Pin Pin Pin Pin.....

Pinterest. Hours go by. The child goes hungry. The sky goes dark. My tea gets cold. The dog bounces cross-legged by the front door and all because of Pinterest. I'm not alone. I know I'm not. Well, I might be the only one that forgets to feed her offspring but I'm not alone in being a Pinterest addict. Right?

I have a fair few boards ranging from Makes to Pretty Hair to Things I MUST Have.... One Day. The board titled 'Mine Mine Want Want' is a board stuffed to the gills with things I will probably never be able to afford but a girl can dream and dream I do. 

Yesterday whilst pinning and forgetting to drink I stumbled across the cutest PJs in the world. And I pinned. Before checking the price and whether they can be found in the UK. Mainly because I've discovered through Pinterest that I have expensive taste. Who knew? Champagne tastes and beer pockets, that's me! Luckily for me.... not only are these Jimmy Jammy's well within my budget but they're from H&M. Hurrah! Never getting dressed again. Ever.

H&M

Change...

Wow. Nearly a year away from blogging. That's a bit more than a break, huh? Truth be told, I was struggling. I keep reading about 'finding my blogging voice' and just felt totally overwhelmed, uninspired and discouraged. A year on and, having just read back through some of my old posts, I just realised that they SOUND LIKE ME. Weird. I can hear myself talking when I read. Ha!

So what's new? My Baby Boo became a teenager. She sleeps, eats and steals my clothes and shoes. Ollie the Hamster sadly left us. Bloody little critter got right under my skin and left a whole in my heart when he departed for Hammy Heaven. So much so that we haven't replaced him. I got posted from the North East of England back down South. We're only forty minutes from London now so I must explore. My Baby Sister got engaged and I got a new pair of running shoes. Hmm... hardly seems fair! I'm off medication and therapy free and have been for three months. Yay me! Oh, and I bought a bright red lipstick. Other than that we're still here, plodding on, plotting and planning our first holiday in six years. 

How are you lot all doing?

via

Wee surprises.

Don't you just love it when you stumble across something that makes you gasp with surprise and delight? My Mum and I were out doing the charity shop circuit in a small market town near where I'm from. Having dug through the rails I was wondering about one particular shop, arms loaded with potential buys when I noticed a door at the back with the words 'Retro Room' above it. I'm a sucker for the word 'Retro'. I'm also a sucker for adventure so in that room I went! Felt a bit like Alice in Wonderland if I'm honest. What greeted me as I stepped through the door actually made me gasp out loud. An absolute treasure trove of vintage wears. What I loved most, though, was the obvious time and effort that had gone in to the display. It was gorgeous! I don't know if it's the same everywhere but in the UK charity shops are staffed by volunteers and someone has poured their heart and soul in to this one. And it was just so unexpected! I spent ages in that room. I didn't want to leave that room. I felt like I had gone back in time and, honestly, I was bit reluctant to return to the 'Real World'. Unfortunately, return I did, but I can't wait to go back.

My New Obsession...

Whilst being a lazy moo the other evening and skim-reading Google Reader my eyes honed in on this little beauty....

Erm, hello. Will you look at those colours?! And that bag.... oh my, that bag. I wanted that bag. I had my credit card in my hand, I wanted it that badly. I didn't know whether to laugh or cry when I realised that if I wanted it.... I was going to have to make it. I've never done any kind of needlepoint or embroidery, really, but, having stared at it, imagined it in my hands and then imagined being asked in the street where I got it..... I convinced myself I could do it. And, for probably the first time in my life, something I'm making actually looks like the tutorial I'm following. This does NOT happen very often. I'm much more arty and capable in my head than I ever am in practice. I love it. I can't believe I've never done it before. It's so relaxing!

The tutorial can be  found over at Craftzine and was designed by the wonderful Danielle Thompson over at Thompson Family Life which is one of my most favourite kitschy, vintage blogs ever. Danielle is one of those people that make you want to redecorate every time she posts a new photo containing new, gorgeous colours that you'd never have put together. I'm kind of in awe of her actually. And eternally grateful for the introduction to my new obsession.

Miracles....

Well, have we had some drama over the weekend. In our house, along with Baby Boo and myself, we have a dog, cat, a few resident spiders and, of course 'A Hamster called Ollie'. Ollie is such a little character. We've had a couple over the years but none have nibbled their way in to our hearts in quite the same way as he has. Whenever Boo comes home for the holidays her first port of call is Ollie's cage (read 'palace'. I still wince when I think of how much it cost). She then proceeds to prod and poke at his bedding until he pokes his twitchy, little nose out thus enabling her to reach in and proceed to hug him to within an inch of his life. On Saturday when we arrived home for half term, Boo headed for Ollie Pops and I headed for the kettle. It took a couple of seconds for me to realise that she had gone very quiet and I turned round to find her sobbing that Ollie was dead. I'm ashamed to say that, at this point, I also fell apart and we spent a good ten minutes crying all over poor Ollie's cold, little body. We then rang MY Mum and sobbed down the phone to her. She suggested that we lay him out in a shoe box ready for his burial and we began to scoop his bedding from around him so we could gently remove him from his cage. Still crying, Boo reached in, placed her wee, little hand around Ollie...... and then screamed and promptly dropped him. 'He moved, Mum! He did! He moved!'. Further inspection resulted in a knowing nod from me, a shout of laughter from us both and the realisation that, in the 24 hours I had been out of the house, Ollie must have taken it upon himself to try this hibernating whotsit. I have to say, the room he's in was freezing. I felt awful. I can only assume he'd got so cold that his body told him it was time for a loooooong nap. Poor thing. Two hours of cuddles in front of the fire, some cheese and lots of kisses and Ollie is back to his naughty, cheeky self. He is also now known as 'Miracle Boy'.... which we felt was quite fitting in the circumstances. Welcome Back, Ollie! We loves ya!

Via

This Wednesday.... I want.

A Smeg fridge! And not just a little bit but a LOT. Unfortunately they cost a LOT and I don't have a LOT so now I'm sulking. A LOT....

I suppose I've got three options really.....

1.  Get over it.
2.  Start putting away a little bit of moolah every month.
3.  Paint current, crappy fridge a pretty colour and write 'Smeg' on it.

Oh what to do, what to do.

Think I'll just stare at these for a while whilst I ponder away...

Source

Source

Source

Source

T Shirt Yarn

I have a pile of t shirts in the bottom of my wardrobe that taunt me every time I open the door? Why? Because they were collected for the sole purpose of making t shirt yarn some weeks months ago and I've yet to do anything of the sort. I have various tutorials bookmarked, it doesn't look particularly complicated but it's just one of those things I never quite find the time to do. Ahem. Anyway, the other day whilst browsing through Etsy I found some lovely multi-coloured yarn that put my pale, boring collection of clothing to shame. So I bought some. Instead of making it. I know, I know...

As soon as it arrived I fell on my crochet hook, desperate for that rug I have been dreaming about and saving a spot on my bedroom carpet for.

Um... I kind of love it so far. And I'm gutted I waited this long to start it. Such is life, eh? I haven't bought enough to make a decent sized rug so my reasoning is that I will be FORCED in to cutting in to my own little supply if I want it finished and in place as soon as possible. Which I do. Isn't it funny the things we put of for no apparent reason?!

Want one all for your very self? This is the best tutorial I have saved. And if you need help with crocheting in the round try here. My 'go to' for all things crochet.