back in the day...

i love looking through old diaries and sketchbooks. to me, it's entertaining to see past thoughts and ideas. back in the day (when i was 15) i used to want to be a disney animator. in 2002 i was nannying a family who all loved to draw, and one afternoon we all drew cartoon's of eachother, here are mine:

this one is me, can you tell?

fairy lights

I'm almost finished decorating for the season, a bit early I know, but as soon as the nights get longer I feel there's a need for the fairy lights to make an appearance. I'll post my decorations soon, but for now here's some refreshing ways to use fairy lights.

rose bud

this is rosie. she melts my heart.

in october i got to spend the week with her and her siblings, i got some adorable shots. too bad i can't share them yet as they're going to be a Christmas present, but I couldn't resist just one!

cozy

long winter nights have arrived, and i have a recipe to make the most of it: burn candles (the more the merrier), add a tall cup of hot chocolate, stir in a a good show on the telly, and frost with a lush throw (and a man) to snuggle. you're on your own to find the guy, but here are some very adorable, and oh-so-cozy throws from west elm, just looking at them makes me melt.

cereal = free night at the movies

In general, I'm not a fan of cereal. But I do LOVE Reese's Puffs, and today I found them even sweeter, they're SO sweet I have to share.


You see, General Mills has a promotion on at the moment, buy 2 boxes of specially marked cereal and receive a FREE movie ticket...and to make this even more dreamy, there are two coupons to make it an even better deal.
Here's how it works: Buy two boxes (specially marked) of General Mills cereal at around $2.50 a box. Use the target coupon from here (or in the store) for a $1 off, then use a couple of Manufacture coupons from here, to make the final price around $3 for 2 boxes of cereal and a FREE movie ticket.

Even if you cann't be bothered with coupons, it's still a sweet deal.

I'm off to enjoy Where the Wild Things Are...Nighti Night!

good things come to those who wait...

it's been more than 4 years since me and brock were wed, but due to uncontrollable circumstances, and a crazy story, i didn't get my official wedding ring till yesterday.

i'm in love!

dido day

today i woke up to gloom. i love gloom. me and my sister em named these days 'dido days', when all the world moves slow, and you can't speed it up. all you can do is put on some music, enjoy a bit of chocolate, and watch it pass.
thanks brit, you always brighten my day with my favorite treat.

memory lane

Lately I have been thinking about the house I grew up in. It was built at the turn of the century, a tall brick semi, with black and white accents and a red door. We refer to it in my family as 'Sandy Lane'. This house was special for so many reasons, the most being that it was the only house that all 7 of my siblings and I lived in together, before the oldest ones fled the nest. It was my first home, and the only one I knew until I was 14.
When searching for inspiration for my home, I always recall that beloved house; although I know it wasn't the tall windows and doors, or the antique fireplaces that made this house special, I still am attracted to the Edwardian style.


My mum is a big believer in classics, the couch of my childhood was the Chesterfield. The first one I recall was a dark velvet green, later replaced with a more traditional brown leather. It's quite funny to think of how many memories one couch can hold: me and my sisters used to pretend the arms were horses, we'd be off riding in the country, or in an intense race; it was the haven for a sick child, and Christmas morning it held mountains of presents.
When we finish our basement, I plan on moving our lovely brown leather sectional down there, and replacing it with one of these.


There are just some things about my childhood I want to keep forever.

freebie

The past couple of days I've been addicted to looking for good deals online. Yesterday I found this great new product, the eso sphere. It's not only 95% organic, but also very cute, and here's the best part...they're giving them away for free! Click here for link.

harrison

Today I shot this little man, isn't he adorable?

bearing gifts

Mother-in-laws can be beastly, but I love mine! It's not hard when she brings me gifts like this from The Pampered Chef. It has me looking forward to cooler weather, and warmer food.

i hate to love her....

or do i love to hate her? i'm not sure how i feel about martha; she's sure is one boring tv host, not to mention a criminal, but i do love her magazines, and envy pretty much all her homes. just look at her new craft room, i wantie!

christmas wish

Letterpress at home....wahooooo!



I saw this little baby here, and think it's a perfect gift for me! Hope that was a big enough hint Faubus!

white is my favorite colour

To celebrate this, I shot these:

back to school

I always go back to school shopping, even though I'm not in school, nor do I have kids, but I can't resist brand spanking new Crayola crayons for only 25 cents! Another highlight is buying new notebooks, this year's pick is especially adorable and green, these little babies are from greenroom, and are made with 70% recyled paper.

sale time

One of my favorite stores to visit is Restoration Hardware. The prices can be a bit outrageous, but you get all the inspiration you want for free!
Once in a while, I find something lovely and in my price range. Right now they are having a fantastic sale, meaning 50% or more on many items.

ITALIAN 600 SATEEN BEDDING: originally $59 - $389

now $19.99 - $184.99

BRITISH CANE HUTCH orginally $1495 now $599

See aren't these great deals? Plus you can save an additional 10% on previously marked down items good through August 3, 2009 by using the code RHCTD79.

Writing this post has felt a bit like a commercial, but anyone who knows me knows how much I LOVE a good bargain. Recently, (from the suggestion of Jess) I have been thinking about posting more about money saving tips, and great bargains around town and nationally, or perhaps even doing a separate blog about it all. Please leave a comment if you would be interested in reading such things. Thanks!

home sweet home

Jessica sometimes comes over to keep me company. We chat, eat and blog. Today she took these photos of my house. I love my house.

4th and final trip review: ireland

The four days in Ireland were the icing on the cake for a perfect trip. My grandparents on my mum's side are Irish, so this was a perfect destination for our very first family reunion. We had such a fantastic time with family we hadn't seen in years and ones we'd never met. One of my favorite parts about visiting my mothers motherland, was I "tink" I picked up some of the accent!

me at trinity college, dublin

us at newgrange, old tombs dating back to 3200bc

family shots, dad with large stone

oldest artwork I've ever seen

the tomb

the view

more family

trip update no.3: the north

I grew up in the little village of Romiley, in Cheshire. Every time I go back to visit I can't get over how beautiful the green countryside is, and I can't help but think of the contrast between mine and Brock's childhoods. My Saturdays included long wet walks in the country, while his were spent in the sizzling LA sun by a pool! I love returning home and showing him my roots, and spending time with some of the people I love most.

pretty gals lexi + liv

adam

brother phils family

brock + lex: picnicking at chatsworth

phil, me + dan

gran + paula

the boys ready to go-kart

lake district

trip update no.2: bedford, stratford-upon-avon + warwick castle

More days in the south of england; enjoying precious time with adorable nieces, and exploring historical sites.

a sunday walk to this little windmill

brother rob and family including drama queen meg

beautiful bea, afternoon in the park

us outside shakespeare's birthplace

warwick castle

favorite part of the day, the birds of prey show + brock testing his strength

brock at castle door + me with creepy wax figure

view of local church from top of castle