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

You complete me.

Dear Baby Boo.


Ever since the first moment they placed you in my arms I knew that I was complete. You have brought sunshine in to my life, made me appreciate tickles and giggles and cuddles more than I ever thought I would. You see the wonder in everything and I love that you make me see the wonder in everything too.


When you laugh it makes me laugh and, often, anyone else in earshot will laugh too. When you cry I want to cry with you but I try to be strong because that's what Mummy's do.


Growing up in the Army has been hard for you. Moving every couple of years, countless schools, friends and bedrooms. But you have taken it all in your stride and reminded me that, no matter where we are in the world, as long as we are together everything will be ok. When Mummy has been away on deployment you have been brave and strong. I am so proud of you and the way you have coped with everything.


When you look at me with love in your eyes I wonder how the hell I got so lucky. When you wrap your arms around me I wonder what I did to deserve you.


I love that when we are blue we put on our favourite songs and 'dance it out' until we're both laughing so hard we can barely breath. I love when we snuggle up for movie nights and 'share' a bowl of popcorn (1 piece for me, 20 for you!). I love that your feet are always warm and you don't mind me putting my cold feet against them to warm me up. I love the fact that you love me even though I often get lost in a book and forget your dinner is in the oven. I love the fact that you then calmly hand me the takeaway menu. I love that you make me cups of tea after I have begged and pleaded for an hour and could've made it myself in that time! I love that when you are concentrating hard on something you poke your tongue out of the side of your mouth. I love the way you make lists of your favourite things and the way you throw yourself into discovering as much as you can about something that interests you.....frogs, dolphins, lizzards, Egyptians. I love watching you develope your own style and the way you put your foot down when I try to force you into something pink and girly. I love how when you get excited you talk so fast I can barely understand what you are saying. I love that you look like me and that there is no denying that you are mine and I am yours.


Thank you for being my baby. To the Moon and back.


Love Mummy xxx

The Waitress

With the snow falling outside and me inside in my snuggly PJ's I just spent a blissful two hours cutting paper snowflakes and watching one of my all time favourite films, The Waitress, starring Keri Russell. I love this film! It makes me feel all warm and gooey and even leaves me with this little bubble of hope that I can do anything and be anything (except a butterfly. That would just be silly). I love the ending, I love cute little Lulu, I love the clothes, hair and girly friends. I love Joe. I just love it. Time for a Waitress inspired wish list methinks. And if you haven't seen this film go rent/buy/steal a copy now. Oh, and now I want pie. Any pie. I'm not fussy.

Sigh. Lovely film.

Pear and Cranberry. Recipe here

50s dresses. So pretty! From here

50s style. In tartan! Be still my beating heart.
 Spotted here

Peppermint milkshake to wash down your pie. 
Recipe here

50s 'up do' as seen on actress, Evan Rachel Wood
(bone structure optional)

I feel like getting all dressed up now and doing some dancing! And I want a cute boy to share my drink with.

From here

This one is a wee bit too young so I'll take Chace Crawford looking like this instead. YUMMY!

My future husband on the cover of VMan magazine

Love, hugs and girly gossips


Loola xx

When I am the Queen of Crochet....

Ok so all I have at the moment are a few knotty, scrappy, squiggly attempts but I am ruddy determined to master this whole crochet thing. Despite my dismal efforts to date I'm actually finding it quite relaxing and I haven't thrown a single crochet hook yet!! As a person that normally becomes easily frustrated and disheartened this is a big deal for me. I was obviously meant to crochet. Ahem. So, without further ado, I give you the 'Things Loola will crochet before her 95th birthday' list. Ta-dah!


from here

from this cuter than cute website



Anyone want to make me one of these? Because I want it NOW!
From here



I just died a bit inside. From here

Anyone bored yet? Tough!

I know!! From here



Anyone care to Meet me at Mike's next Christmas?



Ok I'm done. For today.....

Love, snuggles and crochet hooks!

Loola xx

Humbled....

I just received another award. Seriously. The lovely Enigmatic Masked Blogger has put yet another big smile on my face! Thank you! This is it. So pretty and vintagey!

So in true blogging tradition I'll tell you five fabulous things about myself and then pass this award on to five other awesome bloggers :)


Me:


1.  I would happily eat nothing but Crunchy Nut Cornflakes every day for the rest of my life.
2.  I'm a single mum to the most talkative, beautiful, bright, opinionated, loveable 11 year old in the world.   And I love her lots like jelly tots.
3.  I started Irish Dancing when I was about 7 and still love doing it as much now at the age of 30.
4.  I HATE wrapping presents. I'm rubbish at it and get really cross when they don't look perfect.
5.  I'm a soldier in the British Army currently serving in Germany. Though a posting back to the UK is imminent!! Roll on March!


