Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas!

I hope you all had a great Christmas!  I have just had a blog catch up and it seems you all did!  We are finally settling into our new home.  I had a little panic after we moved in!  The house looked beautiful when we viewed it but not the same when we were looking at it empty.  You can really see what you have spent your money on then, a somewhat dirty, scuffed and more work than we thought house.  So it has taken me a little while to settle in but we are getting there.

Now that Christmas is over for another year we are beginning to plan what to do in the house.  The week before Christmas we had loft insulation put in which has already made a big difference to the temperature in the house.  Now where to start...  bathrooms? Fireplaces?  Kids rooms?  The other half says hot water tank!  Boring!

So nothing to show you all yet, but plenty of projects planned, hope you will enjoy the journey with me!

Have a happy new year when it comes,
Sx

Three More Sleeps!

We are counting down the number of sleeps now until we are in posession of the keys to our new house!  I can't sleep for thinking about it!  Dreaming of where to put the furniture and scouring over the Farrow and Ball paint chart!  Here are a couple of the estate agency photo's to tempt you, but imagine it without the rugs as I have none! (yet).

Giveaway

Over on Modern Counrty Style Sarah has a great giveaway. 
I have been following Sarah's blog for some time now and I'm loving her style.  What I wouldn't do for a good nosey around her house!  That and I would really like her to be my colour consultant when we move!  Sarah is a fellow Farrow and Ball fan so if you are too check out her giveaway.  The rules of the giveaway were that I was to blog about the giveaway however I'm sure that makes my chances of winning get smaller and smaller!!  Good Luck anyway!

Forward Planning!

I think I'm good at forward planning! I really enjoy that part of my job in teaching, at the start of term sharpening my pencils, turning over a new leaf and thinking up some fun (but educational) activities. I have been working on a temporary basis in a local pre school nursery (part time) for a couple of years. I stopped working when my youngest was little but now she has started school this year I wanted to increase my hours. Since the summer I was lucky enough to be able to up my hours in the nursery. It did mean I had to reapply for my own job, I have an interview next week. I am dreading it! I love my job and hope I get it!
I am also doing a little forward planning on the home front too. Since we had the news that we got our house, I have been redecorating each room in my head! I think we will tackle the girls bedrooms first as they are quite dark and masculine. My oldest daughter who will turn nine this year has decided that she doesn't want pink any more. I have to say I cried inside!! All those gorgeous pink blankets, lampshades, Cath Kidston bedding and accessories we have collected arrrgh! Luckily my youngest does want pink, so she gets it all. Anyway Erin is going for duck egg blue and has even chosen wallpaper for a feature wall ( she is so like her mum!) and is asking for blue accessories for her birthday!

(can't seem to resize this pic sorry)

The house is dated 1900 and sits very close to the pavement which the lounge overlooks. I think we are going to turn a study at the back of the house into a snug, where we can lounge around without feeling that we are being looked at. It also means I can keep the lounge tidy in case anyone drops by. I am going to go for a neutral theme with lots of cosy cushions and blankets and of course at last we will be able to use the cream armchairs. I saw this photo on the Centsational Girl blog and loved it, this is what I am aiming for!

Getting so exciting now, only another four and a bit weeks to go!

Finally!

FINALLY! After viewing loads of houses and missing out on some we have finally got ourselves a new house! Can't quite belive it as it had gone to a closing date today( for those of you who don't live in Scotland , you have to put in a sealed bid and hope for the best!) didn't think we'd get it, but we have! Back with more details soon!

More Jars

Hello there! Finally I have found the need to share again! Today I went to a friends house who was selling off all her Jamie Oliver Homeware collection. She had been a demonstrator for a couple of years before the market dried up in our area. However it was my gain as she had loads left over from her selling days. You know I have a fettish for storage, so I had asked her to keep aside any jars she had left and I wasn't dissapointed! Also manage to bag myself a lovely cream ennamel collindar and two oil bottles.

