Professional Putter-together needed...

I can literally spend HOURS looking at pictures of other people's homes and, whenever I find a picture I love, I store it away in my 'Inspiration Folder' on my laptop. I have hundreds of them and a lot seem to have a vintage/retro theme. I'm not a fan of the show home look. I think homes should look lived in. That they should tell a story. That's not to say messy. I'm obsessively tidy when it comes to my house but I love my photos and trinkets that remind me of a special time, place or person.... I just make sure that they are dust free :P One of my biggest problems is that I am crap at putting things together and, though I'm often very creative in my head, I struggle to practically apply my ideas. VERY frustrating!! Here's a few of my favourite pics that make me feel a little bit sick with jealousy (and have me counting out my penny jar to see if I can afford to get the professionals in):

From Design Sponge

From here

Spotted here

Apartment Therapy

Anh-Minh

Design Sponge

Design Sponge

Love, hugs and penny donations


Loola xx

Operation Nice

I stumbled across this today whilst looking at pictures of handbags on Google images (I was bored, ok?!) and I am SO glad that I did!! Operation Nice - what a totally fabulous concept! It focuses on the little things we can all do for each other - things a lot of people seem to have forgotten. Hold the door open for someone, tell someone on the train you love their outfit, give up your seat on a crowded bus. There are also NICE stories, NICE news articles and opportunities for you to share your own NICEness. Get over there now. I guarantee you'll be smiling in a matter of seconds. In the words of the author:

'Operation NICE was initiated to remind you that a     little NICE goes a long way'

Three things I'm going to do this month:


1.  I'm going to leave a book I've enjoyed on a park bench with a little note tucked inside so that someone else can read it too.


2.  I'm going to throw my biggest, cheesiest smile at someone in the street who really looks like they need it.


3.  I'm going to buy a load of these:

From this lovely Etsy Shop

And then I'm going to tie them to every single bike that makes me go green with jealousy.


Now it's your turn to pick the three things you're going to do to bring a little more sunshine in to the world this month :) 


Love, hugs and niceness


Loola xx

Happy New Year (a day late!!!!)

So here we are! 2011.... you had better be nicer to me than 2010 which, on reflection, was a bit sucky to be honest. I can't say I'll be glad to see the back of you Mr 2010. 


So did everyone have an awesome New Year's Eve? I spent the night dancing away with my best friend 'S' to my fave local band who are some of the nicest, most talented blokes in the whole wide world. I made new friends, laughed til I did a little wee in my knickers and boogy woogied til I thought my feet were going to fall off. Undoubtedly the best NYE in YEARS! 


Thought I'd start off January with a little fashion post because I've just been shopping and saw these everywhere!! Peter Pan Collars. A little bit of scrumptious, vintagey-looking gorgeousness!! 

From ModCloth

From Asos

Topshop

New Look

Urban Outfitters

And if you don't like any of these.... follow this tutorial over at 'She's got a passion for fashion' and stick a collar on every top and dress you own!!


Love, hugs and pretty collars


Loola xx

Loola Loves Books!!

Finally arrived in the UK after a long and weary ferry crossing. Was a little on the grumpy side by the time we arrived at Mum's. Five of us plus luggage in one car ain't funny! Luckily all the books I recently ordered from Amazon and got sent to my Mummy's had arrived. Not so grumpy now. I love books, me!


I bought:

Prudent Advice - Lessons for my baby daughter

Journal Bliss - to make my new journal all pretty and floaty-like.

Life's too short - You bet your ass it is!

200 Crochet blocks - still working on it!!

Crafting a Meaningful Home - Hooray for moving house soon!

Today is Super - a little diary for organising your life.
With cute stickers!

I love the smell of new books. I love the smell of old books too but these are brand new and shiny shiny! I'm off to flick through each and every delicious page. You can head over to Amazon and spend all your pennies whilst I'm reading.


Love, hugs and fresh, sparkly pages
Loola xx

Man... I'm on FIRE!!

I had to quickly post this. Just about to set off for the UK!


Baby Boo was fiddling with her hair last night and wanted a pretty clip to hold back the twiddly bits she was playing with. Mummy to the rescue! I figure if I can make shortbread I can make a clip with some felt we found in her craft box and some ribbon I found in a drawer. They turned out pretty well I think. All it took was a turn on the old Google (thank you Google!) some clips we already had and some mega strong super glue. Took me awhile to pull a couple of my fingers apart post production but we live and we learn, right?

I used this tutorial here from Lydia's Treasures. She makes the most fabulous stuff. I'm not jealous. Nope. Not me.


Making these also means that for the first time I can link to one of my favourite blogs ever, Tea Rose Home. They hold a linky party for all creative types every Wednesday and, dammit, I want to be one of them!! My clips are probably going to look fairly pathetic compared to the rest of the submissions but we all have to start somewhere! Made something? Want the world to know? Head on over there and join me.

Love, hugs and super glue (damn, it's sticky!)

Loola xx

You'll never believe it!!!

I BAKED!!!!!!! I swear on all that is pink and glittery, I actually baked!!! Wait.... it gets better..... I DIDN'T BURN ANYTHING!!!!! I didn't burn the biscuits I made, I didn't burn myself and I didn't burn my kitchen down. This baking lark is easy peasy.

I made shortbread which both looked and tasted like shortbread. I have never been as stunned as I was when I pulled the baking tray out of the oven and my lovely little biscuits were a beautiful golden brown. Ok, so I sat on the floor in front of the oven thingy for the 25 minutes they took to turn a beautiful golden brown but if I'd wandered off I'd have got distracted and would have been wrestling the battery out of the smoke alarm to silence the inevitable wailing that normally accompanies any attempt of mine to be all house-wifey and bakey. I feel proud today. I'm even going to give myself a little round of applause. What I really need is one of these...

Or maybe even some of these...

Anyone care to join me for a quick happy dance?


Unfortunately, I didn't take pics of the actual biscuits because I'm a bit blonde like that. Plus Baby Boo demolished them in about 8 seconds flat. S'ok... I didn't want one anyway..


Love, hugs and shortbread (baked by ME!)


Loola xx

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!!!

Loola and Baby Boo would like to wish everyone the most awesome of Christmases and we hope next year is everything you dream it will be. Thank you for reading my ickle blog. Hopefully, in 2011 it will become exactly want I want it to be - somewhere to store and share pretty pictures, an interesting read and somewhere to make new friends. We love ya!!


Love, hugs and turkey sandwiches.


Loola and Baby Boo xxxxx