Florence & Mary

Happy Valentine's Day!

2012-02-14T23:31:00.000Z

I hope everyone has had a "lovely" day

There was a lunch with friends at work where we each received a rose from our friendly waiter!

Then this evening I joined my friend Ben for takeaway and DVD and he gave me these fabulous roses - I'd say I didn't do too badly!

New Wonderwall

2012-02-07T21:01:00.000Z

This evening I finally started to put some pictures on the walls and I love how it's starting to look already!

The Victoria bus sign was a Christmas gift from Oliver Bonas and I was unsure whether to make it the central item on the wall but asking some friends advice they all said it's where I need to start and I think they were right!

My wall was inspired by my SIL's "wonderwall" and I picked the theme of couples

I didn't want the "traditional" images from particular films and have had great fun selecting couples and images to use and will be off to the photographers at the weekend to have the next batch printed so hopefully I'll have an updated wall to show you next week!

Back to Decorating

2012-02-05T17:22:00.000Z

Firstly thank you so very much for all your heart warming comments on my post about my uncle who recently passed. I love the community us bloggers have, we might not have met, we might not always comment on each other posts but we know we're there reading in the background and when a heartbreaking moment occurs we are there to offer our support

Unfortunately the funeral is not for a few weeks, taking place on 15th February so there has been an element of having to get back to normal whilst we wait for this sad day so last weekend I took to the task of decorating once again

and finally painted my ceiling

I can't say I enjoyed this task very much and there is an awful lot of paint spots on my carpet which I'm tackling bit by bit with my nail polish remover (great tip which seems to work!)

I celebrated painting the ceiling by putting up my new lights - unfortunately they are too small!

So it has been back to the drawing board looking at alternatives

(which have been found and ordered and I'll share on their arrival!)

As for this weekend of course we saw the big freeze arrive but this little cutie saw me hike to my parents for cuddles

Now I must be off as my 100 free listings have been reactivated on eBay and I'm itching to get going again!

Sad Loss

2012-01-31T21:09:00.000Z

Unfortunately my family were dealt a tragic blow last Friday with the passing of my Uncle Mick

(photo of Mick with his family taken only July last year)

Whilst we're glad to see him no longer in pain it has all happened so suddenly only discovering his cancer at the end of 2011

There will be some difficult times for everyone dealing with this loss so please bare with me if my comments are not as frequent although I intend to return with happier topics in the next few days

One Man's Trash!

2012-01-26T01:36:00.000Z

I'm somewhat ~~obsessed~~ passionate about eBay at the moment so thought I'd offer some more tips and advice on making some cash from your unwanted goods!

Firstly many of us like to donate our unwanted goods to charity shops and there are times I still do this (if any item doesn't appear to be selling after repeated listing etc) and I'm sure after a few more months of my manic selling I'll bore of the process and a bag of goodies will head down to my local charity shop but please don't feel guilty about not donating to charity - I think many of us bloggers spend our cash in charity shops so we are doing our bit!

Never assume no one will want to buy what you have to sell! Often I tell people about what I'm making on eBay and they assume it's all designer labels etc but that's not the case! Only recently I made more on a packet of Las Vegas paper coasters purchased from a souvenir shop than this gorgeous chair

Check out this forum link on Money Saving Expert for some amusing reading on things people have managed to sell over the years

My experience with the coasters and chairs leads me on to advising you not to be precious about what you're selling and how much it's worth/you want to earn.

Of course there are some things that you don't want to see sell for a few pence and you can put a reserve on items in that case but remember you may have paid £25 for the top you've never worn and it may still have the labels in place but far better to earn a few pound than letting it sit in your wardrobe taking up space when you know you'll never wear it!

I often find that the total sales even themselves out in any case!

Just because something doesn't sell in your first listing don't assume it won't next time - keep re-listing, it will sell eventually!

Alternatively look at the unsold items and see if you can gather them together for a group listing. I did this recently with some miscellaneous sewing items which individually hadn't sold for a few weeks and I didn't want to waste my free listings on them so I grouped together and they sold - just remember to adjust postage costs if the weight is going to incur great costs

Many people are making money from eBay these days and there are a wealth of statistics online on what the best end date for your listing is (this can change depending on what you are selling & who your target audience is - see here for more info) although typically it is Sunday so grab a few unwanted items today, list them for 10 days and see how you get on!

Money Saving Expert offer some comprehensive advice on eBay selling here but I hope you've been inspired to get listing - do let me know how you are doing!

Nobodies Perfect!

2012-01-24T05:54:00.000Z

I bragged about my blank canvas last week but I wanted to share with you the opposite site that is my spare room right now!

I'm allowing the spare room to get somewhat out of hand as I work on de-cluttering and decorating my front room although I do think it's time to get in there and straighten it up a little bit!

My Week

2012-01-23T06:13:00.000Z

I hope you've all had a fabulous week, here is a round up from including the weekend fun!

I expressed my shock at the price of a few light switch plates and made you all scream "stay away from the electrics"! I asked for your help to save me a few pennies and shared my only sale purchase.

The weekend started early for me on Friday when I was ready to have my kitchen ceiling repaired (finally!) after this debacle although I came home Thursday to find water in my bathroom and this hanging from the ceiling!

What a nightmare! Back on to the letting agent yet again!

Then when they tried to start work on the kitchen ceiling there was more water coming through!!

Stage 1 of the kitchen ceiling is complete and they're returning today to finish off although looking at the repairs I'm not convinced there isn't going to be more problems!

Saturday was one of the typical days of fun with my friend Ben

starting with a trip to Rose's to wish her a Happy Birthday

After tea and cake we headed to The Range to stock up on frames for my front room

and then Homebase

Sunday's painting plans were abandoned when my mum asked if I'd like to join them for lunch. The mere mention of beef casserole and I was sold!

My brother was visiting with my niece and nephew so it was good to catch up with them

All in all another good weekend but I really do need to get on with painting my ceiling!

Blank Canvas

2012-01-20T07:57:00.000Z

This is how my front room is looking right now and I'm loving it!

The decorating has been hard work but the de-cluttering has been very therapeutic

It's been 2 years since I moved into my flat and my impatience and enthusiasm meant I might not have always done what I really wanted or now own things that are surplus to requirements. This time I've vowed to do things differently, allowing myself time to get things done right (and spread the cost!!) and being realistic about what works with my lifestyle and what I really want

Usually I love clutter around me but it's so nice to return home from work to a blank canvas and knowing that I'm earning some money from items around my home that I no longer want or need has been rewarding

Some things I've discovered along the way...

Just because I like something doesn't mean I need to buy it
Yes the Cath Kidston apron is gorgeous but I've yet to be found wearing one!

One room, draw etc at a time
To avoid boredom or manic eBay overload I've been clearing a section of my front room, photographing & listing the items on eBay and then moving on to the next drawer or cupboard

Be Honest & Realistic
I have sold some things I love but if I haven't used them the past 2 years it was time to get rid. It was a shame to see some lovely craft items go, jewellery or DVDs that I like but if I was never going to use/watch them they were just taking up unnecessary space. I am now left with empty draws which is a wonderful feeling mentally

Make Money
eBay, Amazon and Music Magpie are fantastic sites to earn back some of the money for these unwanted items - eBay especially makes you realise "one man's trash is another man's treasure". It would be vulgar to tell you how much I have earned from eBay this past couple of weeks but let me tell you it was worth the effort and post office trips!