Really pleased with my purchases and can't wait to organise the pantry! Please also excuse the horrible wall colour and pipes on show - not my house! Sx

blogger

I'm sulking with blogger! For some reason it doesn't like me or that I have been denied access to other people's blogs! For some reason it won't let me comment, so if you are out there wondering if I am ignoring you then I'm not! Also it's not letting me read some of my favourite blogs saying 'I'm not allowed access'. How do I fix this? I have tried logging out and logging back in to no avail! Any help would be appreciated Sx

Still looking

Hello there, I am still alive! Not really been feeling the love for anything house related at the moment. We have now viewed quite a few houses and still not found the right one. Thought I had found my dream home and when we went to view it yesterday it had an electricity pylon in the front garden! We also got outbid at a steading that needed converted, so needless to say I'm fed up!!
The house we are renting could be really lovely with some TLC but the owners won't sell so we keep looking.
I haven't taken any photos of this house, I have unpacked a little but haven't really taken out many things as I would have to re pack them all! For the meantime I scour the Internet, hassle estate agents and read home magazines!!
Sx

A new home

We got the keys for the rented house on Monday. Wandering around it my heart began to sink. What on earth were we moving for? Our home is just the way I like it and we have spent a lot of time making it like that. What were we moving to this cold, run down and cobwebbed house for? It is a real shame as the house could be stunning, I have visions already, but we can't, it's not ours.



Anyway I feeling a bit better this morning as I went over last night and got stuck into the cleaning. It now smells a bit better and the downstairs is cobweb free! I also put up a new shower curtain and it feels a bit more like home already.

The removal company are coming on Monday so it is mad packing around here although I have been taking the girls to drama workshops in the mornings this week as well. I'm going to take over some of my decorative hearts today which will help make it seem more like home.




Apologies for the standard of photos, they were taken on my phone, camera packed!

burlap

I finally went to the sorting office to pick up the burlap sacks I purchased on ebay. As I said they turned out to be quite expensive considering the postage and the customs charge. However they look great and I think they will make lovely cushion covers when I finally get around to making them. I enjoy sewing but I hate cutting into fabric, so I may have to wait a while and get my nerve up!
Here they are on my new chair (just to see what they will look like!) I now have to go and hide them as I think my husband might go nuts!


If anyone out there knows how to wash these sacks could you please let me know, thanks.

Link Party

Today I'm linking to Uncommon Slice of Surburbia, go over and have a look!

Packing

After a lovely although wet week at the caravan, we are ready to start packing. Finally the family room sofa and chair were taken away today and I could open the packaging on my new chairs. The chairs have been piled in the playroom for the past three weeks and I have been dying to get the plastic wrap off!


They are so lovely and I am really pleased with them!



They look so clean and new that I have had to set some ground rules! No food or drink to go any where near, no shoes and no dark jeans! I didn't tell them I paid extra for the scotchguard but better safe than sorry. I finally got hold of some grain sacks and they arrived at the post office today. Haven't been to collect them yet as I still have to pay the customs charge. I forgot that I would have to pay that as well as postage from the states, so it has ended up quite expensive! I am hoping to make them into some cushions to sit on my nice new chairs, will have to keep out the sewing machine when we pack!
We have now some space to start piling the boxes up so I had better get going. Two weeks today!

update

Just to give you all a little update we walked away from the barn conversion. Our surveyor found the land had pockets of bedrock which could prove costly to break through if found too close to the barn. That and the build cost came in far more than we expected. It was more sensible to walk away.
Of course I have been very disappointed but something else will turn up, what's meant to be will be.

In the meantime we have to be out of our house by the 28th July. We have found a lovely 1930's house on the outskirts of the town where we live, five minutes drive from the school gates (in summer!). I'm quite excited about it! Believe it or not it has an Aga! This will be a good tester for us all, whether we can cope with not walking or cycling to school, for the girls not to have other children on their doorstep, and for me to be constantly driving everywhere. Oh yes, whether I can actually cook on an Aga!! We will see.

I am looking forward to sharing the photos of the temporary house when we get the keys, until then if I'm not around you know I'll be packing!
Sx

blog shopping

While we have been waiting very impatiently for the surveyor and builder to get back to us, I have been busy planning in my head what our house could really look like. I have been scouring around blogland and have stumbled upon some fantastic blogs. I have to say some of the best blogs and most beautiful homes are by the most inspiring American women.
Gorgeous painted kitchens, piles of sumptuous cushions, beautifully organised cupboards and all seem very clever with a paintbrush and sander! I have always loved the 'french country' look and I feel inspired to get my own paintbrush out and paint some furniture!
These women also seem to be able to up cycle the most wonderful textiles, old grain sacks being the most sought after. Can I get my hands on any? Well not yet but I am trying! In the meantime i have been looking for something similar and ave found that H&M do a range of textiles with a utilitarian feel about them. I can feel masses of purchases coming on! What I did buy (as it is very well priced) was a bath mat which I feel would go really nicely with my collection of apothecary bottles.


I also got a couple of cushion covers which will look lovely on cream club chairs which I ordered before we decided to move. Now to get painting the furniture to match!


I am working hard at displaying my complete list of blogs I follow in the side bar, I seem to have forgotten how to do it! Bear with me!

