Half hearted health kick stops here

Yes, I'll have that body please. Image source.

This morning I set my alarm half an hour earlier than I needed, with the intention of getting on the treadmill before work. Do I really need to tell you what happened?!

That's right...beep beep...snooze. Repeat x2. Or maybe 3.

I'm rubbish, I really am.

Back in January, I promised myself that this would be the year I'd make changes in many areas of my life. And I am currently doing that. But I'm beginning to realise that none of those changes really matter in the long term, if I don't take care of myself too.

My health has been shaky for many years now, but I've always found some excuse or other to ignore it. The other day I heard a quote that struck a chord - "When would now be a good time?"

So I've decided to focus more of myself on affecting my energy levels, my stress levels and my overall health. I'm trying lots of different things - more exercise, better diet (there goes the baking!) and new equipment.

And to make up for this morning's poor show, this evening I went on the tread mill. I started off slowly and for a short period of time a few weeks ago and tonight was the first time I doubled my time spent running at high speed. It felt amazing and I'm looking forwards to my next session.

Perhaps I'll stick to evening runs for now, though.

What have you been promising yourself for far too long?!

Sunday night round up

This is becoming a bit of a regular thing isn't it - Bibbitybob's Sunday round up!

I hope everybody has had a lovely weekend.

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Mine started a little unusually (for me, at least!). My friend has been having a very rough ride recently, so I took her out for a quiet drink to take her mind off things. Of course this 'quiet drink' turned into a very late session in town. Much needed! But not such a good idea when I had agreed to babysit for her the next day...lots of cuddles from her one year old boy were delicious, but the screaming fit didn't mix too well with a hangover head!


Saturday night I was craving an easy ride - takeaway, films and chocolate. I managed two out of three, but was a very good girl and cooked us a delicious dinner. I did cheat a little bit though. I usually make my own sauces from tinned tomatoes mixed with all sorts of other things, but as I was sent a Seriously Good sauce to try I decided to follow this recipe for wild mushroom lasagne. The mushrooms weren't very wild (I substituted with...umm...Asda smartprice), but the end product was seriously good (see what I did there?!). Mr Bibbitybob has been raving about it again today; evidently my sauces aren't much to talk about, but then again I can't really compete with Gordon Ramsay. I did intend to take a photo, it looked scrummy, but my tummy beat my eyes to it! I'd like to try their new range of curries too - I've not mastered a korma from scratch yet and I like the idea of giving to charity whilst I shop (at least 10p from these sauces goes to Comic Relief).

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We also watched The Rebound (terrible script, terrible acting!) and The Switch (soppy and predictable, but loved it).

Today felt very productive - isn't it amazing how sunshine and fresh air make everything so much easier? Mr Bibbitybob spent a couple of hours chopping wood and tidying up our back garden. His poor little car is off the road with a flat battery at the moment, so all the junk destined for the tip is sitting in our yard right now. I had a good tidy inside, lots of washing done (and on the line, until it got rained on....grr), and then I worked this afternoon.


I also managed to get some personalised bunting commissions finished this week, and I've got a few more orders waiting to be completed.

Thank you for all the comments on our tiles. They're actually a gorgeous shade of grey blue, although my camera struggled to capture that. I'm still waiting for any more progress (*sigh*) but when they're finished I'll certainly be sharing. And I haven't forgotten that I'd promised a 150 follower giveaway either...watch this space.

All my fabric listings are finishing this evening so I'll be spending the rest of the night labelling and packing parcels with a glass of wine in my hand.

Do leave me a comment and let me know what you've been up to this weekend!

Kitchen tiles sneaky peek

Hooray! We have tiles on the wall! This photo was taken in the evening and doesn't show the colour all that well, but hopefully within the next couple of days they'll all be done, grouted and I'll be able to show a wide shot!

Further to my last post, I have just read that tinyhappy is donating all proceeds from her sales to the Christchurch emergency fund.

A magic wand

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Sometimes I wish I had a magic wand that I could wave.

There seems to be so much tragedy in the world at the moment, and too much heartache in those that I love. So many loved ones have been lost in the last few weeks and I wish I could make these losses easier for the people who are suffering them. Sometimes I feel so powerless.

