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Regular readers of this blog know by now just how much I love learning new skills. The fact that online courses are increasingly de rigueur, has made it all too easy for me to feed my favourite habit.

So far, I have taken e-courses in blogging, photography, map making and - a few days ago - I signed up for HTML & CSS From Scratch In 30 Days on Skillshare.

It's the sort of thing I never dreamed I would attempt to learn in 30 days but the thought of being knowledgeable enough to redesign my blog and tinker with it to my heart's content was just too exhilarating to pass up. The course is suited for beginners and, best of all, access to the online class and its resources is unlimited.

I have already bought some recommended reading, downloaded the software I shall be working with and I'm raring to go.

Can you believe it? In just a month, you could turn up and find 106 resplendent in its Sunday best.

If you do nothing else this month, have a peek at the other courses on offer at Skillshare. I defy you not to find something that takes your fancy!

Spring In The Country

Despite the unusually cold weather, I have been making an effort to add daily 20 minute walks to my routine to get myself birth fit. Having done so in the suburbs with my first pregnancy, I must say that it is far more pleasurable doing so in the fresh country air with my camera in hand. I find that I often have to remind myself that I am out for some brisk exercise rather than a gentle amble, dreamily taking in the landscape.

This is what spring looked like in my little corner of the world today.

Not quite as verdant and blooming as it was last year but beautiful in its stark simplicity nonetheless.

I think I am going to love living here very much indeed.

Before Meets After

It has been over a month since we moved into our country house and though we know we will be happy here for many years to come, it will be a long time before it truly begins to feel like home.

We are in that strange no man's land where there are still traces of the lives of the family that once lived here interspersed with a few preliminary changes of our own.

On the one hand, I am impatient - achingly so. I am in full-blown nesting mode and would dearly love to wave a magic wand and have my - as yet - half-baked vision materialize in an instant.

On the other, I am relishing flipping through stacks of magazines and books bursting with pretty things and endless inspiration.

Yes, it will be wonderful when it is all "finished" but then I'd have nothing to aspire to and where is the fun in that, I ask you?

Note to self: Enjoy the journey.

Elsewhere

I hope you all revelled in the luxuriously long Bank holiday and that your Easter was joyous. I'm back after an unintentionally long and unannounced absence for which I can only apologize unreservedly. I admit that I fell head first into the "busy" trap and allowed myself to feel overwhelmed.

Leading a full life should be embraced and celebrated and not used as an excuse to let obligations to you, dear reader, slide.

I find it very apt that my return to blogging was facilitated by a guest post on the blog of a very dear friend and mentor, Tina of Colourliving.

It is quite possibly one of the most rewarding and cathartic experiences I have ever had online and I am so proud of our joint efforts.

Have I piqued your curiousity yet? Do head on over and take a look.

Thanks again, Tina, for having me. Your constant encouragement and infectious passion are truly inspirational.

P.S. Rest assured that today was a one-off. I shall be back to my usual schedule and I look forward to resuming our bi-weekly trysts on Mondays and Thursdays.

Pai Skincare

I recently made such a revolutionary skincare discovery that it would be churlish of me not to share it. Pai Skincare was founded by Sarah Brown in 2007 and borne of her own personal need for hypo-allergenic, plant-based products.

Certified by the Soil Association - and the recipient of several awards - the range is painstakingly researched and developed in West London. I love the fact that it is refreshingly devoid of long ingredient lists which require a chemistry degree to decipher. Every product I have ever purchased has the prettiest, most subtle scent and I find that only a smidgen is required to leave my skin feeling luxuriously well-fed.

In the past month, I have been gradually replacing my previous skincare regimen with Pai - which, incidentally, is Maori for "goodness" - and I have a few items shortlisted for my next purchase.

 /Images from paiskincare.com/

Which do you think I should treat myself to next?

You can purchase a little something for yourself here and regale me with tales of what a difference it has made to your skin - after you've expressed your profound gratitude to me, of course.

P.S. If you'd like to know more about Sarah's inspiring journey, you can do so here. She also has a wonderful blog where she shares tips on caring for one's skin from the inside out and I visit it often. You will undoubtedly find a snippet or two there that will set you on the path to ever more radiant skin.