High hopes

I had a little wobbly last week about where on earth were we going to live. We have to be out our house by the 28th July. Eeek! Where do you start with the packing? It is amazing how much rubbish one family can collect in seven years! Every cupboard, drawer, and loft space is filled to the brim with stuff! Time to have a massive clear out! Anybody want a vintage Silver Cross pram that was mine when I was little? It is now around thirty two years old !

Anyway, were are we going? Well the answer is I still don't know! We will have to rent until we find somewhere, but we have a little project going on in the background very slowly, you know the pace that some lawyers take is slower than a snail! We have been looking at a steading which needs to be converted into a home for a while and negotiations have been going back and forth for what seems like months now.



I have been told not to get my hopes up as we may still have to walk away but how can you not? I have moved in in my head already! I have picked my AGA!, I have chosen the wall colours and have placed the furniture! I have high hopes! How can you not with a view like this?!!

vintage

I have been really lucky on ebay recently and managed to win a few 'vintage' pieces for the house while not paying a small fortune. This morning a parcel arrived for me which I was really excited about! Not sure you will be though!!

A vintage washboard!



I love it and it seems to be the right shade of duck egg blue to match my other accessories. By the way the laundry tin is actually full of dog food!



What do you think?

More bottles!

A few of you will know that I have a compulsion for storage!! I'm obsessed and I have even seen my youngest daughter lining up her toys in a neat row!! Hee Hee!

My father in law inherited a large collection of apothecary bottles from his father who was a pharmacist and they are absolutely beautiful! There must be at least fifty dotted around the house and I have always wondered whether they would really miss the odd one!!



I decided a while back to start my own collection and now have the grand total of five! They are sooo difficult to come by. Kirstie's Allsopp featured them in 'Homemade Home' and now they are even harder to get hold of. I seem to get outbid alot but I'll get there!




What I'd really like are the blue or green bottles but they are going for silly money, so i'll just have to be really nice and see if the inlaws would like to gift me some!

My other bit of news is that I WON a giveaway!! I couldn't believe it as try as I might I never seem to win anything. My prize is a beautiful hand crafted doll fom the very talented Tracey at Romi and Bob. Have a gander over to her blog and lust after her creations! I have requested that Tracey make me a second doll as having two girls I don't think I could stand the fights when it arrived! Thank you Tracey I am so looking forward to the day they arrive.

Sx

ps Storage again! Tesco are selling 'Fairy' dishwasher tabs in a vintage style enamel tin. May need to go back for a couple more!

For Sale!

We have been deliberating over selling our house for the past year now. I love my house but I would love it even more if I could lift it up and put it in the middle of a field! Don't get me wrong I am quite socialble and friendly!!! However it would be nice if you could choose when you want to be. I live on a street where some of the other parents have quite different views on parenting than me. No bad thing, it be a boring world and all that but I struggle.(it's the teacher in me!)

I don't want my four and eight year olds to have mobile phones - yet!
I want to put them in their beds before the watershed!
I want them to dress like children!
I want them to know that you don't have to fake tan/bleachhair/slap on the makeup to appeal to others!

I'm sorry if I have offended(I'm partial to the odd bit of self tanning myself) but I think it's important to set values even if they aren't the same as others. Whatever suits you.

So up went the house for sale last Monday and six days later, seven viewings, three notes of interest, it sold!

We are now homeless! Now the fun of choosing a new one ;)

Sx

G'day!

We are back from Sydney where we had a great time visiting my brother and his family. The weather wasn't great with only a few days of really hot sunshine but most of the time it was warm enough to wander around in short sleeves. Shouldn't really complain as it is Autumn there!
We found Australia really expensive as the exchange rate was so poor therefore not many purchases made. I did however drag this metal sign all the way home!


It is good to be back with all our home comforts especially my very comfy bed! I always really miss my bed when im away. It's one of those memory foam mattresses and the best purchase I have ever made. If you don't have one you should try one out!

We came home to squatters! A starling family has made residence in my extractor fan outlet! Greg is not happy wondering how we are ever going to get the nest out as they have gone quite far down the pipe.

Royal wedding fever has gripped our household, especially as I am planning quite a few activities at Brownies over the next few weeks and I have promised my girls we would have a tea party on the day of the wedding. Went to Aldi's this morning as I heard they had cheap bunting. All gone I'm afraid however I did manage to get a couple of large Union Jack's and some 'Keep Calm' tea towels.

Hope you all have a lovely Easter weekend and that the weather keeps up for all the egg hunts we will be doing!
Apologies for the standard of photo's. Had to take them on my phone as camera needs to be charged!