My heart goes out to all those feeling the affects of the Christchurch earthquake, the unrest around the globe and the loss of loved ones. Perhaps one day we will understand why this path has been chosen for us.

A day in the kitchen

Phew! I've spent the last three hours applique-ing letters for bunting commissions. If my spelling is off it's because my eyes are refusing to focus anymore!

It's been a busy day today. The kitchen tiles finally arrived, although they are sat in the box making worrying cracking noises. I'm assuming they're just settling with the heat (or lack of!) difference. Fingers crossed we won't have a box of pretty crumbs by the morning...

Speaking of crumbs, I've had a day full of them. And mess. There's been lots of mess...


I woke up this morning with the urge to do some baking (as you do!). For once my cupboards were well stocked; last week I had to search the net for recipes that didn't include eggs because the fridge was so bare.

I've never made a fruity cake before other than with dried fruit, and after reading a recipe for pear cake last week I decided that I'd give it a go. I tend to keep tinned fruit in the cupboard as an alternative sweet snack that has the added benefit of being one of my five-a-day...bonus! I suppose it sort of defeats the point when I make it into a cake though, but hey ho.


This cake was made with a part tin of Princes sliced pears and half a tin of their sliced peaches. I like the Princes range because they're not in syrup as a lot of canned fruit tends to be, making it all just too sickly sweet for my liking. I followed the instructions word for word, arranged half the fruit at the bottom of the tin and the other half on top of the mixture and let it cook for an hour.


It smelt delicious, tasted delicious but err...looked like I'd dropped it on the floor. I think I used too shallow a tin so the fruit just sort of slipped out the edges. I did try to photograph it from an angle that would make it look perfect and beautiful, but it was just impossible. So there you have it, my very imperfect but delicious cake. I urge you to try it!


I did also use up a pack of our 1p hot cross buns (good old Asda yellow stickers...it pays to shop late!) in a bread and butter pudding. Again, not a pretty dessert, but scrummy all the same. Luckily my Dad came round so I sent him home with food parcels - all this baking isn't good for my waistline.

And seeing as we're talking food (well I'm talking food...I'm not sure if anyone else has lasted this far into the post?!) I thought I'd show you my pimped up pizzas.


As I revealed in my last post, I do have a weakness for pizza. And as delicious as take away's are, they're not good for my body or my bank balance. So we cheat. I did used to make the bases myself, and still do when I'm not tired or overworked (less often, these days), but the rest of the time we take a ridiculously cheap, cardboard tasting mini value pizza and pimp it up with whatever veg we have in the fridge, then top with another handful of cheese. I usually serve them with homemade wedges or a salad, depending how lazy I am feeling. Easy peasy, and very tasty.

And a little bit prettier to look at than my puddings!

Stylish blogger award

I am lucky enough to have been awarded the 'Stylish Blogger Award' by both StephieB (who awarded it to me an embarrassingly long time ago - sorry Stephie!!) and Miss Ginger - thank you to both you lovely ladies.

So now I am supposed to tell you 7 things about myself....

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1.I have taken to using the word 'hooray'. Do you know that scene in Notting Hill where Julia Roberts' character laughs at Hugh Grant's because "No one has said "whoopsidaisies" for fifty years and even then it was only little girls with blonde ringlets"? Every time I smile and gleefully whoop "Hooray!!" I think I know how Hugh Grant's character felt. But it feels so good. Try it!

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2. I believe that some things are 'meant to be'. Call it Fate, call it the Universe, whatever you like, but I believe in it. I can't remember if I've told you this story before...apologies if I'm repeating myself...

I once spent a day working in a shop, where I had a conversation with only two people - one was a man who predicted my future in a very strange and accurate way. It was the middle of winter and they sat me in front of a set of automatic doors that were stuck on open. They also forgot to tell me that I only had an hours parking at a time, so received four parking tickets a fortnight later, which equalled more than I was paid to do the job. All in all a very strange set of events.

It was only whilst re-counting this day to Mr BB shortly after we met (and about a year after I did the job) that I discovered that he was the other person I had spoken to that day. Apparently he went back into the shop again the next day hoping that I'd be there. I wasn't!