If you haven't already started your January de-clutter I hope this encourages you!

Sale of the Century

2012-01-19T09:17:00.000Z

I am not one for sale shopping, I always think if I wasn't prepared to pay full price for something then why would I want it just because a few ££'s have been knocked off... although saying that I did pick up a sale bargain last week of these fabulous knives from Maxwell & Williams

A set of knives has been on my "shopping list" for some time and at this reduced price they couldn't not come home with me!

HELP!

2012-01-18T04:50:00.000Z

Ladies I know we all love our homewares but for a bargain price so I'm asking for your help!

As you know I'm currently in the middle of decorating my front room and I would like an oblong mirrored tissue box - I have found one but it's £49 which seems a little steep to me!

I've tried all the usual places but you never know when you might have missed somewhere - do please let me know if you have any secret sources!

How Much?

2012-01-17T09:57:00.000Z

The painting in my flat has been done with the exception of the ceiling which I'll tackle at the weekend - next time I mentioned redecorating talk me out of it please!

We all know decorating isn't cheap but I can't believe I've just spent £40 on 4 new plug & light switch plates!

It's going to be interesting if I decide to change them myself - fingers crossed I don't electrocute myself!

My Week

2012-01-16T04:32:00.000Z

Tuesday I took Ben to see The Iron Lady for his birthday

It is a fantastic film and Meryl Streep is nothing short of amazing - do try to see it if you get an opportunity!

We in blogland debated whether to let beds breathe or not and I think we all agreed we like to see a bed made but if we can leave it to air a short while that covers all aspects!

I believe a few of you are currently rooting through DVD collections to see what you can send away to Music Magpie! I hope you are all making a few extra pennies to see you through the dark January days.

My niece celebrated her first birthday and received this gorgeous doll from me

and thank you very much for your greetings for her!

Hopefully we all survived Friday 13th and had fabulous weekends?

Mine was quiet with the exception of a further night out Saturday with a group of friends to celebrate Ben's birthday at a local Mexican

Fajitas and Margarita's - my favourite!

Friday The 13th!

2012-01-13T06:42:00.000Z

We're less than 2 weeks into 2012 and we're hit with the "unlucky" Friday the 13th already!

Are you superstitious about the number 13 and have friggatriskaidekaphobia the fear of this day?

Funnily enough I'd choose 13 as a number over any other probably on the basis no one else would but would I want room no 13 on floor no 13 of a hotel, hmmm I'm not so sure!!

Happy Birthday!

2012-01-12T09:53:00.001Z

More birthday's this week and a very important one... my niece's 1st birthday!

To Breathe or Not to Breathe....

2012-01-11T06:58:00.000Z

That is the question!

So tell me:

Do you let your bed breathe or make it before you leave the house?

Returning home from work to see my bed made makes the room feel neat which makes me feel happy so I always ensure it's made before I head to work which seems to be the "right" thing to do according to half of the lifestyle guru's out there. The only problem is the other half say you should let your bed air for at least an hour before making it again

I'm lucky if I have half an hour between waking and walking out the door so what am I to do?!

Happy Birthday!

2012-01-10T09:47:00.000Z

I would never say this to his face but I wouldn't be without him for the world!

Music Magpie!

2012-01-09T07:25:00.000Z

I don't know about you but I very rarely put DVDs on at home and if I do it's a much loved favourite I choose to watch

What with SKY and my regular library rentals there's not often an opportunity to delve into my own collection and I found space was just being taken up unnecessarily with DVDs that I was unlikely to watch - not to mention that I hadn't watched some of them over the past year!

We've all seen the Music Magpie adverts on TV and inspired by a friend who had successfully used their service I went through my DVD collection as part of de-cluttering my living room

I managed to clear out 39 DVDs (and a few CDs - what with iTunes they are no longer needed) and earned approx £30 in M&S vouchers!

Not bad for items serving no real purpose other than cluttering up my sideboard (which since de-cluttering now has 3 empty draws and 1 empty cupboard!!)

It's such a simple service to use, you enter your items (for info I found most DVDs were 30p each depending on the titles), box them up, print off the FREEPOST labels and take to your post office

All that's left for me to do is surf the M&S website and pick out something nice as treat for me - definitely worth the effort!

No Peeking!

2012-01-05T09:17:00.000Z

I don't know about you but whilst everyone mocked Candy Spelling for her numerous gift wrap rooms in the Spelling Mansion I was pretty envious!

And then of course there's images such as this

In addition to the laundry room I dream of one day a small space to wrap presents and gifts is also on my list but for now I've allocated a small area in the shape of my airing cupboard for such a purpose!

The cupboard is unfortunately pretty much unusable for general storage due to the size of the water tank but it's the perfect length for storing rolls of gift wrap - perfect! and there's just enough space to store wrapped gifts still waiting for Father Christmas to distribute and those destined for birthdays this month.

There are also a few misc items that will make ideal presents and the Chanel bag is storing various tags and things!

Ok it's a long way from the dream room I would love but at least when a present needs to be wrapped I can easily access everything I need!

Ba Bling!

2012-01-04T14:56:00.000Z

I was lucky enough to receive some lovely jewellery for Christmas from friends and family

The Russian Doll Pandora charm and beaded earrings were from mum and the pineapple studs from Kelly

Did you receive any nice jewellery this year?

Unfortunately I'm still feeling unwell so have spent the past couple of days in bed but I'm hoping to be fighting fit very soon and modelling my bling!

Happy New Year!

2012-01-02T18:19:00.000Z

Sadly 2012 didn't get off to quite the start I hoped as I've been struck down with a nasty cold and have spent the past 2 days in bed and the pork belly was relegated to the freezer for another evening when I can enjoy properly!

Unfortunately it's back to work tomorrow and I'm disappointed that I haven't been able to work on finishing the painting in the front room but I have managed to remove mirrors and pictures from the walls so it'll be a quick job at the weekend

So for this evening it's a bath and climb into bed with fingers crossed I'll be ready to face a day in the office in the morning!

Goodbye

2011-12-31T10:01:00.001Z

As I thought about putting this post together I couldn't help but think what a good year I've had and I love looking back through my blog to see what I was able to share with you!

Of course this year saw the arrival of 3 gorgeous little ladies, Sophie (whose birthday we celebrate today!), Evelyn and of course my fabulous niece who my brother and SIL already fear is a mini me!

I failed miserably at going to the gym, might have put on a little weight but in the process discovered a new style of dressing and purchased my first pairs of trousers in years!

My flat welcomed new furniture and was rearranged to my liking, becoming the cosy little palace I've always wanted and is currently undergoing further transformation!

There was the discovery of Tumblr where I reblog fabulous images and quotes that make my heart sing when there isn't the brain power to put a "proper" blog post together

I said goodbye to brace face and my braces were removed revealing some gorgeous nashers!

After years of talking about participating in vintage fairs I finally found myself sharing a table with Rose once or twice throughout the year

The arrival of an unexpected new car which I'm collecting today!

And the most important thing has been sharing some fabulous days out, parties and lunches with family and friends, from my mini breaks to my brother's home where they've entertained me like a visiting Royal, attending the polo alongside Peter Andre & the cast of TOWIE to too many bottles of wine over lunch with the girls at work - there have been some fabulous times!

So many wonderful things have happened this year and there is already much to look forward to in 2012 including more babies, weddings and a holiday to Florida!!

Tonight my plans are a night in with a few DVDs, some lovely pork belly from M&S and maybe a glass of wine or two!