Busy Times

Hey there! Hope you are all well? Sorry I havn't been around for a while I have been so busy that blogging always seems to be the last thing on my list. I have managed to get a few extra supply teaching days over the past couple of weeks, which has been great as it will boost the holiday spending money!
We are off to Australia on Sunday (six more sleeps!) and I can't believe it has finally arrived. My house looks like a tip with piles of washing and clothes to be packed in every room! I also thought it would be a great idea to have our kitchen and youngest daughter's room painted while we are away, not sure why I thought that as I now have to clear both rooms too!!! Anyway it will be worth it when we get back.
Havn't been doing much housey shopping lately as every spare bean has been spent on holiday clothes, sun tan cream etc but did manage to pick up this lovely lavender heart from Next for a fiver.




Will share pictures of kitchen and bedroom when I get home, cheerio for now
Sx

Found it!

I eventually found the photograph of the beautiful armoire filled with storage jars. Thought you might want to see what I was talking about!


The sun is shining today for the first time in what feels like a month. Away to walk the dog with a spring in my step!

Bottles and Jars

I have a thing about storage! I like everything to have it's own home, whether that's a tin, box, jar or bottle! I spend hours putting the kids toys back into the right box or tin, it drives me crazy when the mix up their toys!

I have longed for a larder cupboard for years, and would love one day to have all my jars lined up in a neat row! I recently saw a photo in a magazine of an armoir filled with Jamie Oliver glass storage jars but for the life of me I can't find it to share it with you. I'm sure you home magazine addicts out there will probably know the image I am talking about!

This is what I have 'in real life'!


Not too bad, and my jar collection is getting bigger!

Here is my inspiration for this month - the utility room, from Ideal Home magazine.




However in reality my utility is used as a dumping ground for the recycle, dirty washing, tools to be put away and piles of ironing. Don't think I'll ever achieve that kind of organisation.
However I did today buy two glass bottles to be filled with detergents, I'm getting there!

Pass it on!

It was pointed out to me that you are supposed to pass on a blog award! (You can tell I don't get them very often!) I have decided to pick a few of my favourite blogs, however I found this very difficult as there are so many of you out there that I admire - so for now I pick

Kirsti- a storm in a vintage tea cup! Love all her craftiness and is my port of call when I'm stuck!!

Pretty Vintage - Love the post 'Friday's Frocks'! and she has the most beautiful wallpaper in her home!

Dots and Spots - Love hearing all the business updates and of course beautiful designs.

Modern Country Style - I think we could move in together we have such similar tastes!

Lemonade Kitty - A fellow Cath fan x

Pretty at Heart - a new blogger and love hearing all about her house and new buys.

So there we are, however not sure if they all read my blog so if you know them pass on the award for me! Keep up the good work ladies x

Blog Award

I was so happy this morning to recieve this blog award from Tracy at Romi and Bob. I have been trying hard to keep up with my blog this year as I so enjoy reading the other blogs out there. It seems that many of us in this corner of blogland all have very similar tastes!

I pass on this award to:

dots and spots!

Today I have arrived home fom work to find this!


I came across dots and spots while doing a bit of blog hopping and have been following along for a while now. Becky designs and produces some gorgeous products including decorative tapes. I thought they would make a nice change for present wrapping along with some plain paper. I'll trial it this weekend as the girls have yet another birthday party! (better social life than me!)


Here is the card I ordered for my husband on valentines day. I'm still holding out hopes for the Love mug from Emma Bridgewater!


Go over and check out her blog - beautiful!

Wednesday again

Where are the days going? I kind of feel it's a little like groundhog day however at least the days are rolling past. Only six weeks until we go to Australia to visit my brother and his family, and meet my new niece. (only six weeks to loose a couple of stone!)
My mum is leaving on Friday for three weeks so i had a made dash into town this morning to pick up some presents to take. After buying some lovely clothes in Mothercare and Next I headed to TK Maxx!!
I managed to find another couple of CK baby toiletries to put in the parcel, some cream and lotion. I also found two little purses with the old ladybird book cover design. I have noticed that there are a few bloggers out there who collect vintage ladybird books so I'm sure these will appeal to them! Also managed to pick up a french sign which will look nice in my bathroom! I'll let you see when I get it on the wall.




Over in Modern Country Syle Sarah is having a 'garden party' and i'm sure she would like you to join her! Click on the button on my sidebar to join in and read her fab blog

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Dreary days

What a dark, dreary, wintry day. I don't think my feet and hands have heated up at all today.
A couple of things to brighten the day -

I finally worked out how to put a photo on my header! I'm very pleased with myself!!