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We also both lived in London at the same time, and used to drink in the same pub. We only discovered this when we met three years later. Whatever the reason, it seems someone somewhere had plans for us.

3. I always listen to song lyrics and try to find some personal meaning in them.

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4. I love reading, and don't make anywhere near enough time to do it.

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5. If I could survive on any one type of food it would have to be pizza. And spicy chips, curly fries, or wedges. Yum yum.

6. Sometimes I wish I could spend more time alone, feeding my soul and exploring the world independently. But so often when I am alone I am immensely lonely and crave company. I think maybe I am just my own worse enemy.

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7. I have always been interested in houses and interiors. When I was younger I used to spend hours re-designing my bedroom, or creating imaginary house layouts using paint cards, pencil crayons and catalogue pictures. Changing Rooms and House Doctor were high on my television priority list as a teenage. Some things never change. I can talk houses, mortgages, interiors and all related topics until I am blue in the face. I think I'm in the wrong career, I don't talk about nappies with such passion.

Phew, that was hard! Is anyone still awake?!

So many bloggers have had this award that I'm going to cheat and say that anyone who would like to post it to their blog, please do! And don't forget to leave me a comment so I can read your 7 too....

Calling all fabric fans

Calling all fabric lovers! I'm pretty sure there are one or two of you out there...

I've been a busy little bee tonight. When the lovely Vix (of Vintage Vixen fame) suggested I take to le 'bay to re-coup some of this week's lost wages, I knew exactly what had to go.

It wasn't easy (*sob sob*), but I've been carrying so much fabric around with me for so long now that it's about time I had a clear out. Some of these pieces have been in four different houses yet still remain untouched. That's naughty.

I'm so tempted to keep some of them, like this fabulous 70's print (the orange flowers are 12" wide...it's amazing!). I'd love to make curtains out of it, but they wouldn't suit the house or our style.

So I am being a very good girl and letting them all go to sparkly new homes.

If you'd like to take a look at what I have up for sale, you can view my listings here.

I feel like I'm starting on a bit of a de-cluttering mission and wondered if anyone would like to join me in a blog-declutter-along? I'm not sure how it would work yet, but I know I work better when I've got to account to other people and I'm sure I'm not the only one. I'll even make you all a badge! How's that for a deal?! ;)

Lazy days

If yesterday was an excuse to get things done, today was an excuse to do absolutely nothing.

Apart from a quick trip to the fabric shop this morning (during which I realised that despite my brain being in full gear, my body is frustratingly not), most of today has been spent right here.


Covered in a snuggly woolen blanket, reading my book, drinking copious amounts of tea, admiring the fire and cuddling the cat (can you make her out in the photo above - she always finds the warmest seat!).

(I really have to get the armchair re-upholstered soon...the pink draylon isn't pretty! Then again, neither is the messy fire. Real life, my dears, real life.)

In a desperate attempt to see the world outside my front door again we took a trip to the local supermarket this evening. The fridge is now stocked enough that I can stay holed up for the next few days, and I have a box of reduced ex-Valentines Thorntons' to keep me company. Yum!

I'm glad that so many of you liked the duvet covers in last night's post - those of you that have purchased, please keep me updated on quality etc! And to those of you who suggested display purposes only for the towels - great minds think alike! I'm planning rose pink towels for every day use, and the Cath Kidston towel for showing off only, although I am going to check out the BHS lookey-likeys as soon as I'm up to a trip into town.

Image: BHS

I hope everyone has had a lovely Saturday!

Cath Kidston style bedding

I've been distracted from my bathroom inspiration hunt by these pretty bedding sets...Cath Kidston eat your heart out (but less than half the price!).

The items above are from Argos (click the photo to go to the item) - I especially like the white one.

And these offerings from BHS are very pretty too. I'm not usually a lemon fan but these little birdies are winning me over!

Lovely!

Cath Kidston towels and other such penny pinching dilemmas

Thank you for all your kind get well wishes on my last post.

I'm actually feeling pretty much ok in myself, just very tired and sore. I'm taking this week off as an opportunity to get some of the house straightened up, but it's proving difficult and slow.

I did photograph some vintage fabrics today so I can list them on eBay over the weekend - I think some of these have moved three houses with me so I've decided to bite the bullet and sell them. There's only so much gazing and stroking a girl can do!