And now to pass it on (Hope it makes people smile and do a happy dance just like I did.).


1.  John over at Quilt Dad (because I melt a bit every time I see one of his beautiful quilts).
2.  Mel over at You are my Fave (I defy you not to read every blog post in one sitting).
3.  Disney at Ruffles and Stuff (because she has the cutest family, more talent than I will EVER have and because she is just a genuinely lovely person).
4.  Karen at The Art of Doing Stuff (because she's taught me things I never knew I needed to know!).
5.  Lily at LLYMLRS  (because I want her wardrobe more than I want oxygen).

Happy reading!

Love, hugs and blushes

Loola xx

Anthropologie say WHAT?!

I'm fairly new to this whole Anthropologie thing being a Brit but was chuffed when they came over here as I had heard so much about them. I've also seen loads of 'Anthro inspired' tutorials on the many blogs I read so knew they must be something special. What I hadn't quite cottoned on to was the reason behind the ever growing number of copycat tutorials.... the feckin prices!!! I mean, really?! Who can afford this stuff?! I earn a pretty good wage and even I gasped in horror and hid behind a cushion when I saw the price tags!! Now I know you pay for what you get but on looking through the website I reckon I could make half their stuff for a fraction of my hard-earned pennies. Check me out with my crafty groove on!

Take this for example....



from here

 Pretty, huh? It's £32!! Not so pretty now is it?! Hmph! I know, I know. I sound like a right old miser. I'm not at all. I like pretty things as much as the next girl and, if I think it's worth it, I'll pay it. So not forking out £32 quid on this, though, as much as I like it. Now if you'll excuse me I'm off to the bead shop to see if I can re-create this for under ten quid. Oooh, I loves a challenge, me! If I manage not to superglue any of my appendages together I'll show you my efforts in the next couple of days.

Love, hugs and bubbles
Loola xx

My goosebumps have goosebumps...

Ok so we know I love shopping and we know I love clothes. And we also know that I love shopping for clothes!! I tend to head for the slightly quirky items or something that screams cute or at least something I'm not going to see my neighbour, neighbour's dog and thingy from down the road wearing...

If there's one look that's made me go 'Ooooooh' recently it was this one from the Autumn. Socks and shoes! Just like when I was little! Except without the heels...

So cute. However, I've just finished reading a magazine that declared that we will all be taking this look right through Winter and in to the Spring....at which point I though 'Hello! Do we not watch the news and weather forecast, people?! Said magazine article then stated that this Winter it's all about bare legs. Holy cow, where's my blanket. I'm turning blue at the mere thought. Bare legs?! In WINTER?! I think not. So I'm boycotting this one. Much as I wasnt to look like this:

I'm buggered if I'm going to do it in this:

A step too far for this little fashionista.

Loola xx

She's back people!!!!!

Wow, that was a rough few months but I am now fully discharged from hospital and back in my own home. No more visits or check ups. Sing with me..... 'I'M H-A-P-P-Y. I'M H-A-P-P-Y. I KNOW I AM I'M SURE I AM I'M H-A-P-P-Y!!!!! Now do a bit of clapping. And maybe a bit of jumping up and down.

Can't even begin to describe the loveliness of being back in my own bed. By God did I miss my pillows. I have about two hundred of them all stacked up so I can snuggle down in complete squishy comfort. Sigh. Bliss! Also back out running and training which is a blessed relief. Little difficult on the ice but I've only landed on my ass once and nobody saw it so it doesn't count.

Just want to say another quick shout out the The Masked Blogger for her lovely comments. And a thank you for sticking around. Lots of ideas for future posts. Need to get those creative juices flowing again! Also decided that I need to learn to crochet. No idea why really. Just quite like the look of them granny square thingies. In lots of lovely bright colours! Oooh I'll make a blanket! And then I'll have to go and buy new pillows to match the blanket! Yeah baby!!!!!! Want to join me? C'mon....lets get tied up in wooly knots together and throw crochet hooks around in frustration! Take a look here and click on the Granny Squares 101 tab for one of the bestest tutorials I have ever seen.

Muchos love on route to all.

Loola xx

P.S This is how happy I am right now...