A hyacinth plant reduced in M&S , blue is my favourite! The smell always reminds me of my Gran who always grew them for the spring. Her house was full of them and smelt lovely. Mine needs a pot though!



And here are my little bargain lanterns from my shopping trip last week. Looking cosy all lit.


Going to a neighbour for dinner tonight, love it when i don't have to cook!

Have a good weekend Sx

car boot

On Sunday I went to our local car boot sale. Never have gone looking before although I have tried to sell once without much luck (think I made the grand total of a tenner!). I think 'car booting' must take skill as I was finding it difficult to find anything, however at the last moment I spotted a very dirty cake stand with a ticket saying £4! What a bargain and it's really very pretty now it's all cleaned up! Feel encouraged to go back as so many of the blogs I read find some lovely treasures. Think I might have to go further afield to find the vintage eiderdowns!

Mr Ted

Today Emily got Mr Ted home from nursery for a couple of nights! You think she had won the lottery!! Now we have to think of lots of interesting things to do tomorrow as there seems to be some competition going on in the diary!!! Think Mr Ted might need a glass of wine and packet of crisps tonight! Do you think that would go down well with the other mums? Ha ha!!


sorry about the quality of photo it was taken on my phone. Still cant find the charger!

Ck Lovlieness!

Having a lovely peaceful morning. My friend and I take it in turns to take our youngest to swimming lessons straight from nursery so every second week I have some time to myself!
This morning I took a run to TK Maxx. Now I don't usually shop there I find it too difficult to rummage, if it doesn't jump out at me then I'll miss it! But today I was in luck.
I have two baby presents to buy one being new new niece in Australia so I was over the moon to find some CK baby toiletries. Baby wash, shampoo, drawer liners and scented

sachets. I am hoping both new mums are happy with these little gifts as I have a feeling it is just me that is a little obsessed!

Also found a couple of jam jar lanterns which I'm sure I saw in the Jamie Oliver at home catalogue so I am as pleased as punch!
I think I'll go back in a fortnight with my next free time!
Sorry I can't share the photos as my camera needs charged and I can't find the right charger!
Right I'm off to read my new CK catalouge which has arrived this morning then I better go and clean something so it looks like I've been busy!

Emily's room

It is time that we decorated my youngest daughter's bedroom. I think at this time of year when I spend so much time indoors I can't help but make a mental list of all the areas in the house i would like to change. Luckily the other half agrees on this one!
Emily always seems to get her sister's cast offs! She moved into Erin's old room a couple of years back so it's time for a change.
I have trained my girls well and they can now spot a CK pattern at 20feet, both love their CK bedding, so I am on the lookout for some nice co-ordinating wallpaper.

I only want to paper one wall so will only need a couple of rolls. I have found a really lovely paper online and sent for a sample. Let's hope she likes it(although I'm sure the ultimate decision has to be mine!!)
Now just to talk the other half into some tongue and groove!

new buys - shhh!

I nipped into town today for a wander around before nursery. I have the onset of a cold, achey limbs, stuffy head etc but the beechams had kicked in so off I went. I now feel really rubbish! Why didn't I just stay at home? Anyway what did brighten the morning was a walk through John Lewis and some CK towels were in the sale! Can't really justify them this month but I bought them anyway! I will have to hide them now until pay day before producing them or I might get a row!!

It be worth it though!

LOVE Emma!

Came home from work at Lunchtime to a nice quiet house (both girls at school and nursery) to find a new Emma Bridgewater catalogue on the mat! Don't you love it when a catalogue or magazine arrives by post? or am I just completely sad? Little things like that seem to brighten my day, well that and the peace and quiet to read it with a cup of coffee in hand.



I LOVE this mug! As you may have noticed I have an addiction to hearts so anything that would match my growing collection is a must. I have left the page open on the coffee table, hopefully the hubby will get the hint! He seems to be listening this year!!

Presents

I promised I'd come back with some photos of my Christmas pressies! I was so lucky this year as it seems that my husband has really listened to my hints!! After hankering after them for about a year I got two of these beautiful lamps for my kitchen/family room. I love them, thanks Greg!



I also have a lovely mother in law who got me some Emma bridgewater mugs to add to my ever growing 'hearts' collection. Now when I open my cupboards I really smile as everything is slowly turning pink!! I'm sure my other half doesn't agree but what with a wife and two daughters he really doesn't have much of a say!! Poor thing!



I have been so lucky this year and as usual my mum came up trumps with my subscription to 'Country Homes and Interiors' magazine. Like a present every month!
What did you get?