I've been trying to work out what to do with the (still half painted...oops!) bathroom. I had a play around and pulled together the main elements in Polyvore tonight.

We already have the bath, tiles and taps installed, with a very pale cream vinyl floor (plain and boring, but functional for now).

I did buy some lovely duck egg blue fabric to make a faux blind, but since I put the little pink jug from my jumble sale haul in there I like how the rose pink colour looks with the antique white walls.

I do love this image from Ideal Home - the Cath Kidston towels look fantastic against the neutral background, although I'm struggling to justify paying £14 for a hand towel! *sigh* I'm seriously tempted to try and find some pink polka dot fabric to make a blind with, but I've changed my mind so many times now I'm loathed to spend any money.


My wishlist includes a bathroom cabinet and little storage unit or lidded boxes/baskets to hide toiletries in, as well as a couple of retro signs like in the pic above, but I shall have to wait until car boot season begins as I'm too cheap to buy new. I did used to have a white painted cabinet but I gave it away when I treated myself to a new one, but I have since left that one up in the flat - typical! I do have a lovely set of shelves that I am planning to paint white, but only pretty things are allowed on there!

I also had some lovely little framed prints in my bathroom at the flat, I shall have to dig them out and get them up on the walls.

Mr BB has just agreed to help me get the painting finished off tomorrow, so hopefully I'll be able to share some photographs before the weekend's out!

What do you all think? Can anyone suggest anything else to inspire me?

Back to bed

I've been diagnosed with scarlet fever for the fifth time in five years. I'm going back to bed with a bowl of soup and piles of blankets, and working out how I'm going to earn back the money I'm going to lose from lack of work and spending the next week in quarantine. Sometimes being freelance sucks.

On a happier note, I've now reached 150 followers and will be having a giveaway to celebrate very soon!

Valentines Day

Well, to say that we don't celebrate Valentines in our house, I did have a very lovely evening last night - I hope you all did too!

I had a full day at the real job yesterday, which wasn't much of a chore as it was spent creating Valentines love bugs and heart shaped shortbread. I love working in Early Years when there are special events to celebrate - there's nothing cuter than a little person concentrating hard to create a special gift. And boy did we go overboard with the glitter!!

When I came home Mr BB took me out for a ride on the back of his motorbike. I never used to be a bike fan, but he's really won me over. And I'm up for any chance to throw on a leather jacket, leopard print scarf and biker boots. Just a shame he doesn't have such a beautiful vintage bike!

We ended up taking a detour to the local shop on the way home, where he bought us a couple of bottles of red wine which I then had to stuff down the front of my jacket for the ride home. Classy.

Our evening turned into an impromptu mini-party - we took advantage of our local Domino's pizza offers and ordered in a feast for everyone to share (I tried pizza with BBQ sauce base for the first time ever...why have I not thought to do this before?!). A mix of good company, the aforementioned red wine and a film on the box - a great evening was had by all (I hope!).


And in the absence of any Valentine cards, flowers or heart shaped cucumbers (my secret admirers must have sent them to my old address...), do you know what made me smile the most yesterday? Mr Bibbitybob saying he loves me as much as chocolate. Now that is an honour!

All images via pinterest.

Happy Valentines Day to you all xxx

Sunday afternoon round up

This afternoon I've been ditched in favour of a man named 'Phil'. You see, Phil has offered to give Mr Bibbitybob something I cannot.

A roast turkey dinner.

How can little vegetarian me compete with an offer like that?!

But it's ok, I'm not feeling too bad. My day started off pretty pants (finding out things you didn't want to know from Facebook, anyone?!) so I decided to be naughty and open my Valentines swap from Betty over at Mrs Yappy Dog. Thank you to Jackie from Sew Special Bears for organising it!

That certainly cheered me up! I got a gorgeous handmade lavender bag which is currently scenting my pillow, heart shaped choccies, a floral bracelet, pink dotty exfoliating gloves, fluffy slipper socks, bath confetti, a make up bag, little heart shaped notebook and pen and a set of heart shaped cookie cutters that I put to good use this morning. How spoiled was I?! Thank you, Betty!!

I then went for a hunt around to show you the florals I promised way back on Wednesday.