Happy New Year to you all

Painting Progress!

2011-12-30T19:20:00.000Z

Last night I decided to start painting my front room

Still much to do when painting a room that you "live" in most of the time, filled with furniture it's a lot of shifting around but I promised myself I'd do this makeover slowly but surely!

Tonight I have an evening of eBay listing and decluttering - I do love the lazy days between Christmas and New Year when they still manage to be productive!

Bye Bye Christmas

2011-12-28T22:16:00.000Z

Today I finally finished packing away all my Christmas decorations

and my tree is ready to put away for another year

Hmmm I need to sort out those fairy lights if I don't want a struggle next Christmas!

Cabin fever is setting in this evening having spent 2 days at home tidying, sorting and decluttering!

I've removed my ugly curtain rails from the lounge so my windows have gone from this

to this

I don't know if it's just the feeling of space having a 7ft Christmas tree no longer taking up room but I'm loving how open removing the curtains and rails makes my lounge feel

I will be adding blinds rather than curtains in due course and can't wait till I can get to the stage of dressing the window sill

Cracking Christmas

2011-12-27T15:26:00.000Z

Well that's it, all over for another year but it was a good one!

I started my festivities on Christmas Eve Eve with a night out with family and friends

With age comes wisdom and we've all learnt that celebrating on Christmas Eve leads to trouble so we all decided to avoid hangovers on Christmas Day!

It was lovely to wake up on Christmas Day hangover free and enjoy a cuppa in bed before arriving at my parents welcomed by a sea of presents

Mum always wraps my gifts in Victoria Secrets packaging we've saved from our trips to the US over the years

My brother was happy posing with his new t-shirt!

Christmas cuddles with nanny

and auntie wants one too

Then it was Boxing Day fun for the family where I enjoyed playing with Violet's toys!

whilst Violet played with mine!

Fabulous!

Wishing you all a

2011-12-24T21:34:00.000Z

Happy Hampers!

2011-12-22T20:07:00.000Z

This year I was once again lucky enough to obtain a Fortnum & Mason hamper from work

This is my best one yet, fabulous size and ideal for the post Christmas declutter and organising I have planned for next week! Certainly worth the battle bringing it home on the underground this evening!

I am now finished with work until the New Year and can't wait for one or two lie ins - it's been a hectic month!

Rihanna Tuesday evening was FABULOUS!

What a great Christmas gift!

Now it's time to finish off wrapping presents, plan tomorrow's last minute bits and pieces and prepare for the big celebrations!

Rihanna!

2011-12-20T06:21:00.000Z

Christmas comes early for me as tonight I'm off to see Rihanna at the O2!

The tickets were a Christmas gift from my friend Ben and I cannot wait for this evenings night of dancing!

Decking the Halls

2011-12-18T18:21:00.000Z

I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about my Christmas decorating this year but once again I couldn't be happier!

I started with a beautiful wreath from a local florist - the only difference being all creations are from artificial flowers

The shop is wonderful and I will be returning after Christmas and buying a few displays to use in my home to save the cost (and quick death!) of real flowers!

The latest ornament to adorn my tree is a New Zealand All Blacks Santa

A gift from my friend Ben on his return from New Zealand - I do love decorations on my tree that tell a story!

And of course the red sofa covers are back with new cushions as I showed in earlier post but you will see some festive friends have appeared!

Betty Boop as an angel is keeping watch over me

Whilst the Grinch keeps an eye on my festive DVD collection

I hope you enjoyed that little tour... and yes you can see a Gingerbread Hello Kitty peeking out above!

I hope you are all enjoying making your homes festive.... this time next week we'll be stuffed full of turkey!

A Christmas Miracle!

2011-12-13T21:29:00.000Z

I regularly pop into my local newsagents to pick up a copy of Martha Stewart Living magazine as it's one of the few places that stocks it but recently I haven't seen it on the shelves for months.... until today!

Clearly a Christmas miracle at work!

Also I believe the blogger imps may have been at work this week and comments left on my posts disappear!

Your comments are emailed to me so I will usually reply although I think I'm also having problems with my Hotmail account via my blackberry!

Who know's what is happening but don't think I'm ignoring you!!

Baby Showering!

2011-12-11T06:05:00.000Z

Today I'm off to the baby shower of my good friend Maria

We've been very excited about the impending arrival of her little man in the new year and watching as her bump grows bigger every day!

It's certainly something to look forward to in the usually depressing month of January!

Festive Family

2011-12-08T06:51:00.001Z

Here are some lovely photos of me with my niece and nephew last weekend and my newly decorated Christmas tree!

Frock

2011-12-07T06:06:00.001Z

Frock is a word I'll always associate with my dear nan and I certainly think my recent purchase wouldve been met with her usual joke 'I'll borrow that when you're finished with it'!


I popped into monsoon this week to see if I could take advantage of their seasonal discount. I love monsoon clothes but do find them a tad on the pricey side! 


This dress had £25 off making it a more palatable price to pay for a dress that I'll get a lot of wear of during the festive (there's that word again!).




It'll be perfect for work when I'm off to some christmas 'do's' and even better looks good with flat ballet pumps so I can dance away! 

I'm also thinking this will be the dress to wear Christmas day as it'll be comfortable enough to accomodate a big dinner!!


Have you brought yourself a new frock for Christmas yet?

Radox Spa Range

2011-12-05T21:05:00.000Z

I was contacted once again to test and review some new products from Radox, specifically their new Spa range which was timed perfectly with my being unable to use my bath (my taps broke!) and relying on the shower!

The Radox Spa range has been expertly blended with natural ingredients to create rich shower and bath creams, purifying body washes and exfoliating scrubs, promising to deliver caring results for your body and mind.

And I have to say they've done a great job. You will know I'm a big fan of the "high end" bath products but this Shower Cream was fabulous and met my high standards. Sometimes I do find shower products can feel "slippery" but this literally felt like a cream on my skin and I would definitely recommend you give it a try as my skin truly did feel smooth after.

Last night was the turn of the shower scrub with fig extract and neroli oil and wow did this smell and feel good! My skin still feels smooth today and I haven't applied any body lotion.

If you fancy giving these products a try nip down to your local Tesco or Sainsbury’s where you'll find them for the affordable £2.21

Festive Fun!

2011-12-04T18:58:00.000Z

It's been a thoroughly "festive" 3 days for me and this Sunday evening I couldn't be happier!

Fun started on Friday afternoon with a trip to the local high streets Christmas market and there was excitement when a bus broke down on the roundabout causing no end of trouble!

Thankfully Ben armed with community spirit helped direct traffic whilst we waited for them to move the bus

We rewarded ourselves with coffees after all that hard work!

Saturday I bribed my brother and his family with cinnamon pastries to come round and decorate my Christmas tree

Brody was shocked at what he was going to earn for his efforts!

Violet preferred selecting decorations with Nanny to add to the tree

Tree decorating was taken very seriously by me from the look on my face!

Until I started enjoying myself!

Monumental putting of the fairy on the top of the tree

Then we packed ourselves up and headed to a Christmas Market

Where we caught in a snow storm!

and then back to my brothers house for fish and chips

What a perfect day continuing today with a jaunt around the local shops, collecting Christmas presents, buying Christmas cards and a GORGEOUS wreath which I'll share in another post as I think this one is becoming photo heavy!!

Once again I hope you're all getting into the Christmas spirit this weekend!

