For Now

Please excuse my somewhat whingey post ref. Valentine's Day and my recent 'get me the flock out of here' post. It's been a strange start to 2011. Taking Baby Boo back to school after 3 glorious weeks having her home damn near broke my heart. I'm bereft without her. She takes my heart with her every time she goes. She's at boarding school for those of you that don't know. A life of travelling here there and everywhere with me and the Army has meant that before she reached the age of 10 she had been to 6 schools. She's such a bright little button that messing with her education really seemed unfair. She had also reached the age where leaving her 'bestest ever friends' every two years was soul destroying for her. As a result, Baby Boo and I made the very difficult decision  to send her away to school. Did I do the right thing? For her, YES! She loves it. She has new best friends that will stay best friends all through her school years, she goes horse riding on the beach every Saturday, goes to Karate lessons, singing lessons, craft club, history club and the private education she is getting is second to none. She is blossoming. Something I am so so so proud of. Unfortunately, for me, this is the worst thing I could have done. I miss her so much. She's my little partner in crime and, since the day she was born, it's been me and her against the world. Without my Baby Boo around the house is too quiet and I have no one to giggle with. This, coupled with an awful row with my sister last week that is still not resolved and then returning to Germany alone has left me feeling rather sad and blue. I'm also not happy with this blog. I don't think it's properly representing me and it's not what I imagined when I first started writing. I'm a bit of a perfectionist and get so frustrated when things aren't exactly how I want them to be. For this reason I'm going to stop writing for now. Thank you to those that have followed, commented and read. I appreciate it, I really do. I wish you all the best for 2011 and, hopefully, I'll be back later on in the year when I'm feeling a bit more positive and can safely type posts without worrying that I may drag someone else down with me. Auf Wiedersehn, pets.

We heart it

Love, hugs and a sniffle or two


Loola xxx

This Friday....

I want to get on a bike and ride to nowhere...

Love, hugs and wheelies


Loola xx

Let me at least get over Xmas!!!

In the last hour Cosmo has informed me what meal to cook on Valentine's Day for my man, what knickers to wear whilst cooking said meal and how to then seductively lead my, now full-bellied, man to the bedroom and give him the night of his life. What Cosmo hasn't told me is how many biscuits I can shove down my throat to try and soak up the misery of not actually having a man, how long I can refuse to get of my pyjamas for post Valentine's day, whether it's socially acceptable to cry like a baby in the middle of the town centre having bashed  my head on yet another pink heart and whether I can drunk dial the ex after two bottles of wine and beg him to please just pretend to love me because it's the 14th February and being single feels pants!!! Sigh. I've barely packed away the Xmas decorations. Lay off with the pink decorations will you? Maybe I'll be lucky enough to wake up and fine one of these in my post box.... 

From here

At least then I'll have something to throw around....


Maybe I should be more proactive in finding the one? Time to get some of these?

God bless Etsy

Love, hugs and Valentine's Day grinchiness even though it's only January...


Loola xx

My Fwiend the Illustrator!!!

Ok, so a bit of a plug here for a good friend of mine, Faye Durston. Faye is an unbelievably talented artist and illustrator. We were at school together a few moons ago and she has always had an amazing arty talent. Take a look at these:

This one is my fave! It's called Sky Painter and
I am the proud owner of this lovely print!

These were just to get you warmed up. Faye has recently had a book published! I give you, The Wychwood Fairies!! It is, without a doubt, the prettiest, whimsiest book you will ever own.
  

The following is from Amazon:

'Outlandish adventurer Harriet has been hired by the illustrious Fairy Aerodynamic Exploration Society to track down the elusive Wychwood fairies. No one, so far, has been able to find them. Will Harriet and her faithful pet dragon Eric be up to the job? Find out in this breath-takingly beautiful and imaginative book.

Young readers will love joining Harriet on her quest as they read her removable letters and postcards, search every inch of Wychwood and camp out overnight on a midnight hunt for fairies. With stunning artwork, a wittily recounted story and a whole host of inviting novelty elements, this book is the perfect gift for all fans of fairies.'

Now, Faye is extremely modest, shy and would never boast or brag.... so I'm going to do it on her behalf! I'm not proud!! Currently boasting a 5 star rating on Amazon, this book is breath-taking. The illustrations are out of this world, the detail enough to make your heart jump a bit and, honestly, you NEED TO BUY THIS BOOK. And I'm not just saying it cos she's my friend. Nuff said. Except that you need to buy it. Did I say that already? To see more of Faye's work go here. To read her blog go here.

Love, hugs and fairy kisses

Loola xx

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

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