad the voting form is so uncomplicated. x
Creating food to cater for allergies takes so much thought, you have really earned your place at BiBs and I hope you get to the finals too.
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Thanks a lot Fiona. Blogging about it all means I get in touch with other mums with allergy babies and it makes it all so much more manageable and less insular. I have loved every minute of it! x
What a perfect day! If only they could all be like that. Congratulations on being short listed, I have of course, voted for you. x
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I think the day was made even more perfect by the fact I had been a bit down and really overwhelmed just before. If everyday was that good, we would probably lose sight of those magic little things in life, like bubbles or a good chat on the phone. Thank you so much for voting for me Alex! x
Wow, that really is a brilliant day! Congratulations on the short list too x
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Thanks Iona! x
Well done my lovely you so deserve to be there on that list!! i will keep my fingers crossed for you getting that final xxxxx
thanks for linking up with #MagicMoments x
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Thanks Jaime. x
What a wonderful day x I’m so thrilled for you making the short list, very well deserved x Many Congratulations!!
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Thanks Sara. It really was a much needed lovely day after a few tough weeks.
Congrats for the making the shortlist for Bib’s2014. Your blog is really lovely and it sounds like Wednesday was a great day for you 🙂
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Thanks a lot. It really was a brilliant day!
Many congrats on your nomination, keeping everything crossed for you.
#MagicMoments
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Thanks a lot!
Well done you – an amazing achievement! Sounds like you had a brilliant day all round 🙂 #magicmoments
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Thanks Michelle. It was a magic day!
Whoa your day is like… You are so right to call it perfect! I hope this perfectness is infectious and will rub of to me!
Congrats for being shortlisted to the BIBS Awards #MagicMoments
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Thanks Merlinda. Sending you lots of positive vibes! x
What a great day! I love it when a day goes so well. And the gift of time is wonderful! Enjoy! #magic moments
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These kinds of days are really precious and I enjoyed every minute!
What a fantastic day! I’m so chuffed to be in the same category as you and so many other incredible bloggers 🙂 I love the food side to your blog especially and it’s fun comparing the French side of cooking with you too 😉
#MagicMoments
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Same here! French food reminds me of home. I should try and write more French recipes, really! x
Congratulations on the BIBS Mel, I was so excited to see your name on the list – it is so so well deserved. Good luck from here, you’ve got my vote! x
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That is so sweet of you! Thanks, Kiran. xxx
Thank you so much for the mention – and all of your amazing support for me. You totally and utterly thoroughly deserve to be on that list – and in the final lovely lady. I think your blog is superb and I love all your recipes. You have my vote gorgeous 🙂 xx
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No worries, you are the one who made me realise I had been shortlisted after all! Such a nice comment, you have just made my day (and thanks for the vote!). xxx
Such a lovely post about a lovely day. Congrats again on your shortlisting. So exciting! Fingers crossed for the final, Mel x
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Thanks Jess, same to you! x Mel
Congratulations! That must have even wonderful news. I wish you luck in your category! I love the bibs as it has introduced me to so many new blogs, yours included x
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Thanks Emily. I love finding out about new blogs, too!
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Great news indeed (and completely unexpected!). Same here, I love finding out about new blogs. There are so many great reads out there! x
Ahhh Mel it is so well deserved. I am so proud of you. Keep up the fantastic job and best of luck my sweets. You are doing amazing with your blog. Thanks for linking up to Share WIth Me. #sharewithme
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Thanks Jenny. A great day is just what you need from time to time. I enjoyed every minute of that one! Thanks for the compliment about the blog. xxx
Congratulations Mel, I was absolutely delighted to see you had made the short list. Well done. A brilliant account of your day, it’s great when we have days like that. Best wishes. Julie xx
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Thanks Julie! A day like that was just what I needed. x
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Thanks Julie. I was so pleased, too, when I saw your name on that list. Somehow, it does not feel like a competition to me, it feels more like a list of friends!
That’s a lovely thing to say x
So, so deserved darling and as you know you are one of my favourite bloggers and friends. I’ve had my family and friends vote for you and a few other faves in that category-here’s hoping you make the finals and I do with my style blog-consider you a lovely friend too, fab what blogging brings xx
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Thanks Vicki. You are almost bringing tears to my eyes (those hormones!). I definitely see you as a friend, too and hope we’ll get to meet soon. Xx
Thanks for linking up to #brilliantblogposts too x
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No worries my lovely! Always a pleasure, and every single week I discover new bloggers, love it!
Congrats on the BiB’s 🙂 sounds like a good day!
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It really was a great day. I did not get through but I knew had no chance… the 6 finalists are amazing food bloggers! Mel