Bare Minerals

2011-11-29T21:16:00.000Z

I haven't worn foundation before but recently acknowledged that a little primer wasn't enough and took myself to the big yellow store to see what they could offer me

Scared of liquid foundations Bare Minerals had the answer!

The lovely assistant applied all the products and I was certainly pleased with the results and invested in the "Get Started Kit"

And the additional bonus for me is that it is "pure enough" to sleep in - perfect for those evenings when I come home and cleanse, tone and moisturise is the last thing on my mind!!

Give it a try or add it to your Christmas lists!

Super Sunday!

2011-11-28T03:03:00.000Z

Yesterday was my first Christmas lunch of the festive season!

(yes I know it's not yet December but seeing Father Christmas on Saturday kick started the festivities!)

Some friends and I arranged to visit a local restaurant which was great fun getting together over a few bottles of pinor noir!
We ordered from their new Christmas menu and the food was perfect!

I also changed my sofa covers to festive red (hmmmm is there an over use of the word "festive" in this post!) finally adding my Cinnamon cushions I purchased last year (and still available from H&M here)

This week is set to start with my first Christmas party of the season tonight and a friend joins me for dinner Wednesday and then Friday is spent in town at our Christmas market!

It's all go now!!

Visiting Santa!

2011-11-27T05:12:00.007Z

Yesterday was spent celebrating my nephew Brody's 3rd Birthday and going to visit Santa

I'm pleased to report Brody enjoyed this year's visit and happily posed for a photo with Santa!

and even Violet was rather taken and there were no tears from her either!

We enjoyed fish and chips for lunch and then it was back home for an evening in front of the tv watching Strictly and X Factor!

Happy Birthday!

2011-11-26T00:33:00.000Z

to my fabulous nephew Brody who is 3 today!

Everyone's off to see Santa later today (let's hope it's more successful than last year!) and then it's fish & chips!

For the Love of Smoky Purple & Yellow Rooms

2011-11-25T08:29:00.000Z

Hi, I'm Susi, from Arcadian Lighting blog, which focuses on the latest in light fixtures and decorating trends. I'm so lucky to get out and visit amazing design blogs like Florence & Mary as a guest blogger. We agreed that we are having a major love affair with smoky purple right now. Must be the fall season. Loving smoky purple paired with golds and yellows...such a rich and gorgeous color combination. So my guest post today is for the love of smoky purple and yellow rooms. I hope you enjoy it. I had so much fun.

There is something magical about smoky purple paired with yellow. These smoky purple walls and yellow curtains create a lively and chic living room.

Love the yellow curtains with the smoky purple velvet chairs. Lighter purple and pops of other colors nicely complement the dark floral wallpaper.

Love the yellow dining table and brass lights against the smoky purple of the wallpaper in this dining room. The yellow really pops against the dark walls.

The smoky purple on this bedroom wall is gorgeous. With undertones of red, it is a rich, deep color that is lovely offset by golden yellows. How cool is that pendant light hung from the wall instead of the ceiling?

With a charcoal grey as a backdrop, smoky purples and yellow accents pop in this living room. Love the moody feeling these colors create without being too dark.

Smoky purple and gold is a match made in heaven. Love this combination in fashion as well as d¨¦cor. Pair smoky purple walls or curtains with a gold accents or a giltwood mirror. So pretty.

Smoky purple is the predominate color in this stylish dining room. The yellow accents in the curtains and painted interiors of the corner cabinets are perfect for the dark smoky purple. Love unexpected placement of wall lamps?on either side of the window.

This wall is like an abstract painting. Love the mix of smoky purples and yellows. The colors make a great inspiration for decorating in smoky purple and yellow.

I hope these smoky purple and yellow walls inspired you to try something different with your home decorations. Feel free to drop by Arcadian Lighting for your lighting needs and check out our blog for more inspiration!

Arcadian Lighting is the best source for lighting fixtures and accessories at discount prices. Arcadian Lighting has been in the lighting industry for over 15 years selling decorative home lighting fixtures and lamps online, and has become one of the top Internet retailers for home lighting products

Happy Thanksgiving

2011-11-24T09:33:00.000Z

image source

Soup & Movies

2011-11-23T21:33:00.000Z

Tonight I've had a lovely evening filled with the good company of a friend, enjoying Mexican Chicken Soup whilst watching Love Actually

I hope you too have had a fun evening

Breaking Dawn

2011-11-22T08:40:00.001Z

Tonight the girls from work and I are breaking with the usual routine of drinks and dancing for the more civilised dinner and a movie! Yes we're off to see the latest film in the Twilight saga!

Despite tackling the Twilight books earlier this year I've not yet got round to the last book so I'm looking forward to it!

What's Been Happening!

2011-11-20T20:40:00.000Z

My posts here seem to be becoming more and more infrequent but please stick with me!!

So what's been happening lately?

As you know I was on holiday from work a few weeks ago and enjoyed Halloween fun at my brother's

Followed by fireworks fun

I've also been doing some pottering at home moving furniture around so what looked like this

Now looks like this

I've treated myself to a new side table to make lounging on the sofa more comfortable - ie everything I need in reach!

This weekend mum and I went to the new Westfield at Stratford and admired this table setting in John Lewis

And today I checked my Christmas tree would fit in my front room again this year - and it does!

All in all it's been a busy few weeks both at home and work and not set to settle down as the festive season approaches but it's good to be busy!

Drinks with the girls

2011-11-03T10:23:00.001Z

This evening I'm heading back to the City for some drinks with work pals who are a few of the reasons I've been kept from blogging as frequently as I'd like!

Here we all are at a recent work conference we attended

Trick or Treat!

2011-10-31T01:18:00.000Z

image source

Happy Anniversary!

2011-10-30T10:17:00.000Z

To my brother and his wife my lovely sister in law

Halloween Plans!

2011-10-28T22:13:00.000+01:00

As is becoming traditional this Halloween will be spent visiting my brother and his family

My sister in law is taking me to see The Rocky Horror Picture Show on Monday afternoon

and then that afternoon we'll be taking my niece and nephew trick or treating!

I also have next week off of work and am hoping to get in lot's of Christmas planning and shopping so I can enjoy the festive season and not spend Christmas morning frantically finishing off wrapping presents!!

Have a great weekend everyone!

Radox Bath Smoothies!

2011-10-25T09:42:00.000+01:00

I was recently sent a bottle from the Radox Bath Smoothies range to test and review which I was more than happy with as lately I've been loving my bath time (esp on a Sunday evening after X Factor!!)

I received Soul Soother which incorporates chamomile, blackcurrant and cranberry all to help "calm the mind" so really perfect for that end of the day bath and a pleasant alternative to Lavender and of course some cranberry helps get us into the Christmas spirit!

You can see from the photo I've made a dent in the bottle already although very little is required to have a fabulous bubbly bath and the smell in my bathroom is gorgeous - and my skin feels just that after too!

Radox also included "The Ultimate Bath Report" so here are some interesting facts for you on bathing!

Did you know 37% of bathers read a book in the bath yet only 3% play with a rubber duck!

The temperature for the perfect bath is 38 degrees!

Oddly (in my opinion!) the celebrity male most women want to share a bath with is Prince Harry!!

75% of people take a bath to relax which makes sense with top bath fragrance being Lavender

And the favourite song people like to listen to in the bath.... "Someone like you" by Adele (followed by Yellow Submarine!)

So tell me, do you prefer a bath or a shower?