Check out this fabulous pile of florals in my kitchen! Like many bloggers, I was sent some cloths to sample by the lovely people over at Sarah Smith. As you can see, I've not actually managed to take them out the packaging yet. Not because I've not been cleaning, but because they just look so pretty all wrapped up. Please tell me I'm not the only one who does this?!

Then we have my teacup hyacinths, which are all starting to come into bloom now.

They smell divine (the eagle eyed among you may be able to spot a blurry little me in my big sunnies on the right of the photo!) and look lovely too.

I moved some of them into a little wire pot that I picked up at yesterday's jumble sale. I also picked up an entire little rose tea set (I'll get better photos soon, it really is a beautiful design), the little pink floral jug (10p!) and two of those fluted glass candlesticks. I can't decide whether they're lovely, or horrific.

I also picked up the most beautiful, buttery soft leather handbag for £1, a wool scarf in camel and Wedgewood blue, a beautiful hand stitched sampler that I'll share with you another time, a bit of crochet lace for a project I have in mind, a pine towel rail that will get the paint treatment and a little black sequin mini dress. Bling!

Not a bad haul for less than a tenner! Have you picked up any bargains this weekend?

Heart Shaped Cucumber

Is it sad that I'd be quite chuffed if I got one of these for Valentines Day?! I'm so easily amused.

£1 for a half portion from Sainsburys - or probably even cheaper if you go on February 15th ;)

Personalised baby bunting

Sarah over at Modern Country Style is having an English Garden Party today! She kindly popped over here and asked me to include my handmade Spring bunting, which I have, but I also planned to do a flowery post for you all too.

But unfortunately I'm currently being waylaid by floorboard lifting, cat hunting (she likes to play under the floorboards...) and gas fire removing (hurrah!).


I did manage to get some more bunting made up this morning though, for the special little bundle who arrived on Sunday night.

My friend doesn't tend to 'do' pink for her baby girls (although her big girl now has her own ideas about that!!) so I thought I'd make it with small polka dot fabric and vintage red trim. Lots of love hearts keep it girlie!

So I'm off back downstairs to supervise the mess making (and play tea girl), then I need to finish the bathroom painting, then hopefully I'll be back with some flowery bits to share with you all! Phew!!

Thank you

I wish I could afford to send you all a great big bunch of flowers each. We have been so touched by all the lovely comments and e-mails I have received over the last couple of days and I really appreciate them all. I'm just sorry that I've not yet had a chance to reply to you all individually.

The most amazing thing is that on the same day that Mr Bibbitybob lost someone, my friend gave birth to a lovely little baby girl. Thus is the cycle of life and it gave us both a smile. I have a make in mind for her, that I will hopefully share with you soon.


I had a wonderfully lazy start to the day today; it's the first time in a long while that I've actually just sat and drunk a mug of tea and enjoyed the sunshine. This might not be the prettiest corner of my home, but I thought I'd show you the other end of the kitchen (opposite the French doors). We have someone coming to disconnect the gas fire that is on the right hand wall tomorrow, so I will be able to get it wallpapered just as soon as the fire is removed and the hole filled! It will be nice to finally get curtains up too. I'm hoping that one day I'll have a dining table there and a big squishy window seat in the bay.


I inherited the boy sofa with Mr BB and whilst it would not be my choice, it is oh so comfy. I've managed to sneak on a lovely little postcard cushion (from Primark, of all places, via my lovely friend Jayne)...I straightened it up after I took the first photo, doh!

The little wooden-ness you can see next to it is a spice rack I picked up at a jumble sale on Saturday morning.

It needs a clean and a paint, and I'm not sure where I'm going to use it yet but when Mummy BB showed me it I couldn't resist (I've got her well trained! Or maybe she trained me...). I also picked up a fabulous vintage thermos for the boy to fill with coffee, a little lamp shade that I am going to have a go at customising (eek!), a pile of books and the most beautiful wool coat that I will show you another day.

I started re-painting the bathroom today too. I've never liked the purple since we put it on the walls (hence why you've never really seen a photo of the bathroom!) so decided to go over it with antique white. Easier said than done. You know when you wish you'd never bothered starting a job....?! *sigh*