New Arrival

2011-10-23T07:29:00.001+01:00

Today I'm excited to be off to meet little Evelyn, Rose's new arrival!

I will be taking along one of these dolls which I have given to all the little girls my friends have brought into the world!

The perfect way to spend a Sunday!

Be aware, show you care

2011-10-11T23:40:00.000+01:00

Every year my mum and I have always sat in front of the TV tuned to QVC for their special show during breast cancer awareness month, phone and QVC membership number in hand to make our purchases

That time has come again 7pm - 10pm TONIGHT

www.qvcuk.com

QVC will be broadcasting a special 3-hour live show called ‘be aware, show you care’ this evening We’ll be playing moving moments from the show and offering you the chance to buy some limited edition pieces from Bare Escentuals, OPI and Leighton Denny to name a few with every penny of the net proceeds going to helping women and men with breast cancer

Don't forget to tune and pick up some treats for yourself whilst donating to a good cause!

Sunday Service

2011-10-10T12:16:00.000+01:00

Yesterday I joined friends and family for the christening of Kelly's daughter, Sophie's christening, here I am with the little cutie

Sophie was very well behaved and the service was enjoyable due to a very entertaining vicar!

Unfortunately I don't have a photo of the the fabulous cake Kelly produced for the day but hopefully she might blog one soon!

Let's Bowl!

2011-10-03T22:16:00.000+01:00

My aunt asked me to babysit my cousin Saturday evening so I decided to take him to visit my brother and his family for a sleepover

Despite the sunshine we decided to keep all the children occupied with bowling

Brody carried off the bowling shoes very well!

Violet wanted to get involved too

Brody and my cousin William have a lovely relationship and poor Brody cried his eyes out when we left the next morning as they'd had such fun together!

Perfect Weekend

2011-09-26T11:09:00.000+01:00

Thank you for all your best wishes for Saturday's Vintage & Handmade Fair which although I had a lot of fun chatting and giggling with Rose wasn't as successful as my last visit but I did sell 1 candle this time!

That evening I joined Ben for dinner and X Factor - what are your thoughts on this years show?

I can't believe they put Goldie through!

Sunday the girls got together

My SIL & niece popped round to catch up and Violet was happily crawling over the place - it's amazing what catches children's eyes and they want to play with, in Violet's case it was my bin!

There was another visit from another friend who is feeling the weight of her pregnancy and then I tackled a job I've been putting off for about a year... finally painting my bedroom wall!

You can see how I've been living with it here!

A nice weekend all round and I'm not back to work till tomorrow so hopefully there'll be a few more jobs crossed off the list!

Vintage & Handmade Fair - Part Deux!

2011-09-23T19:35:00.000+01:00

Tomorrow I'm off, once again to the Vintage & Handmade Fair with Rose

You may remember I joined Rose at this fair back in June and was very successful even if I did not sell any of my teacup candles so fingers crossed tomorrow will add some pennies to the bank balance!

What I'm Reading - Week 38

2011-09-20T06:28:00.000+01:00

I've read books here and there the past couple of months but right now I'm at a loss to remember one of them which can't be said for this weeks read, The Single Girls To Do List

Lindsey Kelk is the author of the I Heart series of books (look out for I Heart Las Vegas coming in December!) the first I was particularly a fan of

I actually picked up this book and started reading Sunday evening which is quite unusual for me and almost led to a sleepless night as I wanted to keep turning the pages! I'm also one of "those" people who are LOL'ing on the train - I recommend you all add this book to your reading pile!

It's not just about the reading this week as tonight I'm off to the cinema with mama to see "I Don't Know How She Does It"

I always find it strange seeing Sarah Jessica Parker as anything other than Carrie Bradshaw and haven't really been a fan of any of her films so we'll see how this one measures up!

Weekend Roundup!

2011-09-11T19:53:00.000+01:00

It's been a while since I've posted a weekend round up but here one is!

Friday evening was date night with my friend Ben and we started with steak at Miller & Carter followed by finally seeing The Inbetweeners move at the cinema

There was some apprehension the movie wouldn't live up to the TV series but I'm pleased to report this wasn't the case and we pretty much laughed our way through the whole film!

Saturday mum and I headed into London for a shopping trip to Selfridges

I started by hitting Pinkberry for a delicious frozen yoghurt

Money was spent at the Chanel counter including the new Quartz nail polish and a a gorgeous sparkly eye shadow perfect for the festive season

I also had my eyebrows threaded at the in store salon for the first time

Usually I have my eyebrows waxed but I have to say the results from threading appear much better!

And then today was spent lounging on the sofa watching Something Borrowed with a friend after serving my now famous toad in the hole!

I hope you all had a fabulous weekend too

Lusting After....

2011-09-06T05:26:00.000+01:00

I picked up the latest copy of Tesco Direct at the weekend and now all I can think about is this gorgeous sofa

It would work perfectly with this rug I've been coveting

What homewares are you lusting for?

All About the Children!

2011-09-04T20:24:00.000+01:00

I'm pleased to report there was another hangover free weekend for me which was just as well due to spending a lot of time with the kiddies!

Saturday my friend Ben hosted a lunch with Kelly & James, Rose & Chris and myself and we let Rianna & Sophie come along too! I also took my nephew Brody and cousin William but they were too busy running backwards and forwards to the table with the Haribo for photo taking!

We got to see Rose's growing bump!

My mum was babysitting Brody and Violet over the weekend so in exchange for lunch today I visited and lent a hand.

Violet is growing fast

and very resilient to her brother's at times boisterous cuddles

She happily laughs at him

And enjoys a cute little kiss

All that kiddie time was exhausting so I returned home for a lovely snooze on the sofa before I begin the back to work preparations!

Thank you also for all your commiserations on my kitchen ceiling! It will be repaired via the upstairs flats insurance which is a good thing although communicating with my upstairs neighbour is appearing something of a nightmare!

Bringing the Roof Down!

2011-09-01T12:45:00.000+01:00

My alarm distrubed my sleep yesterday morning and whilst still in the throws over waking up properly I head a slight bang

I assumed it was something falling off the bed in the spare room and was concerned for a few minutes that one of the shelves in my bookcase had fallen but concentrating on hitting the snooze button took over until I strolled into my kitchen and was met with this

I rushed to the flat upstairs who unhelpfully just informed me that her washing machine had flooded and seemed uninterested in the damage this had caused me

Thankfully my dad rushed to my aid and set up cleaning up my kitchen. I cannot tell you how messy it had got and even returning home from work last night I'd spot a missed corner covered in paper maiche like spotting!

MAC Madness

2011-08-16T13:33:00.000+01:00

Ever since being introduced to MAC eye shadows by the lovely Kelly I've amassed a small collection

As lovely as they are they take up a lot of room in my make up box and of course wearing one or two shades at a time they're not the best for joining me on a night out

After finding a number of tutorials on You Tube about "de-potting" MAC eye shadows I invested in a large palette

Much tidier for storage and the smaller palette perfect for accompanying me on my travels

Here are my shadows all lined up after the first step

And here they are after sitting with an iron (if you're going to try this at home straighteners are much easier to use!) balanced between my legs and after a few slight burns - well they do say beauty is pain here they are!

My Cosy Nest

2011-08-08T06:26:00.000+01:00

I had a perfect weekend pottering at home and rearranging my furniture and my front room now looks like this

I'd seen this layout on a rental listing for one of my flats and thought I'd see how it worked for me

I expected to feel cluttered but it feels like it makes better use of the space and far cosier.

My new console table fits by window and hides the unsightly heater perfectly

My F&M hamper has been replaced by my Lloyd Loom cupboard

(don't worry the hamper is being used as a table next to one of the sofas!)

Here is my newly arranged "dining room"

There are still finishing touches to be done but I'm already enjoying how much cosier sitting on my sofa watching tv feels!

I'm Still Here!

2011-08-05T23:33:00.000+01:00

I've had a few emails and comments from people worried that I'm not posting as frequently lately and I just wanted to assure everyone that all is ok!

My lack of blogging has been due to simply some late nights at work, a few nights out and decluttering my bedroom which led to a pile of clothing I'm in the processes of photographing and listing on eBay!

I have managed to read 2 very different books recently Madeline which I think I'm best to keep my comments on to myself! Whilst I cannot imagine the pain the family are going through and wouldn't wish it on anyone I still cannot help but question why any parent would leave a child alone night after night!

The other was a far more pleasant read, Forever Liesl: My Sound of Music Story

I read this book in a matter of days and it flits quite nicely throughout the Sound of Music experience and the short chapters suited my journey to work (I hate having to get off the train halfway through a chapter!!)

Of course now I'm hoping to fit in a viewing of the Sound of Music this weekend

There was also the decision one evening to rearrange my front room

It's far cosier now and will welcome the arrival of my new console table on Sunday. I'll share some better photos next week once I've had the weekend to rearrange things properly!

Family Affair

2011-08-01T10:09:00.000+01:00

Saturday evening the family gathered together once again for my Auntie's 50th birthday party

My cousins and I decided to wear a uniform of maxi dresses!

Apart from the boys obviously

Of course there was some silly behaviour

And the very rare site of my dad dancing!!!

Everyone had a great night of drinking, dancing and catching up with family member we hadn't seen for some time, here's to the next party!

Happy Birthday x3

2011-07-27T03:15:00.000+01:00

Today is my triplet aunts 50th Birthday

We are celebrating this evening at a local Chinese restaurant and then Saturday is a big family party which should be great fun (if a lot of work for us all!)

Laugh A Minute

2011-07-24T00:13:00.000+01:00

Last night my friend & I went to see Bridesmaids at the cinema - I don't think I've laughed so much in ages!

I wasn't sure what to expect from this film but tears of laughter were shed!

Please if you have not seen it yet grab your gal pals and head to your nearest cinema

Not So Manic Monday

2011-07-11T17:53:00.000+01:00

I took the liberty of booking today off work fearing one of my ongoing hangovers from Saturday's Polo day

The lack of hangover meant I had the beauty of a day at home to do as I pleased

After stripping my bed, cleaning my kitchen and doing laundry I headed to the shops and treated myself to this dress and these shoes for a night out with work on Thursday

I also popped to the library and picked up a DVD and book which I will spend the evening with alongside the much talked about Vintage Issue from Home & Antiques

What are your plans this evening?

Polo Fabulous!

2011-07-10T17:33:00.000+01:00

The rollers were removed and off to the Polo I went

I was apprehensive about what to expect and whether it was my thing but I had a lovely time!

It was quite strange to be mingling with various "celebrities" and I was overjoyed when Peter Andre walked past me!

Two of my friends won the silent auction lot of a box at the Cheltenham Races....

Yes they bid £6500!!!! Madness

There was a plenty of entertainment on the pitch

including sky diving

before Peter Andre started the match

I was clearing enjoying the polo match!

It was all too much for some people

I had a great day and it was a shame when the rain started and it became more reminiscent of Glastonbury!

My feet were hurting by about 8pm and the muddy field was not helping so I decided to end my night there and was home in bed by 9pm and pleased to report there is no hangover today!!

I'm already talking about attending next year and dragging more friends and family along

Roller Girl!

2011-07-09T09:30:00.001+01:00

Here I am sitting in the hairdressers bright & early getting ready for the Polo today!

Testing how well blogpress works from my iPhone so I can update you later!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

THE dress

2011-07-08T07:05:00.002+01:00

Here is the dress I shall be wearing tomorrow for the Duke of Essex Polo event I am attending

I purchased it from Warehouse unfortunately prior to it going on sale... hopefully this means it hasn't sold very well and I won't spot someone else wearing it!

Today I'm having a day off work to potter and chill out in advance of the big event!

As soon as I recover I will of course share pictures from the weekend!

Happy Anniversary!

2011-07-07T22:47:00.000+01:00

A year ago today we were blessed with sunshine as Kelly married James and became Mrs Allan!

Wishing you both many more happy years together

Polo Bling!

2011-07-06T09:23:00.000+01:00

Many of you were interested to hear what I'll be wearing to this weekends' Polo event so I thought I'd keep you in suspense a little longer and share my accessories today!

I need a bag large enough to carry camera, make up etc as it'll be a long day and this oversized envelope clutch from ASOS is perfect

My dress is long so you won't really see my classic nude peep toes which I'm somewhat anxious about wearing as they're not particularly comfortable!!!

Earrings from Oasis (already in the sale grrrrr) and 2 cuffs by River Island

A friend approved the full ensemble last night and it's been given the thumbs up!

I'm getting quite excited!!

BUSY! BUSY!

2011-07-03T22:57:00.000+01:00

I seem to have gone on the missing list the past few days but fear not I'm still here!

Wednesday it was supper club once again with different attendee's, namely my 2 aunts and mum

We're in the midst of planning my aunts 50th birthday party at the end of the month so there's lot's to arrange

I made Nigella's cheesy chilli which unfortunately I didn't enjoy and won't rush to cook again... usually a fan of chorizo I didn't like it in the chilli although my aunts liked it that way! We all agreed that whilst it tasted nice it didn't taste like a traditional chilli! If you're interested you can find the recipe here

Thursday there was a large company meeting which led to drinks, a late night and a hangover Friday which dragged on until well to be honest I'm only just starting to feel normal today!!

Today was spent celebrating my SIL's dad's 60th with the Ralph Lauren kids!

The week ahead is preparation for this event I'm attending Saturday!

Now it's time for some blog catch up!

What I'm Reading - Week 26

2011-06-29T00:37:00.000+01:00

Sorry for the quiet couple of days, I won't lie there was my dreadful hangover which dragged on till Monday and yesterday inspired by this weeks read I took on the task of tidying my flat (also suffering a hangover from Saturday night!)

Housework Blues is "a survival guide" on "how to cope with the mental and emotional challenge of keeping a home"

Now don't fear I'm not suffering serious emotional and mental issues to my housework but I do find I can sit around very often doing very little and I'll take all the help I can get!

So far it's interesting, rather like talking to a friend who is offering sensible advice on tackling work that has to be done and if not by someone else by you!

This evening I've arrived home late from work, tidied my flat, washed one load of laundry, put the rubbish out, been to Tesco, made a chilli, washed up, tried on some outfits, paid a bill, ordered some new underwear and wrote this post! Not bad! So far I'd say it's having a positive effect!

Successful Weekend!

2011-06-26T20:37:00.000+01:00

Firstly thank you so much all of you that wished me luck at yesterdays fair... it worked!

Whilst I did not sell any candles I did sell a lot of vintage tablecloths, pillowcases and Ladybird books!

I covered the cost of the pitch and made a profit so not bad for a days work!

I think the candles will sell better nearer Christmas when people will buy for presents and I now know that I need some of the smaller priced items that people can pick up in passing

After the fair I rushed home to get ready for my dad's 60th and uncles 50th birthday meal - 20 of us sitting round a table in our local Prezzo's!!

It was a lovely evening and I've spent today sitting on the sofa nursing the effects of it!!

I hope you've all had a great weekend... do we really need to go back to work tomorrow??

First Vintage & Handmade Fair!

2011-06-25T07:39:00.000+01:00

Today I'm joining Rose to do my first vintage and handmade fair!

When I mentioned to Rose my candle making she asked if I'd like to join her today at a fair to see if I could sell them. This caused some quick candle making and preparation and I might not be as prepared as I'd like but it feels good to get out there!

Can't wait to tell you how it went but for now wish me luck!

My Corner

2011-06-24T03:01:00.000+01:00

More tweaking has been done in a corner of my home this week where I'm often found sitting watching TV with the laptop

I was falling out of love with my letter rack specifically

Its purpose had become somewhere to hold letters I was putting off filing or actioning but I did need something to hold receipts so instead I brought this blue envelope, add a Cath Kidston sticker and VOILÀ!

The envelope is now hidden in a draw and my receipts are no longer a feature of my home!

The next problem was the my sofa arms becoming dirty due to general wear. I turned to a box of vintage linens which I was yet to find a use for and found some pillowcases I loved but no longer matched my bedroom

Perfect thrown over and easily whipped off when they need to be cleaned!

It's so much fun making these simple changes

Supper Club!

2011-06-23T02:57:00.000+01:00

Two friends joined me again for dinner yesterday evening in what is regularly becoming our Wednesday night supper club!

The night before I prepared Nigella's Totally Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookies

For dinner we had Toad in the Hole

I used meatballs instead of sausages and served with a BBQ gravy which when I explained to my friend I'd made myself she commented "it tastes like real BBQ sauce" so I guess that's a good thing!

What have you been making for dinner recently?

Under the Sink!

2011-06-22T01:17:00.001+01:00

This month I am finally delving into Brocante Home's Puttery Treats for June and the Trash it or Treasure it Program

Some areas' might not necessarily apply to me or be something I want/need to do but they inspire other jobs in the home loosely based on the treat of the day, one of these being my cupboard under the sink

Here it is in it's previous state

Now the Brocante Home mantra is "decant, decant, decant" so I sought out the perfect storage for my washing powder capsules. I had in mind a vintage tin as it needed to be something I could reach into easily as I'm usually holding an armful of washing but the rain has prevented boot sale foraging and charity shops haven't had anything available

As I walked through Primark recently this caught my eye

Very Cath Kidston in style, less CK in price and perfect for the job in hand

Next I wanted to line the shelves in some oilcloth and turned to a tablecloth to help me out at a good price for my first attemp

This took more effort than I expected but I was pleased with the results

(and there is an awful lot of tablecloth leftover to line more cupboards!!)

Everything was returned neatly to the cupboard but that pesky bottle of Comfort just didn't look right

Yesterday's trip to the charity shop offered the perfect replacement bottle

Now that looks better

(and yes I've noticed that the edge of the top shelf has dropped down and stuck it back since looking at this photo!)

Simple but effective!

What jobs at home have you been doing recently?

What I'm Reading - Week 25

2011-06-21T07:27:00.000+01:00

I took longer than expected to finish Meet Me at the Cupcake Cafe which is surprising because I really enjoyed it and highly recommend you pick up a copy!

Anyone who dreams of opening their own cupcakery will want to do so even more by the time they're halfway through the book if not before!

And what am I reading this week...

Lulu Taylor's books are my favourite style of reading! Her third novel Beautiful Creatures will hopefully be as good as those I've read previously

I just need to put my iPhone down and concentrate reading on the train and I won't take so long to finish this weeks read!!

Fun Fair!

2011-06-20T07:05:00.000+01:00

The rain held off yesterday so my family and I were able to visit the local Town Show

My SIL and I enjoyed a beer

Brody had fun on the rides

as did the adults!

I haven't been on a waltzer since my teens!

And it looks like my brother had as much fun on the Helter Skelter as Brody did!

I was restrained at the bread stall instead saving myself for a roast beef dinner but did buy a piece of apple pie to enjoy at home

I hope you have enjoyed time with your families this past weekend

Happy Father's Day!

2011-06-19T10:30:00.000+01:00

Today I'll be visiting the local town show (you can read about last year's here) and then joining my dad at his local for a drink to celebrate Father's Day!

Fingers crossed for some nice weather!

Peach Pudding

2011-06-15T06:05:00.001+01:00

When I saw a very easy recipe for Peach Cobbler over at Emma Bear's blog and realised I had all the necessary ingredients I couldn't resist giving it a try

Admittedly it was very sweet and I wouldn't put so much sugar in next time but I recommend you give it a try for a quick dessert!

Movies of the Week

2011-06-14T11:12:00.000+01:00

I loved this idea of sharing what movies I have been watching so I will see how it goes making this a weekly round up (if you're interested of course!)

I haven't watched old Scissorhands in ages and didn't remember the ending being so sad!

The Proposal is such an amusing film I love Sandra Bullock!

I found this a little boring if I'm honest!

When I first saw this movie I didn't like it but subsequent viewings have changed my opinions! I especially love the ending ***SPOILER ALERT*** when all her friends are lined up in the bridesmaids dresses they made her wear!

There was also half of The Back Up Plan which I was bored off and went to bed and The Dilemma which I fell asleepwatching

What have you been watching this week?

Rainy Sunday

2011-06-13T03:26:00.000+01:00

Intentions to visit the boot sales yesterday were thwarted when I awoke to rain!

So instead I spent the day cleaning up from the previous nights dinner party and used the leftovers for a lovely quesadilla lunch

I don't quite know what happens on Sunday's. The day just disappears and about 5pm I decide I want an afternoon nap which if I don't resist means I'll be full of energy in the evening and do all the things I should have tackled earlier!

My spare room being one of those tasks!

Please tell me I'm not the only one whose spare room becomes a dumping ground?

On the bright side my "jobs" were completed by 8pm in time for more chocolate chip bread & butter pudding snuggled on the sofa with a film!

Come Dine With Me!

2011-06-12T10:29:00.000+01:00

Yesterday evening I had friends over for dinner and my table was once again laid in all it's floral goodness

I turned to Nigella's Kitchen and served spanish chicken with chorizo and potatoes. This dish is fantastic for entertaining as it is put into the oven and left to cook so you spend time with friends rather than struggling in the kitchen

(I also used foil trays so I could throw them away rather than dirty trays left in the kitchen!)

The recipe serves 6 but here you can see the leftovers from 4 of us so do increase quantities if you are entertaining those with healthy appetites!

(Nigella suggests using leftover in quesadillas which I will be doing later!)

Dessert was Chocolate Chip Bread & Butter Pudding

This was the first time I'd tried bread and butter pudding and I was pleased with the results! Another perfect dish for entertaining as it can be made as much as 1 day ahead. It takes approx 40-50 mins to cook so can enter the oven as you serve the main dish

Do try cooking either of these dishes - you won't regret it!

Now I just need to tidy up the debris from the evening!

Bloggers Email

2011-06-11T08:16:00.002+01:00

Following this post a few of you were interested in learning more about the email options on blogger

Once again I'm no expert on blogger but have picked up a few tips along the way I'm happy to share with you so here we go....

If you look on my blogger profile you will see I have an email option

If you click on "email" you will immediately have access to my email address to contact me

To add your email address to your profile select Edit Profile, and tick the "show my email address" option

This means that anyone visiting your blog can email you directly and reply to your comments when received by email!

And what about comments to your email account?

Go to your blog Settings and chose the Comments section

Scroll to the bottom of the page and you will see "Comment notification email" - simply enter any email address(es) you wish your comments to be sent to and "save settings" and all comments on your blog posts will start appearing in your inbox like this

The area I have marked with an arrow will show a link that if clicked through takes you to the commenter's blog or you can hit reply and if they have the option you can reply directly!

I love comments arriving in my inbox as I can reply directly (where the option is possible) and think if you've taken the time to comment on my ramblings I like to acknowledge it. It's also how I've managed to strike up friendships with bloggers as often one comment leads to a week long of conversations between us!

I'll also be in initial contact with the bloggers commenting on my post "first" which is helpful at busy periods when I might not have time to comment on everyone's posts

I hope this was helpful and remember to click on any of the images to enlarge if you want to make some changes to your settings

Picture Perfect

2011-06-10T07:02:00.001+01:00

Yet another picture I picked up when I was able to pop into the charity shop last weekend

I'm unsure whether I will keep this myself as it's likely destined for a little girls room!

No Reply at Blogger!

2011-06-09T07:59:00.001+01:00

I know many bloggers have been having problems recently trying to comment on blogs. Unfortunately I'm unable to offer any explanation for that (I seem to have escaped any issues!) but can advise a way to keep in touch with your blog friends!

Your comments arrive in my email inbox and love when I can hit reply and respond to them. It helps when I might be having a busy week and not able to comment on blogs myself. Unfortunately this is not always the case as some bloggers do not have an email option and there comments give the return address "no reply at blogger"

I'm sure some of you do this for privacy which I completely understand but if not you can simply amend your blogger settings! The great thing about sharing your email address is that when blogger goes down you can still keep in touch with all your friends!

I'm no expert on blogger or blogging but I have helped a few new blogging pals out with hints and tips so if there is anything you'd like help on or some more "blogging" posts let me know

Lulu Love!

2011-06-08T08:07:00.000+01:00

I received a belated birthday present from Kelly's mum recently the lovely Lulu Guinness book, Put On Your Pearls Girls in the Chanel-esq giftbag

A grown up's pop book it's a perfect accompaniment to a martini!

Classic Household Hints

2011-06-07T08:11:00.000+01:00

I recently picked up Classic Household Hints from the library in part because I was drawn to the cover

Honestly this book wasn't fantastic, I didn't find many of the tips helpful or I'd heard them all before

I was pleased to note 2 suggestions were things I already do

Adverts!
I'd be lost without them because I tend to do my housework during them
It's amazing what you can get done in the minutes between your favourite program

and Magazines
If you have one or two articles to read in a magazine pull them out rather than keep the whole magazine
I often do this with my magazines as I hate to have them lying around. I keep them in a file and will spend an evening reading through them

Do you have any time saving hints and tips for me?

Wonderwall

2011-06-06T18:42:00.000+01:00

Today I put up some pictures on "the wall" and it has brought it to completion

It required some re-arranging of larger pictures to avoid plug sockets!

It's quite sad to have completed the wall now but not to worry I have another 2 ready to be filled!!

Weekend Roundup!

2011-06-05T17:57:00.000+01:00

Another Sunday evening is upon us and it's back to work tomorrow but a great weekend has been had

Friday evening it was spent having drinks with work colleagues and Saturday a night out with Kelly, her first leaving the little one at home. It was great to enjoy a meal together followed by a party and a drive home via McDonalds for Oreo McFlurrys!

Today a shopping list of odds and ends took me into town with my friend Ben who surprised me with a belated birthday gift which needed framing

We refuelled in Pizza Hut

And I purchased some yarn for my next knitting project

Anyone for a Mimosa?

2011-06-03T03:04:00.000+01:00

Kelly recently posted about her love of MAC make up but for me I can never resist a Chanel nail polish!

Chanel constantly add new colours to their range for a limited period of time and there is often a scramble to get hold of them - myself being one of the scramblers! My mum searched Ibiza whilst on holiday for one colour in particular I couldn't find in the UK last year!

Oh and I may only have popped out at lunch to buy the latest shade Mimosa but somehow a lip gloss came home with me too! How did that happen?

Naughty but Nice

2011-06-02T05:10:00.000+01:00

My mum text me a picture of this sign last week and asked if I liked it....

My response was "yes, I love it" and how surprised was I to come home and finding it sitting in the flat waiting for me!

Thanks mum!

What I'm Reading - Week 22

2011-06-01T01:38:00.008+01:00

This week I've pushed aside Russell Brand (only temporarily!) to read...

I picked up a few books I'd requested from the library at the weekend and Meet Me at the Cupcake Cafe was one of them but it's also reserved for someone else so that means I need to read it before it's return date!

It feels a long time since I read some good ole chick lit so I'm looking forward to sharing my train journey with this one

Last few hours of freedom

2011-05-30T20:21:00.000+01:00

It's my last few hours of freedom of what has been my laid back Bank Holiday weekend

My friend left after lunch so I was able to pick up the knitting needles

I'm quite pleased that I remembered what I was doing quite easily!

Shortly I'll be running myself a bath and then off to bed by candlelight from one of my home made candles

Candle Making!

2011-05-29T20:46:00.000+01:00

Today I finally had the energy and enthusiasm to complete a few tasks round the home, the most noteworthy being some candle making

A few weeks ago I had a free weekend and decided to tackle some crafts and whilst this did not happen I had purchased all the supplies now sitting around waiting for me

This tutorial made teacup candle making look so simple and they were not wrong!

It really is as simple as weighing the wax, popping in the microwave to melt and pouring the liquid into whatever container you have to hand, in my case teacups

All I can smell is lemongrass (my fragrance of choice) on my hands!

If you fancy trying this yourself my supplies were ordered from WhicksnWhacks

Approx 200grams of wax + 20mls of fragrance will make one teacup candle

This evening I'll be watching Scott & Bailey the new ITV detective drama series and preparing for a friend coming to lunch tomorrow. It's time for another appearance of my roast chicken!

For those of you interested in my film choice last night I'd wait for it to come on TV!

Movie Night

2011-05-28T15:29:00.000+01:00

My laziness has continued today and I'm still lounging about at home only managing to pop round to see mum for a cheese sandwich and sort through some paperwork!

In a moment I'll be jumping into a luxurious bath and changing into fresh pj's and heading round a friends to watch Morning Glory

I don't feel guilty about my laziness as the next few weeks are jam packed so I'm going to take the peace and relaxation whilst it lasts!

It's the Weekend!

2011-05-27T10:46:00.000+01:00

I decided to extend the long weekend even further by taking today off work!

I started the Bank Holiday fun with a McDonalds brekkie

So far there has been very little other activity than laying on the sofa watching TV but I do intend to get motivated soon!

Hopefully there should be a trip to the cinema this evening, a movie night with a friend tomorrow (pjs mandatory!) and an opportunity to visit some boot sales - what do you have planned?

Cheats Dinner

2011-05-26T04:55:00.000+01:00

Sometimes I can't bare the thought of "proper" cooking and the mess it'll make and that's where good old M&S comes in

Sometimes it's good to cheat!